JP2006270198A - Position managing method and position managing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform a managing device of position information or the like on an object even if a transfer destination is out of a first communication line range. <P>SOLUTION: In one embodiment, when transfer completion after an article 1-1 starts to travel is detected, an attachment 1-2 moving with the article 1-1 detects the position of a transfer destination and current time, and requests the managing device 1-6 to register the position of the transfer destination, the current time, and the identification information of the attachment via a communication line utilizing an ad hoc multihop protocol via a communication gateway 1-5 and other required attachments. In the case of a failure, the attachment 1-2 requests a position information interim storage device 1-4 to register the position of the transfer destination, the current time, and the identification information of the attachment. Accordingly, the position information interim storage device 1-4 stores these temporarily, and registers these at the managing device 1-6 via a second communication line 1-7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a position management method and a position management system for managing the position of an article to be managed (hereinafter simply referred to as “article”), and in particular, the article by being attached to or built in an individual article. The present invention relates to a location management method and a location management system in which an attachment that moves together registers its location in a management device via a network (in particular, an ad hoc multi-hop network).

  Attachments that move with an article by being attached to or contained within an individual article measure the position of the article in a variety of ways. There is a position management system that autonomously notifies the measurement result to a management device in the center (or in response to a request from the center). In such a system, it is normal for each attachment to notify its location via the network. There are various methods for realizing a network, but a wireless method is effective, and a method for configuring an ad hoc multi-hop wireless network does not require a fixed communication infrastructure, and is expected to be used in the future.

  Ad hoc multi-hop networks do not require network infrastructure prepared in advance, each node autonomously configures the network, and each node relays communication between other nodes as necessary. This is a technology that enables communication over many times the communication distance (single hop) between single nodes.

  The “smoothing technique” in the invention described in Patent Document 1 simply “analyzes missing data from previous and subsequent data”. In the present invention, the lack of information is inferred from other data such as previous and subsequent data.

  The invention described in Patent Document 2 collects information via a satellite.

The invention described in Patent Document 3 relates to a method of waiting when a link state is bad and waiting for recovery of the link state.
JP 2000-029519 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-076012 JP 61-112439 A

  Conventionally, wireless networks, especially ad hoc multi-hop wireless networks, have limitations on the range / range of wireless transmission, resulting in an article (or set of articles) that is disconnected from the whole and cannot communicate with the sensor. There is a possibility to do. The position of the article that cannot be communicated cannot be specified, and the position cannot be managed.

  In the case of ad hoc multi-hop radio, in the case where the average distance between articles is sufficiently shorter than the single communication possible distance (single hop) of radio, all articles can be statistically communicated by multi-hop communication. In a system in which individual articles move in an uncontrolled manner, there is no possibility that an article (or a set of articles) may be accidentally disconnected from the whole and cannot be communicated.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a location management method and a location management system that can notify the management device of location information of an object even when the destination is outside the range of the first communication line. The purpose is to do.

  According to the present invention, when a target moves, a destination position detecting step for detecting a destination position, and when the destination is out of the first communication line, the destination position is And an alternative movement destination position registration step of registering with the management apparatus via the two communication lines.

  In the above location management method, an initial destination registration step of registering the destination location in the management device via the first communication line, and whether or not registration at the initial destination registration step is successful And an out-of-service determining step of determining whether or not the destination is out of the service area of the first communication line.

  In the position management method, the movement destination position detection step includes a movement start detection step for detecting movement start of the object, and a movement end / movement for detecting movement end or movement continuation of the object after the movement starts. You may make it provide a continuation detection step and a position detection step of detecting the position of the object when the end of movement or the continuation of movement is detected.

  In the location management method, the alternative destination location registration step includes a first transmission step in which an attachment that moves together with the object transmits a location of the destination to a temporary storage device; A second transmission step of transmitting the position of the destination received from the attachment to the management device via the second communication line; and the management device from the temporary storage device via the second communication line. A registration step of registering the received location of the destination.

  In the position management method, the management device inquires about the position of the object via the first communication line, and the management apparatus determines the position of the object with respect to the inquiry. An alternative step of substituting the position of the destination registered in the management apparatus for the position of the target object may be further provided when reception is not possible via the first communication line.

  In the above location management method, in the alternative destination location registration step, in addition to the location of the destination, the identification information of the attachment that moves together with the object and the current time may be registered in the management device.

  In the present invention, (1) a location information provisional storage device 1-4 provided in the moving means 1-3 (including the worker) and connected to the management device 1-6 via the second communication line 1-7. , (2) means 1-2-4 for detecting the movement of the article, and (3) means 1-6-2 for temporarily storing the position provided in the management apparatus 1-6.

  In preparation for a situation where the article cannot notify its position on demand, the article tries to register its position in the management apparatus 1-6 every time the article is moved.

  For this purpose, the position management attachment 1-2 has a movement detection unit 1-2-4, and registers position information together with time in the management apparatus 1-6 when the movement is completed (or continuously during movement). At this time, if data registration fails due to inability to communicate due to network reachability or the like, the location management attachment 1-2 registers the location in the location information temporary storage device 1-4. Since the positional information temporary storage device 1-4 is provided in the moving unit 1-3, it is always present near the position management attachment 102 before and after the movement, and communication with the position management attachment 102 becomes impossible. Absent.

  The management device 1-6 normally displays the position information by making an inquiry to the position management attachment 1-2 when a position search request is generated, but if the communication is impossible, the above means is used. By searching the position information temporary memory 1-6-2 that manages the registered position information with the latest time, it can be used as a substitute value for the position information at that time.

  According to the present invention, when a target moves, a destination position detecting step for detecting a destination position, and when the destination is out of the first communication line, the destination position is And an alternative movement destination position registration step of registering with the management device via the communication line 2, so that the position information of the object is managed even when the movement destination is outside the range of the first communication line. It is possible to notify the device.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram. The article 1-1 is a stored item, a commodity, or the like, and usually has no position measurement function or wireless communication function. For the purpose of managing the position of these articles 1-1, an attachment 1-2 for position management is attached to the article 1-1. However, the article 1-1 may include the attachment 1-2 in advance. The attachment 1-2 is usually smaller in size than the article 1-1, and preferably has a battery and a wireless communication function in order to eliminate the need for wiring for power supply and communication. The attachment is attached to the article 1-1 when the article 1-1 enters control, and the ID is associated with the individual information of the article 1-1 at that time.

  As a wireless communication method used by the attachment 1-2 for communication with the management device 1-6, such as the advantage of not having a fixed infrastructure for communication and the advantage of saving power by suppressing the wireless output intensity, ad hoc multi A hop network method is used. However, in this method, the possibility that an item that cannot be communicated with the management apparatus 1-6, such as an article placed only one distance on the upper right in FIG. Although it is possible to devise operations to make such a possibility sufficiently small, it becomes a significant operational limitation.

  In order to solve this incommunicable problem, the attachment 1-2 is provided with a movement detector 1-2-4 such as an acceleration sensor. If the position of the attachment 1-2 is reported to the management device 1-6 immediately after the movement, it is possible to grasp the position almost the same as grasping the position on demand. Communication may not be possible. However, in consideration of the condition immediately after the movement, it is certain that the moving means 1-3 is in the vicinity of the article 1-1 at that time, and the position information provisional storage device that is a device that temporarily receives the position information here. If 1-4 is provided, the location information can be registered. The moving means 1-3 may be a person. In this case, it is assumed that the location information temporary storage device 1-4 is a terminal such as a PDA / mobile phone. If the communication with the management device 1-6 is unsuccessful, the attachment 1-2 registers the location information in the location information temporary storage device 1-4. The temporary location information storage device 1-4 is connected to the management device 1-6 via the second communication line 1-7, which is a communication line different from that used by the attachment 1-2 for the management device 1-6. Register the data. If the registration is successful, the information in the location information temporary storage device 1-4 may be deleted.

  The management device 1-6 stores the position information and the attachment 1-2 from the attachment 1-2 or the position information temporary storage device 1-4 in the position management temporary memory 1-6-2. The latest time and the identification information of the attachment 1-2 received from the attachment 1-2 are added to the position information to be stored. Although time synchronization is required, a system in which data having the same identification information is simply overwritten without time information when the communication delay is sufficiently small may be used.

  When the management apparatus 1-6 needs to know the position of the article 1-1, the management apparatus 1-6 communicates with the attachment 1-2 on demand, and the position information, the current time, and the attachment 1-2. Get your identification information. If communication is impossible at this time, the location management temporary memory 1-6-2 is searched, and the latest location information, time, and identification information of the current location information, current time, and attachment 1-2 of the article are obtained. Used as an alternative to identification information.

  In addition, for the purpose of only grasping location information, if the accuracy of movement detection is sufficiently high and the communication cost (time, fee, etc.) between the location information temporary storage device 1-4 and the management device 1-6 is sufficiently low, On-demand location information search is unnecessary, and it is possible to configure the system only by registering the location by the location information temporary storage device 1-4. However, the network for grasping location information on demand can be used for collecting, setting, and controlling various types of information in addition to the collection of location information. It is a system that forms an ad hoc multi-hop network. For applications other than the collection of location information, it is impossible to relieve incommunicable nodes with the method of the present invention. I think it is possible. For example, moving the article 1-1 capable of restoring communication to a position or going to the place and manually collecting data can be considered as a situation improvement method. Therefore, the system of the present invention is considered to be effective even in a system that utilizes a network for such other uses.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the position management attachment 1-2.

  First, the movement detection unit 1-2-4 detects the start of movement of the article 1-1 and the attachment 1-2 (step S201). Next, the movement detection unit 1-2-4 detects the end of movement of the article 1-1 and the attachment 1-2 (step S203). Next, the position measuring unit 1-2-3 measures the current positions of the article 1-1 and the attachment 1-2 (Step S205). Next, the ad hoc multi-hop protocol unit 1-2-2 transmits to the management device 1-6 via the communication gateway 1-5 and, if necessary, the ad hoc multi-hop protocol unit 1-2-2 of another attachment. The position information, the current time, and the identification information of the attachment 1-2 are transmitted and requested to register them (step S209). If registration fails (NO in step S211), the communication unit 1-2-1 transmits the position information, the current time, and the identification information of the attachment 1-2 to the position information temporary storage device 1-4. A request is made to register them (step S213). Note that the registration failure includes failure due to inability to transmit and registration failure within the management apparatus 1-6 when transmission is successful.

  After performing step S201, the operation after step S205 may be periodically performed after detecting the start of movement, not when the end of movement is detected. By doing so, it is possible to notify the management apparatus 1-6 of the positional information periodically via the positional information temporary storage device 1-4 when the movement is continued without the movement being completed. Become.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the temporary location information storage device 1-4.

First, according to step S213, the communication unit 1-4-1 for attachment receives position information, current time, and identification information of the attachment 1-2 from the attachment 1-2 (step S211). Next, the received position information, current time, and identification information of the attachment 1-2 are stored in the position information memory 1-4-3, and these are stored in the management device 1-6 via the second communication line 1-7. And requests the management apparatus 1-6 to register them (step S223). Next, the position information stored in the position information memory 1-4-3, the current time, and the identification information of the attachment 102 are deleted (step S225).
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the management apparatus 1-6 receives a registration request.

  First, the communication unit 1-6-4 of the attachment 1-2 receives position information, current time, and identification information of the attachment 1-2 from the attachment 1-2. Alternatively, the communication unit 1-6-1 of the temporary storage device 1-4 receives the position information, the current time, and the identification information of the attachment 1-2 from the position information temporary storage device 1-4 (step S231). Next, the position management application 1-6-3 uses the same attachment 1- stored in the position management temporary memory 1-6-2 based on the received position information, current time, and identification information of the attachment 1-2. The registration information having the identification information 2 is updated (step S233).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the management apparatus 1-6 receives a search processing request.

  First, a request for position information search processing is received from a user or the like (step S241). Next, the location management application 1-6-3 performs the search via the communication line (communication line via the communication gateway 1-5 and necessary attachment) using the ad hoc multi-hop protocol unit 1-2-2. The position information or the like is inquired to the attachment 1-2 corresponding to the target article (step S243). If the inquiry fails due to reasons such as the inability to establish a communication path (NO in step S245), the location information stored in the location management temporary memory 1-6-2 is used as alternative information (step S247). .

  In position management (such as tracking a person) in a system in which the article itself moves autonomously, a system in which the position information management attachment 1-2 and the position information temporary storage device 1-4 are integrated is considered. It is done. In this case, the communication function of the attachment 1-2 can be completely replaced with the communication function of the temporary location information storage device 1-4 in terms of communication range, but the system of the present invention is effective from the viewpoint of communication cost. There is a possibility. In other words, the communication function of the location information temporary storage device 1-4 is charged for a certain amount, but the communication cost can be reduced for the reason that the communication function based on the ad hoc multi-hop protocol of the attachment is not charged for a certain amount.

  The position management attachment can be realized by hardware, but can also be realized by the computer reading and executing a program for causing the computer to function as the position management attachment from the recording medium. . Similarly, the temporary location information storage device can be realized by hardware, but is also realized by the computer reading and executing a program for causing the computer to function as the temporary location information storage device. be able to. Furthermore, the management device can be realized by hardware, but can also be realized by the computer reading and executing a program for causing the computer to function as the management device from the recording medium.

  Consider an automobile on a vast site as an article. The communication unit 1-2-2 of the attachment 1-2 has an ad hoc multi-hop function, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) terminal is used as the position measurement unit 1-2-3. The movement is detected by starting the engine, and the position information is registered when the engine is stopped. Engine start-up monitoring is surely extracted from the on-board computer, but a method using a vibration sensor / exhaust pipe airflow sensor or the like is also possible. The attachment is basically battery-driven, but it can also be powered by solar cells.

  The moving means 1-3 corresponds to a driver, and the location information temporary storage device 1-4 uses a mobile phone or PDA held by the driver to connect the location information temporary storage device 1-4 and the management device 1-6. A mobile phone line, a PHS line, or the like is used.

  The mobile phone or PDA is equipped with hardware and device drivers that receive radio signals from the attachment 1-2.

  In the management apparatus 1-6, the location information acquired by the GPS terminal and the current time are converted into a map display that is easy for the user to understand, so that the user knows where the vehicle that the user wants to manage is currently located.

  It can also be used to investigate the storage environment by attaching a temperature sensor or ultraviolet sensor to the attachment 1-2.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, article management in a warehouse or sales item management in a market.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the position management system by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of the attachment by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the positional information temporary storage apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement at the time of receiving the registration request of the management apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement at the time of receiving the search process request of the management apparatus by embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-1 Managed Object 1-2 Position Management Attachment 1-3 Moving Means 1-4 Position Information Temporary Storage Device 1-5 Communication Gateway 1-6 Management Device

Claims (25)

A destination position detecting step for detecting a destination position when the object moves; and
An alternative destination location registration step of registering the location of the destination in a management device via the second communication line when the destination is outside the range of the first communication line;
A location management method comprising: The location management method according to claim 1,
An initial destination registration step of registering the location of the destination in the management device via the first communication line;
Out-of-service determination step for determining whether or not the transfer destination is out of the service area of the first communication line based on whether or not the registration in the initial transfer destination registration step is successful;
A location management method, further comprising: The location management method according to claim 1,
The destination position detection step includes:
A movement start detection step for detecting the movement start of the object;
A movement end / movement continuation detecting step for detecting movement end or movement continuation of the object after the start of movement;
A position detecting step for detecting the position of the object when the movement end or movement continuation is detected;
A location management method comprising: The location management method according to claim 1,
The alternative destination location registration step includes:
An attachment that moves together with the object, a first transmission step of transmitting the position of the movement destination to a temporary storage device;
A second transmission step in which the temporary storage device transmits the location of the destination received from the attachment to the management device via the second communication line;
A registration step in which the management device registers the location of the destination received from the temporary storage device via the second communication line;
A location management method comprising: The location management method according to claim 1,
An inquiry step in which the management device inquires about the position of the object via the first communication line;
When the management apparatus cannot receive the position of the object via the first communication line in response to the inquiry, the position of the destination registered in the management apparatus is determined as the position of the object. An alternative step to replace
A location management method, further comprising: The location management method according to claim 1,
A location management method comprising: registering identification information and current time of an attachment that moves with the object in addition to the location of the destination in the alternative destination location registration step. Destination position detecting means for detecting the position of the destination when the object moves,
An alternative transmission means for transmitting the location of the destination to a temporary storage device when the object is outside the range of the first communication line;
An attachment comprising: The attachment according to claim 7.
Initial transmission means for transmitting the location of the destination to the management apparatus via the first communication line;
Out-of-range determining whether the destination is out of range of the first communication line based on whether transmission by the initial transmission means or registration of the location of the destination in the management device is successful Judgment means,
The attachment further comprising. The attachment according to claim 7.
The destination position detection means includes
Movement start detecting means for detecting the movement start of the object;
A movement end / movement continuation detecting means for detecting movement end or movement continuation of the object after the start of movement;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the object when the movement end or movement continuation is detected;
An attachment characterized by comprising. The attachment according to claim 7.
The alternative transmission means transmits the identification information of the attachment and the current time to the temporary storage device in addition to the position of the movement destination. Receiving means for receiving the position of the destination from an attachment that moves together with the target when the target moves and the destination is outside the range of the first communication line;
Transmitting means for transmitting the location of the destination received from the attachment to the management device via a second communication line;
A provisional storage device comprising: The temporary storage device according to claim 11,
The receiving means receives the attachment identification information and the current time from the attachment, in addition to the position of the destination.
The temporary storage device, wherein the transmission unit transmits the identification information of the attachment received from the attachment and the current time to the management device in addition to the position of the movement destination received from the attachment. When the target moves, if the destination is outside the range of the first communication line, the position of the destination is received from the attachment that moves with the target via the temporary storage device and the second communication line. An alternative receiving means to
Registration means for registering the received location of the destination;
A management apparatus comprising: The management device according to claim 13,
When the object moves, the apparatus further includes initial receiving means for receiving the position of the moving destination from the attachment via the first communication line when the moving destination is within a range of the first communication line. A management device characterized by that. The management device according to claim 13,
Inquiry means for inquiring about the position of the object via the first communication line;
In response to the inquiry, when the position of the object cannot be received via the first communication line, the position of the destination registered in the management apparatus is substituted for the position of the object Means,
A management apparatus further comprising: The management device according to claim 13,
The alternative reception means receives the attachment identification information and the current time in addition to the position of the destination,
The registration device receives the attachment identification information and the current time in addition to the position of the destination.   The program for functioning a computer as an attachment of any one of Claims 7 thru | or 10.   The program for functioning a computer as a temporary storage apparatus of Claim 11 or 12.   A program for causing a computer to function as the management apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 16. A location management system comprising an attachment, a temporary storage device, and a management device,
The attachment includes a movement destination position detecting unit that moves with the object and detects a position of the movement destination when the object moves.
The system is an alternative transmission for transmitting the location of the destination from the attachment to the management device via the temporary storage device and the second communication line when the destination is outside the range of the first communication line. With means,
The location management system, wherein the management device comprises registration means for registering the received destination location. The location management system according to claim 20,
The system includes initial transmission means for transmitting the position of the destination from the attachment to the management device via the first communication line,
The attachment includes out-of-service determining means for determining whether or not the destination is out of the service area of the first communication line based on whether or not the transmission by the initial transmission means is successful. Location management system. The location management system according to claim 20,
The destination position detection means includes
Movement start detecting means for detecting the movement start of the object;
A movement end / movement continuation detecting means for detecting the movement end or movement continuation of the object after the start of movement;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the object when the movement end or movement continuation is detected;
A location management system comprising: The location management system according to claim 20,
The alternative transmission means includes
First transmission means for transmitting the position of the movement destination from the attachment to the temporary storage device;
Second transmission means for transmitting the location of the destination from the temporary storage device to the management device via the second communication line;
A location management system comprising: The location management system according to claim 20,
The management device
Inquiry means for inquiring about the position of the object via the first communication line to the attachment;
In response to the inquiry, if the position of the object cannot be received from the attachment via the first communication line, the position of the destination registered in the management apparatus is substituted for the position of the object. And alternatives
A location management system comprising: The location management system according to claim 20,
The alternative transmission means transmits the identification information of the attachment and the current time to the management device in addition to the position of the movement destination,
The registration means registers the identification information of the attachment and the current time in addition to the position of the movement destination.

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