JPH1127736A - Position retrieval system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position retrieval system with which an operating status of mobile slave stations is ensured over a long time, even if a small capacity battery is employed by reducing power consumption of the mobile slave stations. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a mobile slave station 1 consisting of a receiver R suitable for selective calling, of a global positioning system GPS receiver that detects a position of its own equipment, of a transmitter T that sends the position of its own equipment detected by the GPS receiver as position information, with a caller side telephone terminal 5 that calls the receiver R and receives the position information sent from the transmitter T, and with a display device DISP that displays the position of the mobile slave station 1 based on the position information. Further, a transmitter TLOCAL that sends a radio wave is placed in a nursing home for the aged (area 1) where the aged with senile dementia carrying the mobile slave station 1 normally located, wherein the mobile slave station 1 is provided with a radio receiver RLOCAL that receives a radio wave, and in the case that the mobile slave station 1 moves to an area where no radio wave is reached by the radio receiver RLOCAL, at least a power supply of a GPS receiver is applied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position search system, and more particularly, to a position search system for searching for the position of a wandering elderly person, child, pet, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A position search system for searching for the position of a wandering elderly person or the like is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-188819. The position search system disclosed in this publication includes a selective call receiver, a transmitter, and a GPS receiving device that receives radio waves from artificial satellites and detects a position on the earth, When the mobile device is called, the mobile station that transmits the position information detected by the GPS receiver by the transmitter, and the mobile phone that is connected to a terminal phone of a public communication line and transmits the location information transmitted from the mobile station. And a device for receiving the information via the public communication line and displaying the position information.
That is, in this position search system, the position of the elderly person is searched by attaching the above-mentioned mobile station to an elderly person or the like.

[0003]

However, when a mobile station is attached to a wandering elderly or pet, a lightweight rechargeable battery or a dry battery is used as the battery for the mobile station. However, there is a problem that when the mobile station is turned on, the power is quickly lost. In particular, the GPS receiver has a power control processing control unit, and thus has a problem that the power consumption is large and the power of the battery is quickly lost. The present invention
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a position search system capable of securing the operation state of a mobile station for a long time even with a small capacity battery by reducing the power consumption of the mobile station. Is to provide.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first receiving means capable of selectively calling, a position detecting means for detecting a position of the own device, and a first receiving means are called via the first receiving means. A mobile station including a first transmitting means for transmitting the position of the terminal itself as position information detected by the position detecting means, a selective calling means for calling the first receiving means, and a first transmitting means. A position information receiving means for receiving the position information sent from the mobile station, and a display means for displaying the position of the mobile station based on the position information; Second to transmit radio waves in the area where the search target is usually located
Transmitting means, the mobile station includes a second receiving means for receiving the radio wave, when the second receiving means detects that the mobile station has moved to an area where the radio wave does not reach, at least the The power of the position detecting means was turned on.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a position search system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a position search system for searching for a position of a wandering elderly person or the like will be particularly described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a position search system for performing a position search of a wandering elderly person according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this position search system receives a radio wave from an artificial satellite 3 and detects its own position on the earth (GPS receiver).
oningSystem: a global positioning system), a receiver R with a selective calling function, a transmitter T for transmitting its own position on the earth detected by the GPS receiver as position information, and a wireless transmitter T _LOCAL Mobile station 1 having radio receiver R _LOCAL for receiving radio waves
A public communication line system 2 for accessing the mobile station 1, and at least two artificial satellites 3 supporting the GPS receiver, and a nursing home or the like where an elderly person normally lives (locates). And a radio transmitter T _LOCAL that constantly transmits a signal (radio wave) obtained by superimposing a special code on a weak radio wave. In FIG. 1, an area 1 indicates a service area of a radio wave from the radio transmitter T _LOCAL, and indicates, for example, a nursing home. The public communication line system 2 is not limited to this, but may be an existing one such as a mobile phone system or a P
HS system can be applied.

That is, as is well known, a portable telephone system in a public communication line system is, as shown in FIG.
NTT between the subscriber telephone terminal 5 and the wireless communication base station 6
And the like by the public communication line exchange 7 and the subscriber telephone terminal 5
Then, by dialing in the manner of calling a general telephone, a required telephone call is made after calling the mobile subscriber's telephone terminal. Therefore, in the present embodiment,
Although it is assumed that a generally known mobile phone system is used, in the implementation, similarly, any system that can make a selective call, call a specific mobile station, and obtain location information can be used. But it is good.
In the position search system having the above-described configuration, the first receiver has the receiver R, the position detector has the GPS receiver,
The first transmitting means includes the transmitter T, the selective calling means and the position information receiving means include the calling telephone terminal 5, the display means includes the display device DISP, and the second transmitting means includes the wireless transmitter T.
_{LOCAL corresponds} to the second receiver, and the radio receiver R _LOCAL corresponds to the second receiver. Next, the operation of the position search system configured as described above will be described.

[Operation of the whole position search system] First, the mobile child station 1 is attached to a belt or the like of a demented elderly person to be searched for a position, and the mobile child station 1 is carried by the demented elderly person. It is assumed that a demented elderly person goes away from the nursing home (area 1) and goes missing. Here, the mobile terminal 1 is called by the subscriber telephone terminal 5. The way of calling can be considered to be the same as the way of calling a conventional mobile phone or a pager. The calling signal from the subscriber telephone terminal 5 reaches the wireless communication base station 6 via the public communication line switch 7 such as NTT, and reaches the mobile station 1 by a required communication channel radio wave. A call signal is transmitted to the mobile station 1 by a communication channel radio wave. The mobile station 1 transmits this call to the receiver R
Then, the GPS receiver is activated, and the position at that time is detected by receiving a radio wave from the artificial satellite 3. Further, the detected position information is superimposed on a desired radio wave as a modulation signal by a built-in transmitter T (corresponding to a transmission unit of a mobile phone in this case) and transmitted to the radio base station 6. The radio base station 6 that has received this position information,
This position information is sent to the calling telephone terminal 5 via the public communication line switch 7. On the other hand, the caller telephone terminal 5 having received the position information decodes the position information from the mobile station 1 by the decoder DEC and outputs the decoded information to the display device DIS.
Display with P. This position display mode is, for example, such as a GPS system with a map display function recently mounted on an automobile or the like, which is easily displayed on a map such as an LCD or a CRT display screen. It is convenient. However, in order to simplify the apparatus, the position of the mobile station 1 may be simply displayed in characters, for example, "Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo ...".

According to such a position search system, it is possible to automatically know the location of the mobile station 1 simply by attaching it to the pocket or belt of the elderly with dementia. Therefore, it is possible to quickly protect the elderly with dementia. In the above, the case where the existing mobile phone system is used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, but may be any facility wireless line system having the same function (for example, a PHS system or the like). ) Since a voice communication function is not always necessary, a simpler transmitting / receiving device is sufficient. Further, instead of the GPS receiver, even a position search system supported by a terrestrial radio station can search its own position. Further, it is needless to say that the object to be detected by this position search system is not limited to the elderly with dementia, but is also effective in searching for children, pets such as dogs and cats. As described above, according to the position search system, since the mobile station receives radio waves from artificial satellites and thereby reports its position information using the telephone line, the elderly with dementia Useful for preventing children, pets, etc. from getting lost.

[Outline of Operation of Mobile Child Station 1 in Position Search System] When an elderly person with dementia is in a nursing home for the elderly (area 1), the position of the elderly person with dementia can be confirmed. Therefore, in the mobile child station 1, the GPS receiver does not need to perform a position search and transmit the position information of the own device from the transmitter T. Therefore, when the demented elderly are in a nursing home (area 1), at least GP
It is assumed that the power of the S receiving device is not turned on, and when the elderly with dementia leaves the nursing home (area 1), the GPS
It is sufficient to turn on the power of the receiving device. Specifically, as described above, the mobile child station 1 is attached to a belt of a demented elderly person or the like whose position is to be detected. For example, an elderly person wearing the mobile child station lives in a nursing home. Consider the case. In the nursing home (area 1), as described above, the wireless transmitter T _LOCAL for constantly transmitting a signal obtained by superimposing a special code on a weak radio wave is installed. The mobile station 1 also includes a radio receiver R having a function of receiving and demodulating radio waves transmitted from the radio transmitter T _{LOCAL.
Since LOCAL} is provided, the GPS receiver of the mobile station 1 is turned on based on the output of the radio receiver R _LOCAL .

[Operation of the mobile station 1 in the position search system] First, for example, radio waves are constantly transmitted from the radio transmitter T _LOCAL , and the radio receiver R of the mobile station 1 is transmitted.
_LOCAL receives the special code included in this radio wave. The mobile station 1 is configured such that the radio receiver R _LOCAL has the radio transmitter T
_While receiving radio waves transmitted from _LOCAL , GPS
Do not turn on the power to the receiver. On the other hand, when the elderly person carrying the mobile station leaves the nursing home (area 1) and moves to an area where radio waves from the wireless transmitter T _LOCAL do not reach, that is, the wireless receiver R _LOCAL When the special code cannot be received, the mobile station 1 turns on the power to the GPS receiver. According to such a system,
While there is an elderly person in the nursing home (area 1) where radio waves from the radio transmitter T _LOCAL reach, the GPS receiver that does not need to operate functions is turned off, and only when it is actually needed, the power is turned off. Power consumption is negligible. It should be noted that the radio receiver R can generally be designed to operate with extremely low power. For example, a receiver such as an active pager employs an intermittent reception method and can be used for 1.5 months with a 1.5V dry cell. The signal transmitted and received between the radio transmitter T _LOCAL and the radio receiver R _LOCAL is, for example, a simple one.
Like a tone squelch, a continuous tone signal is output from the radio transmitter T _LOCAL , and whether or not the mobile station 1 is in the nursing home is determined by the presence or absence of the output of the tone signal identification means provided in the radio receiver R _LOCAL. A determination method can be adopted.

In order to prevent erroneous determination, a special pulse code may be transmitted / received, or a similar signal may be detected by detecting the presence or absence of a carrier signal such as a radio wave without using a special signal. The effect can be obtained.
Also, as a wireless medium between the radio receiver R _LOCAL and the radio transmitter T _LOCAL , a signal such as an electromagnetic wave is supplied to an electric wire wound around the nursing home, and the signal is received by the radio receiver R _LOCAL . A wireless system may be used. Further, in order to further reduce the power consumption by the radio receiver R _LOCAL, the determination as to whether or not a signal transmitted from the radio transmitter T _{LOCAL has} been received is made, for example, once every 5 minutes or 10 minutes.
It may be performed intermittently with a long interval, such as once a minute, and control may be performed so as to turn on the power to the radio receiver R _LOCAL only when this check is performed. Further, it is detected that the radio receiver R _LOCAL no incoming radio waves from the wireless transmitter T _LOCAL, GP
After turning on the power to the S receiver, the radio receiver R
_{Since the LOCAL} function is not required, the power of the radio receiver R _LOCAL may be turned off. Further, the same check is continuously performed, and when the radio wave from the wireless transmitter T _LOCAL is received again, it is possible to temporarily turn off the power to the turned on GPS receiver. This is because, for example, a mobile child station once separated from a nursing home or the like may return to the nursing home again.

[0012] Further, even when the mobile station is in the area where the radio wave reaches, when a specific signal is received via the receiver T, the mobile station turns on the power of the GPS receiving apparatus.
The position of the terminal at that time detected by the PS receiving apparatus may be transmitted to the calling telephone terminal 5 as position information by the transmitter T. The location to which this system is applied (the location where the wireless transmitter T _LOCAL is arranged) is not limited to the nursing home, but may be located in each home. In the case of installation in a home, the transmission frequency of the wireless transmitter T _LOCAL is made different so as not to cause interference between adjacent homes, or means such as using different codes so that they can be distinguished from each other. Need to be taken. Further, in the mobile station 1, whether or not a signal is detected by the radio receiver R _LOCAL is determined by:
The device for turning on and off the power is not limited to the above-described GPS receiving device, and may be appropriately selected depending on the system. For example, PHS (Pera
(Sonal Handy Phone), a system connected to the public line via wireless relay stations (signposts) arranged in many places can detect the position of the signpost without using GPS. As a result, a mobile station can be detected.

[0013]

As described above, according to the position search system of the present invention, there is provided a radio wave transmitting means for transmitting a radio wave into an area where a position search target carrying a mobile station is normally located, When detecting that the mobile station has moved to an area where the radio wave does not reach, at least the power of the position detection means is turned on, so when the position search target leaves the area where the normal position is located, The power of at least the position detecting means can be turned on, and the battery consumption of the position detecting means can be reduced. As a result, by reducing the power consumption of the mobile station, it is possible to provide a position search system capable of securing the operation state of the mobile station for a long time even with a small capacity battery. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a position search system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile child station GPS GPS receiver T transmitter R receiver R _LOCAL radio receiver T _LOCAL radio transmitter 2 Public communication line system 3 Artificial satellite 5 Calling telephone terminal DEC decoder DISP display device 6 Wireless communication base station 7 Public communication line switch

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuyoshi Ueda 2-1-1 Kotani, Samukawa-cho, Koza-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture Toyo Tsushinki Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. First receiving means capable of selectively calling,
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the own device, and first transmitting means for transmitting, when called via the first receiving means, the position of the own device detected by the position detecting means as position information. A mobile child station; a selective calling means for calling the first receiving means; a position information receiving means for receiving position information transmitted from the first transmitting means; and a position of the mobile child station based on the position information. Display means for displaying; and a position search system comprising: a second transmission means for transmitting a radio wave into an area where a position search target carrying the mobile child station is normally located; A second receiving unit for receiving a radio wave, wherein when the second receiving unit detects that the radio wave has moved to an unreachable area, at least a power source of the position detecting unit is turned on. Position search system that. 2. The mobile station, at least when the specific signal is received via the first receiving unit, turns on the power of the position detecting unit even in the area where the radio wave reaches. 2. The position search system according to claim 1, wherein the position of the own device detected by the position detection unit at that time is transmitted to the selection calling unit as position information by the first transmission unit. 3. The position search target is a wandering elderly man, a child,
3. The position search system according to claim 1, wherein the position search system is a pet or the like. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position detecting means comprises a GPS receiving device for receiving a radio wave from an artificial satellite or the like and detecting a position of the own device. Location search system. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first receiving means and said first transmitting means belong to a public wireless service network such as a PHS system or a mobile phone system. Position search system described in.