JP4915644B2 - Emergency call terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an emergency call terminal provided with a positioning device that measures its own position using a satellite positioning system.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile terminals equipped with positioning devices (hereinafter referred to as GPS positioning devices) that position themselves by performing positioning calculation processing using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System) have been put into practical use. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). As such a portable terminal, for example, an emergency call terminal used in an emergency call system is known. The emergency call terminal is held by, for example, a child or an elderly person, and when operated in an emergency, the position of the emergency call terminal at the time of operation is obtained by GPS positioning calculation processing. Then, the obtained position is reported from the emergency call terminal to the call center by wireless communication. In the call center, the location of the holder holding the emergency call terminal can be grasped by reporting the location from the emergency call terminal.

  By the way, in order to execute the GPS positioning calculation process by the GPS positioning device, it is possible to obtain the positional relationship between the emergency call terminal and the GPS satellite, select an appropriate one of the plurality of GPS satellites, and receive the GPS signal. is necessary. In order to obtain this positional relationship, positioning information such as the current time, GPS orbit information, and the current location of the emergency call terminal is required. Among these positioning information, the current time and the orbit information of the GPS satellite must be acquired by receiving a signal from one of the GPS satellites. In order to acquire orbit information and the like from a GPS satellite, the GPS positioning device must be able to stably receive a signal from the GPS satellite for about 30 seconds. However, the emergency call terminal held by the holder is likely to be in a state where the signal from the GPS satellite is blocked, for example, behind the building or the holder itself. For this reason, signals from GPS satellites cannot be stably received for a time required to acquire orbit information or the like, and acquisition of GPS satellite orbit information or the like may fail. In order to solve this problem, an emergency call using a GPS positioning device called a network type GPS using a positioning server that acquires GPS satellite orbit information at a place where GPS satellite signals can be received stably has been conventionally used. A terminal has been realized. In addition, before using the emergency call terminal, an emergency call terminal that acquires GPS satellite orbit information in advance by the holder's own operation at a place where signals from GPS satellites can be stably received is also realized. Has been.

  On the other hand, in the positioning information, as the current position of the emergency call terminal, the previously determined position is used as the approximate position. However, if the GPS satellite signal capture process is performed based on the previously measured position, for example, when moving for several hundred km or more since the previous positioning, a GPS satellite or frequency signal that is currently unreceivable can be obtained. Since it is going to receive, the signal from a GPS satellite may not be captured. Therefore, in the conventional network type GPS, the base station position of the wireless communication network accessed by the emergency call terminal is transmitted to the emergency call terminal, and the base station position is used as the approximate position of the emergency call terminal. Also, for example, when the holder of the emergency call terminal moves a long distance, the previous position stored in the emergency call terminal is deleted by the holder's own operation, and the previous position greatly different from the current position as described above The positioning position is prevented from being used as the approximate position.

  However, in the network type GPS as described above, it is necessary to install a positioning server provided with a GPS base station that constantly collects orbit information of all GPS satellites that can be captured by the emergency call terminal. When the area where the emergency call terminal can be used becomes wide, it is necessary to install many GPS base stations on the positioning server side to cover the same area, and the installation and operation costs increase according to the area size. There is a problem of end. In addition, a data communication means capable of transmitting and receiving data of 1 kilobyte or more is required between the emergency call terminal and the positioning server. However, when the emergency call terminal is used in various countries around the world, particularly when used in combination with a voice service. In some cases, necessary data communication means cannot be secured.

  Further, as described above, it is troublesome for the holder to acquire GPS satellite orbit information or the like by the operation of the holder of the emergency call terminal or to delete the previously measured position. In particular, when the holder is a child, an elderly person, or the like, the holder may forget to perform the operation and the reliable operation may not be performed. If the operation is not performed reliably, orbit information or the like cannot be acquired, or if a position that is significantly different from the current position is set as the approximate position, the GPS positioning calculation process may not be performed. In addition, it is possible to always execute GPS positioning calculation processing by always turning on the emergency call terminal and keeping the latest positioning information. However, since the power consumption becomes large, the battery-driven emergency call is performed. Not suitable for terminals and not realistic.

Patent Document 1 describes a mobile phone that uses a GPS positioning device to determine the current position of the mobile phone and then switches the subsequent positioning method in accordance with the area where the terminal exists. However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose effective means for solving the above-described problems.
JP 2004-159026 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to capture a signal from a satellite and position a position by a positioning device without installing a positioning server or operating the holder himself. An object of the present invention is to provide an emergency call terminal that is possible, can be configured with an inexpensive emergency call system, and is easier to handle.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is connected to a positioning apparatus that receives a satellite positioning system signal and obtains its current position information, and a wireless communication network composed of a plurality of wireless communication base stations. A wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from any of the wireless communication base stations, and is connected to the positioning device and the wireless communication unit, and the position information obtained by the positioning device is And a terminal control unit having a function of transmitting from the radio communication unit to the currently connected radio communication base station, and the positioning device receives a signal from a satellite of the satellite positioning system when operated by a holder. Then, the current position of the emergency call terminal is measured, the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication by transmitting and receiving a wireless signal to and from any of the wireless communication base stations, and is positioned by the positioning device Current position An emergency call terminal that transmits information to any one of the wireless communication base stations, wherein the positioning device has a current time, a rough position of the emergency call terminal, and positioning information necessary to obtain the current position information. Using the orbit information of the satellite of the satellite positioning system, the terminal control unit holds at least the position information previously determined by the positioning device as the approximate position of the emergency call terminal, and the wireless communication unit is currently connected When the area where the wireless communication base station is installed has changed from the area where the previously connected wireless communication base station was installed, the terminal control unit performed the previous positioning as initialization processing of the positioning information. Delete the location information or set the location corresponding to the mobile country code included in the identification code of the radio communication base station to which the radio communication unit is connected to the terminal control unit. Enter a substantially located in the positioning device, the terminal control unit, after the initialization processing of the positioning information is completed, until a predetermined time elapses, without executing the initialization processing of the next positioning information,

During the initialization process of the positioning information, the predetermined time until the next initialization process is executed depending on the signal reception state of the satellite positioning system of the positioning device. If it cannot be received, it is changed shortly .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the terminal control unit is configured such that the area where the currently connected wireless communication base station is installed is changed from the area where the previously connected wireless communication base station is installed. By detecting a change by any one of a location area identity code, a mobile country code, a mobile network code, a location area code, and a base station ID code included in a radio signal transmitted from the radio communication base station, It detects the movement of the emergency call terminal itself.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the terminal control unit holds range information of a plurality of areas in which the plurality of wireless communication base stations are respectively installed, When the position information used as the positioning information is within a predetermined distance from the range of the area where the currently connected wireless communication base station is installed when movement is detected, the positioning information The initialization process is not executed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the terminal control unit includes a combination of a plurality of radio communication base stations with which the radio communication unit can communicate, a received signal level of the radio communication unit, and the radio communication base. The movement of the emergency call terminal body is detected when any one of the station connection priorities changes.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4 , wherein the terminal control unit has storage means for storing one or a plurality of movement detection factors when the movement of the emergency call terminal body is detected. If the movement detection factor when the movement of the emergency call terminal body is newly detected matches the past movement detection factor stored in the storage means, the positioning information initialization process is not executed. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the terminal control unit detects the movement of the emergency call terminal main body when the reception state of the radio signal from the radio communication base station of the radio communication unit changes. To do.

A seventh aspect of the present invention includes a movement detection counter that counts the number of times the movement of the emergency call terminal body is detected in any one of the first to sixth aspects, and the terminal control unit includes the movement detection counter. When the count value becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the positioning information is initialized.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7 , wherein the value of the movement detection factor when the terminal control unit detects the movement of the emergency call terminal main body is the value of the movement detection factor held by the terminal. Is equal to, the count value of the movement detection counter is initialized.

The invention of claim 9, in any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the terminal control unit, after the initialization processing of the positioning information is completed, if the predetermined time has elapsed, the positioning Information initialization processing is executed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, when the terminal control unit activates the positioning device to execute the initialization process of the positioning information, the positioning device If you can not receive the signal of a satellite positioning system within the predetermined time is to stop the positioning device.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the terminal control unit stores the position information acquired during the initialization process, and the position information is stored in the wireless communication. This is transmitted when the wireless communication connection process of the part is successful.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the terminal control unit generates a wireless communication connection process of the wireless communication unit while performing the positioning information initialization process. In this case, initialization processing of the positioning information is continued, and when the positioning device acquires the current position information, the position information is transmitted to the currently connected radio communication base station.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal control unit has a function of automatically executing the positioning information initialization process necessary for obtaining the position information, and stabilizes the signal from the satellite. It is possible to acquire orbit information from the satellite when it can be received, or to delete the position measured last time when moving a long distance from the position where the previous positioning was performed, for example. Therefore, it is possible to quickly capture a signal from a satellite and measure the position by a positioning device without installing a positioning server used for a network type GPS or performing an operation by the emergency call terminal holder itself. Therefore, the emergency call terminal can be made easier to handle, and the emergency call system can be provided at a low cost.

In addition, the terminal control unit detects the movement of the emergency call terminal based on the wireless communication information with the wireless communication base station that is always held by the wireless communication unit without adding a movement detection sensor or the like. Then, the positioning information initialization process is executed. As a result, it is possible to activate the positioning device only when the emergency call terminal moves, prevent unnecessary repetition of activation where satellite signals cannot be acquired, and reduce power consumption for acquiring positioning information. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent an error in the approximate position of the emergency call terminal when moving over a long distance by executing the positioning information initialization process when the emergency call terminal has moved greatly from the previous location. . Furthermore, after the positioning information initialization process is completed, the next positioning information initialization process is not executed until a predetermined time has elapsed.For example, even if the number of times the movement of the emergency call terminal is detected is actually large Does not execute initialization processing when it has not moved for a long distance. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent invalidating the result of previous positioning. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumed to perform the positioning information initialization process. In addition, when the positioning information cannot be initialized, it is possible to obtain the position information by initializing the positioning information by attempting to initialize the positioning information. Further, the time until the next initialization process is changed according to the reception state of the satellite signal during the initialization process of the positioning information. Therefore, when the positioning device is activated during initialization processing, for example, if the satellite signal can be received, the time until the next initialization is lengthened, and if the satellite signal cannot be received, the time until the next activation is shortened. By doing so, the positioning information acquisition success rate can be increased while minimizing the power consumption due to the activation of the positioning device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal control unit includes a location area identity code, a mobile country code, a mobile network code, a location area code, and a base station ID code included in a radio signal transmitted from the radio communication base station. The movement of the emergency call terminal is detected by detecting the change of the area where the currently connected wireless communication base station is installed due to any change. It is possible to use the position corresponding to each code included in the radio signal as the approximate position instead of the position. Therefore, when moving greatly from the previous location, the approximate location will not differ greatly from the actual emergency call terminal location, or the approximate location will not be set, and the current location information can be obtained more quickly. Is possible. In addition, by detecting a change in a wide country mobile country code, location area code, and mobile network code, it is possible to detect long-distance movement and execute initialization processing. On the other hand, by detecting a change in the base station ID code with a narrow area, it is possible to detect whether or not the satellite signal wave has been received from a position where the satellite signal wave cannot be received, and execute the initialization process. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the approximate position used as the positioning information is within a predetermined distance from the range of the area where the currently connected wireless communication base station is installed, the positioning information Do not execute the initialization process. Therefore, if the positioning device succeeds in acquiring the position information by executing the positioning calculation process near the boundary of the area at present, the acquired position information will be moved if the moving distance is small even after moving to another new area. Can be used as a rough position, and it is possible to prevent the positioning device from being unnecessarily activated and to reduce the power consumption of the emergency call terminal, as described above.

According to the invention of claim 4, when any one of a combination of a plurality of radio communication base stations with which the radio communication unit can communicate, a reception signal level of the radio communication unit, and a connection priority of the radio communication base station is changed. Since the positioning information initialization process is automatically executed, the positioning device is activated only when there is a possibility that the emergency information terminal has moved from a location where satellite signals cannot be received to a location where satellite signals can be received. . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the power consumed to acquire the positioning information.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the movement detection factor when the movement of the emergency call terminal body is newly detected matches the movement detection factor in the past, for example, the corresponding list of receivable base stations. Because the positioning information initialization process is not executed, the positioning information initialization process may be repeatedly executed by repeatedly switching the same factor when the movement detection factor is located near the boundary where the switching is performed. Can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumed to acquire the positioning information, and it is possible to prevent the initialization of the approximate position from being frequently performed and taking time to obtain the position information. Become.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the radio signal reception state of the radio communication unit changes, the movement is detected and the positioning information initialization process is automatically executed. When the radio signal can be received without starting the positioning device, the positioning device is started and the initialization processing of the positioning information is executed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumed to acquire the positioning information.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the positioning information is initialized when the number of times of detection of the movement of the emergency call terminal counted by the movement detection counter exceeds a predetermined value. Even if the area of the code is too large, it is possible to initialize the positioning information only when moving greatly from the previous positioning point using the code of the smaller area such as the location area code, It is possible to prevent time from being taken until the position information is obtained after the rough position is initialized.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the value of the movement detection factor when the movement of the emergency call terminal main body is detected matches the value of the movement detection factor such as a change in the location area code held by the terminal. If you do, the count value of the movement detection counter is initialized, so it is possible to detect that the emergency call terminal has returned to the point where it has passed once, and it is possible to estimate the movement distance from the previously measured position more accurately It becomes. Therefore, it is possible to execute the initialization process of positioning information when it is surely necessary, and it is possible to prevent time-consuming time until the approximate position is frequently executed and the position information is obtained. It becomes possible.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, even when the movement amount is small and the movement cannot be detected, the positioning information initialization process is executed every time a predetermined time elapses. Therefore, the new positioning necessary for obtaining the position information is performed. Information can be held constantly, and position information can be obtained promptly at all times.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when the positioning device is activated to acquire the positioning information, if the positioning device cannot receive a signal within a predetermined time, the positioning device is stopped. When it is not possible to receive or when it is difficult to obtain positioning information due to weak signal strength, the starting time of the positioning device is shortened. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the emergency call terminal.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, when the wireless communication connection process is successful, the location information acquired based on the positioning information that has been initialized in advance is transmitted, so that the emergency information terminal is operated in an emergency or the like. It is possible to know in advance information such as the movement history of the emergency information terminal before the positioning calculation process for acquiring the position information started after the operation is successful. Therefore, even if the location information cannot be obtained when the emergency information terminal is operated in an emergency or the like, the approximate location of the current emergency call terminal can be estimated.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, since the initialization process of the positioning information is continued even when the wireless communication connection process occurs during the execution of the initialization process of the positioning information, The position information can be quickly acquired using the positioning information acquired by the conversion process. Therefore, it is possible to promptly send the location information of the emergency call terminal.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an emergency call terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This emergency call terminal (hereinafter referred to as a terminal) 1 is a single positioning type communication terminal used in an emergency call system, and includes a terminal control unit 2, a GPS positioning device (positioning device) 3, and a wireless communication unit 4. I have. This terminal 1 is connected to a wireless communication network composed of a plurality of wireless communication base stations (hereinafter referred to as base stations) 5a, 5b, 5c,... By wireless communication, and has a terminal 1 as will be described later. When operated by a holder such as an elderly person, the location information of the terminal 1 itself is transmitted to a call center (not shown) of an emergency call system, for example. That is, in the emergency call system, when the terminal 1 is operated by the holder in an emergency or the like, the position information is transmitted from the terminal 1 to the call center, and the current position of the holder can be specified in the call center. .

  The terminal control unit 2 includes a CPU 2a and a RAM (storage means) 2b. The CPU 2a is configured to be able to communicate with the RAM 2b, the positioning device 3, and the wireless communication unit 4, and controls the operation of the terminal 1. The RAM 2b stores, for example, position information obtained by the positioning device 3 as will be described later.

  The positioning device 3 has a GPS antenna 3c, and obtains position information by receiving a signal of a satellite positioning system such as GPS and performing positioning calculation processing. The positioning device 3 has positioning information necessary for obtaining position information. This positioning information is used to obtain satellite signals from GPS satellites. As the positioning information, the current time, the approximate position of the terminal 1, and the orbit information of the GPS satellite are used. Among the positioning information, the current time and orbit information are acquired by receiving a satellite signal transmitted from a GPS satellite. The approximate position of the terminal 1 is acquired from the position stored in the RAM 2b and previously determined by the positioning device 3. Using this positioning information, the positioning device 3 selects a GPS satellite at a position where a satellite signal can be obtained, and performs positioning calculation processing based on the satellite signal received from the selected GPS satellite. This is executed to obtain current position information of the terminal 1. The positioning device 3 retains positioning information even when the current position is not measured, and can receive satellite signals using this positioning information when activated to measure the current position. By specifying a GPS satellite, it is possible to quickly receive a satellite signal from the GPS satellite and obtain position information.

  The wireless communication unit 4 includes a wireless circuit control unit 4a and a wireless circuit unit 4b. In the wireless communication unit 4, the wireless circuit control unit 4 a controls access to the wireless circuit unit 4 b by time division multiplexing, and the wireless circuit unit 4 b wirelessly transmits via the antenna 4 c connected to the wireless circuit unit 4 b according to the control. Signals are transmitted and received. The terminal 1 receives, for example, a radio signal satisfactorily among the base stations 5a, 5b, 5c,... That can receive a radio signal by the radio control unit 4 performing a radio communication connection process while the power is on. It is always connected to one possible base station. And it is comprised so that a radio signal can always be transmitted / received between the radio | wireless communication networks which consist of several base station 5 containing the base station. The wireless communication unit 4 acquires a location area identity code or the like (hereinafter referred to as an identification code) included in a wireless signal transmitted from the connected base station 5. As an identification code, a mobile country code indicating the country in which the base station 5 is installed, a mobile network code indicating a wireless communication network formed by the base station 5, a location area code indicating an area in which the base station 5 is installed, A base station ID code for uniquely specifying the base station 5 in the area is included. The terminal control unit 2 is configured to be able to acquire this identification code from the wireless communication unit 4. Note that the base station 5 to which the terminal 1 is connected is configured to change to the base station 5 in another area when the position of the terminal 1 changes as the holder 1 moves. That is, when the base station 5 to which the terminal 1 is connected changes from, for example, the base station 5a to the base station 5b, the identification code acquired by the wireless communication unit 4 changes accordingly.

  Hereinafter, an example of the operation when the terminal 1 is operated by the holder will be described. When the terminal 1 is operated, the wireless communication unit 4 becomes communicable with the call center using the connection with the wireless communication network. At the same time, the positioning device 3 performs GPS positioning calculation processing based on the satellite signal from the GPS satellite received from the GPS antenna 3c, and measures the current position. When the positioning device 3 performs this positioning calculation process to obtain position information indicating the current position of the terminal 1, the position information is stored in the RAM 2b by the CPU 2a and also sent to the call center via the wireless communication unit 4. Sent. Thereby, the position of the terminal 1 can be grasped in the call center.

  Here, when the area where the base station 5 that is currently connected to the wireless communication unit 4 is changed from the area where the previously connected base station 5 is set, the terminal control unit 2 is as described above. The positioning information stored in the RAM 2b is automatically initialized. That is, the terminal control unit 2 automatically executes the initialization process when detecting the movement of the main body of the terminal 1 based on the wireless communication information between the wireless communication unit 4 and the base station 5. In the present embodiment, the terminal control unit 2 changes the country (area) in which the base station 5 is installed by changing the mobile country code in the identification code included in the wireless signal transmitted from the base station 5, for example. It is configured to detect that it has changed.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the operation of the initialization process performed by the terminal processing unit 2. First, when the wireless communication unit 4 is activated (S1), the terminal processing unit 2 changes the position of the terminal 1 and the base station 5a to which the wireless communication unit 4 is connected is another base station 5b. (S2), the base station 5b identification code is acquired from the wireless communication unit 4 (S3). Then, it is determined whether or not the mobile country code in the identification code is different from the mobile country code in the identification code included in the radio signal transmitted from the base station 5a connected so far (S4). If the mobile country code is stored in the RAM 2b, the previously measured position held by the positioning device 3 as the approximate position of the terminal 1 is deleted, and an initialization process is performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the terminal control unit 2 determines that the area where the currently connected base station 5 is installed has changed from the area where the previously connected base station 5 was set. It is discriminated by the change of the country code and the positioning information is initialized. That is, when the terminal 1 moves a long distance to a country different from the country where the previous positioning was performed, a position that was previously determined that is not suitable for use in searching for a satellite signal that deviates greatly from the current position of the terminal 1 is used. It is not used as a rough position and it takes time to search for a GPS satellite signal. Therefore, it is possible to promptly receive satellite signals and obtain current position information without installing a positioning server used for networked GPS or operating the emergency call terminal itself. It becomes. Then, the emergency call terminal can be made easier to handle, and the emergency call system can be configured at a low cost. At this time, not only the approximate position of the terminal 1 but also other data of the positioning information may be deleted together with the approximate position.

  Here, the terminal 1 may be configured to store a representative position of the country in the RAM 2b of the terminal control unit 2 for each mobile country code. At this time, when the mobile country code changes, instead of deleting the approximate position of the terminal 1 as described above, the position corresponding to the changed new mobile country code is input from the RAM 2b to the positioning device 3 as the approximate position of the terminal. Then, the positioning information is initialized. By using the position corresponding to the mobile country code as the approximate position of the terminal 1 in this way, even when the terminal 1 moves a long distance, the GPS satellite search process when the positioning device 3 is activated is performed more quickly. It becomes possible.

  In the present embodiment, the terminal control unit 2 does not detect the change of the area by the change of the mobile country code, but the mobile network code in the identification code included in the radio signal transmitted from the radio communication base station. , The location area code, the base station ID code, or the like may be changed for detection. For example, the configuration in which the terminal control unit 2 detects a change in the area by changing the mobile network code is particularly effective when, for example, one country is wide and the area is divided into a plurality of networks. . That is, in such a case, when the change of the mobile network code is detected and the positioning information is initialized, the distance is longer than when the change of the mobile country code is detected and the positioning information is initialized. It is possible to detect the movement more accurately, and it is possible to perform an initialization process that appropriately deletes the approximate position.

  Further, for example, in a configuration in which the terminal control unit 2 detects a change in the area by a change in the location area code, the movement distance is increased by comparing the position measured last time with the position corresponding to the location area code. It is possible to perform the initialization process more appropriately after determining whether or not the position measured last time is within the range where the approximate position can be used. In other words, the terminal control unit 2 holds the range information of the area where the base station 5 is installed corresponding to the location area code, and the position where the positioning was performed last time is that the currently connected base station 5 is installed. If it is within a predetermined distance from the area of the area, the configuration may be such that the positioning information initialization process is not executed, the moving distance is small, and the previously measured position can be used as the approximate position. In some cases, it is possible to prevent the positioning device 3 from being activated unnecessarily and to reduce the power consumption of the terminal 1. Further, for example, even in a configuration in which the terminal control unit 2 detects a change in the area by changing the mobile country code, by comparing the position measured last time with the position corresponding to the mobile country code, the same as described above. Thus, the initialization process can be performed more appropriately. That is, the terminal control unit 2 holds the range information of the area where the base station 5 is installed, corresponding to the mobile country code, and the previously measured base station 5 is installed at the currently connected base station 5. If the distance is within a predetermined distance from the area, the configuration may be such that the positioning information initialization process is not executed, and the power consumption of the terminal 1 can be reduced as described above. It becomes. Similarly, for example, in a configuration in which the terminal control unit 2 detects a change in the area by changing the base station ID code, a range in which the position where the magnitude of the movement distance was previously measured can be used as the approximate position as described above. It is possible to perform initialization processing more appropriately after determining whether or not. At the same time, for example, by not starting the positioning device 3 until the base station ID code changes, that is, until the movement of the terminal 1 is detected, the positioning information can be obtained at a place where the GPS satellite signal cannot be received. It is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption for acquisition.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In each embodiment described below, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only portions different from the first embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, in the terminal 1 of the first embodiment described above, the CPU 2a of the terminal control unit 2 has a movement detection counter, and the terminal 1 detected by a change in the location area code that is a movement detection factor. The movement count process is performed in which the number of movements is counted and the location area code and the number of movements at that time are associated and stored on the RAM 2b. At this time, a combination of a plurality of location area codes and the number of movements can be stored on the RAM 2b. Then, this movement count process is performed, and when the count value of the movement detection counter becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the positioning information initialization process for deleting the previously measured position stored as the approximate position of the terminal 1 is executed. It is configured as follows.

  FIG. 3 shows the flow of the movement count process. First, in a state where the positioning device 3 is activated (S11: YES), if positioning is successful (S12), the terminal control unit 2 resets the count number of the movement detection counter to 0 (S13). ). At this time, the identification code is acquired from the wireless communication unit 4, and the location area code therein is stored in the RAM 2b together with the number of movements (S14, S15).

  Further, when the positioning device 3 is stopped (S11: NO), the terminal control unit 2 changes the location area code in the identification code acquired from the wireless communication unit 4 to a different one. Whether or not (S21, S22). When the location area code changes, the terminal control unit 2 increases the number of movements of the movement detection counter (S23). Then, it is confirmed whether the changed new location area code is already stored on the RAM 2b (S24). At this time, when the changed new location area code is not stored on the RAM 2b, the number of movements after the increase is stored in the RAM 2b together with the location area code (S26). On the other hand, if the same location area code is already stored in the RAM 2b, the number of movements stored in the RAM 2b is compared with the number of movements after the increase (S25). Only when the current number of movements is smaller, the stored number of movements is updated to the current number of movements (S27). That is, in this movement count process, if the value of the movement detection factor when the movement of the terminal 1 is detected matches the value of the movement detection factor stored in the RAM 2b of this terminal 1, the movement detection counter The count value is initialized.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the movement count process as described above. In the figure, the number indicates the number of movements stored in the RAM 2b in that area. The terminal 1 moves as indicated by an arrow from an area where the number of movements is 0 in the figure. Here, consider a case where the terminal 1 moves to an area where the number of movements is 2 and then moves to an area where the number of movements is 2. When the terminal 1 moves and the location area code is switched, the current number of movements is increased from 4 to 5. At this time, the area to which the terminal 1 has moved is an area that has already been passed when the number of movements is 2, and the location area code and the number of movements 2 in this area are already stored in the RAM 2b. Has been. When the stored number of movements 2 is compared with the current number of movements 5, the stored number of movements 2 is smaller, so this is adopted as the number of movements, and the number of movements stored on the RAM 2b is 2. . When the location area code is switched again from this area in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, the number of movements is increased from 2 to 3, and the location area code of this new area and the number of movements 3 are stored in the RAM 2b. Is done.

  As a result of the movement counting process, the number of movements stored in the RAM 2b is the maximum movement of the area necessary for the movement from the position where the positioning device 3 performed the previous positioning to the area corresponding to the number of movements. Will show the number of times. Then, by multiplying the number of movements by the distance necessary to move in one area, it is possible to obtain the maximum movement distance from the previously measured point to the current location. As the distance required to move the area, the maximum length or average length of the area can be used. When the maximum movement distance thus obtained exceeds a predetermined value, the terminal control unit 2 performs an initialization process for deleting the approximate position of the terminal 1 held by the positioning device 3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the position where the positioning device 3 is held as the approximate position from the previous positioning and the actual current position from becoming large and failing to search for the GPS satellites, thus making it impossible to perform positioning.

  Moreover, in this 2nd Embodiment, since it can detect that the terminal 1 returned to the area which passed once, the moving distance from the point measured last time can be estimated more accurately. Therefore, it is possible to execute the initialization process of positioning information when it is surely necessary, and it is possible to prevent time-consuming time until the approximate position is frequently executed and the position information is obtained. It becomes possible. Note that the predetermined value of the count value of the number of movements when the initialization process is performed in this way may be set so that the maximum movement distance is about 500 km to about 5000 km, for example.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the terminal 1 according to the third embodiment, the terminal control unit 2 activates the GPS positioning device 3 so that the above-described initialization processing of the approximate position of the terminal 1 and the orbit information of the GPS satellite are updated. The initialization process to be updated is configured to be executed every predetermined time. Of the positioning information held by the positioning device 3, detailed orbit information of GPS satellites necessary for performing positioning calculation processing and positioning is updated, for example, approximately every two hours. In the third embodiment, the terminal control unit 2 periodically activates the positioning device 3 so that the positioning device 3 can quickly obtain the current position information, and the positioning device 3 always keeps the latest orbit information. It is configured to be in a holding state.

  Here, the orbit information transmitted from the GPS satellite is updated approximately every two hours. The satellite positioning system using GPS satellites is composed of 24 or more GPS satellites, and the arrangement of the GPS satellites returns to the same state every time the earth makes one round. That is, on average, one or more GPS satellites are expected to rise above the terminal 1 per hour. Therefore, in order to acquire the orbit information of the GPS satellite newly rising to the sky, the interval of starting the positioning device 3 may be set within one hour.

  As described above, the approximate position of the terminal 1 is configured to use the result of the previous positioning as it is as the approximate position of the terminal 1 to search for a GPS satellite when the next positioning device 3 is activated. However, if the terminal 1 moves greatly by, for example, 500 km or more in the meantime, there is a high possibility that the satellite signal of the GPS satellite searched corresponding to the approximate position cannot be captured. In 3rd Embodiment, it is comprised so that the position of the terminal 1 may be measured beforehand, before starting the positioning apparatus 3 regularly and the terminal 1 moves large. Here, the interval for executing the positioning calculation process may be set according to the maximum moving speed of the holder of the terminal 1. For example, if the holder does not move using an airplane, it may be set at an interval of about 2 hours, and if the holder is used, it may be set at an interval of 1 hour or less.

  Thus, the activation interval of the positioning device 3 for acquiring the trajectory information and the interval for executing the positioning calculation process may be set to about 1 to 2 hours, for example. What is necessary is just to make it as short as possible in the range which can accept increase.

  Furthermore, the orbit information of the GPS satellite is composed of three pieces of frame data in units of 6 seconds, and the same information is transmitted from the GPS satellite in a cycle of 30 seconds every 5 frames. In order to acquire this, it is necessary to continuously receive the satellite signal for a maximum of 36 seconds after the satellite signal is captured and received. Therefore, in order for the positioning device 3 to acquire the orbit information, it is necessary to add a time until the satellite signal is captured in 36 seconds. If it is possible to ensure a long time until the satellite signal is captured, the probability that the orbit information can be acquired increases, but the power consumed by the positioning device 3 increases. That is, the time for starting the positioning device 3 may be set to be longer than 36 seconds within a range in which the increase in power consumption is allowed.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, the procedure of the initialization process of the positioning information which the terminal control part 2 performs is demonstrated. First, after the positioning device 3 executes the initialization process last time, for example, after one hour has passed (S31), the positioning device 3 is started again (S32). After being started, the positioning device 3 waits for 10 seconds in order to capture the satellite signal from the GPS satellite (S33). During this time, if the positioning device 3 can capture the satellite signal transmitted from the GPS satellite even with any one of the GPS satellites (S34: YES), then the orbit information of the GPS satellite is obtained. To wait for 50 seconds (S35). If the positioning device 3 can determine the current position of the terminal 1 by acquiring orbit information and performing positioning calculation processing after 50 seconds have elapsed (S36: YES), the positioning result is stored in the RAM 2b. After saving (S37), the positioning device 3 is stopped (S38). After the positioning information initialization process is completed in this way, the next initialization process is not executed until, for example, one hour has passed. Then, when one hour has passed since the positioning device 3 was stopped, this initialization process is executed again. If the positioning device 3 cannot determine the current position of the terminal 1 (S36: NO), then the positioning device 3 is stopped (S38) and waits until one hour elapses again.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, by regularly acquiring the GPS satellite orbit information and the approximate position of the terminal 1, for example, when the terminal 1 is operated by the holder, the current current state is always promptly obtained. Position information can be obtained. Further, as described above, when the positioning device 3 is periodically started and the positioning is successful, the terminal control unit 2 acquires and stores the positioning result from the positioning device 3, so that the terminal 1 can be used in an emergency, for example. When the wireless communication connection process of the wireless communication unit 4 succeeds when the is operated, the position information acquired and stored during the initialization process via the wireless communication unit 4 is replaced with the current positioning result. Can be sent to the call center. By transmitting the stored positioning results in this way, it is possible to grasp the movement history of the terminal 1 at the call center. For example, when the GPS signal cannot be received at the time of position notification when the terminal 1 is operated. In addition, the current position can be estimated from the movement history. In addition, the initialization processing of the next positioning information is not executed until one hour has passed after the initialization processing is executed once, so the initialization processing is performed again even though the satellite orbit information has not been updated. It is possible to prevent the initialization process from being executed when the emergency call terminal has detected the movement of the emergency call terminal even if the movement is not performed for a long distance. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumed to perform the positioning information initialization process.

  Here, when the positioning device 3 is activated, for example, if any satellite signal cannot be captured even after waiting for 10 seconds (S34: NO), the signal level above a certain level necessary for acquiring orbit information is obtained. It is determined that the trajectory information cannot be acquired without being obtained, and then the positioning device 3 is stopped to suppress power consumption (S41). Thereby, when the terminal 1 is in a building or underground where a satellite signal cannot be received, it is possible to prevent the positioning device 3 from being activated unnecessarily and consuming electric power. Then, after stopping the measuring apparatus 3, the terminal control unit 2 connects the wireless communication unit 4 to the plurality of base stations 5 that can receive signals from the wireless communication unit 4 including the connected base station 5. The base station ID code, which is the identification code included in the radio signal transmitted from the base station 5 being received, is acquired and stored in the RAM 2b as a base station ID list (S42). Then, for example, after waiting for 12 minutes (S43), the base station ID list of the receivable base station 5 is again obtained from the wireless communication unit 4 (S44), and compared with the stored base station ID list. To determine whether the terminal 1 has moved (S45). Here, the base station ID list may be simply a combination of the base stations 5 or may be able to detect a smaller moving pitch of the terminal 1 by considering the superiority or inferiority of the received signal level. . For example, it is considered that the connection priority of the terminal 1 to the plurality of base stations 5 has changed, triggered by an event in which the superiority or inferiority of the received signal level for each base station 5 received by the wireless communication unit 4 has changed. May be configured to detect that the terminal 1 has moved. If the acquired base station ID list is different from the stored base station ID list, the satellite signal may be captured by moving the terminal 1, so the positioning device 3 is started again ( (S32) Wait for 10 seconds and try to acquire the satellite signal (S33, S34). That is, the terminal control unit 3 determines that the time until the next initialization process is executed is long if the satellite signal can be received, depending on the satellite signal reception state of the positioning device 3 during the initialization process. If you can't, change it short. This makes it possible to obtain GPS satellite orbit information with a higher probability, and to obtain position information quickly when the terminal 1 is operated. In addition, when the satellite signal cannot be captured even after waiting for 10 seconds at the time of starting the positioning device 3 (S34: NO), the condition for stopping the positioning device 3 is, for example, satellite signals from three or more satellites. The condition may be changed so that the positioning device 3 is stopped when it cannot be captured. In this way, for example, when the satellite signals from three or more satellites can be captured, it is configured to wait to obtain orbit information, thereby improving the positioning success rate when positioning the current position. Is possible.

  As described above, when the positioning device 3 is activated and the positioning information initialization process is being executed, a wireless communication connection procedure for operating the terminal 1 to send position information from the wireless communication unit 4 is performed. When it occurs, the initialization processing of the positioning information is continuously executed, and the positioning result of the obtained position information is transmitted from the wireless communication unit 4. Therefore, the operation for acquiring the position information is not repeated from the beginning, and the current position can be determined earlier.

  Here, in the third embodiment, when the positioning device 3 is activated, the satellite signal cannot be captured, and when the positioning device 3 is stopped, the radio communication unit 4 can receive the signal. A plurality of base station ID lists of the station 5 may be stored. At this time, if the base station ID list of the base station 5 to which the wireless communication unit is connected does not match any of the plurality of stored base station ID lists, the positioning device 3 is started again and the satellite By configuring to attempt signal acquisition, for example, even in the same place, even in an environment where the environmental conditions of signal transmission are unstable and the combination of receivable base stations 5 frequently changes, the connected base The positioning device 3 is not activated every time the combination of the stations 5 changes, and the power consumed by the positioning device 3 can be reduced. In addition, the terminal control unit 2 constantly monitors the base station ID list of the base station 5 that can be received by the wireless communication unit 4, and immediately starts the positioning device 3 again when the base station ID list changes. Such a configuration may be adopted.

  Furthermore, when the radio communication unit 4 cannot receive a radio signal from the base station 5, the terminal control unit 2 may not activate the positioning device 3. Since it is highly possible that a GPS satellite signal cannot be received when a radio signal cannot be received, it is possible to prevent the positioning device 3 from being started up and consuming electric power by not starting the positioning device 3. It becomes possible. In this case, when the wireless communication unit 4 can receive a wireless signal from the base station 5, that is, when the reception state of the wireless signal of the wireless communication unit 4 changes, the terminal control unit 2 switches the positioning device 3. By starting automatically, the positioning device 3 can be started when the possibility of receiving satellite signals becomes high.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows a terminal according to the fourth embodiment. The terminal 1 has a built-in rechargeable battery (not shown) as a power source, and is configured to be able to charge the rechargeable battery by being connected to an external charging device 6.

  Here, the terminal control unit 2 of the terminal 1 can detect whether the terminal 1 is connected to the charging device 6. When the charging device 6 is not connected, the terminal control unit 2 initializes the positioning information by periodically starting the positioning device 3 at intervals of about 1 hour, for example, as in the third embodiment described above. Execute the process. When the charging device 6 is connected to the terminal 1, the terminal control unit 2 executes this initialization process by extending the activation frequency and activation time of the positioning device 3. In other words, since power consumption is not a problem during charging, the positioning information is frequently initialized so that the position information can be acquired more quickly when the terminal 1 is operated. It becomes possible to do.

  When the charging device 6 is, for example, an installation type and is always charged at a fixed location, the location where the charging is performed is stored in the terminal 1 in advance, and the terminal 1 is charged. The location may be set as the current approximate position of the terminal 1 when connected to the device 6. At this time, for example, even when the terminal 1 moves for a long distance with the power off. It is possible to update the approximate position of the terminal 1 to the correct position at the time of charging, and subsequent positioning can be performed more quickly.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the positioning device 3 of the terminal 1 is not limited to the one that supports GPS, but may be one that supports other GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) such as GALILEO and GRONASS. At this time as well, by configuring the positioning information initialization process to be automatically executed in the same manner as described above, it is possible to make the terminal 1 an inexpensive emergency call system, and it is easier to handle. It becomes possible. In the above-described embodiment, the positioning information is stored in either the RAM 2b or the GPS positioning device 3, but the positioning information may be collected and stored only in either the RAM 2b or the GPS positioning device 3.

The block diagram which shows the emergency call terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining an example of operation | movement of the terminal. The flowchart explaining an example of operation | movement of the emergency call terminal which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The map explaining an example of operation | movement of the terminal. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the emergency call terminal which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the emergency call terminal which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 terminal (emergency call terminal)
2 Terminal control unit 2b RAM (storage means)
3 GPS positioning device (positioning device)
4 Wireless communication unit 5 Base station (wireless base station)

Claims (12)

A positioning device that receives a satellite positioning system signal and obtains its current position information;
A wireless communication unit connected to a wireless communication network composed of a plurality of wireless communication base stations, and performing wireless communication by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from any of the wireless communication base stations;
A terminal control unit connected to the positioning device and a wireless communication unit, and having a function of transmitting position information obtained by the positioning device from the wireless communication unit to a currently connected wireless communication base station;
By being operated by the holder, the positioning device receives a signal from the satellite of the satellite positioning system and measures the current position of the emergency call terminal. An emergency call terminal that transmits and receives wireless signals to and from a communication base station to perform wireless communication, and transmits current position information measured by the positioning device to any of the wireless communication base stations,
The positioning device uses the current time, the approximate position of the emergency call terminal, and the satellite orbit information of the satellite positioning system as positioning information necessary to obtain the current position information,
The terminal control unit holds at least the position information previously measured by the positioning device as an approximate position of the emergency call terminal,
When the area where the wireless communication base station to which the wireless communication unit is currently connected has changed from the area where the previously connected wireless communication base station was installed, the terminal control unit is As the processing, the position information measured last time is deleted, or the position corresponding to the mobile country code included in the identification code of the wireless communication base station to which the wireless communication unit is connected is set as the approximate position of the terminal control unit Input to the positioning device ,
The terminal control unit does not execute the next positioning information initialization process until a predetermined time elapses after the positioning information initialization process is completed, and the positioning information is being initialized during the positioning information initialization process. Depending on the signal reception status of the satellite positioning system of the device, the predetermined time until execution of the next initialization process is changed to be longer when the satellite signal is received and shorter when the satellite signal is not received. A featured emergency call terminal. The terminal control unit transmits a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication base station that the area where the currently connected wireless communication base station is installed has changed from the area where the previously connected wireless communication base station is installed. The movement of the emergency call terminal body is detected by detecting a change in any of the location area identity code, mobile country code, mobile network code, location area code, and base station ID code included in the signal. The emergency call terminal according to claim 1 . The terminal control unit holds range information of a plurality of areas where the plurality of wireless communication base stations are respectively installed,
When the location information used as the positioning information is within a predetermined distance from the range of the area where the currently connected wireless communication base station is installed when movement of the emergency call terminal is detected The emergency call terminal according to claim 2, wherein the positioning information initialization process is not executed.   The terminal control unit is configured such that a combination of a plurality of radio communication base stations with which the radio communication unit can communicate, a reception signal level of the radio communication unit, or a connection priority of the radio communication base station changes. The emergency call terminal according to claim 1, wherein movement of the emergency call terminal body is detected.   The terminal control unit has storage means for storing one or more location area codes when the movement of the emergency call terminal body is detected, and the location when the movement of the emergency call terminal body is newly detected. The emergency call terminal according to claim 4, wherein when the area code matches a past location area code stored in the storage means, the positioning information initialization process is not executed.   2. The emergency call terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal control unit detects movement of an emergency call terminal body when a reception state of a radio signal from a radio communication base station of the radio communication unit is changed. . A movement detection counter that counts the number of times the movement of the emergency call terminal is detected,
The said terminal control part performs the initialization process of the said positioning information, when the count value of the said movement detection counter becomes more than predetermined value, The positioning information is any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Emergency call terminal.   The terminal control unit initializes the count value of the movement detection counter when the location area code when the movement of the emergency call terminal body is detected matches the location area code held by the terminal. The emergency call terminal according to claim 7. The terminal control unit performs the positioning information initialization process when the predetermined time has elapsed after the positioning information initialization process is completed. The emergency call terminal described in any one. The terminal control unit stops the positioning device when the positioning device cannot receive a satellite positioning system signal within a predetermined time when starting the positioning device to execute the initialization processing of the positioning information . The emergency call terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the terminal is an emergency call terminal. The terminal control unit stores the position information acquired during the initialization process of the positioning information, and transmits the position information when the wireless communication connection process of the wireless communication unit is successful. The emergency call terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The terminal control unit continues the positioning information initialization process when a wireless communication connection process of the wireless communication unit occurs during the positioning information initialization process, and the positioning device The emergency call terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the information is acquired, the position information is transmitted to the currently connected radio communication base station .

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