KR20050096699A - Portable locater apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed portable location tracking device includes: an RF processor for processing a navigation message signal received from a GPS satellite and a signal transmitted and received with a mobile communication network through an antenna in a mobile communication network; A GPS module generating position coordinates using the navigation message signal; A memory storing position coordinates and the destination terminal information; And a control unit controlling to transmit the position coordinate together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit by an external position sending command.

The portable location tracking device having such a configuration transmits an image and a sound generated at the current location along with the current location coordinates by a function key of the portable location tracking device or a request signal of the destination terminal. It can grasp not only the location but also the image of the location and the sound of the occurrence at the same time, so that it can cope immediately even in case of emergency, and it can also process the moving range, notification time, and notification message included in the request signal. It is possible to provide a variety of location tracking services.

Description

Portable Locater apparatus

The present invention relates to a portable location tracking device, and more particularly, to transmit an image and a sound generated at a current location by a function key of a portable location tracking device or a request signal of a destination terminal, and a moving range included in the request signal. The present invention relates to a portable location tracking device capable of processing a notification time, a notification message, and the like.

In general, the location tracking device refers to a device used to determine the current location of the person who owns the terminal, the location tracking method is a cell ID (Cell ID), GPS (PSD) method, TDIA (TDOA) : Time Difference Of Arrival).

The cell ID method finds a cell or sector that provides a service to a mobile exchange managing a terminal and tracks its location. The accuracy is proportional to the radius of the cell.

The GPS method uses a receiver to measure time and distance from three or more satellites, and calculates the current position by triangulating three different distances.

The TDI method is a method of tracking a location using a difference in arrival time of a signal between a mobile switch and a base station.

On the other hand, commercially available products for preventing the loss of children, such as necklaces, bracelets, etc. Using a tag or a simple name tag attached to the chest or a sensor device using a device to generate an alarm sound when the guardian and the guardian falls over a certain interval. there was.

However, the above-mentioned products can only passively wait for the action of the discoverer when the child is actually lost, and can not actively track the location of the child.

Due to this problem, the development of a missing child identification device using a location tracking method such as GPS. However, the conventional apparatus for identifying a lost child merely provides the current location of the lost child, and specifically, it is impossible to confirm information about where the lost child is located and what is happening to the lost child. Even when an emergency situation occurs, there is a problem that cannot be properly handled.

Therefore, there is a need for a portable position tracking device having a new structure that can solve the above problems.

The present invention was created in view of the above necessity, and transmits an image and a sound generated at a current location along with a current location coordinate by a function key of a portable location tracking device or a request signal of a destination terminal, and included in the request signal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable location tracking device that can be improved to handle the movement range, notification time, notification message and the like.

In the present invention for achieving the above object, an identifier uniquely recognized in a mobile communication network is assigned, and a portable position tracking device for generating a position coordinate and transmitting to a destination terminal through the mobile communication network, GPS through the antenna An RF processor for processing a navigation message signal received from a satellite and a signal transmitted and received with a mobile communication network; A GPS module generating position coordinates using the navigation message signal; A memory in which the position coordinates and the destination terminal information are stored; And a control unit controlling to transmit the position coordinate together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit by an external position sending command.

The present invention for achieving the above object further comprises at least one function key and an input unit for receiving an input signal from the function key, the control unit preferably recognizes the input signal as the position sending command.

Here, the position sending command is a request signal received from a destination terminal through the mobile communication network, and the control unit recognizes the request signal as the position sending command.

The request signal may further include movement range information, and the controller controls to transmit the position coordinate together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit when the position coordinate is out of the movement range. desirable.

The request signal may further include notification time information, and the controller controls to transmit the position coordinate together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit at the notification time.

The present invention for achieving the above object further comprises a display means for displaying data on the display means and the display means, the request signal further comprises a notification message, the control unit displays the notification message through the display unit It is preferable to control to display by means.

The present invention for achieving the above object further comprises a speaker and an audio processing unit for driving the speaker, the control unit preferably transmits an alarm sound to the speaker through the audio processing unit upon receiving the request signal.

The present invention for achieving the above object further comprises a communication port for transmitting and receiving data with an external device, the control unit is to store at least one phone number input through the communication port to the destination terminal information in the memory; desirable.

The controller may be further configured to store the message input through the communication port as an emergency call message in the memory and transmit the emergency call message together with the position coordinates.

The present invention for achieving the above object further comprises a camera for photographing an external subject as an image and an image processing unit for processing the image received from the camera as image data, the control unit stores the image data in a memory It is preferable to control to transmit the image data together with the position coordinates.

The present invention for achieving the above object further comprises a microphone for converting the external sound into an electrical signal and an audio processing unit for converting the electrical signal received from the microphone into acoustic data, the control unit to the voice data in the memory It is preferable to store the data and control to transmit the voice data together with the position coordinates.

In addition, the control unit stores at least one position coordinate generated by the GPS module in the memory with the time the position coordinates are generated, the stored position coordinates and time is preferably accessible through the communication port.

The mobile communication network converts the location coordinates into at least one of text, voice, and GPS information and location information mapped to the location information, and stores the location data as service data, and transmits the service data to the destination terminal at the request of the destination terminal. It is preferable to include a location tracking service server.

1 is a network diagram for the implementation of a portable location tracking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the network configuration for the implementation of a portable location tracking device is a GPS network 200, a portable location tracking device 100, a communication network 300 including a location tracking service server 310, a destination terminal and an emergency center 430 may be configured to be included.

The GPS satellites 200 are four satellites arranged on each of six circular orbits having an inclination of the earth's equator and 55 degrees, and rotate at 12 hours intervals at an altitude of 20000 km, and generate position coordinates according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation message signal required for the carrier is loaded on the carrier and transmitted by code division multiplexing.

The portable location tracking device 100 is assigned an identifier that is uniquely recognized in the mobile communication network, receives a navigation message signal from the GPS satellite 200, generates a position coordinate using this, and transmits it to a destination terminal through the mobile communication network. do.

The portable location tracking device 100 may be used as a means for coping with the location of the child to be protected, the dementia lacking in decision-making ability, the mentally incompetent elderly, the disabled, and the like. In addition, the portable location tracking device 100 is attached to not only a person but also a pet such as a dog, a cat, a bicycle car, and the like, and can be usefully used for location tracking when lost or stolen.

The portable location tracking device 100 may be manufactured in various appearance forms so that a user may conveniently carry it and easily attach it to an animal or an object. For example, it may have an appearance form such as a necklace, a watch, a doll, shoes, a belt. The configuration of the portable location tracking device 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 below.

The communication network 300 may be a combination of a wired telephone network or a mobile communication network that provides a communication path between the portable location tracking device 100 and the destination terminal. The mobile communication network preferably includes a location tracking service server 310 to serve the location coordinates of the portable location tracking device 100 in various ways as a destination terminal.

The location tracking service server 310 converts the location coordinates of the portable location tracking device 100 into location information mapped with text, voice, and GS information, and stores them as service data, and stores the service data at the request of the destination terminal. Provided to the destination terminal.

The location tracking service server 310 may provide location information of the portable location tracking device 100 in various forms through a convenient user interface. For this purpose, the location terminal service information, the portable location tracking device information, and the location tracking service are provided. A database for storing user information for a user authentication procedure may be provided.

The destination terminal is a terminal for receiving location information of the portable location tracking device 100, and may be a telephone 420 connected to a wired telephone network, a mobile phone 400 connected to a mobile communication network, a PDA 410, or the like. The destination terminal may receive the location information of the portable location tracking device 100 through the location tracking service server 310, and may receive the location coordinates from the portable location tracking device 100 through the communication network 300 directly. . When receiving the location coordinates directly from the portable location tracking device 100, it is preferable that the destination terminal has a built-in application program for providing the received location coordinates by mapping the GPS information.

The emergency center 430 may be an organization that can help when there is an emergency call requesting help from the portable location tracking device 100. For example, it may be a police station, a hospital, or the like located in a nearby area from the location of the portable location tracking device 100.

2 is a block diagram of a portable location tracking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the portable location tracking device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is the RF processing unit 110, GPS module 120, memory 130, input unit 140, display unit 150, audio It may be configured to include a processor 160, a communication port 170, an image processor 180 and the controller 190.

The RF processor 110 is a signal such as frequency synthesis, amplification, noise removal, etc. to modulate and demodulate the navigation message signal received from the GPS satellite 200 and the signal transmitted and received with the mobile communication network through the antenna 112. By performing the processing, communication with the GPS satellite 200 and the mobile communication network is supported.

The GPS module 120 generates the position coordinates of the current portable positioning apparatus 100 using the navigation message signal received from the GPS satellite 200.

The memory 130 is a portable position and data such as the position coordinates, destination terminal information, the unique identifier of the portable position tracking device 100 and the emergency call message of the portable position tracking device 100 generated from the GPS module 120 and the portable position It is preferable that a program or the like for driving the tracking device 100 is stored. The memory 130 may be configured by a combination of DRAM, flash memory mask ROM, and the like.

The input unit 140 receives an input signal from one or more function keys 142. The function key 142 may be a transmission button for transmitting current location information or an emergency call button for notifying an emergency situation by an operation of a holder of the portable location tracking apparatus 100. It may also be configured as a keypad for selecting one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of destination terminals.

The display unit 150 displays data on display means 152 such as an LCD. The data that can be displayed on the display means 152 may be location information of the current portable location tracking device 100, a moving range received from a destination terminal, a notification time, a notification message, and the like.

The audio processor 160 drives the speaker 162 for outputting a sound such as an alarm sound and a microphone 164 for converting external sounds into electrical signals to process input / output of sound data.

The communication port 170 provides an interface for transmitting and receiving data with an external device such as a computer, a mobile phone, a PDA, and the like. The communication port 170 may be a serial port, a parallel port, and a USB port. The data transmitted and received through the communication port 170 may be one or more destination terminal information (telephone number), an emergency call message informing of an emergency situation, and access to the memory 130 such as upgraded program data and function key 142 assignment. It may include control data for.

The image processor 180 processes an external subject image captured by the camera 182 as image data.

The control unit 190 is the RF processor 110, GPS module 120, memory 130, input unit 140, display unit 150, audio processing unit 160, communication port 170, image processing unit ( 180 is a component for transmitting the position coordinate to the destination terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The controller 190 stores one or more telephone numbers input through the communication port 170 in the memory as destination terminal information. In addition, the controller 190 may store a message input through the communication port 170 in the memory 130 as an emergency call message.

When the external position transmission command is detected, the controller 190 receives the position coordinates from the GPS module 120 and transmits the ID along with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit 110. In this case, the controller 190 may sequentially store the position coordinates generated by the GPS module 120 in the memory 130 together with the time at which the position coordinates are generated, and the stored position coordinates may be accessed through the communication port 170. Can be.

Here, the position sending command refers to an input signal input through the function key 142 or a request signal received from the destination terminal through the mobile communication network. The request signal is a request for a user of the destination terminal to check the location of the portable location tracking apparatus 100, and may further include movement range information, notification time information, and notification message together with the location coordinates. The notification message is intended to convey the intention of the destination terminal holder through text to the holder of the portable location tracking device 100 may include appointments and simple instructions.

If it is determined that the movement range information is included in the request signal, the controller 190 may control to transmit the position coordinates to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit 110 only when the position coordinates deviate from the specified movement range.

If it is determined that the notification time information is included in the request signal, the controller 190 may control to transmit the position coordinates to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit 110 only at the designated notification time.

In addition, when there is more than one phone number of the destination terminal stored in the memory 130, the controller 190 may transmit the location coordinates to the plurality of destination terminals by attempting to set communication paths according to a predetermined priority or sequentially. The holder of the portable location tracking device 100 may control to transmit the location coordinates only to the phone number of the specific destination terminal selected through the function key 142.

On the other hand, when the reception of the request signal is detected, the controller 190 may transmit an alarm sound to the speaker 162 through the audio processor 160 to notify the sound that the request signal has been received from the destination terminal.

In addition, when it is determined that the notification message is included in the request signal, the controller 190 displays the notification message on the display unit 152 through the display unit 150 so that the holder of the portable location tracking apparatus 100 can recognize the notification message. It is desirable to.

On the other hand, when an external position transmission command is detected, the controller 190 drives the audio processor 160 to receive sound generated at a location where the portable position tracking device 100 is currently located, and to output the sound data to the memory 130. It may be stored and transmitted to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit 110 along with the position coordinates.

In addition, when a position sending command is detected, the controller 190 drives the image processor 180 to receive an image of a location where the current position tracking device is located, and stores the image in the memory 130 as image data, and together with the position coordinates. The RF processing unit 110 may control the transmission to the destination terminal.

The RF processor 110 and the controller 190 may be implemented as a single chip. For example, it may be a Qualcomm chip of MSN6xxx or higher equipped with a GPS function and capable of processing a CDMA code 9 signal and general traffic data.

Hereinafter, the operation of the portable location tracking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, an external device such as a computer or a mobile phone is connected through the communication port 170 of the portable location tracking device 100. The phone number of the destination terminal is input through the keyboard or the keypad provided in the computer or the mobile phone and stored in the memory 130. The telephone number may be a telephone number of one or more wired / wireless terminals. Table 1 below illustrates stored phone numbers when the holder of the portable location tracking device 100 is a child.

Destination terminal Phone number Priority father 016-400-4000 One Mother 02-400-4000 2 Emergency Center 112 3

Along with the input of the telephone number of the destination terminal, an emergency call message can be further input and stored in the memory. The emergency call message may be, but is not limited to, a message asking for help "lost."

When a child carrying the portable location tracking device 100 is lost due to an unexpected situation, the function key 142 of the portable location tracking device 100 may be pressed. When the input of the function key 142 is detected, the controller 190 receives the current position coordinates from the GPS module 120, accesses the memory 130, and receives the telephone number of the target terminal according to the priority. To set the communication path.

The controller 190 may transmit the position coordinate together with the emergency call message stored in the memory 130 through the established communication path. In this case, the controller 190 may drive the audio processor 160 and the image processor 180 to transmit the sound data collected through the microphone 164 and the image data photographed through the camera 182 together.

The destination terminal may receive information transmitted from the portable location tracking apparatus 100 directly or through an intermediary of the location tracking service server 132 located in the mobile communication network through the established communication path.

In particular, when the target terminal is a conventional wired telephone, that is, a terminal of "02-400-4000" which is the mother's telephone number, the position information is voiced through the mediation of the location tracking service server 310 to receive the position information. It is desirable to receive.

When attempting to establish a communication path to the emergency center 430, the mobile communication network preferably transmits location information to an institution that can help a child such as a police station in a nearby area where the portable location tracking device 100 is located. Do.

Next, the guardian of the child, for example, the father of the child to transmit the request signal to the portable location tracking device 100 through the mobile communication network or via the location tracking service server 310 to determine the location of the user Explain the case.

When the request signal is detected, the controller 190 receives the current position coordinates from the GPS module 120 and then transmits the position coordinates to the terminal that has transmitted the request signal. In this case, the controller 190 may drive the audio processor 160 and the image processor 180 to transmit sound data collected through the microphone 164 and image data photographed through the camera 182 together.

The father of the child may further include a notification time for transmitting the movement range and position coordinates of the child to the request signal through the user interface provided by the destination terminal or the user interface provided by the location tracking service server 310.

Here, the movement range may be set within a radius determined based on the designated specific region. In addition, the notification time is a few minutes after the time elapsed from returning home to the kindergarten, for example, if the time to normally return home by selling the kindergarten is 14:00, 14:10 may be set as the notification time.

When the request signal includes the movement range, the controller 190 compares the current position coordinates with the movement range coordinates and transmits the position coordinates only when the current position coordinates deviate from the movement range coordinates. If the notification time set as in the above example is included, the position coordinates are transmitted at 14:10.

In addition, the father of the user may further include a notification message such as simple instructions and a simple appointment in the request signal through the user interface provided by the destination terminal or the user interface provided by the location tracking service server 310. The notification message may be a message such as "getting along with friends" or "dad is going to visit kindergarten at 14:00".

If the notification signal is included in the request signal, the controller 190 drives the display unit 150 to output the notification message to the display means 152. At this time, it is preferable to output the alarm sound for notifying the arrival of the notification message through the speaker 162.

As described above, an identifier uniquely recognized in a mobile communication network is assigned, and a location tracking device for generating a position coordinate and transmitting the same to a destination terminal through the mobile communication network, wherein the navigation message signal is received from the GPS satellite via an antenna. And an RF processor configured to process signals transmitted and received with the mobile communication network. A GPS module generating position coordinates using the navigation message signal; A memory in which the position coordinates and the destination terminal information are stored; And a control unit which controls to transmit the position coordinate together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit by an external position sending command. The portable position tracking device of the present invention provides the following effects. .

By transmitting the image and the sound generated at the current position along with the current position coordinate by the function key of the portable position tracking device or the request signal of the destination terminal, the image of the position as well as the position where the holder of the portable position tracking device is located and Simultaneously grasp the sound on the occurrence situation, so that even if an emergency occurs, it is effective to deal with it immediately, and also it is possible to process the movement range, notification time, notification message, etc. included in the request signal, various location tracking services There is another effect of being able to provide.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that described above and illustrated in the drawings and that many more modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

1 is a network diagram for the implementation of a portable location tracking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a portable location tracking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Major Parts of Drawings>

100 ... Portable Position Tracking Device 110 ... RF Processor

120 ... GPS module 130 ... Memory

140 ... Input 150 Display ...

160 ... audio processor 170 ... communication port

180 ... image processing unit 190 ... control unit

Claims (13)

In the portable location tracking device is assigned an identifier uniquely recognized in the mobile communication network, and generates a position coordinate to transmit to the destination terminal through the mobile communication network, RF processing unit for processing a navigation message signal received from the GPS satellite and the signal transmitted and received with the mobile communication network via the antenna; A GPS module generating position coordinates using the navigation message signal; A memory in which the position coordinates and the destination terminal information are stored; And A control unit controlling to transmit the position coordinate together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit by an external position sending command; Portable location tracking device configured to include. The method of claim 1, Further comprising at least one function key and an input unit for receiving an input signal from the function key, And the control unit recognizes the input signal as the position sending command. The method of claim 1, The location transmission command is a request signal received from a destination terminal through the mobile communication network, And the control unit recognizes the request signal as the position sending command. The method of claim 3, The request signal further includes movement range information, And the control unit transmits the position coordinates together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit when the position coordinates deviate from the movement range. The method of claim 3, The request signal further includes notification time information. And the control unit controls to transmit the position coordinate together with the identifier to the destination terminal through the RF processing unit at the notification time. The method of claim 3, Further comprising a display means and a display unit for displaying data on the display means, The request signal further includes a notification message, The control unit is a portable location tracking device, characterized in that for controlling the display to display the notification message via the display unit. The method of claim 3, Further comprising a speaker and an audio processor for driving the speaker, The control unit transmits an alarm sound to a speaker through the audio processor when the request signal is received. The method of claim 2, Further comprising a communication port for transmitting and receiving data with an external device, And the control unit stores at least one telephone number input through a communication port as destination terminal information in the memory. The method of claim 8, And the control unit stores the message input through the communication port as an emergency call message in the memory, and transmits the emergency call message together with the position coordinates. The method of claim 1, A camera for photographing an external subject as an image and an image processor for processing the image received from the camera as image data, And the control unit stores the image data in a memory and controls to transmit the image data together with the position coordinates. The method of claim 1, And a microphone for converting external sounds into electrical signals and an audio processor for converting electrical signals received from the microphones into acoustic data. The controller stores the voice data in a memory and controls to transmit the voice data together with the position coordinates. The method of claim 8, The controller stores at least one position coordinate generated in the GPS module in the memory together with the time at which the position coordinate is generated, The stored position coordinates and time are accessible through the communication port. The method of claim 1, The mobile communication network A location tracking service server converting the location coordinates into at least one of location information mapped with text, voice, and GPS information and storing the location data as service data, and transmitting the service data to the destination terminal according to a request of the destination terminal. Portable location tracking device, characterized in that.