JP3026170B2 - Search equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The search device of the present invention belongs to the technical field of a search system for searching for wanderers, victims, stolen or lost items.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, as a device for alerting a wandering person of going out of a facility such as a hospital or a nursing home, a wandering person is equipped with an oscillator or marker, and a sensor is installed at the entrance or gate of the facility. There is a wandering prevention system that detects the passage of a wandering person and notifies a guard post or a nurse center.

[0003] Second, portable GPS positioning devices (handy navigation systems) and portable telephones or portable radios are currently considered as the most promising devices for notifying the position of a victim. The climber carries both of them, and in the event of a distress, if the victim dictates the GPS positioning information to the rescue facility, the location of the victim can be accurately reported.

[0004] Third, for a lost item, the child device is put in a bag or the like that is likely to be lost, and the owner carries the parent device in his pocket. When the child device and the parent device are separated by a predetermined distance, the parent device is lost. Has been developed to alert the owner with a warning sound or the like. Alternatively, as a device for tracking a stolen item, there is a device in which a small radio wave transmitter is attached to an article that may be stolen, and the direction of the transmitter is detected and tracked by a highly directional receiver. .

Further, as a prior art closest to the search apparatus of the present invention, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-65413 discloses a search apparatus called a "position information detection apparatus".
The apparatus will be described below using the reference numerals in the publication. In this device, in response to a telephone call from the position information device B, which is the parent device, GPS positioning information is returned via the mobile telephone line 35 from the portable transceiver A, which is a child device carried by the wanderer 32. . The position information device B, which is the parent device, receives the positioning information via the communication company 8 and receives it with the modem device 3 through the public telephone line 7 and the navigation system 4.
Is combined with the map information and displayed on the map display device 5 as a position on the map. However, the position information device B, which is the parent device,
Has no means for measuring its own position, such as a GPS positioning device, and is of a fixed type, as is clear from FIGS. 1 and 3 in the above publication. Therefore, the position information device B, which is the parent device, does not move at least during communication with the portable transceiver A, which is the child device.

In actual operation, the caregiver 38 visually recognizes the position of the loitering person 32 on the map displayed on the map display device (display) 5 and notifies another searcher moving with a mobile phone or the like. It is supposed that the search will be performed.

[0007]

The above-described first to third apparatuses and the search apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned publications as prior arts each have disadvantages and have room for improvement as described below. The first wandering prevention system does not know where the wanderer once escapes from the facility, and has no ability to search for the wanderer. In the case of a second victim, the victim contacts by radio or cell phone,
It is necessary to read GPS positioning information and dictate it, and if any of these procedures is interrupted due to injury or the like, it will not be possible to report the distress location. In the third loss prevention device, once the child device is far away from the master device, the direction and the distance of the child device are not known, so that there is no ability to search for the child device. In addition, in a device that tracks stolen items, the output of a small radio wave transmitter cannot be increased so much (due to battery capacity, etc.). When it runs out,
Tracking is difficult.

In the search device disclosed in the above publication, G
Since a PS positioning device is provided and the parent device is not provided with a GPS positioning device, a differential GPS positioning system is not formed. Therefore, the positioning accuracy of the self-position of the slave unit has a large error range of about several tens of meters inherent to the GPS civil mode, and pinpoints the position of the slave unit (that is, the position of a wanderer or the like). Can not do. That is, the caregiver 3 looking at the display of the parent machine
The instruction to the searcher 8 must be a rough instruction to search for the position of a wanderer or the like to be searched within an approximate range of a radius of several tens of meters. If a wanderer or the like carrying the child device is lurking in the crowd or hiding in the forest or grass, search will be extremely difficult and will take a long time.

Further, the search by the search device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication requires at least two teams of a caregiver who visually recognizes the display of the master unit and gives an instruction and a searcher who actually goes out to search. Therefore, when there is not enough manpower, such as in a general household, it is impossible for one searcher to search alone, and there are operational restrictions on manpower. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide the following search device.

[0010] First, even when one of a loitering person, a lost item, and a stolen item is separated from the vicinity of the searcher, the search is quickly performed irrespective of the distance, and the position is detected with higher accuracy. This is a search device that enables the user to easily find the specified device. The second is a search device that can automatically notify a searcher of a distress even if the victim loses any of his / her eyesight, hearing, and language ability, and can transmit a highly accurate location of the distress. It is. Further, in both the first case and the second case, the search can be performed by a single searcher, and the search can be performed with at least one man on the search side. And

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects In order to solve the above problems, the inventor has invented the following means. (First Means) A first means of the present invention is a search device according to claim 1. According to this means, when radio communication is performed by radio waves from the master unit to a predetermined slave unit by the wireless transmission / reception device, the wireless transponder of the slave unit receives and responds, and the wireless communication between the master unit and the slave unit is performed. The line is connected. There may be a plurality of slave units, and the master unit wirelessly calls a specific one of them to secure a line. At this time, a facility of a communication carrier such as a terminal station or a relay station of a wired telephone facility or a wireless telephone facility may be interposed between the master unit and the slave unit.

When the wireless communication line from the master unit is connected to the slave unit, the positioning device of the slave unit is activated and transmits positioning information indicating the current position of the slave unit to the wireless transponder based on radio waves from the positioning facility. . Then, the wireless transponder of the slave transmits the transmitted positioning information of the slave to the master. The wireless telephone transmitting / receiving device of the master unit receives the positioning information of the slave unit transmitted from the slave unit, measures the current position of the master unit by the positioning device of the master unit, and also obtains the positioning information of the master unit. The parent device calculates the positioning information of the child device with respect to the positioning information of the parent device by a difference (for example, subtraction of latitude and longitude), and displays the relative position of the child device with respect to the parent device on a display.

Normally, the master unit is provided with a map data storage device, and data of a necessary map portion is provided from the map data storage device based on each positioning information, and a display of the parent device on the map is provided on the display. The locations of the handset and the handset are displayed. It is also possible to display the position of only the parent device on the display or the position of only the child device on the display by operating the switch of the parent device.

At this time, the positioning device of the slave unit and the positioning device of the master unit use positioning radio waves (navigation radio waves) from a common positioning facility when both are near each other. The positioning error is canceled by the difference. Therefore, a difference positioning system is formed by both the slave unit and the master unit, and the relative position of both is measured by the master unit with a positioning accuracy higher than the positioning accuracy of each positioning device alone. For example, assuming that the common positioning error between the master unit and the slave unit is 100 m and the separate (independent) positioning errors between the master unit and the slave unit are each 1 m, the difference positioning system determines the relative position between the two. The error is about 1.4 m (taking the square of the square of the two errors).
As described above, the relative positioning accuracy of the slave unit is dramatically improved by forming the differential positioning system, and the position of the slave unit can be precisely specified.

It is easy to provide a master device with a map matching function by collating with map data (this is implemented in many car navigation systems), and the absolute positioning accuracy of the master device can be improved. Therefore, it is also possible to increase the absolute positioning accuracy of the slave unit based on the absolute positioning information of the master unit whose accuracy has been improved. Therefore, according to this means, even if any of the wanderer, the lost item, and the stolen item is separated from the vicinity of the searcher, the search is quickly performed irrespective of the distance, and the slave device is more accurately detected. There is an effect that the search target carrying the slave unit can be found by specifying the position of the search target. That is, according to this means, the above-described first problem (quick search for a wandering person) is solved. In addition, since the base unit is portable, the searcher can carry the base unit, and a search can be performed by a single searcher, and the search can be performed with at least one searcher. is there. Note that the portable master unit may be portable, may be attached to a vehicle such as an automobile, or may be detached from the vehicle to be portable.

The radio transceiver of the master unit is usually equipped with a telephone device of a push button type or the like. Even when there are a plurality of slave units, the telephone number and the like registered in the radio transceiver can be used. It is possible to obtain the positioning information by calling the desired slave unit. (Second Means) A second means of the present invention is a search device according to claim 2.

In this means, the positioning facility is a plurality of Nabster GPS satellites, the positioning device of the master unit and the positioning device of the slave unit are both GPS positioning devices, and a differential GPS positioning system is formed as a differential positioning system. I have. The positioning accuracy of the GPS positioning device alone is about several tens of meters in the civil mode, but since a differential GPS positioning system (hereinafter abbreviated as DGPS) is formed,
The relative positioning accuracy between the master unit and the slave unit is about several tens cm. When the master unit and the slave unit are relatively close to each other, it is even said that the relative positioning accuracy is about 10 cm in effect.

Therefore, by using the existing GPS positioning system, the position of the slave unit can be specified with extremely high accuracy with a relative positioning error within several tens of cm. Therefore, according to this means, in addition to the effect of the first means,
Even when a wandering person or the like to be searched is mixed in with a crowd, it is possible to pinpoint an individual. Alternatively, even when the search target attached to the slave unit is hidden by a concealed object, it is possible to quickly search and find the search target very easily.

(Third Means) A third means of the present invention is a search device according to claim 3. In this means, the wireless transceiver of the master unit and the wireless transponder of the slave unit are each one of a transceiver for a mobile phone, a transceiver for a PHS, a transceiver for iridium satellite communication, and a transceiver for teledisk satellite communication. It is.

When the transmitting / receiving device of the master unit or the wireless transponder of the slave unit is a portable telephone, it can be used in a relatively wide range, and can be used at high speed while moving.
When the device is a PHS device, it can withstand continuous use for a long time because of low power consumption,
It can be used in underground shopping malls and subway stations. Both the mobile phone network and the PHS network are constantly expanding, and it is expected that they will be able to be used in almost all places in Japan in the near future. If the transmitting and receiving device is for iridium satellite communication or teledisk satellite communication, it can be used worldwide, including in mountainous areas, in dense forests, and on the ocean.

Regardless of the type of the transmitting / receiving device, the infrastructure of a communication carrier that relays communication between the master unit and the slave unit is provided (or will be provided). Is). Therefore, it is possible to secure a communication line with a much weaker radio wave than when directly communicating with a transceiver or the like, and it is possible to perform communication regardless of distance even if power consumption is small. In particular, when the wireless transponder of the child device is a PHS transmitting / receiving device, a long-term search can be performed while the child device is small. In addition, even when the type of transmission / reception device differs between the master unit and the slave unit, communication (transmission / reception) between the master unit and the slave unit is possible as long as the relay stations of the two units can communicate with each other and relay with each other. It is.

Therefore, according to this means, in addition to the effect of the above-described first means, it is possible to enjoy the effect according to the characteristics of each transmitting and receiving apparatus as described above. (Fourth Means) A fourth means of the present invention is a search device according to claim 4. In this means, the wireless transmission / reception device of the master unit transmits a specific signature signal to the slave unit by the signature transmission device immediately after the line with the slave unit is connected. On the other hand, the wireless transponder of the slave unit that has received the same signature signal receives the specific signature signal within a predetermined time after the wireless communication line is connected by the security device, and then transmits the positioning information of the slave unit to the parent device. Reply to the machine. Conversely, when a wireless line is connected from a device other than the master device on the slave device side, since a specific signature signal is not sent, the slave device waits for a predetermined time, and does not return positioning information, The wireless device is disconnected by the security device.

Therefore, when the slave unit is called from a terminal of a radio line other than the master unit (which does not emit a specific signature) due to the operation of the signature transmission device of the master unit and the security device of the slave unit, the child unit is called. The positioning information of the mobile device is not returned, and the position of the mobile device is kept secret. Therefore, according to this means, in addition to the effect of the above-described first means, since the positioning information of the child device is returned only to the parent device, the position of the portable device of the child device is known to others who do not have the parent device. Nothing. Therefore, there is an effect that personal privacy and security (prevention of kidnapping, etc.) are ensured.

(Fifth Means) A fifth means of the present invention is a search device according to the fifth aspect. According to this means, since both the master unit and the slave unit have the handset connected to the wireless transmission / reception device or the wireless transponder, a call can be made between the user of the master unit and the person carrying the slave unit. That is, since both the wireless telephone transmitting / receiving device of the parent device and the wireless telephone answering device of the child device also have a handset, it is possible to talk between the parent device and the child device in the same manner as a normal wireless telephone. That is, the user of the slave unit can inform the user of the master unit by calling and inform the current position. Since the current position is automatically transmitted from the slave unit to the master unit by using a code between the call signals, the user of the slave unit does not need to dictate the current position. Therefore, when the user of the child device is distressed, the parent device is automatically called by the dialing device of the child device,
The distress signal and the current position can be automatically and sequentially transmitted.

In this means, the user of the child device (distress) can also receive appropriate advice from the user of the parent device (searcher) by the call function. further,
When a specific base unit and a wireless telephone cannot be connected, the slave unit is provided with a wireless telephone dialing device, and by using the device to make a wireless telephone call to another base unit to transmit distress signals and positioning information, It is also possible to make a call to a fire department or the police via a normal telephone line for help.

Therefore, according to this means, in addition to the effect of the first means, a call can be made between the master unit and the slave unit, and each of the master unit and the slave unit has a dial transmitting device. Then, it becomes possible to access information terminals such as other telephones, which has the effect of being more convenient. (Sixth Means) A sixth means of the present invention is a search device according to claim 6.

In this means, the slave unit has a manual transmission function and an automatic transmission function of a rescue signal. That is, when a predetermined operation is manually performed, the slave unit issues an alarm, and automatically calls the master unit by the wireless transponder to transmit a rescue signal and a positioning signal. In addition, child unit,
When a release operation is not performed within a predetermined time after a predetermined impact is applied, or when a release operation is not performed within a predetermined time after being flooded or flooded, an alarm is issued and a wireless The response device automatically calls the base unit and transmits the rescue signal and the positioning signal.

Therefore, when the user of the slave unit is distressed, the base unit is automatically called by the dial transmitting device mounted on the slave unit, and the distress signal and the current position are automatically and sequentially transmitted. Becomes possible. In particular, if a predetermined switch of the child device is turned on, the child device automatically calls a predetermined parent device or a rescue facility, and if the user of the child device is distressed and the positioning information is transmitted, Search and rescue are possible even if the handset user is severely injured or weak.

Therefore, according to this means, in addition to the effect of the first means, there is an effect that it is suitable for searching and rescue of a victim. In particular, even when the victim is so damaged that he cannot dial and make a wireless call or dictate the situation, the slave automatically calls the master and sends a rescue signal and a positioning signal, This has the effect of enabling quick search and rescue of victims. In addition, even when the victim has lost consciousness, if there is no regular communication, it is possible to make a wireless telephone call from the master unit, obtain positioning information from the slave unit, and head for rescue. In addition, if the slave unit receives an impact greater than a predetermined amount, an alarm sounds for a predetermined time, and if the user of the slave unit does not perform an operation to stop the alarm, the slave unit automatically makes a wireless telephone call to the master unit. Alternatively, the rescue signal and the positioning information may be transmitted to the master unit. When a line is not connected to the master unit, a wireless telephone may be automatically called one after another to another master unit or a rescue facility.

That is, according to this means, there is an effect that the above-described second problem (quick search for injured victims) is solved.

[0031]

[Example 1]

(Structure of Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, a wandering person search system according to Embodiment 1 is a communication line business that relays a slave unit 1 and a master unit 2 of a search device of the present invention, and both 1 and 2. PHS relay facility T and a plurality of Nabster GPS satellites (hereinafter abbreviated as GPS satellites) N.

The slave unit 1 receives a wireless call from the master unit 2 and transmits the positioning information P1 of the slave unit 1 to the master unit 2. The PHS responding device 11 serves as a wireless telephone answering device. It has a GPS positioning device 12 as a satellite positioning device for transmitting the information P1 to the PHS response device 11. The child device 1 is equipped with a security device 13 and has a PH
Only when the signal received by the response device 11 of the S includes the specific signature signal S from the parent device 2, the security device 13 sends the inquiry signal Q to the GPS positioning device 12 only.
Is sent. Further, the slave unit 1 is provided with each of these devices 11 to 1
3 and a small case (not shown) for storing the batteries.

The PHS responding device 11 is a PHS relay facility T
Has an antenna 11a for receiving a calling radio wave from the terminal station T1 and transmitting a responding radio wave. G
The PS positioning device 12 has an antenna 12a that receives signal radio waves from a plurality of Nabster GPS satellites N. FIG.
Now, to clarify the functional difference,
And the antenna 12a are shown separately, but in order to reduce the size, the slave 1 of the present embodiment is assumed to have an antenna that also serves as both 11a and 12b.

The GPS positioning device 12 has an antenna 12a, a GPS receiver (not shown), and a decoder (not shown).
A signal radio wave from a plurality of (normally three or more) GPS satellites N is received, and the decoder analyzes the signal to determine its own current position. Only when the security device 13 detects a specific signature signal S from the master device 2 is the determined current position of the slave device 1 determined as the latitude and longitude positioning information P from the GPS positioning device 12 to the PHS response device 11. Is transmitted to

The PHS response device 11 has another PHS by itself.
It does not have the ability to make a call to the telephone, but has the ability to transmit positioning information P back in response to a PHS telephone that has been exclusively dialed. The base unit 2 makes a PHS wireless telephone call to a predetermined slave unit 1 by a built-in dial transmission device (not shown),
It has a PHS transmitting / receiving device 21 as a wireless telephone transmitting / receiving device that receives the positioning information P1 from the child device 1, and a map image display 22 that displays the received positioning information P1 of the child device 1. When a communication line is connected between the PHS transceiver 21 and the slave 1, the master unit 2 causes the slave 1 to repeatedly transmit a specific signature signal S to the PHS transceiver 21 within a predetermined time. It has a device. Further, a GPS positioning device 24 for measuring the current position of the base unit 2 itself is also provided. In the vicinity of the base unit 1, a radio signal from the same GPS satellite N as that of the base unit 1 is received by the antenna 24a. Is transmitted to the map image display 22 as well. Further, base unit 2 has a battery (not shown) for supplying power to each of devices 21 to 24, and a case (see FIG. 2) in which these are built.

The PHS transmitting / receiving device 21 includes an antenna 21
a, and the nearest terminal station T of the PHS relay facility T
The mobile phone 1 makes a wireless call to the mobile phone 1 via the mobile phone 2 and transmits a specific signature signal S from the signature transmission device 23 to the mobile phone 1 within a predetermined time. The positioning information P1 is received and provided to the map image display 22.
At the same time, the GPS positioning device 24 of the base unit 2
2 is measured by a radio signal from the GPS satellite N, and is also provided to the map image display 22.

Therefore, since both the position information P1 of the slave unit 1 and the position information P2 of the master unit 2 are provided on the map image display 22, D as a differential positioning system is provided.
A (differential) GPS positioning system has been formed. The map image display 22 accesses the built-in map database based on the provided positioning information P and sets the current position P1 of the slave 1 as a relative position from the current position P2 of the master 2 on the map image. Display to the second user.

The parent device 2 and the child device 1, especially the child device 1
Neither the parent device 2 nor the child device 1 is provided with a call function in order to reduce the size of the device. Therefore, a voice call is not established between the two. (Effects of Embodiment 1) In the wandering person search system according to the present embodiment, when searching for a wandering person, first, the dial transmission device of the base unit 2 is operated to carry the wandering person from the base unit 2. Handset 1 includes P including the nearest terminal station T2.
Make a call via the HS relay facility T. When a PHS wireless telephone is called from the base unit 2 via the nearest terminal station T1 of the PHS relay facility T, the handset 1 enters the online state (calling state) in response to the telephone call. Become. When the wireless telephone line is connected in this way,
From the signature transmission device 23 of the master unit 2 to the slave unit 1 or the master unit 2
A specific signature signal S is repeatedly generated within a predetermined time, and transmitted from the PHS transceiver 21 of the base unit 2 to the slave unit 1.

In the handset 1, when the PHS response device 11 connects the base unit 2 to the wireless telephone line, the inquiry signal Q from the security device 13 is sent only when a specific signature signal S is received within a predetermined time. The data is sent to the GPS positioning device 12, and the GPS positioning device 12 is activated. GP started
The S positioning device 12 receives the signal radio wave from the GPS satellite N to determine its own current position, and uses this current position as the positioning information P1 of the slave 1 consisting of the latitude and longitude, as the PHS response device 1.
Feed to 1. Then, the PHS response device 11 sends the supplied positioning information P1 on the response radio wave to the nearest terminal station T1 and transmits it to the base unit 2 via the PHS relay facility T. During this time, the handset 1 does not make any sound, and functions without being noticed by a wanderer carrying the handset 1.

In the base unit 2, the PHS transceiver 21 receives the positioning information P from the nearest terminal station T2 and supplies the positioning information P1 of the slave unit 1 to the map image display 22. The positioning information P2 of the base unit 2 is also supplied to the map image display 22 at the same time, and a DGPS positioning system is formed. Therefore, the relative position of the slave unit 1 with respect to the base unit 2 is within an error of about several tens cm. It is displayed on the map image display 22 with extremely high accuracy. In this way, the user of the base unit 2 can precisely monitor the current position of the handset 1 on the map displayed on the map image display 22 and quickly search for a wanderer carrying the handset 1. . DG
The positioning accuracy of the PS positioning device 12 is usually about tens to several tens of cm, and the position of the wanderer carrying the handset 1 can be specified precisely, so that the search becomes extremely easy.

That is, according to the present embodiment, there is an effect that the above-described first problem (quick search for a wandering person) is solved. (Operation Image of First Embodiment) An operation image of the wanderer search system of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

With the current technical level, it may still be possible to reduce the size of the handset 1 to only a size of a fist (a size that fits in a waist bag), but with the development of electronic technology in recent years, the size of It is possible to manufacture the child device 1 with a size of. Furthermore, the day when the slave unit 1 can be manufactured with the size and weight of a card calculator will come soon. The operational image described here should be considered as it was at that time.

For an individual who has a wandering habit, the child device 1 is placed in the talisman bag A and lowered from the neck with the string B, so that the user is always carrying it except when taking a bath. In the string B, antennas 11a and 12a for both the PHS response device 11 and the GPS positioning device 12 are provided, and receive the signal radio waves from the GPS satellite N and transmit / receive to / from the nearest terminal station T1. It is possible.

Here, one of the features is that the PHS telephone generally consumes less power by nature and does not have a call function requiring a microphone and a speaker. Is extremely small. In addition, the GPS positioning device 12 is activated only when a PHS radio telephone is received from the base unit 2 and a specific signature signal S is received, and therefore, the GPS positioning device 12 does not consume any electric power at all times in a normal state without a call state. Therefore, the handset 1 consumes very little power in the standby state, and can maintain the standby state for a long time.

When the individual carrying the child device 1 starts wandering and goes outside from home or facility and goes missing, the family member or searcher activates the parent device 2 to start. A PHS call is made to the handset 1 carried by the wanderer. When there are a plurality of individuals who have a habit of wandering in a facility or the like, the same number of slaves 1 is provided, so the corresponding slave 1 is designated and a call is made.

Then, the slave unit 1 is connected to the nearest terminal station T.
Only when a specific signature signal S from the base unit 2 is received by calling from the radio wave from the base station 1, the positioning information P 1 of the slave unit 1 is returned to the terminal station T 1 in response. The positioning information P1 of the slave unit 1 is transmitted to the master unit 2 from the terminal station T2 nearest to the master unit 2 via the PHS relay facility T. When the positioning information P1 of the slave unit 1 is displayed on the map image display 22 of the master unit 22 as the relative position of the positioning information P2 of the master unit 2, the user of the master unit 2 gets into the passenger seat of the automobile V and lifts the handle H. Going out to search for wanderers by car V while cooperating with the next driver. The base unit 2 is provided with an infrared transmitter 25 as an option. The infrared transmitter 25 transmits positioning information P1 indicating the current position of the wanderer to the car navigation device C.

The car navigation device C receives the positioning information P by the optional infrared receiver R, and automatically sets the position of the positioning information P as the destination. The car navigation device C sets the position of its own vehicle V as a starting point by a signal radio wave from the GPS satellite N, accesses a built-in road map database, and automatically searches for a route to the destination. The searched route is guided to the driver by the display D and the sound of the car navigation device C. Also in this car navigation device C, since its own GPS positioning information and the GPS positioning information P1 of the child device 1 coexist, DGPS (in the vicinity where the child device 1 and the parent device 2 use the same GPS satellite N) A positioning system is formed, and the relative position of the slave unit 1 to the vehicle V is accurately displayed with an error within several tens of cm.

Therefore, even when a wandering person cannot be found directly in the vehicle, the position of the wandering person carrying the handset 1 is set to one.
m and parked near the wanderer,
Can be taken out of the vehicle to search for wanderers on foot. As described above, DGPS is performed between the slave 1 and the master 2.
Since the positioning system has been formed, the main unit 2
The relative position to is precisely specified within an error of several tens of cm.
Therefore, even when the wandering person carrying the handset 1 is crowded or hidden behind a cover such as grass or a shed, the wandering person can be found quickly and easily. .

According to the wanderer search system of this embodiment,
In this way, the wandering person can be easily searched for and picked up by the automobile V, and the position of the wandering person can be specified very precisely. Therefore, there is an effect that the search for the wandering person becomes extremely easy and quick. After protecting the wandering person, the user (searcher) of the base unit 2 who has been on the passenger seat on the outbound route may sit in the rear seat alongside the wandering person and return while comforting the tired wandering person.

(Supplementary Notes of Example 1) Usually, wanderers are mentally ill or senile wandering habits, and it is considered that the latter (wandering elderly) are much more numerous than the former. The problem of wandering old people is already becoming a social problem, and it is clear that it will become a daily problem in Japan, where the number of old people will increase further. The worries of the wandering household are terrible, either quitting the job and going on wandering, or being poor but trapping the wanderer,
Or the family will be forced to make a serious decision, either to pay the expense or leave the facility.

Whether the wanderer is at home or in a facility, if he or she is missing, he must rely on police and other organizations to search, and the mental burden on the surrounding humans is measured. I don't know. In addition, wanderers often lack the ability to protect their own safety, so if the search is not completed and the discovery is delayed, an accident or weakness in the missing place may lead to a life-threatening danger. There is even.

The present embodiment is an embodiment of the present invention made in view of such a serious problem. At the time of actual search, unlike the case where the position of the slave unit 1 is specified with an accuracy of several tens of meters as in the prior art of the above-mentioned publication, if the positioning error is less than 1 m as in the case of the present embodiment, However, even if the wanderer is hiding behind the scenes, the search becomes extremely easy. Further, since the base unit 2 is portable and portable, unlike the case where the position of a wanderer is instructed and searched by a mobile phone or the like as in the prior art of the above-mentioned publication, the searcher is located on the map image. The user can search while looking at the display 22. Therefore, the search can be performed by at least one searcher, and there is an effect that it is convenient for use at home or the like or at a facility with a shortage of workers. Therefore, it is hoped that this embodiment will be put to practical use as soon as possible at a sufficiently low price and spread, and that wanderers will be safely protected and the burden on the surroundings will be reduced.

(Modification 1 of Embodiment 1) A modification in which the slave 1 is provided with a power storage device with a power generation device instead of a battery is possible. As the power generation device, there is, for example, a device built in a quartz oscillation type quartz wristwatch, and it is possible to generate power using the vibration and shaking applied to the slave unit 1 as a driving force, so that there is no need to worry about the battery life. Become like In addition, this modified embodiment also has the effect of eliminating the need for battery replacement.

However, in terms of reliability, cost, volume, and weight, it is most preferable to periodically replace a small mercury battery or the like. (Modification 2 of Embodiment 1) Modification of child device 1 having a function in which PHS responding device 11 returns terminal station information indicating which terminal terminal T1 is linked to base station 2 to base station 2. This is also possible if the facility of the terminal station T1 has a function of supplying the signal. According to this modification, even if there are wanderers in a building or underground mall where the signal radio wave from the GPS satellite N does not reach, the terminal station T
It is possible to specify the position of a wanderer in one defensive range, and search in a building or an underground mall is also possible. Further, there is an effect that a search can be made in a place where signal radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites N do not reach, such as a valley of a building.

(Modification 3 of Embodiment 1) A modification in which the PHS response device 11 is changed to a transmission / reception device of a mobile phone is also possible. In this modification, although one of the features of the mobile phone, even when the slave unit 1 or the master unit 2 is mounted on a vehicle that moves at high speed, the call state of the two units 1 and 2 is not interrupted. . Therefore, there is an effect that searching when a wandering person is on a train becomes easier.

(Modification 4 of Embodiment 1) The above-described Embodiment 1
A modification is also possible in which the base unit 2 is detachable as a part of the in-vehicle GPS navigation system. This has the effect that the absolute position of the base unit 2 can be compensated more precisely using the map matching function of the in-vehicle GPS navigation system. therefore,
When finally getting off the car V and searching for a wandering person, the initial position of the base unit 2 can be displayed on the map more precisely.

Further, the base unit 2 is equipped with a simple strap-down INS or a strap-down attitude sensor (integrating the angular velocity of the rate sensor) to form a combined GPS / INS navigation system with a Kalman filter or the like. Is also good. Then, even when the attitude and orientation of the base unit 2 fluctuate significantly, it is possible to display the position of the base unit 1 on a map in accordance with the direction in which the base unit 2 is facing,
Since the direction is automatically known, it is easier to search for a wanderer.

(Other Modifications of First Embodiment) In the search system of the present embodiment, the slave unit 1 is previously attached to an article that may be lost or stolen for searching for lost or stolen objects. There is also a usage method in which a search is performed from the base unit 2 when necessary. The child device 1 may be put in a hidden pocket such as a bag. In addition, if an individual who is likely to be kidnapped has the child device 1 concealed, the search in the case of kidnapping becomes easy.

Further, there is also a usage in which a modified embodiment of the handset 1 in which the PHS response device 11 is replaced with a transmission / reception device for iridium satellite communication or teledisk satellite communication is attached to a wild animal or the like. If the movement of wild animals is monitored by the base unit 2 in this way, the search system using the search device of the present modified embodiment is also useful for ecology research of wild animals in mountainous areas and in the ocean.

It is of course possible to have a climber or an explorer carry the slave unit 1 of the present embodiment, and use the search device of the present embodiment for searching in the event of a distress. In this modification, the wireless transponder and the wireless transmitter / receiver adopt a transmitter / receiver for iridium satellite communication or teledisk satellite communication, and can secure a communication line in mountainous areas, in dense forests, and on the ocean. I do. According to this modification, not only the second problem (quick search for the victim) can be solved, but also because the child device 1 is lightweight and small, it is not burdensome to carry it. It is also suitable for walkers because it increases safety.

Second Embodiment (Structure of Victim Search System of Second Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 3, a victim search system according to a second embodiment of the present invention has a child device 1 'and a parent device 2'. And an Iridium communication satellite (hereinafter abbreviated as communication satellite) I that relays both 1 'and 2'
And a plurality of GPS satellites N. The iridium communication system is a next-generation communication system capable of communicating with a portable transmitter / receiver (telephone) on the ground using a large number of low-orbit satellites and also performing inter-satellite communication, and enabling communication and communication with the same standard worldwide. It is currently being planned by private companies.

The handset 1 communicates with the base unit 2 and transmits the positioning information P to the base unit 2. An iridium transmitting / receiving device 11 ′ as a radio telephone answering device and a GPS as a satellite positioning device for measuring the positioning information P 1. Positioning device 12 and map image display 14 for displaying positioning information P1 on a map image
And Also, the slave unit 1 'is provided with these devices 11', 1
A battery (not shown) for supplying power to the power supply 2 and 13 and a case (not shown) for storing the battery are also provided.

The iridium transmitting / receiving device 11 ′ as a wireless transponder includes a dial transmitting device (not shown) and an antenna 11.
a ′, and has a capability of communicating with another desired transmitting / receiving device (telephone) via the communication satellite I. The iridium transmitter / receiver 11 'is also a cordless handset 11
c (built-in microphone and speaker) and handset 11c
And an antenna 11b for short-range communication. The handset 11c may be a headset that can be used without hand. The GPS positioning device 12 has an antenna 12a for receiving signal radio waves from a plurality of Nabster GPS satellites N, a GPS receiver (not shown), and a decoder (not shown), and has a function of determining its own current position. ing. The determined current position is the latitude and longitude positioning information P of the slave unit 1 '.
As 1, the information is transmitted from the GPS positioning device 12 to the iridium transmitting / receiving device 11 'and the map image display 14. The map image display 14 has a function of accessing the built-in map database to display the positioning information P1 on the map image and displaying the positioning information P1 as a numerical value of the latitude and longitude on a part of the screen.

The base unit 2 ′ includes an iridium transmission / reception unit 21 ′ serving as a radio telephone transmission / reception device for calling a radio telephone via the communication unit I ′ and a communication satellite I (inter-satellite relay is also possible).
A GPS positioning device 24 for measuring its own positioning information P2,
And a map image display 22 'for displaying the received positioning information P1 of the slave 1' and the positioning information P2 of the master 2 '. In addition, it also has a battery (not shown) for supplying power to each of the devices 21 ′, 22 and 24, and a case (not shown) containing these.

The iridium transmitting / receiving device 21 'is connected to a predetermined slave unit 1' via a communication satellite I (inter-satellite relay is possible) by a built-in dial transmitting device (not shown) and an external antenna 21a '. It has the function of making a wireless phone call and the opposite. Main unit 2 'to child unit 1'
Is transmitted from the slave 1 'to the master 2', in addition to the audio signal C, the positioning information P1 of the slave 1 'is transmitted. The audio signal C is exchanged with the user of the base unit 2 ′ via the handset 21c (built-in microphone and speaker) attached to the iridium transmitting / receiving device 21 ′ of the base unit 2 ′, and A call can be made with the user of the base unit 2 '.

The iridium transmitting / receiving device 21 ′ is connected to the slave 1 ′.
And receives the positioning information P1 included in the response from the child device 1 'and provides it to the map image display 22'. The map image display 22 displays the G
The self-positioning information P2 is also provided from the PS positioning device 24, and the slave unit 1 'and the master unit 2' form a DGPS positioning system. The map image display 22 accesses the built-in map database based on the provided positioning information P1 and P2, displays the current positions of the child device 1 'and the parent device 2' on the map image, and displays the corners of the map image. , The positioning information P1 and P2 are also displayed as character information of latitude and longitude.

(Operation and Effect of the Victim Search System of the Second Embodiment) The use mode of the handset 1 includes a navigation mode for checking the current position of the handset 1, a radio telephone mode using the iridium satellite communication system, and a communication mode via the communication system. Monitor mode for transmitting the positioning information P1 to the base unit 2 '.
There are types. In the first navigation mode, GPS
The positioning information P obtained from the positioning device 12 'is displayed on the map image display 22, and the slave 1' functions as a handy navigation system (portable navigation device).
This mode is always used from normal times as a navigation device that replaces navigation instruments such as maps and charts and magnetic compasses. At this time, if the positioning information P2 of the master unit 2 'is transmitted from the master unit 2' whose exact position is known to the slave unit 1 ',
A DGPS positioning system is also formed on the slave 1 'side, and precise positioning is possible.

In the second wireless telephone mode, a dial transmission device built in the iridium transmission / reception device 11 'of the handset 1' can make a call by relaying the communication satellite I to a desired telephone number. Calls can be made with the 2 'user. It should be noted that the call here may include personal computer communication, facsimile, image communication (still image and moving image), and the like.

In the third monitor mode, a communication line is secured between the slave unit 1 'and the master unit 2' via the communication satellite I, and a call can be made between the two units 1 'and 2'. At the same time, the positioning information P1 is transmitted from the slave 1 'to the master 2'. The positioning information P1 is transmitted at any time by sewing the gap between the audio signals C, and the current position of the child device 1 'is precisely displayed on the map image display 22' of the parent device 2 'as a relative position with respect to the parent device 2'. The user of the parent device 2 'can determine the relative position of the child device 1'
It can be recognized precisely on the map and the latitude and longitude. Therefore, at the time of distress, the positioning information P1 of the child device 1 ', that is, the current position of the victim, is reported to the user of the parent device 2', that is, the searcher in this monitor mode, and the searcher quickly finds the victim and rescues it. Can be hit. The handset 1 'is equipped with a distress button, and when the victim is in a situation where it is not possible to make a call, pressing the button automatically makes a wireless call to the base unit 2' and informs the distress. And the positioning information P1 is transmitted. When there is no response from the user of the child device 1 'by making a radio telephone call from the parent device 2' and there is a high possibility of distress, the monitor mode of the child device 1 'is started from the parent device 2' to start the search. be able to.

Even when the handset 1 'is located in a mountainous area, in a dense forest, or on the sea, the GPS satellite N and the communication satellite I
Can always be communicated with. Also, as described above, DGPS
A positioning system is formed, and the relative position between the slave 1 'and the master 2' is measured very precisely. Therefore, even in a place distant from a mobile phone or a PHS base station, the victim search system of the present embodiment functions, and since the relative positioning is precise, the search can be performed reliably and quickly, and rescue is possible. There is.

That is, according to the present embodiment, there is an effect that the above-described second problem (quick search for injured victims) is solved. Also, there is an effect that the search for the victim can be performed by at least one searcher. (Operational image of the second embodiment) Usually, rescue of a victim requires an emergency to the spot, so that the search is often performed by an airplane or a helicopter for rescue. Therefore, if the latitude and longitude of the positioning information P1 of the slave unit 1 'displayed on the master unit 2' are input as the latitude and longitude of the destination to the navigation device equipped with these aircraft, You can rush to the scene and concentrate on radar search and visual search.

Further, since a call can be made between the slave unit 1 'and the master unit 2', the situation of distress, the surrounding terrain,
In addition to being able to report weather conditions, it is possible to give appropriate advice to victims from knowledgeable searchers. Furthermore, if the slave unit 1 'is equipped with a CCD camera or the like and has an image transmission function, the image of the injured or the like is transmitted to the master unit 2' by image communication and monitored by the master unit 2 '. It will be possible to receive more appropriate advice from the house. Thus, according to the victim search system of the present embodiment, the rescue of the victim is quicker and more reliable,
The effect is that the survival rate of the victims can be greatly improved.

(Modification of Second Embodiment) The wireless telephone of the slave unit 1 ′ is connected to a powerful transceiver or wireless communication (so-called H
AM) is also possible. Further, a modification using a teledisk satellite communication system instead of the iridium communication system is also possible. Further, a variation is also possible in which the slave 1 'receives the positioning information P2 of the master 2' from the master 2 ', and the DGPS positioning system is formed on the slave 1' as well. In this modified embodiment, there is little distinction between the child device 1 'and the parent device 2', and the two 1 'and 2' have an equal relationship.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wanderer search system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation image of the wanderer search system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a victim search system according to a second embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Handset of the wanderer search system 11: PHS response device (wireless telephone response device) 11
a: Antenna 12: GPS positioning device 12a: Antenna 13: Security device 2: Master device of the wanderer search system 21: PHS transceiver (wireless telephone transceiver)
21a: Antenna 22: Map image display (displays positioning information on a map) 23: Signature transmitting device 24: GPS positioning device 24
a: Antenna 25: Infrared transmitter 1 ': Child unit of victim search system 11': Iridium transmitting / receiving device (wireless transponder) 1
1a: Antenna 11b: Antenna (for handset) 11c: Handset (cordless) 14: Map image display (displays positioning information even in latitude and longitude) 2 ': Master unit of victim search system 21': Iridium transceiver (wireless transceiver) 21a ': Antenna (for satellite communication) 21c: Handset (wired) 22': Map image display (displays positioning information even in latitude and longitude) A: Amulet bag B: String C: Car navigation device / voice signal D: Display H: Handle I: Iridium Communication Satellite M: Wanderer N: Nabster GPS Satellite P1, P
2: Positioning information Q: Start signal R: Infrared receiver S: Signature signal
V: Car T: PHS relay facility (wireless telephone relay facility) T1, T
2: Terminal station

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-212497 (JP, A) JP-A-8-65413 (JP, A) JP-A-6-188819 (JP, A) 86853 (JP, A) JP-A-7-240964 (JP, A) JP-A-6-119578 (JP, A) JP-A 64-31294 (JP, A) JP-A 9-203776 (JP, A) JP-A-9-8935 (JP, A) JP-A-9-172733 (JP, A) JP-A-9-247730 (JP, A) Tadao Saito (1 other person) Mobile communication handbook (1st edition) , November 15, 1995, Ohm Co., Ltd. P464 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G01S 5/02 G01S 5/14 H04B ^7/ 24-7/26

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A portable slave unit that receives and responds to wireless communication from a master unit and transmits its own positioning information to the master unit, and calls the slave unit by wireless communication to determine the positioning from the slave unit. A search device comprising the movable parent device for displaying information, wherein the child device is configured to detect the child device based on a radio wave from a positioning facility that is one of a navigation artificial satellite and a navigation ground facility. A positioning device that measures the position of the device and provides the positioning information; and a wireless response device that receives the wireless communication from the master device and returns the positioning information to the master device in response to the wireless communication. A positioning device that measures the position of the base unit based on the radio waves from the positioning facility and provides positioning information; and the base unit calls the slave unit by the wireless communication, and the positioning information of the slave unit. A wireless transmission / reception device for receiving from the slave unit, and the slave unit A display for displaying a relative position of the slave unit with respect to the master unit based on the positioning information and the positioning information of the master unit, wherein the slave unit and the master unit determine each of the positioning information. A difference positioning system for canceling an error and measuring the relative position between the slave unit and the master unit with a positioning accuracy higher than the positioning accuracy of each of the positioning devices alone is formed, and the master unit is related to the position of the slave unit. The positioning information or
Transmits the relative position to the on-vehicle navigation device.
A portable device with communication means,
And a vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle.
The vehicle-mounted navigation device.
A search device, which is capable of cooperating with a device.