JP2014052882A - Search system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system which uses personal connections based on SNS for searching for lost articles to increase the possibility of discovering the lost articles.SOLUTION: A gyro sensor 36, when a vehicle is put in motion in a way unintended by a vehicle owner because of theft or the like, detects the movement of the vehicle and a vehicle monitoring device 20 issues a warning to a client terminal 16. The vehicle owner, when concluding the vehicle has been stolen from situations, transmits an activation direction from the client terminal 16 to the vehicle monitoring device 20, which transmits location and specific information of the vehicle to a SNS server 14. Such information is spread nationwide instantly via SNS users, their friends or followers. Eyewitness information or discovery information about the vehicle from the SNS users nationwide is transmitted to the vehicle owner via the SNS server 14.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for searching for missing persons, pets, and lost items.

Many systems have been proposed so far for detecting lost objects such as stolen vehicles against the owner's intentions. Many of these systems have a gyro sensor, GPS receiver, etc. attached to the vehicle in advance, and when they detect an unexpected movement of the vehicle, notify the owner's communication terminal or a pre-signed security company, etc. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-227384 A

However, these conventional systems have the following problems. First, the owner is notified, but since many of the owners are students and members of society, it is rare for such a situation to be immediately available for search. If the vehicle is far away, the vehicle may move to another location before reaching the site. Therefore, there is not always much to actually finding a vehicle. On the other hand, when using security companies, security services, etc., the search opportunities are greatly increased because specialized staff conduct searches, but costs such as contract fees and usage fees are required.

In recent years, SNS (Social Network Service) has attracted attention as a new communication tool using a network. Typical SNSs include MIXI, GREE, Twitter, Facebook, and the like. These SNSs have a login function based on personal information, so it may be easier to build a closer relationship than traditional anonymity BBS, and friends, colleagues at work, common interests and preferences It is actively used as a place where users with knowledge can exchange information closely. The fact that SNS with such characteristics is also highly useful as an information gathering tool and safety confirmation tool in emergencies and disasters is clear from many cases in the event of disasters due to previous earthquakes and tsunamis. And local governments are also actively using SNS in their work.

The present invention provides a system that utilizes human connections in SNS for searching in order to increase the chances of finding lost items and the like.

The present invention is a search system including a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal connected to a network, and an SNS server connected to the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal through the network, 1 communication terminal includes a GPS device, a storage device, a warning transmission device that issues a warning to the second communication terminal, position information specified by the GPS device, and specific information stored in the storage device. An information transmitting device for transmitting to an SNS server, wherein the second communication terminal inputs information to be stored in the storage device, a warning receiving device for receiving a warning transmitted by the warning transmitting device, An operation command transmission device that transmits an operation command to the information transmission device, and an SNS information reception device that receives information stored in the SNS server. It is a system.

The first communication terminal is used by being installed in a device that is highly likely to be stolen or lost, such as a vehicle. It can be incorporated in advance at the vehicle manufacturing stage, or can be retrofitted to an already owned vehicle. As the power source, a vehicle battery or a dedicated storage battery can be used, and a solar battery can be used together.
The second communication terminal includes a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone of the vehicle owner, a personal computer, or the like. When the vehicle moves unintentionally due to theft or the like, the movement is detected by a gyro sensor or the like, and a warning is transmitted from the first communication terminal to the second communication terminal. If the owner of the vehicle determines theft from the situation, the second communication terminal sends an operation command to the first communication terminal, and the position information and specific information are transmitted from the first communication terminal to the SNS server registered by the owner. To send. Specific information includes information necessary for specifying the search target, for example, if the search target is a vehicle, information such as vehicle type, color, grade, license plate, vehicle characteristics and appearance, etc. It is. The specific information can be input only from the second communication terminal paired with the first communication terminal. From here on, information is diffused through the network in SNS, and further spread across the country through their friends and followers. The sighting information and discovery information of the vehicle by SNS users nationwide are transmitted to the owner through SNS. Such information often includes the situation of the vehicle, accurate position information, and the like, and in some cases, it is possible to call the discoverer to provide detailed information.

According to the search system of the present invention, it becomes possible to obtain excellent information with quality and quantity that could not be obtained by conventional search methods, and greatly increase the chance of finding the theft object. Will be able to. Since the search system only needs to attach the first communication terminal to the search target in advance, it can also be used for searching for humans such as elderly people and infants with a habit and for searching for pets in addition to vehicles. .

Configuration diagram of stolen vehicle search system Figure showing example search target information Flowchart showing a stolen vehicle search procedure using a stolen vehicle search system

The embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking the stolen vehicle search system shown in FIG. 1 as an example. The stolen vehicle search system 10 (hereinafter referred to as the system 10) is a network system including an SNS server 14, a client terminal 16, a user terminal 18, and a vehicle monitoring device 20 that are connected to each other through a network 12.

The network 12 is a communication network based on wired communication, wireless communication, or a mixture thereof. There is no limitation on the type of line such as a telephone line or an internet line. The client terminal 16 and the user terminal 18 may be in any form of a mobile type or a fixed type, and a connection method with the network 12 is arbitrary. The vehicle monitoring device 20 is connected to the network 12 by wireless communication. The SNS server 14 is a server that is installed and managed by an SNS (social network service) operator in which the owner of the client terminal 16 has previously registered an account. The client terminal 16 is a terminal owned by a person (requester) who requests an SNS user (person who has registered an account with the SNS) to search for a stolen vehicle. The user terminal 18 is a terminal owned by the SNS user. The client terminal 16 and the user terminal 18 are terminals having a communication function that can be connected to the network 12, and specifically, a PC, a mobile phone, a smartphone, and the like are applicable.

The vehicle monitoring device 20 is a device that is used in a vehicle owned by the client. The vehicle monitoring device 20 includes a storage device 30, a communication device 32, a GPS receiving device 34, a gyro sensor 36, a status switching device 38, a terminal verification device 40, and a warning transmission device 42. The storage device 30 includes identification information necessary for a third party other than the client to specify the stolen vehicle, for example, vehicle information such as vehicle type, color, grade, license plate information, and the like, as shown in FIG. Stores the appearance information of the search target, such as a photograph and a photograph. Such specific information can be input only from the client terminal 16 and can be updated or deleted.

The communication device 32 is a device having a communication function that can be connected to the network 12. With the function of the communication device 32, the vehicle monitoring device 20 can exchange information with the SNS server 14, the requester terminal 16, and the user terminal 18.

The GPS receiver 34 is a device that measures the current position of the vehicle monitoring device 20 using GPS (Global Positioning System). With the function of the GPS receiver 34, the current position of the stolen vehicle, the movement history, and the like can be confirmed. The gyro sensor 36 is a device that detects the angular velocity of the vehicle monitoring device 20. The function of the gyro sensor 36 can confirm that there is a possibility of theft such as when a force is applied to swing the vehicle to open the door or the like, or when the vehicle tilts due to tow truck movement. it can.

The status switching device 38 has a function of switching the status of the vehicle monitoring device 20 to three patterns. The first pattern is called “normal status”. In normal status, all the functions of the vehicle monitoring device 20 are in a dormant state, which can reduce power consumption and eliminate unnecessary warning operations. The second pattern is called “monitoring status”. In the monitoring status, when the GPS receiver 34 detects the movement of the vehicle or the gyro sensor 36 detects the inclination of the vehicle, the warning transmission device 42 is automatically operated, and the requester terminal is sent by e-mail or short mail. A warning is sent to 16. The third pattern is called "search status". In the search status, specific information necessary for specifying the stolen vehicle is transmitted to the SNS server 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the specific information includes specific information stored in advance in the storage device 30 and the location information of the stolen vehicle measured by the GPS receiver 34. In the search status, when the disclosure request for the current location information of the stolen vehicle is received from the user terminal 18, the location information of the stolen vehicle at that time is transmitted to the SNS server 14. These three statuses can be switched only by operating the client terminal 16, and in the default state, the position of the vehicle is fixed to the normal status so that the position of the vehicle is not specified from the outside from the viewpoint of security.

The SNS server 14 is a server that is installed and managed by each operator of an SNS (for example, MIXI, GREE, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) for which the client has completed account registration. SNS is a tool for building a place for communication between account registrants on a network. In the case of the SNS mentioned above, SNS has tens of millions to hundreds of millions of account registrants worldwide. SNS has the greatest feature in sharing and spreading information. For example, in the case of Facebook, an article or photo posted by one account registrant is a news feed of another account registrant who has already registered as a friend. Displayed on the page. Then, the account registrant can share the article or photo and it will be displayed in the news feed of another account registrant who is the friend. Other SNSs have almost the same functions although there are some system differences. Also, in SNS, the current location information of the account registrant is an important element in communication, and the user terminal 18 owned by the account registrant is equipped with a GPS function and further acknowledges the provision of the current location information. If so, the current position of each user terminal 18 is always grasped by the SNS server 14.

Next, a procedure for searching for a stolen vehicle using the system 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When using this search method, the client needs to prepare the following conditions in advance. First, a contract relating to the use of the network 12 is made with a mobile phone carrier or the like so that the user terminal 16 and the vehicle monitoring device 20 can be connected to the network 12. Secondly, an account is registered with an arbitrary SNS already in use, and a user can log in at any time from the user terminal 16 and the vehicle monitoring device 20. Third, the vehicle monitoring device 20 is installed in a vehicle that is expected to be stolen. When installing, avoid places that are easily discovered. Ideally, the power required for the operation of the vehicle monitoring device 20 is provided only by the built-in battery. However, in preparation for a long search period, the vehicle monitoring device 20 can be supplied with the battery mounted on the vehicle. It is good to leave.

When the requester stops the vehicle at the home parking lot or the visited place, the requester terminal 16 is operated to switch the status of the vehicle monitoring device 20 from the normal status to the monitoring status (S1: transmission of monitoring command). The vehicle monitoring apparatus 20 that has received the monitoring command starts monitoring the vehicle (S2: monitoring status). When there is some movement in the stopped vehicle, the vehicle monitoring device 20 detects that an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle when the GPS receiver 34 or the gyro sensor 36 detects this (S3: abnormality detection). The vehicle monitoring device 20 that detects the abnormality transmits a warning (alert), and the client terminal 16 receives this warning (S4: alert reception).

When the client who has received the warning determines that there is a high possibility of theft by confirming that the vehicle is not actually at the stop, the client terminal 16 is operated to monitor the status of the vehicle monitoring device 20. Switch from status to search status (S5: search command transmission). The vehicle monitoring apparatus 20 that has received the search command transmits specific information to the SNS server 14 (S6: search status). In disclosing such information, it is desirable to display a dialog for confirming the disclosed contents on the user terminal 16 and receive confirmation from the client in order to avoid malfunction and transmission of erroneous information.

The SNS server 14 that received the specific information discloses this, and further, based on the current position information included in the specific information, the vehicle theft to the user terminal 18 of the SNS user located in the vicinity of the stolen vehicle. A warning is sent to notify the occurrence of (S7: specific information disclosure). In addition, it is good to add the function which can cancel reception beforehand for the SNS user who does not want to receive this warning.

The series of operations up to this point proceeds in accordance with an automated system as a whole, although there are parts that require confirmation of the client in part due to security. The work related to the actual search for stolen vehicles thereafter proceeds with the cooperation of the SNS user.

When the user terminal 18 located in the vicinity of the stolen vehicle receives information notifying that a vehicle theft has occurred from the SNS server 14 (S8: alert reception), the vehicle monitoring device 20 checks the current position of the stolen vehicle. Can be requested to disclose the current position (S9: position information disclosure request). For information disclosure of the current position, it is desirable to display a dialog for confirming the disclosure content on the user terminal 16 and receive confirmation from the client from the viewpoint of obtaining illegal information and protecting personal information. . The vehicle monitoring apparatus 20 that has received the disclosure request updates the current position information (S12: latest position information update), and simultaneously transmits the current position information to the SNS server 14.

The SNS server 14 that has received the latest position information discloses the latest position information of the stolen vehicle and, based on the latest position information, the vehicle to the user terminal 18 of the SNS user located in the vicinity of the stolen vehicle. A warning is sent to notify the occurrence of theft (S13: latest location information disclosure).

The user terminal 18 located in the vicinity of the stolen vehicle receives the latest position information from the SNS server 14 (S14: alert reception). When the SNS user finds the stolen vehicle as a result of searching based on the specific information and the latest position information, the SNS user sends the status of the stolen vehicle, position information, and the like to the SNS server 14 (S15: discovery information transmission). The SNS server 14 that has received the discovery information from the user terminal 18 discloses the discovery information (S16: discovery information disclosure).

The client examines the disclosed discovery information and confirms and retrieves the stolen vehicle by a method such as going to the discovery site or entrusting it to a third party. The status of the monitoring device 20 is switched from the search status to the normal status (S19: normal status), and information indicating that the operation is completed due to vehicle discovery is transmitted to the SNS server 14 (S20: search completion information disclosure).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Stolen vehicle search system 12 Network 14 SNS server 16 Requester terminal 18 User terminal 20 Vehicle monitoring device 30 Storage device 32 Communication device 34 GPS receiving device 36 Gyro sensor 38 Status switching device 40 Terminal verification device 42 Warning transmission device

Claims (3)

A search system including a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal connected to a network, and an SNS server connected to the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal through the network, wherein the first communication terminal is , A GPS device, a storage device, a warning transmission device for transmitting a warning to the second communication terminal, a positional information specified by the GPS device and a specific information stored in the storage device are transmitted to the SNS server. An information transmitting device, wherein the second communication terminal inputs information to be stored in the storage device, a warning receiving device for receiving a warning transmitted by the warning transmitting device, and the information transmitting device A search system comprising an operation command transmission device for transmitting an operation command to the SNS information reception device and an SNS information reception device for receiving information stored in the SNS server In the operating state of the first communication terminal, it can be changed to at least two statuses of normal status and search status, and in the normal status, the position information can be received only by the second communication terminal and search is performed. 2. The search system according to claim 1, wherein the position information is receivable to a communication terminal other than the second communication terminal in a status. The mutual communication is possible only when the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are connected to a network through a server of the same communication carrier. Search system.