JP2006128914A - Wireless communication terminal, its peripheral equipment, and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication terminal provided with a function for automatically and previously executing operation that can not be executed at the predicted moving destination before moving when the wireless communication terminal finds the operation that can not be executed at the predicted moving destination after predicting its own course. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless communication terminal has a position measurement, which outputs positional information by measuring a current position, and measures the current position at prescribed time intervals. The positional information is stored in a route information storage as route information in time series. A course predictor predicts the future course on the basis of the current position and the route information. When the wireless communication terminal finds the operation that can not be executed on the predicted course, it outputs an operation instruction signal to a control unit so that the operation is executed beforehand. The control unit controls a block in the wireless communication terminal on the basis of the operation instruction signal, and executes the instructed operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal having a position measuring function, and more particularly, to a wireless communication terminal that has a function of predicting its own travel route and automatically performing a predetermined operation before moving to a predicted destination. The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal.

  In the prior art, there is a telephone device that cuts off the power supply when it is determined that the user is out of the communication range based on the electric field strength stored in the coordinate storage means. This telephone apparatus is provided with a position search means, and acquires and stores the electric field strength at each position in advance. As a result, it is possible to know the electric field strength at the position where the telephone device is present by position search without measuring the received electric field strength each time. Then, when it is determined that the user is outside the communication area based on the electric field strength, the power supply to the radio circuit block is cut off to obtain the power saving effect. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a mobile communication device that suspends transmission of an e-mail until a predetermined communication condition is satisfied is also described (for example, see Patent Document 2). This mobile communication device transmits an e-mail when the electric field strength, BER (Bit Error Rate) or the like satisfies a predetermined communication condition, or when the mobile communication device is in a predetermined area. If the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the transmission of the electronic mail is suspended until the predetermined condition is satisfied. Thus, the power consumption is controlled so as to be advantageous.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-246977 (Pages 1, 2 and 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-069544 (Pages 1, 2 and 1)

  Each of the above known techniques has problems.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, if an e-mail is stored in the mail server immediately before the telephone device moves out of the communication range, the e-mail may be moved out of the communication range without receiving the e-mail. When moving outside the communication range, the electronic mail is not received until the telephone device returns to the communication range again. Furthermore, even if the telephone device returns to the service area, there is no guarantee that the receiving operation will occur immediately, and there is a possibility that the reception of mail will be delayed.

  There is also a method of checking a mail server at a short time interval in order to prevent a delay in receiving an e-mail. However, this method has a problem in that, when the user is out of the communication range, the mail cannot be received, so that useless power is consumed for checking the mail server.

  Alternatively, it is possible to prevent a delay in receiving an e-mail even by knowing that the user has moved out of the service area and quickly returning to the service area and receiving it. However, this method requires a very troublesome action for the user and has a problem of restricting the free action.

  In addition, when the telephone device moves from the communication area to the outside during the communication, the communication and power supply are forcibly cut off even if the communication is not normally completed. Therefore, there is a problem that the transmission / reception data until the communication is cut off and the power consumed for the communication processing are wasted.

  The technique described in Patent Document 2 also has a problem that when the mobile communication device moves out of the communication range during transmission, the transmission operation is interrupted in the middle.

  In addition, when an e-mail for transmission is created immediately before moving out of the communication range, the e-mail must be transmitted immediately. Otherwise, similar to the reception operation in the technique described in Patent Document 1, there arises a problem that transmission of the created electronic mail is delayed until the user returns to the service area again.

As described above, the conventional technology has a drawback that when the wireless communication terminal moves from the communication area to the outside of the communication area, the transmission and reception of the e-mail are delayed. Since the communication operation is interrupted when the mobile phone is moved to, the transmission / reception data and power consumption up to the middle are wasted.
(Object of invention)
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described technical defects of the prior art, and when a wireless communication terminal predicts its route and there is an operation that cannot be performed at the predicted destination, before moving, An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication terminal having a function of automatically executing the operation in advance.

  The wireless communication terminal according to the present invention includes a position measurement unit that measures a current position and outputs position information, and performs a predetermined first operation based on the position information. Furthermore, a state measurement unit for measuring state information indicating a predetermined state of the current position may be provided, and a predetermined first operation may be performed based on the state information.

  Further, the wireless communication terminal of the present invention includes a position measurement unit that measures the current position and outputs position information, and includes a route information storage unit that stores route information including a time series of a plurality of position information. A predetermined first operation is performed based on a predicted course predicted based on the predicted course. Alternatively, route information including a time series of a plurality of position information is stored in a predetermined route information unit outside the wireless communication terminal, and a predetermined first operation is performed based on a predicted route predicted based on the route information. Also good.

  Furthermore, a state measuring unit for measuring state information representing a predetermined state of the current position is provided, the current position and the state information are measured, and the state information and the position information are associated with each other and stored in the route information storage unit. You may obtain | require the prediction state of each point on a prediction course from the memory content of an information storage part.

  In addition, an output unit that outputs predetermined information is provided, and when the predicted route includes an out-of-condition point where the predicted state does not satisfy the predetermined condition, a recommended route that is a route that does not include the out-of-condition point is output from the output unit. Also good. When the current position is equal to or less than a predetermined distance to the out-of-condition point, or when the predicted course includes the out-of-condition point, the alarm information may be output by the output unit.

  The wireless communication terminal of the present invention is present in any one of a plurality of areas having a predetermined shape and size, and measures the current position and state information at a predetermined time interval. It is provided with the map information storage part memorize | stored as matching map information. Alternatively, the state information and the area may be stored as association map information in a predetermined route information server outside the wireless communication terminal.

  The state information may be information including the electric field strength of a radio wave from a predetermined fixed wireless station. The wireless communication terminal of the present invention may perform the predetermined first operation at a point adjacent to an out-of-service point where the radio field intensity is smaller than the predetermined electric field strength determination value. . Or the radio | wireless communication terminal of this invention may perform predetermined | prescribed 2nd operation | movement in an out-of-service point.

  The predetermined first operation may be transmission / reception of an electronic mail. Alternatively, a predetermined function provided in the wireless communication terminal may be stopped, or power supply to a predetermined part of the wireless communication terminal may be interrupted. The predetermined second operation may be a stop of a predetermined function provided in the wireless communication terminal or an interruption of power supply to a predetermined part of the wireless communication terminal.

  The position information may be two-dimensional coordinates or area coordinates that specify an area obtained by dividing a predetermined area where the wireless communication terminal exists into a predetermined shape and size.

  The fixed transmitter according to the present invention includes a position measurement unit that measures a current position and outputs position information, stores route information including a time series of a plurality of pieces of position information in a predetermined route information storage unit, and based on the route information. A signal including information for measuring the current position is transmitted to a wireless communication terminal that performs a predetermined operation based on the predicted course predicted in (5).

  The route information server of the present invention includes a position measurement unit that measures the current position and outputs the position information. The route information server stores route information including a time series of a plurality of pieces of position information in a predetermined route information storage unit. It is characterized in that route information is received from a wireless communication terminal that performs a predetermined operation on the basis of the predicted route predicted, and route information is provided in accordance with a request from the wireless communication terminal.

  The wireless communication terminal of the present invention measures its own current position and performs a predetermined operation based on the position information. Therefore, there is an effect that the operation to be executed can be executed at a point where the operation can be executed.

  Alternatively, the future course is predicted based on the path information of the path that the wireless communication terminal has passed in the past, and a predetermined operation is performed based on the predicted path. Therefore, an operation that may not be executed at the predicted destination can be executed in advance at a point where it can be executed.

  As described above, the wireless communication terminal of the present invention has an effect that it can be reliably completed at a point where an operation to be performed can be performed. There is no waste that the operation is interrupted by moving to an area where the execution is impossible during the operation. Further, when moving to an area where execution is impossible, there is no troublesome action of returning to the area where execution can be performed once and performing the operation, and a problem that execution of the operation is delayed.

  Thus, the wireless communication terminal of the present invention reliably executes a predetermined operation when the wireless communication terminal exists at a predetermined point. Therefore, there is a remarkable effect that the operation can be completed with certainty.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication terminal showing the best mode for carrying out the present invention. FIG. 2 is an example of route information. FIG. 3 is an example of a route and route information representing the route. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the wireless communication terminal. FIG. 5 is an example of route information to which electric field strength information is added. FIG. 6 is an example of route information to which out-of-service area information, which is an out-of-service area service area, is added. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 shows an example of the route and route information of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the wireless communication terminal. FIG. 10 shows an example of the route of the second embodiment. 11 and 12 are examples of route information according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 14 shows an example of the route of the second embodiment. 15 and 16 are block diagrams of a third embodiment of the wireless communication terminal. FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the wireless communication terminal.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The wireless communication terminal 101 includes a wireless unit 102, an input / output unit 103, and a control unit 104. The control unit 104 controls the wireless unit 102 and transmits / receives transmission / reception data 106 including voice, information, and the like via the antenna unit 105. The input / output unit 103 inputs / outputs input / output data 107 such as voice and information.

  In addition, the wireless communication terminal 101 includes a position measurement unit 108 and a path information storage unit 109. The position measurement unit 108 is used to measure the current position of the wireless communication terminal 101 at that time at a predetermined time interval. Information 110 is stored in the route information storage unit 109.

  The content stored in the route information storage unit 109 is information including time series of the position information 110 at each time point on the route along which the wireless communication terminal 101 has moved. Henceforth, when handling the time series of the positional information on a certain route as a group, it will be called route information.

  An example of route information will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The method of expressing the position information 110 is arbitrary, and a combination of latitude and longitude may be used. FIG. 2 is an example of route information in which route information is represented by coordinates of each point. The route information 201, 202, 203 is route information of three routes. Each piece of route information indicates that it has moved in order from the position of the point number 0, and the coordinates of each point are stored in the order of time when the point passed. (Xn, ym) (n and m are integers) are coordinates represented by a set of numerical values of latitude and longitude.

  The position information may be represented not by the coordinates of the point but by an identification number of an area having a certain size. FIG. 3 is an example of route information expressed by an identification number that identifies an area. First, the communication service area 301 in which the wireless communication terminal 101 moves is divided into areas of a predetermined size and shape, and coordinates for specifying each area are added. Here, the coordinates of the area are represented by a pair of two integers, such as xy (x and y are numbers representing the horizontal and vertical positions of the area, respectively). This coordinate is used as position information to represent route information.

  Now, it is assumed that the mobile wireless terminal 101 moves along the path 302 from the point A to the point B in the communication service area 301. At this time, the position information of the mobile wireless terminal 101 changes in order of “11”, “12”, “22”, and ends at “56”. Therefore, the route information 303 of the route 302 is time-series data as shown in FIG.

  2 and 3, the time interval of position measurement by the position measurement unit 108 is arbitrary, and the time interval may be constant or indefinite. Alternatively, the position measurement itself may be performed at regular time intervals, and the position information 110 may be stored in the route information storage unit 109 only when the position information 110 changes.

  In FIG. 1, a route prediction unit 111 receives route information 112 from the route information storage unit 109 and predicts a future movement route of the wireless communication terminal 101. Then, the operation instruction information 113 corresponding to the predicted course is output.

  Next, a course prediction method will be described. The wireless communication terminal of the present invention predicts a route based on position information in the route information and position information of the current position of the wireless communication terminal.

  As an example of a specific route prediction method, there is a method in which a previously taken route is a predicted route. For example, the route information is compared with the current position by changing the time a predetermined number of times, and when there is a continuous match, a past route corresponding to the route information is used as a predicted route. That is, when the route information of the currently moving route and a part of the past route information stored in the route information storage unit 109 are common, this is a method of predicting that the same route will be traveled this time as well.

  The route prediction method will be specifically described using the example of route information in FIG. Assume that the current position information 110 is (x25, y25). When (x25, y25) is searched from the route information 201, 202, 203, it is found that this is included in the route information 202. If the position information changes to (x27, y27) after a predetermined time has elapsed, it can be seen that this position information is also included in the route information 202. When this search is repeated a predetermined number of times, if the location information is continuously included in the route information 202 and the time order of the matching location information is also the same, it is estimated that the route is the same as the route information 202 To do. If a plurality of route information is estimated as the predicted route as a result of the search as described above, one may be selected according to a predetermined rule, or a plurality of routes may be selected.

  The position information includes uncertain factors such as measurement accuracy, position information resolution, and instability in the vicinity of the change point of the position information. Considering these, it may be considered that not only when the position information completely matches, but also within a certain allowable range.

  The course prediction method described above can be used not only when the position information is represented by point coordinates as shown in FIG. 2, but also when the area information is represented by area coordinates as shown in FIG.

  The course prediction method described above can be applied only when the route information 202 is already stored. If the position information of the current position (in the above description, (x25, y25) or (x27, y27)) is not stored in any of the route information 201, 202, and 203, the predicted course cannot be estimated. In that case, the position information 110 is continuously stored in the route information storage unit 109.

  As an example of a route prediction method, there is a method of predicting a future route based on the position information immediately before the wireless communication terminal 101 and the current position information 110. Specifically, this is a method of obtaining a predicted course based on the traveling direction and traveling speed of the wireless communication terminal obtained from the position information in the route information and the current position of the wireless communication terminal.

  For example, the course prediction unit 111 obtains the speed and acceleration from the difference between the previous position information included in the route information 112 and the current position information 110, and predicts the position and direction in which the wireless communication terminal 101 will move in the future. At this time, the course may be predicted by estimating that the vehicle travels straight at the same speed including the traveling direction. Alternatively, a change in speed (acceleration) including the traveling direction may be obtained, and the future traveling direction and speed may be estimated assuming that the acceleration does not change, and the course may be estimated. In the case of this route prediction method, it is only necessary to have the route information of the route that has just been taken, not the past route information such as the route information 201, 202, 203. This is because the current traveling direction, the immediately following moving direction, and the speed can be estimated if the position information of several points immediately before can be known.

  Based on the predicted course obtained by the various methods described above, the course prediction unit 111 outputs the operation instruction information 113 to the control unit 104. The condition for outputting the operation instruction signal 113 includes a specific point on the predicted course, and the wireless communication terminal 101 executes a certain operation before moving to that point or is set to a certain state. This is when you need to do it.

  A specific example of the operation instruction information 113 is an instruction when the use of the wireless communication terminal 101 is prohibited at a certain point on the predicted route. The instruction contents include prohibition of power supply to the wireless unit 102 and prohibition of input / output of voice and the like. Alternatively, in order to allow the user of the wireless communication terminal 101 to take a route other than the predicted route, the predicted route may be displayed to display a warning message. Alternatively, a display indicating that a route different from the predicted route is recommended may be used.

  Based on the operation instruction signal 113, the control unit 104 outputs one or both of the radio unit control signal 114 and the input / output unit control signal 115 to control the radio unit 102 and the input / output unit 103. The wireless unit control signal 114 is a signal for prohibiting power supply to the wireless unit. The input / output unit control signal 115 is a signal for prohibiting voice input / output, or a signal for instructing display of a recommended route or a predicted route.

  With the above configuration and control, the wireless communication terminal 101 predicts a course and performs a predetermined operation in advance according to the prediction result. Therefore, an operation restricted at a certain point can be processed in advance, and the operation of the apparatus can be completed efficiently.

  In the above embodiment, the operation instruction information 113 is output using the predicted course, that is, the point predicted to be passed in the future as a criterion, and the operation of the wireless communication terminal 101 is controlled. Furthermore, the present invention can also control the operation of the wireless communication terminal 101 based on the state of each position on the predicted route. For example, predetermined control can be performed using electric field strength as a specific example of the state.

  With reference to FIG. 4, a description will be given of a first embodiment in which the operation is controlled depending on the electric field strength at each position on the predicted route (the strength of the received radio wave used by the wireless communication terminal 101 for communication).

  The configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The radio unit 102 has a modulation / demodulation function for transmitting / receiving the transmission / reception data 106 via the antenna unit 105. The voice input / output unit 401 performs voice input / output and voice message output for making a call. The display unit 402 displays various data and displays a message, a predicted route, a recommended route, and the like. The man-machine interface unit 403 controls input of information for the user to operate the wireless communication terminal 101 and the like. The control unit 104 includes general functions necessary for device control, such as a CPU and a memory, and controls the entire system, such as control of transmission / reception of the transmission / reception signal 106, processing corresponding to user operation, and display of information.

  The GPS unit 108 is a normal GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning system for measuring the current position of the wireless communication terminal 101. The GPS unit 108 receives radio waves from the artificial satellite via the GPS antenna unit 404, obtains the current position of the wireless communication terminal 101 by a predetermined calculation, and outputs position information 110.

  The electric field strength measuring unit 405 receives the reception signal 406 from the wireless unit 102, measures the strength thereof, and outputs the electric field strength information 407. This electric field strength measurement is performed simultaneously with the position measurement by the GPS unit 108. When the electric field strength information 407 is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the point is outside the communicable range of the wireless communication terminal 101 (“out of communicable range” is hereinafter referred to as “out of range”. The electric field strength information is a predetermined electric field. When it is larger than the strength determination value and “within communication range”, it is determined that the area is “range”.

  The path information storage unit 109 stores the electric field strength information 407 in association with the position information 110. FIG. 5 shows an example of route information in which the electric field strength information 407 is stored together with the position information 110. A numerical value en (n is an integer) indicating the electric field strength information 407 at the position is stored in association with the position information 110 expressed by coordinates.

  The route prediction unit 111 predicts a route by the same method as that previously performed using the route information of FIG. That is, the position information 110 of the current position is input from the GPS unit 108, and the position information 110 is retrieved from the route information 501, 502, and 503. This search is performed multiple times at different times. For example, when there are a plurality of pieces of position information that match the position information 110 of the current position in the route information 502 and the order is the same, the route corresponding to the route information 502 is set as a predicted route.

  Now, it is assumed that the electric field strength e28 at a certain point on the predicted route, for example, the point number 8 is equal to or less than the electric field strength determination value and is out of the service area. This means that there is a possibility that the wireless communication terminal 101 may move to a point where communication is not possible. Therefore, a necessary communication operation is performed while the wireless communication terminal 101 exists in the area. For this purpose, the course prediction unit 111 outputs the operation instruction information 113 and instructs the control unit 104 to perform a predetermined communication operation.

  As an example of the communication operation, there is electronic mail transmission / reception. At this time, the course prediction unit 111 outputs the operation instruction information 113 and gives an instruction to the control unit 104 to send and receive an e-mail. In accordance with the operation instruction information 113, the control unit 104 performs a normal e-mail transmission / reception operation according to a predetermined protocol.

  As much as possible, in order to complete the reception of as many mails as possible, it may be received when it reaches the position immediately before going out of service (in the case of the route information 502, the point of the point number 7). In that case, when the position information 110 of the current position matches the position information (x27, y27) of the spot number 7, the course prediction unit 111 may output the operation instruction information 113.

  In addition to sending and receiving e-mail, the user may be notified by voice that the wireless communication terminal 101 may go out of range. In this case, the course prediction unit 111 outputs the operation instruction information 113 to the control unit 104 and causes the voice input / output unit control signal 408 to be output. Alternatively, the operation instruction information 113 may be output to the control unit 104 and the display unit control signal 409 may be output for display on the display unit 402.

  Once the predicted path is obtained, the electric field strength at that point can be predicted only by measuring the position without measuring the electric field strength. Power consumption can be reduced by omitting the measurement of the electric field strength. Alternatively, the field strength information in the predicted path may be sequentially updated in consideration that the field strength varies depending on various conditions.

  In the first embodiment, the electric field strength information itself is stored in association with the position information and used as the route information. Not only the field intensity information itself but also the out-of-area classification information of each point may be stored together. In this case, the course prediction unit 111 does not need to compare the electric field strength information with the electric field strength determination value in order to determine the out-of-area classification of each point. Furthermore, the “adjacent” section indicating that it is adjacent to the out-of-service area may be stored as route information.

FIG. 6 shows an example of route information storing out-of-service area, in-service area, and adjacent sections. In the “outside zone” column, “0” means within range, “1” means adjacent, and “2” means out of range. Since the adjacent section indicates a point immediately before going out of the service area, it is effective when performing an operation that is desirable to process immediately before going out of service area, such as reception of an e-mail.
(Operation of the first embodiment)
The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an example of a route and route information representing it in the first embodiment. In FIG. 8, the position information 110 uses area coordinates instead of point coordinates.

  First, the wireless communication terminal 101 acquires location information 110 of the current location at the GPS unit (S701). Simultaneously with the acquisition of the position information, the electric field intensity measuring unit 405 acquires the electric field intensity information 407 of the current location (S702).

  Then, the stored content of the route information storage unit 109 is searched for whether the route through which the wireless communication terminal 101 has passed is the same route as the route that has passed in the past (S703).

  If the position information 110 of the current position does not exist in the route information storage unit 109 but is a new point, the acquired position information and electric field strength information are stored in the route information storage unit 109 (S704). If the stored location information and electric field strength information are those at the head of the new route, the route information is registered. For this reason, it may be set in the route information storage unit 109 to start storing route information from the man-machine interface unit 403 before storing the route information at the head point of the route. The registration of route information means that a route number is added and a predetermined storage area is secured so that it can be distinguished from other route information. In the case of new position information of an existing route and corresponding electric field intensity information, the information is added to the route information and sequentially updated.

  In step S703, if the position information 110 of the current position is registered in the route information storage unit 109, it is determined that the same route has been passed in the past, and the route is recognized as a predicted route (S705). The number of pieces of position information to be found in the route information in order to determine that the same route has been passed may be one or more. In the flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, when one piece of position information is found, the route corresponding to the route information is set as the predicted route.

  When there are a plurality of routes that satisfy the condition of S703, all of them may be recognized as predicted routes. In that case, safer predictions are made, even when there is a low possibility of passing outside the service area. Alternatively, a predetermined reference may be provided and specified as one route. As an example of the reference setting, there is a method in which the number of matching position information is counted and a route having a large number of matches is set as a predicted route.

  Next, a search is performed as to whether or not an out-of-service point exists on the predicted route (S706). If there is no out-of-service point, the process returns to step S701 to prepare for the next position measurement.

  If an out-of-service location exists on the predicted route, the current position is compared with the out-of-service location on the predicted route, and the distance to the out-of-service location is predicted (S707). Then, when moving to a point immediately before going out of service, mail transmission / reception processing is performed (S708).

  By repeating the above operation, the past route information and the electric field strength information 407 traveled by this terminal are accumulated. Then, when the same route is passed next, an e-mail transmission / reception operation is performed in an area immediately before going out of service area.

  In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the out-of-area classification information is not stored, but may be stored and used.

  Next, the course prediction method will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 101 starts moving from point A and moves along a route 802 that reaches point B via point P. A route from point C to point B via point P is a route 803 that has passed in the past.

  The route information 804 corresponds to the route 803, and the route information 805 is route information corresponding to the route 802. The route information 804 and the route information 805 store position information, electric field strengths corresponding to the respective positions, and out-of-communication-range, within-range, and adjacent sections. In this embodiment, the classification of the adjacent areas outside the service area is also stored, and the areas before and after the out-of-service area are the adjacent areas in the area where each route passes.

  In FIG. 8, for convenience, the communication service area of the wireless communication terminal 101 is divided into grid-like areas, and position information and electric field strength information are acquired for each area. Acquisition of position information and electric field strength information is not limited to acquisition for each area, and may be performed as needed.

  The electric field strength in the area traversed by each route is as described in the route information 804 and the route information 805. The unit of the electric field strength is arbitrary. In this embodiment, the electric field strength determination value is 10, and when the electric field strength is less than 10, it is out of range and when it is 10 or more, the electric field strength determination value may be set to an appropriate value. At this time, the areas 806 and 807 are out-of-service areas, and the areas 808, 809, and 810 are adjacent areas. Out-of-service area, in-service area, and adjacent classification are as described in the route information 804 and the route information 805.

  Now, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 101 starts moving from point A to point P. Initially, there is no route information 805 of the route 802, so position information and electric field strength information are acquired for each area. The wireless communication terminal 101 measures the position information and the electric field strength information and adds information to the route information 805 while passing through the point P and heading toward the point B. However, since the position information of the P point is also present in the route information 804, the route prediction unit 111 predicts that the route after the P point is the same as the route 803. Then, the route prediction unit 111 determines the positional relationship between the area 806 that will be out of service in the future and the area 811 that is currently located based on the route information 804, and selects an area for sending and receiving e-mails.

  At this time, e-mail may be immediately transmitted / received on the assumption that the current area 811 is within the area and may be out of the area in the future. The out-of-area classification information in the route information 804 may be confirmed, and the area 808 adjacent to the outside of the area may be selected as an area for sending and receiving e-mail.

  Alternatively, when it is determined that there is a distance to the out-of-service area, the movement is continued, and the out-of-service area classification information in the route information 804 is confirmed for each area, and when the area 808 confirms that the area is adjacent, May be performed.

  Since the communication operation becomes impossible when the wireless communication terminal 101 goes out of service area, useless power consumption may be suppressed by cutting off the power supply to the wireless unit 102.

  Furthermore, in an area where execution is impossible, control may be performed so that the operation is not executed, and generation of unauthorized power consumption may be avoided. For example, in the case of e-mail transmission / reception, if transmission / reception of e-mail is completed before moving out of the communication area, there is no problem that transmission / reception is delayed until the communication area returns again. There is no problem that the communication is interrupted by moving out of the communication area during the communication, and the transmission / reception data and power consumption until the middle is wasted. Moreover, when going out of the service area, there is no need to return to the service area and transmit / receive. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid generation of useless power consumption by checking mail outside the service area.

  With the configuration of the first embodiment, it is possible to detect that there is a possibility that an operation that is a future destination cannot be executed, and the operation can be executed in advance. Therefore, a necessary operation can be surely executed when it is located at a feasible point. Further, there is no delay in execution due to moving to a point where the operation cannot be performed. A complicated operation such as returning to an executable point and executing the operation again becomes unnecessary.

  Furthermore, since it is possible not to execute the operation when located at an unexecutable point, generation of useless power consumption can be avoided.

  In the first embodiment, a predicted route is obtained, and the wireless communication terminal 101 performs a predetermined operation based on the electric field strength on the predicted route. Furthermore, the wireless communication terminal of the present invention creates map information including the electric field strength for each area, and uses the prediction result of the route and the map information to perform more reliable prediction of the electric field strength and the operation based on the prediction result. It can be carried out.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the wireless communication terminal 101 of the present invention. A difference from the first embodiment of FIG. 4 is that a map information storage unit 901 is added. The map information storage unit 901 does not store the electric field information of each passing area for each route, but accumulates the electric field strength information of all areas as map information.

  An example of a method for creating map information will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12. Now, it is assumed that the communication service area 801 of the wireless communication terminal 101 is divided as shown in FIG. 10, and out-of-service areas 1001 and 1002 exist. The adjacent areas 1003 and 1004 are areas surrounding the out-of-service areas 1001 and 1002.

  Assume that the wireless communication terminal 101 moves from point A to point B along route 802 in an initial state where no map information exists. At this time, the map information 1101 is created as shown in FIG. The area indicated by “X” is an area through which the wireless communication terminal 101 has not passed again, and the field strength measurement has not been performed and the out-of-service area classification is unknown. As the wireless communication terminal 101 moves in the communication service area 801, the area where the electric field strength is measured increases, and the out-of-area classification information is accumulated. Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, the out-of-area classification information of all areas in the service area 801 is accumulated in the map information 1201. The route information storage unit 109 sequentially updates the map information 1101 as described above, and finally completes the map information 1201.

  Note that the out-of-area classification information of each area may be changed according to the classification of the adjacent area. Even if an area is “inside”, if it is later determined that the adjacent area is “outside”, the area is changed to “adjacent”.

  Next, a method for using the map information 1101 or 1201 will be described. The predicted route is obtained by the same method as in the first embodiment. That is, the passed position information is stored as route information, and when the current position information matches the position information in the past route information, the past route is set as a predicted route. Then, the area information on the predicted route is searched in the map information, and a predetermined operation is performed based on the result. The criteria for determining the area in which the predetermined operation is performed after the outside section is determined are the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, it is possible to improve the prediction accuracy of the out-of-service segment on the predicted route compared to the first embodiment. This is because in the first embodiment, each piece of past route information is simple time-series information and is independent of each other. Therefore, even if a certain route passes through an area immediately adjacent to the out-of-service area, it cannot be determined that the route is an adjacent area.

However, in the second embodiment, the electric field strength information of each area is expanded into two-dimensional information. That is, when it is determined that an area is out of the service area, the surrounding area is classified as an adjacent area. Thereby, attention can be paid to the possibility that the predicted route goes out of the service area when passing near the out-of-service area. For this reason, even when the wireless communication terminal 101 takes a route different from the predicted route and goes out of the out-of-service area that was immediately adjacent to the wireless communication terminal 101, it is possible to perform an operation in preparation for the out-of-service area.
(Operation of the second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, it is also possible to instruct the user of the wireless communication terminal 101 to search for a route avoiding the out-of-service area and take the route.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, the wireless communication terminal 101 acquires position information (S701) and field strength information (S702), and searches for position information of the current position in past path information (S703). If there is no position information of the current position in the past route information, the route information is registered or the route information is updated (S1301). The field strength information is sequentially added and updated in the map information (S1302).

  If there is position information of the current position in the past route information, it is estimated that the route is a predicted route (S705). Map information is searched based on future position information of the predicted route, and it is confirmed whether or not an out-of-service area exists on the predicted route. If there is no out-of-service point, the process returns to step S701 to prepare for the next position measurement. When there are a plurality of routes that satisfy the condition of S703, as in the first embodiment, all of them may be recognized as predicted routes, or one route may be specified based on a predetermined criterion.

  If an out-of-service location exists on the predicted route, a route that does not pass through the out-of-service location is selected based on the map information, and the user of the wireless communication terminal 101 is instructed to take the route (S1303). As an instruction method, voice input / output, display, or the like may be used. Alternatively, as in the first embodiment, a predetermined operation such as transmission / reception of electronic mail may be performed immediately.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The setting conditions in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. The wireless communication terminal 101 starts moving from the point A, and the route 802 that passes the points P and Q and reaches the point B is the current moving route.

  In the second embodiment, it is assumed that there are two types of route information from point C to point B via point P. That is, the route information storage unit 109 stores a route 803 that passes through the out-of-service area C → P → Q → B and a route 1401 that does not pass through the out-of-service area C → P → R → B.

  Here, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 101 starts moving from point A to point P. At this time, as in the first embodiment, position information and electric field strength information are acquired for each area as a new route. The position information and the electric field information are measured while passing through the point P and moving to the point B, but since the route information of the route 803 and the route 1401 exists after the point P, the route prediction unit 111 It is determined that the route currently in progress is the route 803 or the route 1401. Next, the out-of-service information in the map information 1201 is searched, and it is confirmed that there is no out-of-service area in the P → R → B route after the P point of the route 1401. Then, the user of the wireless communication terminal 101 is instructed to take a route so that a route 1401 of P → R → B is taken after the point P. As an instruction method, route display on the display unit 402, voice guidance, or the like can be used.

  The map information 1201 stores only area divisions and out-of-area classification information for each area. Further, the map information 1201 may also store road configuration information such as a general map. By using the road configuration information together, even if there is no route information of the route 1401, it is possible to search and instruct a route that has not passed in the past but does not pass outside the service area.

  With the configuration of the second embodiment, it is possible to use electric field strength information and out-of-area classification information that are spread two-dimensionally. Therefore, even when the route different from the predicted route is taken, the necessary operation can be reliably executed in the adjacent area before entering the out-of-service area. It is also possible to search for a route that does not pass through the out-of-service area and present it.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the route information storage unit 107 is provided inside the wireless communication terminal 101, but may be provided outside the wireless communication terminal 101.

  In the third and fourth embodiments, the route information storage unit 107 is provided outside the wireless communication terminal 101.

  FIG. 15 shows a third embodiment in which a base station 1501 having jurisdiction over the wireless communication terminal 101 includes a route information server 1502. Similar to the route information storage unit 107, the route information server 1502 has a role of storing the location information 108 and providing the route information stored in response to a request from the route prediction unit 109. The location information 108 is transmitted from the wireless unit 102 to the base station 1501 via the control unit 104 and stored in the route information server 1502.

  When the route prediction unit 109 predicts a route, the control unit 104 requests the route information server 1502 to provide the stored route information. At this time, the route information server 1502 transmits the stored route information via the base station 1501, the control unit 104 receives this, and outputs the route information 112 to the route prediction unit 109.

  FIG. 16 shows a fourth embodiment in which a route information server 1502 is provided on a network 1601 to which a base station 1501 is connected. The position of the route information server 1502 is different from that of the third embodiment, but the operation is the same. That is, the route information server 1502 stores route information sent from the control unit 104 via the base station 1501 and the network 1601. Then, route information is transmitted to the control unit 104 in accordance with a request from the control unit 104.

  The type of network is not particularly limited, and may be a dedicated network or the Internet. The network 1601 may be a network to which the base station 1501 is directly connected, or may be a network that is further connected.

  In the third and fourth embodiments, not only route information but also map information may be stored in the route information server 1502. The method of using map information is the same as in the second embodiment.

  With the configurations of the third and fourth embodiments, it is possible to store a large number of route information corresponding to a large communication service area and to correspond to precise route information with fine resolution of position information. Alternatively, not only storage of route information, but also storage of a large amount of data such as storage of map information in a wide area, correspondence to detailed area divisions, storage of road configuration information, and the like.

  Moreover, map information including the radio field intensity of a wide service area can be efficiently collected using the fact that map information of each wireless mobile terminal is stored in the same server. This is because the map information is information on the radio field intensity for each area, and is information common to each wireless mobile terminal, so that information from all wireless mobile terminals may be collected as one map information. One route information is used for route prediction and is information unique to each wireless mobile terminal.

  The wireless mobile terminal of the first embodiment uses GPS, which is a method for obtaining a position by receiving radio waves from an artificial satellite, as a position measurement method. Further, the position measurement can be realized by other methods.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of means for directly knowing the current position by receiving position information from a position information transmitter fixed on the road 1701. The position information transmitters 1702 and 1703 transmit position information signals 1704 and 1705 that are radio waves carrying position information indicating their respective positions. The wireless communication terminal 101 can know that the current position is in the vicinity of the position information transmitter 1702 by receiving the position information signal 1704.

  In order to easily identify the current position, the reach of the position information signals 1704 and 05 may be limited. For example, if the reach distance is set to about ½ of the interval between the position information transmitter 1702 and the position information transmitter 1703, only one of the position information signals 1704 and 1705 can be received, so the position can be easily determined. If the wireless communication terminal 101 receives both the position information signal 1704 and the position information signal 1705, the current position may be an intermediate point between the position information transmitter 1702 and the position information transmitter 1703. Alternatively, the position may be determined based on the ratio of the received electric field strength between the position information signal 1702 and the position information signal 1703.

  Since general short-range wireless devices can be applied to the position information transmitters 1702 and 1703, a wireless LAN, Bluetooth, Zigbee, RF tag, or the like may be used.

  With the configuration of the fifth embodiment, the position can be measured even in a region where radio waves from the artificial satellite do not reach, so the wireless communication terminal 101 can be used more flexibly.

It is a block diagram which shows the best form for implementing this invention. It is an example of the route information of the best mode for carrying out the present invention. It is an example of the path | route and path | route information of the best form for implementing this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 1st Example of this invention. It is an example of the route information of 1st Example of this invention. It is an example of the route information of 1st Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the 1st Example of this invention. It is an example of a path | route and path | route information of 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd Example of this invention. It is an example of the path | route of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is an example of the path | route information of 2nd Example of this invention. It is an example of the path | route information of 2nd Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is an example of the path | route of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 3rd Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 4th Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 5th Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Wireless communication terminal 102 Wireless part 103 Input / output part 104 Control part 105 Antenna part 108 Position measurement part 109 Route information storage part 111 Course prediction part 301 Communication service area 302 Path 401 Voice input / output part 402 Display part 403 Man-machine interface part 404 GPS antenna unit 405 Electric field strength measurement unit 801 Communication service area 802, 803 Route 806, 807 Out-of-service area 808, 809, 810 Adjacent area 811 Area 901 Map information storage unit 802, 803 Route 1001, 1002 Out-of-service area 1003, 1004 Adjacent area 1401 Route 1501 Base station 1502 Route information server 1601 Network 1701 Road 1702, 1703 Location information transmitter 1704, 1705 Location information signal

Claims (32)

A wireless communication terminal including a position measurement unit that measures a current position and outputs position information, wherein the wireless communication terminal performs a predetermined first operation based on the position information. 2. The wireless communication terminal includes a state measurement unit for measuring state information indicating a predetermined state of the current position, and performs the predetermined first operation based on the state information. The wireless communication terminal described. A wireless communication terminal including a position measurement unit that measures a current position and outputs position information includes a route information storage unit that stores route information including a time series of the plurality of position information, and predicts based on the route information A wireless communication terminal that performs a predetermined first operation based on the predicted course. In a wireless communication terminal including a position measurement unit that measures a current position and outputs position information, a predetermined route information unit outside the wireless communication terminal stores route information including a plurality of time series of the position information. A wireless communication terminal that performs a predetermined first operation based on a predicted course predicted based on the route information. The wireless communication terminal includes a state measurement unit for measuring state information representing a predetermined state of the current position, measures the current position and the state information, associates the state information with the position information, and 5. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication terminal is stored in a route information storage unit, and a predicted state of each point on the predicted route is obtained from the storage content of the route information storage unit. The wireless communication terminal includes an output unit that outputs predetermined information, and when the predicted route includes an out-of-condition point where the predicted state does not satisfy a predetermined condition, a recommended route that does not include the out-of-condition point The wireless communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein the output unit outputs. The wireless communication terminal includes an output unit that outputs predetermined information, and when the current position is equal to or less than a predetermined distance to the out-of-condition point, or when the predicted course includes the out-of-condition point, the output unit 7. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein alarm information is output. The wireless communication terminal exists in any of a plurality of areas having a predetermined shape and size, measures the current position and the state information at a predetermined time interval, and associates the state information with the area. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 2, further comprising a map information storage unit that stores the attached map information. The wireless communication terminal exists in any one of a plurality of areas having a predetermined shape and size, measures a current position and the state information at predetermined time intervals, and determines a predetermined value outside the wireless communication terminal. 8. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the state information and the area are stored as association map information in the route information server. 10. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the state information is information including a field intensity of a radio wave from a predetermined fixed wireless station. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined first operation is performed at a point adjacent to an out-of-service point that is a point where the radio field intensity is smaller than a predetermined electric field strength determination value. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein a predetermined second operation is performed at the out-of-service point. 2. The wireless communication terminal includes an e-mail control unit that controls transmission / reception of e-mail, and the predetermined first operation is transmission / reception of the e-mail by the e-mail control unit. The radio | wireless communication terminal in any one of thru | or 12. 14. The predetermined first operation is a stop of a predetermined function provided in the wireless communication terminal or an interruption of power supply to a predetermined part of the wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal described. 13. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined second operation is a stop of a predetermined function provided in the wireless communication terminal or an interruption of power supply to a predetermined part of the wireless communication terminal. 16. The position information is two-dimensional coordinates or area coordinates for specifying an area obtained by dividing a predetermined area where the wireless communication terminal exists into a predetermined shape and size. A wireless communication terminal according to any one of the above. A position measuring unit that measures a current position and outputs position information is provided, and path information including a time series of a plurality of the position information is stored in a predetermined path information storage unit, and a predicted course predicted based on the path information is stored. A fixed transmitter that transmits a signal including information for measuring the current position to a wireless communication terminal that performs a predetermined operation based on the information. A position measuring unit that measures a current position and outputs position information is provided, and path information including a time series of a plurality of the position information is stored in a predetermined path information storage unit, and a predicted course predicted based on the path information is stored. A route information server that receives the route information from a wireless communication terminal that performs a predetermined operation based on the request and provides the route information according to a request from the wireless communication terminal. A method for controlling a wireless communication terminal, comprising: measuring position information of a current position of the wireless communication terminal; and performing a predetermined first operation based on the position information. 20. The method of controlling a radio communication terminal according to claim 19, comprising: measuring state information indicating a predetermined state of the current position; and performing the predetermined first operation based on the state information. . A step of measuring position information of a current position of the wireless communication terminal, a step of storing route information including a plurality of time series of the position information, and a predetermined first path based on a predicted course predicted based on the route information A method for controlling a wireless communication terminal, comprising a step of performing an operation. A step of measuring the current position and the state information; a step of storing the state information and the position information in association with each other in the route information storage unit; and each point on the predicted course from the stored content of the route information storage unit The method for controlling a wireless communication terminal according to claim 21, further comprising a step of obtaining a predicted state of the wireless communication terminal. And a step of outputting a recommended route, which is a route not including the unconditional point, by a predetermined output unit when the predicted route includes an unconditional point where the prediction state does not satisfy a predetermined condition. Item 23. A method for controlling a wireless communication terminal according to Item 22. 23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of outputting alarm information by a predetermined output unit when a current position is equal to or less than a predetermined distance to the out-of-condition point or when the predicted course includes the out-of-condition point. Or a method for controlling a wireless communication terminal according to any one of 23. The wireless communication terminal is present in any of a plurality of areas having a predetermined shape and size, and measures the current position and the state information at a predetermined time interval; and the state information and the area 25. The method for controlling a wireless communication terminal according to any one of claims 20 and 22 to 24, further comprising a step of storing the information as association map information. 26. The method of controlling a wireless communication terminal according to claim 20, wherein the state information is information including a field intensity of a radio wave from a predetermined fixed wireless station. 27. The control of a wireless communication terminal according to claim 26, further comprising a step of performing the predetermined first operation at a point adjacent to an out-of-service point that is a point where the radio field intensity is smaller than a predetermined electric field strength determination value. Method. 28. The method of controlling a wireless communication terminal according to claim 26, further comprising a step of performing a predetermined second operation at the out-of-service point. The method of controlling a wireless communication terminal according to any one of claims 19 to 28, wherein the predetermined first operation is transmission / reception of the email by the email control unit. The predetermined first operation is a stop of a predetermined function provided in the wireless communication terminal or an interruption of power supply to a predetermined part of the wireless communication terminal. A method for controlling the wireless communication terminal as described. 29. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 28, wherein the predetermined second operation is a stop of a predetermined function provided in the wireless communication terminal or an interruption of power supply to a predetermined part of the wireless communication terminal. Control method. 32. The position information is two-dimensional coordinates or area coordinates for specifying an area obtained by dividing a predetermined area where the wireless communication terminal exists into a predetermined shape and size. The control method of the radio | wireless communication terminal in any one.

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