JP2008221880A - Pedal of bicycle having built-in position information transmitting device, and mobile communication system providing position information of bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bicycle with a position information transmitting device making it difficult to grasp breakage, alteration, an assembling condition and an assembling position of a body. <P>SOLUTION: This pedal for a bicycle comprises a shaft member, a body member connected to the shaft member, an antenna built in the body member, and a position information transmitting device built in the body member and transmitting information relating to a position of the bicycle via the antenna. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bicycle pedal incorporating a position information transmitting device for providing position information of a bicycle, a bicycle including the pedal, and mobile communication for providing position information of such a bicycle to a service subscriber. About the system.

  Bicycle theft incidents occur around 400,000 nationwide, and less than half of them are returned to their owners (from the National Police Agency “2004 Crime Situation”). In addition, there are a large number of theft damages caused by abandoned bicycles, and in order to find these stolen bicycles, it is important to be able to track the bicycles while riding and search for a place to leave them.

If a bicycle is stolen, it is very difficult to find it. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical bicycle has a handle 1, a basket 2, a mudguard 3, a front fork 4, a frame 5, a crank 6, a pedal 7, a saddle 8, a seat post 9, a seat stay 10, and tires. 11 and the like. In order to be able to find a stolen bicycle, a position detection device that detects the current position and transmits the current position information using a radio signal is provided between the basket 2 and the wheel mudguard 3 and immediately below the saddle 8. Bicycles attached to have already been proposed (see Patent Document 1). When such a bicycle is stolen, the current location of the bicycle can be known based on the location information stored in the server via the base station network, so that the stolen bicycle can be easily found.
JP 2004-359183 A

  Bicycle bodies are usually molded from metals such as aluminum and iron. Therefore, in the above-described prior art, in order to ensure the wireless performance of the position detection device required for communication with the base station, it is necessary to make the position detection device main body or the antenna attached thereto protrude from the bicycle body. Therefore, it was necessary to consider the location of the position detection device. Therefore, as described above, the position detection device or the antenna is installed at a place other than the body part of the bicycle (for example, between the basket 2 installed on the bicycle handle 1 and the mudguard 3 of the wheel, directly below the saddle 8, etc. ).

  However, when such a configuration is adopted, the position detection device or its antenna can be visually recognized from the outside. That is, a person who tries to steal a bicycle can easily grasp the position where the position detection device is installed. Therefore, there has been a problem that the position detection function of the device cannot be exhibited when the position detection device is easily removed or destroyed by a person who steals the bicycle.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle including a position information transmitting device that makes it difficult to grasp the body destruction, modification, assembly state, and assembly position, and can be easily attached to the bicycle.

  The bicycle pedal according to the present invention includes a shaft member, a main body member coupled to the shaft member, an antenna built in the main body member, and a main body member that transmits information related to the position of the bicycle via the antenna. A position information transmission device.

  The information regarding the position includes, for example, identification information of one or a plurality of base stations and electric field strength of radio waves received from these base stations.

  The position information transmitting apparatus can be configured to include a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit. A control part acquires the information regarding said position via an antenna and a radio | wireless communication circuit, memorize | stores it in a memory | storage part, and transmits the said information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part via an antenna and a radio | wireless communication circuit.

Further, the position information transmitting device may be configured to include a GPS device. In this configuration, the position information is acquired by the GPS device. Also in this case, the position information transmitting device can be configured to further include a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit. And a control part transmits the information regarding the position memorize | stored in the memory | storage part via the antenna and a radio | wireless communication circuit while memorize | storing the information regarding the position acquired by the GPS apparatus in a memory | storage part.

  The pedal of the present invention can be configured to further include a power generation unit including a coil and a magnet attached to the shaft member. The power generation unit can be configured to generate an induced current in the coil by changing the magnetic field in the coil according to the rotation of the magnet accompanying the rotation of the shaft member. Further, the position information transmitting device can be grounded by connecting to the shaft member.

  The bicycle of the present invention is configured to include a pedal having the above-described characteristics.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a mobile communication system that provides the subscriber terminal with the position information of the bicycle of the present invention having the above-described features is constructed. The mobile communication system includes means for calculating position information of the bicycle based on information about the position transmitted from the position information transmitting device of the bicycle, means for storing the calculated position information, and subscribing the stored position information. Providing to the user terminal.

  As described above, the position information includes, for example, identification information of one or a plurality of base stations and the electric field strength of radio waves received from these base stations. The position information transmitting apparatus can be configured to include a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit. The control unit acquires information on the position from one or a plurality of base stations via the antenna and the wireless communication circuit, stores the information on the storage unit, and stores the information on the position stored in the storage unit in the antenna and the wireless communication circuit To the position information calculation means.

As another configuration of the mobile communication system, in addition to the above-described features, means for storing the position information transmitted from the bicycle position information transmitting apparatus of the present invention having a GPS device, and the stored position information as a subscriber terminal It is also possible to have a configuration comprising means provided in the above. In this case, the position information transmitting apparatus can be configured to further include a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit. The control unit stores the position information acquired by the GPS device in the storage unit, and transmits the position information stored in the storage unit to a means for accumulating the position information via the antenna and the wireless communication circuit.

The body portion of the bicycle pedal of the present invention is preferably made of a material such as resin or ceramic that does not affect the wireless performance of the position information transmitting device, unlike metal. Therefore, the communication quality between the position information transmitting apparatus and the base station can be improved. Even when the main body is made of metal, the effect on the wireless performance of the position information transmitting apparatus can be reduced by taking a clearance between the antenna and the metal using a resin or the like. Since the position information transmitting device and its antenna are arranged inside the pedal, it is not easily recognized from the outside that the device is in the pedal. Accordingly, since the person who tries to steal the bicycle does not know the presence of the device, the possibility of the device being removed or destroyed is reduced.

  The structure of the bicycle pedal 100 of the present invention is shown in FIG. The shaft member 102, the main body member 104, and the ball bearing 106 are provided like a normal pedal. Furthermore, the antenna 108, the electronic circuit unit 110, the coil 112, the magnet 114, and the ground line 116 are provided as elements peculiar to the present invention. The electronic circuit unit 110 is connected to the shaft member 102 via a ground line 116 and a ball bearing 106, and is grounded.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the connection relationship between the components of the pedal 100 of the present invention. The electronic circuit unit 110 includes a position information transmission device 118, a constant voltage circuit 120, a power storage unit 122, a rectification unit 124, and a rotation detection unit 126. The position information transmitting device 118 is connected to the shaft member 102 via the ground wire 116 and the ball bearing 106, and is grounded.

  The antenna 108 connected to the position information transmitting device 118 is preferably built in the main body member 104 so as not to be exposed to the outside. As the antenna 108, for example, a shortened antenna such as a dielectric chip antenna can be used. The antenna 108 is preferably built in a position away from the shaft member 102 in the main body member 104 as shown in FIG. 2 in order to avoid adverse effects on the wireless communication characteristics by the shaft member 102.

  The main body member 104 is preferably made of resin or ceramic so as not to affect the wireless communication performance of the position information transmitting device 118 via the antenna 108. The main body member 104 may be made of metal. In this case, a clearance between the antenna 108 and the metal may be taken using a resin or the like, and the metal and the antenna 108 may be separated by about 2 cm. With this configuration, a third party does not notice that the bicycle pedal has a wireless communication function. Even if a third party notices that the position information transmission device 118 is built in the pedal, each element is built in the pedal, so the wireless communication function is removed from the bicycle of the present invention. It is not easy. For example, it is necessary to remove or destroy the pedal, or to attach a metal plate or the like to the pedal in order to cut off the radio signal. That is, in order to steal such a bicycle, it is necessary to impair the original function of the bicycle or to greatly modify the bicycle. It is thought that no one has ever tried to steal, and as a result, it also prevents bicycle theft.

  The arrangement of each element shown in FIG. 2 is preferable for achieving the object of the present invention, but is merely an example. The present invention is characterized in that a position information transmitting device is built in a pedal provided in a bicycle, and the above-described remarkable effects can be obtained by this feature.

  The position information transmitting device 118 communicates with an external base station or other wireless communication terminal via the antenna 108. An example of the configuration of the position information transmitter 118 is shown in FIG. 4 includes an antenna switch 128, a transmission unit 130 and a reception unit 132, a modulation unit 134 and a demodulation unit 136, a time division multiple access (TDMA) encoding unit 138, and a TDMA decoding unit 140, and a control for controlling them. Unit 142, a storage unit including ROM 144 and RAM 146, and a timer 148. The antenna switch 128, the transmission unit 130 and the reception unit 132, the modulation unit 134 and the demodulation unit 136, the TDMA encoding unit 138, and the TDMA decoding unit 140 constitute a wireless communication circuit related to the wireless communication function of the position information transmission device 118. To do. In FIG. 4, the position information transmission device 118 is described as one block, but it is not necessarily required to be modularized. For example, each component described in FIG. 4 may be disposed directly inside the pedal body member 104.

  A signal received via the antenna 108 is input to the receiving unit 132 by the antenna switch 128. The received signal (for example, 1.9 GHz band) is amplified and frequency-converted by the receiving unit 132, then demodulated into a TDMA baseband signal by the demodulating unit 136, and then converted into a data signal by the TDMA decoding unit 140. . The data signal includes, for example, a request for bicycle current position information. In this case, the control unit 142 recognizes the request, and necessary information, for example, identification information (CSID, Cell Station ID) of one or a plurality of surrounding base stations, or an electric field of a radio wave received from the base station. Get information about strength. The acquired information is stored in the RAM 146, for example. The stored information is read by the control unit 142 as necessary for transmission to the outside. The control unit 142 creates an e-mail or a short message including the information and transmits it to a destination such as a predetermined server. At that time, data such as an e-mail or a short message to be transmitted is input to the TDMA encoding unit 138 and converted into a TDMA baseband signal. Further, the modulation unit 134 and the transmission unit 130, for example, 1.9 GHz. The signal is converted into a modulated wave of the band and wirelessly transmitted through the antenna switch 128 and the antenna 108.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the position information transmission device 118 is connected to the constant voltage circuit 120 and the rotation detection unit 126, the constant voltage circuit 120 is connected to the power storage unit 122, and the power storage unit 122 is connected to the rectification unit 124, These constitute the electronic circuit unit 110 as a whole.

  The pedal 100 of the present invention preferably includes a power generation unit including a coil 112 connected to the rectification unit 124 and a magnet 114 attached to the shaft member 102 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Power generation by the power generation unit is possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnet 114 is formed in a donut shape around the shaft member 102. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the magnet 114 has an N pole and an S pole at opposing positions with the shaft member interposed therebetween. In addition, a magnet having a quadrupole structure, a hexapole structure, or an octupole structure may be used. Further, it is not necessarily a donut shape, and various structures well known to those skilled in the art can be adopted. Since the magnet 114 moves in conjunction with the shaft member 102, the magnet 114 rotates relative to the coil 112 when the user rides the bicycle and pedals the pedal 100. Therefore, an alternating induction current is generated in the coil 112 due to the effect of electromagnetic induction. The generated current is converted into direct current by the rectifying unit 124 and stored as a power source for the position information transmitting device 118 in the power storage unit 122 such as a capacitor. The capacity of the power storage unit 122 preferably has a capacity sufficient to enable the position information transmission device 118 to operate for a long time (several hours to several days). The electric power provided from the power storage unit 122 is supplied to the position information transmission device 118 after being converted into an appropriate voltage by the constant voltage circuit 120.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the mobile communication system of the present invention for detecting the position of the bicycle 200 including the pedal 100 described above. The communication system is preferably a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) communication system. The system includes base stations 302A to 302C, a location information calculation server 304, a location information storage server 306, a map information server 308, the Internet 310, a subscriber terminal 312, and a server 314 of a provider that provides location information services. In FIG. 5, the position information calculation server 304, the position information storage server 306, and the map information server 308 are connected to the local network and further connected to the Internet 310, but the system configuration of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a single server connected to the Internet 310 may be configured to perform the functions of some or all of the servers 304, 306, 308, and 314. Further, the servers 304, 306, and 308 may be connected to the Internet 310 without going through the local network. That is, the mobile communication system accepts a request from the subscriber terminal 312, and provides the subscriber terminal 312 with bicycle position information (314), position information calculation means (304), and position information storage means (306). ) And map information generation means (308).

In the system of FIG. 5, the outline of the operation until the position information of the bicycle 200 is calculated and accumulated is as follows. Each base station 302 is assigned a unique base station identification number (Cell Station ID, CSID). The location information calculation server 304 stores each CSID and location information (for example, latitude and longitude) of the base station having the CSID in association with each other. The position information transmission device 118 of the present invention built in the pedal 100 of the bicycle 200 searches for surrounding base stations as necessary, for example, when a position information request is received from the outside. The location information transmission device 118 has the CSID (01, 02, and 03 in this example) of the nearby (usually multiple) base stations obtained by the search and the electric field strength of the radio wave received from each CSID (in this example, The information about the current time and the terminal identification number (PSID, 12321 in this example) of the location information transmitting apparatus 118 stored in the ROM 144, as well as information about the current time and the antenna 108 and the base station 302 ( In this example, it is transmitted to the position information calculation server 304 via the base station 302B) with CSID = 02. The position information calculation server 304 uses the information on the latitude and longitude of each base station stored in correspondence with the received CSID and the received electric field strength, and the bicycle 200 having the position information transmission device 118 having the received PSID. Calculate the position. The calculated position information and current time are transmitted from the position information calculation server 304 to the position information storage server 306 and stored in association with, for example, the PSID and time.
In the case where the current time is not held in the position information transmitting device 118, the current time known in the position information calculating server 304 when the position information is transmitted from the position information transmitting device 118 to the position information calculating server 304 is determined. May be used. In addition, in order to maintain the accuracy of the time information in the position information transmission device 118, the accurate current time is periodically transmitted from the position information calculation server 304 to the position information transmission device 118, and You may make it correct time information.

  In the system shown in FIG. 5, the outline of the procedure in the case where the current location information of the bicycle 200 is requested to search for the location information of the bicycle whose service subscriber has been stolen is as follows. The subscriber accesses a website managed by the server 314 of the provider providing the location information service from a communication terminal 312 (a personal computer (PC) in FIG. 5) that can be connected to the Internet 310. Then, login is performed by inputting a subscriber ID and password registered in advance, and the position information of the bicycle 200 is requested by a predetermined method. In response to the request, the server 314 makes a call to the position information transmitting device 118 incorporated in the bicycle 200 and transmits the request. For example, the server 314 stores the telephone number and mail address of the location information transmission device 118, and based on these, the server 314 can make a call to the location information transmission device 118 and send an e-mail. Thereafter, the current position of the bicycle 200 is calculated and stored based on the above procedure. The subscriber can browse the latest location information newly accumulated in the location information accumulation server 306 on the PC 312. In addition, the subscriber can request map information of the current position of the bicycle 200 from the website of the server 314. The request is transmitted to the map information server 308, and in response to the request, the map information server 308 obtains the current position information of the bicycle 200 from the position information storage server 306, and represents the current position on the map. Is sent back to the server 314. The user can view such map data on the screen of the PC 312. Since the position information storage server 306 stores not only the current position information of the bicycle 200 but also past position information, the user can know the route that the bicycle 200 has taken up to the present time.

  The mobile communication system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 is preferably realized as a PHS communication system. However, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that a mobile communication terminal can be realized as a mobile phone communication system while using a mobile phone terminal as the position information transmitting device 118 built in the pedal 100 of the bicycle 200. Furthermore, the position information transmission device 118 may be equipped with a device having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function. In this case, since the position information (latitude, longitude, etc.) of the bicycle 200 is directly acquired using the function of the GPS device, the control unit 142 of the position information transmitting device 118 replaces the information on the surrounding base stations. Thus, the acquired information on the latitude and longitude is transmitted via the TDMA encoding unit 138, the modulation unit 134, the transmission unit 130, the antenna switch 128, and the antenna 108. In this case, the position information calculation server is unnecessary, and the information regarding the latitude and longitude transmitted from the position information transmission device is received and accumulated in the position information accumulation server.

  Hereafter, each operation | movement of the system of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 6 shows a flow relating to an information transmission operation from the position information transmission device 118 built in the pedal of the bicycle 200 to the position information calculation server 304. The control unit 142 confirms whether or not the timer 148 is activated or a position information request is received from the outside (step 604). If these are not confirmed (“No” in step 604), the control unit 142 waits. When at least one of these operations is confirmed (“Yes” in step 604), the control unit 142 starts searching for neighboring base stations, and from each CSID and each base station of the surrounding base stations. Information about the electric field strength of the received radio wave is acquired (step 606). The obtained information is transmitted from the position information transmitter 118 to the position information calculation server 304 via the antenna 108 and the base station 302 (step 608). For example, the ROM 144 of the position information transmission device 118 stores the e-mail address of the position information calculation server 304, and the control unit 142 creates and transmits an e-mail addressed to the address including the above information. As another configuration, the control unit 142 may transmit the acquired information to the server 314, and the server 314 may transmit the information to the position information calculation server 304. In addition, the location information transmission device 118 may transmit information regarding the identification number (PSID) assigned to the location information transmission device 118 and the current time, together with information on the CSID and electric field strength of each base station.

  In order to prevent the waste of electric power of the power storage unit 122, the position information transmission device 118 is used when the bicycle 200 is moving (when power is generated by the coil 112 and the magnet 114) and when it is stopped (when power is generated). The communication operation mode may be switched to the other). FIG. 7 shows a flow relating to the operation of the rotation detecting unit 126 incorporated in the bicycle pedal of the present invention and the switching of the operation mode of the position information transmitting device 118 corresponding thereto.

  The rotation detection unit 126 in the pedal 100 is configured to detect the rotation of the shaft member 102. For example, the rotation detection unit 126 detects the value of the electromotive force generated in the coil 112 due to the rotation of the shaft member 102, and determines that the shaft member 102 is rotating when this value reaches a predetermined threshold value. It is comprised so that it may be judged that the shaft member 102 is not rotating. Alternatively, using the fact that the induced current generated in the coil 112 is alternating current, it is checked whether or not the polarity of the generated electromotive force changes, and if it changes, it is determined that the shaft member 102 is rotating. The rotation detection unit 126 may be configured to do this. In addition, various configurations well known to those skilled in the art can be employed.

  The control unit 142 checks the state of the rotation detection unit 126 at a predetermined timing (step 704). For example, the timer 148 is used to check periodically at predetermined time intervals. When rotation is detected (“Yes” in step 706), the control unit 142 causes the position information transmitting device 118 to operate in the continuous operation mode (step 710). Here, the continuous operation mode refers to a state information transmission such as a state in which the power source of the position information transmission device 118 is always in a standby state or a state in which a standby state and a stop state are frequently repeated (for example, every 10 seconds). This means that the power consumption of the device 118 is relatively high. On the other hand, when rotation is not detected (“No” in step 706), the control unit 142 causes the position information transmitting apparatus 118 to operate in the power saving intermittent operation mode 708 to save power. Here, the power saving intermittent operation mode refers to the power consumption of the position information transmitting device 118 such as a state in which a standby state for a relatively short time (for example, 10 seconds) and a stop state for a relatively long time (for example, 1 hour) are repeated. Means a relatively low state.

  A flow of operations of the position information calculation server 304 and the position information storage server 306 is shown in FIG. The location information calculation server 304 stands by when it does not receive information on the CSID and electric field strength of the neighboring base stations from the location information transmission device 118 (“No” in step 804). When these pieces of information are received (“Yes” in step 804), the position of the bicycle 200 is calculated based on these pieces of information (step 806). For example, since the location information calculation server 304 stores the CSID of each base station and the latitude / longitude information of each base station in association with each other, the latitude and longitude of each base station existing around the bicycle 200 can be determined. . Further, the position information calculation server 304 can determine the approximate distance from each base station to the bicycle 200 based on the electric field strength of the radio wave received from each base station. The position information calculation server 304 calculates the current position (latitude and longitude) of the bicycle 200 based on the determined latitude and longitude and the distance according to the triangulation procedure. The calculated latitude and longitude of the bicycle 200 are accumulated in the position information accumulation server 306 together with the PSID of the position information transmission device 118 and the time when the position information transmission device 118 transmits information to the position information calculation server 304 ( Step 808).

  FIG. 9 shows a flow of the entire system when a subscriber who subscribes to the position information service provided in the system of FIG. 5 requests to disclose information on the current position of the bicycle 200. The subscriber accesses a website on the server 314 of the business operator that provides the location information service from a terminal such as the PC 312. As a premise for providing the service, the server 314 requests the subscriber to enter a subscriber identification number (ID) and a password (step 904). When the subscriber inputs the information by a predetermined method (step 906), the server 314 authenticates the input information (step 908). If the authentication is successful (“Yes” in step 908), the server 314 proceeds to a specific procedure for processing the subscriber's request (step 912), but if the authentication fails (“ No "), inform the subscriber to that effect (step 910).

  Details of step 912 are shown in FIG. The server 314 waits until there is a request from the subscriber to disclose the latest position information of the bicycle (“No” in step 1002). The server 314 stores the PSID of the location information transmission device 118 corresponding to the subscriber ID, the telephone number / email address of the wireless communication terminal, and the like in association with each other. If there is such a request (“Yes” in Step 1002), the server 314 sends the CSIDs of neighboring base stations to the location information transmitting apparatus 118 having the PSID corresponding to the subscriber ID authenticated in Step 908. A message requesting to transmit information on the electric field strength of the radio wave received from each base station is transmitted (step 1004). When receiving these pieces of information from the position information transmitting apparatus 118 (“Yes” in step 1006), the server 314 transmits these pieces of information to the position information calculating server 304, and the position information calculating server 304 calculates the latitude of the position information transmitting apparatus 118. And longitude are calculated (step 1008). As the calculation method, for example, the method described above can be adopted.

  In the above-described operation, the server 314 that manages the website for the location information service and the location information calculation server 304 have been described as different servers. However, a single server is used for the server 314 and the location information calculation server 304. It may have a function.

  The information regarding the latitude and longitude of the position information transmitting apparatus 118 (and therefore the bicycle 200) calculated in step 1008 relates to the PSID of the position information transmitting apparatus 118 and the time when the position information transmitting apparatus 118 transmits the latest information. It is transmitted to the location information storage server 306 together with the information and stored (step 1010). Thereafter, returning to the flow of FIG. 9, the server 314 reads out the information of the location information transmission device 118 stored in the location information storage server 306 in association with the PSID corresponding to the subscriber ID from the location information storage server 306 (step S31). 914).

  On the other hand, if there is no response from the location information transmitting apparatus 118 (“No” in step 1006), the server 314 suspends the request from the subscriber (step 1012). That is, it records that there was the request. Then, the information of the position information transmitting apparatus 118 that has already been stored in the position information storage server 306 is read (step 914).

  In the above operation, the server 314 that manages the website for the location information service and the location information storage server 306 have been described as different servers. However, a single server has the functions of these servers 314 and 306. May be. The same applies to the following.

  Returning to the flow of FIG. 9, the server 314 transmits the position information (latitude and longitude) read from the position information storage server 306 to the map information server 308. Based on the received position information and the map data stored in the map information server 308, the map information server 308 creates map data that displays the current position of the position information transmitting device 118 on the map (step 916). The created map information is transmitted from the map information server 308 to the server 314 and provided to the subscriber on the website (step 918).

  The position information transmitting device 118 of the present invention can be configured to be able to switch between a continuous operation mode and an intermittent operation mode with different power consumption, as already described in connection with FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the rotation detector 126 incorporated in the pedal detects the presence or absence of rotation of the shaft member, and the position information transmission device 118 spontaneously performs the switching according to the result.

  In addition to this configuration, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the standby mode of the position information transmission device 118 is switched remotely in response to a request from the server 314. FIG. 11 shows a flow of such switching operation. The position information transmitting device 118 receives the control information from the server 314 and confirms the content (step 1104). When the control information includes a command for operation in the continuous standby mode (“Yes” in step 1106), the position information transmitting device 118 performs an operation in the continuous standby mode (step 1108). On the other hand, when the control information from the server 314 does not include an operation command in the continuous standby mode (“No” in step 1106) or includes an operation command in the intermittent standby mode, the position information transmitting device 118 is intermittent. The operation in the standby mode is performed (step 1110).

  FIG. 12 shows an operation flow of the position information transmitting apparatus 118 in these modes. When the position information transmitting apparatus 118 is set to the continuous standby mode (“Yes” in step 1204), the position information transmitting apparatus 118 always operates in the standby state (step 1206). In order to reduce power consumption as much as possible, an operation method in which the standby state and the stop state are repeated frequently (for example, every 10 seconds) may be employed as the continuous standby mode. On the other hand, when the position information transmitting device 118 is set to the intermittent standby mode (“No” in step 1204), the position information transmitting device 118 operates to repeat a relatively short time standby state and a relatively long time stop state. For example, the position information transmitting device 118 starts after a sleep state (stopped state) for a preset time (step 1208). The position information transmitting apparatus 118 that has been enabled to communicate notifies the server 314 and the like (1210). Thereafter, a standby operation is performed for a preset time (step 1212).

  When the subscriber wants to switch the standby state of the location information transmitting apparatus 118, the subscriber may access the website managed by the server 314 and issue a request by a predetermined method. The server 314 transmits control information to the position information starter 118 in accordance with the request, and thereafter, steps 1104 to 1110 in FIG. 11 are executed.

  In this way, the following effects can be obtained by controlling the standby state of the position information transmitting apparatus 118 for a call from the network. 1) If the position information transmission device 118 is always in a standby state, a request from the network can be handled immediately. 2) If the position information transmitter 118 is in the intermittent standby state, it is possible to perform a standby operation for a long time while reducing power consumption.

  FIG. 13 shows a flow of the operation of the server 314 accompanying step 1210. When the server 314 receives a notification from the position information transmitting apparatus 118 that it has entered the standby state (“Yes” in step 1304), the server 314 receives a pending position information transmission request (see step 1012 in FIG. 10). Check if it exists. If such a request exists, the server 314 requests the position information transmitting apparatus 118 to transmit information (neighboring base station ID and electric field strength) necessary for position information calculation (step 1306). Upon receiving a response to this request from the location information transmission device 118 (“Yes” in step 1308), the server 314 reads the information on the location information transmission device of the PSID corresponding to the subscriber ID from the location information storage server 306 (step 308). 1310). If there is no response from the position information transmitting apparatus 118 (“No” in step 1308), the server 314 again holds the position information transmission request (step 1312). By performing the operation flow as shown in FIG. 13, the server 314 does not need to retransmit such a request many times, and the burden on the server 314 is reduced.

  Although the bicycle illustrated in this specification and the drawings is a two-wheeled vehicle, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that the pedal of the present invention is also applicable to a unicycle or a bicycle having three or more wheels. it is obvious. In the above description, transmission / reception is performed using one antenna. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a so-called diversity method using two antennas can be employed. In this case, the signal obtained by the two antennas at the time of receiving the radio signal may be decoded and a signal having a lower BER (bit error rate) may be adopted. Furthermore, spatial diversity or polarization diversity seems to be effective as a diversity system that can be installed in a bicycle pedal, but the radio wave output from the base station is perpendicular to the ground, so the antenna is perpendicular to the ground. On the other hand, it becomes vertical polarization. On the other hand, because the rotation axis of a bicycle pedal is parallel to the ground, an antenna that is perpendicular to the ground at a certain angle will become horizontal if rotated 90 degrees. Cannot receive. Therefore, if two antennas are installed on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis so as to form a right angle, a radio wave having a vertical polarization component can always be received at any angle, so that polarization diversity is effective.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a general bicycle. It is a figure which shows the structure of the pedal for bicycles of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the connection relation between each component of the pedal of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a positional infomation transmission apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the mobile communication system of this invention. It is a figure regarding the flow regarding the information transmission operation | movement from a positional information transmitter to a positional information calculation server. It is a figure regarding the flow regarding operation | movement of a rotation detection part, and switching of the operation mode of the positional infomation transmission apparatus corresponding to this. It is a figure of the flow of operation | movement of a positional information calculation server and a positional information storage server. It is a figure of the flow of the whole system when the disclosure request | requirement of the present position information of a bicycle is received from the subscriber. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a specific operation for processing a subscriber request. It is a figure of the flow at the time of switching the standby mode of a positional infomation transmission apparatus remotely. It is a figure of the operation | movement flow of the positional infomation transmission apparatus in each standby mode. It is a figure of the operation | movement flow at the time of receiving the notification that it can communicate from the positional infomation transmission apparatus started from the sleep state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Handle 2 Basket 3 Mudguard 4 Front fork 5 Frame 6 Crank 7 Pedal 8 Saddle 9 Seat post 10 Seat stay 11 Tire 100 Pedal 102 Shaft member 104 Main body member 106 Ball bearing 108 Antenna 110 Electronic circuit part 112 Coil 114 Magnet 116 Grounding Line 118 Location information transmission device 120 Constant voltage circuit 122 Power storage unit 124 Rectification unit 126 Rotation detection unit 302A to 302C Base station 304 Location information calculation server 306 Location information storage server 308 Map information server 310 Network 312 Subscriber terminal 314 Service provider's server

Claims (15)

A bicycle pedal,
A shaft member;
A body member coupled to the shaft member;
An antenna built in the body member;
A pedal comprising a position information transmitting device built in the main body member and transmitting information on the position of the bicycle via the antenna.   2. The pedal according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the position includes identification information of one or more base stations and electric field strength of a radio wave received from the one or more base stations. The position information transmitting device includes a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit,
The control unit acquires information about the position via the antenna and the wireless communication circuit, stores the information about the position in the storage unit, and stores the information about the position stored in the storage unit to the antenna and the wireless communication circuit The pedal according to claim 1, wherein the pedal is transmitted via the pedal.   The pedal according to claim 1, wherein the position information transmission device includes a GPS device, and the information regarding the position is acquired by the GPS device. The position information transmitting device further includes a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit,
The said control part memorize | stores the information regarding the said position acquired by the said GPS apparatus in the said memory | storage part, and transmits the information regarding the said position memorize | stored in the said memory | storage part via the said antenna and the said radio | wireless communication circuit. Item 5. The pedal according to Item 4. Furthermore, comprising a power generation unit consisting of a coil and a magnet attached to the shaft member,
The power generation unit is configured to generate an induced current in the coil by changing a magnetic field in the coil according to rotation of the magnet accompanying rotation of the shaft member. The pedal according to any one of 5 to 5.   The pedal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the position information transmitting device is grounded by being connected to the shaft member.   A bicycle comprising the pedal according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A mobile communication system for providing position information of a bicycle to a subscriber terminal, wherein the bicycle includes a shaft member, a main body member coupled to the shaft member, an antenna built in the main body member, and the main body member And a pedal comprising a position information transmitting device that transmits information on the position of the bicycle via the antenna, and the mobile communication system includes:
Means for calculating the position information of the bicycle based on the information on the position transmitted from the position information transmitting device;
Means for accumulating the calculated position information;
Means for providing the stored location information to the subscriber terminal.   The mobile communication according to claim 9, wherein the information on the position includes identification information of one or more base stations and electric field strength of a radio wave received from the one or more base stations. system. The position information transmitting device includes a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit,
The control unit acquires information on the position from the one or more base stations via the antenna and the wireless communication circuit, stores the information about the position in the storage unit, and relates to the position stored in the storage unit The mobile communication system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein information is transmitted to the means for calculating the position information via the antenna and the wireless communication circuit. A mobile communication system for providing position information of a bicycle to a subscriber terminal, wherein the bicycle includes a shaft member, a main body member coupled to the shaft member, an antenna built in the main body member, and the main body member And a pedal comprising a position information transmitting device that transmits the position information of the bicycle acquired using a GPS device via the antenna, and the mobile communication system includes:
Means for accumulating the transmitted location information;
Means for providing the stored location information to the subscriber terminal. The position information transmitting device further includes a wireless communication circuit, a storage unit, and a control unit connected to the wireless communication circuit and the storage unit,
The control unit stores the position information acquired by the GPS device in the storage unit, and accumulates the position information stored in the storage unit via the antenna and the wireless communication circuit. The mobile communication system according to claim 12, which is transmitted to the means. The pedal further includes a power generation unit including a coil and a magnet attached to the shaft member,
The power generation unit is configured to generate an induced current in the coil by changing a magnetic field in the coil according to rotation of the magnet accompanying rotation of the shaft member. 14. The mobile communication system according to any one of 1 to 13.   The mobile communication system according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the position information transmitting device is grounded by being connected to the shaft member.

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