JPH11306491A - Device and system for reporting position information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm even detailed parts in the current locating place of a person to be searched on the side of searching when searching the current position of the person to be searched. SOLUTION: As such a device, a transmitter 1 is provided with a transmission/reception means such as a transmission/reception circuit 1b and a communication control part 1d for transmitting/receiving signals required for registering the current position with a radio base station at every prescribed time interval and information transmitting means such as the transmission/reception circuit 1b, communication control part 1d and control circuit 1e for transmitting data concerning collected surrounding sounds or peripheral image data picked up by an image pickup device 1m at every prescribed time interval to the radio base station corresponding to the registered current position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position information reporting device for providing a searcher with position information of a moving communication terminal by using a radio base station such as a PHS system covering a narrow communication area. And about the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, social situations in which senile dementia is expected to increase with the increase in the number of elderly people have become remarkable. They are unable to communicate their location, causing great annoyance to their surroundings and increasing the care of family caregivers. To cope with such a situation, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2242 discloses a conventional location information reporting system for automatically reporting the current location of a mobile user.
There is a position notification device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 80. This position reporting device receives position information transmitted from a wireless base station, and stores the received position information. A function is provided for comparing the stored position information with the received latest position information, and when the two are different, transmitting the latest position information to the wireless base station as its own position information. Then, even when moving from the wireless zone of one wireless base station to the wireless zone of another wireless base station, the wireless zone in which oneself is located can always be registered as the current position.
Therefore, the location can be easily confirmed by putting the position notification device on an infant or a person with dementia.

[0003]

Since the conventional position information reporting device and system are configured as described above, the current position of the person to be searched, such as an infant or a person with dementia, is determined by the wireless zone of the wireless base station. Although it can be confirmed in units, it is not possible to grasp the details of the location of the confirmed wireless base station wireless zone, and it is easy to grasp the current position of the searchee, especially in an area where roads and buildings are crowded in urban areas etc. And the search was not easy.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a position information notifying apparatus and system which can easily confirm the details of the current position of a sought person when searching for the current position of the sought person. Is to do.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a position information reporting apparatus for transmitting / receiving a signal necessary for registering a current position with a radio base station at predetermined time intervals; Information transmitting means for transmitting, to the wireless base station, data on peripheral sounds collected or peripheral image data captured by an imaging device in correspondence with the registered current position at predetermined time intervals. It is characterized by the following.

[0006] The position information reporting system according to the present invention is characterized in that at predetermined time intervals, signals transmitted and received between a mobile terminal in an area covered by the radio base station and the radio base station are required for registration of the position of the mobile terminal. Based on the location information registration means for registering the location information of the mobile terminal, and image data around the mobile terminal captured by an imaging device, collected via the mobile terminal and the wireless base station, An image storage unit that stores the data in association with the position information registered by the position information registration unit for each mobile terminal, and data regarding the collected sound around the mobile terminal, via the mobile terminal and the wireless base station. Sound data storage means for storing the data corresponding to the position information registered by the position information registration means for each portable terminal; and image data stored by the image storage means. And data regarding the stored sound by the data storage means, characterized in that an information providing service means for providing to the information providing request source for the mobile terminal.

[0007] The position information reporting device of the present invention transmits and receives signals necessary for registering the position of the portable terminal to and from the radio base station at predetermined time intervals, and collects sound around the portable terminal. The data regarding the sound and the image data captured by the imaging device are transmitted to the wireless base station at predetermined time intervals in association with the position information registered for the position of the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal is present. Facilitates understanding of the locational details of where you are.

The position information reporting system according to the present invention transmits, at a predetermined time interval, a signal necessary for location registration of the portable terminal transmitted and received between the portable terminal in the area covered by the wireless base station and the wireless base station. Originally, the position information of the mobile terminal was registered, image data around the mobile terminal captured by an imaging device was collected via the mobile terminal and the wireless base station, and registered for each mobile terminal. In addition to accumulating the data in association with the location information, data on the collected sound around the mobile terminal is collected via the mobile terminal and the wireless base station, and the data is collected in correspondence with the location information registered for each mobile terminal. Storing, and providing the stored image data and the data related to the sound to an information providing request source requesting information providing about the mobile terminal,
It is easy for the information providing request source to grasp the locational details of the position where the portable terminal is present.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description, a PHS (simplified mobile phone and system) is used as a mobile communication system, but a mobile phone applied to a cellular system can also be used. The location information reporting device and system of the present embodiment converts the location information data of the person to be searched into voice at the location information service center, and the searcher listens to the location information of the person to be searched converted to the voice by telephone. Can do that. Further, the terminal device on the searcher side is provided with a FAX function,
FAX the location information of the person to be searched as map data to the searcher
Transmit.

[0010] The PHS portable terminal carried by the person to be searched has a built-in high-sensitivity microphone, and transmits sound data such as noise detected from the surroundings simultaneously with the transmission of the position data to the searcher as value-added information. It is possible to transmit.

It is also possible to connect an ultra-compact CCD camera to the PHS portable terminal carried by the person to be searched, compress image photograph data of the surroundings, and use the FAX function on the side of the person to search. The image photograph data can be received as an image, and the searcher can obtain detailed information about the current position of the searchee. As a result, the searcher can search for the locational details of the current position of the searchee. Can be easily grasped.

On the searcher side, various service items can be selected and used in the location information service center. For example, when a search target person arrives in an area designated in advance, the location information service center is used. It is also possible to use a service from which a searcher can be automatically notified.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a position information reporting system according to the present embodiment. This location information reporting system includes a PHS location information transmitter (hereinafter, referred to as a transmitter) 1 as a location information reporting device, a PHS wireless base station 2, an ISDN communication network 3, a location information server 4, an Internet network 5, and a public telephone. It comprises a network 6, an end user 7 connected to the public telephone network 6, a location information service center 8, and the like.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the transmitter 1 includes a transmission / reception antenna 1a, a transmission / reception circuit 1b for performing transmission / reception processing using radio frequency, a modulation / demodulation circuit 1c for performing modulation processing and demodulation processing, and a radio signal demodulation circuit. A communication control unit 1d for performing transmission and reception, a control circuit 1e for controlling each unit, an ID memory 1f storing ID information unique to the transmitter, a code of a wireless base station serving a wireless zone where the transmitter is located, and the like are stored. A memory 1g, a display unit 1h, a sound generation unit 1i, an operation unit 1j having various operation keys, a sound collection unit 1k such as a microphone, and the like are provided.

An image pickup device such as a CCD camera can be connected. For this purpose, an image pickup device connection means 1n for taking in image data picked up by the image pickup device.
It has.

The control circuit 1e is connected to the image pickup device connecting means 1
An imaging device connection state determination unit 1o that determines whether or not the imaging device is in a connected state according to n.

The communication control unit 1d has a function of transmitting a determination result by the imaging device connection state determination unit 1o to the wireless base station at predetermined time intervals.

The transmitter 1 sends the position information data code of the transmitter 1 and the surrounding noise signal collected by the sound collector 1k of the transmitter 1 to the position information server 4 at predetermined time intervals via the radio base station 2. When the imaging device 1m is connected, the image data compressed by the imaging device 1m and the determination result by the imaging device connection state determination unit 1o are transmitted.

Each of the PHS radio base stations 2 is responsible for a relatively narrow radio zone, and the position of the transmitter 1 is set at a predetermined time interval between the radio base station 2 and the transmitter 1 located in the radio zone in charge. It transmits and receives signals necessary for location confirmation, such as signals required for registration, the surrounding noise signal and the image data, and also transmits / receives various signals when making a call in the transmitter 1.

The ISDN communication network 3 connects the radio base station 2 to the location information server 4 and the Internet 5, and is connected to the public telephone network 6 by a dedicated line or a general line. The Internet 5 is a public telephone network 6
Is connected to

The position information server 4 registers position information for each portable terminal based on the position information data code of the transmitter 1 transmitted from the transmitter 1 via the radio base station 2 at predetermined time intervals. Sound information storage means 4 for storing surrounding noise signals collected by the transmitter 1 in correspondence with the position information registered by the position information registration means 4a.
b, an image storage unit 4c for storing compressed image data imaged and transmitted by the imaging device 1m in correspondence with the position information registered by the position information registration unit 4a, and an imaging device connection state determination unit of the transmitter 1. Accumulation of information on an abnormal state of the transmitter 1 such as a determination result by 1o or a state in which communication is impossible due to a low battery level is stored in association with the position information registered by the position information registration means 4a for each transmitter. It has an abnormal state occurrence information storage means 4d.

The end user 7 indicates a searcher connected to the public telephone network 6. The location information service center 8 is connected to the public telephone network 6, manages IDs, service items, and the like registered for each of the end users 7, and is a target of access to data information of the location information server 4 and a search request. It has a function of converting the position data code of the transmitter 1 into voice, and transmitting the position information of the transmitter 1 to the end user 7 with map data attached. Further, a position information determining means 8a for determining whether or not the position information of the registered portable terminal obtained as a result of accessing the data information of the position information server 4 is within an area designated in advance. , The position information determining means 8
If it is determined that the position information of the portable terminal has entered the area designated in advance by a, a function to notify the end user is provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the end user 7 in the position information reporting device and system, and includes a PHS portable terminal 7a, a home telephone and a public telephone 7.
b, a facsimile device 7c, and an information processing device 7d such as a personal computer.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the position information notification system according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation will be described according to this flowchart. The registered transmitter 1 is P
The position information data code of the transmitter 1 or the surrounding noise signal and the compressed image data from the transmitter 1 are constantly transmitted to the position information server 4 at a constant time and at regular intervals via the HS wireless base station 2. The position information server 4 accumulates data information such as the position information of the transmitter 1, the surrounding noise signal from the transmitter 1, the compressed image data, and the determination result by the imaging device connection state determination unit 1o.

On the other hand, the location information service center 8 manages registration IDs and service items from each end user 7, accesses the data information stored in the location information server 4, and stores the entry of the accessed data information. Transmission to user 7, conversion of position data code to voice,
For example, transmission of the position information attached with the map data to the end user 7 is performed.

The terminal of the searcher who obtains the position information of the transmitter 1 is a telephone set in a general home or a public telephone 7b. In this case, as a condition for accessing the transmitter 1 possessed by the searchee or the agent and receiving various services for collecting the searcher's location information, the location information service center 8 needs to have his / her own number, search A telephone (or multiple) number of the terminal, a password, a password for access from an outdoor public telephone, or a password for access from a fixed terminal such as a general telephone are registered.

When the searcher of the telephone of the terminal which obtains the position information of the transmitter 1 searches, first, his / her telephone number, the transmitter number of the person to be searched, the password, and the outdoor public telephone are sent to the position information center 8. Information such as a password for access or a password for access from a fixed terminal such as a general telephone is notified (step S1). The location information center 8 determines whether the password is a password for making a search request from an outdoor public telephone or a password for access from a fixed terminal such as the general telephone. Make a judgment (Step S
2) If the password is a password for access from the fixed terminal, the information registered in advance in step S1 and the information registered in step S1 are compared and confirmed (step S3). . As a result, if the approval is obtained, the searcher can select various service items from the fixed terminal such as the general telephone in the position information center 8 (step S4). This service is, for example, the FA of map information showing the position information of the person to be searched.
Providing a searcher with X, a surrounding image photograph taken by the imaging device 1 m attached to the transmitter 1, and the sound collection unit 1
Providing the searcher with information on the moving route such as the sound around the transmitter 1 collected by k, registering a password when using an outdoor public telephone, and using a password when using a fixed terminal Registration from the location information center 8 to the end user 7 regarding the occurrence of an abnormal state of the transmitter 1 such as a state where the CCD camera is not connected or the battery level is low and communication is not possible, etc. For example, the position information of the transmitter 1 is reported at regular intervals when the device 1 moves to another area or arrives at a designated area.

The various services are provided from the location information center 8 to the searcher in accordance with the item contents of the service selected in the step S4, and the terminal of the searcher has a FAX function. In this case, information on the last existing area (including surrounding areas, characteristic buildings, roads, etc.) of the search target person, information on the map, time, time, subject name, etc. is provided to the searcher by FAX as image information. You. In the case of the transmitter 1 to which the CCD camera is connected, the surrounding image photographed at last is transmitted several times (step S9).

When the password is a password for using the outdoor public telephone other than a fixed terminal such as a general telephone, the location information center 8 and the public telephone are directly connected. After confirming (Step S
5) From the phone number of the searcher or the transmitter number of the searchee, for example, "Yamada XX is in the area near Takashimaya department store at Yokohama Nishi JR station for about 30 minutes by 3:15 pm" The last current position, time, existing time, and name information of the searcher are transmitted to the searcher by voice (step S).
6).

If registration of the provision of the traveling route information of the transmitter 1 to the searcher has been made (step S7), the last current position, time, time, and Subsequent to the name information and the like, the travel route information such as the noise and voice recorded several times every second at the end is provided to the searcher (step S8).

Further, even if the terminal on the searcher side is a mobile phone other than a fixed terminal such as the above-mentioned general telephone, a simplified mobile phone, or the like, if the terminal has the FAX function and the image data receiving and displaying function, The information on the last existing area (including the surrounding area, characteristic buildings, roads, etc.) map of the person to be searched, the time, time, and the name of the subject, etc.
It can be provided to the searcher as image information by the AX function or the image data reception / display function. Further, in the case of the transmitter 1 to which a CCD camera is connected, it is possible to transmit the surrounding image photographed several times at the end.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the above-mentioned various services can be provided from the location information service center 8 to the end user 7, and the searcher can easily search on each terminal according to the purpose and preference. The location information of the searcher can be known by voice, map, and the like, and detailed locational information that pinpoints the position of the searchee can be obtained from information such as noise around the searcher and image photographs. effective.

In addition, there is an effect that the location information of the person to be searched can be easily obtained by a telephone, a public telephone, a FAX, a portable telephone, a simplified portable telephone, etc. in a general household.

Further, the location information service center 8 automatically converts the location information data code of the transmitter 1 obtained from the location information server 4 into a plurality of location names having high names in the corresponding area by voice and provides the same to the searcher. It can also be configured to do so.

Further, since the searcher can select various service items for the location information service center 8 according to the location information search terminal type, search purpose, method, preference, etc., a predetermined pattern can be selected according to the situation of the searcher. When you select an item,
For example, when the person to be searched moves to a specific area, the search can be performed according to the situation of the searcher, such as notifying the searcher from the location information service center 8, and the probability of finding the person to be searched increases. effective.

It should be noted that the position information reporting apparatus and system of the present invention can be used in a wide range of fields. For example, when sending valuables, it is possible to attach the transmitter 1 to grasp a moving route and time. It is possible.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, data relating to sounds collected around the current position and image data around the current position captured by the imaging device are registered at predetermined time intervals. Since it is configured to include a transmission unit for transmitting to the wireless base station in accordance with the current position, it is easy to know detailed locational information that pinpoints the current position based on information such as noise and image photographs of the surrounding area. It has the effect that it becomes possible.

Further, according to the present invention, image data around the portable terminal taken by the image pickup device is collected via the portable terminal and the radio base station, and registered by the position information registration means for each portable terminal. Image storage means for storing the data in association with the position information, and data about the collected sound around the portable terminal, collected via the portable terminal and the wireless base station, and the position information is collected for each portable terminal. Sound data storage means for storing the data corresponding to the position information registered by the ascending means, and an information providing service for providing the stored image data and data relating to the sound to the information providing request source for the portable terminal Means, the location where the mobile terminal is present is pinpointed by information such as noise and image photographs around the location where the mobile terminal currently exists. There are can effectively know the location details information showing cement manner easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a position information notification device and a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmitter that is a position information notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an end user in the location information notification system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the position information reporting system in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Transmitter (location information reporting device, portable terminal), 1b ...
... Transceiving circuit (transmitting and receiving means, information transmitting means), 1d ...
Communication control unit (transmission / reception means, information transmission means), 1e ... control circuit (information transmission means), 1m ... imaging device, 1o ...
Imaging device connection state determination means, 1n ... Imaging device connection means, 2 ... Wireless base station, 3 ... ISDN (communication network), 4
...... Location information server, 4a ... Location information registration means, 4b
...... Image storage means, 4c ... Sound data storage means, 4d ...
... abnormal state occurrence information storage means, 5 ... Internet (communication network), 6 ... public telephone line network (communication network), 7 ...
End user (information providing request source), 8... Location information service center (information providing service means), 8 a.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication system connected to a communication network via a wireless base station,
In a position information reporting device capable of receiving and transmitting signals including voice, at predetermined time intervals with the radio base station, transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving a signal necessary for registering a current position, Information transmitting means for transmitting, to the wireless base station, data on peripheral sounds collected or peripheral image data captured by an imaging device in correspondence with the current position to be registered, at each time interval of A position information reporting device, characterized in that: 2. The position according to claim 1, further comprising an image pickup device connecting means to which said image pickup device is connected in order to take in image data picked up by said image pickup device formed independently. Information reporting device. 3. An image capturing apparatus connection state determining unit configured to determine whether the image capturing apparatus is connected by the image capturing apparatus connecting unit, wherein the information transmitting unit is provided at every predetermined time interval. The position information notification device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination result by the imaging device connection state determination unit is transmitted to the wireless base station. 4. The mobile terminal, based on signals transmitted and received between a mobile terminal in an area covered by the radio base station and the radio base station at predetermined time intervals and required for location registration of the mobile terminal. Position information registration means for registering the position information of the mobile terminal, collecting image data around the mobile terminal captured by an imaging device via the mobile terminal and the wireless base station;
An image storage unit that stores the mobile terminal in association with the location information registered by the location information registration unit for each of the mobile terminals; and data on sound collected around the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal and the wireless base station. Sound data storage means that collects the data via the mobile terminal and stores the sound data corresponding to the position information registered by the position information registration means for each mobile terminal; and the image data stored by the image storage means and the sound data storage means. Information providing service means for providing data relating to the performed sound or the like to the information providing request source of the portable terminal. 5. Information on the occurrence of an abnormal state of the portable terminal, such as a state in which the imaging device is not connected to the portable terminal, a state in which the battery level is low, and a communication failure, and the like, are transmitted via the portable terminal and the wireless base station. An abnormal state occurrence information storage unit that collects and stores the information corresponding to the position information registered by the position information registration unit for each of the mobile terminals, wherein the information providing service unit includes a map indicating the position information of the mobile terminal. Information, the occurrence of the abnormal state accumulated by the abnormal state occurrence information accumulating means, and the position information of the portable terminal at predetermined time intervals for the portable terminal moving to another area or arriving at the designated area. The location information reporting system according to claim 4, wherein the location information is provided to a provision request source. 6. A location information determining unit that determines whether or not the location information of the portable terminal registered by the location information registration unit is within an area designated in advance. 6. The information providing request source is notified when the location information determining means determines that the location information of the registered portable terminal has entered the area designated in advance. Location information reporting system.