JPH0980144A - Wireless map terminal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To specify the own position of a user looking at a map displayed almost accurately without requiring any costly equipment such as sign post. SOLUTION: The mobile terminals 5a-5n each comprise a wireless section 54 which receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of PHS base stations 1a-1c and a memory card section 56 which has a map stored as covering at least a range that allows the wireless section 54 to receive the radio waves from the base stations 1a-1c. An electric field intensity distribution characteristic of the radio waves with a specified output is stored previously as transmitted from the plurality of base stations 1a-1c and the intensity of the received electric field of the radio waves from the base stations 1a-1c is measured as received by the wireless section 54 at a point. This apparatus also includes a control section 57 which determines the current position from the intensity of the received electric field and the distribution characteristic of the intensity of electric field stored previously in the memory card section 56 to get the position plotted on a map read out of the memory card section 56 and a display section 58 to display the map in which is shown the current position thus plotted by the control section 57.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio map terminal device using a plurality of radio base stations that emit weak radio waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a person goes through a facility built on a vast site, such as an amusement park, an event venue, an airfield, or a department store, to a target point, he or she may get lost on the way. Can waste time.

Therefore, in amusement parks and the like, signs for important facilities are appropriately installed at respective points on the site, and a person can rely on these signs to reach a destination.

In the case of a vast facility, a guide may be waiting at the entrance to teach a person who enters the facility for the first time the route to the destination.

Another method is to obtain a guide map of the facility at the entrance of the facility and rely on this map to go to the destination.

By the way, in recent years, with the development of mobile communication technology, there is a method in which a passerby moves with a mobile terminal and reaches a destination from information displayed on the mobile terminal.

In order to realize this, a mobile terminal in which information about the destination the passer-by is going to go to is set in advance, and an electronic sign post installed at a certain interval on the side of the traffic route is required. Is.

In this case, when a passerby carries a mobile terminal with them, the signpost radiates the guide information to the mobile terminal by radio waves, and the mobile terminal receives the information and displays it on its display section.

When a pedestrian passes through the traffic route while watching the displayed contents, the displayed contents also change, and the driver sees this change and reaches the destination. It should be noted that there is also a method of comparing the destination information stored in the mobile terminal and teaching the correct route from the sign post when the route is incorrect.

On the other hand, there is also a method of using a mobile phone system such as a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) or a cellular system.

For example, a mobile phone system such as PHS is
It is composed of a plurality of base stations arranged at different points to cover the use range, that is, to form a wireless zone, and a portable telephone terminal that communicates with these base stations. Each base station is connected to the central PBX by wire.
Is connected to the public network.

In the case of this PHS, when a portable telephone terminal exists in the zone, the map information of the zone is digitally transmitted from the base station to the portable telephone terminal and displayed on the display section of the portable telephone terminal. . By viewing the displayed contents, the user can know the information of the traffic route in the zone. When the user moves to another zone, the base station installed in the destination zone sends the map information of the area. By doing so, it is possible to display a map of the vicinity where the user is now on the mobile phone terminal every time the user moves. In this case, each mobile phone terminal can make a call with a mobile phone terminal located in another zone.
You can also talk to outside telephones via outside lines through the public network.

[0013]

However, each of the above-mentioned methods has the following problems.

That is, when equipment such as a sign post is installed on the side of a traffic route, it is the most reliable way for a user to obtain information. It is not economical because special equipment must be added.

When using the PHS or the cellular system, the range in which the PHS base station can form a wireless zone is generally about 100 m in radius, and the radius of the cellular system base station is several km. Reach When the area of the zone is wide as described above, even if the map is displayed on the terminal, the displayed content cannot identify where the user is in the zone, which is a practical problem.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is not necessary to provide costly equipment such as a sign post, and a user (user) can specify a wireless map terminal device. Is intended to provide.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 stores in advance the electric field strength distribution characteristics of radio waves emitted from a plurality of base stations arranged at different points. The electric field intensity distribution storage means, the radio wave receiving means for receiving the radio waves emitted from the plurality of base stations, and the map storage means for storing the map of the range in which the radio waves emitted from the base stations can be received. In the electric field strength distribution storage means, the electric field strength calculation means for calculating the received electric field strength of the electric wave from the base stations received by the electric wave reception means at the point, the electric field strength calculated by the electric field strength calculation means, An arithmetic means for obtaining the current position based on the electric field strength distribution characteristics stored in advance, and a map is read from the map information storage means, and the present position obtained by the arithmetic means is displayed on the map. It is and a Shimesuru display means.

In this case, when the PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) wireless telephone system is used in a vast facility, the contour line distribution of the electric field strength of the radio waves radiated by a plurality of PHS base stations is measured in advance. Then, the measured electric field intensity distribution map (contour data) is created. Then, when displaying a map on each mobile terminal, based on the electric field strength actually measured by each mobile terminal at the moving point, the created contour line data is read to identify the location where the mobile terminal itself is located, and specify the location. The current position is displayed on the map.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless map terminal device according to the first aspect, when the calculated current position does not converge to one point and there are a plurality of points, the range obtained from the plurality of points is calculated. The feature is that a closed curve region is formed with the error range as.

In this case, since the current position is indicated by the closed curve area, the user can know that he is currently in the closed curve area.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 3, in the radio map terminal device according to claim 1, the past movement route is within the attribute area on the map, and the present position newly obtained by the calculating means is A position correction means is provided for correcting the current position within the attribute area when it is out of the attribute area.

In this case, since the current position of the user does not deviate from the attribute area such as a road, more accurate position confirmation can be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the radio map terminal device according to the first aspect, the calculating means calculates a moving speed calculated from a moving route in the past attribute area and a time when the route is moved. Based on the above, a new current position after moving the attribute area is obtained.

In this case, since the new current position is obtained from the past movement route, the position can be specified more accurately than simply measuring the position.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is, in the radio map terminal device according to claim 1, provided with a prediction means for predicting a future movement route from a plurality of current positions obtained by the calculation means during movement. are doing.

In this case, by predicting the movement path, the error can be corrected when the position is measured, and the position specifying accuracy can be improved.

The invention according to claim 6 is the radio map terminal device according to claim 5, characterized in that the predicting means predicts a future travel route using the least squares method.

In this case, a smooth moving route can be obtained by the least square method based on the position data specifying each moving point.

Further, in the invention according to claim 7, in the radio map terminal device according to claim 5, the predicting means is configured to use the calculating means during the movement when the past movement route is within the attribute area on the map. Create a closed curve range that shows the error range of each current position from the obtained multiple current positions,
It is characterized in that a future movement route is predicted based on the closed curve area and the attribute area.

In this case, since the future movement route is predicted based on the closed curve area and the attribute area, the current position can be narrowed down.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the electric field strength distribution storage means stores in advance electric field strength distribution characteristics of radio waves emitted from a plurality of base stations arranged at different points, Radio wave receiving means for receiving the emitted radio waves, map storage means for storing a map of a predetermined closed area capable of receiving the radio waves emitted from the base station, and the radio wave receiving means at a certain point within the predetermined closed area The electric field strength calculation means for calculating the received electric field strength of the radio wave received from each of the base stations, the electric field strength calculated by the electric field strength calculation means, and the electric field previously stored in the electric field strength distribution storage means. A calculation means for obtaining a current position in the predetermined closed area based on intensity distribution characteristics, and a destination read from a recording medium on which a bar code indicating a desired destination in the predetermined closed area is recorded. A bar code reader; and a display means for reading the map from the map information storage means and displaying the current position obtained by the computing means and the destination read by the bar code reader on the map. There is.

In this case, the mobile terminal measures the electric field strength from a nearby base station, selects a contour line corresponding to the measured electric field strength from contour lines of known electric field strength, and a point where a plurality of contour lines coincide with each other. Identifies the current location where the mobile terminal is located and displays it on the map together with the destination read by the barcode reader.

That is, from the above, each user can grasp the surrounding map where he / she is located and the place where he / she is currently located on the map with the mobile terminal, and how he / she can proceed from now on. You can see if it's good.
Then, as the user progresses, the surrounding wireless zones change, but the map displayed on the mobile terminal and the current position also change each time, so the user can proceed while watching the map and proceed to the destination. Can be reached.

As a result, it is not necessary to provide costly equipment such as a sign post, and the user can specify his / her position.

[0035]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a radio map terminal device of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numerals 1a to 1c are base stations of a plurality of personal handy phone systems (hereinafter referred to as PHS) that form each wireless zone, and are connected to a central PBX (exchange) 3 by a cable 2. . Each base station 1a-
1c is a weak radio wave with a predetermined output (reception distance is about 10
It radiates about 0 meters). The PBX 3 is connected to an external line (not shown) through the public network 4. The PBX 3 is also connected to a destination management device (center station) 6. This destination management device 6 has a map information file of the entire site, and tracks and monitors the destination of each mobile terminal 5a-5c as a wireless map terminal device through each base station 1a-1c.

Each of the base stations 1a to 1c forms a radio zone of radio waves radiated from the base station 1a to 1c and communicates with the mobile terminals 5a to 5c located in the zone. Mobile terminal 5
The a to 5c can wirelessly communicate with the outside through the public network 4 similarly to a normal PHS mobile phone. Further, the mobile terminals 5a to 5c can talk with each other. Since the electric field strength of the radio waves radiated from the base stations 1a to 1c at each installation location becomes gradually weaker, as shown in FIG. 2, the electric field strength distribution is measured at each point in advance and the electric field strength distribution is made into contour lines. The collected data (contour data) is stored in the destination management device 6.

Next, the principle of the method for predicting the current position of the radio map terminal device will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, when the base stations 1a to 1c form zones A, B and C, it is assumed that a mobile terminal 5a is located at a point P in the zone C.

Here, each zone A, B, C is a base station 1a.
This corresponds to a contour line in which points of constant electric field strength are plotted for radio waves emitted from 1c.

Generally, when there are no obstacles around and the transmission antennas of the base stations 1a to 1c are omnidirectional in the horizontal direction, the zone is circular.

However, in an actual environment, there can be no obstacles, so the radio waves are reflected or weakened by the obstacles, and the shape of the zone is a distorted circle as shown in FIG. It becomes a shape. The shapes of these zones A, B, and C are fixed once the base stations 1a to 1c are installed as long as the surrounding environment does not change. Therefore, the installation locations of the base stations 1a to 1c are different from those of the zones. , It is necessary to arrange so that there is no so-called dead zone where radio waves do not reach the mobile terminal.

Here, the mobile terminal 5 located at this point P
When the electric field strength of the radio wave radiated from each of the base stations 1a to 1c is measured with a, the electric field strength a2 from the base station 1a, the electric field strength b2 from the base station 1b, and the electric field strength c from the base station 1c.
It becomes 2. Each of the measured base stations 1a among the contour line data showing the electric field strength distribution of the radio waves from each of the base stations 1a to 1c
If you select the contour lines corresponding to the electric field strength from ~ 1c,
It becomes zones A ', B', and C '. Here, zone A
′ And B ′ are outer contour lines from the regular zones A and B, and zone C ′ is an inner contour line from the regular zone C.

These zones A ', B', C'should be coincident at the point P if there is no influence of obstacles and the contour lines are taken at the finest intervals.

The gist of the present invention is to measure the electric field strength from a nearby base station with a mobile terminal, and from the measured electric field strength,
This is to select the corresponding line of the electric field strength contours recorded in advance and specify the point where the plurality of contours match as the place where the mobile terminal is currently located.

If a plurality of contour lines coincide with each other and the position of the mobile terminal 5a can be specified in this way, map information in the vicinity of the place where the mobile terminal 5a is located can be obtained from the destination management device 6 as the center station to the mobile terminal 5a. On the mobile terminal 5a side, by simultaneously displaying the map information in the vicinity thereof and the position of the user, the user can clearly determine the road information (attribute area) around him and where he is on the road, and The route to the ground will be clear.

On the other hand, due to the influence of obstacles, zones A ', B',
When the shape of C ′ is distorted from the normal shape, the zones A ′, B ′, and C ′ do not match at one point as shown in FIG. In this case, a circle in contact with the three zones is created, and when the radius of the circle is α or less, it may be considered that the three zones match.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, three zones A are provided.
In some cases, ', B', and C'may be mixed with each other. In this case, a circle that passes through the points where the two zones intersect is created, and if the radius of this circle is less than or equal to α, it is considered that the three zones match.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the three zones are almost coincident with each other within a circle having a radius α, but the zone D'does not coincide with the other zones independently, the data for predicting the coincidence point is obtained. Zone D'is deleted.

Here, the configuration of the mobile terminals (portable type) 5a to 5c will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the mobile terminal 5a
Is composed of a terminal main body 51, an antenna 52 provided in the terminal main body 51, and a display 58.
The antenna 52 receives the radio waves radiated from the base stations 1a to 1c. The display unit 58 is, for example, a thin display device such as an LCD, and displays the received position information, a map, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal main body 51 of the mobile terminal 5a receives radio waves from the base stations 1a to 1c through an antenna 52 and transmits them together with a radio section 54, a bar code reader section 55, a memory. Card unit 56, control unit 5
7 and the display unit 58 and the like. Radio section 5
Reference numeral 4 includes a receiver that converts high-frequency radio waves input from the antenna 52 into digital data, and a transmitter that converts the digital data into high-frequency waves and sends the digital data to the antenna 52. The bar code reader unit 55 reads the contents of a ticket or the like on which a bar code described later is printed, and is required when the contents of the ticket are read by the mobile terminal side. A map information file is stored in the memory card unit 56. It is used when the mobile terminal 5a has map information. The control unit 57 is a unit that controls the functions of the entire mobile terminal 5a. The display unit 58 displays the graphic data and character data sent from the control unit 57.

Next, the system configuration when the radio map terminal device of the above embodiment is applied to a private branch exchange network such as an office will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, the private branch exchange network has a private branch exchange (PBX) 3 as the core of this network and extension interfaces 21, 22, 23 ... 2n connected to this PBX 3.
-1, 2n and these extension interfaces 22, 24 ...
Ordinary extension telephones 31, 32 ... 3n connected to 2n
, And a base station (BS) 41 that provides a mobile telephone service connected to the extension interfaces 21, 23 ... 2n−1,
4n, a destination management device 6 connected to the PBX 3 via an ISDN basic interface (extension interface) 2n-2, and a plurality of mobile terminals 5a, 5b ... 5n distributed to each zone A, B ... n. It consists of The mobility management function 301 is incorporated in the PBX 3. The mobility management function 301 is used by the mobile terminals 5a to 5n.
Information of the mobile terminals 5a to 5n, information of the visited zone, etc. when the power of the device is turned on or the visited zone is updated, etc. via the ISDN basic interface 2n-2. It is a function to notify.

Extension telephones 31, 32 ... 3n, base station 4
4n and destination management device 6 are all given extension terminal numbers for making and receiving calls.
It is one of the three extension terminals.

As the extension interfaces 21, 22, 23 ... 2n of the PBX 3 described above, a basic interface such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is applied to this private branch exchange network.

The ISDN basic interface is CCIT
Extension interface 2 according to T Recommendation 1.430
2n and each terminal are connected by a 4-wire transmission line of a pair of twisted pair cables for each of upstream and downstream. On this 4-wire transmission line, two information channels B such as channels B1 and B2 having a transmission capacity of 64 Kb / s both in uplink and downlink are provided in accordance with the provisions of the recommendation.
The signal channel D having a transmission capacity of Kb / s is multiplexed (2B + D) and transmitted. When making and receiving a call, the channel B undergoes a predetermined call control procedure between each of the mobile terminals 5a to 5n and the PBX3 to transmit any communication information between terminals such as voice and data on the channel B1 or the channel B2 allocated from the PBX3. Can be transferred.

On the other hand, the channel D is used for CCITT recommendation Q. 921, Q.I. 931
It is for transferring call control information to be assigned between the mobile terminals 5a to 5n and the PBX 3 defined in 1.

The operation of the private branch exchange network will be described below with reference to FIGS.

10 (a) to 10 (d) are diagrams showing the structure of information (message) transmitted to this private branch exchange network, and FIG. 11 is a mobile terminal 5a which transfers information on the channel D. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a call control sequence between the 5n and the PBX 3, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a location registration procedure.

In FIG. 11, a call setup message having a structure including each information element such as transmission capability, called number, calling number, etc. is transmitted from the mobile terminal 5a of the transmission source to the PBX 3 as shown in FIG. 10 (a). When sent to PBX3,
A "call setting acceptance" signal notifying the channel B used for communication is transmitted to the mobile terminal 5b of the called party.

Next, when the call of the receiving terminal 5b starts, a "call" signal is transmitted from the PBX 3, and when the receiving terminal 5b responds, a "response" signal is transmitted from the PBX 3 to the transmitting terminal 5a. Channel B is used to enable terminal-to-terminal communication of voice data and image data.

When the communication on channel B is completed,
The calling terminal 5a sends a "disconnect" signal to the PBX3,
This communication ends when X3 sends an "open" signal to the calling terminal and the sending terminal 5a sends a "release and release complete" signal. The receiving terminal 5b side exchanges a call control signal symmetrical with the above-mentioned transmitting terminal 5a side with the PBX 3,
Channel B is assigned from PBX3, and calling terminal 5a
Information communication on the channel B becomes possible between the receiving terminal 5b and the receiving terminal 5b.

Of the various extension terminals connected to the PBX 3, the mobile terminals 5a, 5b ... 5n are connected to the PBX through the base stations 41, 42 ... 4n which provide mobile communication services.
3 is connected.

The base stations 41, 42, ... 4n correspond to a base unit of a cordless telephone, and are standard RCR STD-27 or "RCR STD-27" concerning "digital car telephone system" established by the Radio System Development Center. It is for private mobile communication based on the mobile communication protocol defined by the standard RCR STD-28 relating to the "second generation cordless telephone system".

As shown in zones A, B ... n shown in FIG.
4n and the mobile terminals 5a, 5b ... 5n.
The spaces are connected by weak radio waves of, for example, about 10 mW, and the radio waves reach each other within this radio wave arrival area.

The base stations (BS) 41, 42, ... 4n support the communication of the mobile terminals 5a, 5b, ... 5n located in the area. ISDN basic interface 2n-
Although it is exactly the same as the second terminal, a feature of the present invention is that it has a location registration procedure peculiar to the mobile terminal in accordance with this.

4n and the mobile terminals 5a, 5b, ... 5n located in the area, by using the radio access system by TDMA.
4n to the mobile terminals 5a, 5b, ... 5n, a broadcast channel (BCCH) for transferring location information, a common control channel (CCCH) for transferring call control signals for incoming and outgoing calls, and transfer of information between mobile terminals such as voice and data. Information channel (TC
H) etc. are multiplexed and transferred.

A network number having a unique value is assigned in advance to each of the base stations 41, 42, ... 4n, and the broadcast information message transmitted on the BCCH of each of the base stations 41, 42 ,. , As shown in FIG.
It has a structure including information elements such as the network number of the zone and notification information, and is periodically notified to the mobile terminals 5a, 5b ... 5n.

As shown in FIG. 12, each mobile terminal 5a-5
n is the BC during transition to standby mode and during communication.
The broadcast information is periodically received from the CH, the network number in the broadcast information is stored by receiving the broadcast information, and the network number stored in advance is compared with the network number of the broadcast information currently received.

As a result of this comparison, if they are different from each other, it is determined that the mobile stations 5a to 5n themselves have moved and the existing zone has been updated, and as shown in FIG. The location registration request message including the element is CCCH
To the base stations (BS) 41, 42 ... 4n. It also has a release completion message having a structure as shown in FIG.

When the location registration request message on the CCCH is received by each of the base stations 41, 42 ... 4n, the mobile terminal terminal number contained therein is transferred to the channel D of the ISDN basic interface 2n-2. Being PBX3
Sent to.

The PBX 3 is provided with a movement management function for managing the location of the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

Therefore, the location registration request message is P
When received by the BX3, the PBX3 stores the message in the position information table including the extension numbers of the base stations 41, 42, ... 4n and the mobile terminal numbers in the area.

After that, the location registration acceptance message for the location registration request message is sent to each base station 4 on the D channel.
1, 42 ... 4n and the location registration acceptance message is
4n is transmitted to each of the mobile terminals 5a to 5n requesting location registration on the CCCH through each of the base stations 41, 42 ... 4n.

In this way, the PBX 3 is connected to each mobile terminal 5
By knowing in which base station area a-5n is located, when an incoming call to the mobile terminal occurs,
The incoming call is notified to the base station in which the corresponding mobile terminal is located. This incoming procedure is similar to that of the ISDN basic interface 2n-2 shown in FIG.

The above-described technique is a well-known technique in a private branch exchange network system for servicing ISDN and mobile telephones, and a detailed description thereof is not directly related to the system of the present invention and will not be referred to.

Here, referring to FIG. 13, the destination management device 6
Will be described.

As shown in the figure, the destination management device 6 has a microcomputer (CPU) 61 that controls the system of the destination management device 6 as a core, and stores a control program connected to the system bus. A read-on memory (ROM) 62, a maintenance terminal interface 63 for inputting each information of a mobile terminal information table 65 and a map information file 69, which will be described later, a maintenance terminal 64 including a personal computer, and an alarm display controller 66. , A display 68, a bar code reader 70 for reading a bar code printed on a ticket, a destination management device 6 and P
It is composed of an ISDN interface 67 for connecting the BX3s via a private line.

The mobile terminal information table 65 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the mobile terminal management number 141 is applied to all mobile terminals currently operating in this system.
And the zone number 142 in which the mobile terminal is located
And the number 143 of the adjacent zone and the radio waves radiated from the base stations 1a to 1n forming the zone, to each mobile terminal 5a.
The electric field strength 144 etc. when measured at ~ 5n are stored.

Next, the specific operation of each device in the above system configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as a situation, the zone A shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the user inside the device turns on the power of the mobile terminal 5a at time 1 in FIG.

At this time point 1, the base station 1a in the zone A periodically broadcasts the broadcast information of the network number = a on the BCCH.

At this time, the mobile terminal 5a sends a message to the PBX 3 by the location registration procedure shown in FIG.
The mobile management function 301 of No. 3 knows that the mobile terminal 5a is in the zone A. After that, the incoming call to the mobile terminal 5a will notify the zone A until the existing zone is updated next time.

When the location registration operation is completed, the mobility management function 301 of the PBX 3 notifies the destination management apparatus 6 of the visited zone notification message on the channel D through the ISDN interface 2n-2 and the private line.

Destination management device 6 which received this message
Stores the notified mobile terminal number (MS-No) and the zone number in which it is located in the mobile terminal information table 65.

In the standby state, the mobile terminal 5a periodically receives the broadcast information from the base station 1a,
The location will not be re-registered within the same zone A that has already been registered, but if notification information of a network number different from the network number stored in itself is notified, it means that the user has moved to the new zone. Assumed, location registration operation is performed to update the current zone.

At time 2 in FIG. 15, the mobile terminal 5a starts the operation of registering the electric field strength of the adjacent zone with the base station 1a.

There are several possible methods for the mobile terminal 5a to measure the electric field strength.

For example, there is a method in which the mobile terminal side periodically measures the electric field strength and registers it in the destination management device 6 through the base station each time.

In this case, the destination management device 6 quasi-steadily acquires the electric field strengths of the zones in which all the mobile terminals 5a to 5n are located and the zones adjacent to the mobile terminals 5a to 5n,
It constantly keeps track of the latest positions of all mobile terminals 5a-5n.

Therefore, on the destination management device 6 side, the position information of all the mobile terminals 5a to 5n can be displayed on the display 68 to monitor the movement state of the mobile terminals 5a to 5n.

Only when the user of the mobile terminal 5a wants to display a map on the display unit, the mobile terminal 5a is operated and the results obtained by measuring the electric field strength of the mobile terminals 5a to 5n are used as the base station 1
There is a way to send it to a.

In this case, the destination management device 6 returns the map information of the vicinity to the mobile terminal 5a only when the mobile terminal 5a makes an access.

Next, in the procedure from the time point 3 in FIG. 15, the destination management device 6 receives the electric field strength of the adjacent base station (data shown in FIG. 14) transmitted from the mobile terminal 5a side.

Then, the destination management device 6 extracts the contour line corresponding to the electric field strength sent from the mobile terminal 5a from the contour line data of the electric field strength in the base station 1a. Similarly, corresponding contour lines are extracted for the other adjacent base stations 1b and 1n.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the contour lines are traced to detect the points where the contour lines coincide. If they do not match, an approximate matching point is detected as shown in FIG. 4 or 5.

Then, the destination management device 6 reads out map information in the vicinity centering on the coincidence point and sends it to the mobile terminal 5a via the base station 1a. Then, the map information is displayed on the mobile terminal.

For example, at time 4 in FIG. 15, it is assumed that the user of the mobile terminal 5a carries the mobile terminal 5a and moves to the zone n shown in FIG.

At this time point 4, the broadcast information of the network number = n is periodically broadcast on the BCCH from the base station 1n in the same zone n.

At this time point 4, the mobile terminal 5a learns that the existing zone has moved before, and performs the location registration operation via the base station 1n, and the mobility management function 301 of the PBX 3
Remembering that the mobile terminal 5a is in zone n,
Subsequent incoming calls to the mobile terminal 5a are automatically sent to the zone n.
Will be notified. The position registration operation and the subsequent zone notification operation from the PBX 3 to the destination management device 6 are the same as the power-on operation already described, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, various map display methods by this radio map terminal device will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 20. 16 and 17 show an example of displaying map data of the same size as the display frame, and FIGS. 18 and 19 show an example of displaying map data of a size wider than the display frame.

In the case of this radio map terminal device, the place where it is located is specified from the contour lines of the electric field strength in the zone where it is located and the neighboring zones. When displaying the map on itself, the point where the user is located can be located at the center of the display screen.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a point P is a point where the mobile terminal 5a is located, the point P belongs to the zone A, and the zone A is surrounded by the zone B of the base station 1b. It is assumed that the base station 1c is surrounded by a zone C or the like.

In this case, the mobile terminal 5a is connected to each base station 1
The electric field intensity radiated from a, 1b, and 1c is measured, and each value is sent to the destination management device 6 through the base station 1a of the zone A to which it currently belongs.

The destination management device 6 uses the measured electric field strengths of the zones A, B, C and the known contour lines of the electric field strengths of the zones A, B, C to locate the mobile terminal 5a. The point P in which it is located is specified.

Then, the destination management device 6 reads out the map information within the display frame 161 centering on the point P from the map information file 69, and the PBX 3 and the base station 1
It is sent to the mobile terminal 5a through a. The mobile terminal 5a displays the sent map information on its own display unit. Therefore, the map displayed on this display unit is displayed centering on the point P.

FIG. 17 shows an example in which many zones B to G surround the zone A in which the mobile terminal 5a exists.

Also in this case, similarly to the above, the mobile terminal 5a
The electric field intensity radiated from each base station (not shown) in the six zones A to G is measured and the respective values are sent to the destination management device 6 through the base station 1a of the zone A to which the current station belongs. The destination management device 6 uses the measured electric field strengths of the zones A to G and known contour lines of the electric field strengths of the zones A to G to identify the point P where the mobile terminal 5a is located. . In this case, since the number of contour lines is large in specifying the position of the mobile terminal 5a, the accuracy of the specified position can be improved.

Then, the destination management device 6 reads out the map information within the display frame 161 centering on the point P from the map information file 69, and the PBX 3 and the base station 1
It is sent to the mobile terminal 5a through a. The mobile terminal 5a displays the sent map information on its own display unit. Therefore, the map displayed on this display unit is displayed centering on the point P.

When displaying map data wider than the display frame 161, a mobile terminal 185a is displayed as shown in FIG.
Includes a button (scroll button) 19 for scrolling the information displayed in the display frame 161 back and forth and left and right.
1 is provided.

In this case, the destination management device 6 sends the map data 186 to the mobile terminal 185a, which is wider than the display frame 161 of the mobile terminal 185a centering on the point P.

Then, the display frame 161 of the mobile terminal 185a.
A part of the map data 186 is displayed inside. When the user operates the scroll button 191, as shown in FIG. 19, the map data 186 including the remaining map portion is set so that the point P where the user is located becomes the center of the display frame 161. Can be moved back and forth and left and right.

Further, when displaying the map data 186 on the mobile terminal side, as shown in FIG. 20, a socket 206 for a memory card is attached to the mobile terminal 205a, and the memory card 207 is attached to the socket 206. Attach and use. The memory card 207 stores road information about the entire event hall.

In this case, the destination management device 6 does not transmit the map data to the mobile terminal 205a side, but the mobile terminal 20a
Only position information is transmitted to 5a. The mobile terminal 205a receives the position information, reads the corresponding map data from the memory card 207 based on the position information, and displays it on the display unit.

When the memory card 207 can be attached to the mobile terminal 205a in this manner, only the position information of the mobile terminal 205a needs to be transmitted from the base station 1a to the mobile terminal 205a. That is, since it is not necessary to transmit map data having a large amount of information, the amount of data transmission is significantly reduced, and there is a margin of traffic volume for communication between the base station 1a and the mobile terminal 205a. It is possible to increase the upper limits such as the possible range and the number of mobile terminals.

Next, an example of using the mobile map terminal in a predetermined area will be described with reference to FIGS.

For example, in a vast event area such as an amusement park, a person purchases a ticket (ticket for each destination) of a facility (booth) he / she wants to visit at the entrance to enter various facilities therein. Enter the park.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 21, information (codes) for classifying facilities is printed in the destination ticket 211 in the form of a barcode 212, and the ticket reader installed at the entrance of each facility. This bar code 212
Permission to enter the facility is obtained by reading.

Therefore, in this example, the destination ticket 2
It is possible to use the bar code 212 printed on 11 as it is to service the map data.

In this case, the destination management device 6 equipped with the bar code reader shown in FIG. 13 is installed at the entrance, etc., and the facility code is read from the ticket 211 according to the destination of the visitor and stored in the device. to register.

Thus, the destination management device 6 and the mobile terminal 5 are
Communication can be performed between a to 5n, and as shown in FIG. 22, the mobile terminals 5a to 5n can display the arrow 231 and the like as the moving direction in an easy-to-understand manner. The location (facility) of the visitor's destination can also be shown on the displayed map.

After that, each of the visitors has a mobile terminal 5a.
By looking at the map displayed at ~ 5n, you can know your destination and direction, so you can walk to the facility you want to go.

As shown in FIG. 23, the mobile terminal 21
By providing the bar code reader 216 in 5a, the destination-specific ticket 211 may be passed through the bar code reader 216 to read the destination data.

In this case, the barcode 212 of the destination-specific ticket 211 shown in FIG.
The mobile terminal 215a transmits the code data (facility code, etc.) to the destination management device 6 via the base station 1a, receives the map data, the arrow data, etc. from the destination management device 6, and the display unit of its own. To display.

In an amusement park or the like, a passageway and a restricted area are separated by a fence or the like.

For example, the destination management device 6 determines that each zone A,
As a result of identifying the position of the mobile terminal 5a from the contour data of B, C, etc., as shown in FIG. 24, when the point P deviates from the actual passage on the map, a passerby is passed to this place. Can't enter.

Therefore, the current position of the mobile terminal 5a is moved from the point P to the closest point P'on the road (road),
The position is displayed as the position of the mobile terminal 5a.

When there are a plurality of closest passages, or when the trajectory of a passerby is displayed by an arrow 251 as shown in FIG. 25, the tip 2 of the arrow 251 is displayed.
The position of the newly measured mobile terminal 5a is marked on 51a.

Here, as described above, each zone A, B,
Mobile terminal 5a newly measured from contour data such as C
When the position of P is a point P that is out of the traffic route on the actual map, it is clearly different from the trajectories that have already passed, so in this case, based on the past trajectories,
It is also possible to estimate the current movement trajectory, determine the current movement route (passage route) even when there are a plurality of passages, and correct it to the point P ′.

In the estimation of the movement locus in this case (movement from the point P to the point P '), the moving time corresponding to the distance traveled by the mobile terminal 5a in the past is stored, and the average moving speed is calculated from it. Estimate the movement trajectory from the point measured immediately before.

If the passage is simply a straight line, P is calculated from the position data of the point measured immediately before and the average moving speed.
The point can also be predicted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the position of the mobile terminal 5a is specified by the contour line data (zone A ', zone B', zone C ') of the electric field strength measured from the zone near the zone to which the mobile terminal 5a belongs. However, if the zones are separated and contact with each other by a circle with a radius α, there is also a method of displaying the position of the mobile terminal 5a on the map as it is with a circle with a radius α as shown in FIG.

Originally, the radio waves radiated from each of the plurality of base stations 1a to 1n may be slightly different from the contour line data stored in advance due to the influence of an obstacle or the like.

Therefore, by indicating the position in a range such as a circle in this way, it is effective to teach the user who possesses the mobile terminal 5a that the estimation of the position of the mobile terminal 5a involves an error.

In FIG. 26, a plurality of zones A'and B
Although the position estimated from ′ and C ′ is indicated by a circle with a radius α, in this case, the size of the circle may change each time the position of the mobile terminal 5a is estimated, depending on the adjacency relationship between the zones. However, if the size of the circle changes every time, the user may feel strange.

Therefore, there is a method of unifying the positions of the mobile terminals 5a with circles of a certain size.

In this case, the size of the circle depends on the mobile terminal 5 actually.
It is recommended to use a several times to determine a statistically optimum size. Further, in order to express the error range, a square, a polygon or the like may be used instead of a circle. Alternatively, the boundary of the error may be approximated by a curve or polygon, and the above-mentioned shape may be changed every time the mobile terminal 5a moves.

Mobile terminal 5a in the various ways described above
The position prediction was limited to measuring at each measurement point and predicting the measurement error there, but the actual passage (route) is not always smooth. Here, a description will be given of the case where the moving route is calculated backward from the measurement points so far and the current position is predicted based on it.

As shown in FIG. 27, the mobile terminal 5a is actually used.
When you measure the point where the
The measurement path becomes c, d, e, f, etc. and is not smooth.

In this case, first, the positions a'and b'on the moving route passing between the past measurement points, for example, the measurement points a and b are predicted.

Similarly, the positions on the moving route are predicted from other measurement points, and finally the predicted positions a ', b',
c ′, d ′, e ′, f ′, etc., and a smooth curve connecting them is used as a predicted route. The calculation for this position prediction is performed by the least-squares approximation method based on the coordinates of the measurement points a, b, c, d, e, and f.

In the above calculation, an example in which each measurement point intersects with one point has been shown, but it is unlikely that there is actually one point.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 28, the error ranges of the respective measurement points are indicated by circles 281-285, and the circles 281-28 are indicated.
Assuming that the centers 281a to 285f of 5 are passing points of the measurement path, the coordinate positions of the passing points 281a to 285f are used to predict positions a ', b', c ', d', e ', and f'. A method is conceivable in which a smooth curve connecting the two is calculated and used as the predicted route.

Further, as shown in FIG. 29, a plurality of contour lines (zones a, b, c, etc.) selected at a certain measurement point.
A circle 291 tangent to, or a plurality of contour lines (zone d,
(e, f, etc.) When calculating a circle 292 or the like intersecting each other, the contact points 291a, 291 between the respective zones a, b, c and the circle 291 are calculated.
b, 291c or intersection 292 of each zone d, e, f
Vector 29 starting from d, 292e, 292f, etc.
By setting 3 to 298 in the optimum direction and length from the movement route so far, the movement predicted positions 299, 300
It is also possible to calculate the coordinates such as, and connect the points of each coordinate to obtain the predicted route. In FIG. 29, the closed curve representing the error is represented by a circle, but a general closed curve other than the circle may be used. And a point that touches multiple zones on this closed curve,
Alternatively, the coordinates of intersecting points may be used as data for route prediction. Alternatively, one or more arbitrary points on the closed curve may be sampled, and the coordinates of the sampled points may be used as route prediction data.

As described above, according to the wireless map terminal device of this embodiment, a general car telephone system or PHS is used.
By using the system to identify the current position of the mobile terminal by utilizing the fact that the electric field strength of the radio waves radiated from each base station that is the source of the wireless zone is gradually weakened and becomes a contour distribution, By utilizing the original wireless call system, it is possible to economically and narrow down the area and display the surrounding map on the mobile terminal and the current position on the map.

[0148]

As described above, according to the present invention, a mobile terminal measures the electric field strength from a nearby PHS base station,
From contour lines of known electric field strength, select a contour line corresponding to the measured electric field strength, identify a point where a plurality of contour lines match as the current position of the mobile terminal, and display it together with a map in the vicinity, so the user , You can grasp the place where you are and the situation around it almost accurately on the mobile terminal, and you can see how you should proceed.

As a result, the user can look at the displayed map and find his or her position almost exactly by providing inexpensive equipment such as a PHS base station without providing costly equipment such as a sign post. Can be specified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a wireless map system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of electric field strength contour lines and zones in a plurality of base stations.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of identifying the position of a mobile terminal by measuring the electric field strengths of radio waves emitted from a plurality of base stations at the location of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which, when specifying the position of a mobile terminal from a plurality of contour lines, no contour lines of each zone intersect and do not match.

FIG. 5 is one of the examples in which the contour lines do not match as in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which contour lines do not match and zone D does not intersect as in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a mobile terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a mobile terminal body.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram when the present invention is applied to a private branch exchange network.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of each message used.

FIG. 11 ISDN between the receiving terminal, the PBX, and the transmitting terminal
It is a figure for demonstrating a basic interface.

[Fig. 12] ISDN-compatible mobile terminal, base station, and PBX
It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure of the interface between.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of internal modules for explaining a function of a destination management device.

FIG. 14 is a table in which the in-zone number, the adjacent zone number and the corresponding electric field strength in each mobile terminal are listed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation sequence in which a destination management device, a PBX, a base station, and a mobile terminal according to the present invention cooperate with each other.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example in which the position of a mobile terminal is displayed based on three zones.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example when six zones are close to each other.

FIG. 18 is an external view of a mobile terminal having a scroll button that can move the displayed map forward, backward, leftward, and rightward.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example in which map data larger than the display frame of the mobile terminal is sent for map information transmitted from the destination management device to the mobile terminal.

FIG. 20 is an external view of a mobile terminal to which a memory card storing map information can be attached.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a ticket for each destination with a barcode used for entering a facility.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an arrow indicating the direction of the destination on the map displayed on the mobile terminal.

FIG. 23 is an external view of a mobile terminal equipped with a barcode reader.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a method of identifying the position of a mobile terminal by a plurality of contour lines of electric field strength and correcting when the position deviates from the actual position on the map.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a method of identifying the position of a mobile terminal and correcting the position when the position deviates from the actual position on the map, similar to FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is an example in which the position of the mobile terminal is specified from a plurality of contour lines of electric field strength, and when a coincident point is reached, the error range is displayed as a circle.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a process of predicting a route by using a measurement route of a mobile terminal.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a process of predicting a route when a measurement point in FIG. 25 has an error.

FIG. 29 is a diagram similar to FIG. 28 in the case where an error is associated with the measurement points,
It is the figure which showed another method of predicting a route.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a to 1n ... Base station, 2 ... Wired, 3 ... PBX (switch), 4 ... Public network, 5a-5n, 185a, 205a,
215a ... Mobile terminal, 6 ... Destination management device, 54 ... Radio unit, 57 ... Control unit, 58 ... Display unit, 61 ... Microcomputer (CPU), 62 ... Read-on memory (RO)
M), 63 ... Maintenance terminal interface, 64 ... Maintenance terminal, 66 ... Warning display control unit, 67 ... ISDN interface, 68 ... Display, 69 ... Map information file,
55, 70 ... Bar code reader section.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 20, 1995

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

14 is a respective mobile resident zone number in the terminal, charts marked parallel number and the corresponding field strength of the adjacent zones.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Electric field intensity distribution storage means for storing in advance electric field intensity distribution characteristics of radio waves emitted from a plurality of base stations arranged at different points, and receiving radio waves emitted from the plurality of base stations. Radio wave receiving means, map storage means that stores a map of a range in which radio waves emitted from the base station can be received, and received electric field strength of radio waves from the base stations received by the radio wave receiving means at a certain point An electric field strength calculating means for calculating, an electric field strength calculated by the electric field strength calculating means, and a calculating means for obtaining a current position based on an electric field strength distribution characteristic previously stored in the electric field strength distribution storage means, A wireless map terminal device, comprising: a display unit for reading a map from the map information storage unit and displaying the current position obtained by the calculation unit on the map. 2. The wireless map terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when the calculated current position does not converge to a single point and there are a plurality of points, a closed curve area is defined as an error range based on the range obtained from the plurality of points. A wireless map terminal device characterized by being formed. 3. The wireless map terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the past travel route is within the attribute area on the map, and the current position newly obtained by the calculating means is out of the attribute area. A radio map terminal device comprising position correction means for correcting the current position within the attribute area. 4. The wireless map terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic unit determines the attribute area based on a moving speed calculated from a moving path in the past attribute area and a time of moving the path. A wireless map terminal device characterized by obtaining a new current position that has moved. 5. The wireless map terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: a prediction unit that predicts a future movement route from a plurality of current positions obtained by the calculation unit while moving. Map terminal equipment. 6. The wireless map terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the predicting unit predicts a future travel route by using the least squares method. 7. The wireless map terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the predicting unit, if the past travel route is within the attribute area on the map, a plurality of current positions obtained by the computing unit during the travel. From the above, a wireless map terminal device is characterized in that a closed curve area indicating an error range of each current position is created, and a future travel route is predicted based on the closed curve area and the attribute area. 8. An electric field intensity distribution storage unit that stores in advance electric field intensity distribution characteristics of radio waves emitted from a plurality of base stations arranged at different points, and receives radio waves emitted from the plurality of base stations. Radio wave receiving means, map storage means for storing a map of a predetermined closed area capable of receiving radio waves emitted from the base station, and each of the bases received by the radio wave receiving means at a certain point within the predetermined closed area Based on the electric field strength calculation means for calculating the received electric field strength of the radio wave from the station, the electric field strength calculated by the electric field strength calculation means, and the electric field strength distribution characteristic previously stored in the electric field strength distribution storage means. Calculating means for obtaining a current position in the predetermined closed area, a bar code reader for reading the destination from a recording medium in which a bar code indicating a desired destination in the predetermined closed area is recorded, A radio including a display unit for reading a map from the map information storage unit, and displaying the current position obtained by the calculation unit and the destination read by the barcode reader on the map. Map terminal equipment.