JP2010244554A - Position information providing device and program for position information providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position information providing device, which can be shared by a plurality of different operating organizations including searchers, can be utilized by a user easily and reduces economical and human burdens, and which acquires the position information of a terminal carried by a person to be searched and reports it to the searcher. <P>SOLUTION: In an operating device 2, the input of a position information report destination to a terminal 3 of searcher corresponding to the number of a terminal 4 of person to be searched is received and these terminal number and report destination are transmitted to a position information providing device 1. An operating device managing means 102 stores received information in a user managing table 103 and manages the use conditions of the terminal 4 of person to be searched. A position information preparing means 108 searches for an address, where the coordinate of the terminal 4 of person to be searched acquired from a position providing device 5 by a position acquiring means 107 is positioned, prepares e-mail of position information and transmits it to the terminal 3 of searcher. A bill preparing means 111 prepares a bill for charging the terminal 4 of person to be searched in use on the basis of a terminal use condition table 104 and demands payment from a group operating the operating device 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a position information providing system that provides position information of a person who is a search target or a moving object, or an apparatus or program used in the system, and more particularly, to a searcher who automatically finds the current position of a person to be searched or a moving object. Location information providing system, operation device, location information providing device, and operation device that can reduce the burden of economic or human labor by sharing the location information providing service to be notified by multiple operation devices The present invention relates to a program and a program for a position information providing apparatus.

  Conventionally, in order to search for a deaf person or the like, a person to be searched carries a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) terminal or a terminal equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, and the position information of a PHS base station, There is a system for a service that acquires the current position of a search target person such as a deaf person by notifying the searcher's computer terminal of latitude and longitude information.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining a conventional position information providing system using PHS or GPS. Conventionally, when acquiring the position information of the search target person, a third party such as a PHS carrier service company by a position information providing system 910 that an individual has at home or the like or by a position information providing center 920 operated by a company. The location information of the search target person is acquired using the location notification service provided by the location providing device 930 operated by the user. For example, the position information of the search target person was acquired as follows.

  First, in the location information providing system 910 for a private home, a location acquisition request is sent from the location acquisition unit 911 to the location provider 930 operated by the carrier via the network 6 such as the Internet or a communication line. In the position providing device 930, a position notification is requested to the searchee terminal 931 having the PHS function possessed by the corresponding searchee, the base station 932 is relayed, and the response of the searchee terminal 931 is received. The coordinates are detected from the base station ID of the base station 932 nearest to the searchee terminal 931 and notified to the position information providing system 910 that is the request destination. The position information providing system 910 can recognize the position by displaying the coordinates of the notified base station 932 on the map data of the display means 913 by the position information creating means 912.

  The location information providing center 920 also notifies the searcher terminal 924 that joins the system of the searchee's location in the same procedure. In this case, in the searcher terminal 924, when the position is acquired from the position information providing center 920, the position is displayed as a point on the map data so that the searcher can easily recognize the position of the search target person. From the providing center 920, a text message indicating the distance and direction from the target building or the like is received and displayed.

  Also in the position information providing system 940 based on GPS, the searchee is provided with a terminal having a GPS function, and the coordinates of the searchee are acquired and notified to, for example, the searcher terminal 944 that is the request source. It was. In this case, the searcher terminal 944 also displays a point on the map data so that the searcher can easily recognize it.

  As described above, the user of the location information providing service subscribes to the location information providing center 920 to receive the location information service, or purchases the location information providing system 910 by himself and operates the PHS carrier. The coordinates were directly acquired from 930.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-223637 JP-A-11-289574

  However, since the position information providing center 920 only provides information on the position of the searchee terminal 931 as the searchee's position, the searcher can easily perform the display unless the position is displayed using the map data. However, there is a problem that the actual location of the searchee cannot be grasped.

  When a searcher seeks protection of a searchee from a third party such as the police or a fire department, information such as a place name and an address can be obtained so that anyone can recognize the searchee's position verbally. Was needed.

  In addition, the purchase price of the conventional location information providing system is expensive, and the burden of system maintenance such as system operation and maintenance is large, so individuals such as family members who have deaf people introduce the system to their homes. However, there is a problem that the burden of economic or human labor is large and its introduction is difficult and unrealistic.

  Further, since the location information providing center 920 only provides location information and does not follow the protection of the visitor, even if the location information is obtained by subscribing to the location information provision center 920 individually, Must be protected by individuals, and the burden on the family was great.

  In recent years, the aging of society has progressed, and it is desired that elderly care should be handled not only by the elderly family but also by society. In particular, there are high social needs for protection services for the deaf, which are often found in the elderly, and local governments, security companies, non-life insurance companies, and other organizations that can provide protection services for families with deaf people from the welfare and nursing aspects. As part of the care service, it is desirable to provide location information for the deaf. However, it is costly or labor intensive for organizations / businesses to provide location information to local residents or customers by operating and maintaining location information providing systems individually, and the introduction of such services has not progressed. There was a problem.

  It is also conceivable that an organization, a trader, or the like purchases a plurality of PHS terminals for the searchee to carry, subscribes to the location information providing center for the number of terminals, and lends the PHS terminals to the user. However, the number of local residents and customers who wish to provide location information services fluctuates depending on the year or month, etc., and there is a problem that the usage fee for location information services may be wasted due to the use of unused terminals. .

  In order to eliminate the waste of such usage fees, it is conceivable that a new location information providing center is subscribed each time an application for a service is received from a user, and the location information providing center is withdrawn when it is no longer necessary. However, there was a problem that it took time to start the service after applying, and location information could not be provided immediately.

  Furthermore, since the conventional location information providing center 920 simply provides only the location information of the search target person, there has been a problem that it is impossible to take a drought prevention measure and a drought prevention measure.

  Local governments, security companies, non-life insurance companies, etc. are organizations and contractors who can follow their families in terms of welfare and nursing care, and provide services that help prevent droughts and prevent droughts along with location information services. It is hoped to provide.

  Therefore, there is a demand for the realization of a system that allows local governments, security companies, non-life insurance companies, etc. to provide location information of the deceased as part of nursing care services while keeping the burden of economic labor as low as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of solving these problems. When a group / company such as a local government, a security company, or a non-life insurance company provides a location information providing service, an operation device is provided to the group / company. It is intended to be able to provide services easily and inexpensively by connecting to a location information providing center via a network so that user management can be performed, and in fact, the location information providing center which is a third party operates and maintains.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a center location information providing service at a low cost by providing operation information in a plurality of operating organizations for one center and providing the location information providing service.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a location information providing service at a lower cost by charging a usage fee only to a terminal to which a user is assigned.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a location information providing service that reduces the burden of human labor by automatically acquiring the location of the searchee and notifying the searcher.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a location information providing service capable of taking a risk prevention measure by giving a danger notice together with location information when approaching a danger area.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a location information providing service capable of taking measures to prevent wrinkles by accumulating log information of a searcher's wrinkles and creating statistics based on such information. .

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention comprises the following means.

  The system according to the present invention includes a position information providing apparatus that acquires position information of a searchee terminal possessed by a searchee and notifies the searcher, an operation apparatus that registers user information using the position information providing apparatus, and Consists of.

  The operation apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to an input unit that receives an input of a notification destination of position information to a searcher corresponding to identification information of a searchee terminal, and corresponds to identification information of a searchee terminal input by the input unit. Or a user management means for transmitting and registering identification information of the self-operating device together with the notification destination to the location information providing device.

  By interposing an operation device between a conventional location information providing center (location information providing device) and a user who wants to search for a searchee, and registering the user with the operation device, local governments, security companies, non-life insurance When an organization or business operator such as a company provides a location information providing service, the organization or business operator uses an operation device, and actually connects to a location information service device operated by a third party via a network. It can be managed and the location information providing service can be provided at low cost.

  General users, without being aware of the location information provision device operated by a third party, can request the location information provision service operation organization such as local governments, and feel free to use the location information provision service under a reliable operation organization. Will be available to you. In other words, for a searcher or a searchee who receives a location information providing service, if the operating organization is a local government, the location information providing service can be received with peace of mind.

  In addition, for operation organizations such as local governments, the functions provided by the location information providing device can be used by collecting user requests, and the location of the location information providing device is not prepared on the operation organization side. There is an advantage that the user can use the information providing service. On the other hand, it becomes possible for a provider of a location information providing device to acquire a large number of users through an operation organization such as a local government, and greatly increases the cost per searchee terminal when providing the location information providing service to the operation organization side. Can be reduced to

  Further, by enabling operation devices placed in a plurality of operation organizations to be connected to one location information providing device, it is possible to realize a system for providing location information providing services at a lower cost.

  The position information providing apparatus according to the present invention includes a user management information storage unit that stores the notification destination received from the operation apparatus for each identification information of the operation apparatus in correspondence with the identification information of the searchee terminal, and Position acquisition means for acquiring a position, position information generation means for generating position information from the position, and transmission means for transmitting the position information to the notification destination.

  The user management information storage unit stores a notification destination associated with the searchee identification information received from the operation apparatus. Only the minimum information necessary for notification of position information may be transmitted from the operation apparatus to the position information providing apparatus. For this reason, it is possible to provide a location information providing service in consideration of user privacy protection.

  The position information creating means automatically creates position information and transmits it to the searcher's notification destination when the position of the searchee is acquired. As a result, it is possible to provide a location information providing service that reduces the burden of human labor.

  Further, the location information providing device uses the terminal usage status storage means for storing whether or not the searchee terminal is in use for each billing period, and uses the terminal usage status stored in the terminal usage status storage means. A bill creation means for creating a bill. The bill creation means creates a bill by charging only the terminal being used based on the usage status of the terminal based on a predetermined charge table. As a result, a fee that is not wasted is charged, and the location information providing service can be provided at a lower cost.

  In addition, the position information providing device creates log information using the log storage means for storing the acquired position of the searchee's terminal and the acquisition date and time of the position, the position stored in the log storage means, and the position acquisition date and time. And a statistical preparation means. The statistics creation means creates statistics such as the tendency of the heel start time and the tendency of the heel path using the stored position or position acquisition date and time. Thus, it is possible to provide effective statistics for preventing drought or risk prevention.

  In addition, the position information providing device creates text data such as an address and a place name from the position acquired from the position acquisition means, such as e-mail data, and creates a search object on the searcher terminal without using only map data. The position of the person can be recognized.

  Further, the position information providing device includes a dangerous area setting means for setting a dangerous area or an emergency rescue area in advance for a range in which the position information of the searchee terminal can be acquired, and the acquired position of the searchee terminal is the risk information. In the case of the area or the emergency rescue area, it includes a danger notification means for notifying the searcher of the danger notice or the emergency rescue notice together with the position information of the searchee. The danger notification means can provide a location information providing service that can take a risk prevention measure by providing a danger notification together with location information when a search target approaches a preset danger area.

  The function or element of each means for realizing the present invention can be realized as a computer program. The computer program is provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a compact disk or floppy disk (registered trademark) or by being transmitted / received using various communication networks via a communication interface. It can be easily realized by storing it in a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, or a recording medium of a computer and installing it when carrying out the present invention.

  According to the present invention, when a group / commercial provides a location information providing service, the group / commercial side is provided with an operation device so that the user can be managed by connecting to the location information providing device via the network. A location information providing center provided with a location information providing device which is a third party operates and maintains the location information providing service, so that the service can be provided easily and inexpensively.

  In addition, the location information providing service of the center can be made inexpensive by placing operation devices in a plurality of operating organizations and providing the location information providing service for one location information providing device. Further, it is possible to further reduce the cost by charging the usage fee only to the terminal to which the user is assigned.

  In addition, it is possible to take measures to prevent wrinkles or prevent danger by creating statistical information on the tendency of drought, or by giving notice of dangerous areas when approaching a dangerous area.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration example in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of each means which implement | achieves this invention in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a user management table. It is a figure which shows the example of a terminal usage condition table. It is a figure which shows the example of a regional database and a dangerous region database. It is a figure which shows the example of a position database. It is a figure which shows the example of an empty terminal list screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a user registration screen. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart of a user registration process. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart of a user deletion process. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of a position notification process start instruction. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart of the position notification process by a process start instruction | indication. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart of a position acquisition process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of mail. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart (2) of the position notification process by a process start instruction | indication. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart of the position notification process by predetermined time. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart (2) of the position notification process by predetermined time. It is a figure which shows the process flowchart of an invoice creation process. It is a figure which shows a statistical processing flowchart. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the operation apparatus in the case of utilizing the existing database for a user registration process. It is a figure which shows the example of the user management table by the side of an operation apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the user management table by the side of a positional information provision apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the operation management apparatus and user management table in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of the position notification process start instruction | indication of a searcher terminal in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of each means which implement | achieves this invention in 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a prior art.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  The outline of the operation in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of each means for realizing the present invention in the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the system for realizing the present invention includes a position information providing device 1, operation devices 2a, 2b,..., A searcher terminal 3, and a searchee terminal 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the position information providing apparatus 1 includes a transmission / reception means 101, an operation apparatus management means 102, a user management table 103, a terminal usage status table 104, a dangerous area setting means 105, a dangerous area database 106, and a position acquisition means 107. , Location information creation means 108, location database 109, statistics creation means 110, and bill creation means 111.

  A location information providing device 1 provided in the location information providing center is connected to one or a plurality of operation devices 2a and 2b provided in a group as a user manager through a network 6 to transmit and receive data.

  The position providing device 5 is provided in a position provider (such as a carrier) different from the position information providing center, and performs data communication with the base station 51 and the searchee terminal 4 through the PHS communication network. In addition, the position providing device 5 transmits and receives data to and from the position information providing device 1 through wireless or other communication lines. In FIG. 1, the position providing device 5 is shown as a means for providing a position to the position information providing apparatus 1. However, as long as it is a means for providing a position to the position information providing apparatus 1, the position provision of the carrier is provided. It is not limited to the device 5.

  The searcher terminal 3 is a terminal that can be carried by the searcher, and transmits and receives data to and from the location information providing apparatus 1 via the network 6.

  The searchee terminal 4 is a terminal that can be carried by the searchee or a mobile body, and transmits and receives data to and from the position providing device 5 through the PHS communication network.

  As another system configuration example, the searchee terminal 4 includes a GPS function instead of a data transmission / reception function using PHS. In this case, the position providing device 5 and the base station 51 are unnecessary. The searchee terminal 4 can acquire its own longitude / latitude data by GPS and perform data transmission / reception with the position information providing apparatus 1 by radio.

  As another system configuration example, the searchee terminal 4 may be a mobile phone using a mobile phone network capable of calculating position information.

  When the operation device management means 102 of the position information providing device 1 receives user registration data such as the terminal number of the searchee's terminal 4 and the notification destination of the position information from the operation device 2, the received user registration data is managed by the user. It is stored in the table 103, and in the case of user deletion, the corresponding data is deleted and the user management table 103 is managed. In addition, the operation device management unit 102 sets a used / unused flag for each billing period unit in the terminal usage status table 104 based on the used / unused flag of the terminal in the user management table 103. , Terminal usage status table 104 is managed.

  Thereafter, the position acquisition unit 107 of the position information providing apparatus 1 receives a position notification processing start instruction from the searcher terminal 3 or sends a position notification request of the corresponding search target terminal 4 at predetermined time intervals to the position providing apparatus 5. To acquire the position of the searchee terminal 4 (coordinates or base station ID, etc.).

  The location information creation means 108 refers to a map database (not shown), searches for the address and map portion where the acquired coordinates and base station ID are located, and creates transmission data. The transmission data includes text data such as the address and place name where the searchee terminal 4 is located, or the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the searchee terminal 4 and the location of the map portion, or the location of the searchee terminal 4 or The map data or the like displaying the position as a point is included, and information indicating the position is created in, for example, a mail format and transmitted to the searcher terminal 3. Note that the position acquisition means 107 obtains, from the position providing device 5, as the position, text data such as the address and place name of the searchee terminal 4, or the location of the searchee terminal 4 and the URL of the map portion to be searched, or the position. When the point-displayed map data or the like is acquired, the position information creation means 108 transmits the data acquired by the position acquisition means 107 as it is to the searcher terminal 3 as transmission data.

  The searcher terminal 3 receives the transmitted data, for example, mail (position information), and displays the address as a text or a point on the map data, or displays the URL of the map portion. Thereby, the searcher can know the position at any time while searching for the search target person in the cage.

  Further, the dangerous area setting means 105 sets and stores the dangerous area and the emergency rescue area in advance based on the map database, and the position information creating means 108 sets the coordinates of the searchee terminal 4 within the dangerous area. In this case, a location information mail with a danger notice / emergency rescue notice added is created. As a result, the situation of the search target person can be determined, detailed protection can be performed, and risk prevention measures can be taken.

  In addition, the statistical creation unit 110 can perform various statistical processing with reference to the coordinates and the coordinate acquisition date and time stored in the position database 109 by the position acquisition unit 107. Thereby, it is possible to know the tendency of wrinkles for each individual, and it is possible to acquire various statistical data for taking effective measures for wrinkle prevention.

  Further, in the operation devices 2a and 2b, all or a part of the user registration data such as the terminal number of the searchee terminal 4 and the notification destination of the location information, for example, the mail address, is registered as the user registration data via the network 6. It transmits to the information providing apparatus 1. By transmitting only part of the user registration data, the user's privacy can be protected. Note that the user registration data to be transmitted includes the assigned terminal number and the notification destination of the location information to the searcher associated with the identification information (PHS number or the like) of the searchee terminal 4. When there are a plurality of operation devices 2 belonging, the identification information of the operation device 2 is transmitted together with the user registration data to be transmitted.

  The location information providing device 1 stores user registration data from a plurality of operation devices 2a and 2b in the user management table 103 for each affiliation of the operation device, and uses the terminal in the terminal usage status table 104 for each billing period unit. Remember the situation.

  The invoice creation unit 111 refers to the terminal usage status table 104 for each group / trader to which the operation apparatus 2 belongs, calculates the usage fee charged only for the searchee terminal 4 in use, and Create invoices for groups and companies to which you belong, and invoices for individual users of terminals. Thereby, the charge according to the usage condition of the searchee terminal 4 can be charged. Further, a bill for each user is created with reference to the terminal usage status table 104 for each user. As a result, the process of creating an invoice addressed to the user by each organization / trader can be performed.

  In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, the searcher first registers predetermined user registration data (number of the searchee terminal, notification destination to the searcher, etc.) in the operation device 2 provided in the user manager. User registration data is transmitted from the operation device 2 to the location information providing device 1, and the location information providing device 1 stores this user registration data and stores the use status of the searchee terminal 4.

  The position information providing apparatus 1 transmits a position notification processing start instruction to the position providing apparatus 5 at an instruction from the searcher or every predetermined time. The position providing apparatus 5 broadcasts a position notification request to the searchee terminal 4 via the base station 51. When the searchee terminal 4 responds to the location notification request, the base station 51 transmits its response to the location providing device 5 with its own base station ID. The position providing device 5 converts the base station ID of the received response into coordinates and transmits it to the position information providing device 1. The position information providing apparatus 1 searches for an address located at the received coordinates, sends the address to the searcher terminal 3 that is a notification destination of the searcher, and stores the position acquisition time and coordinates as a log. The location providing device 5 may transmit the base station ID to the location information providing device 1, and the location information providing device 1 may convert the base station ID into coordinates.

  The searcher can receive the mail from the position information providing apparatus 1 at the searcher terminal 3 and know the position of the searchee terminal 4 by displaying the address.

  After that, the location information providing device 1 creates various statistical information from the location log by statistical processing, and also creates a bill for each affiliation or user having the operation device 2 from the user registration data and the terminal usage status data. create.

[First Embodiment]
Each means for realizing the present invention in the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  The transmission / reception means 101 transmits / receives data to / from the operation apparatus 2 or the searcher terminal 3 via the network 6 such as the Internet or a dedicated line.

  The operation device management unit 102 manages information about the user acquired through the transmission / reception unit 23 of the operation device 2, the network 6, and the transmission / reception unit 101 using the user management table 103 and the terminal usage status table 104.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the user management table. The user management table 103 includes, for example, an in-use flag, a user (user) name, a user address, a subject address, corresponding to the terminal number of the searchee terminal 4 for each operation device 2 of each group / trader. User registration data such as the location information notification destination of the searcher terminal 4 and the PHS number of the searchee terminal 4 to which the response request is transmitted are stored.

  Here, the in-use flag indicates whether the user is assigned to the searchee's terminal 4 and is in use, and 1 is written when in use and 0 is written when not in use. An example of the searcher's e-mail address is shown as the notification destination, but the location information for the searcher who is the user, such as a telephone number, a FAX number, or a URL storing a page that can be referred only to the individual on the Web Any address can be used as long as it is a destination of means capable of notifying the user.

  Further, as in the example shown in FIG. 3, a password used in the position acquisition request may be stored so that a person other than the user cannot acquire the position of the person to be searched. Can protect their privacy.

  In the example of the user management table 103 in FIG. 3, the search target terminal 4 with the terminal number 1 is being used by the user “○ Yamako”, and the response request notification destination PHS number “070-xxxx-xxxx”. The location information indicated by the place name / location number acquired from the searchee terminal 4 is sent by e-mail to the e-mail address “xxx@yy.yy.ne.jp” that can be received by the searcher. Terminal number 2 indicates that it is currently unused.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the terminal usage status table. The terminal usage status table 104 is a table for managing the terminal usage status for each billing period for each billing destination. For example, a table is created for each group / trader to which the operation apparatus 2 belongs, or a table is created for each user of the terminal. The example shown in FIG. 4 is an example of a table in the case where the usage status of the searchee terminal 4 is indicated by a flag when billing is performed on a monthly basis for each affiliation of the operation apparatus 2. In the table, “1” is a flag indicating use, and “0” is a flag indicating non-use.

  When there is a user registration, the operation device management unit 102 sets the corresponding month flag of the corresponding terminal number in the terminal usage status table 104 to be in use, and when there is a user deletion, the corresponding terminal number. Set the flag of the next month of the corresponding month to unused. For terminal numbers that do not change in user registration or deletion at the end of each billing period (for example, at the end of the month), the flag for the next billing period is used as the flag for the billing period.

  Further, invoice creation means 111 described later creates an invoice for each organization, company, or terminal user using this terminal usage status table 104.

  The dangerous area setting means 105 sets, based on the map database, areas that are highly probable of danger in the dredging, areas that need emergency rescue such as rivers and lakes, etc. And stored in the dangerous area database 106 in advance. The region is set by an administrator setting input referring to the map database or automatically set based on the terrain information in the map database.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of the map database, and FIG. 5B shows an example of the dangerous area database 106. In the map stored in the dangerous area database 106 in FIG. 5B, the hatched portion indicates the dangerous area, and the vertical hatched portion indicates the emergency rescue area. If the position of the searchee terminal 4 is within the dangerous area for the searcher terminal 3, a danger notice is added to the position information, and if the position of the searchee terminal 4 is within the emergency rescue area, the emergency rescue notification Is added.

  The position acquisition unit 107 acquires the coordinates of the searchee terminal 4 from the position providing device 5 in accordance with a position notification processing start instruction from the searcher or at predetermined time intervals. Further, the position acquisition means 107 communicates directly with the searchee terminal 4 through the base station 51, and the base station 51 that receives the response from the searchee terminal 4 receives the response with the base station ID added thereto, The coordinates of the base station 51 indicated by the base station ID are acquired. Further, when the position providing device 5 notifies only the base station ID, the position acquisition unit 107 includes a correspondence table between the base station ID and coordinates, and converts the base station ID into coordinates.

  The position information creation means 108 converts the position acquired by the position acquisition means 107 into address display or dot display on the map so that the user can recognize it, and send data (position information) for notifying the position. Is transmitted to the searcher terminal 3 via the transmission / reception means 101 and the network 6.

  Here, the information that can be recognized by the user is, for example, information for displaying the position of the searchee's terminal 4 with an address such as “XX town ○ chome address XX” or “near the intersection of Δ △” For example, information for displaying a message such as how many meters from a building or place as a mark in a certain direction, or information for displaying the position of the searchee terminal 4 on the map data with a point, a cursor, or the like. The display information is not limited to the information for display, and any information for display that allows the user to recognize the position of the searchee terminal 4 may be used. When the searcher terminal 3 has a map database storage means and a display means, the position acquired by the position acquisition means 107 may be sent as an e-mail as it is. The position information is sending data including information for notifying those positions.

  The position information creating unit 108 records the coordinates acquired by the position acquiring unit 107 in the position database 109 together with the acquisition date.

  Further, the position information creating means 108 refers to the dangerous area database 106, and if the acquired coordinates of the searchee's terminal 4 are within the dangerous area or emergency rescue area as shown in FIG. A notification or emergency rescue notification is created and added to the location information of the searchee terminal 4.

  The danger notice is a notice sentence that informs that the person is approaching or is in the danger area such as “approaching the danger area“ A Bridge ””. When the position information is displayed on the map data, a danger area mark may be attached to the map for notification.

  The position database 109 stores the coordinates of the searchee terminal 4 acquired by the position acquisition unit 107, the coordinate acquisition time, and the like. FIG. 6 shows an example of the position database 109. In this example, for each terminal number of each searchee terminal 4, data such as date, coordinate acquisition time, and coordinates are stored in time series for each session (until the position notification is started and ended).

  The statistical creation means 110 refers to the position database 109 and performs statistical processing on the trap route and time of the searchee terminal 4 and outputs the result. For example, the average start time of the kite is obtained by counting the times of kite start, or the trend of the kite route is obtained by counting the kite routes from the movement of coordinates with time.

  The bill creation means 111 refers to the terminal usage status table 104 for each billing period unit as shown in FIG. 4, calculates the terminal usage fee, and creates a bill for the organization or trader installing the operation apparatus 2 To do.

  The operation devices 2a and 2b are installed in a different location or organization from the location information providing device 1, and are connected to the location information providing device 1 through the network 6, and input / output means 21a and 21b and user management means 22a and 22b, respectively. , Transmission / reception means 23a and 23b are provided.

  The input / output means 21 a and 22 b input and output data to the operation apparatus 2. The user management means 22a and 22b manage users (users) of the location information providing service. The transmission / reception means 23 a and 23 b transmit and receive data to and from the network 6.

  The searcher terminal 3 includes search request means 31 and position information display means 32. The search request unit 31 transmits a position notification process start instruction to the position information providing apparatus 1. The position information display means 32 displays the received mail from the position information providing device 1.

  The searchee terminal 4 is used by being carried or attached to a person or a mobile object whose position is to be searched, and is a portable terminal equipped with a PHS wireless data communication function. The searchee terminal 4 transmits / receives data to / from other terminals via the base station 51.

  The base station 51 performs data transmission / reception with the searchee terminal 4 or relays wireless communication among a plurality of PHS terminals. For example, when the base station 51 relays a position notification request from the position acquisition means 107 to the searchee terminal 4 or receives a response from the searchee terminal 4, another base station ID must be assigned. For example, the base station ID is added to the response and transmitted to the position providing device 5. If another base station ID is assigned, the response is relayed as it is.

  Next, the processing of this system will be described.

(1) User Registration Process The user registration data input process is performed in the operation apparatus 2. In the operation apparatus 2, when the user registration processing request is notified to the position information providing apparatus 1 via the network 6, the operation apparatus management means 102 of the position information providing apparatus 1 refers to the user management table 103 and uses an unused terminal. Is acquired and a free terminal list screen is created and transmitted to the operation apparatus 2.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of an empty terminal list screen. On the screen, a terminal to which a user is not assigned at that time among the searchee terminals 4 possessed by an organization that installs the operation apparatus 2 and provides the position information providing service and is registered in the position information providing apparatus 1 A list of numbers is displayed.

  When a terminal number to which a user is assigned and used is selected by clicking or the like, a user registration screen corresponding to the terminal number is displayed. FIG. 8 shows an example of the user registration screen.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a user registration screen displayed when terminal number = 2 is clicked. On the user registration screen, the PHS number assigned to the terminal number is displayed, and the name, address, telephone number, location information notification destination, name of the person to be searched, date of birth, insurance card number, remarks, etc. A field for registering user information is provided. After the data is input to these fields, the user registration data is transmitted to the position information providing apparatus 1 by selecting the registration button in the lower right by clicking or the like.

  The operation device management means 102 of the location information providing device 1 registers the received user registration data in the user management table 103 and sets the corresponding terminal number in the terminal usage status table 104 to be in use (usage status flag = 1).

  In the case of operation in which the searchee terminal 4 is not registered in advance in the position information providing apparatus 1, a screen for newly registering the searchee terminal 4 is used. In the new registration screen, a user registration screen for the assigned terminal number is displayed, and a field for inputting the PHS number of the searchee terminal 4 used as the searchee terminal 4 is provided.

  FIG. 9 shows a process flowchart of the user registration process. In the process flowchart, process steps S1, S2, S6 to S11 shown in (A) show processes in the operation apparatus 2, and process steps S3 to S5, S8, and S12 to S14 shown in (B) are in the position information providing apparatus 1. Indicates processing.

  First, in step S1, in the operation device 2, the user management unit 22 accepts the selection of the user registration process input by the input unit such as a mouse in the main menu displayed on the output screen of the operation device 2.

  In step S2, a user registration processing instruction is transmitted to the position information providing apparatus 1. In step S3, the location information providing apparatus 1 receives a user registration processing instruction. In step S4, the user management table 103 is searched to extract an empty terminal. In step S5, an empty terminal list screen is created and transmitted to the operation apparatus 2.

  In step S6, the operation device 2 receives an empty terminal list screen. In step S <b> 7, an empty terminal list screen is displayed, a selection input of a terminal number is accepted and transmitted to the position information providing apparatus 1.

  In step S8, the location information providing apparatus 1 receives the terminal selection input, creates a user registration screen corresponding to the selected terminal number, and transmits it to the operation apparatus 2.

  In step S9, a user registration screen corresponding to the selected terminal number is received and displayed, and data input into the field of user registration data (name, address, notification address, etc.) is accepted. In step S10, it is determined whether registration has been selected. In step S11, if registration is selected, user registration data is transmitted to the location information providing apparatus 1.

  In step S12, the location information providing apparatus 1 receives user registration data from the operation apparatus 2. In step S 13, the received data is registered in the user management table 103. In step S14, the usage status flag of the corresponding terminal number in the terminal usage status table 104 is set in use.

  FIG. 10 shows a process flowchart of the user deletion process. In FIG. 10, processing steps S20, S21, and S24 to S27 shown in (A) show processing in the operation apparatus 2, and processing steps S22, S23, and S28 to S30 shown in (B) show processing in the position information providing apparatus 1. Show.

  In FIG. 10, in step S <b> 20, the user management unit 22 receives the selection of the user deletion process input by the input unit such as a mouse in the main menu displayed on the output screen of the operation apparatus 2. In step S <b> 21, the user management unit 22 of the operation apparatus 2 transmits a user deletion processing instruction to the position information providing apparatus 1.

  In step S22, the position information providing apparatus 1 receives a user deletion processing instruction. In step S23, a user deletion screen is transmitted to the operation apparatus 2.

  In step S24, the transmission / reception means 23 of the operation apparatus 2 receives the user deletion screen sent from the position information providing apparatus 1. In step S25, a user deletion screen is displayed and an instruction input of a terminal number to be deleted is accepted. In step S26, it is determined whether confirmation has been selected. In step S27, if confirmation is selected, the terminal number that has been designated is transmitted to the location information providing apparatus 1 as a user deletion target.

  In step S28, the user deletion processing instruction and the terminal number sent from the operation apparatus 2 are received.

  In step S29, the busy flag corresponding to the corresponding terminal number in the user management table 103 is disabled and the user registration data is deleted.

  In step S30, “in use” is set to “in use” in the usage status flag of the next billing unit period of the corresponding terminal number in the terminal usage status table 104 for each billing period unit.

  The user registration processing from these operation devices 2 is performed by first inputting a password and performing authentication so that only a person having the authority of the organization / trader to which the operation device 2 belongs can perform user registration processing. And so on.

  The above user registration processing is realized in a format in which a page is read from a WWW (World Wide Web) server that realizes the position information providing apparatus 1 portion by a browser (Internet browsing program) resident on the operation apparatus 2. Also good.

(2) Location notification processing The location notification processing is performed when a position notification processing start instruction from a searcher is received (location notification processing based on an instruction), or automatically performed by the location information providing apparatus 1 every predetermined time. (Position notification processing for every predetermined time).

(1) Location notification process by instruction FIG. 11 shows an example of a display screen when the searcher terminal 3 is a mobile phone connectable to the Internet in the position notification process by instruction.

  The searcher terminal 3 connects to the Internet and displays a menu list screen shown in FIG. When the searcher selects “location information service” with a bookmark and accepts the selection input, the top screen of the location information service shown in (B) is displayed by the URL set for “location information service”. The When the searcher inputs a searcher ID and password on this screen, the searcher ID and password are received and transmitted to the location information providing apparatus 1 via the network 6.

  The operation device management means 102 performs authentication with reference to the user management table 103. When the searcher ID and password are authenticated by the operation apparatus management means 102, the screen shown in (C) is displayed. If it is not authenticated, the screen after (C) is not displayed.

  When the searcher selects the PHS search on the screen shown in (C), the selection input is accepted, and the screen shown in (D) is displayed, displaying the PHS number of the searchee terminal 4 registered by the logged-on searcher. Is done. When there are a plurality of registered searchee terminals 4, a plurality of PHS numbers are displayed. When the searcher selects “search” after selecting one PHS number, the selection input is accepted and the screen shown in (E) is displayed. This is a screen indicating that the input of the position notification process start instruction has been completed. The position information providing apparatus 1 starts the position notification process. On the screen shown in (E), the end is selected to end the Internet. Thereafter, the position information providing device 1 transmits the position information mail of the searchee terminal 4 to the searcher terminal 3.

  FIG. 12 shows a process flowchart of the position notification process based on the process start instruction. In step S <b> 40, the position information providing apparatus 1 receives the position notification process start instruction input by the searcher terminal 3.

  In step S41, the position acquisition unit 107 performs a position acquisition process for the searchee terminal 4. FIG. 13 shows a process flowchart of the position acquisition process. In FIG. 13, in step S <b> 410, the position acquisition unit 107 that has received the position notification process start instruction transmits a position notification request to the position providing device 5. In step S411, a position notification request is broadcast to the searchee terminal 4. In step S412, the searchee terminal 4 responds to the position notification request. In step S413, the base station 51 that has received the response from the searchee terminal 4 transmits the response to which the own base station ID is added. In step S414, the location providing device 5 receives a response with a base station ID. In step S415, the position providing device 5 retrieves the coordinates of the base station 51 from the base station ID. In step S416, the position providing device 5 transmits the coordinates to the position acquisition unit 107. In step S417, the position acquisition unit 107 receives the coordinates.

  In step S42 of FIG. 12, the position acquisition means 107 searches the address where the coordinates acquired in step S417 are located with reference to the map database. In step S43, a mail (position information) including the address where the searchee terminal 4 is located is created. In step S44, the created mail is transmitted to the searcher terminal 3 which is the notification destination. FIG. 14 shows a display example of mail received by the searcher terminal 3. The position information display means 32 displays the position of the search target person terminal 4 with an address such as “near the street of ΔΔ town” as shown in FIG. Or, as shown in (B), an address or landmark is displayed on the map data with a circle or the like. In step S <b> 45, the coordinates of the searchee terminal 4 and the acquisition time are recorded in the position database 109.

  FIG. 15 shows a process flowchart (2) of the position notification process based on the process start instruction. The process shown in FIG. 15 is an example in the case where the location notification is performed by the location information mail to which the danger notification is added. The processing of steps S50 to S52 is the same as the processing of steps S40 to S42 shown in FIG.

  In step S53, the dangerous area database 106 is referred to and it is determined whether or not the coordinates acquired in the process of step S51 are within the dangerous area or the emergency rescue area. If it is in the danger area or the emergency rescue area, the process of step S54 is performed, and if not, the process of step S55 is performed.

  In step S54, a danger / emergency rescue notice is added to create a location information mail of the search target person. In step S55, as in step S43 shown in FIG. In step S56, the created mail is transmitted to the searcher terminal 3 as in step S44 shown in FIG. In step S57, if the coordinates of the searchee's terminal 4, the acquisition date and time, and the danger notification are received in the position database 109, that fact is recorded. It is also possible to register to notify the police / fire department in advance of the danger / emergency notification.

(2) Location notification processing at every predetermined time In the case of location notification processing at every predetermined time, the location acquisition means 107 uses a timer (not shown in FIG. A position notification request is automatically transmitted to the position providing device 5, the position of the searchee terminal 4 is acquired, and the position information is transmitted to the searcher terminal 3 by mail.

  In the case of this process, a position notification unnecessary area database (not shown in FIG. 2) is set in advance for the position notification unnecessary area such as the vicinity of the searchee's home or the place where he / she stays for a long time. deep.

  FIG. 16 shows a process flowchart of the position notification process for a predetermined time.

  In step S60, it is determined whether or not to end the process. If not completed, the process proceeds to step S61. In step S61, the position of the searchee terminal is acquired every predetermined time. The position acquisition process is the same as the process shown in FIG.

  In step S62, it is determined whether or not the acquired coordinates are within the position notification unnecessary area. If it is within the location not requiring location notification, the process returns to step S60, and if not within the location not requiring location notification, the process proceeds to step S63. The processing of steps S63 to S65 is the same as the processing of steps S42 to S44 shown in FIG. In step S66, the coordinates of the searchee terminal 4 and the acquisition time are recorded in the position database 109, and the process returns to the end determination process in step S60.

  Note that the process of step S62 is not performed when no location notification unnecessary area is set, for example, because the predetermined time interval is long.

  FIG. 17 shows a process flowchart (2) of the position notification process every predetermined time. The process shown in FIG. 17 is an example in the case where the location notification is performed by the location information mail to which the danger notification is added.

  The processing in steps S70 to S72 is the same as the processing in steps S60 to S62 shown in FIG. 16, and the processing in steps S73 to S77 is the same as the processing in steps S52 to S56 shown in FIG. Omitted. In step S78, the coordinates of the search target person, the acquisition time, and the danger notification are recorded in the position database 109, and the process returns to the end determination process in step S70.

(3) Invoice creation processing In the invoice creation means 111, a terminal usage status table for each billing period for each affiliation in which the operation apparatus 2 is installed, for example, for each group / company, for each group, or for each terminal user. An invoice is created with reference to 104.

  FIG. 18 shows a process flowchart of the invoice creation process.

  In step S80, the terminal usage status table 104 for each billing period is opened. In step S81, the total number of terminals whose "usage status flag" in the billing period is in use (1) is calculated. In step S82, the usage fee is calculated from "the usage fee per unit x the total number of terminals used". In step S83, an invoice is created based on the calculated usage fee.

(4) Statistical processing The statistical creation means 110 creates statistical information by various statistical processing based on the coordinates of the searchee terminal 4 in the position database 109 and the acquisition time. FIG. 19 shows a processing flowchart of statistical processing.

  In step S90, the statistical database 110 opens the position database 109. In step S91, for each position notification processing session, the first coordinate acquisition time is collected, the first time is set as the time to go to the bag, the number of times for each time is calculated, and the number of times to go to the bag is large. Is determined. In step S92, a route for each session of position notification processing (continuous time-series coordinates) is created, and a route that frequently passes is determined.

  In step S93, based on the time statistical data obtained in step S91 and the route statistical data obtained in step S92, statistical information in a data format for easy display and transmission to the user is created.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the operation device 2 transmits all of the user registration data accepted for input to the location information providing device 1 during the user registration process, and the location information providing device 1 receives these data. Data is stored in the user management table 103.

  In the second embodiment, a part of the first embodiment is changed. In the second embodiment, the operation apparatus 2 uses only part of the user registration data received as input as position information. To the providing device 1. Alternatively, the operation device 2 performs user registration processing using data stored in an existing resident information database such as a resident card database or a family register database during the user registration processing.

  FIG. 20 shows a configuration example of an operation device on the user manager side when an existing database is used for user registration processing. When a local government or the like installs the operation device 2 to provide a location information providing service, the local government that is a user administrator usually already operates the resident information database system 7. The data stored in the resident card database 72 and the family register database 73 are used. In this case, the operation apparatus 2 includes a user management table 24, and the user management unit 22 transmits a part of the data of the user management table 24 as user registration data.

  FIG. 21 shows an example of the user management table 24 on the operation apparatus side, and FIG. 22 shows the user management table 103 on the position information providing apparatus 1 side when user registration data, which is only a part thereof, is received from the operation apparatus 2. An example is shown.

  The user management table 24 on the operation device 2 side in FIG. 21 stores the in-use flag, the notification destination, the name of the user (searcher) or the searchee, and the address of the searchee for each terminal number. The address is not directly stored as data, but the storage address of the user address in the resident card database 72 is stored. For example, since the address of the user “Yamayamako” is stored in the address a1 of the resident card database 72, the address can be acquired via the resident information management server 71 if necessary. In addition to the example shown in FIG. 21, information that can identify the user and the person to be searched, such as a resident registration ledger number, and identification information (PHS number) of the terminal 4 to be searched are stored in the user management table. May be.

  By using an existing database for the user registration process as described above, it is possible to check the reason for protection (for example, being a relative or living together) that the searcher knows the position of the searchee It becomes.

  In the user management table 103 on the position information providing apparatus 1 side shown in FIG. 22, a busy flag, a user name, a notification destination, identification information (PHS number) of the searchee terminal 4 and a password are stored for each terminal number.

  Thus, by transmitting only minimum data from the operation device 2 side to the location information providing device 1 side, it is possible to protect the privacy of the searcher and the searchee.

[Third Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, a part of the first embodiment is changed. In the third embodiment, an organization using a location information providing service uses a plurality of operation devices 2. If so, user management is performed using the group ID.

  FIG. 23 shows a configuration example of the operation device management means 102 and the user management table 103 in the third embodiment. In the position information providing apparatus 1, the group management table 1030 is stored in the user management table 103 and managed by the group management unit 1020 of the operation apparatus management unit 102.

  The group management table 1030 is a correspondence table between group IDs and group names assigned to groups (groups, companies, etc.) to which a plurality of operation devices 2 connected to the position information providing device 1 via the network 6 belong. It is. Further, for each group, user management tables 1031, 1032, 1033... For managing users of the group are stored, and links are established to the respective tables. Thereby, user management can be performed for each group.

  Although not shown in FIG. 23, the group management means 1020 can refer to information on which group each managed user belongs to in the user management table. Further, user registration processing for each group, bill creation processing, and the like are also performed using the group management table 1030 for each group. At the time of user registration, first, group identification information (such as a group ID) and a password are input, and then user registration processing is performed.

  FIG. 24 shows an example of a display screen for a searcher terminal position notification process start instruction in the third embodiment. Although it is almost the same as the example of the display screen in the case of the processing in the first embodiment, it is shown in (A) when group management is performed as shown in FIGS. If the URL set in the “location information service” on the screen specifies the group ID of the location information service (http //: address? GroupID), the screen shown in (B) is displayed. If the group ID is not specified in the URL (http //: address), the screen shown in (C) is displayed.

  In the screen shown in (B), the top screen of the location information service is displayed. When the searcher inputs the searcher ID and password and selects logon, the searcher ID and password are transmitted to the position information providing apparatus 1, and the operation apparatus management means 102 performs an authentication process.

  In the screen shown in (C), the input of the group ID, the searcher ID, and the password is displayed on the top screen of the location information service. When the searcher inputs the group ID, the searcher ID, the password, and selects logon, The group ID, the searcher ID, and the password are transmitted to the position information providing apparatus 1 and the operation apparatus management means 102 performs an authentication process. When authenticated, the screens after (D) are displayed, and the position notification processing start instruction is completed as in the case shown in FIGS.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the first to third embodiments described above, the position notification function of the PHS is used when acquiring the position of the searchee terminal. In the fourth embodiment, GPS is used to acquire the position of the terminal of the search target person.

  FIG. 25 shows a configuration example of each means for realizing the present invention in the fourth embodiment. The searchee terminal 7 is attached to a person to be searched for or a mobile object instead of the searchee terminal 4 shown in FIG. 2, and is a terminal device having a GPS function.

  The searchee terminal 7 transmits / receives data to / from the position information providing apparatus 1 through a mobile phone network, a wireless communication network, or the like.

  The position acquisition unit 107 directly transmits a position notification request to the searchee terminal 7. In the searchee terminal 7, the coordinates of the terminal itself are acquired by a general GPS position search process and transmitted to the position acquisition means 107.

  Since the position registration process other than the user registration process, the position acquisition process, the bill creation process, and the statistical process are substantially the same as the processes described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. In the case of this example, in the display screen of the position notification process start instruction shown in FIG. 11C, “1. GPS search” is displayed instead of “1. PHS search”.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the embodiment, this invention can be variously deformed in the range of the main point.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Location information provision apparatus 101 Transmission / reception means 102 Operation apparatus management means 103 User management table 104 Terminal use status table 105 Hazardous area setting means 106 Hazardous area database 107 Position acquisition means 108 Position information creation means 109 Position database 110 Statistics creation means 111 Invoice Creation means 2 Operation device 21 Input / output means 22 User management means 23 Transmission / reception means 3 Searcher terminal 31 Search request means 32 Location information display means 4 Search target terminal 5 Position providing device 51 Base station 6 Network

Claims (2)

In the position information providing device for acquiring the position of the searchee terminal possessed by the searchee,
Position acquisition means for acquiring the position of the searchee terminal;
Dangerous area data storage means for storing a preset dangerous area or emergency rescue area;
It is determined whether the position of the searchee terminal acquired by the position acquisition means is within either the dangerous area or the emergency rescue area, and if it is within the dangerous area or the emergency rescue area A location information providing apparatus comprising: a danger notification means for notifying a pre-registered notification destination of a dangerous area notification or an emergency rescue area notification. A program for causing a computer equipped with data storage means to execute processing for acquiring the position of a searchee terminal possessed by a searchee,
A position acquisition process for acquiring the position of the searchee terminal;
Referring to the dangerous area data storage means for storing the preset dangerous area or emergency rescue area, the position of the searchee terminal acquired in the position acquisition process is either the dangerous area or the emergency rescue area. A risk notification process for determining whether or not it is in the area, and in the case of being in the dangerous area or emergency rescue area, notifying the dangerous area notification or emergency rescue area notification to a pre-registered notification destination;
A program for a position information providing apparatus for causing the computer to execute.

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