JP2008078881A - Portable terminal and emergency report system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform emergency report from a communication outside the range area to a public network, using a portable terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal, having a radio communication part which performs radio communication with a base station and a short-range radio communication part which performs short-range radio communication, has an emergency report generation detecting part which detects the starting of the emergency report; an outside/inside the range deciding part which decides whether the portable terminal can perform radio communication with the base station, based on detection by the emergency report generation detecting part and an emergency report processing part which generates emergency report information used for the emergency report, when the outside/inside the range deciding part decides that radio communication with the base station is available; the emergency report information is transmitted to the base station by using the radio communication part; and when the outside/inside the range deciding part decides that the radio communication with the base station is impossible, the emergency report information is transmitted to the other portable terminal by using the short-range radio communication part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a portable terminal capable of making an emergency call and an emergency call system using the same.

A conventional mobile terminal capable of making emergency calls, when an emergency situation occurs, if the location is within the area of the mobile terminal, make an emergency call to a pre-registered destination, and the location is outside the service area Waits for an emergency call, and after returning from the out-of-service area to the in-service area, the emergency call is made to a previously registered report destination. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 to 3) Further, a location where an emergency has occurred is specified by a GPS function mounted. (For example, see Patent Document 3)
JP2003-217060 JP2004-072499 JP 2005-135204 A

  Since the conventional mobile terminal capable of making an emergency call is configured as described above, when an emergency occurs in an area outside the communication range of the mobile terminal, it is not possible to immediately make an emergency call to the public communication network. There was a problem that it was impossible to promptly report emergency situations. In addition, it is not possible to identify the location where an emergency occurred and report the location information on a mobile terminal that does not have a GPS function, and cannot identify the location where the emergency occurred at the report destination that received the emergency notification. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can make an emergency call quickly even from an area outside the communication area. Further, when an emergency call is made, an emergency situation occurs even if the GPS function is not installed. The purpose is to obtain a portable terminal that can identify a location and report location information.

  A portable terminal according to the present invention is a portable terminal having a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a base station and a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication, and detects an emergency call to be started An out-of-service area determination unit that determines whether the mobile terminal is capable of wireless communication with the base station based on detection by the occurrence detection unit, the emergency call generation detection unit, and an emergency that generates emergency call information used for emergency calls A notification processing unit, and when the out-of-service area determination unit determines that wireless communication with the base station is possible, the emergency communication information is transmitted to the base station using the wireless communication unit, and the out-of-service area determination unit When it is determined that wireless communication with a base station is impossible, the emergency call information is transmitted to another mobile terminal using the short-range wireless communication unit.

  According to the present invention, when the mobile terminal determines that wireless communication with the base station is impossible, the emergency call information is transmitted to another mobile terminal using the short-range wireless communication unit. This has the effect of improving the probability that an emergency call can be made from the area to the public network.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an out-of-communication area where the mobile terminal cannot communicate directly with the base station, and 2 denotes an out-of-communication area where the mobile terminal can directly communicate with the base station, excluding the out-of-communication area 1. The mobile terminal 3 is an emergency information generation source terminal that starts an emergency call to report an occurrence of an emergency (emergency call information), and has a short-range wireless communication function in addition to a communication function with a base station. Reference numerals 4 to 6 are mobile terminals that have a communication function with a base station and a short-range wireless communication function and relay an emergency call. The mobile terminal 4 relays a short-range wireless communication in the out-of-communication area 1. The out-of-service area relay terminal, the portable terminal 5 lies in the out-of-communication area 1 and is located at the closest point to the in-service area 2, the out-of-service relay terminal, and the mobile terminal 6 is in the communication area 2. In addition, an emergency call capable terminal that exists at a point closest to the out-of-communication area 1 is shown. Reference numeral 7 denotes a base station with which mobile terminals in the communication area 2 can directly communicate, and is connected to a public network (not shown).

  The emergency occurrence source terminal 3 uses the short-range wireless communication function and connects to the out-of-service area relay terminal 4 that is responsible for the short-range wireless communication relay within the out-of-service area 1. The out-of-service area relay terminal 4 connected to the emergency occurrence source terminal 3 uses the short-range wireless communication function to connect the out-of-service area in the out-of-communication area 1 to the in-service relay terminal 5. At this time, there are a plurality of out-of-service area relay terminals 4 that can communicate with the emergency occurrence source terminal 3 using the short-range wireless communication function, and the out-of-service area relay terminal 5 via the plurality of out-of-service area relay terminals 4. There is also a case of connecting with. The out-of-service area relay terminal 5 connected to the out-of-service area relay terminal 4 is connected to the emergency call capable terminal 6 existing in the communication area 2 using the short-range wireless communication, and the connected emergency report capable terminal 6 is An emergency call is made to the public network using the communication function with the base station 7.

  Next, a block configuration of the emergency information generation source terminal 3, the out-of-service area relay terminal 4, the out-of-service area → the in-service relay terminal 5, and the emergency call capable terminal 6 that are mobile terminals will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, 8 is an emergency key (emergency call input unit) that starts an emergency call function when operated by a user when an attempt is made to report the occurrence of an emergency. Reference numeral 9 is a short-range wireless unit that performs short-range wireless communication, and 10 is a mobile phone wireless unit (wireless communication unit) that performs wireless communication with a base station. 11 is a display unit using an LCD or the like, 12 is an operation key (operation input unit) for a user to operate the function of the mobile phone, 13 is a microphone for inputting voice, and 14 is a speaker for outputting voice. The emergency call occurrence detection unit 15 detects the input of the emergency key 8 and performs an emergency call function start process. The out-of-service area determination unit 16 determines whether the mobile phone is in the communication area 2 or the communication area 1. In addition, the emergency call processing unit 17 receives either the short-range wireless communication signal or the mobile phone wireless signal generation processing for the emergency call or the short-range wireless communication or the mobile phone wireless communication in response to the result of the out-of-service area determination unit 16. This is the part that determines whether or not to make an emergency call. The mobile phone modulation / demodulation unit 18 modulates the mobile phone radio signal output from the emergency call processing unit 17 and outputs the modulated signal to the mobile phone radio unit 10. The short-range wireless communication unit 19 performs a short-range wireless connection with another terminal using the short-range wireless unit 9. Furthermore, 22 is a GPS device for acquiring position information (GPS information) of the portable terminal.

  FIG. 8 is a format diagram of a short-range wireless communication signal generated by the emergency call processing unit 17. The short-range wireless communication signal 24 includes emergency call information, terminal identification information, and position information, and these information are represented by bit data, byte data, or the like. Here, the emergency call information refers to information that can be determined by the emergency call processing unit 17 of the received wireless terminal that it is near field communication for emergency call. In addition, as the terminal identification information, a mobile device production number, an address used during short-range wireless communication, and the like are used.

  Hereinafter, based on FIG. 6 and 7, operation | movement of the portable terminal regarding an emergency call is demonstrated. FIG. 6 shows an operation when the emergency source terminal 3 makes an emergency call. In ST1, when the emergency key 8 is operated, in the emergency occurrence source terminal 3, the emergency call occurrence detection unit 15 detects an input from the emergency key 8, and activates / starts the emergency call function. If the signal which starts the emergency call function from the emergency call generation | occurrence | production detection part 15 is received, the position information processing part 21 will acquire position information from the GPS apparatus 22 (ST2). Similarly, the out-of-service area determination unit 16 that has received the signal for starting the emergency call function from the emergency call occurrence detection unit 15 determines whether the emergency source terminal 3 exists in the out-of-communication area 1 or the in-communication area 2 in ST3. To determine if it exists. Here, if it is determined that the emergency occurrence source terminal 3 exists in the communication area 2, the location information from the location information processing unit 21 and the generated emergency notification information in the emergency notification processing unit 17 in ST5. The mobile phone radio signal with the added is generated. Then, the mobile phone modulation / demodulation unit 18 modulates the signal and transmits it from the mobile phone radio unit 10 to the base station 7, thereby making an emergency call using the mobile phone radio communication (ST7).

  On the other hand, in ST3, when the out-of-service area determination unit 16 determines that the emergency occurrence source terminal 3 is present in the out-of-communication area 1, the emergency call processing unit 17 receives the information from the position information processing unit 21 in ST4. A short-range wireless communication signal to which the position information and the generated emergency call information are added is generated. Then, the short-range wireless communication unit 19 performs a short-range wireless connection with another mobile terminal using the short-range wireless unit 9, and transmits a short-range wireless communication signal (ST6).

  FIG. 7 shows the operation of the wireless terminal that has received the emergency call. In ST8, the short-range wireless connection destination terminal (other portable terminal) that is connected to the emergency occurrence source terminal 3 and receives the short-range wireless communication signal by the processing of the short-range wireless unit 9 and the short-range wireless communication unit 19 In ST9, the emergency call processing unit 17 detects that the emergency call information is added to the short-range wireless communication signal. Next, in ST10, the out-of-service area determination unit 16 determines whether the mobile terminal exists in the out-of-communication area 1 or the in-communication area 2. Here, if it is determined that it exists in the out-of-communication area 1, in ST11, a short-range wireless communication signal to which the location information of the emergency source terminal 3 received by the emergency call processing unit 17 and the emergency call information is added is generated. To do. Then, the short-range wireless communication unit 19 uses the short-range wireless unit 9 to make a short-range wireless connection with another mobile terminal and transmits a short-range wireless communication signal (ST13).

  At this time, in order to avoid performing short-distance wireless connection again with a portable terminal (emergency call source portable terminal) that has already performed short-distance wireless connection, the reconnection prevention processing is performed by the short-distance wireless communication unit 19 This is performed by the wireless unit 9. The flow of this reconnection prevention process is shown in FIG. In ST15, the mobile terminal that has received the short-distance wireless communication signal for emergency call acquires terminal identification information of the emergency call transmission source terminal included in the short-range wireless communication signal format 24 in the emergency call processing unit 17. Next, in order to transmit a short-range wireless communication signal for emergency notification, when performing short-range wireless connection with another portable terminal, the terminal identification information of the destination terminal is acquired from the other terminal, and acquired in ST15 It is compared with the terminal identification information, and it is determined whether or not the mobile terminal has already made a short-distance wireless connection (ST16). If it is determined that the terminal is an unconnected terminal, a short-range wireless connection is made in ST17, and a short-range wireless communication signal for emergency notification is transmitted. If the terminal is already connected as a result of the determination in ST16, the short-range wireless connection is not performed (ST18), and the process from ST16 is repeated in order to search for another portable terminal that can be connected by short-range wireless connection.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when it is determined in ST10 that the mobile terminal (short-distance wireless connection destination terminal) exists in the communication area 2, the emergency source terminal received by the emergency call processing unit 17 in ST12 A mobile phone radio signal to which the position information 3 and emergency call information 3 are added is generated. Then, the mobile phone modulation / demodulation unit 18 modulates the signal and transmits it from the mobile phone radio unit 10 to the base station 7, thereby making an emergency call using the mobile phone radio communication (ST14).

  According to the above, the mobile terminal can transmit emergency call information regardless of whether the mobile terminal is outside the communication area or within the communication area, thereby improving the probability that the emergency call can be made to the public network. In addition, it is determined whether the mobile terminal that makes an emergency call is an area within the communication area or an area outside the communication area, and if it is within the communication area, it communicates directly to the base station to make an emergency call, so there is no useless relay, Efficient communication is possible. Furthermore, by performing the reconnection prevention process, it is possible to prevent a problem that communication between the same terminals is repeated and an emergency call to the public network cannot be made.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a portable terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 23 denotes a base station position information memory. When the mobile terminal moves from the communication area 2 to the out-of-communication area 1, the base station information for which the position registration was last performed is stored as position information. When the base station information for which location registration is performed within the area changes, the newly acquired base station information is stored as location information. When this mobile terminal makes an emergency call as the emergency information generation source terminal 3, the same operation as that of FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment is performed, but in ST2, the position information processing unit 21 is a GPS device 22. Instead, the position information is acquired from the base station position information memory 23.

  According to the above, even if the mobile terminal is not equipped with a GPS function, the information stored in the base station location information memory 23 is notified as location information for specifying the location of the emergency source terminal 3. It is possible to send emergency call information.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a portable terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 2 or 3 assigned with the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the microphone 13 is connected to the emergency call occurrence detection unit 15, and the emergency call occurrence detection unit 15 does not input from the emergency key 8, but has a predetermined volume from the microphone 13 (emergency call input unit). Detecting input of sound greater than sound pressure, for example, screaming voice, activates / starts emergency call function. The operation after activation / start of the emergency call function is in accordance with the operation of FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment.

  According to the above, since the emergency call function can be activated / started by sound, the user can easily start an emergency call.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a portable terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 2 or 3 assigned with the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 20 denotes an acceleration sensor for detecting a change in acceleration of the mobile terminal body, and is connected to the emergency call occurrence detection unit 15. Instead of the input from the emergency key 8, the emergency call occurrence detection unit 15 detects an acceleration generated by acceleration or a change in acceleration of a predetermined amount or more from the acceleration sensor 20 (emergency call input unit), for example, by shaking the mobile terminal greatly. Detect / change acceleration and activate / start emergency call function. The operation after activation / start of the emergency call function is in accordance with the operation of FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment.

  According to the above, since the emergency call function can be activated / started by the operation on the mobile terminal, the user can easily start the emergency call.

  The present invention can be used for a portable terminal such as a cellular phone.

It is a conceptual diagram of the emergency call system using the portable terminal by this invention. It is a block diagram of the portable terminal by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the portable terminal by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the portable terminal by Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the portable terminal by Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the portable terminal by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the portable terminal by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a format figure of the short distance radio | wireless communication signal for emergency calls of the portable terminal by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the radio | wireless terminal by Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

9 Near field radio section, 10 Mobile phone radio section, 15 Emergency call occurrence detection section,
16 Out-of-service area determination unit, 17 Emergency call processing unit, 19 Near field communication unit

Claims (8)

In a mobile terminal having a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a base station and a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication,
An emergency call occurrence detection unit that detects the start of an emergency call,
Based on the detection by the emergency call occurrence detection unit, the out-of-service area determination unit that determines whether the mobile terminal is capable of wireless communication with the base station,
Equipped with an emergency call processing unit that generates emergency call information used for emergency calls,
When the out-of-service area determination unit determines that wireless communication with the base station is possible, the emergency communication information is transmitted to the base station using the wireless communication unit, and the out-of-service area determination unit performs wireless communication with the base station. A portable terminal that transmits the emergency call information to another portable terminal using the short-range wireless communication unit when it is determined to be impossible. An emergency call input unit that can input an emergency call start request is further provided.
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the emergency call occurrence detection unit detects the start of an emergency call based on a signal from the emergency call input unit. The emergency call input unit is a microphone, and the emergency call occurrence detection unit detects the start of an emergency call when a signal from the microphone indicates that the input voice to the microphone is greater than a predetermined value. The mobile terminal according to claim 2. The emergency call input unit is an acceleration sensor, and the emergency call occurrence detection unit, when the signal from the acceleration sensor indicates that the acceleration applied to the mobile terminal or a change in acceleration is greater than a predetermined value, The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the start of an emergency call is detected. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the emergency call information includes location information of the mobile terminal, and the location information uses GPS information or base station information. In a mobile terminal having a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a base station and a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication,
A signal processing unit for processing a short-range wireless communication signal received from a transmission source portable terminal by the short-range wireless communication unit;
When this signal processing unit confirms that the emergency call information is included in the short-range wireless communication signal, an emergency call occurrence detection unit that detects the start of an emergency call,
Based on the detection of the emergency call occurrence detection unit, provided with an out-of-service area determination unit for determining whether the mobile terminal can wirelessly communicate with the base station,
When the out-of-service area determination unit determines that wireless communication with the base station is possible, the emergency communication information is transmitted to the base station using the wireless communication unit, and the out-of-service area determination unit performs wireless communication with the base station. A portable terminal that transmits the emergency call information to a transmission destination portable terminal using the short-range wireless communication unit when it is determined to be impossible. When the emergency call information includes terminal identification information of the transmission source portable terminal, and the transmission destination portable terminal is equal to the portable terminal specified by the terminal identification information of the transmission source portable terminal, the transmission destination portable terminal The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein no emergency call is made to the mobile phone. In an emergency call system including a first mobile terminal that starts an emergency call and a second mobile terminal that relays the emergency call, the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal communicate wirelessly with a base station. And a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication, and the first mobile terminal includes:
An emergency call occurrence detection unit that detects the start of an emergency call,
An out-of-service area determination unit that determines whether the first mobile terminal is capable of wireless communication with the base station based on detection of the emergency call occurrence detection unit,
An emergency call processing unit that generates emergency call information used for emergency calls,
When the out-of-service area determination unit determines that wireless communication with the base station is possible, the emergency communication information is transmitted to the base station using the wireless communication unit, and the out-of-service area determination unit performs wireless communication with the base station. When it is determined impossible, the emergency call information is transmitted to the second mobile terminal using the short-range wireless communication unit, and the second mobile terminal
A signal processing unit for processing a short-range wireless communication signal received from the first portable terminal by the short-range wireless communication unit;
When it is confirmed that emergency signal information is included in the short-range wireless communication signal in this signal processing unit, an emergency call occurrence detection unit that detects the start of an emergency call,
Based on the detection by the emergency call occurrence detection unit, the out-of-service area determination unit that determines whether the mobile terminal is capable of wireless communication with the base station,
When the out-of-service area determination unit determines that wireless communication with the base station is possible, the emergency communication information is transmitted to the base station using the wireless communication unit, and the out-of-service area determination unit performs wireless communication with the base station. An emergency call system that transmits the emergency call information to another mobile terminal for relay using the short-range wireless communication unit when it is determined to be impossible.

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