JP6392802B2 - Wireless communication apparatus, position information notification system, position information transmission method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for notifying a position of a movable wireless communication device.

  There is a wireless tag position search system in which a wireless tag (wireless communication device) attached to a person, a pet, an article, or the like reports the position information of the own device acquired by GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like. When performing a position search of a wireless tag in a wide area, wireless communication (wide area wireless communication) performed via a base station is employed as a means for notifying position information in the wireless tag. In general, wide area wireless communication is known to consume a large amount of power. However, it is desirable that the battery incorporated in such a wireless tag be as small as possible in consideration of portability. Therefore, consuming a large amount of power by wireless communication in the notification of position information raises the problem that the battery capacity that is not so large is lost.

  As a related technique for such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a position detection method in which a position detection device transmits a GPS positioning result through a mobile phone network. In the method described in Patent Document 1, the position detection device determines the movement of its own device based on the result of communication with a base station that consumes less power than GPS, thereby reducing the number of times GPS is used. be able to.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a mobile phone device that reduces power consumption when it exists outside a mobile wireless communication service for a long period of time. The mobile phone device with a GPS function described in Patent Document 2 can reduce power consumption by reducing synchronization trial communication with an unnecessary base station based on periodic GPS positioning.

  The wireless communication device disclosed in Patent Literature 3 detects the electric field strength of radio waves from the tag and the movement of the wireless communication device when performing wireless communication with a tag including a short-range wireless communication module. Based on the sensor, the position of the tag is estimated. That is, this wireless communication device can measure the position by measuring the electric field intensity and the operation of the sensor, which consumes less power than GPS.

  Further, in Patent Document 4, in the wireless tag search system, the signal transmission interval from the wireless tag is set according to the number of wireless tags located in the wireless search area and the speed at which the wireless tag moves away from the tag search device. A wireless tag searching method to be controlled is disclosed.

JP 2006-153695 A JP 2007-259198 A JP 2013-172420 A JP 2014-217049 A

  However, the position detection method, the mobile phone device, the wireless communication device, and the wireless tag search system disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 do not have an effect of reducing power consumption by wireless communication in the notification of position information.

  One object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication apparatus and the like that reduce power consumption by wireless communication when transmitting a notification including position information of the own device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the following configuration.

That is, a wireless communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided.
Position information management means for acquiring position information representing the position of the own machine;
Notification means for generating a notification including the position information of the own device;
Radio communication control means for transmitting the notification to a server connected via a base station that communicates by radio communication together with communication related to start or maintenance of radio communication performed with the base station; Is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a position information notification system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a wireless communication apparatus having the above-described configuration;
A server configured to receive a notification including position information of the wireless communication device transmitted from the wireless communication device; and to store information included in the notification; and to provide a wireless communication service to the wireless communication device; And at least one base station connecting the server.

In order to achieve the above object, a position information notification method according to an aspect of the present invention is performed by an information processing device.
Obtain location information that represents the location of your aircraft,
Generating a notification including the location information of the aircraft;
The notification is transmitted to a server connected via a base station that communicates by wireless communication, together with communication related to start or maintenance of wireless communication performed with the base station.

  The object is also achieved by a wireless communication device having each of the above-described configurations and a corresponding method by a computer program realized by a computer, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program. Is done.

  The present invention has an effect that power consumption due to transmission of position information can be reduced in a wireless communication apparatus.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus 1 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the communication environment in the positional information notification system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the wireless communication device 100 in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the wireless communication device 100 in a modification of the second embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the structure of the computer (information processing apparatus) applicable to each embodiment of this invention and the positional information notification system which concerns on the modification.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless communication device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a wireless communication control unit 2, a location information management unit 5, and a notification unit 6.

  The wireless communication device 1 may be configured by a general information processing device (computer) that operates under the control of a computer program (software program) that is executed using a CPU (Central Processing Unit: not shown). . Alternatively, each unit of the wireless communication device 1 may be configured by a dedicated hardware device or a logic circuit. A hardware configuration example in which the wireless communication apparatus 1 is realized by a computer will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The wireless communication control unit 2 can communicate with a base station (not shown) via wireless communication. The wireless communication apparatus 1 can communicate with a server or the like (not shown) via a base station (not shown). Under the control of the notification unit 6, the wireless communication control unit 2 transmits a notification including position information indicating the position of the own device to a server or the like (not shown) via a base station (not shown). When transmitting the notification, the wireless communication control unit 2 can transmit a notification to a server (not shown) together with communication related to the start or maintenance of wireless communication performed with a base station (not shown).

  The communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication performed between the base station (not shown) with respect to the above-described base station refers to the communication between the base station and the wireless communication device 1 when using the wireless communication service provided by the base station. This is communication based on a communication protocol executed with the wireless communication device 1. The base station is a base station that provides a wireless communication service to an area where the wireless communication device 1 exists. The wireless communication control unit 2 can perform various communication protocol processes necessary for wireless communication. Since various well-known general techniques can be employed for various communication protocol processes necessary for wireless communication, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The position information management unit 5 acquires the position information of the own device, and passes the acquired position information of the own device to the notification unit 6.

  The notification unit 6 generates a notification including the position information of the own device received from the position information management unit 5. The notification unit 6 transmits the generated notification to a server (not shown) or the like via wireless communication by controlling the wireless communication control unit 2.

  As described above, when the notification including the position information of the own device is transmitted under the control of the notification unit 6, the wireless communication control unit 2 starts or maintains wireless communication performed with a base station (not shown). Along with such communication, notification can be transmitted to a server (not shown). That is, the wireless communication control unit 2 can transmit a notification of position information to a server connected via a base station during communication with a base station that is originally necessary for performing wireless communication. Thereby, for example, after completing communication for starting communication with the base station and entering a standby state in which communication is possible, the wireless communication control according to the present embodiment is compared with a case where wireless communication is started again and notification is transmitted. The unit 2 can omit the process of starting the wireless communication when transmitting the notification. That is, the wireless communication device 1 can reduce power consumption by wireless communication when a notification is transmitted to a server (not shown).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce power consumption due to wireless communication when transmitting a notification of position information.

  The reason is that the wireless communication control unit 2 transmits a notification including the position information of its own device to a server (not shown) together with communication related to the start or maintenance of wireless communication performed with a base station (not shown). It is because it can be performed.

  In addition, when the communication for starting or maintaining the wireless communication with the base station is not necessary when transmitting the notification, the wireless communication control unit 2 transmits the notification without such communication. Also good.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment based on the above-described first embodiment will be described. In the following, the characteristic part according to the second embodiment will be mainly described, and the components of the second embodiment having the same configuration as the first embodiment are attached in the first embodiment. The same reference numerals as those of the reference numerals are attached, and the detailed description of the constituent elements is omitted.

  First, the configuration of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a communication environment in the position information notification system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the location information notification system according to the present embodiment includes a wireless communication device 100, a base station 200, and a server 300. The wireless communication device 100 and the base station 200 can communicate by wide area wireless communication. Although omitted in FIG. 2, a plurality of base stations 200 may exist in this system. The wireless communication apparatus 100 performs wireless communication with each base station 200 that provides a wireless communication service in the area to which it has moved. The base station 200 and the server 300 can communicate with each other via a communication network (hereinafter simply referred to as a network) 1000 such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device 100 can communicate with the server 300 via the base station 200.

  The wireless communication device 100, the base station 200, and the server 300 are general information processing devices that operate under the control of a computer program (software program) that is executed using a CPU (Central Processing Unit: not shown). Computer). Or each part of the radio | wireless communication apparatus 100, the base station 200, and the server 300 may be comprised by a dedicated hardware device or a logic circuit. A hardware configuration example in which the wireless communication device 100, the base station 200, and the server 300 are realized by a computer will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The wireless communication device 100 includes a wireless communication control unit 120, an antenna 121, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 130, a sensor unit 180, a location information management unit 150, a notification unit 160, and a storage device 170. The storage device 170 can store movement history information 171.

  The wireless communication control unit 120 can communicate with the base station 200 via wide area wireless communication. The wireless communication control unit 120 can communicate with the server 300 via the base station 200. The wireless communication control unit 120 executes various communication protocol processes necessary for wide area wireless communication. The communication protocol process includes, for example, a location registration process for notifying the base station 200 that manages the service area for wireless communication in which the own device exists, of the location of the own device. The above-described position registration process for the base station 200 is a part of a general communication protocol process in which the wireless communication apparatus 100 registers its own position with the base station 200 when performing wireless communication. Since the well-known general technique can be employed for the location registration process, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The wireless communication control unit 120 transmits, to the server 300, a notification including position information indicating the position of the own device, movement history information 171 described later, and additional information via the base station 200 under the control of the notification unit 160. can do. The radio communication control unit 120 can transmit a notification to the server 300 together with a location registration notification to the base station 200.

  The antenna 121 can receive and transmit wireless radio waves that realize wide-area wireless communication performed by the wireless communication control unit 120.

  The GPS unit 130 can acquire position information representing the position of the own device by receiving the GPS signal. The GPS unit 130 is controlled by the position information management unit 150.

  The sensor unit 180 includes a movement measurement unit 140 and a temperature / humidity sensor 181. The movement measuring unit 140 includes an acceleration sensor 141, a geomagnetic sensor 142, and a gyro sensor 143. In the present embodiment, the movement state measured by the movement measurement unit 140 is a result of integrating the measurement values of the respective units of the movement measurement unit 140. That is, the movement measuring unit 140 can continuously measure the movement state of the own device by various sensors such as the acceleration sensor 141, the geomagnetic sensor 142, and the gyro sensor 143. In the present embodiment, the information representing the movement status measured by the movement measurement unit 140 includes at least trajectory information representing the trajectory that the own device has moved, and movement time information representing the time when the trajectory information was measured. The temperature / humidity sensor 181 can measure the temperature and humidity of its own device (or its surroundings). The movement status, temperature, and humidity measurement results measured by the sensor unit 180 are passed to the position information management unit 150.

  The location information management unit 150 acquires the location information of its own device by the GPS unit 130 based on the movement status measured by the movement measurement unit 140. The location information management unit 150 passes the acquired location information of the own device to the notification unit 160. The position information management unit 150 stores movement history information 171 including at least information indicating the movement status measured by the movement measurement unit 140 in the storage device 170. The location information management unit 150 may include the location information acquired by the GPS unit 130 and the temperature and humidity acquired by the temperature / humidity sensor 181 in the movement history information 171 for storage.

  The notification unit 160 notifies the server 300 of the location information of the own device received from the location information management unit 150 via the wireless communication control unit 120 via wireless communication. In the present embodiment, the notification unit 160 can also send the movement history information 171 and additional information when transmitting the position information of the own device. The additional information is information other than the position information generated at the position where the wireless communication apparatus 100 is located and the movement history information 171. In the present embodiment, the notification unit 160 can also send additional information representing the temperature and humidity measured by the temperature / humidity sensor 181.

  The storage device 170 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory device or a disk device.

  In the present embodiment, the wireless communication control unit 120 is based on the wireless communication control unit 2 in the first embodiment. The location registration for the base station 200 performed by the wireless communication control unit 120 is a specific example of communication related to start or maintenance of wireless communication performed with a base station (not shown) in the first embodiment. The location information management unit 150 is based on the location information management unit 5 in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the position information management unit 150 acquires the position information of the own device from the GPS unit 130. The notification unit 160 is based on the notification unit 6 in the first embodiment. Since the wireless communication control unit 120, the location information management unit 150, and the notification unit 160 are the same as those in the first embodiment except for the points described above, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, the GPS reception function included in the GPS unit 130 is an example of a configuration that realizes a positioning function, and may be configured by another function that can acquire the position information of the own device. Similarly, the acceleration sensor 141, the geomagnetic sensor 142, and the gyro sensor 143 included in the movement measurement unit 140 are examples of a configuration that realizes a movement measurement function, and are based on other devices that can measure the movement of the own device. It may be a configuration. For example, the movement measurement unit 140 may be a functional unit that can acquire position information, which is different from the GPS unit 130. For example, such a movement measurement unit 140 can obtain the movement status continuously by periodically acquiring the position information and calculating the displacement from the previously acquired position information.

  The server 300 includes a communication control unit 301, a control unit 302, and a storage device 303. As described above, the server 300 can also be called an information processing apparatus.

  The communication control unit 301 can communicate with the wireless communication device 100 via the communication network 1000 and the base station 200.

  The control unit 302 can receive position information, movement history information 171 and additional information of the wireless communication device 100 from the wireless communication device 100 via the communication control unit 301. The control unit 302 accumulates the above information received from the wireless communication device 100 in the storage device 303.

  The storage device 303 can store information received from the wireless communication device 100 under the control of the control unit 302. The storage device 303 need not be built in the server 300. For example, the storage device 303 may be a storage device connected via any communication network.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described in detail. First, the premise in the following description will be described.

  In the position information system according to the present embodiment, the moving wireless communication device 100 notifies the server 300 of the position information of the own device, the movement history information indicating the progress of movement, and additional information such as temperature and humidity. In this position information notification system, for example, the wireless communication device 100 is attached as a wireless tag to a person, a pet, a vehicle, or the like. Hereinafter, the wireless communication device 100 is also referred to as a wireless tag. The position information, movement history information, and additional information of the wireless tag stored in the server 300 may be referred to by a terminal (not shown) for the purpose of searching for an object to which the wireless tag is attached, for example. Considering the portability of the wireless tag, it is desirable that the battery built in the wireless tag is as small as possible.

  In the present embodiment, the magnitude of power consumption in the wireless communication device 100 decreases in the order of wide area wireless communication >> GPS reception by the GPS unit 130 >> movement measurement by the movement measurement unit 140> wide area communication standby. In the above, “A> B” indicates that the operation A is relatively larger than the operation B. “A >> B” indicates that the difference in power consumption is larger than the description “A> B”. That is, if wide-area wireless communication and GPS reception are frequently performed, the power saving performance of the wireless communication device 100 is significantly degraded. The present embodiment is an example of reducing the power consumption of the wireless communication device 100 based on the difference in characteristics such as the magnitude of power consumption between the GPS unit 130 and the movement measurement unit 140.

  The above is the premise in the following description.

  Next, a detailed operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the wireless communication device 100 in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, first, the movement measuring unit 140 measures the movement state (step S10). Specifically, in the present embodiment, the movement measuring unit 140 includes the trajectory information that represents the trajectory of movement and the measurement time that represents the measurement time obtained by integrating the measured values of the acceleration sensor 141, the geomagnetic sensor 142, and the gyro sensor 143. Information is output as the movement status. As a method for integrating the measurement results of the acceleration sensor 141, the geomagnetic sensor 142, and the gyro sensor 143 and outputting the result as movement trajectory information, a well-known general method can be adopted, and a detailed description thereof will be given. Omitted. The movement measurement unit 140 periodically outputs the measured movement status to the position information management unit 150.

  The position information management unit 150 records the movement status received from the movement measurement unit 140 in the storage device 170 as movement history information 171 (step S11). In the present embodiment, as an example, the movement history information 171 includes at least trajectory information that represents the trajectory that the device has moved, and movement time information that represents the time at which the trajectory information was measured. The position information management unit 150 may include the position information of the reference point where the movement is started as the movement history information 171. The position information of the reference point is the latest value measured by the GPS unit 130. If positioning by the GPS unit 130 has not been performed yet, the position information management unit 150 may use the initial reference point as a temporary coordinate. Alternatively, the position information management unit 150 may obtain initial reference point information by performing initial position measurement with the GPS unit 130 after the wireless communication device 100 is activated.

  Next, the position information management unit 150 determines whether or not the movement distance from the previously notified position is greater than a predetermined value (step S12). The “position notified last time” is a position when the notification unit 160 last notifies the server 300. As will be described later in steps S <b> 17 and S <b> 20, the position information management unit 150 updates the reference point with the latest position information when performing notification. Specifically, based on the movement history information 171, the position information management unit 150 calculates a movement distance that is a distance between the point reached by moving from the reference point and the reference point.

  When the moving distance is smaller than the predetermined value (NO in step S12), the wireless communication device 100 returns to the operation in step S10.

  When the movement distance is larger than the predetermined value (YES in step S12), the position information management unit 150 determines whether or not the movement stop time is longer than the predetermined time T1 (step S13). Specifically, first, the location information management unit 150 traces back from the latest movement history information 171 to the past, the time during which the movement of the own device is generally stopped (the movement is stopped). Time). That is, the time during which the movement is stopped is a time during which it can be considered that the aircraft is generally staying at the current position. The position information management unit 150 may determine that the movement is stopped with a predetermined width for the degree of movement. Then, the position information management unit 150 compares the calculated time during which the movement is stopped with a predetermined time T1.

  When the time during which the movement is stopped is shorter than the predetermined time T1 (NO in step S13), the wireless communication device 100 returns to the operation in step S10.

  When the time during which the movement is stopped is longer than the predetermined time T1 (YES in step S13), the position information management unit 150 determines whether or not the elapsed time from the previous notification is longer than the predetermined time T2 (step S14). ). The “previous notification” is a notification that the notification unit 160 makes last to the server 300. When the notification has not been performed yet, the position information management unit 150 determines that the elapsed time from the time of the previous notification is longer than the predetermined time T2.

  When the elapsed time from the time of the previous notification is shorter than the predetermined time T2 (NO in step S14), the wireless communication device 100 returns to the operation in step S10.

  When the elapsed time from the time of the previous notification is longer than the predetermined time T2 (YES in step S14), the position information management unit 150 measures the position by the GPS unit 130 (step S15). That is, the position information management unit 150 has been in a state where the movement distance is larger than a predetermined value and the movement is stopped longer than the predetermined time T1, and more than the predetermined time T2 has elapsed since the previous notification was performed. In this case, it is determined to acquire and notify new position information. The GPS unit 130 performs positioning by receiving GPS under the control of the position information management unit 150. The GPS unit 130 outputs the acquired position information to the position information management unit 150.

  The position information management unit 150 that has received the position information from the GPS unit 130 instructs the notification unit 160 to make a new notification to the server 300. Specifically, the position information management unit 150 outputs position information, the contents of the movement history information 171 recorded since the previous notification, and information indicating temperature and humidity to the notification unit 160. For example, the position information management unit 150 may acquire information representing the current temperature and humidity from the temperature / humidity sensor 181 in step S15. Alternatively, the position information management unit 150 may acquire information representing the temperature and humidity from the temperature / humidity sensor 181 when receiving the movement status from the movement measurement unit 140 in step S10.

  The notification unit 160 generates a notification including the position information, the contents of the movement history information 171 recorded after the previous notification, and additional information indicating temperature and humidity. Then, the notification unit 160 transmits a notification to the server 300 via the wireless communication control unit 120. When transmitting the notification, the wireless communication control unit 120 determines whether or not location registration for the base station 200 is necessary (step S16). Specifically, the wireless communication control unit 120 determines whether any base station 200 is in a standby state for wide area wireless communication. For example, if the wireless communication control unit 120 is already in a standby state for wide area wireless communication, the wireless communication control unit 120 determines that location registration with respect to the base station 200 is unnecessary.

  When the location registration with respect to the base station 200 is not required (NO in step S16), the wireless communication control unit 120 starts the notification information transmission operation to the server 300 as it is from the standby state. That is, the wireless communication control unit 120 notifies the server 300 of the position information, the movement history information, and the additional information instructed to be transmitted from the notification unit 160 (step S17).

  When location registration with respect to the base station 200 is necessary (YES in Step S16), the wireless communication control unit 120 transmits notification to the server 300 together with location registration with the base station 200 (Step S20). Specifically, the wireless communication control unit 120 sends a notification to the server 300 between a series of communication sequences in the location registration operation for the base station 200 or following the communication sequence. Note that the operation of “location registration to the base station 200” includes a series of communication protocol processing for the base station 200 performed when performing wide area wireless communication.

  After the notification is transmitted, the reference point for movement measurement is updated with the notified position information. Then, the wireless communication device 100 returns to the operation of Step S10 again and repeats the above-described operation.

  The base station 200 transmits the notification sent from the wireless communication apparatus 100 to the server 300 via the communication network 1000. In the server 300, the control unit 302 receives the notification via the communication control unit 301. The control unit 302 can accumulate information included in the received notification in the storage device 303.

  As described above, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above, this embodiment further includes power by wireless communication when transmitting the movement history information 171 and the additional information to the server 300. There is also an effect that consumption can be reduced.

  The reason is that the notification unit 160 notifies the server 300 of the recorded movement history information 171 and additional information acquired by the sensor unit 180 together with the position information.

(Modification of the second embodiment)
In addition, the following can be considered as a modification of this embodiment.

  For example, the wireless communication control unit 120 may notify the position information management unit 150 when detecting that communication related to the start or maintenance of wireless communication occurs. Then, the location information management unit 150 may notify the server 300 including the location information of the own device through the notification unit 160 together with the communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication. A case where the wireless communication control unit 120 notifies the occurrence of the location registration process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed by the wireless communication device 100 in the modification of the second embodiment. In this example, the wireless communication control unit 120 that is in a standby state for wireless communication indicates that location registration with respect to the base station 200 is required, for example, when the connected base station 200 is changed by movement of the wireless communication device 100. The information management unit 150 is notified. In this case, the location registration communication with the base station 200 is an example of communication related to maintaining wireless communication.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the wireless communication control unit 120 monitors whether or not location registration for the base station 200 is necessary according to the wireless communication protocol (step S30). When location registration with respect to the base station 200 is required (YES in step S30), the wireless communication control unit 120 notifies the location information management unit 150 of the occurrence of the location registration process. The wireless communication control unit 120 stands by without performing the location registration process.

  The position information management unit 150 receives the notification and measures the position by the GPS unit 130 (step S31). The operation of each unit in step S31 is the same as that in step S15 shown in FIG. Then, the location information management unit 150 notifies the location information of the own device, the movement history information 171 and the additional information newly acquired by the GPS unit 130 via the notification unit 160 and the wireless communication control unit 120 ( Step S32). In this case, since location registration with respect to the base station is necessary, the operation of the wireless communication control unit 120 is the same as the operation of step S16 shown in FIG. 3 and the operation of step S20. That is, steps S31 and S32 are the same as steps S15, S16, and S20 shown in FIG.

  As described above, the location information management unit 150 according to the present modification can adjust the positioning timing of the own device, triggered by the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of wireless communication. As a result, the timing of notification to the server 300 performed by the notification unit 160 following positioning is also adjusted. In other words, the location information management unit 150 is configured so that the location information management unit 150 transmits the notification to the server 300 via the positioning and notification unit 160 when the notification to the server 300 can be transmitted with power saving. Notifications can be sent. As a result, the wireless communication device 100 can further reduce power consumption due to wireless communication when transmitting a notification including the position information of the own device to the server 300.

  The reason is that the wireless communication control unit 120 notifies the position information management unit 150 that communication related to the start or maintenance of wireless communication occurs.

  Further, the present modification can be further modified. For example, after receiving the notification from the wireless communication control unit 120, the location information management unit 150 determines whether or not to perform positioning of the own device and transmission of the notification to the server 300 (step S31 in FIG. 4) according to a predetermined condition. It may be determined. As the predetermined condition, for example, a part of the determination in steps S12 to S14 in FIG. 3 may be performed. Specifically, the location information management unit 150 receives a notification that the location registration to the base station 200 is necessary, but a predetermined time has not elapsed since the time of the previous notification (FIG. 3). Since step S14), the operation of seeing off positioning and notification transmission may be performed. At this time, the wireless communication control unit 120 may end the standby state without performing location registration in the base station 200 as it is. Alternatively, the wireless communication control unit 120 may maintain wireless communication by performing location registration with the base station 200 without notification using a timer or the like.

  The position information management unit 150 is an example of the determination method for determining the timing for the positioning by the GPS unit 130 and the notification by the notification unit 160 shown in steps S12 to S14. The position information management unit 150 may rearrange the order of determination performed in steps S12 to S14. The location information management unit 150 may determine the timing of positioning and notification by combining some of the determinations performed in steps S12 to S14 or by any one determination.

  In addition, the wireless communication device 100 may notify the server 300 including a history of additional information accompanying movement. Specifically, for example, in step S <b> 10, the temperature / humidity sensor 181 outputs the measurement result to the position information management unit 150 in the same manner as each unit of the movement measurement unit 140. The position information management unit 150 records the measurement results (temperature and humidity) received from the temperature / humidity sensor 181 as additional information in addition to the movement history information 171. The position information management unit 150 outputs movement history information 171 including additional information to the notification unit 160 when instructing transmission of the notification in step S16. The notification unit 160 includes the additional information included in the movement history information 171 in the notification and transmits it to the server 300. In this way, there is also an effect that the temperature / humidity management state and the like during the movement of the object with the wireless tag can be recorded.

  The temperature and humidity are examples of additional information included in the notification to the server 300. The additional information may be other information. For example, the additional information may be information acquired by a functional unit other than the temperature / humidity sensor 181 such as a camera or a microphone. Alternatively, the additional information may be information generated inside the wireless communication device 100, such as the remaining battery level of the wireless communication device 100.

  In addition, the wireless communication device 100 may transmit a notification to the server 300 without including additional information. For example, the location information management unit 150 may add additional information to the notification when it is determined to be necessary based on a predetermined criterion. Further, the present embodiment can be configured without (excluded) the handling of additional information. In that case, the sensor unit 180 does not need to include a sensor other than the movement measurement unit 140 such as the temperature / humidity sensor 181.

(Hardware configuration example)
In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof (hereinafter referred to as “each embodiment”), each unit illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 may be configured by an independent hardware circuit or software. It can be regarded as a program function (processing) unit (software module). However, the division of each part shown in these drawings is a configuration for convenience of explanation, and various configurations can be assumed for mounting. An example of the hardware environment in such a case will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer (information processing device) applicable to each embodiment of the present invention and the wireless communication device 1 and the position information notification system according to the modification. That is, FIG. 5 is a configuration of a computer capable of realizing at least one of the wireless communication devices 1 and 100, the base station 200, and the server 300 in each of the above-described embodiments, and each function in each of the above-described embodiments. Indicates a possible hardware environment.

  A computer 900 shown in FIG. 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 901, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 902, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 903, a communication interface (IF: InterFace) 904, a display 905, and a hard disk device (HDD). : Hard Disk Drive) 906, and these are connected via a bus 907. Note that when the computer shown in FIG. 5 functions as the wireless communication devices 1 and 100, the base station 200, or the server 300, the display 905 does not need to be provided at all times.

  The communication interface 904 is a general communication unit that realizes communication between the computers in each of the above-described embodiments. The hard disk device 906 stores a program group 906A and various storage information 906B. The program group 906A is, for example, a computer program for realizing a function corresponding to each block (each unit) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above. The various storage information 906B is, for example, the movement history information 171 shown in FIG. In such a hardware configuration, the CPU 901 governs the overall operation of the computer 900.

  The present invention described by taking the above-described embodiments as an example is a computer that can realize the functions of the block configuration diagrams (FIGS. 1 and 2) or the flowcharts (FIGS. 3 and 4) referred to in the description of the embodiments. After the program is supplied, the computer program is read out and executed by the CPU 901 of the hardware. The computer program supplied to the computer may be stored in a nonvolatile storage device (storage medium) such as the RAM 903 or the hard disk device 906 which is a readable / writable temporary storage memory.

  In the above case, the computer program can be supplied to each apparatus by installing it in the apparatus via various recording media such as a floppy disk (registered trademark) or a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM). Like the method to do now, a general procedure can be adopted. As a method of supplying a computer program into each device, a method of downloading from the outside via a communication network 1000 such as the Internet is also common. In such a case, the present invention can be understood to be configured by a computer-readable storage medium in which the code constituting the computer program or the code is recorded.

  Note that a part or all of the above-described embodiment can be described as the following supplementary notes, but is not limited to the following supplementary notes.

(Appendix 1)
Position information management means for acquiring position information representing the position of the own machine;
Notification means for generating a notification including the position information of the own device;
Radio communication control means for transmitting the notification to a server connected via a base station that communicates by radio communication together with communication related to start or maintenance of radio communication performed with the base station; A wireless communication device comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication control means includes communication of location registration with respect to the base station as communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication.

(Appendix 3)
When the wireless communication control means further monitors the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of wireless communication to a base station, and detects that communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication occurs,
The location information management means adjusts the timing for acquiring new location information representing the location of the device, triggered by the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication,
The notification means generates a notification including the new position information after obtaining the new position information,
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wireless communication control unit transmits a notification including the new position information to the server together with the communication related to the start or maintenance of the generated wireless communication.

(Appendix 4)
It further comprises a movement measuring means for continuously measuring the movement status of the own aircraft,
The location information management means stores movement history information including information representing the movement status,
The wireless communication apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein the notification unit transmits the notification including the movement history information when transmitting the notification including the position information of the own device.

(Appendix 5)
The wireless communication device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, and
A server configured to receive a notification including position information of the wireless communication device transmitted from the wireless communication device; and to store information included in the notification; and to provide a wireless communication service to the wireless communication device; And at least one base station connecting the server.

(Appendix 6)
Obtain location information that represents the location of your aircraft,
Generating a notification including the location information of the aircraft;
A location information notification method that transmits the notification to a server connected via a base station that communicates by wireless communication together with communication related to start or maintenance of wireless communication performed with the base station.

(Appendix 7)
Further monitoring the occurrence of communications related to the initiation or maintenance of wireless communications to the base station,
When it is detected that communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication occurs,
With the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication as an opportunity, adjust the timing to acquire new position information representing the position of the own machine,
After obtaining the new location information, generate a notification including the new location information,
The location information notification method according to appendix 6, wherein a notification including the new location information is transmitted to the server together with the communication related to the start or maintenance of the generated wireless communication.

(Appendix 8)
Measure the movement of your aircraft further continuously,
Storing movement history information including information representing the movement status;
The location information notification method according to appendix 6 or 7, wherein when the notification including the location information of the own device is transmitted, the notification including the movement history information is also transmitted.

(Appendix 9)
Position information management processing for acquiring position information indicating the position of the own machine;
A notification process for generating a notification including the position information of the device;
A wireless communication control process for transmitting the notification to a server connected via a base station that communicates by wireless communication, together with communication related to start or maintenance of wireless communication performed with the base station; A computer program that causes a computer to execute.

(Appendix 10)
In the wireless communication control process, when the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication is detected by further monitoring the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication to the base station,
In the location information management process, triggered by the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication, adjust the timing for acquiring new location information representing the location of the device,
In the notification process, after obtaining the new location information, generate a notification including the new location information,
The computer program according to claim 9, wherein in the wireless communication control process, a notification including the new position information is transmitted to the server together with the communication related to the start or maintenance of the generated wireless communication.

(Appendix 11)
It further includes a movement measurement process that continuously measures the movement status of the aircraft.
In the location information management process, movement history information including information representing the movement status is stored,
The computer program according to appendix 9 or 10, wherein, in the notification process, when the notification including the position information of the own device is transmitted, the notification includes the movement history information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Wireless communication apparatus 2,120 Wireless communication control part 5,150 Position information management part 6,160 Notification part 121 Antenna 130 GPS part 140 Movement measurement part 141 Acceleration sensor 142 Geomagnetic sensor 143 Gyro sensor 170 Storage apparatus 171 Movement history information 180 sensor unit 181 temperature / humidity sensor 200 base station 300 server 301 communication control unit 302 control unit 303 storage device 900 information processing device (computer)
901 CPU
902 ROM
903 RAM
904 Communication interface (IF)
905 Display 906 Hard disk device (HDD)
906A Program group 906B Various stored information 907 Bus 1000 Network (communication network)

Claims (10)

Position information management means for acquiring position information representing the position of the own machine;
Notification means for generating a notification including the position information of the own device;
Radio communication control means for transmitting the notification to a server connected via a base station that communicates by radio communication;
Movement measuring means for measuring the movement status of the own machine with lower power consumption than the position information management means;
With
The location information management means includes:
Based on the information indicating the movement status from the movement measuring means, the movement distance of the own machine is greater than a predetermined value, and the time during which the own machine has stopped moving is longer than a predetermined time, and the previous notification If it is determined that the elapsed time since sending is longer than the specified time,
Instructing the notification means to generate the notification;
The notification means includes
A wireless communication apparatus that transmits the generated notification via the wireless communication control means. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication control means includes communication for location registration with respect to the base station as communication related to start or maintenance of the wireless communication. When the wireless communication control means further monitors the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication to the base station, and detects that communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication occurs,
The location information management means adjusts the timing for acquiring new location information representing the location of the device, triggered by the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication,
The notification means generates a notification including the new position information after obtaining the new position information,
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication control unit transmits a notification including the new position information to the server together with the communication related to the start or maintenance of the generated wireless communication. The location information management means stores movement history information including information representing the movement status,
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit transmits the notification including the movement history information when transmitting the notification including the position information of the own device. A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A server configured to receive a notification including position information of the wireless communication device transmitted from the wireless communication device; and to store information included in the notification; and to provide a wireless communication service to the wireless communication device; And at least one base station connecting the server. Depending on the information processing device,
Measure the movement status of your own machine with the movement measurement means that consumes less power than the position information management means that acquires the position information that represents your own position,
Based on the information indicating the movement status from the measured movement measuring means, the movement distance of the own machine is greater than a predetermined value, and the time during which the own machine has stopped moving is longer than a predetermined time, and If the last time elapsed from the transmission of the notification including the location information of its own is determined that longer than the predetermined time,
Obtaining the location information;
Generating a notification including the location information of the aircraft;
A location information notification method for transmitting the notification to a server connected via a base station that communicates by wireless communication. Further monitoring the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication to the base station,
When it is detected that communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication occurs,
With the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication as an opportunity, adjust the timing to acquire new position information representing the position of the own machine,
After obtaining the new location information, generate a notification including the new location information,
The position information notification method according to claim 6, wherein a notification including the new position information is transmitted to the server together with the communication related to the start or maintenance of the generated wireless communication. A movement measurement process for measuring the movement status of the own apparatus by means of a movement measuring means with lower power consumption than the position information management means for acquiring position information representing the position of the own apparatus;
Based on the information indicating the movement status from the measured movement measuring means, the movement distance of the own machine is greater than a predetermined value, and the time during which the own machine has stopped moving is longer than a predetermined time, and last, when the elapsed time from the transmission of the notification including the location information of its own is determined to longer than the predetermined time, the location information management process of acquiring the position information,
A notification process for generating a notification including the position information of the device;
A computer program that causes a computer connected to a base station that communicates by wireless communication to execute a wireless communication control process for transmitting the notification. In the wireless communication control process, when monitoring the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication to the base station, and detecting that communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication occurs,
In the location information management process, triggered by the occurrence of communication related to the start or maintenance of the wireless communication, adjust the timing for acquiring new location information representing the location of the device,
In the notification process, after obtaining the new location information, generate a notification including the new location information,
The computer program according to claim 8, wherein, in the wireless communication control process, a notification including the new position information is transmitted to the server together with the communication related to the start or maintenance of the generated wireless communication. In the location information management process, movement history information including information representing the movement status is stored,
The computer program according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, in the notification process, when the notification including the position information of the own device is transmitted, the notification is transmitted including the movement history information.

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