JP5151839B2 - Terminal device, communication system and position measuring method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device that measures the position of its own device, a communication system in which the terminal device measures the position of its own device, and a position measurement method in the terminal device.

Currently, mobile terminals equipped with a positioning function based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) are available.
Also, a mobile terminal that receives base station information including data such as the address of the base station from the base station and measures the position of the own device from the base station information and the reach of radio waves can be used.

  The sound source device includes means for acquiring positioning information from an external positioning means, means for calculating its own position, and a sound source that superimposes its position and irradiates the water as a sound wave of a predetermined intensity, The underwater position detection device performs means for acquiring the irradiated sound wave, processing for obtaining the position of the sound source device superimposed on the acquired sound wave, and processing for obtaining the distance to the sound source device based on the intensity of the sound wave Thus, by performing a predetermined positioning process based on the means for acquiring the positions of the plurality of sound source devices and the distances to the plurality of sound source devices, and the acquired positions of the plurality of sound source devices and the distances to the plurality of sound source devices. And an underwater position detection system including means for acquiring the position of the underwater.

  If the mobile terminal device cannot use the GPS receiver, it receives radio waves from the base station, measures its electric field strength, extracts base station identification information, and transmits these to the service center. Acquires the installation position of the base station corresponding to the base station identification information, calculates the current position of the mobile terminal device based on the acquired installation position and the measured electric field strength, and displays a map corresponding to the current position. A system is disclosed that acquires from a map database and transmits a map of its current location to a mobile terminal device.

  In addition, the search target terminal is set in the transceiver mode so that a specific sound or code identification signal is transmitted in an appropriate time pattern, and the radio wave identification signal is used as a clue to confirm the left and right directions with the direction detector. Proximity capture is disclosed.

  In addition, when the mobile phone is in an action area where the location can be captured by communication with the base station, the location is detected by communication operation with the base station with relatively low power consumption, and communication with the base station is performed. When it is discriminated that the probability of having deviated from the action area is high, the position is captured with high accuracy by positioning using GPS, and a report indicating the deviation from the action area and / or information indicating the position is sent to the scheduled report destination. Transmitting is disclosed.

JP 2006-275920 A JP 2000-348297 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-331571 JP 2007-134760 A

In the prior art, the mobile terminal could not determine the position of the mobile terminal under the condition that the mobile terminal could not capture the required number of GPS satellites and the mobile terminal was not within the communication range with the base station. .
In view of the above circumstances, the disclosed apparatus, system, and method provide the mobile terminal with a mobile terminal that is not capable of capturing the required number of GPS satellites and that the mobile terminal is not within the communication range with the base station. The purpose is to enable positioning of the position of the aircraft.

  The terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention measures the position of the own device based on the first positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on the GPS signal received from the GPS satellite and the base station information received from the base station. The second positioning means, the determining means for determining whether or not positioning is possible by the first positioning means and the second positioning means, and when it is determined that neither the first positioning means nor the second positioning means can perform positioning. Terminal position information requesting means for transmitting a terminal position information request for requesting the terminal position information to the mobile terminal, terminal position information receiving means for receiving terminal position information from another mobile terminal, and the received terminal And third positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on the position information.

  According to the disclosed apparatus, system, and method, even if the mobile terminal is in a state where positioning by GPS and base station information cannot be performed, the mobile terminal determines the position of its own device based on position information obtained from other mobile terminals. It becomes possible to measure. For this reason, the area which a mobile terminal can measure is expanded.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the disclosed communication system. The communication system 1 includes a plurality of mobile terminals T1, T10 to T12, and a base station BS provided for performing wireless communication with the mobile terminals T1, T10 to T12.

  As will be described later, the mobile terminals T1, T10 to T12 have a GPS positioning function for receiving GPS signals from the GPS satellites S1 to S3 and performing positioning by GPS. A region A indicated by a broken line in the figure shows an example of an area that can be measured by GPS. In this example, the mobile terminals T10 to T12 exist in the area A that can be measured by GPS. The mobile terminal T1 is outside the area A where positioning by GPS is possible. Further, the mobile terminals T1, T10 to T12 have a direct communication function for performing direct communication between the mobile terminals T1, T10 to T12 without passing through the base station BS. The mobile terminals T1, T10 to T12 may have a communication function similar to the transceiver mode employed in, for example, PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) as a direct communication function.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the mobile terminal T1. Other mobile terminals T10 to T12 may have the same hardware configuration.
The mobile terminal T1 includes a control unit 2, a storage unit 3, a wireless communication unit 4, a GPS function unit 5, an input unit 6, and a display unit 7.

  The control unit 2 controls the operation of the mobile terminal T1. In the present embodiment, the control unit 2 includes a data processor such as a CPU or MPU, and controls the operation of the mobile terminal T1 by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 3, and executes a positioning process described later. To do. In addition, the control unit 2 executes an application program that uses position information obtained by this positioning process.

  The storage unit 3 stores the above-described control program and application program. The storage unit 3 stores data necessary for executing these programs, and stores temporary data generated when the programs are executed.

  The radio communication unit 4 provides a radio communication function between the mobile terminal T1 and the base station BS. The wireless communication unit 4 provides a direct communication function between the mobile terminals T1 and T10 to T12. This direct communication function may be a communication function similar to the transceiver mode employed in PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), for example.

  The GPS function unit 5 provides a GPS positioning function that measures the position of the mobile terminal T1 based on the GPS signals received from the GPS satellites S1 to S3.

  The input unit 6 receives an input from the user for the mobile terminal T1. For example, when the mobile terminal T1 is a mobile phone, the input unit 6 is, for example, a key operation unit, and is used for inputting a telephone number or mail address of a communication destination by the mobile terminal T1, and is executed by the control unit 2. Used to input operations to application programs.

  The display unit 7 is a display device such as a liquid crystal screen for displaying display data to the user. The display unit 7 is used, for example, to display a user interface of an application program that uses position information obtained as a result of positioning processing by the mobile terminal T1, and to display the position information.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a first example of functional blocks of the mobile terminal T1 shown in FIG. Each function shown in FIG. 3 is executed by the control unit 2 executing the control program stored in the storage unit 3. The mobile terminal T1 includes a positioning processing control unit 11, a first positioning unit 12, a second positioning unit 13, a terminal location information request unit 14, a terminal location information receiving unit 15, a third positioning unit 16, and a terminal. A location information request receiving unit 17, a terminal location information transmitting unit 18, a switch 20 and a switch 21 are provided.

  In the present embodiment, the function of each functional block shown in FIG. 3 is executed by software processing by the control unit 2. Each of these functional blocks may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit. That is, the positioning processing control unit 11, the first positioning unit 12, the second positioning unit 13, the terminal location information request unit 14, the terminal location information receiving unit 15, the third positioning unit 16, and the terminal location The information request receiving unit 17, the terminal location information transmitting unit 18, the switch 20, the switch 21, and the terminal location information storage unit 19 and the switch 22 described later are partly and entirely realized by dedicated hardware circuits. May be.

  The positioning process control unit 11 receives a positioning execution command from an application program that uses the position information of the mobile terminal T1, and controls the positioning process described below. The positioning process control unit 11 corresponds to a determination unit and a terminal location information request availability determination unit described in the claims.

  The first positioning unit 12 measures the position of the mobile terminal T1 based on the GPS signal received by the GPS function unit 5. The position information of the mobile terminal T1 to be measured may be latitude information and longitude information, for example. The second positioning unit 13 measures the position of the mobile terminal T <b> 1 based on the base station information from the base station BS received by the wireless communication unit 4 and the reach of radio waves. The positioning process performed by the second positioning unit 13 may be hereinafter referred to as “positioning based on base station information”.

  The positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether or not positioning by the GPS function is possible according to a signal given from the GPS function unit 5 shown in FIG. The positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether or not positioning by the GPS function is possible, for example, depending on whether or not the GPS function unit 5 has acquired the number of GPS satellites necessary for GPS positioning. When positioning by the GPS function is possible, the positioning processing control unit 11 causes the first positioning unit 12 that is a GPS positioning unit to execute positioning processing. At this time, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 21 to select the measurement result by the first positioning unit 12 as position information to be output.

  When positioning by the GPS function cannot be performed, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether positioning based on base station information is possible according to a signal given from the wireless communication unit 4. The positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether or not positioning based on the base station information is possible, for example, depending on whether or not the mobile terminal T1 is within a communicable range of at least one base station BS.

  When positioning based on the base station information is possible, the positioning processing control unit 11 causes the second positioning unit 13 to execute positioning processing. The positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switches 20 and 21 to select the measurement result by the second positioning unit 13 as position information to be output.

  The terminal location information request unit 14 transmits a terminal location information request message for requesting transmission of terminal location information, which is its own location information, to the other mobile terminals T10 to T12. The terminal location information receiving unit 15 receives terminal location information transmitted from other mobile terminals T10 to T12 as a response message in response to the terminal location information request message. The terminal location information request message and the terminal location information are transmitted and received by a direct communication function between the mobile terminals T1 and T10 to T12 provided by the wireless communication unit 4.

  Further, the terminal location information receiving unit 15 acquires the received radio wave intensity measured by the wireless communication unit 4 when receiving the terminal location information from the wireless communication unit 4. The third positioning unit 16 measures the position of the mobile terminal T1 based on the terminal position information received from the other mobile terminals T10 to T12 and the received radio wave intensity from each mobile terminal. A method of measuring the position by the third positioning unit 16 will be described later.

  The positioning processing control unit 11 causes the terminal location information requesting unit 14 to execute a terminal location information request message transmission process when positioning using the GPS function and positioning based on base station information cannot be performed. As a result, the terminal position information receiving unit 15 receives the terminal position information from the other mobile terminals T10 to T12 as a response to the terminal position information request message. The third positioning unit 16 measures the position of the mobile terminal T1 based on the terminal position information received from the other mobile terminals T10 to T12 and the received radio wave intensity from each terminal. The positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switches 20 and 21 to select the measurement result obtained by the third positioning unit 16 as position information to be output.

  The other mobile terminals T10 to T12 that have received the terminal location information request message from the mobile terminal T1 receive the terminal location information request message in the terminal location information request receiving unit 17. The terminal location information request receiving unit 17 notifies the positioning processing control unit 11 that the terminal location information request message has been received.

  The positioning processing control unit 11 that has been notified that the terminal location information request message has been received executes positioning by the first positioning unit 12 and the second positioning unit 13 in the same manner as when the positioning execution command is received from the application program. To do.

  When the positioning by the first positioning unit 12 and the second positioning unit 13 is not possible when the terminal location information request message is received from the mobile terminal T1, the terminal location information requesting unit 14 performs transmission processing of the terminal location information request message. You may comprise the positioning process control part 11 so that it may be performed. Also in the mobile terminal that has received the terminal location information request message from the mobile terminal T1, the third positioning unit 16 of this mobile terminal receives and receives the terminal location information from other mobile terminals by transmitting the terminal location information request message. Based on the radio field strength, it is possible to determine the position of the aircraft.

  The terminal location information transmission unit 18 is measured by any one of the first positioning unit 12, the second positioning unit 13, and the third positioning unit 16 in the same manner as when the positioning execution command is received from the application program, and by the switches 20 and 21. The selected position information is transmitted.

  As will be described later, the terminal location information request message may include information corresponding to the valid period. For example, it is assumed that when the mobile terminal T10 receives a terminal location information request message from the mobile terminal T1, positioning by the first positioning unit 12 and the second positioning unit 13 cannot be performed and the terminal location information request message is transmitted. Whether the positioning processing control unit 11 of the mobile terminal T10 may transmit the terminal location information request message based on the information corresponding to the validity period included in the terminal location information request message received from the mobile terminal T1. Determine whether or not. In this way, by setting the validity period in the terminal location information request message, the mobile terminal that has received the terminal location information request message sequentially transmits the terminal location information request message in sequence, and the terminal location information request message becomes excessive. The inconvenience of chaining is avoided.

  In accordance with a selection signal from the positioning processing control unit 11, the switch 20 outputs position information output from the second positioning unit 13 and given as input I1, and position information outputted from the third positioning unit 16 and given as input I2. One of them is output as output O1. In accordance with a selection signal from the positioning processing control unit 11, the switch 21 outputs positional information output from the first positioning unit 12 and given as input I3, and positional information outputted as output O1 of the switch 20 and inputted as input I4. One of them is output as output O2. The position information output from the switch 21 is provided to the application and terminal position information transmission unit 18 as a response to the positioning execution command.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the disclosed position measurement method. In step S <b> 10, the positioning process control unit 11 receives a positioning execution command from the application program executed by the control unit 2. In step S11, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether positioning by the GPS function is possible. The positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether or not positioning by the GPS function is possible, for example, depending on whether or not the GPS function unit 5 shown in FIG. 2 captures the number of GPS satellites necessary for GPS positioning. To do.

  If positioning by the GPS function is possible in the determination in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12, and if positioning by the GPS function is not possible, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S12, the positioning process control unit 11 causes the first positioning unit 12 to execute the positioning process. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 21 to select the position information output from the first positioning unit 12 and input as the input I3 as a response to the application program. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In step S13, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether positioning by positioning based on base station information is possible. The positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether or not positioning based on the base station information is possible, for example, depending on whether or not the mobile terminal T1 is within a communicable range of at least one base station BS.

  If positioning based on base station information is possible in the determination in step S13, the process proceeds to step S14, and if positioning based on the base station information is not possible, the process proceeds to step S15. In step S <b> 14, the positioning process control unit 11 causes the second positioning unit 13 to execute the positioning process. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S <b> 19, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 20 to select the position information output from the second positioning unit 13 and input as the input I <b> 1 as the output O <b> 1 of the switch 20. Further, by controlling the switch 21, the position information output from the switch 20 and input as the input I4 is selected as a response to the application program. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In step S15, the positioning processing control unit 11 causes the terminal location information request unit 14 to execute a terminal location information request message transmission process. The terminal location information request unit 14 transmits a terminal location information request message by a direct communication function between mobile terminals provided by the wireless communication unit 4.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of operation of a mobile terminal when a terminal location information request message is received. In step S20, the terminal location information request receiving unit 17 receives a terminal location information request message. The terminal location information request receiving unit 17 notifies the positioning processing control unit 11 that the terminal location information request message has been received.

  In step S21, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether or not positioning by the GPS function is possible as in step S11. If positioning by the GPS function is possible, the process proceeds to step S22. If positioning by the GPS function cannot be performed, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S <b> 22, the positioning process control unit 11 causes the first positioning unit 12 to execute the positioning process. In step S <b> 23, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 21 to input the position information output from the first positioning unit 12 and input as the input I <b> 3 to the terminal position information transmission unit 18. The terminal position information transmitting unit 18 transmits the input position information as terminal position information indicating the position of the own device. The terminal position information transmitted by the terminal position information transmitting unit 18 is transmitted and received by a direct communication function between mobile terminals provided by the wireless communication unit 4. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In step S24, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether positioning by positioning based on base station information is possible. If the positioning based on the base station information is possible, the process proceeds to step S25. If the positioning based on the base station information is not possible, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S25, the positioning process control unit 11 causes the second positioning unit 13 to execute the positioning process. In step S <b> 26, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 20 to select the position information output from the second positioning unit 13 and input as the input I <b> 1 as the output O <b> 1 of the switch 20. Further, by controlling the switch 21, the position information output from the switch 20 and input as the input I 4 is input to the terminal position information transmitting unit 18. The terminal position information transmitting unit 18 transmits the input position information as terminal position information indicating the position of the own device. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In step S27, the positioning processing control unit 11 requests terminal location information of other mobile terminals necessary for the positioning processing by the third positioning unit 16 before performing the positioning processing by the third positioning unit 16. It is determined whether or not the request message can be transmitted.

  In order for the positioning processing control unit 11 of the mobile terminal that has received the terminal location information request message from another mobile terminal to determine whether or not the terminal location information request message may be transmitted, the terminal location information request message includes Contains information about the validity period. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a first example of a format of a terminal location information request message.

  The terminal location information request message includes a header including information necessary for transmitting and receiving data between mobile terminals by a predetermined data exchange method, and identification information CODE that specifies that the message is a terminal location information request message. , Including time information TIME.

  The time information TIME may be information indicating the time when the valid period of the terminal location information request message expires, for example. When the current time has not passed the time indicated by the time information TIME, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines in step S27 that a terminal location information request message may be transmitted. When the current time has passed the time indicated by the time information TIME, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines in step S27 that the terminal location information request message cannot be transmitted.

  Further, for example, the time information TIME transmits a terminal location information request message in step S15 shown in FIG. 4, that is, a mobile terminal that transmits a terminal location information request message without receiving a terminal location information request message from another mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be information indicating a transmission time at which the terminal location information request message is transmitted. In this case, when the time obtained by adding the predetermined effective period length to the transmission time indicated by the time information TIME has not passed, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines in step S27 that the terminal position information request message may be transmitted. . When the time obtained by adding the effective period length to the transmission time indicated by the time information TIME has passed, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines in step S27 that the terminal location information request message cannot be transmitted.

  FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a second example of the format of the terminal location information request message. The terminal location information request message includes a header, identification information CODE, and a valid period value TTL (Time To Live) corresponding to the remaining number of possible transmissions. In step S27, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines that the terminal location information request message may be transmitted when TTL is greater than zero. In step S27, the positioning process control unit 11 determines that the terminal location information request message cannot be transmitted when TTL is 0 or less.

  By determining whether or not the terminal location information request message may be transmitted in step S27, when the terminal location information request message is transmitted for the positioning process in a certain mobile terminal, a certain period has elapsed from this transmission time. After this, the terminal location information request message for this positioning process is not transmitted. For this reason, excessive chaining of the terminal location information request messages due to the mobile terminal receiving the terminal location information request messages transmitting the terminal location information request messages one after another in sequence is prevented.

  When it is determined in step S27 that the terminal location information request message can be transmitted, the process proceeds to S28, and when it is determined that the terminal location information request message cannot be transmitted, the process ends.

  In step S <b> 28, the positioning process control unit 11 causes the terminal location information request unit 14 to execute a terminal location information request message transmission process. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the terminal location information request message includes time information TIME, the terminal location information request unit 14 includes the time information included in the terminal location information request message received in step S20. The same time information TIME as TIME is included in the terminal location information request message to be transmitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the terminal location information request message includes the valid period value TTL, the terminal location information request unit 14 receives the valid information included in the terminal location information request message received in step S20. An effective period value TTL obtained by subtracting a predetermined number of steps from the period value TTL is included in the terminal location information request message to be transmitted.

  In step S29, the terminal location information receiving unit 15 receives terminal location information transmitted from another mobile terminal. In step S <b> 30, the terminal location information receiving unit 15 acquires the received radio wave intensity measured by the wireless communication unit 4 when receiving the terminal location information in step S <b> 29 from the wireless communication unit 4.

  In step S31, the third positioning unit 16 measures the position of the own device based on the terminal position information of each mobile terminal received in step S29 and the received radio wave intensity from each mobile terminal acquired in step S30. . A method of measuring the position by the third positioning unit 16 will be described later.

  In step S <b> 32, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 20 to select the position information output from the third positioning unit 16 and input as the input I <b> 2 as the output O <b> 1 of the switch 20. Further, by controlling the switch 21, the position information output from the switch 20 and input as the input I 4 is input to the terminal position information transmitting unit 18. The terminal position information transmitting unit 18 transmits the input position information as terminal position information indicating the position of the own device. Thereafter, the process ends.

  Please refer to FIG. In step S16, the terminal position information receiving unit 15 receives the terminal position information transmitted from the terminal position information transmitting unit 18 of another mobile terminal in step S23, S26, or S32 shown in FIG. In step S <b> 17, the terminal location information receiving unit 15 acquires the received radio wave intensity measured by the wireless communication unit 4 when receiving the terminal location information in step S <b> 16 from the wireless communication unit 4.

  In step S18, the 3rd positioning part 16 measures the position of an own machine based on the terminal position information of each mobile terminal received in step S16, and the received radio wave intensity from each mobile terminal acquired in step S17. A method of measuring the position by the third positioning unit 16 will be described later.

  In step S <b> 19, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 20 to select the position information output from the third positioning unit 16 and input as the input I <b> 2 as the output O <b> 1 of the switch 20. Further, by controlling the switch 21, the position information output from the switch 20 and input as the input I4 is selected as a response to the application program. Thereafter, the process ends.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the third positioning unit 16 in step S18 shown in FIG. 4 and step S31 shown in FIG. In step S <b> 40, the third positioning unit 16 determines whether the number of terminal position information received by the terminal position information receiving unit 15 is three or more. When the number of received terminal location information is three or more, the process proceeds to step S41, and when it is two or less, the process proceeds to step S42.

  In step S41, the 3rd positioning part 16 determines the position of an own machine based on the terminal position information received in the terminal position information receiving part 15, and the signal strength which received these terminal position information. For example, trigonometry may be used as a calculation method for calculating the position of the own device. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In step S42, the third positioning unit 16 determines whether the number of terminal location information received by the terminal location information receiving unit 15 is two or one. When the number of received terminal location information is two, the process proceeds to step S43, and when it is one or less, the process proceeds to step S44.

  In step S43, the third positioning unit 16 determines one of the received two pieces of terminal position information as the position of the own device according to a predetermined priority determination criterion. For example, the third positioning unit 16 selects terminal position information having stronger signal strength at the time of reception as the position of the own device. Thereafter, the process ends. In step S44, the third positioning unit 16 determines the received one terminal position information as the position of the own device. Thereafter, the process ends.

  According to this embodiment, even if the mobile terminal is in a state where positioning by GPS and base station information cannot be performed, the mobile terminal can measure its own position based on position information obtained from other mobile terminals. Become. For this reason, the area which a mobile terminal can measure is expanded.

  When another mobile terminal that has received the terminal location information request message cannot perform positioning by GPS and base station information, the other mobile terminal also transmits a terminal location information request message to further another mobile terminal. By positioning based on terminal location information from the mobile terminal, the area where the mobile terminal can be positioned is further expanded.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a second example of functional blocks of the mobile terminal T1 shown in FIG. Each function shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the control unit 2 executing the control program stored in the storage unit 3. The mobile terminal T1 has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 3, and the same components as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference symbols as those used in FIG. A description of the function is omitted. The mobile terminal T1 further includes a terminal location information storage unit 19 and a switch 22.

  The terminal position information storage unit 19 stores the latest position information output from the switch 21. The switch 22 is one of position information output from the switch 21 and input as input I5 and position information read from the terminal position information storage unit 19 and input as input I6 according to the control of the positioning processing control unit 11. Is output as output O3.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation example when the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 8 receives a terminal location information request message. In step S50, the terminal location information request receiving unit 17 receives a terminal location information request message. The terminal location information request receiving unit 17 notifies the positioning processing control unit 11 that the terminal location information request message has been received.

  In step S51, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether or not positioning by the GPS function is possible as in step S21. If positioning by the GPS function is possible, the process proceeds to step S52. If positioning by the GPS function cannot be performed, the process proceeds to step S54.

  In steps S52 and S53, as in steps S22 and S23, the positioning process by the first positioning unit 12 is executed, and the terminal position information transmitting unit 18 transmits the terminal position information. At this time, the positioning processing control unit 11 is measured by the first positioning unit 12 by controlling the switch 22 to select the position information output from the switch 21 and input as the input I5 as the output O3 of the switch 22. The position information is input to the terminal position information transmission unit 18. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In step S54, the positioning processing control unit 11 determines whether positioning by positioning based on base station information is possible. If the positioning based on the base station information is possible, the process proceeds to step S55, and if the positioning based on the base station information is not possible, the process proceeds to step S57.

  In steps S55 and S56, as in steps S25 and S26, the positioning process by the second positioning unit 13 is executed, and the terminal position information transmitting unit 18 transmits the terminal position information. By selecting the position information output from the switch 21 and input as the input I5 by controlling the switch 22 as the output O3 of the switch 22, the position information measured by the second positioning unit 13 is selected. To enter. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In step S57, the positioning processing control unit 11 controls the switch 22 to input the position information read from the terminal position information storage unit 19 and input as the input I6 to the terminal position information transmission unit 18. The terminal position information transmitting unit 18 transmits the input position information as terminal position information indicating the position of the own device. Thereafter, the process ends.

  According to the present embodiment, other mobile terminals that have received the terminal location information request message transmit terminal location information as a response to the terminal location information request message even if positioning by GPS and base station information cannot be performed. be able to.

  The following additional notes are further disclosed with respect to the embodiment including the above examples.

(Appendix 1)
First positioning means for measuring the position of the device based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites;
Second positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on the base station information received from the base station;
Determination means for determining whether positioning by the first positioning means and the second positioning means is possible;
When it is determined that neither the first positioning means nor the second positioning means can perform positioning, a terminal location information request for requesting terminal location information of the other mobile terminal is transmitted to the other mobile terminal. Terminal location information requesting means;
Terminal location information receiving means for receiving terminal location information from the other mobile terminals;
Third positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on the received terminal position information;
A terminal device comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The terminal device according to supplementary note 1, which operates as the other mobile terminal,
Terminal location information request receiving means for receiving the terminal location information request;
Terminal position information transmitting means for transmitting the position information of the own device obtained by any of the first positioning means and the second positioning means as the terminal position information;
A terminal device further comprising:

(Appendix 3)
The terminal location information request unit transmits a terminal location information request when the location information of the own device to be transmitted as the terminal location information cannot be measured by any of the first and second positioning units. Terminal equipment.

(Appendix 4)
The terminal location information request includes information corresponding to a validity period,
The terminal device includes a terminal location information request availability determination unit that determines whether to transmit a terminal location information request based on the information corresponding to a validity period included in the received terminal location information request. The terminal device according to 3.

(Appendix 5)
A communication system comprising a plurality of mobile terminals and base stations,
Any of the mobile terminals
First positioning means for measuring the position of the device based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites;
Second positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on the base station information received from the base station;
Determination means for determining whether positioning by the first positioning means and the second positioning means is possible;
A terminal that requests terminal position information of another mobile terminal from the other mobile terminal in the communication system when it is determined that neither the first positioning means nor the second positioning means can perform positioning. A terminal location information requesting means for transmitting a location information request;
Terminal location information receiving means for receiving terminal location information from one or more other mobile terminals;
Third positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on one or more received terminal location information;
With
The other mobile terminal is
Terminal location information request receiving means for receiving the terminal location information request from any of the mobile terminals;
Terminal position information transmitting means for transmitting the position information of the own device to the mobile terminal as the terminal position information;
A communication system comprising:

(Appendix 6)
The other mobile terminal also includes the first positioning means and the second positioning means,
The communication system according to appendix 5, wherein the terminal location information transmission unit transmits the location information of the own device obtained by any of the first positioning unit and the first positioning unit as the terminal location information.

(Appendix 7)
The other mobile terminal also includes the determination unit, the terminal location information request unit, the terminal location information reception unit, and the third positioning unit.
The terminal location information requesting unit transmits the terminal location information request when the location information of the own device to be transmitted as the terminal location information cannot be measured by any of the first and second positioning units. The communication system described.

(Appendix 8)
The terminal location information request includes information corresponding to a validity period,
The other mobile terminal determines whether or not to transmit the terminal location information request based on the information corresponding to the validity period included in the received terminal location information request. The communication system according to claim 7, further comprising:

(Appendix 9)
A terminal comprising: first positioning means for measuring the position of the own apparatus based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites; and second positioning means for measuring the position of the own apparatus based on base station information received from the base station A method for measuring the position of the terminal device in a device, comprising:
In the terminal device, it is determined whether positioning by the first positioning means and the second positioning means,
The terminal position at which the terminal device requests terminal position information of the other mobile terminal from another mobile terminal when it is determined that neither the first positioning means nor the second positioning means can perform positioning. Send an information request,
The terminal device receives terminal location information from the other mobile terminal;
A method for measuring a position of a terminal device, wherein the terminal device measures the position of the own device based on the received terminal position information.

(Appendix 10)
The other mobile terminal also has the first positioning means and the second positioning means,
The other mobile terminal receives the terminal location information request;
The method of measuring a position of a terminal device according to appendix 9, wherein the other mobile terminal transmits the position information of the own device obtained by either the first positioning means or the second positioning means as the terminal position information. .

(Appendix 11)
The additional mobile terminal transmits the terminal location information request when it cannot measure the location information of its own device to be transmitted as the terminal location information by any of the first and second positioning means. Method for measuring the position of a terminal device.

(Appendix 12)
The terminal location information request includes information corresponding to a validity period,
The terminal apparatus according to supplementary note 11, wherein the other mobile terminal determines whether to transmit the terminal location information request based on the information corresponding to a validity period included in the received terminal location information request. How to measure the position of

It is a block diagram of the communication system of an indication. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of the mobile terminal of an indication. It is a functional block diagram which shows the 1st example of the functional block of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the position measuring method of an indication. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st example of operation | movement of the mobile terminal which received the terminal location information request message. (A) And (B) is a figure which shows the 1st example and 2nd example of a format of a terminal location information request message. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a process of a 3rd positioning part. It is a functional block diagram which shows the 2nd example of the functional block of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of operation | movement of the mobile terminal which received the terminal location information request message.

Explanation of symbols

1 communication system BS base station S1 to S3 GPS satellite T1, T10 to T12 mobile terminal

Claims (4)

First positioning means for measuring the position of the device based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites;
Second positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on the base station information received from the base station;
Determination means for determining whether positioning by the first positioning means and the second positioning means is possible;
A terminal location that transmits a terminal location information request for requesting location information of another mobile terminal to another mobile terminal when it is determined that neither the first positioning means nor the second positioning means can perform positioning. Information request means;
Terminal location information receiving means for receiving location information from other mobile terminals ;
Third positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on position information received from another mobile terminal ;
Terminal location information request receiving means for receiving a terminal location information request from another mobile terminal;
When a terminal location information request is received from another mobile terminal while positioning cannot be performed by either the first positioning means or the second positioning means, a terminal location information request is transmitted based on the validity period of the terminal location information request Control means for determining whether to do,
A terminal device comprising: Terminal location information request receiving means for receiving a terminal location information request from another mobile terminal ;
Terminal position information transmitting means for transmitting the position information of the own device obtained by one of the first positioning means and the second positioning means when receiving a terminal position information request ;
The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: A communication system comprising a plurality of mobile terminals and base stations,
The plurality of mobile terminals are:
First positioning means for measuring the position of the device based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites;
Second positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on the base station information received from the base station;
Determination means for determining whether positioning by the first positioning means and the second positioning means is possible;
With
One of the plurality of mobile terminals is
When it is determined that neither of the first positioning means and the second positioning means of any of the mobile terminals is capable of positioning , the other mobile terminal with respect to the other mobile terminals of the plurality of mobile terminals and terminal position information requesting means for transmitting a terminal location request for requesting location information of,
Terminal location information receiving means for receiving location information from other mobile terminals of the plurality of mobile terminals ;
Third positioning means for measuring the position of the own device based on position information received from another mobile terminal ;
With
Other mobile terminals among the plurality of mobile terminals are:
Terminal location information request receiving means for receiving a terminal location information request from any of the mobile terminals;
Terminal location information transmission means for transmitting the location information of the own device to any of the mobile terminals when a terminal location information request is received ;
When a terminal location information request is received from one of the mobile terminals while positioning cannot be performed by either the first positioning means or the second positioning means of the other mobile terminal, based on the validity period of the terminal location information request Control means for determining whether or not to transmit a terminal location information request;
A communication system comprising: A method for measuring the position of a terminal device,
The provided terminal equipment, measurement and whether the positioning by the first positioning means for measuring its own position based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites, the location of the terminal based on the base station information received from the base station and whether the positioning by the second positioning means for, determines,
When both is determined that it is the positioning of the first positioning means and second positioning means provided in the terminal device, the terminal device requests the location information of the other mobile terminal to other mobile terminals Send terminal location information request,
The terminal device receives position information from the other mobile terminal;
Based on the position information received from the other mobile terminal , the terminal device measures its own position,
When a terminal location information request is received from the terminal device while positioning cannot be performed by any of the first positioning means and the second positioning means provided in the other mobile terminal, based on the validity period of the terminal location information request, A method for measuring a position of a terminal device , wherein it is determined whether or not a terminal position information request is transmitted from the other mobile terminal .

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