JP3823664B2 - Information terminal and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information terminal and a storage medium, and more particularly, to an information terminal and a storage medium that detect a current position and output information corresponding to the current position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, notebook personal computers and personal digital assistants called PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) have been developed. Also, mobile phone terminals such as mobile phones and PHS (Personal Handyphone System) have been developed with functions to manage various personal information, e-mail functions, data communication functions, Internet browser functions, etc. In view of its portability and convenience, it has created various usage forms.
[0003]
And the above-mentioned portable information terminal attracts attention not only as a personal use form but also as a business terminal because of its portability and convenience. For example, when performing work such as building maintenance or inventory, the worker performs work while moving between a plurality of buildings or moving between floors in the building. When such work is performed using the above-described portable information terminal, each floor information (for example, floor layout and work contents for each floor) is stored in advance in the portable information terminal for each floor in the building. Every time the operator moves on the floor, an operation for reading the floor information corresponding to the current position is input, and the floor information is displayed on the display unit.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the operator needs to input an operation every time the floor is moved, which is troublesome for the operator. In addition, when the worker himself does not grasp the current position, correct floor information cannot be displayed.
[0005]
On the other hand, there is a position detection system such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) as means for detecting the current position of itself. This position detection system receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites launched in low Earth orbit and measures the longitude and latitude and altitude of the current position. However, in a building, it is difficult to receive radio waves from a satellite, and there are cases where the position cannot be detected when the obstacle is large.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to detect current position information and output information corresponding to the current position, for example, for a person who performs business while moving between buildings or inside a building.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a position detection system that acquires current position information, an altitude sensor that outputs altitude information of the current position, a building code that identifies each building for a plurality of buildings, and detection by the position detection system Map information storage means for storing the position information in association with each other, building information storage means for storing altitude information and floor information in association with each building code stored in the map information storage means, A building that searches the map information storage means based on the current position information acquired by the position detection system, identifies a building corresponding to the acquired current position information, and acquires a building code corresponding to the current position The altitude information and the floor information corresponding to the building code acquired by the specifying means and the building specifying means are read from the building information storage means, and the altitude Floor information display means for retrieving the read altitude information and floor information based on the altitude information output by the sensor, and reading and displaying the floor information corresponding to the output altitude information. Features.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main parts inside the portable information terminal 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a portable information terminal 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, a display unit 3, an input unit 4, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 5, a position detection system 6, an altitude sensor 7, a storage device 8, and a memory. The transmission control unit 10 is connected to a medium 9 and a communication line 12, and each unit excluding the storage medium 9 is connected by a bus 11.
[0013]
The CPU 2 reads a predetermined program from the storage medium 9 based on an instruction input via the input unit 4, temporarily stores it in the work memory 5 a of the RAM 5, executes various processes based on the program, and executes a portable information terminal Centralized control of each part of 1. That is, the CPU 2 executes various processes based on the read predetermined program, stores the processing results in the RAM 5 and displays them on the display unit 3. In addition, based on an instruction input via the input unit 4, the processing result is stored in the storage medium 9 via the storage device 8.
[0014]
When business is performed by moving between buildings or between floors in the building, the CPU 2 executes a floor information acquisition process (see FIG. 9) described later according to a floor information acquisition program stored in the storage medium 9.
[0015]
Here, an example in which the portable information terminal 1 is used when a building maintenance work is performed will be described. The worker carries the portable information terminal 1 and moves the buildings A, B, and C to perform maintenance work. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a floor configuration of each building, and each of the buildings A, B, and C has a plurality of floors from the first floor to the nth floor. Hereinafter, the first floor is represented as floor 1F, the second floor is represented as floor 2F,..., And the nth floor is represented as floor nF.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram in the floor information acquisition process of the portable information terminal 1. When the worker moves to the maintenance destination building, the CPU 2 acquires the current position information by the position detection system 6. Then, a database 9a described later is searched based on the position information, and building information is acquired. Here, the building information of building A is acquired. The CPU 2 passes the acquired building information to the work memory 5 a of the RAM 5.
[0017]
Next, when the altitude sensor 7 obtains altitude information of the current position, the CPU 2 searches the work memory 5a based on the altitude information and obtains floor information (floor layout diagram etc.) corresponding to the altitude information. And the display data of the acquired floor information are output to the display part 3, and are displayed. In addition, instead of acquiring altitude information at the current position by the altitude sensor 7, a hierarchy information transmitting device that transmits, to each floor of a building or building, hierarchical information indicating what floor the location is by radio signals, infrared rays, etc. (For example, RF-ID etc.) is arranged, and a receiving device for receiving hierarchical information transmitted from the hierarchical information transmitting device is built in the portable information terminal 1, and the hierarchical information is input to the CPU 2 instead of the altitude information, and the current position May be specified on which floor in the building.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a floor layout diagram of each floor of a building. (A) is a floor layout diagram 31 of the floor 1F, (B) is a floor layout diagram 32 of the floor 2F, and (C) is a floor. It is the floor arrangement | positioning figure 33 of 3F. In the floor information acquisition process, a floor layout corresponding to the current position is displayed on the display unit 3. In addition, the maintenance place may be displayed blinking in each floor layout 31, 32, 33, or the maintenance content at each maintenance place may be displayed.
[0019]
Further, the CPU 2 monitors the current position every time a predetermined time elapses, and when there is a change in the altitude information detected by the altitude sensor 7, the floor information corresponding to the new altitude information is read from the work memory 5a of the RAM 5. To be displayed on the display unit 3. Further, when there is a change in the position information detected by the position detection system 6, that is, when moving between buildings, the corresponding building information is acquired again from the database 9a.
[0020]
The display unit 3 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and generates various signals by generating signals based on display data input from the CPU 2.
[0021]
The input unit 4 includes a group of keys such as cursor keys, numeric input keys, and various function keys for inputting operations and data, and outputs a pressed signal of a pressed key to the CPU 2.
[0022]
The RAM 5 has a work memory 5a that temporarily stores designated application programs, input instructions, processing results, and the like.
[0023]
The position detection system 6 is a device that acquires current position information, and is configured by, for example, a GPS device. FIG. 5 schematically shows how position information is detected by the GPS device. The portable information terminal 1 includes a GPS receiver 6a composed of an antenna or the like, and receives the radio waves 6c, 6c, 6c transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites 6b, 6b, 6b at the GPS receiver 6a. The latitude and longitude of the position are measured and output to the CPU 2 as current position information. Note that the position detection system 6 is not limited to a GPS device, but may be any apparatus that can identify the current position of the portable information terminal 1. For example, the position may be detected using PHS. In this case, the current position of the portable information terminal 1 is specified based on the positions (latitude information and the like) of one or more PHS base stations around the portable information terminal 1.
[0024]
The altitude sensor 7 includes, for example, a pressure sensor, an amplifier circuit, and the like, measures the ambient atmospheric pressure, calculates the altitude corresponding to the atmospheric pressure, and outputs the altitude information to the CPU 2 as current altitude information.
[0025]
The storage device 8 includes a storage medium 9 in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance, and the storage medium 9 is configured by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 9 is fixedly attached to the storage device 8 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 9 includes a system program for the portable information terminal 1, various application programs corresponding to the system, a floor The information acquisition processing program, database 9a, data processed by each processing program, and the like are stored.
[0026]
Here, the contents of data stored in the database 9a in the storage medium 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. The database 9a has a map database 9aa shown in FIG. 6 and a building information database 9ab shown in FIG.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 6, the location information detected by the location detection system 6 and the building code are stored in the map database 9aa in association with each other. Here, the building code is data for specifying a building, such as a building name or unique numerical data.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 7, the building information database 9ab stores building codes, altitude information, and floor information in association with each other. Here, for example, it is assumed that an arrangement diagram of each floor is stored as floor information. The floor information may include, for example, the maintenance location of each floor, information on the content of maintenance, information on other floors, and the like in addition to the floor layout diagram. The floor information may be prepared for each application (for each business).
[0029]
A part or all of the programs, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 9 are received from the transmission control unit 7 via other transmission devices such as the communication line 12 from other devices such as servers and clients and stored. The storage medium 9 may be a storage medium of a server constructed on a network. Furthermore, the program may be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as the communication line 12 and installed in these devices.
[0030]
That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the information communication system 100 may be configured using the portable information terminal 1. FIG. 8 is an example of an information communication system 100 configured using the portable information terminal 1. The information communication system 100 includes a portable information terminal 1, a host 14 connected to the portable information terminal 1 via a communication line 12 by a wired or wireless connection method via a communication network 13 such as a public line network or a dedicated line, Consists of Although not shown, the host 14 includes a CPU, a display unit, an input unit, a RAM, a transmission control unit, and a database 14a. The database 14a stores a map database 9aa and a building information database 9ab in the same manner as the database 9a described above.
[0031]
In the information communication system 100 shown in FIG. 8, the CPU on the host 14 side searches the database 14 a according to the position information and altitude information transmitted from the portable information terminal 1 via the transmission control unit 10, and the portable information terminal 1. Various data such as building information (including floor information) corresponding to the location information and altitude information is read and transmitted to the portable information terminal 1 side.
[0032]
The transmission control unit 10 is a connector, modem (MODEM / DEModulator) or terminal adapter (TA: Terminal Adapter) for connecting to an external personal computer, mobile phone or PHS via a cable, or a cable to an external device. It is configured by an infrared communication unit, a wireless communication unit, and the like for performing data communication without using a network, and performs control for performing communication with an external device via a telephone line, an ISDN line, a wireless communication network, or the like. In order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via a telephone line, the modem modulates the digital data processed by the CPU 2 into an analog signal suitable for the frequency band of the telephone line, and also via the telephone line. The terminal adapter converts the existing interface into an interface corresponding to ISDN in order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via an ISDN line. It is a device to do.
[0033]
Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described.
The floor information acquisition process performed by CPU2 is demonstrated based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, a program for realizing each function described in these flowcharts is stored in the recording medium 9 in the form of a readable program code, and the CPU 2 sequentially executes operations according to the program code. To do. Further, the CPU 2 can sequentially execute the operation according to the above-described program code transmitted through the transmission medium. In other words, in addition to the storage medium 9, the program / data externally supplied via the transmission medium can be used to execute operations specific to this embodiment.
[0034]
In the following description, the portable information terminal 1 is provided with a database 9a, and building information corresponding to the position information is searched from the database 9a.
[0035]
When the portable information terminal 1 is set to ON, the portable information terminal 1 reads the floor information acquisition processing program stored in the storage medium 9 and develops it on the work memory 5a in the RAM 5 to start the floor information acquisition processing.
[0036]
First, the CPU 2 acquires current position information by the position detection system 6 (step S1). Then, the map database 9aa in the database 9a is searched based on the acquired position information, and a building corresponding to the acquired position information is specified. Since a building code is set as information for identifying a building in the map database 9aa as shown in FIG. 6, a building code corresponding to the position information is acquired (step S2).
[0037]
Next, the CPU 2 reads out building information corresponding to the specified building from the building information database 9ab in the database 9a (step S3). In the building information database 9ab, as shown in FIG. 7, altitude information and floor information (including floor layout) are set for each building code as building information, so that it corresponds to the specified building (building code). Read altitude information and floor information. The CPU 2 writes the read building information (altitude information and floor information) in the work memory 5a in the RAM 5 (step S4).
[0038]
Next, the CPU 2 acquires current altitude information by the altitude sensor 7 (step S5). Then, the floor information corresponding to the acquired altitude information is read from the building information stored in the work memory 5a and displayed on the display unit 3 (step S6; see FIG. 4). For example, when a floor layout diagram of the floor 1F is read as floor information, a floor layout diagram 31 of the floor 1F corresponding to the current altitude is displayed as shown in FIG.
[0039]
Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S7; No), the CPU 2 waits for the elapse of the predetermined time. When the predetermined time has elapsed (step S7; Yes), the current altitude information is acquired again from the altitude sensor 7 (step S8). Then, it is determined whether or not the altitude has changed (step S9). That is, the difference between the acquired altitude information and the immediately preceding altitude information is obtained, and when it is determined that an altitude difference has occurred and the altitude has changed (step S9; Yes), the process proceeds to step S6, and again The floor information corresponding to the altitude information is read from the work memory 5a and displayed.
[0040]
If the altitude has not changed (step S9; No), then the current position information is acquired again from the position detection system 6 (step S10). Then, it is determined whether or not the position has changed (step S11). If it is determined that the position has changed (step S9; Yes), the process proceeds to step S2. That is, the map database 9aa is searched to identify the building corresponding to the location information, and the building information corresponding to the identified building is read from the building information database 9ab and written to the work memory 5a by the processing in steps S3 to S6. The floor information corresponding to the altitude information acquired by the altitude sensor 7 is read from the work memory 5a, and the display content of the display unit 3 is updated.
[0041]
If it is determined in step S11 that the current position has not changed (step S11; No), it is determined whether or not an end instruction is input from the input unit 4. If an end instruction has not been input (step S12; No), the process returns to step S7 to monitor whether there is a change in altitude or a change in position every time a predetermined time has elapsed.
When an end instruction is input from the input unit 4, the series of floor information acquisition processing ends.
[0042]
As described above, the portable information terminal 1 of the present invention includes the position detection system 6 and the altitude sensor 7, and the database 9a having the building information and the floor information corresponding to the position and altitude. Is detected, the CPU 2 searches the map database 9aa stored in the database 9a to identify which building the current position is in, and the building information corresponding to the building is stored in the database 9a. Read from the information database 9ab and write to the work memory 5a of the RAM 5. When the current altitude is detected by the altitude sensor 7, the CPU 2 searches the building information written in the work memory 5a to identify which floor the current altitude is on, and obtains the floor information of the identified floor. It is displayed on the display unit 3.
[0043]
Further, when the altitude and the position change are monitored every predetermined time, and the CPU 2 determines that the altitude detected by the altitude sensor 7 has changed, the CPU 2 reads the floor information corresponding to the altitude from the work memory 5a again. The floor information displayed on the display unit 3 is updated to the read floor information and displayed.
[0044]
If it is determined that the position detected by the position detection system 6 has changed, the building is specified again from that position, and the building information corresponding to the specified building is read from the database 9a and written into the work memory 5a of the RAM 5. . Then, the floor information corresponding to the altitude is retrieved from the newly written building information, read out, and displayed on the display unit 3.
[0045]
Accordingly, the position detection system 6 and the altitude sensor 7 can automatically identify the position and automatically acquire and display the corresponding floor information. Therefore, while moving between the buildings or the floors in the building, The worker who performs the work does not need to input an operation for displaying the floor information every time the building or floor is moved, and the burden is reduced. Even when the operator does not grasp the current position, the correct position and altitude are specified by the position detection system 6 and the altitude sensor 7, so that correct floor information can be read out.
[0046]
In addition, after the building is identified by the position detection system 6, the current altitude can be measured by the altitude sensor 7 and the current floor in the building can be identified, so that even after entering a building that is difficult to receive GPS radio waves. The current floor can be identified.
[0047]
Furthermore, the current position and altitude can be monitored every predetermined time, and when the position and altitude change, the floor information corresponding to the new position and altitude can be automatically displayed, so the operator can change the position. The work can be performed smoothly without being aware of the movement, and the burden can be further reduced.
[0048]
In the above description of the operation, the database 9a is provided in the portable information terminal 1, and necessary information is obtained by referring to the map database 9aa and the building information database 9ab in the database 9a. Information may be obtained from the external host 14 using the information communication system 100 shown.
[0049]
In this case, the host 14 includes a database 14 a having a map database 9 aa and a building information database 9 ab, and when the current position is detected by the position detection system 6 of the portable information terminal 1, the communication line 12 is controlled by the transmission control unit 10. Then, the current position information is automatically transmitted to the host 14 by means such as electronic mail via the communication network 13, and the CPU of the host 14 that has received the current position information refers to the map database 9aa of the database 14a and sets the current position information. Identify the corresponding building code. Then, the CPU of the host 14 reads out the building information corresponding to the specified building code from the building information database 9ab in the database 14a, and returns it to the portable information terminal 1 side. The portable information terminal 1 writes the received building information in the work memory 5 a of the RAM 5.
[0050]
Then, the portable information terminal 1 reads the corresponding floor information from the building information stored in the work memory 5a based on the current altitude information detected by the altitude sensor 7, and displays it on the display unit 3.
[0051]
Thus, if the building information is obtained from the database 14a on the host 14 side, there is no need to have a database relating to building information or the like on the portable information terminal 1 side, so the load on the portable information terminal 1 is reduced and the data Management becomes easy. That is, the information provided to the portable information terminal 1 can be centrally managed on the host 14 side, and new additional information can be quickly provided, thereby reducing the burden on the operator and the administrator.
[0052]
In the above embodiment, the floor information is simply displayed on the display unit 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the altitude information returns to the initial state (for example, the floor information). When returning to 1F, etc., a display may be made to warn the user of the task.
[0053]
Further, it may be determined which floor to go to next based on altitude information and display for instructing the worker.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and second aspects of the invention, the current position can be specified and the corresponding data can be output, so that an operator who works while moving between the buildings or the floors in the building It is no longer necessary to input an operation to display data corresponding to the current position every time the floor or floor is moved, and the burden is reduced, and the correct position can be obtained even when the operator does not know the current position. Therefore, correct data can be read out.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main parts inside a portable information terminal 1;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a floor configuration of a building A, a building B, and a building C.
3 is a functional block diagram of floor information acquisition processing of the portable information terminal 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a floor layout diagram of each floor of a building.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing how position information is detected by a GPS device.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing data contents set in a map database 9aa.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing data contents set in a building information database 9ab.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an information communication system 100 configured using a portable information terminal 1;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of floor information acquisition processing executed by CPU 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Mobile information terminal 2 CPU
3 Display unit 4 Input unit 5 RAM
5a work memory 6 position detection system 6a GPS receiving unit 6b GPS satellite 6c radio wave 7 altitude sensor 8 storage device 9 storage medium 9a database 10 transmission control unit 11 bus 12 communication line 13 communication network 14 host 14a database 100 information communication system

Claims (2)

A position detection system for acquiring current position information;
An altitude sensor that outputs altitude information of the current position;
Map information storage means for storing a building code for identifying each building for a plurality of buildings and position information detected by the position detection system in association with each other;
Building information storage means for storing altitude information and floor information in association with each building code stored in the map information storage means;
A building that searches the map information storage means based on the current position information acquired by the position detection system, identifies a building corresponding to the acquired current position information, and acquires a building code corresponding to the current position Specific means,
The altitude information and floor information corresponding to the building code acquired by the building specifying means are read from the building information storage means, and the read altitude information and floor information are read based on the altitude information output by the altitude sensor. Floor information display means for searching and reading and displaying floor information corresponding to the output altitude information;
An information terminal comprising: On the computer,
Based on the current position information acquired by the position detection system that acquires the current position information, a building code that identifies each building for a plurality of buildings and the position information detected by the position detection system are stored in association with each other. A function of searching the map information storage means, identifying a building corresponding to the acquired current position information, and acquiring a building code corresponding to the current position;
Altitude information and floor information corresponding to the acquired building code are associated with a plurality of building codes, read from building information storage means for storing altitude information and floor information, and altitude information for outputting current position altitude information A function of retrieving the read altitude information and floor information based on altitude information output by a sensor, and reading and displaying floor information corresponding to the output altitude information;
The computer-readable storage medium which memorize | stored the program for implement | achieving.

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