JP2008086024A - Positional information transmitting unit and positional information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positional information transmitting unit and positional information providing system capable of providing positional information inside a building or an underground shopping area to a mobile terminal, taking the installation cost reduction into consideration. <P>SOLUTION: The positional information transmitting unit and positional information providing system include a positional information transmitting unit main body 12 comprised of a microcomputer 18 including a power supply 12, a transmitter 16 and positional information storage means, and a lamp main body 22 to which the positional information transmitting unit main body 12 is attached. The lamp main body 22 has a power supply connection means for supplying lighting power from a socket or a ceiling to a power supply of the positional information transmitting unit through a lamp cap, when the lamp main body is put in the socket or the ceiling. The positional information storage means stores information on the latitude, the longitude and floor of the place where the positional information transmitting unit main body 12 is installed. The positional information on the latitude, the longitude, and floor is transmitted to terminals such as a mobile telephone and the like in the area where the positional information transmitting unit 12 is installed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a position information transmission unit and a position information providing system for transmitting information on a location where a mobile terminal represented by a mobile phone is currently located to the mobile terminal, and in particular, a latitude of an installation position, Position information transmission unit and position for recording longitude and floor information in a building as position information and transmitting the position information to a portable terminal located within the range using a weak radio wave having a narrow radio wave reach The present invention relates to an information providing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a remarkable development in mobile terminals such as mobile phones. A comprehensive mobile terminal apparatus that performs data communication by connecting to various servers via a network such as the Internet from a terminal apparatus for simple calls. As a result, the penetration rate of mobile terminals has become extremely high. In particular, positioning units that are currently installed only on some mobile phones, such as GPS receivers that receive and measure signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, are called the third generation. Mobile phones tend to be installed in all models.

  Various technologies have been proposed for using mobile terminals having such a positioning function. For example, a navigation device (car navigation system) for automobiles has been developed, and map / route information is obtained using a mobile phone as a terminal. A communication navigation system for pedestrians distributed from an information distribution server (route search server) has been proposed. In addition, a payment system using a mobile phone as a terminal and various Internet transaction systems have been proposed. Recently, mobile phones are increasingly used for reporting in the event of an incident or accident, and the need for technology for identifying the reporting location is increasing. Attempts have also been made to identify the location of the elderly using a mobile phone positioning system, and its use is expected to continue to expand.

  For example, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism provides route guidance to pedestrians including persons with disabilities in Non-Patent Document 1 (report titled “Pedestrian ITS (Intelligent Transport System) and High-precision Positioning Technology”, March 2002). A skeleton of a guidance system is disclosed. Non-Patent Document 1 discloses various techniques for a pedestrian to transmit position information to a portable terminal (an instrument such as a cane). For example, in addition to a technique for installing a GPS receiver, a technique for installing a wireless ID tag in a walking space and a technique for installing a tag using Bluetooth (registered trademark) are shown. In the tag, unique identification information is recorded, and based on this information, the location of the mobile terminal existing in the range centered on the tag installation position is determined (position is determined). On the other hand, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is studying the function of notifying the sender location information in emergency calls from mobile phones, and the need to establish a positioning system for this is also increasing.

  A technology for positioning the current position of a mobile terminal equipped with a GPS receiver has been put into practical use in car navigation systems and communication-type navigation systems, and positioning accuracy has been improved, but it can receive signals from GPS satellites. Because it is a premise, it is currently not suitable for positioning in underground malls and buildings. On the other hand, the technology that installs tags using Bluetooth (registered trademark) in the walking space is to place the location information on the mobile terminal by installing the tags at appropriate intervals along the route in the underground city or building. And can be used as a technique for interpolating a GPS positioning system.

  Bluetooth (registered trademark) is a wireless communication system using relatively weak radio waves, and the current radio wave reachable range is about 10 m in radius. The transmission unit using this communication system is provided with an ID tag (unique ID information recorded in a memory such as a ROM), and transmits the information recorded in the ID tag to the portable terminal wirelessly. The portable terminal can be equipped with a receiver that supports this wireless communication method, and a system can be configured in which the received ID information is sent to the position information center and the position of the portable terminal is specified. In this case, in order to prevent radio wave interference, the transmitter units need only be installed at a radius of 10 m (diameter 20 m), and the positioning accuracy of the position is higher than the accuracy of the current GPS positioning, and a small position range can be specified. can do.

On the other hand, as a technique for specifying the position of a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, for example, there is a position information providing service disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-109679). In this location information providing service system, a traveler's passage in a specific area is configured as a passage network by physical means installed on the road, and information communication enabling wireless communication access to nodes and terminal points of the passage network This is an information providing system provided with means for providing information to travelers. Further, in this system, each information communication means of each node of the aisle network, the terminal point and the traveler has an individual number, and an individual signal corresponding to the individual number is transmitted to the central processing unit, In addition, a traveler's location information database is generated appropriately, and a traveler's location information providing service utilizing the location information database can be provided to travelers or third parties via the Internet. is there.

  Patent Document 2 (2003-344093) below discloses a route guidance system that guides a route to a mobile terminal in a place such as an underground mall where GPS signals cannot be received. In other words, this route guidance system allows the operator as a pedestrian to properly recognize the current location even in places where it is difficult to recognize the current location, such as an underground shopping center, and easily grasps the route to the destination. The purpose is to be able to. The route guidance system includes a route search unit that searches for an underground route based on map data, and route guidance data that creates guide data for guiding the searched underground route based on map data and guidance signboard data. It is comprised from the preparation part and the transmission data preparation part which produces the transmission data which display the character string of a guidance signboard on a display screen based on the produced guidance data.

  Similarly, the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-240591) is disclosed as an indoor route search apparatus having a hierarchy. The route search device disclosed in Patent Document 3 stores electronic map data that holds a route data storage unit that stores node data and link data, and a cost data storage unit that stores cost data (required time). This is used to search for a route. The link data is provided with a rank parameter to enable searching for a route between different hierarchies. This enables, for example, a route search from a starting point such as an entrance to a destination on an upper floor in a department store or a supermarket having a plurality of floors, or a self-propelled multilevel parking garage or the like. .

  As one application for using the position information obtained by the position information providing system or the GPS positioning system as described above, the information on the departure point and the destination is sent from the portable terminal to the information distribution server, and the information distribution server uses the road network and traffic. 2. Description of the Related Art Navigation devices that search for and guide the shortest route from network data have been put into practical use. As a route search method in such a navigation system, the Dijkstra method (label determination method) is used. The following Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-165681) discloses an outline of a route search method using the Dijkstra method.

JP 2002-109679 A (FIGS. 4, 6, and 7) JP 2003-344093 A (FIGS. 16 to 23) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-240591 (FIG. 2) JP 2001-165681 A (FIG. 1, paragraphs [0003] to [0010]) Report entitled “Pedestrian ITS (Intelligent Transport System) and high-precision positioning technology”, March 2002, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

  As described above, even if a GPS receiver is mounted on a portable terminal and positioning is possible, the position of the portable terminal is not used in places where GPS satellite signals cannot be received, such as inside buildings or underground shopping streets. It cannot be specified. For this reason, in the route guidance system disclosed in Patent Document 2, route guidance is performed using guide signs installed in passages, exits, and the like in underground malls. However, this guidance system has a problem in that it cannot always provide the shortest route guidance because it can only guide the route connecting the installation locations of the guidance signboards.

  Further, in the route search device disclosed in Patent Document 3, the route data storage unit storing node data related to the nodes set to the routes connecting the floors and the routes connecting the floors, link data including the floor parameters, and cost data The route search is performed using the electronic map data that holds the cost data storage unit that stores the (required time). This makes it possible to search for routes that cross floors, but in order to provide appropriate guidance (guidance) to the user at the corners and stairs of the guide route, it is necessary to be able to determine the location where the mobile terminal is located indoors A portable terminal positioning means is required.

  Even if GPS satellite signals can be received inside the building, the position information obtained by the GPS positioning system is only the latitude and longitude, and the floor (floor) where the mobile terminal is located is different inside the building and in the underground shopping center. However, there is a problem that the positioning result is the same latitude and longitude, and the floor cannot be specified.

  In addition, when installing a facility that generates a signal equivalent to a GPS satellite signal inside a building, or a tag using the above-described wireless ID tag or Bluetooth (Bluetooth), along a route, There is a problem that the infrastructure construction cost for installing ID tags and the like becomes enormous.

  The inventor of the present application has made various studies in order to solve the above problems, and as a result, lighting facilities are indispensable in buildings and underground malls, and lighting facilities are installed at regular intervals. It is the one that paid attention. That is, a position information transmission unit (wireless transmitter) corresponding to a wireless ID tag or a tag using Bluetooth (Bluetooth) is installed by using a power supply unit such as a socket for a power supply for lighting equipment. It was conceived that the above-mentioned problems could be solved by storing the latitude, longitude, and floor information of the installation position in the transmission unit as position information, and the present invention was completed.

  If comprised in this way, a positional information can be provided with respect to the portable terminal in the reach | attainment range of the electromagnetic wave of a positional information transmission unit, and a positional information transmission unit is installed along a path | route for every reaching range of an electromagnetic wave As a result, it is possible to construct a position information transmission system inside the building and underground mall, and to suppress the installation cost. The mobile terminal can easily acquire the current position information including the latitude, longitude, and floor in the building and underground mall.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above-described problems, and provides a position information transmission unit and a position providing system capable of providing position information in a building or an underground shopping area to a mobile terminal while suppressing installation costs. It is intended to provide.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
A position information transmission unit main body comprising a power supply unit, a communication unit, and a microcomputer including position information storage means;
An illumination lamp having the position information transmission unit main body attached thereto, comprising an illumination lamp that can be attached to and detached from an existing illumination socket or ceiling in a structure including a walking path,
When the illumination lamp is mounted on the illumination socket or ceiling, the illumination lamp is supplied with power from the illumination socket or ceiling via the base of the illumination lamp to the power supply unit of the position information transmission unit main body. Power supply connection means to supply,
The positional information storage unit stores latitude, longitude, and floor information of a place where the main body of the positional information transmission unit is installed.

  In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, in the invention of claim 1, the position information storage means stores the latitude, longitude, and room number information of the place where the position information transmission unit main body is installed. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the communication unit is configured to correspond to a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or a wireless LAN.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits and receives the position information, receives or transmits the position information via the communication unit, and the storage unit The position information is written and read out.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is
A position information transmission unit main body comprising a power supply unit, a communication unit, and a microcomputer including position information storage means;
An illumination lamp having the position information transmission unit main body attached thereto, comprising an illumination lamp that can be attached to and detached from an existing illumination socket or ceiling in a structure including a walking path,
When the illumination lamp is mounted on the illumination socket or ceiling, the illumination lamp is supplied with power from the illumination socket or ceiling via the base of the illumination lamp to the power supply unit of the position information transmission unit main body. Power supply connection means to supply,
The location information storage means includes a location information transmission unit in which information on the latitude, longitude, and floor of the location where the location information transmission unit main body is installed is stored.
A position information providing system comprising a plurality of floors and mounted on the existing lighting socket or ceiling at a predetermined interval on a structure including a walking route on a plane of each floor and a walking route connecting the floors. .

  Further, in the invention according to claim 6 of the present application, in the invention of claim 5, information on the latitude, longitude, and room number of the place where the position information transmission unit main body is installed is stored in the position information storage means. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 5, the communication unit is configured to correspond to a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or a wireless LAN.

  The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the communication unit transmits and receives the position information, receives or transmits the position information via the communication unit, and the storage unit The position information is written and read out.

  In the invention according to claim 1, a wireless ID tag or Bluetooth (attached integrally to the illumination lamp using a power supply unit such as a socket or ceiling for the illumination lamp provided in advance in a structure such as a building is provided. A location information transmission unit (wireless transmitter) corresponding to a tag using Bluetooth (registered trademark) is installed. The position information transmission unit stores the latitude, longitude, and floor information of the installation position as position information, and is configured to provide position information to mobile terminals within the radio wave reach of the position information transmission unit. It is a thing.

  Therefore, it is possible to easily install the position information transmission unit without preparing a wiring facility of the power supply system by using an existing power supply unit such as a socket for lighting lamp or a ceiling. In addition, it is necessary to install a large number of location information transmission units 10 at regular intervals in the building or underground mall, but the power supply unit, communication unit, microcomputer, etc. that constitute the location information transmission unit are also getting cheaper and cheaper. It is possible to reduce the cost by mass production.

  In addition, sockets and ceilings for lighting in underground malls and buildings are normally supplied with power at all times, and the location information transmission unit is installed as an illumination lamp with a location information transmission unit. The position information can be provided to the portable terminal.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the positional information transmitting unit according to the first aspect of the invention, the positional information includes a hotel or apartment house in addition to the latitude, longitude and floor information, or instead of the floor information. In the case of a building such as an office, the room information includes the room number. Therefore, the location information acquired by the mobile terminal from the location information transmission unit includes the room number, and there is an emergency call from the mobile phone as the mobile terminal. If this happens, location information indicating the location of the call can be added to the report (call or e-mail), and it is possible to provide an effective means for specifying the call location for emergency calls sent to the police and fire department. become able to.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in the position information transmission unit according to the first aspect of the invention, the communication unit is configured to support a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or a wireless LAN. If the range covered by the position information transmission unit is divided by a weak radio wave reachable range, the positioning accuracy can be easily improved, and positioning with higher accuracy than positioning by GPS can be performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the positional information transmission unit according to the first aspect of the invention, the communication unit transmits and receives the positional information, receives or transmits the positional information via the communication unit, and the storage unit. Since the position information is written and read, the position information transmission unit can be operated in a stand-alone manner. Therefore, when installing a large number of location information transmission units, it is not necessary to store the location information of the installation location in each location information transmission unit at the manufacturing site. It is also possible to create a database on a PC (personal computer) and store it, and write it to each position information transmission unit from the PC at the installation site.

  In the invention according to claim 5, a wireless ID tag or Bluetooth (Bluetooth) integrally attached to the illumination lamp using a power supply unit such as an illumination socket or ceiling provided in advance in a structure such as a building. : Position information transmission unit (wireless transmitter) corresponding to a tag using registered trademark) is installed. The position information transmission unit stores the latitude, longitude, and floor information of the installation position as position information, and has a structure including a plurality of floors, a walking route on each plane, and a walking route connecting the floors. Installed at predetermined intervals in lighting sockets and ceilings installed on the body, and configured to provide location information to portable terminals within the radio wave reach of each location information transmission unit .

  Therefore, by using an existing power supply unit such as a socket for lighting and a ceiling, the position information transmission unit can be easily installed without preparing a wiring facility for the power supply system. In addition, it is necessary to install a large number of location information transmission units 10 at regular intervals in the building or underground mall, but the power supply unit, communication unit, microcomputer, etc. that constitute the location information transmission unit are also getting cheaper and cheaper. It is possible to reduce the cost by mass production.

  In addition, sockets and ceilings for lighting in underground malls and buildings are normally supplied with power at all times, and the location information transmission unit is installed as an illumination lamp with a location information transmission unit. The position information can be provided to the portable terminal by itself, and the position information providing system for route search and route guidance can be provided.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the position information providing system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the position information includes a hotel or apartment house in addition to the latitude, longitude, and floor information, or instead of the floor information. In the case of a building such as an office, the room number is included, so the location information acquired by the mobile terminal from the location information transmission unit includes the room number, and there is an emergency call from the mobile phone as the mobile terminal. If this happens, location information indicating the location of the call can be added to the report (call or e-mail), and it is possible to provide an effective means for specifying the call location for emergency calls sent to the police and fire department. become able to.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in the position information providing system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the communication unit is configured to support a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or a wireless LAN. If the range covered by the position information transmission unit is divided by a weak radio wave reachable range, the positioning accuracy can be easily improved, and positioning with higher accuracy than positioning by GPS can be performed.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the position information providing system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the communication unit transmits and receives the position information, receives or transmits the position information via the communication unit, and the storage unit. Since the position information is written and read, the position information transmission unit can be operated in a stand-alone manner. Therefore, when installing a large number of location information transmission units, it is not necessary to store the location information of the installation location in each location information transmission unit at the manufacturing site. It is also possible to create a database on a PC (personal computer) and store it, and write it to each position information transmission unit from the PC at the installation site.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a position information transmission unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) illustrates an appearance of the position information transmission unit, and (b) illustrates another appearance of the position information transmission unit. FIG. 4C is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a position information transmission unit main body. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the position information transmission unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the position information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a floor layout in an underground mall and a building in which the position information providing system according to the present invention is installed, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a position information transmission unit installed on each floor F1 to B2 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a route diagram showing links (routes) connecting the position information transmission units in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a route guidance procedure using the position information providing system of the present invention.

  A position information transmitting unit 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a position information transmitting unit main body 12 and a lamp 28 composed of a fluorescent lamp or a light bulb as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). The position information transmission unit main body 12 includes a main body 20 and is attached to a lamp support portion 26 of the luminaire main body 22. As shown in FIG. 1C, the position information transmission unit main body 12 includes a power supply unit 14, a communication unit (communication module) 16, and a microcomputer 18. The power supply unit 14 includes a lighting fixture main body. A power line is connected from the 20 caps 24. The position information transmission unit 10 is inserted into a lighting socket provided on the ceiling or wall. When the lamp 28 is composed of a fluorescent tube as shown in FIG. 1A, there is an inverter circuit that uses an AC voltage supplied from the base 24 as a power source, and a DC power source is also prepared for the control circuit. Therefore, the power supply unit 14 may be connected thereto. Moreover, as shown in FIG.1 (b), when the lamp | ramp 28 is comprised from a light bulb, what is necessary is just to make it the structure which relays the alternating voltage-DC voltage conversion circuit equivalent to an inverter circuit, and is connected to the power supply part 14. FIG.

  The position information transmission unit main body 12 is configured around a microcomputer (microcomputer) 18. As is well known, the microcomputer 18 is composed of a processor, a ROM, an EEPROM, and the like. The microcomputer 18 controls the communication unit 16 by a control program recorded in the ROM, and records it in the information EEPROM received from the communication unit 16. Alternatively, the position information recorded in the EEPROM is transmitted via the communication unit 16. In the EEPROM, the latitude, longitude, and floor information of the location where the position information transmission unit 10 is installed are recorded as position information. The communication unit 16 is, for example, a communication module that conforms to a communication method using Bluetooth (registered trademark). Bluetooth (registered trademark) is a wireless communication system using relatively weak radio waves, and the current radio wave reachable range is about 10 m in radius. Therefore, when the mobile terminal is located within a radius of 10 m from the installation location of the location information transmission unit 10, the latitude, longitude, and floor information of the installation location recorded in the EEPROM can be transmitted to the mobile terminal as location information. .

  In addition to latitude, longitude, and floor information, or in place of floor information, the location information recorded in the EEPROM can be added with a room number in the case of a building such as a hotel, apartment house, or office. In this case, the location information acquired by the mobile terminal includes a room number, which is an effective means for specifying a transmission place when an emergency call is made from a mobile phone as the mobile terminal.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the position information transmission unit 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the position information transmission unit main body 12 is attached to the adapter main body 32 into which the lighting fixture main body 22 is inserted. The base 24 of the luminaire main body 22 is inserted into the adapter main body 32, and the base 34 of the adapter main body 32 is inserted into a luminaire socket provided on a ceiling or a wall. As in the first embodiment of FIG. 1, the power supply unit 14 of the position information transmission unit main body 12 is configured to be connected to a power supply line from a base 24 of the adapter main body 32. In this case, similarly to the first embodiment, the inverter circuit or the AC voltage-DC voltage conversion circuit corresponding to the inverter circuit may be connected to the power supply unit 14.

  If the position information transmission unit main body 12 is attached to the adapter main body 32 in this way, the adapter main body 32 can be used as it is even if the luminaire main body 22 is replaced when the lamp 28 has expired. The installation cost can be further reduced without wasting the transmission unit main body 12. Further, only the adapter main body 32 can be installed in a socket, a ceiling, an outlet, or the like in which the luminaire main body 22 is not installed (not used).

  When the position information transmission unit main body is attached to the luminaire main body 12 or the adapter main body 32 as in the first and second embodiments, an existing power supply unit such as a socket, ceiling, or outlet for installing the luminaire is used. By doing so, it is possible to easily install the position information transmission unit without preparing wiring equipment for the power supply system. In addition, it is necessary to install a large number of location information transmission units 10 at regular intervals in the building or underground mall, but the power supply unit 14, communication unit 16, microcomputer 18, etc. that constitute the location information transmission unit main body 12 also reduce costs. As a result, it can be obtained at a low cost, and further cost reduction by mass production becomes possible.

  In addition, the sockets for the lighting fixtures in the underground shopping center and the building are normally always supplied with power, and the position information transmission unit main body 10 replaces the normal lighting fixtures with the position information transmission unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A stand-alone operation can be performed simply by replacing or installing the position information transmission unit 10 of the second embodiment. Therefore, when installing a large number of location information transmission units 10, it is not necessary to store the location information of the installation location in each location information transmission unit at the manufacturing site, and the installation location and each location information in an underground mall or building to be installed separately. It is also possible to create a database on a PC (personal computer) and store it, and write it to each position information transmission unit from the PC at the installation site.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a position information providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The position information transmission unit 10 according to the first or second embodiment is used by using an illumination power source in an underground shopping center or a building. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the positional information provision system 40 installed and comprised by many at predetermined intervals. The position information providing system 40 is configured by installing the position information transmitting units 10a to 10c of the first or second embodiment in the areas A to C at a predetermined interval. When the position information transmission unit 10 is compatible with the above-described communication method using Bluetooth (registered trademark), the radio wave reachable range is about 10 m in radius. Accordingly, each of the areas A to C has a diameter of 20 m, and the position information transmission unit 10 is installed at the center thereof. Since the installation interval of sockets for lighting fixtures in underground shopping malls and buildings is in units of several meters, it is possible to divide and install areas A to C at intervals that do not cause radio wave interference of each position information transmission unit 10a to 10c. Easy.

  In the position information providing system 40 configured as described above, when the portable terminal 50 enters the area A, the position information from the position information transmission unit 10a, that is, the latitude and longitude of the place where the position information transmission unit 10a is installed. The floor information is transmitted to the portable terminal 50, and the portable terminal 50 can notify the route guidance server and other servers of the current position. In this case, it is necessary for the portable terminal 50 and the route guidance server to be able to communicate via a network such as the Internet. At present, relay facilities and base stations are often installed in subway facilities, underground malls and buildings so that mobile phones can be used. If it is sufficient, it can be practically used. Therefore, data communication is possible between the portable terminal 50 and the route guidance server.

  A system in which the position information providing system 40 is installed in an underground mall or a building and route search and route guidance are performed using the system will be described below. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a floor layout in an underground shopping center where a position information providing system 40 is installed, and 1F to B2 show floors of the building, 1F shows the first floor, B1 shows the first floor, and B2 shows the floor. It shows the second basement. In such a building, there are routes (passages) in the floor and routes (stairs, elevators, escalators, etc.) that connect the floors. Similar to the map data used for normal navigation, route search and route guidance are possible by creating a route for each floor as map data.

  The only difference from the route search in normal navigation is that a floor and a route moving in the vertical direction exist as part of the route. Therefore, node IDs are determined by setting the nodes (including intersections on roads) where the starting and ending points of all routes, including the route moving in the vertical direction, and the direction in which the traveling direction in the horizontal and vertical directions changes (corresponding to intersections on roads) as nodes. If the travel time (cost) for each link to be linked is stored in a database, the shortest route from the starting location to the target location can be searched using the Dijkstra method disclosed in Patent Document 4. In the case of a route search in an underground shopping mall or the building, floor information is required in addition to latitude and longitude as position information of a departure place and a target place as a basis of the route search.

  Basically, this position information may be manually input by the user from the portable terminal, but the portable terminal 50 obtains the position information of the departure place from the position information providing system 40 and transmits it to the route search server. May be. Then, the route search server embeds the guide route data in map data (route data for each floor from the floor of the departure location to the floor of the destination location) and transmits it to the portable terminal 50, and the portable terminal 50 sends this to the display unit. You can display and walk. In this case, the display needs to take a display form in which the route data of each floor can be seen through.

  On the other hand, in the display form in which the route data of a plurality of floors is seen through, it is difficult for the user to visually recognize the guide route. Therefore, only the route data and guide route data of the floor on which the mobile terminal 50 is moving may be displayed. preferable. This display form is the same as the display form of a normal navigation device, and it is easy for the user to visually recognize the guide route. For this purpose, if it is detected that the portable terminal 50 has reached the route that moves the floor in the vertical direction, and then it can be detected that the portable terminal 50 has reached the next floor, the route data and guide route of the floor that the portable terminal 50 has moved to Only data can be displayed. Therefore, the position information transmission unit 10 shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment is installed at the start and end points of routes such as stairs, elevators, and escalators that move vertically in the floor, and the portable terminal 50 transmits the position information. If the location information received from the unit is sent to the route search server, it can be seen that the portable terminal 50 has moved the route connecting the floors, and the route search server sends the route data and route guidance data of the required floor to the portable terminal 50. Can do.

  In addition, in a communication type navigation system that uses a car navigation system or a mobile phone as a terminal that is currently in practical use, a system that guides the user in the direction of turning when the mobile terminal 50 reaches an intersection on the guide route is used. Has been. Such a navigation system is configured to embed guide points that should be voice-guided on the route searched by the route search server in the guide route data and transmit them in advance to the portable terminal 50 together with the map data (route data). . The portable terminal 50 has a means for measuring the current position, such as a GPS receiver. When the portable terminal 50 reaches the guide point, the portable terminal 50 reproduces the voice data transmitted from the route search server in advance and guides the user. It is configured to do.

  By installing the position information providing system 40 according to the present invention, a similar service can be provided for route guidance in an underground shopping center or a building. That is, the position information providing system 40 provides position information to the portable terminal 50 instead of a positioning means such as a GPS receiver, and thus the same guidance as the above navigation system is possible.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the position information transmission unit 10 according to the present invention is installed at each node (route origin / endpoint, intersection) n100 to n312 of each floor 1F to B2 shown in FIG. 4 for such a purpose. It is. As described above, the interval between the nodes n100 to n312 needs to be within a range where the transmission radio waves of the position information transmission unit 10 do not interfere with each other (radio wave reachable range). When the mobile terminal 50 enters the area of the location information transmission unit 10 installed in a specific node, for example, n100, location information (latitude, longitude, floor) is transmitted from the location information transmission unit 10 to the mobile terminal 50, The portable terminal 50 can determine (position) the current position based on the position information.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of links (routes) L1 to L27 that connect nodes n100 to n312 in which the position information transmission units 10 arranged on the floors 1F to B2 of FIG. 5 are installed. In FIG. 6, a link L6 from the node n110 to the node n211 is a route that moves from the floor 1F to the floor B1, for example, a staircase. Therefore, when the portable terminal 50 is in the area of the position information transmission unit 10 installed in the node n110, the portable terminal 50 receives the position information from the position information transmission unit 10 and obtains the latitude, longitude, and floor information. be able to. When the mobile terminal reaches the link (route) L6, that is, the area of the location information transmission unit 10 installed at the node n211 after going down the stairs, the location information is obtained from the location information transmission unit 10, and the latitude, longitude, and floor information is obtained. Obtainable. As a result, it is possible to receive the route data and guidance route data of the floor reached from the route search server and display the route guidance map of that floor.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for the portable terminal 50 to receive route guidance using the position information providing system 40 (see FIG. 3) installed as shown in FIG. In order for the portable terminal 50 to communicate with the route search server and receive route guidance, as described above, the data communication environment between the portable terminal 50 and the route search server in the underground shopping center or building where the position information providing system 40 is installed. And that route data (map data) is accumulated in the route search server is a prerequisite. A route guidance procedure will be described below assuming that such preconditions are satisfied. Moreover, the portable terminal 50 corresponds to a normal communication navigation system, and includes a GPS receiver and can perform positioning.

  Prior to the start of route guidance, the location information (including floor information) of the departure place and the destination location is sent from the portable terminal 50 to the route search server, and the route from the departure location to the destination location in the route search server. Assume that the search is complete. In such a state, route guidance is started, and in step S101, the portable terminal 50 requests location information from the location information transmission unit 10 installed in the area where the current location is located. In step S102, if the portable terminal 50 has not received the position information from the position information transmission unit 10, the reception step of step S102 is repeated, and if the reception of the position information is completed, the process proceeds to step S106. If there is an error in receiving the position information in step S102, the process proceeds to step S103 to request GPS positioning. If the GPS positioning is not completed in the snap S104, the positioning in step S104 is repeated, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S106. If there is an error in GPS positioning in step S104, an error is displayed in step S105 and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the position information reception from the position information transmission unit 10 is completed in step S102, the GPS positioning procedure in steps S103 and S104 is not performed.

  The procedure from step S101 to step S105 is a procedure for giving priority to a procedure for obtaining position information from the position information transmission unit 10 over GPS positioning. That is, when the portable terminal 50 exists in a place where the position information can be received from the position information transmission unit 10, a procedure for invalidating the GPS positioning is taken. In general, the fact that the portable terminal 50 is located at a location where the position information can be obtained from the position information transmission unit 10 means that the portable terminal 50 is located in an underground shopping center or a building. There is a high probability that the signal cannot be received. The location where both the location information transmission unit 10 and the signal from the GPS satellite can be received is the entrance of an underground shopping center or the entrance of a building. In this case, there is a high possibility of entering the underground shopping center or the building. This is because even if GPS positioning is invalidated and position information is obtained from the position information transmission unit 10, there is no inconvenience in normal navigation, guidance in an underground shopping center, or in a building.

  Next, in step S106, the portable terminal 50 communicates with the route search server, transmits the position information received from the position information transmission unit 10 to the route search server, and a map of the location (latitude, longitude, floor) where the portable terminal 50 is located. Request transmission of data (route data), stable route data, or guide point data. If the reception of the data requested in step S107 is not completed, the reception process in step S107 is repeated. If the reception is completed in step S107, the map received from the route search server in step S108 is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal 50. draw. In step S109, it is determined whether the position of the portable terminal 50 is a guide point. If it is a guide point, voice guidance set to the guide point is performed in step S110, and the process proceeds to step S111. For example, the guidance process in step S110 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S111. In step S111, it is determined whether or not the position of the mobile terminal 50 is the target location (position). If the target location has been reached, the process is terminated. If the target location has not been reached, step S101 is performed. Return to the process.

  As described above, by using the position information transmission unit and the position information providing system according to the present invention, it is possible to perform route search and route guidance in an underground shopping center or a building. In addition to the longitude, latitude, and floor information, or by replacing the floor information with the room number in the building as the position information that the position information transmitting unit 10 transmits to the portable terminal 50, the portable terminal 50 When an urgent report or e-mail report is made from a mobile phone, the location information received from the location information transmission unit 10 can be added to specify the transmission location up to the room number. In this case, the position information transmission unit 10 may be installed as in the first embodiment or the second embodiment using a power supply for lighting equipment, and uses a specific outlet provided at the entrance or the gate. It may be installed.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the positional infomation transmission unit concerning Example 1 of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the external appearance of a positional infomation transmission unit, (b) is a figure which shows the other external appearance of a positional infomation transmission unit, (C) is a block diagram showing a configuration of a position information transmission unit main body. It is a figure which shows the structure of the positional infomation transmission unit concerning Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the positional information provision system concerning Example 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the floor layout in an underground mall and a building in which the position information providing system according to the present invention is installed. It is the layout which installed the positional information transmission unit in each floor F1-B2 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a route diagram showing links (routes) connecting the position information transmission units in FIG. 5. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the route guidance using the positional information provision system of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 .... Position information transmission unit 12 .... Position information transmission unit main body 14 .... Power supply unit 16 .... Communication unit (communication module)
18 .... Microcomputer (microcomputer)
22... Luminaire main body 24... Base 26... Lamp support 28... Lamp 32. 50... Mobile terminal

Claims (8)

A position information transmission unit main body comprising a power supply unit, a communication unit, and a microcomputer including position information storage means;
An illumination lamp having the position information transmission unit main body attached thereto, comprising an illumination lamp that can be attached to and detached from an existing illumination socket or ceiling in a structure including a walking path,
When the illumination lamp is mounted on the illumination socket or ceiling, the illumination lamp is supplied with power from the illumination socket or ceiling via the base of the illumination lamp to the power supply unit of the position information transmission unit main body. Power supply connection means to supply,
The position information storage unit stores latitude, longitude, and floor information of a place where the position information transmission unit main body is installed.   2. The position information transmission unit according to claim 1, wherein the position information storage means stores latitude, longitude, and room number information of a place where the position information transmission unit main body is installed.   The position information transmission unit according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured to support a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or a wireless LAN.   The communication unit is configured to transmit and receive the position information, receive or transmit the position information via the communication unit, and the storage unit writes and reads the position information. The position information transmission unit according to 1. A position information transmission unit main body comprising a power supply unit, a communication unit, and a microcomputer including position information storage means;
An illumination lamp having the position information transmission unit main body attached thereto, comprising an illumination lamp that can be attached to and detached from an existing illumination socket or ceiling in a structure including a walking path,
When the illumination lamp is mounted on the illumination socket or ceiling, the illumination lamp is supplied with power from the illumination socket or ceiling via the base of the illumination lamp to the power supply unit of the position information transmission unit main body. Power supply connection means to supply,
The location information storage means includes a location information transmission unit in which information on the latitude, longitude, and floor of the location where the location information transmission unit main body is installed is stored.
A position information providing system having a plurality of floors and mounted to the existing lighting socket or ceiling at predetermined intervals on a structure including a walking path on each plane and a walking path connecting the floors.   6. The position information providing system according to claim 5, wherein the position information storage means stores latitude, longitude, and room number information of a place where the position information transmission unit main body is installed.   The position information providing system according to claim 5, wherein the communication unit is configured to support a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or a wireless LAN.   The communication unit is configured to transmit and receive the position information, receive or transmit the position information via the communication unit, and the storage unit writes and reads the position information. 5. The position information providing system according to 5.

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