JP2013080287A - Location management system, location management device, and moving body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately manage location information of moving bodies.SOLUTION: Each of a plurality of first moving bodies 14 comprises a first transmission unit 18 for transmitting first identification information for identifying the first moving body. A second moving body 12 comprises: a first reception unit 20A for receiving the pieces of first identification information from the plurality of first moving bodies; a first acquisition unit for acquiring first location information indicating location information of the second moving body and travel speed information of the second moving body; a state determination unit for determining whether the second moving body is in a stop state or not, or whether the second moving body has traveled a predetermined distance or more or not, on the basis of the first location information and the travel speed information; and a transmission unit 22C for transmitting the pieces of first identification information, the first location information, and second identification information for identifying the second moving body when it is determined that the second moving body is in the stop state or the second moving body has traveled the predetermined distance or more. A location management device 16 comprises a calculation unit for calculating location information of the respective first moving bodies identified by their respective pieces of first identification information on the basis of the pieces of first identification information, the first location information, and the second identification information received by a reception unit of the location management device 16.

Description

  The present invention relates to a position management system, a position management apparatus, and a moving body.

  As a system for managing the position of a moving body, a system using GPS (Global Positioning System) is known. Specifically, the position information of the moving body is acquired by mounting a GPS receiver on the moving body, and the position information of the moving body is transmitted to a management device or the like. As a result, the position information of each mobile unit is managed on the management device side.

  Also disclosed is a system in which a wireless tag is mounted on a chassis, which is a to-be-moved object, and a tow vehicle that pulls the chassis is mounted with a receiver that receives a signal from the wireless tag and a GPS receiver. (For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Patent Document 1 transmits and receives information between a chassis including a wireless tag and a towing vehicle that is towing the chassis. And in patent document 1, when the tow vehicle side stops receiving the radio wave from the wireless tag of a chassis, the information which shows the separation position of this chassis is transmitted. Thereby, in patent document 1, the separation position of a chassis is specified. Patent Document 2 discloses that a tractor receives tag information from a wireless tag of a chassis to be pulled. In Patent Document 2, the tractor transmits the received tag information and tractor position information to the chassis management server. And in patent document 2, based on the received tag information history, the presence / absence of connection is determined from the latest tag information, and for the chassis determined to be disconnected, the tractor when the chassis is released from the tractor. The position information is obtained as the position information of the chassis.

JP 2003-228789 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-312812

  However, with the above-described conventional technology, it is difficult to accurately manage the position information of each of the plurality of moving objects.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is a main object of the present invention to provide a position management system, a position management device, and a moving body that can accurately manage position information of the moving body. .

  The position management system of the present invention includes a plurality of first moving bodies, a second moving body that can move along with the first moving bodies, and a position management device that manages the position of the first moving body. . The first moving body includes a first transmitting unit that transmits first identification information for identifying the first moving body. The second moving body includes a first reception unit, a first acquisition unit, a state determination unit, and a transmission unit. The first receiving unit receives the first identification information from a plurality of the first moving bodies. The first acquisition unit acquires first position information indicating position information of the second moving body and movement speed information of the second moving body. The state determination unit determines whether or not the second moving body is in a stopped state or has moved by a predetermined distance or more based on the first position information and the moving speed information. The transmission unit identifies the first identification information, the first position information, and the second moving body when it is determined that the second moving body is in a stopped state or moved a predetermined distance or more. Second identification information to be transmitted. The location management device includes a receiving unit and a calculating unit. The receiving unit receives the first identification information, the first position information, and the second identification information from the second moving body. The calculation unit calculates position information of the first moving body specified by the first identification information based on the received first identification information, the first position information, and the second identification information.

  The location management device of the present invention includes a receiving unit and a calculating unit. The receiving unit transmits the first moving body transmitted by the second moving body when the second moving body that is movable along with the first moving body is in a stopped state or has moved a predetermined distance or more. The first identification information for identifying the first moving information, the first position information indicating the position of the second moving body, and the second identification information for identifying the second moving body are received. The calculation unit calculates position information of the first moving body specified by the first identification information based on the received first identification information, the first position information, and the second identification information.

  The moving body of the present invention includes a first reception unit, a first acquisition unit, a state determination unit, and a transmission unit. A 1st receiving part receives the 1st identification information which identifies the said 1st moving body from the several 1st moving body which can move according to an own machine. The first acquisition unit acquires first position information and movement speed information indicating the current position. The state determination unit determines whether or not the own device is in a stopped state or whether or not it has moved by a predetermined distance or more based on the first position information and the moving speed information. The transmission unit identifies the first identification information, the first position information, and the own device when it is determined by the state determination unit that the own device is in a stopped state or moved by a predetermined distance or more. The second identification information is transmitted.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that position information of a moving body can be managed with high accuracy.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the location management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the location management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the first packet. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the first table. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the second table. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the host device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the receiver according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the transmitter according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of location management processing executed by the control unit of the host device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the location management system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the transmission control apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the second packet. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the third table. FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the host device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit of the transmission control apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of location management processing executed by the control unit of the host device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the location management system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 21 is a functional block diagram of the control unit of the transceiver according to the third embodiment. FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the transmission control apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit of the transceiver according to the third embodiment. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit of the transmission control apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the location management system according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the third packet. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the fourth table. FIG. 28 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the host device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of location management processing executed by the control unit of the host device according to the fourth embodiment.

  Exemplary embodiments of a position management device, a position management system, and a position management program according to the present embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a configuration of a position management system 10 according to the present embodiment, a towed vehicle, a towed vehicle, and a position management device. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the location management system 10 of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the position management system 10 includes a plurality of towed vehicles 14, one or more towed vehicles 12, and a position management device 16. The towed vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 12 are connected via a wired or wireless communication line. The tow vehicle 12 and the position management device 16 are connected via a wireless communication line.

  The towed vehicle 14 is a vehicle that can move as the towed vehicle 12 moves. In the present embodiment, the case where the towed vehicle 14 is a vehicle that can be towed by the towed vehicle 12 will be described. For example, the towed vehicle 14 may be a portable terminal that moves when carried by a person or the like.

  The towed vehicle 14 includes a transmission unit 18. The transmission unit 18 transmits a towed vehicle ID (first identification information), which is identification information for uniquely identifying the towed vehicle 14 on which the transmission unit 18 is mounted, via a wireless line, for example. The transmission part 18 should just be an apparatus which can transmit towed vehicle ID to the towed vehicle 12 mentioned later. For example, the transmitting unit 18 may be an RF tag (also referred to as a radio frequency tag or a wireless IC tag) using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. More specifically, the transmitting unit 18 includes an active tag.

  The position management system 10 includes a plurality of towed vehicles 14. The timing of transmitting the towed vehicle ID from each transmitting unit 18 mounted on each of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 is adjusted in advance so as not to cause interference between the towed vehicles 14. In the present embodiment, each transmitting unit 18 of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 transmits the towed vehicle ID to the towed vehicle 12 at different times and at different timings.

  The tow vehicle 12 is a vehicle capable of moving the towed vehicle 14 with the movement of the main body of the tow vehicle 12. Although the case where the tow vehicle 12 is a vehicle will be described in the present embodiment, it may be a movable device and is not limited to a vehicle. For example, when the towed vehicle 14 is a mobile terminal, the towed vehicle 12 may also be a mobile terminal that moves by being carried by a person or the like.

  The tow vehicle 12 includes a receiver 20, a GPS receiver 24, and a transmitter 22.

  The receiver 20 includes a receiving unit 20A, a measuring unit 20B, a storage unit 20C, and an output unit 20D. The receiving unit 20A receives a signal indicating the towed vehicle ID transmitted from each of the plurality of towed vehicles 14, and outputs the signal to the measuring unit 20B and the storage unit 20C. The receiver 20 may be any device that can receive the towed vehicle ID transmitted from the transmission unit 18. Examples of the receiver 20 include an RF tag reader that reads information received from an RF tag.

  The measurement unit 20B measures the signal strength (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indication) of the signal indicating the towed vehicle ID received by the reception unit 20A. Specifically, it is assumed that the transmission unit 18 and the reception unit 20A transmit and receive signals using an electromagnetic induction method. In this case, the measurement unit 20B measures the magnetic field strength in the signal indicating the towed vehicle ID as the signal strength. Moreover, the case where the transmission part 18 and the receiving part 20A transmit / receive a signal by a radio wave system is assumed. In this case, the measurement unit 20B measures the electric field strength of the signal indicating the towed vehicle ID as the signal strength. The measurement unit 20B stores the signal intensity as a measurement result in the storage unit 20C in association with the towed vehicle ID of the signal intensity.

  The output unit 20D outputs the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength of each towed vehicle ID stored in the storage unit 20C to the transmitter 22 every predetermined time.

  The GPS receiver 24 receives radio waves from the GPS satellite 26. The GPS receiver 24 obtains the current position information and moving speed information of the tow vehicle 12 based on the received radio wave by a known method. The GPS receiver 24 transmits GPS information including position information and moving speed information to the transmitter 22 at a cycle shorter than the timing at which the output unit 20D of the receiver 20 outputs the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength to the transmitter 22. Output to. Note that the position information includes information including latitude and longitude.

  The transmitter 22 includes an input unit 22A, an input unit 22B, and a transmission unit 22C. The input unit 22A receives GPS information from the GPS receiving unit 24 and transmits it to the transmitting unit 22C. Further, the input unit 22B receives the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength of each towed vehicle ID received from the receiver 20 (output unit 20D), and outputs them to the transmitting unit 22C.

  The transmission unit 22C receives the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength of each towed vehicle ID received from the input unit 22B, and the towed vehicle ID (second identification information) for uniquely identifying the towed vehicle 12 main body. And the GPS information received from the GPS receiving unit 24 immediately after receiving the first packet from the input unit 22B.

  Note that the transmission unit 22C may periodically transmit the first packet and the GPS information to the position management device 16 at predetermined time intervals, or when receiving an inquiry signal from the position management device 16 You may transmit to the apparatus 16.

  In addition, the timing which transmits a 1st packet and GPS information from the transmission part 22C of the tow vehicle 12 to the position management apparatus 16 is adjusted beforehand as follows. Specifically, the adjustment is performed in advance so that it is always performed once within the time required to connect or disconnect the towed vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 12. In addition, the timing which transmits a 1st packet and GPS information from each towing vehicle 12 to the position management apparatus 16 is adjusted beforehand so that it may become a timing which is different among the some towing vehicles 12. FIG.

  The connection between the towed vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 12 indicates that the towed vehicle 14 is connected to the towed vehicle 12 in a state where it can be pulled directly or via another towed vehicle 14. The disconnection of the towed vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 12 indicates a state in which the towed vehicle 14 is released from a state in which the towed vehicle 12 can be pulled.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the first packet. As shown in FIG. 3, the first packet includes a towed vehicle ID, the number of data, information on one or more towed vehicles 14, and a checksum between a header and a footer.

  The information of the towed vehicle 14 includes the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 14 (indicated as “ID” in FIG. 3) and the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID (indicated as “RSSI” in FIG. 3). Including. The number of data indicates the number of information of each towed vehicle 14 including the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength included in the first packet.

  The tow vehicle ID is stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) of the transmitter 22. In transmitting the first packet, the transmitting unit 22C reads the tow vehicle ID from a storage unit (not shown) and transmits the first packet including the towed vehicle ID to the position management device 16.

  In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 22C of the tow vehicle 12 will be described as transmitting the first packet and GPS information to the position management device 16. However, the GPS packet is transmitted in the first packet. May be.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the transmitter 22 may be any device that can transmit a signal to the position management device 16. Examples of the transmitter 22 include, but are not limited to, a radio communication device such as a high-output radio device, a mobile phone using a relay station, and WiFi (registered trademark).

  The location management device 16 is installed in a base station or the like, for example, and includes a host device 28 and a receiver 30. Note that the base station refers to a set of devices and associated buildings and their installation locations for communicating with various devices and various terminals.

  The receiver 30 includes a receiving unit 30A and an output unit 30B. The receiving unit 30A receives the first packet and the GPS information from the tow vehicle 12. Then, the receiving unit 30A outputs the received first packet and GPS information to the output unit 30B. The receiver 30 may be any device that can receive the first packet and the GPS information from the tow vehicle 12. Examples of the receiver 30 include, but are not limited to, a high-output radio device, a mobile phone using a relay station, and a wireless communication device such as WiFi (registered trademark).

  In the present embodiment, the case where the receiving unit 30A of the position management device 16 and the transmitting unit 22C of the towed vehicle 12 perform direct wireless communication is connected to a wired communication line (such as a telephone line). Wireless communication using radio waves may be performed via a base station.

  The output unit 30B outputs the first packet and GPS information received from the receiving unit 30A to the host device 28.

  The host device 28 is composed of, for example, a PC (Personal Computer). The host device 28 includes a display unit 28A, a storage unit 28B, a control unit 28C, an input unit 28D, and an operation unit 28E. Note that the base station device 16 including the host device 28 and the receiver 30 may be configured integrally with a PC.

  The input unit 28D receives the first packet and GPS information from the output unit 30B.

  The display unit 28A displays the position of each tow vehicle 12 and the position of each towed vehicle 14. Examples of the display unit 28A include known display devices such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The operation unit 28E receives from the user an instruction for a display form of the image displayed on the display unit 28A and an instruction for an inquiry to the tow vehicle 12. As a display form instructed by the user, there are a detailed display of each towed vehicle 12 displayed on the display unit 28A, a detailed display of the towed vehicle 14, and the like.

  Examples of the operation unit 28E include voice recognition using a mouse and a microphone, buttons, a remote controller, and a keyboard.

  The storage unit 28B is a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores a first table, a second table, and the like.

  The first table correlates the towed vehicle ID, the position information (latitude, longitude) of the towed vehicle 14, and the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet including the towed vehicle ID. It is.

  The control unit 28C receives the first packet and the GPS information at the input unit 28D, and updates the first table at the end of the position management process described later. For this reason, the information stored in the first table is information corresponding to the first packet and GPS information received last time by the input unit 28D.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the first table. As shown in FIG. 4, the first table includes A to D as tow vehicle IDs, position information (latitude and longitude) of each tow vehicle, towed vehicle IDs (towed vehicles a to c), and each received vehicle. It is the table which matched the signal strength (RSSI) of tow vehicle ID. The position information may be coordinate information based on a certain point instead of the latitude and longitude.

  The second table includes a towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 14, position information of the towed vehicle 14, information indicating the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 12 that is towing the towed vehicle 14 or no towing, Is a table in which

  Each piece of information stored in the second table is updated by execution of a location management process described later by the control unit 28C.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the second table. As shown in FIG. 5, the second table includes a to d as the towed vehicle ID, position information (latitude and longitude) of the towed vehicle 14, and the towed vehicle 12 that is towing the towed vehicle 14. It is a table in which a tow vehicle ID (A to B in FIG. 5) or “none” information indicating no towing is associated with each other.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the control unit 28 </ b> C is a computer that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and controls the entire host device 28. The control unit 28C stores the first packet and GPS information received by the input unit 28D in the storage unit 28B. In addition, the control unit 28C executes a position management process described later.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 28C. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 28C includes a first determination unit 29A, a second determination unit 29B, a third determination unit 29C, a calculation unit 29D, an update unit 29E, and a display control unit 29F.

  The first determination unit 29A determines that the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet received from the towed vehicle 12 via the receiver 30 includes the received signal included in the first packet received from the towed vehicle 12 last time. It is determined whether or not the signal strength of the tow vehicle ID is less than that. The signal strength of less than the signal strength means that the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet received from the tow vehicle 12 via the receiver 30 is the first packet received from the tow vehicle 12 last time. This indicates that the signal intensity of the towed vehicle ID included is reduced or “0”.

  In the present embodiment, the first determination unit 29A determines whether the signal strength is less than the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet received from the towed vehicle 12 last time. Although the case will be described, it is only necessary to determine whether or not the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID in the first packet received before the first packet received this time is not limited to “previous”.

  The second determination unit 29B determines whether the tow vehicle 12 is moving or stopped based on the moving speed information indicated by the GPS information received from the tow vehicle 12 via the receiver 30.

  The third determination unit 29C is towing the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed by the towed vehicle 12 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet received from the towed vehicle 12. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not there is no moving body to be pulled (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “no towing moving body”). “No towed moving body” indicates that the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not towed by any towed vehicle 12.

  The calculation unit 29D receives the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet received from the towed vehicle 12 from the signal strength and the towed vehicle 12 via the receiver 30. Calculation is based on position information indicated by GPS information. The update unit 29E updates the first table and the second table. The display control unit 29F causes the display unit 28A to display position information of the towed vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 12.

  Next, the reception process performed by the receiver 20 of the tow vehicle 12 in the position management system 10 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of reception processing performed by the receiver 20.

  In the receiver 20, when power is supplied from the main body of the towed vehicle 12 to each unit of the receiver 20, the reception process shown in FIG. 7 is repeatedly executed.

  First, the receiving unit 20A determines whether or not a towed vehicle ID has been received from the towed vehicle 14 (step S100). Then, if the receiving unit 20A makes a negative determination in step S100 (step S100: No), the process proceeds to step S106 described later, and if an affirmative determination is made (step S100: Yes), the process proceeds to step S102.

  Next, the measurement unit 20B measures the signal strength of the signal indicating the towed vehicle ID received in step S100 (step S104). Next, the measurement unit 20B stores the signal intensity, which is the measurement result obtained in step S102, in the storage unit 20C in association with the towed vehicle ID (step S104).

  Next, the receiver 20 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength were transmitted to the transmitter 22 last time (step S106). The predetermined time in step S106 can be arbitrarily set. For example, as the predetermined time in step S106, a time equal to or shorter than the time required to connect or disconnect the towed vehicle 12 and the towed vehicle 14 is set in advance.

  If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S106: No), the process returns to step S100. If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S108 (step S106: Yes). .

  Next, after the output unit 20D outputs the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength of each towed vehicle ID stored in the storage unit 20C to the transmitter 22, this routine ends.

  The receiver 20 executes the reception process of steps S100 to S108. As a result, the receiver 20 receives the plurality of towed vehicle IDs received from all the towed vehicles 14 located at positions where signals can be received by the receiver 20 of the towed vehicle 12 within the predetermined time, and each towed vehicle. The signal strength of the vehicle ID is transmitted to the transmitter 22 every predetermined time.

  Next, transmission processing executed by the transmitter 22 of the tow vehicle 12 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of transmission processing performed by the transmitter 22.

  The transmitter 22 repeatedly executes the transmission process shown in FIG. 8 when power is supplied from the main body of the towed vehicle 12 to each unit of the transmitter 22.

  First, the transmitter 22 receives a plurality of towed vehicle IDs and signal strengths of each towed vehicle ID from the receiver 20, and then receives GPS information from the GPS receiving unit 24 (step S200).

  Next, the transmitter 22C of the transmitter 22 receives from the input unit 22B, the signal strength of each towed vehicle ID and each towed vehicle ID, and the towed vehicle ID for uniquely identifying the towed vehicle 12 body. , Including the first packet (see FIG. 3) (step S202). The tow vehicle ID of the tow vehicle 12 is stored in advance in a memory (not shown) of the transmitter 22, and the transmitter 22 may read the tow vehicle ID when the first packet is generated.

  Next, the transmitting unit 22C transmits the first packet and the GPS information received from the GPS receiving unit 24 via the input unit 22A to the position management device 16 (step S204), and then ends this routine.

  It should be noted that the transmitter 22 may execute the transmission process of Step 200 to Step S204 every time it receives the towed vehicle ID and the signal strength from the receiver 20. In addition, the transmitter 22 may execute the transmission processing of the above step 200 to step 204 every predetermined time. As the predetermined time, for example, a time equal to or shorter than the time required for connecting or disconnecting the towed vehicle 12 and the towed vehicle 14 is set in advance. Further, when the transmitter 22 receives the inquiry signal from the position management device 16, the transmitter 22 may execute the transmission process of Step 200 to Step S <b> 204.

  Next, a location management process executed by the control unit 28C of the host device 28 of the location management device 16 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the location management process executed by the control unit 28C.

  Each time the control unit 28C receives the first packet and the GPS information from the tow vehicle 12 via the input unit 28D and the receiver 30, the control unit 28C executes the position management process shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 28C reads the first packet and the GPS information received via the input unit 28D (step S300).

  Next, the update unit 29E updates the first table (step S301). In step S301, the update unit 29E has a signal strength not “0” among the towed vehicle IDs corresponding to the towed vehicle ID stored in the first table, and is included in the first packet received this time. The signal intensity corresponding to the towed vehicle ID that is not set is “0”. Thereby, the update unit 29E updates the first table (step S301). The “tow vehicle ID” is the tow vehicle ID included in the first packet read in step S300.

  Next, the display control unit 29F displays the position information included in the read GPS information on the display unit 28A as the position information of the tow vehicle ID included in the read first packet (step S302). By the process of step S302, for example, the position of the tow vehicle 12 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the first packet read in step S300 is displayed on the map information on the display unit 28A.

  Next, the control unit 28C performs the processing from Step 304 to Step S322, which will be described later, for the number of data included in the first packet read in Step S300 (that is, the number of towed vehicle ID information included in the first packet). Run repeatedly. Specifically, the control unit 28C sequentially reads one towed vehicle ID and signal strength corresponding to the towed vehicle ID among the plurality of towed vehicle ID information included in the first packet, and will be described later in step S304. Step S322 is repeatedly executed.

  The towed vehicle ID transmitted by the towed vehicle 14 may be received with a stronger signal strength in the towed vehicle 12 that happened to temporarily pass near than the towed vehicle 12 that is actually towed. . In such a case, it is desirable to avoid an erroneous determination that the vehicle is being towed by a tow vehicle 12 that is not actually towed. That is, when the vehicle is being towed by any other tow vehicle 12, even if the tow vehicle 12 receives the towed vehicle ID, there is a high possibility that the tow vehicle 12 is not towed. The update unit preferably does not update the table.

  In step S304, the third determination unit 29C of the control unit 28C determines whether the tow vehicle 12 is towing or no towing vehicle is present (step S304).

  Specifically, the third determination unit 29C includes the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed among the plurality of towed vehicle ID information included in the first packet in the first packet. It is determined whether or not the towing vehicle 12 specified by the towing vehicle ID or the state of no towing vehicle indicating that no towing vehicle 12 is towing is present. The third determination unit 29C associates the towed vehicle ID stored in the first packet with the second table (for example, see FIG. 5) stored in the storage unit 28B in association with the towed vehicle ID to be processed. Alternatively, the determination in step S304 is performed by determining whether or not “nothing” information indicating no towing vehicle is stored.

  For example, as the second table, the second table shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the storage unit 28B, the tow vehicle ID stored in the first packet is “A”, and the processing target in the first packet is It is assumed that the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 14 is “a”. In this case, the third determination unit 29C makes an affirmative determination in step S304 because the towed vehicle ID corresponding to the towed vehicle ID “a” stored in the second table is “A” (step S304). : Yes).

  The third determination unit 29C determines whether the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle 12 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet, or the towed vehicle If not, an affirmative determination is made (step S304: Yes), and the process proceeds to step S306.

  On the other hand, in the third determination unit 29C, the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not towed by the towed vehicle 12 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet, If the towing vehicle is not absent, a negative determination is made (step S304: No). In addition, the case where the towed vehicle 14 is not towed by the towed vehicle 12 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet and is not without towed vehicle means that the towed vehicle 14 is other than the towed vehicle 12. It indicates that the vehicle is being towed by the tow vehicle 12. If a negative determination is made in step S304, the process proceeds to steps S304 to S322 for the next towed vehicle ID without performing update processing of position information in the second table described later.

  Next, in step S306, the second determination unit 29B reads the movement speed information included in the GPS information read in step S300, and the tow vehicle 12 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the first table is moving. It is determined whether it is present or stopped (step S306).

  Specifically, the second determination unit 29B determines that the vehicle is moving when the moving speed information included in the GPS information read in step S300 exceeds “0” (step S306: moving). ) If the moving speed information is “0”, it is determined that the vehicle is stopped (step S306: stopped).

  If it is determined in step S306 that it is moving (step S306: moving), the process proceeds to step S308. Then, the first determination unit 29A determines whether or not the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID to be processed included in the first packet is reduced to “0” or the previous signal strength (step S308). ).

  The first determination unit 29A makes the determination in step 308 as follows. First, the first determination unit 29A, as the previous signal strength, stores the towed vehicle ID and the processing target towed vehicle ID included in the first packet stored in the first table (see FIG. 4) of the storage unit 28B. Is read (in FIG. 4, described as RSSI). And the determination of step S308 is performed by comparing the read previous signal strength with the signal strength of the to-be-towed vehicle ID included in the first packet.

  If the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID to be processed is “0” or decreased from the previous time (step S308: decreased or 0), the first determination unit 29A proceeds to step S310.

  Next, the update unit 29E sets information indicating the tow vehicle “none” as the tow vehicle ID corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed, which is stored in the second table of the storage unit 28B (step S310). ). In other words, the update unit 29E determines whether the towed vehicle 12 has any signal when the previous signal strength is higher or the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID to be processed included in the first packet is “0”. Assuming that the vehicle is not towed, the tow vehicle “None” is set.

  Next, the calculation unit 29D uses the GPS information received last time from the tow vehicle 12 via the input unit 28D and the receiver 30 as position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed. It is calculated as the same position as the position information of the vehicle 12 (step S312). In addition, you may calculate that it is in the predetermined range from the position information of this tow vehicle 12 instead of the completely same position. The position information of the tow vehicle 12 based on the previously received GPS information may be obtained by reading the latitude and longitude corresponding to the tow vehicle ID included in the first packet in the first table stored in the storage unit 28B. .

  That is, when the tow vehicle 12 is moving and the signal strength of the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed is “0” or decreased from the previous time (that is, the previous signal strength is high), the control unit 28C. Is not pulled by any tow vehicle 12 in the position management system 10. Then, the control unit 28C indicates the position information of the towed vehicle 14 to be processed, which is indicated by the GPS information received at the same time as the previously received first packet including the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet received this time. It is calculated as the same position as (the position of the tow vehicle 12 specified by the previous tow vehicle ID). In addition, you may calculate that it is in the predetermined range from the position information of this tow vehicle 12 instead of the completely same position.

  Here, as described above, the tow vehicle 12 transmits the first packet and the GPS information to the position management device 16 every predetermined time within the time required for the tow vehicle 12 and the towed vehicle 14 to be connected or disconnected. . Therefore, on the position management device 16 side, the first packet and GPS information are received from the tow vehicle 12 during the disconnection work or connection work between the tow vehicle 12 and the towed vehicle 14. For this reason, the position at which the towed vehicle 12 transmitted the first packet and the GPS information to the position management device 16 last time is a position at which the towed vehicle 14 is disconnected from the towed vehicle 12 or a position during connection work. . Therefore, the control unit 28C calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 14 to be processed as described above.

  Next, the display control unit 29F displays the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID calculated by the processing of step S312 or step S320 described later on the display unit 28A (step S28). S314).

  Next, the update unit 29E associates the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID calculated by the processing in step S312 or step S320 described later with the towed vehicle ID. By storing in the storage unit 28B, the second table is updated (step S316).

  Next, the update unit 29E updates the first table (step S317). Specifically, the GPS information read in step S300 is stored in the storage unit 28B in association with the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet read in step S300, and the signal of the towed vehicle ID to be processed is stored. The intensity is stored in the input unit 28D.

  On the other hand, in step S306, the second determination unit 29B reads the movement speed information included in the GPS information read in step S300, and the tow vehicle 12 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the first table is stopped. If it is determined that (step S306: stopping), the process proceeds to step S318.

  Next, the update unit 29E sets information indicating the tow vehicle “none” as the tow vehicle ID information corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed, which is stored in the second table of the storage unit 28B (step S30). S318).

  Next, the calculation unit 29D uses the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed as the position information included in the GPS information received in step S300, that is, the position information of the towed vehicle 12. Calculate (step S320). That is, in the calculation unit 29D, when the tow vehicle 12 is stopped, the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed included in the first packet is the towed vehicle included in the first packet. The position information of the towed vehicle 14 is calculated assuming that it is near the towed vehicle 14 specified by the vehicle ID. Then, the process proceeds to step S314.

  On the other hand, in the process of step S308, the first determination unit 29A does not decrease the signal intensity corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed included in the first packet, that is, equal to or higher than the previous signal intensity. If it is determined (step S308: equal or greater), the process proceeds to step S322. Note that “equal or greater” indicates that the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID this time is greater than the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID of the previous time.

  In step S322, the update unit 29E uses the tow vehicle ID stored in the first packet as the tow vehicle ID information corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed, which is stored in the second table of the storage unit 28B. Set and proceed to step S320.

  That is, in the control unit 28C, when the tow vehicle 12 is moving and the signal strength of the processing target towed vehicle ID is equal to or higher than the previous time, the towed vehicle 14 of the processing target towed vehicle ID. However, it is determined that the vehicle is being towed by the tow vehicle 1 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the current first packet. Then, the control unit 28C calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID as the position of the towed vehicle 12 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the first packet.

  When the control unit 28C executes the position management process in steps S300 to S322, the positions of the towed vehicles 14 are accurately displayed on the display unit 28A.

  10, 11, and 12 are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of display screens displayed on the display unit 28 </ b> A.

  As shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the control unit 28C executes the process of step 302, the display screen 40 of the display unit 28A has a mark indicating the position information of the tow vehicle 12 on the map image 46. 46A is displayed.

  Further, for example, when the control unit 28C executes position management processing (see FIG. 9), the display screen 40 of the display unit 28A displays the position of the tow vehicle 12 on the map image 46 as shown in FIG. Position information indicating the positions 44A to 44C of the towed vehicle 14 and 42A is displayed.

  The display form of the towed vehicle 14 displayed on the display unit 28A is not limited to the form shown in FIG. For example, when the control unit 28C executes position management processing (see FIG. 9), a mark 42A indicating the position of the tow vehicle 12 is displayed on the map image 46 on the display screen 40 of the display unit 28A (see FIG. 9). (See FIG. 12A). Then, when the display position of the mark 42A is selected by a user's operation instruction on the operation unit 28E, as shown in FIG. 12B, information indicating the tow vehicle 12 indicated by the mark 42A, the tow vehicle 12 Information indicating a plurality of towed vehicles 14 towed or towed around the towed vehicle 12 may be displayed in the screen 48.

  Note that the display unit 28A only needs to display the position information of each of the tow vehicle 12 and the plurality of towed vehicles 14, and the display form is not limited to the forms shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12. .

  As described above, in the position management system 10 of the present embodiment, the towed vehicle ID is transmitted from each of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 to the towed vehicle 12. In the towing vehicle 12, the towed vehicle ID received from each of the towed vehicles 14, the first packet including the signal strength of each towed vehicle ID, and the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 12, and the towed vehicle 12. And the GPS information including the position information and the moving speed information are transmitted to the position management device 16.

  The position management device 16 calculates the position of each towed vehicle 14 based on the position information and moving speed information of the towed vehicle 12 and the signal strength of each towed vehicle ID included in the received first packet and GPS information. To do.

  For this reason, in the position management apparatus 16 of this Embodiment, the position of each of the towed vehicle 14 can be managed correctly.

  Specifically, in the first determination unit 29A of the control unit 28C in the position management device 16 of the present embodiment, the towed vehicle whose signal strength of the towed vehicle ID received this time is specified by the towed vehicle ID received this time. 12 determines whether or not it is less than the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID received last time. And in calculation part 29D, when the signal strength of towed vehicle ID received this time is not less than the signal strength of towed vehicle ID received last time from towed vehicle 12 specified by towed vehicle ID received this time, The position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID is calculated as the position information of the towed vehicle 12 received this time.

  In addition, in the calculation unit 29D, when the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID received this time is less than the signal strength of the towed vehicle ID received last time from the towed vehicle 12 specified by the towed vehicle ID received this time, The position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID is calculated as the previously received position information from the towed vehicle 12 specified by the currently received towed vehicle ID.

  For this reason, the position information of the towed vehicle 14 can be accurately managed with a simple configuration.

  In addition, the control unit 28C further receives movement speed information of the tow vehicle 12 from the tow vehicle 12 via the input unit 28D and the receiver 30, and whether the tow vehicle 12 is moving in the second determination unit 29B. Determine whether or not. The first determination unit 29A determines the signal intensity when the second determination unit 29B determines that the tow vehicle 12 is moving.

  In addition, the third determination unit 29C is towing the towed vehicle 14 specified by the currently received towed vehicle ID by another towed vehicle 12 different from the towed vehicle 12 specified by the currently received towed vehicle ID. It is determined whether or not. The first determination unit 29A determines the signal intensity when the second determination unit 29B determines that the tow vehicle 12 is moving.

  For this reason, even when a plurality of towed vehicles 14 are towed rather than one towed vehicle 12, position information of each towed vehicle 14 can be managed accurately. That is, according to the position management system 10 of the present embodiment, each position of each towed vehicle 14 even if the towed vehicle 12 and the towed vehicle 14 are not connected in a one-to-one relationship. Information can be managed accurately.

  That is, in the position management system 10 according to the present embodiment, the position management process described with reference to FIG. 9 is executed for the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 14 included in the first packet. Regardless of the number of towed vehicles 14 to be pulled by the vehicle 12, the position information of all the towed vehicles 14 in the position management system 10 can be managed with high accuracy. Further, the position information of all the towed vehicles 14 and the towed vehicles 12 can be accurately managed without requiring manual operation.

  Moreover, in the position management system 10 of this Embodiment, since the positional information on each towed vehicle 14 is calculated based on the 1st packet and GPS information which were transmitted from the towed vehicle 12, several towed vehicles 14 are used. It is possible to manage them in pairs, to suppress an increase in communication traffic between the position management device 16 and the tow vehicle 12, and to manage the position information of each towed vehicle 14 and the tow vehicle 12 in real time. be able to.

  Further, since the position management processing described with reference to FIG. 9 is executed for the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 14 included in the first packet, one towed vehicle 12 has a plurality of towed vehicles 14. Even when the vehicle is towed, the position information of each towed vehicle 14 can be managed with high accuracy.

(Embodiment 2)
In the position management system according to the second embodiment, the tow vehicle has GPS information including position information of the tow vehicle when the tow vehicle stops or when the tow vehicle moves more than a predetermined distance from the previous stop position. Then, information such as the towed vehicle ID is transmitted to the position management device.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the position management system 10A of the present embodiment, the towed vehicle, the towed vehicle, and the position management device.

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, the position management system 10 </ b> A includes a plurality of towed vehicles 14, a towed vehicle 13, and a position management device 17. The function and configuration of the towed vehicle 14 are the same as those of the towed vehicle 14 of the first embodiment. The towed vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 13 are connected via a wired or wireless communication line. The tow vehicle 13 and the position management device 17 are connected via a wireless communication line.

  The tow vehicle 13 is a vehicle that can move the towed vehicle 14 with the movement of the main body of the towed vehicle 13, similarly to the towed vehicle 12 described in the first embodiment. Although the case where the tow vehicle 13 is a vehicle will be described in the present embodiment, it may be a movable device and is not limited to a vehicle. For example, when the towed vehicle 14 is a mobile terminal, the towed vehicle 13 may also be a mobile terminal that moves by being carried by a person or the like.

  The tow vehicle 13 includes a receiver 50, a GPS receiver 24, a transmission control device 52, and a transmitter 54.

  The receiver 50 includes a receiving unit 50A and an output unit 50B. The receiving unit 50A receives a signal indicating the towed vehicle ID transmitted from each of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 and outputs the signal to the output unit 50B. The receiver 50 may be any device that can receive the towed vehicle ID transmitted from the transmission unit 18. Examples of the receiver 50 include an RF tag reader that reads information received from an RF tag.

  Upon receiving the towed vehicle ID from the receiving unit 50A, the output unit 50B outputs the received towed vehicle ID to the transmission control device 52.

  The GPS receiving unit 24 receives radio waves from the GPS satellite 26 as described in the first embodiment. And the GPS receiving part 24 calculates | requires the present position and moving speed of the tow vehicle 12 by a well-known method based on the received electromagnetic wave. Then, the GPS receiving unit 24 sends GPS information including position information and moving speed information to the transmission control device 52 at a cycle shorter than the timing at which the output unit 50B of the receiver 50 outputs the towed vehicle ID to the transmission control device 52. Output.

  The transmission control device 52 includes an input unit 52B, a control unit 52D, an input unit 52A, and an output unit 52C. The input unit 52A receives GPS information from the GPS receiving unit 24 and transmits the GPS information to the control unit 52D. The input unit 52B receives the towed vehicle ID from the receiver 50 and outputs it to the control unit 52D.

  The control unit 52D is a computer that includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, controls the entire transmission control device 52, and performs a transmission process described later.

  FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 52D. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the control unit 52D includes a state determination unit 53A, a collection unit 53B, a second packet generation unit 53C, and an output control unit 53D.

  The state determination unit 53A monitors the position information and the moving speed information included in the GPS information received from the GPS receiving unit 24 via the input unit 52A, and the tow vehicle 13 stops based on the position information and the moving speed information. It is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a stopped state or whether or not the vehicle has moved more than a predetermined distance from the previous stop position.

  The predetermined distance may be an arbitrary distance. Specifically, the predetermined distance refers to the maximum number of towed vehicles 14 that can be towed by the towed vehicle 13 when the towed vehicles 14 are connected in series and pulled by the towed vehicle 13. Is the distance from the transmitter 18 of the last towed vehicle 14 to the receiver 50 of the towed vehicle 13 when the tow is pulled.

  When the state determination unit 53A determines that the vehicle has stopped or moved a predetermined distance, the collection unit 53B receives the towed vehicle IDs received from the plurality of towed vehicles 14 via the input unit 52B and the receiver 50. Start collecting. Although details will be described later, this towed vehicle ID is collected when all of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 included in the position management system 10A transmit the towed vehicle ID at different timings. The time required until the vehicle 14 finishes transmitting the towed vehicle ID is performed.

  The second packet generation unit 53C includes each towed vehicle ID collected by the collecting unit 53B, a towed vehicle ID for uniquely identifying the towed vehicle 13 body, and GPS information received from the GPS receiving unit 24 (the towed vehicle 13 position information (latitude, longitude) and movement speed information) is generated. The output control unit 53D outputs the second packet to the transmitter 54.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the second packet. As shown in FIG. 15, the second packet includes a towed vehicle ID, GPS information (latitude, longitude, moving speed), a number of towed vehicle IDs, and a plurality of towed vehicle IDs between a header and a footer. , And checksum.

  The number of towed vehicle IDs indicates the number of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet.

  The tow vehicle ID is stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) of the control unit 52D. The second packet generation unit 53C reads the tow vehicle ID from a storage unit (not shown), and generates a second packet including the tow vehicle ID.

  Returning to FIG. 13, the transmitter 54 includes an input unit 54A and a transmission unit 54B. The input unit 54A receives the second packet from the output unit 52C and outputs the second packet to the transmission unit 54B. The transmission unit 54B receives the second packet from the input unit 54A and transmits the second packet to the position management device 17.

  The transmitter 54 may be any device that can transmit a signal to the position management device 17. Examples of the transmitter 54 include, but are not limited to, a high-output radio device, a mobile phone using a relay station, and a wireless communication device such as WiFi (registered trademark).

  The location management device 17 is installed in a base station, for example, and includes a host device 58 and a receiver 56.

  The receiver 56 includes a receiving unit 56A and an output unit 56B. The receiving unit 56A receives the second packet from the tow vehicle 13. Then, the reception unit 56A outputs the received second packet to the output unit 56B. The receiver 56 may be any device that can receive the second packet from the tow vehicle 13. Examples of the receiver 56 include, but are not limited to, a high-output radio device, a mobile phone using a relay station, and a wireless communication device such as WiFi (registered trademark).

  In the present embodiment, the receiving unit 56A of the position management device 17 and the transmitting unit 54B of the tow vehicle 13 are described as performing direct wireless communication, but they are connected to a communication line (such as a telephone line) for wired communication. Wireless communication using radio waves may be performed via a base station.

  The output unit 56B outputs the second packet received from the receiving unit 56A to the host device 58.

  The host device 58 is composed of, for example, a PC. Note that the base station device 17 including the host device 58 and the receiver 56 may be integrally configured and configured by a PC.

  The host device 58 includes a display unit 28A, a storage unit 58B, a control unit 58C, an input unit 58D, and an operation unit 28E. The display unit 28A and the operation unit 28E are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The input unit 58D receives the second packet from the output unit 56B.

  The storage unit 58B is a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores a third table and the like.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the third table. The third table correlates the towed vehicle ID, the position information (latitude and longitude) of the towed vehicle 14, the state of the towed vehicle 13, and information indicating whether or not detection is performed for each towed vehicle ID. It is a table.

  The state of the tow vehicle 13 indicates whether the tow vehicle 13 is moving (indicated as “MOVE” in FIG. 16) or stopped (indicated as “STOP” in FIG. 16). The information indicating whether or not the detection is performed for each towed vehicle ID refers to whether or not the towed vehicle ID is included in the second packet received from the towed vehicle 13 for each towed vehicle ID of each towed vehicle 13. It is the information shown. In FIG. 16, “detected” indicates that the towed vehicle ID is included in the second packet received from the towed vehicle 13 specified by the corresponding towed vehicle ID. On the other hand, in FIG. 16, the blank column corresponding to each towed vehicle ID (ac) includes the towed vehicle ID in the second packet received from the towed vehicle 13 specified by the corresponding towed vehicle ID. Indicates that it is not.

  Returning to FIG. 13, the control unit 58 </ b> C is a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the entire host device 58. Control unit 58C stores the second packet received by input unit 58D in storage unit 58B. Further, the control unit 58C executes a position management process described later.

  FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 58C. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the control unit 58C includes a first determination unit 59A, a second determination unit 59B, a calculation unit 59C, an update unit 59D, and a display control unit 59E.

  The first determination unit 59A determines whether the tow vehicle 13 is moving or stopped based on the moving speed information indicated by the second packet received from the tow vehicle 13 via the receiver 56. .

  The second determination unit 59B selects one of the towed vehicle IDs of all towed vehicles 14 included in the position management system 10A as the towed vehicle ID to be processed, and the towed vehicle ID to be processed. Is included in the second packet received this time. In addition, the second determination unit 59B determines whether or not the second vehicle packet received last time from the tow vehicle 13 specified by the same tow vehicle ID includes the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed.

  The calculation unit 59C calculates position information of the towed vehicle 14. The updating unit 59D updates the third table. The display control unit 59E displays position information of the towed vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 12 on the display unit 28A.

  Next, transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit 52D of the transmission control device 52 of the tow vehicle 13 in the position management system 10A of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit 52D.

  When power is supplied from the main body of the towed vehicle 13 to each unit of the transmission control device 52, the control unit 52D repeatedly executes the transmission / reception process shown in FIG.

  First, the controller 52D receives GPS information via the GPS receiver 24 (step S400). Then, based on the moving speed information included in the GPS information received in step S400, state determination unit 53A of control unit 52D determines whether tow vehicle 13 is in the stopped state or a predetermined distance from the previous stop position. It is determined whether or not it has been moved (step S402).

  If the state determination unit 53A determines in step S402 that neither the stop state nor the movement from the stop position is a predetermined distance or more, a negative determination is made (step S402: No), and the process returns to step S400.

  On the other hand, the state determination unit 53A makes an affirmative determination (step S402: Yes) when it determines that the tow vehicle 13 has moved from the stop state or the stop position by a predetermined distance or more in step S402, and proceeds to step S404.

  In step S404, the collection unit 53B starts collecting the towed vehicle ID from the towed vehicle 14 via the input unit 52B and the receiver 50 (step S404).

  Next, the collection unit 53B repeats the negative determination until all the towed vehicles 14 have finished transmitting the towed vehicle ID (step S406: No). If the affirmative determination is made (step S406: No), the process proceeds to step S408.

  The determination in step S406 is that all of the towed vehicles 14 transmit the towed vehicle ID when all of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 included in the position management system 10A transmit the towed vehicle ID at different timings. This is done by determining whether or not the time required for elapses. Then, the collection unit 53B repeats the negative determination until the time elapses after the collection of the towed vehicle ID is started in Step S404 (Step S406: No). Then, the collection unit 53B may make an affirmative determination when the time has elapsed since the collection of the towed vehicle ID was started in step S404 (step S406: Yes).

  Next, the second packet generation unit 53C includes the tow vehicle ID of the tow vehicle 13 main body, the position information (latitude and longitude) and the moving speed information included in the GPS information received immediately before making an affirmative determination in step S402, A second packet (see FIG. 15) including all the towed vehicle IDs and the number of towed vehicle IDs collected by the processes of S404 to S406 is created (step S408).

  Next, the output control unit 53D outputs the second packet to the transmitter 54 (step S410), and then ends this routine.

  The transmitter 54 that has received the second packet immediately transmits the received second packet to the location management device 17.

  Next, a location management process executed by the control unit 58C of the host device 58 in the location management device 17 will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the position management process executed by the control unit 58C.

  Each time the control unit 58C receives the second packet from the tow vehicle 13 via the input unit 58D and the receiver 56, the control unit 58C executes the position management process shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 58C reads the second packet (see FIG. 16) received via the input unit 58D (step S500).

  Next, the display control unit 59E of the control unit 58C uses the position information included in the read second packet as the position information of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the read second packet. It is displayed on 28A (step S502). By the process in step S502, for example, the position information of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet read in step S500 is displayed on the map information on the display unit 28A.

  Next, the first determination unit 59A reads the moving speed information included in the second packet read in step S500, and the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet is moving. It is determined whether it is stopped (step S504).

  When it is determined that the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet is moving (step S504: moving), the updating unit 59D determines the tow vehicle specified by the tow vehicle ID. The state of 13 is set to “moving (MOVE)” (step S506). Specifically, the update unit 59D stores the information indicating “MOVE” as the state of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID in association with the tow vehicle ID, and is stored in the storage unit 58B. The third table (see FIG. 16) is updated.

  Next, the control unit 58C repeats the processes of steps S508 to S516 described later for the number of all towed vehicles 14 included in the position management system 10A. For example, the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 14 included in the position management system 10A are stored in advance in the storage unit 58B. And control part 58C should just perform processing of Step S508-Step S516 mentioned below about each of towed vehicle ID of all towed vehicles 14 contained in position management system 10A.

  First, the control unit 58C selects one of the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 14 included in the position management system 10A as a to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed. Then, the second determination unit 59B determines whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the second packet received in step S500 this time (step S508). When the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not included in the second packet received in step S500 this time (step S508: none), the process proceeds to step S510.

  Next, the second determination unit 59B determines whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the second packet received last time from the towed vehicle 13 specified by the same towed vehicle ID (step S510). . Specifically, the second determination unit 59B correlates with the towed vehicle ID included in the second packet received in step S500 of the third table stored in the storage unit 58B, and the towed target of the processing target. By determining whether or not the vehicle ID is set to “detected”, it is determined whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the second packet received last time.

  When the second determination unit 59B determines that the second packet received last from the tow vehicle 13 specified by the same tow vehicle ID does not include the towed vehicle ID to be processed (step S510: None) ), This routine is terminated.

  That is, when the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not included in the second packet received this time, and the towed vehicle ID is not included in the second packet received from the same towed vehicle 13 last time, the control unit 58C. Ends this routine.

  On the other hand, when the second determination unit 59B determines that the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the second packet received last time from the towed vehicle 13 specified by the same towed vehicle ID (step S510). : Yes), go to step S512.

  Then, the calculation unit 59C calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID as the previous position information of the towed vehicle ID (step S512). Specifically, the calculation unit 59C obtains the position information (latitude, longitude) corresponding to the towing vehicle ID included in the second packet read in step S500 in the third table stored in the storage unit 58B as the previous position. Read as information. Then, the calculation unit 59C calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID as the position information of the previous towed vehicle ID read.

  That is, when the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not included in the second packet received this time, and the towed vehicle ID is included in the second packet received from the same towed vehicle 13 last time, the control unit 58C. The position information is calculated assuming that the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID is separated from the towed vehicle 13 and is at the previous position (that is, the previous stop position).

  Next, the display control unit 59E displays the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the calculated towed vehicle ID to be processed on the display unit 28A (step S514).

  Next, the update unit 59D updates the third table (step S516). Specifically, the updating unit 59D associates the towed vehicle ID included in the second packet received in step S500 with the towed vehicle ID to be processed calculated by the processing in step S512 or step S518 described later. The third table is updated by associating the position information of the towed vehicle 14 to be identified with the information indicating “detection” corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed in the storage unit 58B. .

  On the other hand, if the second determination unit 59B determines that the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the second packet received in step S500 this time (step S508: present), the process proceeds to step S518.

  Then, the calculation unit 59C has the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet read in step S500, the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed. It is calculated as the same position (step S518). Then, the process proceeds to step S514. The position information of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet may be obtained by reading the position information included in the second packet. Further, the same position is not exactly the same position but includes a predetermined range.

  That is, when the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the second packet received this time, the control unit 58C determines that the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID is included in the second packet. It is determined that the vehicle is being towed by the tow vehicle 13 specified by the vehicle ID. Then, the position information of the towed vehicle 13 specified by the towed vehicle ID is calculated as the position of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed.

  On the other hand, when the first determination unit 59A determines in the determination in step S504 that the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet read in step S500 is stopped ( Step S504: Stopping), the process proceeds to Step S519.

  Next, the updating unit 59D clears all the information indicating “detection” of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID corresponding to the tow vehicle ID in the third table (step S519).

  Next, the updating unit 59D sets the state of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID to “stopped (STOP)” (step S520). Specifically, the update unit 59D stores the information indicating “STOP” as the state of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID in association with the tow vehicle ID, and is stored in the storage unit 58B. The third table (see FIG. 16) is updated.

  Next, the control unit 58C repeats the processes of steps S522 to S526 described later for the number of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet read in step S500.

  First, the control unit 58C selects one towed vehicle ID among a plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet read in step S500 as the towed vehicle ID to be processed. Then, the calculating unit 59C calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID as the position information of the towed vehicle 13 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the second packet (step S522). The position information of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet may be obtained by reading the position information included in the second packet.

  That is, when the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the second packet received this time is stopped, the control unit 58C is specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the second packet. Assuming that each of the towed vehicles 14 is around the towed vehicle 13, the position information of the towed vehicle 13 is calculated as the position information of each towed vehicle 14.

  Next, the display control unit 59E displays the position information of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the calculated towed vehicle ID to be processed on the display unit 28A (step S524).

  Next, the update unit 59D updates the third table (step S526). Specifically, the updating unit 59D associates the towed vehicle ID included in the second packet received in step S500 with the towed vehicle ID specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID calculated by the processing in step S522. The third table is updated by storing the position information of the vehicle 14, the information indicating “detection” corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed, and the storage unit 58B.

  Then, the control unit 58C ends the present routine after repeatedly executing the processes in steps S522 to S526 for the number of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet read in step S500.

  As described above, in the position management system 10 </ b> A of the present embodiment, the towed vehicle ID is transmitted from each of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 to the towed vehicle 13. In the tow vehicle 13, when it is determined based on the GPS information of the tow vehicle 13 that the tow vehicle 13 is stopped or moved over a predetermined distance, the tow vehicle ID of the tow vehicle 13 and the position of the tow vehicle 12 are determined. The second packet including the GPS information including the information and the moving speed information and the towed vehicle ID received from each of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 is transmitted to the position management device 17.

  In the position management device 17, when the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received second packet is stopped, the position management device 17 is specified by the plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet. The position information of each towed vehicle 14 is calculated as the position information of the towed vehicle 13 included in the second packet. On the other hand, when the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received second packet is moving, the position management device 17 specifies by the plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet. The position information of each of the towed vehicles 14 is calculated as the position information of the towed vehicle 13 included in the second packet. Further, in the position management device 17, the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received second packet is moving and is not included in the second packet received this time, but the tow vehicle 13 last time. For each position of the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the second packet received from the above, the previously calculated position information is calculated as the current position information.

  For this reason, in the position management system 10A of the present embodiment, the position information of each of the plurality of towed vehicles 14 can be managed accurately.

  That is, in the position management system 10A of the present embodiment, the position information of all the towed vehicles 14 in the position management system 10A is accurately managed regardless of the number of towed vehicles 14 by each towed vehicle 14. can do.

  Further, in the position management system 10A according to the present embodiment, when it is determined at a predetermined timing, that is, when the main body of the tow vehicle 13 is stopped or moved more than a predetermined distance, the second operation from the tow vehicle 13 to the position management device 17 is performed. Send the packet. For this reason, position management processing can be performed with less communication traffic. For this reason, the position information of all the towed vehicles 14 included in the position management system 10A can be managed accurately and efficiently.

(Embodiment 3)
In the position management system of the third embodiment, in addition to the function and configuration of the position management system of the second embodiment, a plurality of towed vehicles are connected in a daisy chain manner.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the position management system 10B of the present embodiment, the towed vehicle, the towed vehicle, and the position management device.

  As illustrated in FIG. 20, the position management system 10 </ b> B includes a plurality of towed vehicles 15, a towed vehicle 66, and a position management device 17. The towed vehicle 15 and the towed vehicle 66 are connected via a wired or wireless communication line. The tow vehicle 66 and the position management device 17 are connected via a wired or wireless communication line. The function and configuration of the location management device 17 are the same as those of the location management device 17 of the first embodiment.

  The towed vehicle 15 is a vehicle that can move as the towed vehicle 66 moves. In the present embodiment, the case where the towed vehicle 15 is a vehicle that can be towed by the towed vehicle 66 will be described, but it may be a movable device and is not limited to a vehicle. For example, the towed vehicle 15 may be a portable terminal that moves when carried by a person or the like.

  The towed vehicle 15 includes a transceiver 19. The transceiver 19 is connected to the transceiver 19 of another towed vehicle 15 via a wireless line or a wired line by a daisy chain method (a daisy chain method).

  Specifically, the towed vehicle 15 includes a reception unit 19A, a transmission unit 19B, and a control unit 19C. The receiving unit 19A receives tag information including one or more towed vehicle IDs from the transceiver 19 (transmitting unit 19B) of another towed vehicle 15. The towed vehicle ID is identification information for uniquely identifying each towed vehicle 15 as in the first embodiment.

  When the transmitting unit 19B receives tag information from the transceiver 19 of the other towed vehicle 15, new tag information in which the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 body of the transmitting unit 19B is added to the received tag information. Send. Although details will be described later, when tag information is not received from another towed vehicle 15 for a predetermined time or longer, tag information including the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 main body is transmitted (hereinafter, referred to as “towed vehicle ID”). It may be referred to as spontaneous transmission (details will be described later).

  As the transmitter / receiver 19, a known transmitter / receiver connected by a daisy chain method may be used. Specifically, examples of the transceiver 19 include, but are not limited to, a wireless communication device such as a beacon and a wireless communication device such as Zigbee (registered trademark).

  The control unit 19C is a computer configured to include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the entire transmitter / receiver 19 to perform transmission / reception processing described later.

  FIG. 21 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 19C. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the control unit 19C includes a first determination unit 190A, a tag information generation unit 190B, a transmission control unit 190C, a counter unit 190D, a second determination unit 190E, and a third determination unit 190F.

  Whether the first determination unit 190A includes its own ID, which is the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 body, in the tag information received from the other towed vehicle 15 by the receiving unit 19A of the towed vehicle 15 body. Judge whether or not.

  The third determination unit 190F determines whether or not the previous spontaneous transmission has been performed.

  The second determination unit 190E determines whether a waiting time TA (described later in detail) has passed a set time T (described later in detail) or changes the set time T.

  The tag information generation unit 190B generates tag information including the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 main body. The transmission control unit 190C transmits the tag information via the transmission unit 19B.

  The counter unit 190D counts up a waiting time TA, which will be described later, with time.

  Referring back to FIG. 20, the tow vehicle 66 is a vehicle that can move the towed vehicle 15 in accordance with the movement of the tow vehicle 66 main body, similarly to the tow vehicle 12 described in the first embodiment. Although the case where the tow vehicle 66 is a vehicle will be described in the present embodiment, it may be a movable device and is not limited to a vehicle. For example, when the towed vehicle 15 is a mobile terminal, the towed vehicle 66 may also be a mobile terminal that moves by being carried by a person or the like.

  The tow vehicle 66 includes a receiver 60, a transmission control device 62, a transmitter 64, and a GPS receiver 24. The function and configuration of the GPS receiving unit 24 are the same as those of the GPS receiving unit 24 in the first embodiment.

  The receiver 60 includes a receiving unit 60A and an output unit 60B. The receiving unit 60A receives tag information including one or more towed vehicle IDs from the towed vehicle 15 and outputs the tag information to the output unit 60B. The output unit 60B outputs the received tag information to the transmission control device 62. The receiver 60 may be any device that can receive the tag information transmitted from the transmission unit 19B of the towed vehicle 15. Examples of the receiver 60 include, but are not limited to, a wireless communication device such as a beacon receiver and a wireless communication device such as Zigbee (registered trademark).

  The transmission control device 62 includes an input unit 62B, a control unit 62D, an input unit 62A, and an output unit 62C. The input unit 62A receives GPS information from the GPS receiving unit 24 and transmits it to the control unit 62D. The input unit 62B receives tag information from the receiver 60 and outputs the tag information to the control unit 62D.

  The control unit 62D is a computer configured to include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the entire transmission control device 62 to perform transmission / reception processing described later.

  FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 62D. As illustrated in FIG. 22, the control unit 62D includes a state determination unit 63A, a collection unit 63B, a second packet generation unit 63C, and an output control unit 63D.

  The state determination unit 63A monitors the movement speed information included in the GPS information received from the GPS reception unit 24 via the input unit 62A, and when the movement speed indicates a stop state and a predetermined distance from the previous stop position. Judge when it has moved.

  The predetermined distance may be an arbitrary distance. Specifically, the distance of the last towed vehicle 14 when the maximum number of towed vehicles 14 that can be towed by the towed vehicle 13 is towed. The distance is preferably equal to or greater than the distance from the transmitter 18 to the receiver 50 of the tow vehicle 13.

  The collection unit 63B collects tag information from the towed vehicle 15 via the input unit 62B and the receiver 60 when the state determination unit 63A determines that the vehicle has stopped or moved more than a predetermined distance. Start. Although details will be described later, the collection of the tag information is performed when all the towed vehicles 15 transmit tag information when all of the towed vehicles 15 included in the position management system 10B transmit the tag information at different timings. Do as much as it takes to send

  The second packet generation unit 63C has received all the towed vehicle IDs included in the tag information collected by the collecting unit 63B, the towed vehicle ID for uniquely identifying the towed vehicle 66 main body, and the GPS receiving unit 24. A second packet including GPS information (position information (latitude, longitude) and moving speed information of the towed vehicle 66) is generated. The output control unit 63D outputs the second packet to the transmitter 64 via the output unit 62C.

  Note that the data structure of the second packet is the same as the data structure described in the second embodiment (see FIG. 15), and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  Returning to FIG. 20, the transmitter 64 includes an input unit 64A and a transmission unit 64B. The input unit 64A receives the second packet from the output unit 62C and outputs it to the transmission unit 64B. The transmission unit 64B receives the second packet from the input unit 64A and transmits the second packet to the location management device 17.

  The transmitter 64 may be any device that can transmit a signal to the position management device 17. Examples of the transmitter 64 include, but are not limited to, a high-output radio device, a mobile phone using a relay station, and a wireless communication device such as WiFi (registered trademark).

  Since the configuration of the location management device 17 is the same as that of the location management device 17 of the second embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted. Also, the transmission / reception process executed by the control unit 58C of the location management device 17 is the same as that in the second embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit 19C of the transceiver 19 of each towed vehicle 15 in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit 19 </ b> C of the transceiver 19 of each towed vehicle 15.

  When power is supplied from the main body of the towed vehicle 15 to each unit of the transceiver 19, the control unit 19 </ b> C of the transceiver 19 of each towed vehicle 15 repeatedly executes the transmission / reception process illustrated in FIG. 23.

  First, in the control unit 19C, it is determined whether or not the receiving unit 19A of the transceiver 19 has received tag information from the transmitting unit 19B of the transceiver 19 of another towed vehicle 15 (step S600). When the tag information is received from the transceiver 19 of the other towed vehicle 15, the control unit 19C makes an affirmative determination (step S600: Yes), and proceeds to step S602.

  Next, the first determination unit 190A of the control unit 19C includes the self ID that is the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 main body (the towed vehicle 15 on which the control unit 19C is mounted) in the received tag information. It is determined whether it is not (step S602). It is assumed that the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 main body is stored in advance in a memory (not shown) of the transceiver 19.

  If the first determination unit 190A determines that the received tag information includes its own ID, which is the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 main body (step S602: No), the control unit 19C performs steps described later. The process of S606 is performed.

  On the other hand, when the first determination unit 190A determines that the received tag information does not include the own ID that is the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 main body (step S602: Yes), the process proceeds to step S604. Then, the tag information generation unit 190B generates new tag information including the own ID which is the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 main body in the tag information received in step S600 (step S604). Then, the transmission control unit 190C transmits the tag information generated in step S604 via the transmission unit 19B (step S605).

  Next, the counter unit 190D clears the waiting time TA by setting “0” to the waiting time TA stored in a memory (not shown) (step S606). Then, after the counter unit 190D starts counting up the waiting time TA (step S608), the routine is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if the tag information is not received in the determination in step S600 (step S600: No), the process proceeds to step S610. Then, third determination unit 190F determines whether or not spontaneous transmission was performed at the time of the previous transmission of tag information (step S610). The determination in step S610 is performed as follows. For example, when tag information is transmitted after an affirmative determination (TA ≧ T) in step S614 described later, information indicating spontaneous transmission is stored in the memory of the control unit 19C (not shown). In addition, when tag information is transmitted after an affirmative determination is made in step S602, information indicating that it is not spontaneous transmission is stored in a memory that is not illustrated in the control unit 19C. Each time the tag information is transmitted, the third determination unit 190F stores the information indicating the spontaneous transmission or the information indicating that the transmission is not spontaneous, overwriting the previously stored information. Then, at the time of the determination in step S610, the third determination unit 190F may perform the determination in step S610 by determining whether information indicating spontaneous transmission is stored in a memory (not shown).

  When the third determination unit 190F determines that the previous spontaneous transmission was performed in step S610 (step S610: Yes), the process proceeds to step S611. The third determination unit 190F sets a time T1 indicating a predetermined upper limit value to the set time T indicating the upper limit of the waiting time TA (step S611), and proceeds to step S614 described later.

  The set time T is a time indicating the upper limit of the waiting time TA for spontaneous transmission. Spontaneous transmission includes the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 body when tag information is not received even after the waiting time TA has elapsed in each transceiver 19 of the towed vehicle 15 as described above. This means that tag information is sent. Further, as the time T1, an arbitrary time is set in advance. Specifically, as time T1, one towed vehicle 15 is in a position where the towed vehicle 15 can receive a tag information signal among all other towed vehicles 15 in the position management system 10B. A time longer than the time required to receive tag information from all the towed vehicles 15 present is determined in advance.

  On the other hand, if the third determination unit 190F determines that the previous spontaneous transmission was not performed in step S610 (step S610: No), the process proceeds to step S612. The third determination unit 190F sets the time T2 to the set time T indicating the upper limit of the waiting time TA (step S612), and proceeds to step S614 described later. The time T2 is a value obtained by adding the time α to the time T1. In addition, an arbitrary time is set in advance as the time α.

  By executing the process of step S612, the control unit 19C, when performing the spontaneous transmission, sets the set time T indicating the upper limit of the waiting time TA for transmitting the tag information as compared to the case of not performing the spontaneous transmission. Make it longer.

  Next, in the second determination unit 190E of the control unit 19C, it is determined whether or not the waiting time TA has passed the set time T (whether or not the waiting time TA ≧ the set time T) (step S614).

  If the waiting time TA has not passed the set time T, the second determination unit 190E makes a negative determination (step S614: No) and returns to step S600. On the other hand, in the second determination unit 190E, when the transmission unit 18C determines that the waiting time TA has passed the set time T (step S614: Yes), the process proceeds to step S615.

  Next, the tag information generation unit 190B generates the ID of the towed vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 as tag information (step S615), and the transmission control unit 190C transmits the tag information (step 616). After that, the process proceeds to step S606.

  Next, transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit 62D of the transmission control device 62 of the tow vehicle 66 in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmission / reception processing performed by the control unit 62D.

  In the control unit 62D, when power is supplied from the main body of the towing vehicle 66 to each unit of the transmission control device 62, the transmission / reception process shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 62D receives GPS information via the GPS receiving unit 24 (step S4000). Then, based on the moving speed information included in the GPS information received by step S4000, state determination unit 63A of control unit 62D determines whether tow vehicle 13 is in the stopped state or a predetermined distance from the previous stop position. It is determined whether or not it has been moved (step S4020).

  If the state determination unit 63A determines in step S402 that neither the stop state nor the movement from the stop position is a predetermined distance or more, a negative determination is made (step S4020: No), and the process returns to step S4000.

  On the other hand, when the state determination unit 63A determines in step S4020 that the tow vehicle 13 has stopped or moved a predetermined distance or more from the stop position (step S4020: Yes), the process proceeds to step S4040.

  In step S4040, the collection unit 63B starts collecting tag information from the towed vehicle 15 via the input unit 62B and the receiver 60 (step S4040).

  Next, the collection unit 63B repeats negative determination until the set time TB elapses after the collection of tag information is started in step S4040 (step S4060: No). When the set time TB has elapsed, an affirmative determination is made (step S4060: Yes), and the process proceeds to step S4080.

  Note that the set time TB may be a time that is equal to or longer than the time T2 that is the set time T that indicates the upper limit of the waiting time TA for tag information transmission when the towed vehicle 15 performs spontaneous transmission (FIG. 23). (See step S612). The set time TB used on the control unit 62D side of the towed vehicle 66 may be set in advance to a time equal to or longer than the time T2 as an initial set value in each of the plurality of towed vehicles 15. The time T2 may be received and used together with the tag information. When the time T2 is received from the towed vehicle 15, a time equal to or greater than the maximum value among the times T2 received from the plurality of towed vehicles 15 may be used as the set time TB used in step S4060.

  Next, the second packet generator 63C receives the tow vehicle ID of the tow vehicle 66 main body, the position information (latitude and longitude) and the moving speed information included in the GPS information received immediately before making an affirmative determination in step S402, A second packet (see FIG. 16) including the towed vehicle ID and the number of towed vehicle IDs included in all the tag information collected by the processing of S4040 to S4060 is created (step S4080).

  Next, the output control unit 63D outputs the second packet to the transmitter 64 (step S4100), and then ends this routine.

  The transmitter 64 that has received the second packet immediately transmits the received second packet to the location management device 17.

  The control unit 58C of the host device 58 in the location management device 17 executes the location management process (see FIG. 19) described in the second embodiment. In the position management process shown in FIG. 19, the position management device 17 according to the present embodiment is the same as the embodiment except that the tow vehicle 66 is replaced by the tow vehicle 13 and the towed vehicle 15 is replaced by the towed vehicle 14. Since it is the same as the location management process described in the second embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment, a plurality of towed vehicles 15 are connected by a daisy chain method. In the towing vehicle 66, one or more towed objects received from the towed vehicle 15 when it is determined that the main body of the towing vehicle 66 is stopped or moved over a predetermined distance based on the GPS information of the towed vehicle 66. Collect tag information including vehicle ID. The tow vehicle 66 then sends a second packet including the tow vehicle ID of the tow vehicle 66 main body, GPS information including position information and movement speed information of the tow vehicle 66, and a plurality of towed vehicle IDs to the position management device 17. Send to.

  When the tow vehicle 66 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received second packet is stopped, the position management device 17 is specified by the plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet. Each position information of the towed vehicle 15 is calculated as the position of the towed vehicle 66 included in the second packet. On the other hand, when the tow vehicle 66 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received second packet is moving, the position management device 17 specifies by the plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the second packet. Each position of the towed vehicle 15 is calculated as the position of the towed vehicle 66 included in the second packet. Further, in the position management device 17, the tow vehicle 66 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received second packet is moving and is not included in the second packet received this time, but the tow vehicle 66 last time. As for the position information of each of the towed vehicles 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the second packet received from the above, the previously calculated position information is calculated as the current position information.

  For this reason, in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment, the position information of each of the plurality of towed vehicles 15 can be managed accurately.

  That is, in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment, the position information of all the towed vehicles 15 in the position management system 10B is accurately managed regardless of the number of towed vehicles 15 towed by each towed vehicle 66. can do.

  Further, in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment, since a plurality of towed vehicles 15 are connected in a daisy chain system, each tag information transmitted from each towed vehicle 15 is weak even if the signal output is weak. The vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 can be sequentially transmitted to the towed vehicle 66.

  Further, in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment, since the plurality of towed vehicles 15 are connected by the daisy chain method, the total length (connection length) of the plurality of towed vehicles 15 to which position management of each towed vehicle 15 is coupled. The number of connected towed vehicles 15 by the tow vehicle 66 can be freely adjusted.

  Further, in the position management system 10B of the present embodiment, when it is determined at a predetermined timing, that is, when the main body of the tow vehicle 66 is stopped or moved over a predetermined distance, the second operation is performed from the tow vehicle 66 to the position management device 17. Send the packet. For this reason, position management processing can be performed with less communication traffic. For this reason, the position information of all the towed vehicles 15 included in the position management system 10B can be managed accurately and efficiently.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the position management system 10C of the fourth embodiment, the towed vehicle, the towed vehicle, and the position management device.

  As illustrated in FIG. 25, the position management system 10 </ b> C includes a plurality of towed vehicles 15, a towed vehicle 68, and a position management device 74. The towed vehicle 15 and the towed vehicle 68 are connected via a wireless communication line. The tow vehicle 68 and the position management device 74 are connected via a wired or wireless communication line. The function and configuration of the towed vehicle 15 are the same as those of the towed vehicle 15 of the third embodiment.

  The tow vehicle 68 is a vehicle that can move the towed vehicle 15 with the movement of the main body of the tow vehicle 68. Although the case where the tow vehicle 68 is a vehicle will be described in the present embodiment, it may be a movable device and is not limited to a vehicle. For example, when the towed vehicle 15 is a portable terminal, the towed vehicle 68 may also be a portable terminal that moves by being carried by a person or the like.

  The tow vehicle 68 includes a receiver 70, a GPS receiver 24, and a transmitter 72. The function and configuration of the GPS receiving unit 24 are the same as those of the GPS receiving unit 24 of the first embodiment.

  The receiver 70 includes a receiving unit 70A, a storage unit 70B, and an output unit 70C. The receiving unit 70A receives tag information including one or more towed vehicle IDs from the towed vehicle 15 and stores the tag information in the storage unit 70B. The output unit 70C outputs the tag information stored in the storage unit 70B to the transmitter 72 every predetermined time.

  The receiver 70 may be any device that can receive the tag information transmitted from the transmission unit 19B of the towed vehicle 15. Examples of the receiver 70 include, but are not limited to, a wireless communication device such as a beacon receiver and a wireless communication device such as Zigbee (registered trademark).

  The transmitter 72 includes an input unit 72A, an input unit 72B, and a transmission unit 72C. The input unit 72B receives the GPS information from the GPS receiving unit 24 and transmits it to the transmitting unit 72C. The input unit 72A receives tag information from the receiver 70 (output unit 70C) and outputs the tag information to the transmission unit 72C.

  The transmitting unit 72C receives from the input unit 72A, a third packet including each towed vehicle ID included in the tag information and a towed vehicle ID for uniquely identifying the towed vehicle 68 main body, and a GPS receiving unit The GPS information received from 24 is transmitted to the position management device 74.

  The transmission unit 72C may periodically transmit the third packet and the GPS information to the position management device 74 at predetermined time intervals, or may receive the inquiry signal from the position management device 74. It may be transmitted to the device 74.

  Note that the transmission timing of the third packet and the GPS information from the transmission unit 72C of the tow vehicle 68 to the position management device 74 is always performed once within the time required to connect and disconnect the towed vehicle 15 and the towed vehicle 68. It may be adjusted in advance so that Note that the timing at which the third packet and the GPS information are transmitted from each towed vehicle 68 to the position management device 74 is adjusted in advance so that the timing is different among the plurality of towed vehicles 68.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the third packet. As shown in FIG. 26, the third packet includes a towed vehicle ID, the number of data, one or more towed vehicle IDs (indicated as ID1 to ID3 in FIG. 26), between the header and the footer. And checksum.

  The number of data indicates the number of towed vehicle IDs included in the third packet. The tow vehicle ID is stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) of the transmitter 64. In transmitting the third packet, the transmitting unit 72C reads the tow vehicle ID from a storage unit (not shown) and transmits the third packet including the towed vehicle ID to the position management device 16.

  In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 72C of the tow vehicle 68 is described as transmitting the third packet and GPS information to the position management device 74. However, the third packet is transmitted including the GPS information. May be.

  Returning to FIG. 25, the transmitter 72 may be any device that can transmit a signal to the location management device 74. Examples of the transmitter 72 include, but are not limited to, a radio communication device such as a radio communication (cell phone, WiFi) using a high output radio device or a relay station.

  The location management device 74 is installed in a base station, for example, and includes a host device 78 and a receiver 76.

  The receiver 76 includes a receiving unit 76A and an output unit 76B. The receiving unit 76A receives the third packet and the GPS information from the tow vehicle 68. Then, the receiving unit 70A outputs the received third packet and GPS information to the output unit 76B. The receiving unit 76A may be any device that can receive the third packet and the GPS information from the tow vehicle 68. Examples of the receiving unit 76A include, but are not limited to, a wireless communication device such as a wireless communication (mobile phone, WiFi) using a high-output wireless device or a relay station.

  In the present embodiment, the receiving unit 76A of the position management device 74 and the transmitting unit 72C of the tow vehicle 68 will be described as performing direct wireless communication, but they are connected to a wired communication line (such as a telephone line). Wireless communication using radio waves via a base station that performs the same operation may be performed.

  The output unit 76B outputs the third packet and GPS information received from the receiving unit 76A to the host device 78.

  The host device 78 is composed of, for example, a PC. Note that the base station device 74 including the host device 78 and the receiver 76 may be integrally configured and configured by a PC.

  The host device 78 includes a display unit 28A, a storage unit 78B, a control unit 78C, an input unit 78D, and an operation unit 28E. The display unit 28A and the operation unit 28E are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The input unit 78D receives the third packet and GPS information from the output unit 76B.

  The storage unit 78B is a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and stores a fourth table, a second table, and the like. The fourth table is a table that indicates which tow vehicle 68 is being towed by the towed vehicle 15.

  Specifically, the fourth table includes the tow vehicle ID, current position information of the tow vehicle 68 (current latitude and current longitude), and stop position information (stop latitude and stop longitude) when the tow vehicle 68 stopped last time. And information indicating whether or not detection is performed for each towed vehicle ID.

  FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the fourth table. As shown in FIG. 27, the fourth table includes A to D as the tow vehicle ID, current position information (current latitude and current longitude) of the tow vehicle 68, and a stop position when the tow vehicle 68 was last stopped. It is the table which matched information (stop latitude, stop longitude), and information which shows whether it is detection for every towed vehicle ID (towed vehicles ab).

  The information indicating whether or not the detection is performed for each towed vehicle ID is whether or not the towed vehicle ID is included in the third packet received from the towed vehicle 68 specified by the corresponding towed vehicle ID. This is information shown for each towed vehicle ID. In FIG. 27, “detected” indicates that the towed vehicle ID is included in the third packet received from the towed vehicle 68 specified by the corresponding towed vehicle ID. On the other hand, in FIG. 27, the blank column corresponding to each towed vehicle ID (towed vehicle IDa-b) indicates the towed vehicle in the third packet received from the towed vehicle 68 specified by the corresponding towed vehicle ID. Indicates that no ID is included.

  Since the second table is the same as the second table (see FIG. 5) described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The controller 78C is a computer that includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the entire host device 74. The control unit 78C stores the third packet and GPS information received by the input unit 78D in the storage unit 78B. In addition, the control unit 78C executes a position management process described later.

  FIG. 28 is a functional block diagram of the controller 78C. As illustrated in FIG. 28, the control unit 78C includes a first determination unit 79A, a second determination unit 79B, a third determination unit 79C, a calculation unit 79D, an update unit 79E, and a display control unit 79F.

  The first determination unit 79A determines whether the tow vehicle 12 is moving or stopped based on the moving speed information indicated by the GPS information received from the tow vehicle 68 via the receiver 76.

  The second determination unit 79B determines that the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet, or without a towed moving body. It is determined whether or not there is. “No towed moving body” indicates that the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not towed by any towed vehicle 68 as described above.

  The third determination unit 79C selects one of the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 15 included in the position management system 10C as the towed vehicle ID to be processed. Then, the third determination unit 79C determines whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed has been received this time. Specifically, the third determination unit 79C determines whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the third packet received this time. Further, the third determination unit 79C determines whether or not the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the third packet received last time from the towed vehicle 68 specified by the same towed vehicle ID.

  The calculation unit 79D calculates position information of the towed vehicle 15. The update unit 59E updates the second table and the fourth table. The display control unit 79F displays position information of the towed vehicle 15 and the towed vehicle 68 on the display unit 28A.

  In the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, the control unit 19C of the transceiver 19 of each towed vehicle 15 performs the transmission / reception process of the control unit 19C described in the third embodiment (see FIG. 23). For this reason, detailed description is omitted here.

  Further, in the transmitter 72 of each tow vehicle 68 in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, when electric power is supplied from the main body of the tow vehicle 68 to each unit of the transmitter 72, FIG. The same processing as the transmission processing described above is repeatedly executed.

  Specifically, the transmitter 72 receives GPS information from the GPS receiving unit 24, receives tag information including a plurality of towed vehicle IDs from the output unit 70C, and generates a third packet. Then, the transmitter 72 transmits the third packet and the GPS information received from the GPS receiver 24 to the position management device 74.

  Next, a location management process executed by the control unit 78C of the host device 78 of the location management device 74 will be described. FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the position management process executed by the control unit 78C.

  When the receiver 76 of the position management device 74 receives the GPS information and the third packet from the position management device 68, the control unit 78C sequentially overwrites and stores the received GPS information and the third packet in the storage unit 78B. Specifically, whenever the control unit 78C receives the GPS information and the third packet from the position management device 68, the control unit 78C indicates the current latitude and the current longitude corresponding to the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet in the fourth table. The information is overwritten on the position information indicated by the received GPS information. As a result, the fourth table (see FIG. 27) is overwritten sequentially.

  Each time the control unit 78C receives the third packet and the GPS information from the tow vehicle 68 via the input unit 78D and the receiver 76, the control unit 78C updates the position information of the current latitude and the current longitude in the fourth table. Then, the location management process shown in FIG. 29 is executed.

  First, the controller 78C reads the third packet (see FIG. 27) and GPS information received via the input unit 78D (step S700).

  Next, the display control unit 79F of the control unit 78C displays the position information (latitude, longitude) included in the GPS information on the display unit 28A as the position information of the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet (step S28). S702). By the processing in step S702, for example, the position of the towing vehicle 68 specified by the towing vehicle ID included in the third packet read in step S700 is displayed on the map information on the display unit 28A.

  Next, the first determination unit 79A reads the moving speed information included in the GPS information read in step S700, and whether the towing vehicle 68 specified by the towing vehicle ID included in the third packet is moving. It is determined whether it is stopped (step S704).

  When it is determined that the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet is moving (step S704: moving), the control unit 78C includes all the objects included in the position management system 10C. The process of step S706 to step S722, which will be described later, is repeated for the number of tow vehicles 15. For example, the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 15 included in the position management system 10C are stored in advance in the storage unit 78B. And the control part 78C should just perform the process of step S706-step S722 mentioned later about each of the towed vehicle ID of all the towed vehicles 15 contained in 10 C of position management systems.

  First, the controller 78C selects one of the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 15 included in the position management system 10C as a towed vehicle ID to be processed. Then, the second determination unit 79B of the control unit 78C determines whether or not the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle (step S706).

  Specifically, in the second determination unit 79B, the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet read in Step S700 is determined by the towed vehicle 15 specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not there is no towing vehicle indicating that no towing vehicle 12 is towing. In the second determination unit 79B, the towed vehicle stored in the third packet in association with the towed vehicle ID to be processed in the second table (for example, see FIG. 5) stored in the storage unit 78B. The determination in step S706 is performed by determining whether ID or “no” information indicating no towing vehicle is stored.

  For example, as the second table, the second table shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the storage unit 78B, the towed vehicle ID to be processed is “a”, and the towed vehicle ID stored in the third packet is Assume that it is “A”. In this case, since the tow vehicle ID corresponding to the towed vehicle ID “a” stored in the second table is “A”, the second determination unit 79B makes an affirmative determination in step S706 (step S706). : Yes).

  The second determination unit 79B determines whether the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet, or the towed vehicle If not, an affirmative determination is made (step S706: Yes), and the process proceeds to step S708.

  On the other hand, the second determination unit 79B allows the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed by another towed vehicle 68 other than the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet. If it is towed, a negative determination is made (step S706: No). If a negative determination is made in step S706, the routine is terminated without updating a second table and a fourth table described later.

  In step S708, the third determination unit 79C determines whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the third packet received in step S700 this time (step S708). If the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not included in the third packet received in step S700 this time (step S708: none), the process proceeds to step S710.

  In other words, when the processing target towed vehicle ID is not included in the third packet received in step S700 this time (step S708: none), the towed vehicle specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID. 15 means that the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet is not being towed.

  Then, the third determination unit 79C determines whether or not the processing target towed vehicle ID is included in the third packet last received from the towed vehicle 68 specified by the same towed vehicle ID (step S710). . Specifically, the third determination unit 79C correlates with the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet received in step S700 of the fourth table (see FIG. 27) stored in the storage unit 78B. It is determined whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed is set to “detection”. Thereby, it is determined whether or not the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the third packet received last time.

  When the third packet received last time from the tow vehicle 68 specified by the same tow vehicle ID does not include the towed vehicle ID to be processed (step S710: None), the third determination unit 79C End the routine.

  That is, in the control unit 78C, the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet received this time, and is included in the third packet received this time. If the towed vehicle ID is not included in the third packet received from the same towed vehicle 68 last time, this routine is terminated without updating the fourth table.

  On the other hand, in the third determination unit 79C, if the third packet received last time from the tow vehicle 68 specified by the same tow vehicle ID includes the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed (step S710: present). The process proceeds to step S712.

  In step S712, the update unit 79E sets information indicating the tow vehicle “none” as the tow vehicle ID information corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed, which is stored in the second table of the storage unit 78B ( Step S712).

  That is, the control unit 78C is towing the towed vehicle ID to be processed by the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet received this time, and is included in the third packet received this time. If the towed vehicle ID is included in the third packet received from the same towed vehicle 68 last time, the towed vehicle “None” is set assuming that the towed vehicle 68 is not towed.

  Next, the calculation unit 79D calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 15 specified by the processing target towed vehicle ID as the previous stop position information of the towed vehicle ID (step S714). Specifically, the calculation unit 79D obtains stop position information (stop latitude, stop longitude) corresponding to the towing vehicle ID included in the third packet read in step S700 in the fourth table stored in the storage unit 78B. read. Then, the calculation unit 79D calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed as stop position information of the previous towed vehicle ID that has been read.

  That is, the control unit 78C is towing the towed vehicle ID to be processed by the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet received this time, and is included in the third packet received this time. If the towed vehicle ID is included in the third packet received from the same towed vehicle 68 last time, the towed vehicle 14 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is disconnected from the towed vehicle 68. Therefore, the position information is calculated assuming that the vehicle is at the previous stop position (that is, the previous stop position).

  Next, the display control unit 79F displays the position information of the towed vehicle 15 specified by the calculated towed vehicle ID to be processed on the display unit 28A (step S716).

  Next, the update unit 79E updates the fourth table (step S718). Specifically, the update unit 79E associates the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet received in step S700 with the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed calculated by the process of step S714 or step S722 described later. The fourth table is updated by storing the position information of the towed vehicle 15 to be identified and the information indicating “detection” corresponding to the towed vehicle ID to be processed in the storage unit 78B.

  Then, the control unit 78C, after executing the processing of step S706 to step S722 for each of the towed vehicle IDs of all the towed vehicles 15 included in the position management system 10C, ends the repetition, and executes this routine. finish.

  On the other hand, when the third determination unit 79C determines that the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the third packet received at step S700 this time (step S708: present), the process proceeds to step S720.

  In step S720, the update unit 79E stores the tow vehicle stored in the third packet as tow vehicle ID information corresponding to the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed, which is stored in the second table of the storage unit 78B. An ID is set (step S720).

  Next, the tow vehicle 68 position specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet read by the calculation unit 79D in step S700 is the position information of the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed. (Step S722). Then, the process proceeds to step S716. Note that the position information of the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet corresponds to the position information included in the GPS information received in step S700 or the tow vehicle ID in the fourth table. What is necessary is just to obtain by reading the present latitude and the present longitude.

  That is, in the control unit 78C, the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet received this time, and When the towed vehicle ID is included in the third packet received this time, the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the current third packet. It is determined that the tow vehicle 68 is towed. Then, the position information of the towed vehicle 15 to be processed is calculated as the position of the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet.

  On the other hand, when the first determination unit 79A determines that the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet read in step S700 is stopped in the determination in step S704 ( Step S704: Stopping), the process proceeds to Step S723.

  Next, the update unit 79E clears all information indicating “detection” of the tow vehicle 13 specified by the tow vehicle ID in the fourth table (step S723). Next, the processes in steps S724 to S733 described later are repeated for the number of towed vehicle IDs included in the third packet.

  First, the control unit 78C selects one towed vehicle ID among a plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the third packet read in step S700 as the towed vehicle ID to be processed. Then, the second determination unit 79B determines whether or not the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle (step S724). Note that the determination in step S724 is performed in the same manner as the determination in step S706 described above.

  The second determination unit 79B determines whether the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet, or the towed vehicle If not, an affirmative determination is made (step S724: Yes), and the process proceeds to step S726.

  On the other hand, the second determination unit 79B allows the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed by another towed vehicle 68 other than the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet. If it is towed, a negative determination is made (step S724: No). If a negative determination is made in step S706, the routine is terminated without updating a second table and a fourth table described later.

  That is, in the controller 78C, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet is stopped, and the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is the towed vehicle 68. If it is determined that the vehicle is being towed by another tow vehicle 68 different from the above, the position information update process of the fourth table is not performed.

  Next, in step S726, the update unit 79E stores information indicating the tow vehicle “none” as the tow vehicle ID information corresponding to the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed, which is stored in the second table of the storage unit 78B. Setting is made (step S726).

  That is, in the control unit 78C, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet received this time is stopped, and the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the tow vehicle 68. In this case, it is assumed that the vehicle is not towed by any tow vehicle 68, and the tow vehicle “none” is set.

  Then, the calculating unit 79D calculates the position information of the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID as the position of the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet (step S728). ). The position information of the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet may be obtained by reading the GPS information read in step S700.

  That is, the control unit 78C has the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet received this time stopped, and the towed vehicle ID to be processed is being towed by the tow vehicle 68. In this case, it is assumed that each of the towed vehicles 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet is around the towed vehicle 68 specified by the towed vehicle ID included in the third packet. The position information of each towed vehicle 15 is calculated.

  Next, the display control unit 79F displays the position information of the towed vehicle 15 specified by the calculated towed vehicle ID to be processed on the display unit 28A (step S730).

  Next, the update unit 79E updates the fourth table (step S732), and further updates the second table (step S733), and then ends the repetition and ends this routine. In addition, since the process of step S732 and step S733 is the same as that of said step S718 and step S719, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As described above, in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, a plurality of towed vehicles 15 are connected by a daisy chain method. The tow vehicle 68 collects tag information including one or more towed vehicle IDs received from the towed vehicle 15 in a daisy chain manner. Then, the tow vehicle 68 sends the third packet including the tow vehicle ID of the tow vehicle 68 main body and the plurality of towed vehicle IDs, and the GPS information including the position information and speed information of the tow vehicle 68 to the position management device 74. Send.

  In the updating unit 79E of the position management device 74, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received third packet is stopped and the tow specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet. The fourth table is updated when the vehicle 68 is towing or is not towed by any towing vehicle 68.

  Specifically, in the position management device 74, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received third packet is stopped, and the tow specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet is received. When the vehicle 68 is being towed or not towed by any towed vehicle 68, the position information of each of the towed vehicles 15 specified by the plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the third packet. Is calculated as the position of the tow vehicle 66 included in the third packet, and the fourth table is updated.

  On the other hand, in the position management device 74, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received third packet is stopped, and the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet. When the vehicle is being towed by a tow vehicle 68 different from the above, the position information of each of the towed vehicles 15 specified by the plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the third packet is not updated. Will not be updated.

  For this reason, in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, the position information of each of the plurality of towed vehicles 15 can be managed accurately.

  In the position management device 74, when the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the received third packet is moving, each of all the towed vehicles 15 included in the position management system 10C. Location management processing is performed for.

  Specifically, in the position management device 74, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet is moving, and the tow vehicle specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet. When the vehicle is being towed by a tow vehicle 68 different from 68, the position of each of the towed vehicles 15 specified by the plurality of towed vehicle IDs included in the third packet is not updated. In the position management device 74, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet is moving, and is being towed by the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet. If the vehicle is not towed by any towed vehicle 68 and the to-be-towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the third packet received this time, the fourth table is updated. Specifically, in this case, each position information of the towed vehicle 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is calculated as the position of the towed vehicle 66 included in the third packet, and the fourth Update the table.

  On the other hand, in the position management device 74, the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet is moving, and is being towed by the tow vehicle 68 specified by the tow vehicle ID included in the third packet. There is or is not towed by any towed vehicle 68, the towed vehicle ID to be processed is not included in the third packet received this time, and the towed vehicle ID to be processed is included in the last received third packet. If included, the position information of each of the towed vehicles 15 specified by the towed vehicle ID to be processed is calculated as the previous stop position of the towed vehicle 66 included in the third packet. Then, the fourth table is updated.

  For this reason, in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, the position information of each of the plurality of towed vehicles 15 can be managed accurately.

  That is, in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, the position information of all the towed vehicles 15 in the position management system 10C is accurately managed regardless of the number of towed vehicles 15 towed by each towed vehicle 68. can do.

  Further, in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, since a plurality of towed vehicles 15 are connected in a daisy chain system, each tag information transmitted from each towed vehicle 15 is weak even if the signal output is weak. The vehicle ID of the towed vehicle 15 can be sequentially transmitted and transmitted to the towed vehicle 68.

  Further, in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, since the plurality of towed vehicles 15 are connected in a daisy chain system, the total length (connection length) of the plurality of towed vehicles 15 to which the position management of each towed vehicle 15 is coupled. The number of connected towed vehicles 15 by the tow vehicle 68 can be freely adjusted.

  Further, in the position management system 10C of the present embodiment, the position information of each towed vehicle 15 is calculated based on the third packet and GPS information transmitted from the towed vehicle 68. For this reason, a plurality of towed vehicles 15 can be managed as a set. In addition, an increase in communication traffic between the position management device 74 and the tow vehicle 68 can be suppressed. Further, the position information of each towed vehicle 15 and towed vehicle 68 can be managed in real time.

  As described above, this embodiment discloses at least the following contents.

  Specifically, the location management apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a receiving unit and a calculating unit. The receiving unit receives the first identification information for identifying each of the plurality of first moving bodies, the first identification information from the first moving body by the second moving body that can move along with the first moving body. The first position information indicating the signal strength associated with the one identification information and the position of the second moving body is received from the second moving body. The calculation unit calculates position information of the first moving body based on the received signal strength and the first position information.

  In addition, the location management apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a receiving unit, a storage unit, a second determination unit, and an updating unit. The receiving unit has received the first identification information for identifying each of the plurality of first moving bodies, and the first identification information from the first moving body by the second moving body movable along with the first moving body. The reception information of the first identification information at the time, the first position information indicating the position of the second moving body, and the second identification information for identifying the second moving body are received from the second moving body. The reception information is information indicating whether or not the first identification information, the first position information, the moving speed information, the second identification information, and the like are received from the second moving body, and the signal intensity shown in the first embodiment. Etc. including information.

  A memory | storage part memorize | stores the table showing which said 2nd moving body was followed by the said 1st moving body determined based on the said received information. The second determination unit determines whether the first moving body is followed by the second moving body specified by the received second identification information, or is not followed by any second moving body. Judge based on the table. The updating unit determines that the first moving body specified by the received first identification information is followed by the specified second moving body or not by any second moving body. If so, the table is updated.

  The host device 28, the host device 58, the host device 78, the transmission control device 52, the transceiver 19, and the transmission control device 62 of the present embodiment are a control device such as a CPU (control unit 28C, control unit 58C, control unit). 78C, control unit 52D, control unit 19C, control unit 62D), storage devices such as ROM and RAM (storage unit 28B, storage unit 58B, storage unit 78B), and external storage devices such as HDD and CD drive devices, A display device (display unit 28A) such as a display device and an input device (operation unit 28E) such as a keyboard and a mouse are provided, and has a hardware configuration using a normal computer.

  The location management program for executing the location management process executed by the host device 28, the host device 58, and the host device 78 of the present embodiment, the transmission control device 52, the transceiver 19, and the transmission control device 62. The transmission / reception program for executing the transmission / reception process is a file in an installable or executable format and can be read by a computer such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Recorded on a simple recording medium.

  Further, the location management program for executing the location management process executed by the host device 28, the host device 58, and the host device 78 of the present embodiment, the transmission control device 52, the transceiver 19, and the transmission control device 62. A transmission / reception program for executing the transmission / reception processing to be executed may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the location management program for executing the location management process executed by the host device 28, the host device 58, and the host device 78 of the present embodiment, the transmission control device 52, the transceiver 19, and the transmission control device 62. You may comprise so that the transmission / reception program for performing the transmission / reception process performed may be provided or distributed via networks, such as the internet.

  Further, the location management program for executing the location management process executed by the host device 28, the host device 58, and the host device 78 of the present embodiment, the transmission control device 52, the transceiver 19, and the transmission control device 62. You may comprise so that the transmission / reception program for performing the transmission / reception process performed may be provided by previously incorporating in ROM etc.

  Note that the location management program for executing the location management processing executed by the host device 28, the host device 58, and the host device 78 of the present embodiment, the transmission control device 52, the transceiver 19, and the transmission control device 62. The transmission / reception program for executing the transmission / reception processing to be executed has a module configuration including a functional unit for executing the above-described location management processing. As actual hardware, a CPU (processor) is loaded from the storage medium. By reading out and executing the position management processing program and the transmission / reception program, each functional unit is loaded on the main storage device and generated on the main storage device.

  In addition, although several embodiment of this invention was described above, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  For example, the position information calculated above may be used not only for display but also for transmission to the towed vehicle again for various controls. Further, in the second and third embodiments, information is transmitted when “moved more than a predetermined distance from the stop position”. In addition, data may be collected and sent at an appropriate timing during the subsequent movement. .

10, 10A, 10B, 10C Position management system 12, 13, 66, 68 Towed vehicle 14, 15 Towed vehicle 16, 17, 74 Position management device 18, 19 Transmitter 20, 50, 60, 70 Receiver 20B Measuring unit 22, 54, 64, 72 Transmitter 24 GPS receiver 28, 58, 78 Host device 28A Display unit 28B, 58B, 78B Storage unit 28C, 58C, 78C Control unit 29A First determination unit 29B Second determination unit 29C Third Determination unit 29D Calculation unit 29E Update unit 52 Transmission control devices 52D and 62D Control unit 53A State determination unit 53B Collection unit 53C Second packet generation unit 59A First determination unit 59B Second determination unit 59C Calculation unit 59D Update unit 63A State determination unit 63B Collection unit 63C Second packet generation unit 79A First determination unit 79B Second determination unit 79C Third determination unit 79D Calculation unit 79E Update unit 190A First determination unit 190B Tag information generation unit 190C Transmission control unit 190D Counter unit 190E Second determination unit 190F Third determination unit

Claims (4)

A position management system comprising a plurality of first moving bodies, a second moving body that can be moved along with the first moving bodies, and a position management device that manages the position of the first moving body,
The first moving body is:
A first transmitter for transmitting first identification information for identifying the first mobile body;
The second moving body is
A first receiving unit that receives the first identification information from a plurality of the first moving bodies;
A first acquisition unit that acquires first position information indicating position information of the second moving body and moving speed information of the second moving body;
Based on the first position information and the moving speed information, a state determination unit that determines whether or not the second moving body is in a stopped state, or whether or not the second moving body has moved more than a predetermined distance;
Second identification for identifying the first identification information, the first position information, and the second movable body when it is determined that the second movable body is in a stopped state or moved by a predetermined distance or more. A transmission unit for transmitting information;
With
The location management device includes:
A receiving unit that receives the first identification information, the first position information, and the second identification information from the second moving body;
A calculation unit that calculates position information of the first moving body specified by the first identification information based on the received first identification information, the first position information, and the second identification information;
With location management system. The plurality of first moving bodies are connected in series and follow the second moving body,
The position management system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is a maximum connection length when the maximum number of the first moving bodies that the second moving body can follow. When the second moving body that can move along with the first moving body is in a stopped state or has moved more than a predetermined distance, the second moving body that transmits the first moving body is identified. A receiving unit that receives 1 identification information, first position information indicating a position of the second moving body, and second identification information that identifies the second moving body;
A calculation unit that calculates position information of the first moving body specified by the first identification information based on the received first identification information, the first position information, and the second identification information;
A location management device. A first receiving unit that receives first identification information for identifying the first moving body from a plurality of first moving bodies that can move according to the own device;
A first acquisition unit that acquires first position information and moving speed information indicating a current position;
Based on the first position information and the moving speed information, a state determination unit that determines whether or not the own device is in a stopped state, or whether or not it has moved more than a predetermined distance;
The first identification information, the first position information, and the second identification information for identifying the own device when the state determining unit determines that the own device is in a stopped state or moved by a predetermined distance or more. And a transmitting unit for transmitting

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