JP2008206025A - Mobile terminal search system, and mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search for the mobile terminal of a search target without constructing an ad-hoc network among the mobile terminals at random. <P>SOLUTION: A search server 10 sends out a Push signal including a search terminal ID. When the Push signal is received from the search server 10, a base station 30 transfers the Push signal to a mobile terminal 40 within a communication area and when positional information of a searched terminal is received from the mobile terminal 40 within the communication area, the positional information is transferred to the search server 10. When the Push signal is transferred from the base station 30 or from any other mobile terminal 40, the mobile terminal 40 collates matching between the searched terminal ID in the Push signal and its own terminal ID and when result of the collation indicates matching, positional information of the present terminal is transmitted to the transfer source of the Push signal. When the result of the collation indicates non-matching, on the other hand, an ad-hoc network is constructed with the other terminal 40 and the Push signal is transferred and when the positional information of the searched terminal is transferred from a transfer destination thereof, the positional information is transferred to the transfer source of the Push signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal search system and a mobile terminal for acquiring position information of a mobile terminal to be searched in an emergency.

  In recent years, when searching for a certain user in an emergency such as the occurrence of a disaster, there are increasing cases of searching for a user's mobile terminal using a high penetration rate of a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone.

  However, in order to search for mobile terminals, there are still many uneasy factors in terms of infrastructure, such as snow mountains and other areas where radio waves from base stations do not reach.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 60 (# 1) is located within the communication area of the base station 50 (in-service state), and the mobile terminals 60 (# 2) and 60 (# 3) are outside the communication area. Consider the case of being located (out of service state). In this case, since the base station 50 can receive the radio wave from the portable terminal 60 (# 1) for the portable terminal 60 (# 1), the base station 50 can search by acquiring the position information. 2) and 60 (# 3) cannot be searched because radio waves from the portable terminals 60 (# 2) and 60 (# 3) cannot be received.

Therefore, recently, an ad hoc network that enables direct communication between mobile terminals without a base station is constructed, and the position information is acquired from a search target mobile terminal located outside the communication area of the base station by ad hoc communication. Is disclosed in part (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-53775 A

  As described above, even when the mobile terminal to be searched is located outside the communication area of the base station, it is considered that the possibility of searching is increased by using the ad hoc network.

  However, if an ad hoc network is constructed at random, a mobile terminal that is frequently accessed by ad hoc communication increases the amount of data transmitted and received, resulting in increased power consumption and limited communication time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal search system and a mobile terminal that can search for a mobile terminal to be searched without causing the mobile terminal to randomly construct an ad hoc network.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
In a mobile terminal search system for acquiring position information of a mobile terminal to be searched among a plurality of mobile terminals,
A search server for sending a search signal including the ID of the mobile terminal to be searched;
When the search signal is received from the search server, the search signal is transferred to the mobile terminal in the communication area of the local station, and the position information of the mobile terminal to be searched is received from the mobile terminal in the communication area of the local station. A base station that forwards the location information to the search server,
Each of the plurality of portable terminals is
A base station communication unit that communicates with the base station;
An ad hoc communication unit that performs ad hoc communication with other mobile terminals;
A storage unit for storing the ID of the own terminal;
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the terminal;
When the search signal is received from the base station via the base station communication unit, or when the search signal is received from another mobile terminal via the ad hoc communication unit, the search signal A collation unit that collates whether or not the ID of the mobile terminal to be searched included and the ID of the own terminal stored in the storage unit match;
When the collation result by the collation unit indicates a match, the base station via the base station communication unit uses the position information of the own terminal acquired by the position information acquisition unit as the position information of the mobile terminal to be searched Or a location information transmission unit that transmits to the other mobile terminal that is the transfer source of the search signal via the ad hoc communication unit,
A search signal transfer unit configured to access another mobile terminal via the ad hoc communication unit to construct an ad hoc network and transfer the search signal to the other mobile terminal when the verification result by the verification unit indicates a mismatch; ,
When the location information of the search target mobile terminal is received from the other mobile terminal to which the search signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit, the location information is transmitted to the base station via the base station communication unit. A position information transfer unit that transfers or transfers the search signal to another mobile terminal that transmits the search signal via the ad hoc communication unit.

  According to this configuration, when the search signal is transferred from the base station or another mobile terminal, the mobile terminal matches the ID of the mobile terminal to be searched included in the search signal with the own terminal ID. If the collation result indicates a match, the location information of the terminal is transmitted to the search signal transfer source. On the other hand, when the verification result indicates a mismatch, when an ad hoc network is constructed with another mobile terminal and a search signal is transferred, the location information of the mobile terminal to be searched is transferred from the transfer destination. The position information of the search terminal is transferred to the search signal transfer source.

  Therefore, even in a case where the search terminal is in an out-of-service state during an emergency, the search server can acquire the position information of the search terminal via the base station.

  In addition, the opportunity for the mobile terminal to build an ad hoc network is only when a search signal is received. Therefore, the mobile terminal randomly builds an ad hoc network, resulting in increased power consumption and limited communication time. Can be avoided.

  The ad hoc communication unit may disconnect an ad hoc network established with another mobile terminal after the location information is transferred by the location information transfer unit.

  According to this configuration, power consumption of the mobile terminal can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, even when the search terminal is in an out-of-service state in an emergency, the search server can acquire the position information of the search terminal via the base station. Therefore, for example, it can be an aid for checking survival in a disaster or searching for a victim buried under rubble.

  In addition, the opportunity for the mobile terminal to build an ad hoc network is only when a search signal is received. Therefore, the mobile terminal randomly builds an ad hoc network, resulting in increased power consumption and limited communication time. Can be obtained.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal search system of the present embodiment includes a search server 10, a base station 30, and n mobile terminals 40. The search server 10 and the base station 30 are connected via the network 20.

  Each mobile terminal 40 is given a unique ID in advance.

  The search server 10 sends a Push signal, which is a search signal, to the network 20 when searching for a mobile terminal 40 to be searched (hereinafter referred to as a search terminal) among the mobile terminals 40. Here, the Push signal includes a search terminal ID (hereinafter referred to as a search terminal ID) and a specific character string that is an ad hoc network construction command. As long as the search server 10 has the above functions, the configuration itself is not limited, and the internal configuration is not shown.

  When receiving the Push signal from the search server 10, the base station 30 transfers the Push signal to the mobile terminal 40 in the communication area of the own station. When the location information of the search terminal is received from the mobile terminal 40 in the communication area of the local station, the location information of the search terminal is transferred to the search server 10. As long as the base station 30 has the above functions, the configuration itself is not limited, and the internal configuration is not shown.

  When the mobile terminal 40 receives the Push signal, if the search terminal ID included in the Push signal matches the own terminal ID, the portable terminal 40 transmits the position information of the own terminal to the source of the Push signal. On the other hand, if the search terminal ID included in the Push signal and the own terminal ID do not match, an ad hoc network is constructed, the Push signal is transferred to another portable terminal 40, and the location information of the search terminal from the transfer destination Is received, the location information of the search terminal is transferred to the transfer source of the Push signal. Thus, the opportunity for the mobile terminal 40 to construct the ad hoc network is only when the Push signal is received.

  Here, the portable terminal 40 will be described in detail.

  First, the configuration of the mobile terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 40 includes an antenna 401, a base station communication unit 402, an ad hoc communication unit 403, a storage unit 404, a GPS unit 405 that is a position information acquisition unit, a matching unit 406, It has a position information transmission unit 407, a Push signal transfer unit 408 that is a search signal transfer unit, a position information transfer unit 409, and a control unit 410. FIG. 2 shows only essential parts for carrying out the present invention, and other parts are omitted.

  The base station communication unit 402 communicates with the base station 30 via the antenna 401.

  The ad hoc communication unit 403 performs ad hoc communication with another mobile terminal 40 via the antenna 401. An example of ad hoc communication is Bluetooth communication.

  The storage unit 404 stores a unique ID given in advance to the own terminal, and is realized by a ROM, for example.

  The GPS unit 405 acquires the position information by measuring the position of the terminal itself based on the GPS signal received by the antenna 401 from a GPS satellite (not shown).

  The collation unit 406 is received when a signal is received from the base station 30 via the base station communication unit 402 or when a signal is received from another mobile terminal 40 via the ad hoc communication unit 403. If the signal includes an ad hoc network construction command, it is determined that the signal is a Push signal, and whether or not the search terminal ID included in the Push signal matches the own terminal ID stored in the storage unit 404. Is matched.

  If the collation result by the collation unit 406 indicates a match, the location information transmission unit 407 uses the location information of the own terminal acquired by the GPS unit 405 as the location information of the search terminal via the base station communication unit 402. 30 or to the other portable terminal 40 from which the Push signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit 403.

  When the collation result by the collation unit 406 indicates a mismatch, the push signal transfer unit 408 retrieves another mobile terminal 40 capable of ad hoc communication with the own terminal via the ad hoc communication unit 403, and the other mobile terminal 40 that has been retrieved. Is accessed via the ad hoc communication unit 403 to construct an ad hoc network, and the Push signal is transferred to the other portable terminal 40.

  When the location information transfer unit 409 receives the location information of the search terminal from the other portable terminal 40 to which the Push signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit 403, the location information transfer unit 409 transmits the location information of the search terminal via the base station communication unit 402. To the base station 30 or via the ad hoc communication unit 403 to the other portable terminal 40 from which the Push signal is transferred.

  The control unit 410 controls each component in the own terminal, and is realized by a CPU, for example.

  Next, the operation of the mobile terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the mobile terminal 40 is located within the communication area of the base station 30 and can receive radio waves from the base station 30 (step 301), the base station 30 is connected via the base station communication unit 402. A normal operation of communicating with the other portable terminal 40 via is performed. In this state, when a Push signal is received from the base station 30 via the base station communication unit 402 (Step 302), the collation unit 406 is stored in the search terminal ID and the storage unit 404 included in the Push signal. It is verified whether or not the own terminal ID matches (step 303). When the collation result by the collation unit 406 indicates a match, the GPS unit 405 acquires the position information of the own terminal (step 304), and the position information transmission unit 407 acquires the position information of the own terminal acquired by the GPS unit 405. The location information of the search terminal is transmitted to the base station 30 via the base station communication unit 402 (step 305). If the collation result by the collation unit 406 indicates a mismatch, the Push signal transfer unit 408 searches the other mobile terminal 40 capable of ad hoc communication with the own terminal via the ad hoc communication unit 403 (step 306). For example, in the case of Bluetooth communication, a search packet is transmitted by broadcast to other mobile terminals 40 located in the vicinity, and when a response packet is transmitted, the other source of the response packet is transmitted. Mobile terminal 40 is determined to be capable of ad hoc communication. Next, the Push signal transfer unit 408 accesses the other mobile terminal 40 found through the ad hoc communication unit 403 to construct an ad hoc network, and transfers the Push signal to the other mobile terminal 40 (Step 307). . In the case of Bluetooth communication, access is performed after mutual authentication with another mobile terminal 40 that has been searched. Thereafter, the mobile terminal 40 is in a standby state until position information of the search terminal is received from another portable terminal 40 to which the Push signal is transferred. When the location information of the search terminal is received from the other portable terminal 40 to which the Push signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit 403 (step 308), the location information transfer unit 409 transmits the location information of the search terminal to the base station communication unit. The data is transferred to the base station 30 via 402 (step 309).

  On the other hand, when the portable terminal 40 is located outside the communication area of the base station 30 and cannot receive radio waves from the base station 30 (step 301), it is in a standby state until a Push signal is received from another portable terminal 40. It becomes. When a Push signal is received from another mobile terminal 40 via the ad hoc communication unit 403 (step 310), the collation unit 406 is stored in the search terminal ID and storage unit 404 included in the Push signal. It is checked whether or not the own terminal ID matches (step 311). When the collation result by the collation unit 406 indicates a match, the GPS unit 405 acquires the position information of the own terminal (step 304), and the position information transmission unit 407 acquires the position information of the own terminal acquired by the GPS unit 405. The position information of the search terminal is transmitted to the other mobile terminal 40 from which the Push signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit 403 (step 305). If the collation result by the collation unit 406 indicates a mismatch, the Push signal transfer unit 408 searches the other mobile terminal 40 capable of ad hoc communication with the own terminal via the ad hoc communication unit 403 (step 306). Next, the Push signal transfer unit 408 accesses the other mobile terminal 40 found through the ad hoc communication unit 403 to construct an ad hoc network, and transfers the Push signal to the other mobile terminal 40 (Step 307). . Thereafter, the mobile terminal 40 is in a standby state until position information of the search terminal is received from another portable terminal 40 to which the Push signal is transferred. When the location information of the search terminal is received from the other portable terminal 40 to which the Push signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit 403 (step 308), the location information transfer unit 409 transmits the location information of the search terminal to the ad hoc communication unit 403. Then, the data is transferred to another portable terminal 40 from which the Push signal is transferred (step 309).

  The overall operation of the mobile terminal search system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. Here, the portable terminal 40 (# 1) is located within the communication area of the base station 30 (in-range state), and the portable terminals 40 (# 2) and 40 (# 3) are located outside the communication area (out-of-range state). In this case, it is assumed that the search terminal is the portable terminal 40 (# 3) and the search terminal ID is “3333”.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the base station 30 receives a push signal including the search terminal ID “3333” and the ad hoc network construction instruction from the search server 10 via the network 20, the base station 30 locates the push signal in the communication area. To the portable terminal 40 (# 1).

  In portable terminal 40 (# 1), collation section 406 determines whether or not an ad hoc network construction command is included in the signal received from base station 30. Here, since an ad hoc network construction instruction is included, the collation unit 406 determines that the Push signal has been received, and the search terminal ID “3333” included in the Push signal is stored in the storage unit 404. It is verified whether or not the own terminal ID matches. Here, since the own terminal ID is not “3333”, there is a mismatch. Therefore, the Push signal transfer unit 408 searches for another mobile terminal 40 capable of ad hoc communication with the own terminal via the ad hoc communication unit 403. Here, it is assumed that the portable terminal 40 (# 2) is searched. Next, the Push signal transfer unit 408 accesses the mobile terminal 40 (# 2) via the ad hoc communication unit 403 to construct an ad hoc network, and transfers the Push signal to the mobile terminal 40 (# 2).

  In portable terminal 40 (# 2), collation unit 406 determines whether or not an ad hoc network construction command is included in the signal received from portable terminal 40 (# 1). Here, since an ad hoc network construction instruction is included, the collation unit 406 determines that the Push signal has been received, and the search terminal ID “3333” included in the Push signal is stored in the storage unit 404. It is verified whether or not the own terminal ID matches. Here, since the own terminal ID is not “3333”, there is a mismatch. Therefore, the Push signal transfer unit 408 searches for another mobile terminal 40 capable of ad hoc communication with the own terminal via the ad hoc communication unit 403. Here, it is assumed that the portable terminal 40 (# 3) is searched. Next, the Push signal transfer unit 408 accesses the mobile terminal 40 (# 3) via the ad hoc communication unit 403 to construct an ad hoc network, and transfers the Push signal to the mobile terminal 40 (# 3).

  In portable terminal 40 (# 3), collation unit 406 determines whether or not an ad hoc network construction command is included in the signal received from portable terminal 40 (# 2). Here, since an ad hoc network construction instruction is included, the collation unit 406 determines that the Push signal has been received, and the search terminal ID “3333” included in the Push signal is stored in the storage unit 404. It is verified whether or not the own terminal ID matches. Here, since the own terminal ID is “3333”, they match. Therefore, the GPS unit 405 acquires the position information of the own terminal, and the position information transmission unit 407 uses the position information of the own terminal acquired by the GPS unit 405 as the position information of the search terminal via the ad hoc communication unit 403. To the portable terminal 40 (# 2).

  In the mobile terminal 40 (# 2), the location information transfer unit 409 receives the location information of the search terminal received from the mobile terminal 40 (# 3) via the ad hoc communication unit 403 via the ad hoc communication unit 403. 40 (# 1). Simultaneously with the transfer of the location information, the ad hoc communication unit 403 disconnects the ad hoc network established with the mobile terminal 40 (# 3). This makes it possible to reduce power consumption.

  In the mobile terminal 40 (# 1), the location information transfer unit 409 receives the location information of the search terminal received from the mobile terminal 40 (# 2) via the ad hoc communication unit 403 via the base station communication unit 402. Transfer to station 30. Simultaneously with the transfer of the location information, the ad hoc communication unit 403 disconnects the ad hoc network established with the mobile terminal 40 (# 2). This makes it possible to reduce power consumption.

  Thereafter, the base station 30 transfers the location information of the search terminal received from the mobile terminal 40 (# 1) to the search server 10 via the network 20. Therefore, the search server 10 can determine the position of the mobile terminal 40 (# 3) that is the search terminal based on the position information of the search terminal received from the base station 30.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the Push signal is transferred from the base station 30 or another portable terminal 40, the portable terminal 40 includes the search terminal ID and the own terminal ID included in the Push signal. If the collation result indicates coincidence, the location information of the terminal is transmitted to the push signal transfer source. On the other hand, if the verification result indicates a mismatch, an ad hoc network is constructed with another mobile terminal 40 to transfer a Push signal, and when the location information of the search terminal is transferred from the transfer destination, the search terminal Is transferred to the Push signal transfer source.

  Therefore, since the search server 10 can acquire the location information of the search terminal via the base station 30 even in a case where the search terminal is in an out-of-service state in an emergency, for example, confirmation of survival during a disaster or under the rubble It can be an aid to search for victims buried in the area.

  In addition, since the mobile terminal 40 constructs the ad hoc network only when the Push signal is received, the mobile terminal 40 randomly constructs the ad hoc network, power consumption increases, and communication time is limited. Can be avoided.

  In the present embodiment, since any one of the mobile terminals 40 is assumed to be located in the communication area of the base station 30, for example, it is owned by a public organization (such as a fire engine) that acts in an emergency. It is preferable to always arrange the portable terminal 40 to be within the communication area.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in the example of FIG. 4, the mobile terminals 40 (# 1) and 40 (# 2) only serve as nodes that transfer the location information of the search terminal to the search server 10, It is preferable not to display position information at all. However, when the mobile terminal 40 (# 1) is the public mobile terminal 40 as described above, the position information may be displayed.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the portable terminal search system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the portable terminal shown in FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining the whole operation | movement of the portable terminal search system shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the conventional portable terminal search operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Search server 20 Network 30 Base station 40 Portable terminal 401 Antenna 402 Base station communication part 403 Ad hoc communication part 404 Storage part 405 GPS part 406 Collation part 407 Position information transmission part 408 Push signal transfer part 409 Position information transfer part 410 Control part

Claims (4)

In a mobile terminal search system for acquiring position information of a mobile terminal to be searched among a plurality of mobile terminals,
A search server for sending a search signal including the ID of the mobile terminal to be searched;
When the search signal is received from the search server, the search signal is transferred to the mobile terminal in the communication area of the local station, and the position information of the mobile terminal to be searched is received from the mobile terminal in the communication area of the local station. A base station that forwards the location information to the search server,
Each of the plurality of portable terminals is
A base station communication unit that communicates with the base station;
An ad hoc communication unit that performs ad hoc communication with other mobile terminals;
A storage unit for storing the ID of the own terminal;
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the terminal;
When the search signal is received from the base station via the base station communication unit, or when the search signal is received from another mobile terminal via the ad hoc communication unit, the search signal A collation unit that collates whether or not the ID of the mobile terminal to be searched included and the ID of the own terminal stored in the storage unit match;
When the collation result by the collation unit indicates a match, the base station via the base station communication unit uses the position information of the own terminal acquired by the position information acquisition unit as the position information of the mobile terminal to be searched Or a location information transmission unit that transmits to the other mobile terminal that is the transfer source of the search signal via the ad hoc communication unit,
A search signal transfer unit configured to access another mobile terminal via the ad hoc communication unit to construct an ad hoc network and transfer the search signal to the other mobile terminal when the verification result by the verification unit indicates a mismatch; ,
When the location information of the search target mobile terminal is received from the other mobile terminal to which the search signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit, the location information is transmitted to the base station via the base station communication unit. A position information transfer unit that transfers or transfers the search signal to another portable terminal that transmits the search signal via the ad hoc communication unit.   The mobile terminal search system according to claim 1, wherein the ad hoc communication unit disconnects an ad hoc network established with another mobile terminal after the location information is transferred by the location information transfer unit. In a mobile terminal search system for acquiring position information of a mobile terminal to be searched among a plurality of mobile terminals, a mobile terminal constituting one of the plurality of mobile terminals,
A base station communication unit that communicates with the base station;
An ad hoc communication unit that performs ad hoc communication with other mobile terminals;
A storage unit for storing the ID of the own terminal;
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the terminal;
When a search signal including an ID of the search target mobile terminal sent from a search server is received from the base station via the base station communication unit, or from another mobile terminal via the ad hoc communication unit A collation unit for collating whether or not the ID of the portable terminal to be searched included in the search signal matches the ID of the own terminal stored in the storage unit when received by access; ,
When the collation result by the collation unit indicates a match, the base station via the base station communication unit uses the position information of the own terminal acquired by the position information acquisition unit as the position information of the mobile terminal to be searched Or a location information transmission unit that transmits to the other mobile terminal that is the transfer source of the search signal via the ad hoc communication unit,
A search signal transfer unit configured to access another mobile terminal via the ad hoc communication unit to construct an ad hoc network and transfer the search signal to the other mobile terminal when the verification result by the verification unit indicates a mismatch; ,
When the location information of the search target mobile terminal is received from the other mobile terminal to which the search signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit, the location information is transmitted to the base station via the base station communication unit. A position information transfer unit that transfers or transfers the search signal to another portable terminal from which the search signal is transferred via the ad hoc communication unit.   The mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein the ad hoc communication unit disconnects an ad hoc network established with another mobile terminal after the location information is transferred by the location information transfer unit.

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