JP5564892B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program capable of specifying a position using a global positioning system.

  Portable information processing apparatuses such as mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and personal computers that are small and convenient to carry are widely used. In many cases, such an information processing apparatus can utilize a global positioning system that determines a current position by using a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor.

  When this global positioning system is used in an information processing apparatus, a number of advantages arise. For example, a map can be displayed on the information processing apparatus, the current position of the apparatus can be shown on the map, and used as a navigation system. In addition, useful information related to the current location, such as information about stores located near the current location, can be provided to the user.

  By the way, the GPS sensor simultaneously receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites, and calculates the position of the GPS sensor from each distance. For this reason, when the GPS sensor is activated for the first time, it is necessary to perform positioning by capturing an appropriate predetermined number of GPS satellites or more from the GPS satellites when the GPS sensor is activated for the first time.

  Therefore, a technique called a network assist method that acquires assist data as GPS satellite position capture information using a communication network may be employed in the past, thereby shortening the positioning time. . However, even if the network assist method is adopted, it takes several seconds to several tens of seconds to obtain a positioning result.

  If the GPS sensor always performs positioning, there is no need to newly acquire a GPS satellite, so this problem that it takes a relatively long time to obtain a positioning result does not occur. However, in this case, it is necessary to always receive radio waves from GPS satellites for positioning and repeat the calculation for positioning, which increases the power consumption of the information processing apparatus.

  Therefore, as a first related technique of the present invention, it is proposed that the time interval in which the user's behavior pattern is examined and the user is predicted to be at the same position is set to have a longer positioning interval by GPS (for example, a patent) Reference 1). According to the first related technique, the position information of the own device is acquired at an interval of 10 minutes for the first week using the GPS system. And when the own apparatus exists in the range of radius 100m, it is judged that the user is staying in the same area. Then, in a time zone in which the user is expected to stay in the same area, the position information acquisition cycle is extended from the 10-minute interval to the 20-minute interval.

  In the first related technique, as a first point, the positioning process that has been performed at all times is changed to a 10-minute interval at the shortest interval, thereby reducing the overall power consumption. Since the positioning process is repeated, it takes time to capture the GPS satellites each time. However, when the time interval is about 10 minutes, it is possible to reduce power consumption compared to the positioning process that was always performed. Because it becomes.

  In the first related technology, as a second point, the time interval for positioning is extended in a time zone that may be in a certain area for a relatively long time such as a workplace. By increasing the time interval for positioning, the number of positioning can be reduced, and the power consumption of the information processing apparatus can be suppressed accordingly.

  In the first related technique, a time zone in which the user is in a long time is inferred from the temporal relationship of the positioning results. Therefore, the positioning time interval is not changed according to the location. For this reason, for example, if you always go to a coffee shop in the morning, the time zone will be different. As a result, frequent positioning processing is performed in the time zone of the coffee shop that went out in the afternoon.

  Therefore, it is proposed as a second related technique to determine a specific area determined from the communication operation with the base station and perform GPS positioning when it is determined that the area is away from this area (for example, Patent Document 2). reference). In the second related technology, whether or not a user's terminal is located in a predetermined action area is discriminated based on communication between the corresponding base station and this terminal. And while the terminal exists in the action area, the positioning process by the GPS sensor is not performed. When the user's terminal is not located in the action area, positioning processing by the GPS sensor is performed.

JP 2009-085798 (paragraphs 0031 to 0035, FIG. 1) JP 2007-134760 (paragraphs 0043 to 0045, FIG. 1)

  According to the second related technique, positioning processing by the GPS sensor is not performed after the user's terminal is located in a specific area designated in advance. Therefore, it is necessary to always ensure communication with the base station in order to determine whether the user has subsequently started moving and has left the specific area. A specific area is set in relation to the base station. Therefore, the determination as to whether or not the user has gone out of the specific area is performed based on whether or not communication with the corresponding base station is possible.

  The determination of exceeding the boundary position of the communication area generally results in an unstable result. Moreover, the power required for communication increases as the user terminal moves away from the base station. Therefore, even if the power consumption by the GPS sensor becomes unnecessary due to the user's terminal being located in a specific area, it is necessary to continue communication with the base station instead of this, so the power consumption can be greatly reduced. I can not connect it.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program that can further reduce power consumption in a place where the GPS sensor is used to perform necessary positioning and stay relatively long. There is.

  In the present invention, (b) GPS positioning means that performs positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and (b) identification of a radio base station having a predetermined specific area as a communication area. Specific area registration means for registering in association with information; (c) radio base station position information registration means for registering position information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration means; D) Position information comparing means for measuring and comparing at a predetermined first period whether the position measured by the GPS positioning means matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registering means; (E) When the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparing means, the period of positioning by the GPS positioning means is longer than the predetermined first period. The information processing apparatus includes period changing means for switching to the second period.

  In the present invention, (b) GPS positioning means for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite; and (b) a radio base station having a predetermined specific area as a communication area. Specific area registration means for registering in association with the identification information, and (c) radio base station position information registration means for registering position information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration means, (D) a movement detecting means for detecting the movement of the position, and (e) whether the position measured by the GPS positioning means matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registering means. When the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparison means for measuring and comparing with the period and (f) the comparison by the position information comparison means, (G) a radio base station change discriminating unit that discriminates a change of the radio base station with which to communicate, and (h) the radio base station change discriminating unit The information processing apparatus includes a restarting unit that restarts the positioning by the GPS positioning unit and the detection operation of the movement detecting unit when the change of the station is determined.

  Further, in the present invention, (b) a GPS positioning step for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite; and (b) a radio base station having a predetermined specific area as a communication area. A specific area registration step for registering in association with the identification information, and (c) a radio base station location information registration step for registering location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration step, (D) a position information comparison step for measuring and comparing at a predetermined first period whether or not the position measured in the GPS positioning step matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registration step. , (E) When the position information is matched by the comparison in the position information comparison step, the period for performing the positioning in the GPS positioning step is The information processing method includes a cycle changing step of switching from the predetermined first cycle to a second cycle longer than the first cycle.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, (b) a GPS positioning step for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite; and (b) a radio base station having a predetermined specific area as a communication area. A specific area registration step of registering in association with the identification information of the radio base station, and (c) a radio base station location information registration step of registering location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration step; (D) a movement detection step for detecting a movement of the position, and (e) whether the position measured by the GPS positioning step matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registration step. When the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparison step to measure and compare in (5) this position information comparison step, the above-mentioned G A stop step for stopping the positioning operation by the PS positioning step and the detection operation of the above-described movement detection step; (g) a radio base station change determining step for wirelessly determining a change of a radio base station to communicate; The information processing method includes a positioning step based on the GPS positioning step and a restarting step for restarting the detection operation of the movement detection step when the change of the radio base station is determined in the station change determination step.

  In the present invention, (b) a GPS positioning process that performs positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite as an information processing program, and (b) a predetermined specific area And (c) registering the location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration process. The radio base station position information registration process and (d) positioning at a predetermined first cycle whether the position measured by the GPS positioning process matches the position information registered by the radio base station position information registration process. And (e) a period in which positioning is performed by the above-described GPS positioning processing when the positional information is matched by the comparison by the positional information comparison processing. Is changed to a period changing process for switching from the predetermined first period to a second period longer than the first period.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, (b) a GPS positioning process for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite as an information processing program; And (c) registering the location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration process. Radio base station position information registration process, (d) movement detection process for detecting movement of position, and (e) the position information registered by the above-mentioned radio base station position information registration process by the position determined by the GPS positioning process. If the position information is matched by the position information comparison process in which positioning is performed at a predetermined cycle and compared, and (f) the position information comparison process is performed, (B) a wireless base station change determination process for wirelessly determining a change of a wireless base station with which communication is performed; and (h) a stop process for stopping the positioning by the GPS positioning process described above and the detection operation in the movement detection process described above. When the change of the radio base station is discriminated by the radio base station change discriminating process, the positioning by the GPS positioning process and the resuming process for restarting the detection operation in the movement detecting process are executed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the wireless base station communication area corresponding to a predetermined specific area is entered, the positioning cycle of GPS is made longer than the previous cycle or the positioning is stopped. In addition, since the operation of the sensor for detecting the movement is stopped, the power consumption of the information processing apparatus when entering the specific area can be reduced.

It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the information processing apparatus of this invention. It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the other information processing apparatus of this invention. It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the information processing method of this invention. It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the other information processing method of this invention. It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the information processing program of this invention. It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the other information processing program of this invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a main part of a communication system using an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of the structure of the user terminal in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the mode of the automatic registration process of the specific area in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the mode of the manual registration process of the specific area in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the mode of the power saving process of the user terminal at the time of staying in the specific area in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing other examples about registration of a specific area as a modification of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing the mode of the power-saving process especially effective when a specific area is wide in relation to a radio base station as a modification of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The information processing apparatus 10 of the present invention includes GPS positioning means 11, specific area registration means 12, radio base station position information registration means 13, position information comparison means 14, and period changing means 15. Here, the GPS positioning means 11 performs positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. The specific area registration unit 12 registers a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station that uses the area as a communication area. The radio base station location information registration unit 13 registers location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration unit 12. The position information comparison means 14 measures and compares at a predetermined first period whether the position measured by the GPS positioning means 11 matches the position information registered in the radio base station position information registration means 13. The period changing unit 15 sets a period for performing positioning by the GPS positioning unit 11 when the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparing unit 14 from a predetermined first period to a second period longer than this. Switch to.

  FIG. 2 shows a claim correspondence diagram of another information processing apparatus of the present invention. Another information processing apparatus 20 according to the present invention includes a GPS positioning unit 21, a specific area registration unit 22, a radio base station location information registration unit 23, a movement detection unit 24, a location information comparison unit 25, and a stop unit 26. Wireless base station change determination means 27 and resumption means 28. Here, the GPS positioning means 21 performs positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. The specific area registration unit 22 registers a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station that uses the area as a communication area. The radio base station location information registration unit 23 registers location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration unit 22. The movement detector 24 detects the movement of the position. The position information comparison means 25 measures and compares at a predetermined cycle whether the position measured by the GPS positioning means 21 matches the position information registered in the radio base station position information registration means 23. The stop unit 26 stops the positioning operation by the GPS positioning unit 21 and the detection operation of the movement detection unit 24 when the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparison unit 25. The wireless base station change determining means 27 wirelessly determines a change of a wireless base station with which communication is performed. The restarting means 28 restarts the positioning by the GPS positioning means 21 and the detection operation of the movement detecting means 24 when the wireless base station change determining means 27 determines a change of the wireless base station.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to claims of the information processing method of the present invention. The information processing method 30 of the present invention includes a GPS positioning step 31, a specific area registration step 32, a radio base station location information registration step 33, a location information comparison step 34, and a cycle change step 35. Here, in the GPS positioning step 31, positioning is performed by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. In a specific area registration step 32, a predetermined specific area is registered in association with identification information of a radio base station that uses the area as a communication area. In the radio base station location information registration step 33, the location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration step 32 is registered. In the position information comparison step 34, whether the position measured in the GPS positioning step 31 matches the position information registered in the radio base station position information registration step 33 is measured and compared with a predetermined first period. In the period changing step 35, when the position information is matched by the comparison in the position information comparing step 34, the period in which the positioning is performed in the GPS positioning step 31 is changed from a predetermined first period to a second period longer than this. Switch to.

  FIG. 4 shows a claim correspondence diagram of another information processing method of the present invention. Another information processing method 40 of the present invention includes a GPS positioning step 41, a specific area registration step 42, a radio base station location information registration step 43, a movement detection step 44, a location information comparison step 45, and a stop step 46. And a radio base station change determination step 47 and a restart step 48. Here, in GPS positioning step 41, positioning is performed by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. In a specific area registration step 42, a predetermined specific area is registered in association with identification information of a radio base station whose area is a communication area. In the radio base station location information registration step 43, the location information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration step 42 is registered. In the movement detection step 44, the movement of the position is detected. In the position information comparison step 45, whether the position measured in the GPS positioning step 41 matches the position information registered in the radio base station position information registration step 43 is measured at a predetermined cycle and compared. In the stop step 46, when the position information matches by the comparison in the position information comparison step 45, the positioning operation in the GPS positioning step 41 and the detection operation in the movement detection step 44 are stopped. In the radio base station change determination step 47, the change of the radio base station with which to communicate is determined by radio. In the restart step 48, when the change of the radio base station is discriminated in the radio base station change discriminating step 47, the positioning operation by the GPS positioning step 41 and the detecting operation of the movement detecting step 44 are resumed.

  FIG. 5 shows a claim correspondence diagram of the information processing program of the present invention. The information processing program 50 according to the present invention includes a GPS positioning process 51, a specific area registration process 52, a radio base station position information registration process 53, a position information comparison process 54, and a period change process as an information processing program. 55 is executed. Here, the GPS positioning process 51 performs positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. In the specific area registration process 52, a predetermined specific area is registered in association with identification information of a radio base station that uses the area as a communication area. In the radio base station position information registration process 53, the position information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration process 52 is registered. In the position information comparison process 54, whether the position measured by the GPS positioning process 51 matches the position information registered by the radio base station position information registration process 53 is measured by a predetermined first period and compared. In the period changing process 55, when the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparing process 54, the period in which positioning is performed by the GPS positioning process 51 is changed from the predetermined first period to a second period longer than this. Switch to.

  FIG. 6 shows a claim correspondence diagram of another information processing program of the present invention. Another information processing program 60 of the present invention includes a GPS positioning process 61, a specific area registration process 62, a radio base station position information registration process 63, a movement detection process 64, and a position information as an information processing program. The comparison process 65, the stop process 66, the radio base station change determination process 67, and the restart process 68 are executed. Here, the GPS positioning process 61 performs positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. In the specific area registration process 62, a predetermined specific area is registered in association with identification information of a radio base station that uses the area as a communication area. In the radio base station position information registration process 63, the position information corresponding to the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration process 62 is registered. In the movement detection process 64, the movement of the position is detected. In the position information comparison process 65, whether the position measured by the GPS positioning process 61 matches the position information registered by the wireless base station position information registration process 63 is measured and compared at a predetermined cycle. In the stop process 66, when the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparison process 65, the detection operation in the positioning and movement detection process 64 by the GPS positioning process 61 is stopped. In the wireless base station change determination processing 67, the change of the wireless base station with which communication is performed is wirelessly determined. In the restart process 68, when the change of the radio base station is determined in the radio base station change determination process 67, the positioning operation by the GPS positioning process 61 and the detection operation in the movement detection process 64 are restarted.

  <Embodiment of the Invention>

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows a main part of a communication system using the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 100 according to the embodiment has a user terminal 102 possessed by a user 101, a GPS satellite 103, and a wireless base station 105 located in the vicinity of the user's 101 home 104 as a minimum system configuration.

  Here, the user terminal 102 is equipped with a GPS function, and can calculate its current position using radio waves received from the GPS satellite 103. In order to calculate the current position, three or four or more GPS satellites 103 are required. In the figure, only one of them is shown for simplicity.

  The radio base station 105 has a service area 106 as an area where communication with the user terminal 102 is possible. The service area 106 is also called a cell. Although only one radio base station 105 is shown in FIG. 7, actually, a large number of radio base stations are arranged at intervals, and these cells cover the entire call area.

The radio base station 105 shown in FIG. 7 has an identification number associated with the service area 106. The same applies to other radio base stations not shown. When the user terminal 102 enters the service area 106 indicated by P ₂ as indicated by an arrow 107 from a point outside the service area 106 indicated by P ₁ in the figure, the user terminal 102 starts communication with the radio base station 105. Therefore, the communication system 100 can determine that the user 101 is at a position specified in the service area 106 while the user terminal 102 is communicating inside the service area 106.

  Since the user terminal 102 has a GPS function, the current position of the user 101 can be determined by receiving radio waves from the GPS satellite 103. Therefore, the current position of the user 101 can be grasped by communication between the user terminal 102 and the GPS satellite 103 or by communication with the radio base station 105. Of course, when the GPS function is used, the current position of the user terminal 102 is determined as a point. When the service area 106 is used, the position information includes the area.

  FIG. 8 shows an outline of the configuration of the user terminal. The user terminal 102 as one form of the information processing apparatus includes a control unit 114 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a nonvolatile memory 112, and a work memory 113. The nonvolatile memory 112 stores a control program executed by the CPU 111 and data necessary when the power is turned off. The work memory 113 stores data temporarily required when the CPU 111 executes the control program.

  The control unit 114 is connected to each unit in the user terminal 102 through a bus 115 such as a data bus, and performs these controls. Among these, the radio unit 116 communicates with the radio base station 105 shown in FIG. 7 using the antenna 117. The GPS sensor unit 118 receives radio waves from the GPS satellite 103 shown in FIG. 7 using the antenna 119, and calculates the current position. The acceleration sensor 121 detects a movement of the user 101 illustrated in FIG. 7 by detecting an acceleration generated in the user terminal 102.

  The timer circuit 122 measures an interval (period) for operating the GPS sensor unit 118. In the present embodiment, the first cycle as a normal cycle and the second cycle longer than this are measured. These first cycle and second cycle are cycles for periodically energizing the GPS sensor unit 118. In addition to this, in the present embodiment, time for automatically registering a place where the user 102 may stay for a certain amount of time on a daily basis, such as the home 104, work place, or school shown in FIG. Measurement is also performed. The registration time is measured for a relatively long time, for example, 30 minutes or 1 hour.

  In this way, the specific area registration unit 123, the location information of the place where the user 102 may stay for a certain amount of time on a daily basis, the identification number of the radio base station 105 corresponding to the location, and the location information of the service area 106 Are registered in association with each other. Information regarding a plurality of radio base stations can be registered in the specific area registration unit 123.

  The input unit 124 includes an operation unit including various key switches (not shown). Of course, a touch panel arranged on the display unit 125 may be used to enable data input operation. The display unit 125 visually outputs data like a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) display. The terminal-specific function unit 126 collectively indicates circuit portions other than those described above among the functions specific to the terminal. For example, if the user terminal 102 is a mobile phone, a speaker such as a speaker for calling, a microphone, an attached camera, and a tuner circuit for one-seg reception are included.

  Each component such as the wireless unit 116 of the user terminal 102 as described above does not need to be configured entirely by hardware, and at least a part is configured by a component that functions in software by a control program executed by the CPU 111. It may be. For example, the timer circuit 122 may be a circuit using a capacitor and a resistor (not shown), or may be one that measures time by counting a clock signal or a signal after frequency division. In addition, the specific area registration unit 123 is illustrated as an independent memory area for convenience of explanation, but may be configured as a partial area of the nonvolatile memory 112.

  FIG. 9 shows the state of automatic registration processing for a specific area. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

When performing the automatic registration process for the specific area, the user 101 operates the input unit 124 to set the automatic registration mode for the specific area. When the automatic registration mode is set, first, the count value of the timer circuit 122 is cleared to “0” (step S201). Then, and user terminal 102 is stationary, if the acceleration sensor 121 detects the movement (step S202: Y), a predetermined measurement time t ₁ has elapsed (or count value corresponding to the measurement time t ₁ and (Step S203). The measurement time t ₁ and the number of measurements M are set as default values in advance, but the user 101 can change them. As an example, the measurement time t ₁ is 30 minutes, and the number of measurements M is “3”.

If the measurement time t ₁ has not elapsed (step S203: Y), the timer circuit 122 is counted up (step S204), and the process returns to step S202. In this way, the timer circuit 122 continues the time measuring operation before the acceleration sensor 121 detects no acceleration and the measurement time t ₁ elapses.

It is assumed that the user 101 returns home, for example, and leaves the user terminal 102 to eat. When 30 minutes have passed as the measurement time t ₁ (step S203: Y), the user terminal 102 records the identification number of the radio base station 105 that can currently communicate in a spare area (not shown) of the specific area registration unit 123. (Step S205).

If the user 101 operates the user terminal 102 before the measurement time t ₁ elapses, the acceleration sensor 121 detects movement at this point (step S202: N). In this case, the timing operation of the timer circuit 122 is cleared (step S201), and the process returns to step S202 again to start the timing process from the beginning.

  When recording is performed in the spare area in step S205, the control unit 114 checks whether or not M or more identical identification numbers are recorded in the spare area (step S206). If M or more are not recorded (N), the process returns to step S201.

  On the other hand, when M or more identical identification numbers are recorded (step S206: Y), the current location of the user terminal 102 is qualified as a location where the user 101 stays for a long time. Become. Therefore, in order to prevent duplicate registration, it is checked whether or not the identification number is fully registered in the specific area registration unit 123 (step S207). If it is already registered (N), the processing is terminated as it is (end).

  On the other hand, when the identification number is not fully registered in the specific area registration unit 123 (step S207: Y), power is supplied to the GPS sensor unit 118 to perform positioning by the GPS system (step S208). ). Then, the current position information as the positioning result and the identification number of the radio base station are paired and registered in the specific area registration unit 123 (step S209). As a result, since the preliminary registration of the identification number of the radio base station is no longer necessary, it is deleted from the spare area (step S210), and the series of processing ends (end).

  In step S209, the positioning result obtained by the GPS system is directly adopted and registered in the specific area registration unit 123. However, there are many cases where an error occurs in the positioning result. Therefore, a surrounding map based on the result may be displayed on the display unit 125 based on the positioning result in step S208, and the user 101 may be designated with an accurate position.

  In addition, at the time of this display, the user 101 may be made to determine whether or not to perform the main registration. This is because, for example, useless use of the specific area registration unit 123 due to registration of a place where the possibility of revisiting is extremely low, such as a place where a person accidentally stopped. Therefore, it is also effective to provide an erasing mode in which the data so far registered in the specific area registration unit 123 is displayed on the map together with the position information, and the user 101 deletes unnecessary data.

  FIG. 10 shows the state of manual registration processing for a specific area. This will be described with reference to FIGS. In this process, the user 101 itself performs a registration process.

  The user 101 sets the user terminal 102 to the manual registration mode. In this state, the control unit 114 waits for a predetermined registration request button of the input unit 124 to be pressed (step S221). When the registration request button is pressed (Y), positioning using the GPS sensor unit 118 is performed (step S222). Based on the positioning result, the control unit 114 writes the positioning position on a map around the positioning position where the current user terminal 102 exists and displays it on the display unit 125 (step S223). Display data for this purpose may be acquired from a predetermined server or the nearest radio base station 105 via the radio unit 116, or the user terminal 102 itself may hold simple map data in the nonvolatile memory 112. It may be.

  In a state where the map data is displayed, the control unit 114 determines whether or not the registration confirmation button (not shown) of the input unit 124 is pressed (step S224), whether or not the registration cancel button is pressed (step S225), Waiting for input (step S226). When the registration confirmation button is pressed (step S224: Y), the positioning result and the identification number of the corresponding radio base station are fully registered in the specific area registration unit 123 (step S227) as in step S209 of FIG. ), The process ends (END). When two or more registrations are performed, the process of step S221 is performed again.

  On the other hand, when the user 101 presses a cancel button (not shown) (step S224: N, step S225: Y), the registration is canceled and a series of processing ends (end). When the position on the map where the user 101 is displayed is corrected (step S224: N, step S225: N, step S226: Y), the registered position is corrected (step S228). Then, the process is returned immediately before step S224, and the subsequent processes are waited.

  FIG. 11 shows a state of power saving processing of the user terminal when staying in a specific area. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The control unit 114 monitors whether the timing of GPS positioning by the GPS sensor unit 118 has arrived (step S241) and whether the acceleration sensor 121 has detected the movement of the user terminal 102 (step S242). Here, the GPS sensor unit 118 is energized with a predetermined period by the timer circuit 122 to perform positioning.

  When the timing of GPS positioning arrives (step S242: Y), or when the acceleration sensor 121 detects acceleration (step S242: Y), positioning by energization of the GPS sensor unit 118 is performed (step S243). The control unit 114 searches the identification number corresponding to the position information obtained by the positioning from the identification number of the radio base station that has been registered in the specific area registration unit 123 (step S244). As a result, when the corresponding identification number exists (Y), the GPS positioning measurement cycle by the GPS sensor unit 118 is changed to infinity (∞) (step S246). This is because the user 101 may stay in the specific area for a long time.

  The controller 114 also stops energization of the acceleration sensor 121 for the same reason (step S247). However, when the user 101 requests the use of the acceleration sensor 121 by application software such as a game, this is followed.

  Thereafter, the user terminal 102 maintains this power saving state until it is determined that the radio base station has been changed by communication of the radio unit 116 (step S248). That is, when the user terminal 102 determines that the radio base station 105 has been changed by radio processing such as handover (Y), energization of the acceleration sensor 121 is started (step S249). In addition, the energization cycle of the GPS sensor unit 118 is returned from infinity to the first cycle. Thereafter, the process returns to step S241 (return).

  On the other hand, when the identification number of the wireless base station corresponding to the position information obtained by the positioning of the GPS sensor unit 118 is not registered in step S245 (N), there is no possibility that the user 101 stays at the current position for a long time. Therefore, in this case, the process returns to step S241 (return).

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the specific area can be automatically registered as well as manually, so that the power of the GPS sensor unit 118 and the acceleration sensor 121 when staying in one area for a relatively long time is stored. Consumption can be suppressed. Further, since the map of the current location is displayed in step S223 in FIG. 10, the user 101 can also use the registration request button to confirm the current position.

  <Deformability of invention>

  FIG. 12 shows another example of registration of a specific area. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the display unit 125 displays a map of the surrounding area that the user 101 intends to register as a specific area, and designates the specific area to acquire the latitude and longitude, thereby obtaining the latitude and longitude of the specific area registration unit 123. Registration in the spare area (step S301). Thereafter, when the user 101 moves within the specific area, the acceleration sensor 121 of the user terminal 102 detects the movement (step S302: Y), and the GPS sensor unit 118 measures the current location (step S303).

  In the case of this modification, the GPS sensor unit 118 acquires a positioning result by a server assist method. In the server assist method, positioning calculation is executed at a wireless base station or a server side (not shown). For this reason, even if the user terminal 102 cannot capture the GPS satellite 103, there is an advantage that the current position can be acquired and the time required for positioning can be saved. On the other hand, however, the positioning error may be larger than when the GPS sensor unit 118 performs positioning independently.

  Therefore, when the positioning result is obtained by the server assist method, the control unit 114 compares with the position determined by the latitude and longitude registered in the spare area and checks whether it is within the error range (step S304). If it is within the allowable error range (Y), it is confirmed that the user terminal 102 is in the specific area, so that the identification number of the radio base station at that time is fully registered in the specific area registration unit 123 (step S305). ). Then, the registration process for the specific area is ended (END).

  If it is determined in step S304 that the position determined by the latitude and longitude input by the user 101 from the map does not coincide with the error range (N), each time movement is detected by the acceleration sensor 121 (step S302). : Y), positioning by the server assist method by the GPS sensor unit 118 is repeated (step S303). As a result, when it is indicated that the positioning result of the GPS sensor unit 118 is within the specific area (step S304: Y), the registration process for the specific area is performed (step S305).

  When the user 101 registers a specific area using a map as in this modification, the identification number of the radio base station that is supposed to correspond and the identification of the radio base station that is actually communicating at that position The number may be different. In such a case, the identification number of the radio base station that performs communication at the location actually confirmed by the user 101 as the specific area is the correct number. Therefore, in such a case, the identification number of the correct radio base station can be corrected and registered (updated) in the specific area registration unit 123.

  According to the registration process shown in FIG. 12 described above, by using the map data for registration of the specific area, it is possible to perform registration with higher accuracy than the positioning in the case of using the server assist method, for example.

  FIG. 13 shows a state of power saving processing that is particularly effective when the specific area is wide due to the relationship with the radio base station. In FIG. 13, the same parts as those in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 11.

  The GPS sensor unit 118 performs positioning periodically. When the timing of positioning arrives (step S241: Y), positioning by the GPS system is performed (step S243). Even when the acceleration sensor 121 detects acceleration (step S242: Y), positioning by the GPS system is performed (step S243).

  When it is found that the identification number of the radio base station corresponding to the current position measured in this way is registered (step S245: Y), in this modified example, the GPS sensor unit 118 performs the positioning cycle. The cycle is changed to a cycle (second cycle) longer than 1 cycle (step S321), and the process returns to step S241 (return). Thereby, the period in which the GPS sensor unit 118 performs positioning in step S241 becomes longer, and the power consumed by the user terminal 102 decreases.

  In the previous example of FIG. 11, it is detected in step S248 that the radio base station with which the user terminal 102 communicates is switched, and thus the power supply to the GPS sensor unit 118 and the acceleration sensor 121 has been cut off. In the example shown in FIG. 13, it is assumed that data relating to switching of radio base stations is not used. Instead, the GPS sensor unit 118 performs a longer period for positioning. If the user terminal 102 leaves the service area 106 of the radio base station 105 corresponding to the specific area (step S245: N), is the GPS sensor unit 118 performing the positioning cycle the second cycle? Is checked (step S322).

  Since the current position is outside the specific area, when the GPS sensor unit 118 performs the positioning in the second cycle (step S322: Y), the control unit 114 determines that the GPS sensor unit 118 performs the positioning. Is changed to the original first period (step S323). As a result, the positioning cycle of the GPS sensor unit 118 outside the specific area that is presumed to have a lot of movement is returned to an appropriate value. After changing to the first cycle, the process returns to step S241 (return). If it is determined in step S322 that the GPS sensor unit 118 performs the positioning cycle as the first cycle (N), the process returns to step S241 as it is (return).

  Generally, when the service area of a radio base station is large, if the movement is determined only by the cell movement of the radio base station, there is a problem that positioning may not occur even if the user leaves the place where the user stays for a long time. According to the modification shown in FIG. 13, even in such a case, it is possible to determine whether or not the GPS sensor unit 118 periodically operates to come out of the specific area, and the user terminal is located inside the specific area. Power consumption when 102 exists can be suppressed. Similarly, the acceleration sensor 121 can be periodically activated within a specific area.

  As described above, the technology for suppressing the power consumption of the user terminal 102 in the specific area where the user 101 stays relatively long has been described. Such a specific area is often a private place where the user 101 eats or spends leisure time in daily life. Therefore, this specific area can be managed from the viewpoint of protecting the privacy of the user 101.

  For example, it is assumed that there is a service in which a third party requests information on the current location of the user 101. In this case, when the user terminal 102 exists in a specific area, a message such as “I am in the current position non-display area” or a mark instead thereof can be displayed to manage information for protecting privacy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 20 Information processing apparatus 11, 21 GPS positioning means 12, 22 Specific area registration means 13, 23 Radio base station position information registration means 14, 25 Position information comparison means 15 Period change means 24 Movement detection means 26 Stop means 27 Radio base Station change determination means 28 Restart means 30, 40 Information processing method 31, 41 GPS positioning step 32, 42 Specific area registration step 33, 43 Radio base station position information registration step 34, 45 Position information comparison step 35 Period change step 44 Movement detection Step 46 Stop step 47 Radio base station change determination step 48 Restart step 48
50, 60 Information processing program 51, 61 GPS positioning processing 52, 62 Specific area registration processing 53, 63 Wireless base station location information registration processing 54, 65 Location information comparison processing 55 Period change processing 64 Movement detection processing 66 Stop processing 67 Wireless base Station change determination processing 68 Restart processing 100 Communication system 101 User 102 User terminal 103 GPS satellite 104 Home 105 Wireless base station 106 Service area 111 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 112 Nonvolatile memory 114 Control part 116 Radio | wireless part 118 GPS sensor part 121 Acceleration sensor 122 Timer circuit 123 Specific area registration part 124 Input part 125 Display part

Claims (10)

GPS positioning means for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites;
A specific area registration means for registering a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station whose communication area is the area;
Radio base station location information registration means for registering location information of the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration means;
Position information comparison means for measuring and comparing at a predetermined first period whether the position measured by the GPS positioning means matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registration means;
A period changing means for switching a period of positioning by the GPS positioning means from the predetermined first period to a second period longer than this when the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparing means; An information processing apparatus comprising the information processing apparatus. GPS positioning means for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites;
A specific area registration means for registering a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station whose communication area is the area;
Radio base station location information registration means for registering location information of the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration means;
Movement detection means for detecting movement of the position;
Position information comparison means for measuring and comparing at a predetermined cycle whether the position measured by the GPS positioning means matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registration means;
Stop means for stopping the positioning by the GPS positioning means and the detection operation of the movement detecting means when the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparing means;
A wireless base station change determining means for wirelessly determining a change of a wireless base station for communication;
An information processing apparatus comprising: resumption means for resuming positioning by the GPS positioning means and detection operation of the movement detection means when the radio base station change discrimination means discriminates a change of the radio base station. After switching to the second period by the period changing unit, as a result of comparing the position measured by the position information comparing unit and the position information registered in the radio base station position information registering unit, when they do not match, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a period returning unit that returns the positioning of the GPS positioning unit to the first period.   The specific area registration means includes a map display means for displaying a map, a position designation means for designating a position on the map displayed on the map display means, and a specific area including the position designated by the position designation means. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising map identification information association means associated with the identification information of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration means.   The specific area registering unit includes a long-time stationary detecting unit that determines whether a time during which the movement detecting unit does not detect the movement of the position is longer than a predetermined long time, and the long-time stationary detecting unit detects the movement of the position. Comprising a movement detection means identification information associating means for associating the current position when the non-detection time is not less than a predetermined long time with the identification information of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.   The specific area registration unit temporarily registers the current position in a predetermined area sequentially corresponding to the identification information of the radio base station when the movement detection unit does not detect the movement of the position exceeds a predetermined time. And identification information number comparison means for comparing the total number of the identification information of the radio base stations registered in the temporary registration means with a plurality of predetermined numbers, and the identification information number comparison means The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a communication area corresponding to identification information of a plurality of radio base stations is registered as the specific area. A GPS positioning step for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite;
A specific area registration step of registering a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station whose communication area is the area;
A radio base station location information registration step for registering location information of the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration step;
A position information comparison step of measuring and comparing in a predetermined first period whether the position measured by the GPS positioning step matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registration step;
A cycle changing step for switching the cycle of positioning in the GPS positioning step from the predetermined first cycle to a second cycle longer than this when the location information matches by the comparison in the location information comparison step. An information processing method comprising: A GPS positioning step for performing positioning by receiving radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite;
A specific area registration step of registering a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station whose communication area is the area;
A radio base station location information registration step for registering location information of the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration step;
A movement detection step for detecting movement of the position;
A position information comparison step of measuring and comparing at a predetermined cycle whether the position measured by the GPS positioning step matches the position information registered in the wireless base station position information registration step;
A stop step of stopping the positioning operation by the GPS positioning step and the detection operation of the movement detecting step when the positional information is matched by the comparison by the positional information comparison step;
A wireless base station change determining step for wirelessly determining a change of a wireless base station to communicate;
An information processing method comprising: a resumption step of resuming positioning by the GPS positioning step and detecting operation of the movement detection step when a change of the radio base station is discriminated in the radio base station change discrimination step. On the computer,
GPS positioning processing that receives radio waves from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites and performs positioning;
A specific area registration process for registering a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station whose communication area is the area;
A radio base station location information registration process for registering location information of the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration process;
A position information comparison process for measuring and comparing at a predetermined first period whether the position measured by the GPS positioning process matches the position information registered by the wireless base station position information registration process;
A period changing process for switching a period of positioning by the GPS positioning process from the predetermined first period to a second period longer than this when the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparing process; An information processing program that is executed. On the computer,
GPS positioning processing that receives radio waves from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites and performs positioning;
A specific area registration process for registering a predetermined specific area in association with identification information of a radio base station whose communication area is the area;
A radio base station location information registration process for registering location information of the communication area of the radio base station registered in the specific area registration process;
A movement detection process for detecting movement of the position;
A position information comparison process for measuring and comparing at a predetermined cycle whether the position measured by the GPS positioning process matches the position information registered by the wireless base station position information registration process;
When the position information is matched by the comparison by the position information comparison process, the stop process for stopping the positioning operation by the GPS positioning process and the detection operation in the movement detection process,
A wireless base station change determination process for wirelessly determining a change of a wireless base station with which to communicate;
An information processing program for executing positioning by the GPS positioning process and resuming process for resuming a detection operation in the movement detection process when the change of the radio base station is determined by the radio base station change determination process.

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