JP5847679B2 - Portable terminal, program, and method for deriving degradation position information of communication quality - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for grasping communication quality in a wide area mobile communication area.

  According to a wide area mobile communication system represented by mobile phone communication, one base station covers a wide area as a service area. Therefore, there are many cases where an obstacle is interposed between the antenna of the base station and the antenna of the mobile phone. Depending on the degree of radio wave attenuation caused by the obstacle, the mobile phone cannot communicate with the base station even though it is located in the service area. In particular, in a room surrounded by a roof or a wall, the penetration rate of radio waves is reduced, and communication quality is likely to deteriorate. Under such circumstances, in order to provide a higher quality service, it is necessary for the communication carrier to identify a position where the communication quality is deteriorated and improve the communication quality of the entire area.

  As a technology for collecting communication quality information in this service area, a mobile terminal having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function conventionally measures radio wave area state information of a plurality of different wireless communication systems together with position information acquired by GPS. There exists a technique to do (refer patent document 1). According to this technique, the mobile terminal transmits measurement information to a server installed in the network. Thereby, the communication carrier which operates a server can recognize the optimal radio | wireless communications system according to the position of a portable terminal.

  Furthermore, if radio waves from GPS satellites cannot be captured when degradation in communication quality is detected, the communication quality value is stored, and when radio waves from GPS satellites can be captured, position information is associated with the communication quality value. (See Patent Document 2). According to this technology, indoor communication quality values that cannot capture radio waves from GPS satellites are associated with position information when the radio waves are captured outside.

JP 2006-060295 A JP 2009-182664 A

  Usually, when grasping the indoor communication quality situation, it is very important to specify a position where the indoor communication quality value is particularly deteriorated. Actually, the indoor communication quality value is not constant even in the same building because it is affected by the arrangement of walls, reinforcing bars, and metal bookcases. Therefore, it is possible to effectively take measures for improving the communication quality by specifying the position where the communication quality is deteriorated.

  However, with the conventional technology as described above, it is impossible to specify the communication quality degradation position in the room. For example, since the technique of Patent Document 1 is based on the premise of acquiring position information by GPS, it cannot be applied to indoor communication quality information collection in which positioning radio waves from satellites cannot be captured.

  Furthermore, although the technology of Patent Document 2 can collect indoor communication quality values, it captures positioning radio waves and acquires position information when going indoors to the outdoors. It is not possible to specify up to the position.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal, a program, and a method capable of deriving information capable of specifying a communication quality degradation position in a building or the like within a wide area mobile communication area.

According to the present invention, in a mobile terminal having wide area mobile communication interface means for communicating with a base station, and positioning means for capturing positioning radio waves from a satellite and deriving position information,
A communication quality measuring means for measuring a communication quality value of radio waves from the base station in the wide area mobile communication interface means;
A communication quality storage means for storing a communication quality value;
Movement information acquisition means for acquiring movement information including movement amount;
Movement information storage means for storing the acquired movement information;
When the positioning means cannot capture the positioning radio wave and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold value, the communication quality value is stored in the communication quality storage means, and the movement information acquisition means functions to obtain the movement information. Storage control means for continuously storing the information in the movement information storage means;
When the positioning means can capture the positioning radio wave, the position information derived by the positioning means and the communication quality deterioration position can be identified by tracing back from the position related to this position information. There is provided a portable terminal having deterioration position information storage means for storing information in association with communication quality values already stored in the communication quality storage means.

As an embodiment of the mobile terminal according to the present invention, the mobile terminal
Communication quality determination means for determining whether or not the communication quality value has attenuated to a lower threshold value that takes a value equal to or higher than the lowest threshold value;
It is also preferable to further include a positioning activation control unit that activates the positioning unit when the communication quality value is attenuated below the lower threshold value.

Moreover, as other embodiment which concerns on the movement information in the portable terminal of this invention,
The portable terminal further includes an acceleration measuring unit that measures acceleration,
It is also preferable that the movement information acquisition means acquires movement information including a movement amount derived using the number of steps calculated from the periodic fluctuation of the acceleration detected by the acceleration measurement unit.

Furthermore, in the embodiment related to the movement information described above,
The portable terminal further includes an orientation measuring unit that measures the orientation,
The movement information acquisition means acquires movement information including the movement amount and the direction of the direction of travel detected by the direction measurement unit,
The deteriorated position information storage means is capable of specifying the position information derived by the positioning means and the communication quality deteriorated position by tracing backward from the position related to the position information, and the movement amount and progress that have already been stored. It is also preferable to store the azimuth of the direction in association with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means.

In the embodiment related to the movement information described above,
The mobile terminal further includes a direction change measuring unit for measuring the direction change,
The movement information acquisition means acquires movement information including a movement amount and a change in the direction of progress detected by the direction change measurement unit,
The deteriorated position information storage means is capable of specifying the position information derived by the positioning means and the communication quality deteriorated position by tracing backward from the position related to the position information, and the movement amount and progress that have already been stored. It is also preferable to store the change in direction in association with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means.

Furthermore, in the embodiment related to the movement information described above,
It further comprises area information storage means for storing route information of the predetermined area,
The deteriorated position information storage means traces the movement amount already stored by the movement information storage means while tracing the route related to the stored route information from the position related to the position information derived by the positioning means. It is also preferable to specify the communication quality degradation position and store the identified communication quality degradation position in association with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means.

  In the mobile terminal according to the present invention, it is also preferable that the lowest threshold is a communication quality value that allows communication with the base station to be minimal. The lower threshold is preferably a communication quality value that is detected when the mobile terminal is located indoors.

Furthermore, as another embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention, the portable terminal includes:
A movement error calculating means for calculating a movement error based on the movement information;
Movement error determination means for determining whether or not the calculated movement error is greater than or equal to a predetermined error threshold;
The movement information storage means preferably discards or disables the stored movement information when the movement error determination means makes a true determination.

As still another embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention,
The communication quality determination means further determines whether or not the communication quality value has improved to an upper threshold value or more,
The positioning activation control means restarts the positioning means or maintains the activated state when the communication quality value is improved to the upper threshold or higher,
The upper threshold value is also preferably a communication quality value that is detected when the mobile terminal is located outdoors.

  Furthermore, as yet another embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention, the deterioration position information storage means stores the movement information storage from the position related to the position information derived by the positioning means when the positioning means can capture the positioning radio wave. The communication quality deterioration position is identified by tracing back the movement information already stored by the means, and the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means is associated with the specified communication quality deterioration position and stored. It is also preferable to do.

As still another embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention,
The portable terminal further includes data transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data via the wide area mobile communication interface means,
The data transmission / reception means preferably transmits the communication quality value stored by the degradation position information storage means and information associated with the communication quality value to a predetermined management server via a wireless link.

According to the present invention, a program for causing a computer mounted on a portable terminal to function further includes a wide area mobile communication interface means for communicating with a base station, and a positioning means for capturing positioning radio waves from satellites and deriving position information. Because
A communication quality measuring means for measuring a communication quality value of radio waves from the base station in the wide area mobile communication interface means;
A communication quality storage means for storing a communication quality value;
Movement information acquisition means for acquiring movement information including movement amount;
Movement information storage means for storing the acquired movement information;
When the positioning means cannot capture the positioning radio wave and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold value, the communication quality value is stored in the communication quality storage means, and the movement information acquisition means functions to obtain the movement information. Storage control means for continuously storing the information in the movement information storage means;
When the positioning means is able to capture the positioning radio wave, the position information derived by the positioning means and the movement information that has been continuously stored can be identified by going back from the position related to the position information. Is stored in association with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means.

According to the present invention, furthermore, the communication quality degradation position information in the mobile terminal having the wide area mobile communication interface means for communicating with the base station and the positioning means for capturing the positioning radio wave from the satellite and deriving the position information. A derivation method comprising:
A first step of measuring a communication quality value of radio waves from a base station in the wide area mobile communication interface means;
A movement information acquisition means for storing the communication quality value in the communication quality storage means and acquiring movement information including the movement amount when the positioning means cannot capture the positioning radio wave and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold. A second step of causing the movement information storage means to continuously store the acquired movement information;
When the positioning means is able to capture the positioning radio wave, the position information derived by the positioning means and the movement information that has been continuously stored can be identified by going back from the position related to the position information. Is provided in association with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means, and a third step of storing the communication quality deterioration position information is provided.

  According to the portable terminal, the program, and the communication quality information collection method of the present invention, it is possible to derive information that can identify a communication quality degradation position in a building or the like within a wide area mobile communication area. This makes it easy to grasp the distribution of communication quality deterioration positions in a building or the like, and to effectively take measures for improving communication quality, for example.

It is a block diagram of the system containing the portable terminal by this invention. It is the graph which showed the change of the communication quality value in case a portable terminal moves indoors from the outdoors further from the indoors. It is the schematic for demonstrating embodiment about the movement information which can specify a communication quality degradation position retroactively from the position which concerns on position information. It is the schematic for demonstrating embodiment about the movement information which can specify a communication quality degradation position retroactively from the position which concerns on position information. It is the schematic for demonstrating embodiment about the movement information which can specify a communication quality degradation position retroactively from the position which concerns on position information. It is a graph which illustrates roughly the handling of the error in the stored movement information. It is a functional block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the portable terminal by this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the acceleration for demonstrating the method of counting the number of steps based on the acceleration data output from an acceleration sensor. It is the schematic which shows the relationship between a user's walk mode and acceleration for demonstrating the front and back of the acceleration surface used as the premise of derivation of a "walking reference vector". It is explanatory drawing which shows the method of deriving a walk reference vector and an azimuth | direction reference vector, and calculating the direction of advancing direction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system including a portable terminal according to the present invention.

  According to FIG. 1, a mobile terminal 1 possessed by a user includes a wide area mobile communication interface unit that communicates with a base station 3 connected to a mobile phone network 8 via a wireless link. The mobile terminal 1 can communicate with the counterpart communication device 5 via the mobile phone network 8 and the Internet 7. The wide area mobile communication interface unit is for CDMA cellular communication, for example. Naturally, the portable terminal 1 can communicate with the base station 3 in the outdoors with a clear view. Even indoors, although the radio wave penetration rate decreases, there are many cases where communication with the base station 3 is possible.

  The mobile terminal 1 further includes a positioning unit that captures positioning radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite 4. The positioning radio wave includes time and orbit information of the GPS satellite 4. By using positioning radio waves coming from three or more satellites 4, the distance to each satellite can be calculated, and as a result, the position of the mobile terminal 1 on the earth can be specified. Naturally, the portable terminal 1 can capture an effective positioning radio wave from the satellite 4 outside in a clear view. However, indoors, unlike radio waves from base stations, it is almost impossible to capture positioning radio waves.

  Similarly, according to FIG. 1, the user carrying the portable terminal 1 moves from the outside to the inside of the building 2 and further moves to the outside. The mobile terminal 1 can capture a positioning radio wave from the satellite 4 when positioned outdoors, but cannot capture a positioning radio wave when positioned indoors. For example, none of the positioning radio waves can be received, or the intensity of the received positioning radio waves is lower than the threshold intensity necessary for obtaining the positioning data (this is also a case where the positioning radio waves cannot be captured). From this, when the positioning radio wave cannot be captured, it can be determined that the mobile terminal 1 is located indoors. Thus, the positioning unit of the present invention is used not only for deriving position information as in the prior art but also for indoor / outdoor determination.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to derive information that can identify the communication quality deterioration position where the communication quality value of the radio wave from the base station 3 has deteriorated for such an indoor where positioning is impossible.

  In order to derive such communication quality degradation position information, the mobile terminal 1 has a movement information acquisition unit that acquires movement information including its own movement amount. For example, the mobile terminal 1 includes an acceleration sensor as an acceleration measurement unit, and can count the number of steps of the user possessed as described in detail later. The movement information acquisition unit calculates the movement amount calculated from the number of steps. get.

In the present invention, using this movement information acquisition unit,
(A) When the mobile terminal 1 cannot capture a positioning radio wave (that is, it is determined that the mobile terminal 1 has entered the room) and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold value, the “communication quality value” is stored and acquired “ `` Movement information '' is continuously stored,
(B) When the positioning radio wave can be captured (that is, when it is determined that the positioning radio wave has gone out), the “position information” derived by the positioning unit and the “movement information” already stored are already stored. And stored in association with the “communication quality value”.

  Here, in the above (a), when the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold, the storage of the “communication quality value” is started, and the measurement / acquisition of the “movement information” is started. It is also preferable to start storing “”. In this case, the determination that the communication quality value is indoors and the communication quality value has decreased below the lowest threshold value is a trigger for starting to store “movement information”.

  Further, in (b) above, the “communication quality degraded position” in the room can be specified by going back from the position related to “position information” by “movement information”. In fact, it is also preferable that the “communication quality degradation position” is specified in the mobile terminal 1.

  Similarly, according to FIG. 1, a management server 6 is further connected to the mobile phone network 8. The management server 6 collects information in which “location information” and “movement information” are associated with “communication quality value” as the communication quality degradation position information from the mobile terminal 1. In this case, the management server 6 can identify the “communication quality degradation position” from such information.

  As a change mode, the management server 6 may collect information associating the “communication quality degradation position” identified by the portable terminal 1 with the “communication quality value” as the communication quality degradation position information from the portable terminal 1. Good. In any case, the telecommunications carrier operating the management server 6 collects the communication quality degradation position information from the mobile terminal 1 to grasp the distribution of the communication quality degradation position in the building or the like. It is possible to effectively take measures for

  FIG. 2 is a graph showing a change in communication quality value when the mobile terminal 1 moves from outdoor to indoor, and further from indoor to outdoor.

  Specifically, in the graph of the communication quality value of cellular communication in FIG. 2, the user holding the mobile terminal 1 enters the room from the door on foot, crosses the room on the same foot, and walks from another door. The time change of the communication environment for the portable terminal 1 that occurred under the condition of going outdoors is displayed.

(S201) The portable terminal 1 is located outdoors, and is moving on foot toward the door for entering indoors. At this time, the communication quality value of the cellular communication is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper threshold THhigh. The upper threshold THhigh can be a communication quality value that is normally detected when the mobile terminal is located outdoors.

Here, for example, a carrier-to-interference ratio (C / I) can be adopted as the communication quality value of the cellular communication. In the graph of FIG. 2, the vertical axis represents C / I, and the horizontal axis represents elapsed time (seconds). In addition to C / I, the following values can also be used as communication quality values for cellular communication. Of course, a combination of these values may be used.
(A) Received power RxPower
(B) Received signal strength (RSS)
(C) Signal to Interference Ratio (SINR)
(D) Ec / Io (pilot received power / total received power (RSSI))
(E) Packet loss rate (PER)
(F) Frame loss rate (FER)

  Thereafter, when the portable terminal 1 enters the room through the door, the communication quality value of the cellular communication rapidly decreases. When the portable terminal 1 enters the room, the radio wave from the base station 3 is attenuated by the influence of the electromagnetic wave shielding by the obstacle related to the building 2 such as the roof, the wall, the reinforcing bar, and the metal bookcase. In other words, the indoor penetration rate of radio waves from the base station 3 received by the mobile terminal 1 is greatly reduced. As a result, the mobile terminal 1 detects deterioration in communication quality in the radio wave from the base station 3.

(S202) When the communication quality value is attenuated to the lower threshold THlow or lower, the mobile terminal 1 activates the positioning unit to determine whether it has entered the room and captures the positioning radio wave from the GPS satellite 4 Try.
(S203) The positioning unit determines whether or not the positioning radio wave has been captured. When it is determined that the positioning radio wave cannot be captured, the mobile terminal 1 determines that it has entered the room. Here, it is also preferable to stop the positioning unit first. On the other hand, when the positioning radio wave can be captured, the mobile terminal 1 determines that it is located outdoors and continues to monitor the communication quality value. Here, it is also preferable to stop the positioning unit for the time being, or when the communication quality value is still below the lower threshold THlow after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is also possible to determine again whether the positioning unit has captured the positioning radio wave. preferable.

  Note that the existing GPS receiving unit is for positioning the current position, and needs to capture positioning radio waves from at least three GPS satellites 4. That is, it is possible to specify its own position (for example, latitude and longitude) only after capturing three positioning radio waves. On the other hand, the positioning unit of the mobile terminal 1 in S203 does not need to measure the current position. It is determined whether or not positioning radio waves have been captured. It is assumed that the positioning radio wave is captured when one or more effective positioning radio waves are received. Here, the effective positioning radio wave refers to a positioning radio wave having an intensity equal to or higher than a threshold intensity required for obtaining positioning data.

(S204) When it is determined that the positioning radio wave cannot be captured and the mobile terminal 1 is located indoors, the communication quality value in the wide area mobile communication interface unit is further monitored, and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold THbottom Then, storage of the communication quality value is started. Here, the lowest threshold THbottom can be a communication quality value at which communication with the base station 3 is at least possible. Note that the monitoring of the communication quality value does not significantly increase the power consumption, and may always be performed regardless of the presence or absence of data communication.

  Further, when the communication quality value is attenuated to the lowest threshold THbottom or less, the movement information acquisition unit is caused to function and storage of the acquired movement information is started (S204). Note that when the communication quality value has attenuated below the lowest threshold value, the movement information acquisition unit may already be activated and the storage of the acquired movement information may be ongoing. For example, the portable terminal 1 is provided with an acceleration sensor as an acceleration measuring unit, always counts the number of steps, and is associated with, for example, time so that the amount of movement when the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold can also be identified. Or may be recorded in association with the communication quality value.

(S204 ′) When the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold value and then exceeds the lowest threshold value and again attenuates below the lowest threshold value, the communication quality value is stored and the movement information is acquired as in step S204. The function of the unit is started to start storing the acquired movement information. Here, it is preferable that the movement information is continuously stored at least after step S204 (communication quality value first attenuated below the lowest threshold). By using the movement information continuously stored in this way, it is possible to specify the indoor communication quality degradation position retroactively from the position obtained by positioning later.

  On the other hand, the communication quality value may be stored continuously, but for example, only a value equal to or lower than the lowest threshold may be stored. By using the portable terminal 1, it is required to specify a communication quality deterioration position where the communication quality is deteriorated below the lowest threshold value at the minimum. Therefore, if at least a communication quality value equal to or lower than the lowest threshold value is stored, and the previously stored movement information is associated with this communication quality value and stored, such a communication quality degradation position can be specified. It becomes.

(S205) After that, when the mobile terminal 1 moves to the vicinity of the door for going outside and the communication quality value of the cellular communication is improved to the upper threshold value THhigh or more, the positioning unit is stopped when the positioning unit is stopped. When the positioning unit is activated, the activated state is maintained. Here, the upper threshold THhigh can be a communication quality value that is detected when the mobile terminal 1 is located outdoors.
(S206) It is determined whether the positioning unit has captured the positioning radio wave, and when it is determined that the positioning radio wave has been captured, the mobile terminal 1 determines that it has gone out of the room. Here, the positioning unit may be stopped after a predetermined time, for example. On the other hand, when it is determined that the positioning radio wave cannot be captured, the mobile terminal 1 determines that it is still indoors, and continues monitoring the communication quality value. If the communication quality value is equal to or higher than the upper threshold THhigh after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is also preferable to determine again whether or not the positioning radio wave can be captured.

(S207) When it is determined that the positioning radio wave has been captured, the positioning unit measures and derives current position information (for example, latitude and longitude). Here, when the positioning radio wave enough to enable the derivation of the position information cannot be captured, the mobile terminal 1 determines that the mobile terminal 1 is not yet outdoors (sufficiently) and continues to monitor the communication quality value. It is also preferable. In this case, if the communication quality value is equal to or higher than the upper threshold value THhigh after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is also preferable to determine again whether or not the positioning radio wave can be captured and further whether or not the position information can be derived.

  Next, the position information derived by the positioning unit and the already stored movement information that can identify the communication quality deterioration position by tracing back from the position related to this position information are already stored in the communication. Store in association with the quality value.

  In this step 207, the communication quality deterioration position is calculated and specified by going back from the position related to the position information by the amount of the movement information from the derived position information and the already stored movement information. It is also preferable to do. It is also preferable to end the storage of the movement information and the storage of the communication quality value when the position information is derived by the positioning unit. Furthermore, at this stage, it is possible to stop the positioning unit.

(S208) The portable terminal 1 transmits information in which the position information and the movement information are associated with the communication quality value to the management server 6 as the communication quality degraded position information. In this case, the management server 6 specifies the communication quality deterioration position from the received information. As a change mode, the mobile terminal 1 may transmit, to the management server 6, information associating the communication quality deterioration position calculated and specified by itself with the communication quality value as communication quality deterioration position information. In any case, the telecommunications carrier operating the management server 6 collects the communication quality degradation position information from the mobile terminal 1 to grasp the location of the communication quality degradation position in the building or the like, and further the distribution thereof. can do.

  Generally, indoor communication quality values are not constant even in the same building because they are affected by the distribution of roofs, walls, or reinforcing bar columns, and further by the arrangement of metal bookcases and the like. Therefore, in order to implement an effective measure for improving communication quality, it is very important to specify a position where the communication quality value is degraded indoors. According to the present invention, it is possible to specify a communication quality degradation position (communication quality value is equal to or lower than the lowest threshold value) in an area where positioning radio waves cannot be captured such as indoors. As a result, it is possible to effectively implement such measures for improving communication quality. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to distinguish and manage indoor communication quality degradation positions and outdoor communication quality degradation positions. As a result, a prescription for improving communication quality according to the situation can be taken.

  3, 4, and 5 are schematic diagrams for explaining various embodiments of the movement information that enables specifying the communication quality degradation position retroactively from the position related to the position information.

[Embodiment: Amount of Movement]
In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the mobile terminal 1 (the user who owns the mobile terminal 1) moves in the room of the building 2 and the communication quality value falls below the lowest threshold (lowers across the lowest threshold). ) Pass through two positions where the communication quality is degraded, and go to the right entrance. The mobile terminal 1 continuously acquires and stores the movement amount from the time when it is at least at the first communication quality degradation position. Here, the portable terminal 1 includes an acceleration sensor as an acceleration measurement unit, detects its own acceleration, and derives the movement amount M using the number of steps P calculated from the periodic variation of the detected acceleration. . Specifically, the movement amount M is expressed by the following equation:
(1) M = P × w
Is calculated using w is a user's stride registered in the mobile terminal 1 in advance.

Here, it is also preferable that the movement amount M starts to be stored from the first communication quality deterioration position, and the movement amount M at the first deterioration position is set to zero (M = 0). In this case, the movement amount M ₁ at the time of passing the deterioration position of the second communication quality is stored in association with the second deterioration position. For example, it is flagged to the movement amount M ₁ stored at this point, or can be a recording time left in association.

Next, when the portable terminal 1 goes out of the room of the building 2 through the right entrance, the mobile terminal 1 acquires position information (for example, latitude and longitude) of the current position outside the room by the positioning unit. At this time, the movement amount M _t is stored, and the storage of the movement amount M that has been continued is completed. Next, the mobile terminal 1 identifies the communication quality deterioration position by going back from the position related to the acquired position information by the movement amount that has been continuously stored.

For example, the first communication quality deterioration position is specified as a point that has advanced indoors by moving a distance M _t from the position related to the acquired position information. In addition, the second communication quality degradation position is specified as a point that travels indoors by a movement amount (M _t −M ₁ ) from the position related to the acquired position information.

The mobile terminal 1 does not specify the communication quality degradation position,
(A) The movement amount M _t is associated with the communication quality value at the first communication quality degradation position,
(B) The movement amount (M _t −M ₁ ) is associated with the communication quality value at the second communication quality degradation position,
These pieces of information may be stored and further transmitted to the management server 6.

  In this embodiment, the communication quality degradation position is uniquely identified when the user moves in a one-dimensional manner like the building 2 in FIG. 3A, a tunnel, or an underground passage. Can be done.

[Embodiment: Amount of travel + heading direction]
Next, also in the embodiment of FIG. 3 (B), the mobile terminal 1 moves through the room of the building 2 and passes through two communication quality degradation positions, which are positions where the communication quality value falls below the lowest threshold value. Then head to the right entrance. However, in the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 1 (the user who owns it) changes the direction of progress southward at a certain point after passing the first communication quality degradation position while proceeding eastward at first. The direction of progress is then changed to east at a certain point. Next, while maintaining the direction of travel east, the vehicle passes the second communication quality degradation position and heads for an entrance to go out of the room.

Also in the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 1 continuously acquires and stores the movement amount from the time point at which the mobile terminal 1 is located at least at the first communication quality degradation position. Here, the portable terminal 1 includes an acceleration sensor as an acceleration measuring unit, detects its own acceleration, and uses the number of steps P calculated from the periodic fluctuation of the detected acceleration to calculate the amount of movement M using the above equation. Derived using (1). Here, it is also preferable to start storing the movement amount M from the first communication quality deterioration position and set the movement amount M at the first deterioration position to zero (M = 0). In this case, the movement amount M ₁ at the time of passing the deterioration position of the second communication quality, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3 (A), are stored in association with the second deterioration position.

  The portable terminal 1 further includes an azimuth measuring unit that measures the azimuth, and measures the azimuth of its own traveling direction. Here, a combination of a three-axis type acceleration sensor and a three-axis type geomagnetic sensor can be used as the bearing measuring unit. Note that the acceleration sensor as the acceleration measurement unit described above can also function as the acceleration sensor of the azimuth measurement unit. In the case of FIG. 3B, the azimuth measurement unit first detects that the direction of travel is east and passes through the first communication quality degradation position, and then the second communication quality degradation position. Before reaching, it detects that the direction of progress has changed from east to south, and further detects that the direction of progress has changed from south to east. Thereafter, the azimuth measuring unit detects that the traveling direction is east until it goes out of the room.

  The portable terminal 1 acquires and continuously stores movement information including the movement amount measured by the acceleration sensor and the azimuth of the traveling direction detected by the azimuth measuring unit. Here, the azimuth | direction of the direction of advancing may be measured for every time point which has a predetermined time interval, and may be measured for every step measured by an acceleration sensor.

Next, when the portable terminal 1 goes out of the room of the building 2 through the right entrance, the mobile terminal 1 acquires position information (for example, latitude and longitude) of the current position outside the room by the positioning unit. At this time, the movement amount M _t is stored, and the storage of the movement amount M and the heading direction that has been continued is completed. Next, the mobile terminal 1 identifies the communication quality degradation position by going back from the position related to the acquired position information for the amount of movement information (movement amount, direction of travel) that has been continuously stored.

For example, the second communication quality deterioration position is
(1a) It is specified as a point that has advanced indoors by moving backward (M _t −M ₁ ) in the west direction (opposite to the east) from the position related to the acquired position information.

Further, the first communication quality deterioration position, the azimuth measuring section, the movement amount at the time of changing from the south east in the direction of progression is detected as a M _b, changes to the south is detected from east If the moving amount at the time is M _a ,
(1b) proceeding indoors by moving backward (M _t −M _b ) westward from the position related to the acquired position information (opposite eastward),
(1c) The direction going back at that position is the north direction (which is the opposite of the south direction), and the room is moved backward by the amount of movement (M _b −M _a ),
(1d) Then, the direction of going back in that position (which is opposite facing east) as west, is identified as retroactively by the amount of movement M _a is a point advanced room.

  Here, as a matter of course, the direction of travel is not limited to one of east, west, south, and north. If movement information indicating that the azimuth of the traveling direction (north azimuth is 0 degree and clockwise is positive) is θ is stored, the azimuth is (θ ± 180) when tracing this backward. °).

  Note that the mobile terminal 1 does not specify the communication quality deterioration position, and moves the movement information (corresponding to the above (1a)) that reaches the second communication quality deterioration position by going back to the communication at the second communication quality deterioration position. The movement information (corresponding to the above (1b) to (1d)) that is associated with the quality value and goes back to the first communication quality degradation position is associated with the communication quality value at the first communication quality degradation position. These pieces of information may be stored and further transmitted to the management server 6.

  In the present embodiment, since the heading direction and the history of the change are used, it is possible to grasp the communication quality degradation position in the two-dimensionally expanded room of the building 2 as one point in the two-dimensional distribution. It becomes.

[Embodiment: Amount of movement + Advancing direction]
Next, also in the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the mobile terminal 1 moves through the room of the building 2 and passes through two communication quality deterioration positions where the communication quality value falls below the lowest threshold value. Then head to the right entrance. However, in the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 1 (the user who owns it) changes the direction of progress southward at a certain point after passing the first communication quality degradation position while proceeding eastward at first. The direction of progress is then changed to east at a certain point. Next, while maintaining the direction of travel east, the vehicle passes the second communication quality degradation position and heads for an entrance to go out of the room.

Also in the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 1 continuously acquires and stores the movement amount from the time point at which the mobile terminal 1 is located at least at the first communication quality degradation position. Here, the portable terminal 1 includes an acceleration sensor as an acceleration measuring unit, detects its own acceleration, and uses the number of steps P calculated from the periodic fluctuation of the detected acceleration to calculate the amount of movement M using the above equation. Derived using (1). Here, it is also preferable to start storing the movement amount M from the first communication quality deterioration position and set the movement amount M at the first deterioration position to zero (M = 0). In this case, the movement amount M ₁ at the time of passing the deterioration position of the second communication quality, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3 (A), are stored in association with the second deterioration position.

  The portable terminal 1 further includes an angular velocity sensor as a direction change measuring unit that detects and measures a change in direction, and measures a change in its own traveling direction. In the case of FIG. 4A, the angular velocity sensor is 90 ° (degrees) in the clockwise direction after passing through the first communication quality degradation position and before reaching the second communication quality degradation position. ) Detecting that the direction has been changed, and further detecting that the direction of travel has been changed 90 degrees (degrees) counterclockwise.

  The portable terminal 1 acquires and continuously stores movement information including the movement amount measured by the acceleration sensor and the change in the traveling direction detected by the angular velocity sensor. Here, the amount of change in the direction of progress is constantly monitored, and may be recorded together with the time when, for example, the amount of change equal to or greater than a predetermined lower limit threshold is detected.

Next, when the portable terminal 1 goes out of the room of the building 2 through the right entrance, the mobile terminal 1 acquires position information (for example, latitude and longitude) of the current position outside the room by the positioning unit. At this time, the movement amount _Mt is stored, and the storage of the movement amount M and the traveling direction change that has been continued is completed. Next, the mobile terminal 1 identifies the communication quality degradation position by going back from the position related to the acquired position information, the movement information (movement amount, change of traveling direction) stored so far.

For example, the second communication quality deterioration position is
(2a) It is identified as a point that has advanced indoors by a movement amount (M _t −M ₁ ) from the position related to the acquired position information.

Further, the first communication quality deterioration position is defined as M _b when the angular velocity sensor detects a 90 ° turn counterclockwise in the traveling direction, and the 90 ° turn clockwise in the traveling direction. When the amount of movement when the detected and M _a,
(2b) Advancing the room by a movement amount (M _t −M _b ) from the position related to the acquired position information,
(2c) The direction going backward at that position is changed by 90 ° clockwise (opposite of 90 ° counterclockwise), and the room is moved backward by the amount of movement (M _b −M _a ),
(2d) Then, the direction of going back in its position (the opposite of 90 ° clockwise) and converted by 90 ° counterclockwise, is identified with the back by the amount of movement M _a is a point advanced room The

Here, the amount of change in the direction of progress is naturally not limited to 90 °. When the direction of progress movement information transformed by an angle theta _R clockwise (counterclockwise) has been stored, when following the transformation Conversely, counterclockwise (clockwise) angle theta _R only It will change the direction.

  Note that the mobile terminal 1 does not specify the communication quality deterioration position, and moves the movement information (corresponding to the above (2a)) that reaches the second communication quality deterioration position by going back to the communication at the second communication quality deterioration position. The movement information (corresponding to the above (2b) to (2d)) that is associated with the quality value and goes back to the first communication quality degradation position is associated with the communication quality value at the first communication quality degradation position. These pieces of information may be stored and further transmitted to the management server 6.

  In this embodiment, since the history of conversion in the direction of travel is used, the communication quality deterioration position in the two-dimensionally expanded room of the building 2 is represented in the two-dimensional distribution as in the embodiment of FIG. It can be grasped as one point. In addition, since this embodiment uses the change of the traveling direction, the communication quality degradation position is specified as compared with the embodiment of FIG. 3B in which the direction of the traveling direction is continuously measured and stored. The amount of calculation at the time is smaller.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, by acquiring the position information when the mobile terminal 1 goes out of the room twice, the accuracy of the azimuth and distance to the communication quality degradation position is improved. Can be increased.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the distance between the positions related to these position information and the heading in the traveling direction are calculated from the two pieces of position information obtained by the first and second positioning performed when the user goes out of the room. The Here, the two pieces of position information are positions separated by a distance that is sufficiently significant by positioning by GPS, and a time interval that allows the user (mobile terminal 1) to leave the room and still does not change the direction of travel. It is preferable that

  Based on the calculated distance and the direction of travel in accordance with the two pieces of position information, the scale and direction of the entire indoor travel route constructed by the movement information acquired and stored indoors by the mobile terminal 1 can be corrected. . In FIG. 4B, the entire route constructed by the movement information is rotated and reduced, and the corrected indoor traveling route is determined.

  Note that the direction change measuring unit that detects and measures the change in the direction of travel described above includes, for example, a three-axis type acceleration sensor and a three-axis type geomagnetic sensor as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-264917. You may be comprised from. Note that the acceleration sensor as the acceleration measurement unit described above can also function as the acceleration sensor of the direction change measurement unit. Further, for example, using the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-123702, it is also possible to determine the trajectory of the indoor movement by taking the difference in the traveling azimuth angle.

[Embodiment: Amount of travel + Area route information]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the mobile terminal 1 displays an indoor route map (area route information) 20 that is a layout diagram of paths such as corridors and passages in the room (predetermined area) of the building 2. I remember it.

  In addition, the mobile terminal 1 moves through the room of the building 2, passes through a communication quality degradation position where the communication quality value falls below the lowest threshold value, and heads for an entrance serving as an exit to the outside. Here, the portable terminal 1 includes an acceleration sensor as an acceleration measuring unit, detects its own acceleration, and uses the number of steps P calculated from the periodic fluctuation of the detected acceleration to calculate the amount of movement M using the above equation. Derived using (1). Here, it is also preferable to start storing the movement amount M from the first communication quality deterioration position and set the movement amount M at the first deterioration position to zero (M = 0).

The portable terminal 1 acquires the movement amount measured by the acceleration sensor and continuously stores it. Next, when the building 2 goes out of the room through the right entrance, the positioning unit acquires position information (for example, latitude and longitude) of the current position that goes out of the room. At this time, the movement amount M _t is stored, and the storage of the movement amount M that has been continued is completed.

Here, the mobile terminal 1 follows the stored route information on the indoor route map 20 from the position related to the acquired position information, and goes back by the already stored movement amount M _t, so that the communication quality deteriorated position. And the communication quality value at the communication quality deterioration position is stored in association with the specified communication quality deterioration position.

That is, as shown in FIG.
It is identified as one of the four points that can be reached by following all possible routes in the indoor route map 20 from the position related to the acquired position information and traveling indoors by moving the distance M _t. The That is, one or more candidates for the communication quality degradation position are specified.

  As described above, various embodiments of the movement information that can specify the communication quality degradation position retrospectively from the position related to the position information have been described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the form described above. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the mobile terminal 1 has the indoor route map 20, but for example, in the embodiment of FIG. The management server 6 that has received the information associated with the communication quality value at the degraded position may have the indoor route map 20. In this case, the management server 6 can identify the communication quality degradation position from the received information based on the indoor route map 20 stored by itself.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, it is also preferable that the mobile terminal 1 or the management server 6 has an indoor route map (area route information) 20 (FIG. 5A). In this case, it is possible to confirm using the indoor route map 20 whether or not the vehicle can actually move when traveling indoors by going back from the position related to the acquired positional information by the stored movement amount and the change in the traveling direction. it can. Further, by comparing with the route arrangement in the indoor route map 20, it is also possible to correct the memorized movement amount and the measurement error in the change of the traveling direction.

  Furthermore, as a change mode related to the movement information, it is also possible to obtain movement information related to movement in the vertical direction in the building 2, for example, movement between the first floor and the third floor, or movement in the building using an elevator. it can. For example, an acceleration sensor can be used to recognize the direction of gravitational acceleration, that is, movement in the vertical direction, and acquire movement information in the vertical direction or a direction having a vertical component. In this case, it is possible to recognize step by step when going up or down the stairs from the periodic pattern of the acceleration data, and to measure and store the upward movement amount or the downward movement amount using the height of the stairs step. It is also possible to measure and store the amount of vertical movement by an elevator, escalator, or staircase using an atmospheric pressure sensor that can detect a minute change in atmospheric pressure corresponding to an altitude difference of several tens of centimeters. When these pieces of movement information are used, it is possible to grasp the three-dimensional distribution of communication quality deterioration positions in the building 2.

  FIG. 6 is a graph schematically illustrating handling of errors in the stored movement information.

  According to FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 1 (the user who owns the mobile terminal) changes the direction of travel at a certain point after going straight on foot in the room, and then changes the direction of travel again after going straight on foot. Continue straight on foot. During this time, the mobile terminal 1 uses the acceleration measurement unit (acceleration sensor) to measure and store the number of steps (movement amount) from the communication quality degradation position, and further uses the azimuth measurement unit or the direction change measurement unit. Detect and store the direction of travel or the change of direction of travel.

  The graph of FIG. 6 represents the accumulation with the passage of time of the movement error amount included in the movement information stored in the mobile terminal 1 that performs such movement. In the graph of FIG. 6, the error relating to the movement amount and the error relating to the change of the traveling direction are considered as the types of movement error.

  Here, it is assumed that a predetermined amount of error in the amount of movement (number of steps × step length) occurs every time the user takes one step. This predetermined amount is calculated by counting the difference between the set step length and the actual step length every time one step is measured, and then calculating the count error of the number of steps that occurs due to differences in walking patterns in the analysis of acceleration data. , Allocated per step.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that a predetermined amount of error related to the change in the traveling direction occurs every time the traveling direction (or direction) is changed. The predetermined amount is calculated by counting the difference between the change in the measured direction (direction) and the change in the actual direction (direction) for each change in the direction of travel, and then the mobile terminal 1 not related to the change in direction of travel. An error generated due to a change in its own direction is assigned per one change in the traveling direction.

  According to the graph of FIG. 6, the error amount of the movement information calculated in this way is accumulated every time required for one step and further every time the direction of travel is changed. Here, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, a predetermined error threshold is set, and when the accumulated amount of error of the movement information stored with the movement of the mobile terminal 1 becomes equal to or greater than the error threshold, the error is stored so far. Discard the movement information that has been received. Thereby, the portable terminal 1 can provide only the communication quality degradation position information based on the movement information having predetermined reliability to the management server 6, and the management server 6 can provide a more reliable communication quality degradation position. Distribution information can be acquired.

  FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the mobile terminal 1 according to the present invention.

  According to FIG. 7, the mobile terminal 1 includes a wide area mobile communication interface unit 100, a positioning unit 101, an acceleration sensor 102, and a processor memory. Furthermore, it is preferable to have a geomagnetic sensor 103, an angular velocity sensor 104, or a zone information storage unit 105 in accordance with the acceleration sensor 102. Here, the processor memory realizes its function by executing a program.

  The processor memory includes a communication quality measurement unit 110, a communication quality determination unit 111, a communication quality storage unit 112, a positioning activation control unit 113, a movement information acquisition unit 114, and a movement information storage as functional components. Unit 115, storage control unit 116, degradation position information storage unit 117, movement error calculation / determination unit 118, and data transmission / reception unit 119.

  The wide area mobile communication interface unit 100 communicates with the base station 3 for cellular communication connected to the mobile phone network 8. The positioning unit 101 captures a positioning radio wave from the GPS satellite 4 and further measures the location (latitude, longitude) of the mobile terminal 1 by the GPS positioning method.

  The acceleration sensor 102 is an acceleration measuring unit, and can be a three-axis type acceleration measuring instrument formed by using, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technique, for example, by a capacitance method or a piezoresistive method. . As the acceleration sensor 102, it is also preferable to use an acceleration sensor capable of measuring gravitational acceleration and counting the number of steps of the user who has the mobile terminal 1.

  The geomagnetic sensor 103 is, for example, a three-axis type geomagnetism meter that measures the geomagnetism using the magnetoresistive (AMR, GMR or TMR) effect, the magnetic impedance (MI) effect, the fluxgate (FG) method, or the Hall effect. can do. Here, the geomagnetic sensor 103 and the acceleration sensor 102 can be combined to form an orientation measuring unit that measures the orientation of the mobile terminal 1.

  The angular velocity sensor 104 is a direction change measurement unit that detects and measures a change in direction (change). For example, the angular velocity sensor 104 may be a vibration gyro sensor that detects angular velocity from deformation of a structure due to Coriolis force acting on a vibrating arm. it can. In addition, the area information storage unit 105 stores area route information in a predetermined area, for example, an indoor route map of the building 2.

  The communication quality measurement unit 110 measures the communication quality value of radio waves from the base station 3 in the wide area mobile communication interface unit 100. The communication quality value measured here is output to the communication quality determination unit 111. The communication quality determination unit 111 determines whether or not the input communication quality value is attenuated below the lower threshold THlow, whether it is attenuated below the lowest threshold THbottom, and further improved above the upper threshold THhigh. judge. The result determined by the communication quality determination unit 111 is output to the communication quality storage unit 112, the positioning activation control unit 113, and the storage control unit 116.

  Here, the lower threshold THlow is a communication quality value that is detected when the mobile terminal 1 is located indoors, and is, for example, −4.0 dB (SINR: signal-to-interference noise ratio, the same applies hereinafter). The lowest threshold THbottom is a communication quality value that allows communication with the base station 3 to be at a minimum, and is, for example, -12.0 dB. The upper threshold value THhigh is a communication quality value that is detected when the mobile terminal 1 is located outdoors, and is, for example, 1.0 dB. These numerical examples can be obtained by referring to the relationship table between SINR and data rate described in, for example, Y. Choi, et al., “A Channel-based Scheduling Algorithm for cdma2000 1xEV-DO system,” PIMRC2002. . According to Tang, R., “Indoor propagation in cellular / PCS System design,” Wireless Communications and Systems, 1999 Emerging Technologies Symposium, Apr. 1999 ”, outdoor penetration loss can be about 5-25 dB. Taught.

  The communication quality storage unit 112 stores the communication quality value measured by the communication quality measurement unit 110 according to an instruction from the storage control unit 116. Further, the stored communication quality value is output to the degradation position information storage unit 117 in accordance with a request from the degradation position information storage unit 117.

  The positioning activation control unit 113 activates the positioning unit 101 when the communication quality value attenuates below the lower threshold THlow. It is also preferable that the positioning activation control unit 113 stops the positioning unit 101 when the activated positioning unit 101 cannot capture the positioning radio wave. In addition, the positioning activation control unit 113 restarts the positioning unit 101 or maintains the activated state when the communication quality value is improved to the upper threshold THhigh or higher.

  The movement information acquisition unit 114 acquires movement information including the movement amount and the direction of travel or the change (change) of the travel direction from the acceleration sensor 102 or the like. Furthermore, area route information may be acquired from the area information storage unit 105. Here, the movement amount is calculated based on, for example, the number of steps calculated from the periodic fluctuation of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 102.

  The movement information storage unit 115 stores the acquired movement information according to instructions from the storage control unit 116. It is also preferable to store the acquired area route information together. Further, the stored movement information is output to the degraded position information storage unit 117 in accordance with a request from the degraded position information storage unit 117.

  The storage control unit 116 stores the communication quality value in the communication quality storage unit 112 and the movement information acquisition unit 114 when the positioning unit 101 cannot capture the positioning radio wave and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold value. The acquired movement information is continuously stored in the movement information storage unit 115. It is also preferable to stop the storage operations of the communication quality storage unit 112 and the movement information storage unit 115 when the positioning unit 101 can capture the positioning radio wave. Here, the storage operation of the communication quality storage unit 112 may be activated only while the communication quality value is a value equal to or lower than the lowest threshold THbottom.

The degradation position information storage unit 117 inputs the communication quality value and the movement information continuously stored from the communication quality storage unit 112 and the movement information storage unit 115 when the positioning unit 101 can capture the positioning radio wave. To do. Next, the degradation position information storage unit 117
(A) position information derived by the positioning unit 101;
(B) The movement information already stored in the movement information storage unit 115 that can identify the communication quality deterioration position by tracing back from the position related to the position information,
(C) A communication quality value stored in the communication quality storage unit 112 is stored in association with the communication quality value.

  Further, the degradation position information storage unit 117 has a degradation position specifying unit, and when the positioning unit 101 can capture the positioning radio wave, the movement information storage unit is obtained from the position related to the position information derived by the positioning unit 101. 115, the communication quality degradation position is identified by going back by the movement information already stored by 115, and the identified communication quality degradation position is associated with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage unit 112. It is also preferable to memorize.

  Further, the degradation position information storage unit 117 includes a degradation position specifying unit, and the route related to the area route information stored in the movement information storage unit 115 from the position related to the location information derived by the positioning unit 101 is obtained. The communication quality deterioration position is identified by tracing back the amount of movement already stored by the movement information storage unit 115 and the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage unit 112 is identified. It is also preferable to store the deterioration position in association with each other.

  The movement error calculation / determination unit 118 calculates a movement error based on the movement information continuously stored in the movement information storage unit 115, and determines whether or not the calculated movement error is greater than or equal to a predetermined error threshold. . Furthermore, when the true determination is made here, that is, when the movement error is equal to or greater than the predetermined error threshold, the movement information storage unit 115 discards the stored movement information or disables it.

  The data transmission / reception unit 119 transmits / receives data via the wide area mobile communication interface means. In particular, the communication quality value stored in the degradation position information storage unit 117 and information associated with the communication quality value (position information and movement information, or communication quality degradation position) are transmitted to the management server 6 via the radio link. To do. These pieces of information may be sequentially transmitted to the management server 6 or may be transmitted after a predetermined amount is accumulated. Further, the data may be transmitted to the management server 6 when data communication is executed by the user. Further, it may be transmitted when the mobile terminal 1 is being charged.

  As another embodiment, the storage control unit 116 causes the communication quality storage unit 112 to store the identification information of the neighboring cell or sector of communication and the strength information thereof together with the communication quality value. The positioning activation control unit 113 compares the identification information and the strength information stored in the communication quality storage unit 112 with the current identification information and the strength information to be stored next before the positioning unit 101 is activated. If the values coincide within a predetermined range, it is also preferable to control the positioning unit 101 not to be activated after the predetermined number of times of storage.

  For example, at indoor locations such as homes or offices that frequently go in and out, information on the communication quality degradation position is obtained in duplicate. In order to avoid this, when acquiring the communication quality value, the channel quality and the base station number in the adjacent sector or cell, and the radio wave intensity in each channel are also stored in the communication quality storage unit 112. When the stored channel number and radio wave intensity pair is compared with the channel number and radio wave intensity of the currently acquired communication quality value, and the channel number pair matches and the radio wave intensity is a difference within a predetermined range, Consider the same point. If the number of times of storage that is regarded as the same point is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, and the identification information and the intensity information match within a predetermined range, the positioning unit 102 must be activated after that or for a predetermined period thereafter. To do. This contributes to lower power consumption of the mobile terminal and can reduce the load on the network and wireless resources.

[Step count]
FIG. 8 is a graph showing a change in acceleration with time for explaining a method of counting the number of steps based on the acceleration data output from the acceleration sensor 102.

8B and 8C, when the user moves the mobile terminal 1 in a pants pocket and moves on foot, and when the user moves on foot while holding the mobile terminal 1 in hand. An example of actual measurement of the output from the acceleration sensor 102 is shown. In these figures, each time change of the x-axis direction component of acceleration: ACC _x , the y-axis direction component of acceleration: ACC _y , and the z-axis direction component of acceleration: ACC _z is represented as a graph. The x, y, and z axes are coordinate axes assigned in the direction shown in FIG. The vertical axis of the graph is acceleration, and the unit is [G] (1G = 9.8 m / s ² ).

According to FIG. 8B, all of ACC _x , ACC _y, and ACC _z indicate values that vary periodically. This period (T = about 1.1 seconds) corresponds to a walking cycle corresponding to two steps from the contact of the heel to the contact of the heel of the same foot, and these periodic fluctuations occur when the user moves on foot. Indicates that On the other hand, also in FIG. 8C, ACC _x , ACC _y, and ACC _z all indicate values that vary periodically. This period (T = about 0.54 seconds) corresponds to half of the walking period (period for each step), and these periodic fluctuations also indicate that the user is moving on foot.

Here, a method of extracting periodic fluctuations corresponding to walking motion from these acceleration data and counting the number of steps will be described. The methods (a) to (c) use the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-21870.
(A) First, vertical acceleration is calculated from acceleration data (ACC _x , ACC _y and ACC _z ).
(B) Next, the maximum point (or minimum point) of the vertical acceleration is detected as the walking timing. Here, the maximum point (minimum point) corresponds to the time when the body is lowered and the foot is grounded (the foot is raised with the body), and every time the maximum point (minimum point) appears in the vertical acceleration graph. This means that walking has progressed by one step.
(C) The number of maximum points (or minimum points) as the detected walking timing is counted as the number of steps.

  Further, as an embodiment other than the above, it is possible to use a step counting method that is conventionally used in a pedometer. Alternatively, it is possible to calculate the number of steps by extracting periodic fluctuations of walking motion using the Fourier transform (spectrum analysis) pattern of the measured values of acceleration axial components and counting the periodic fluctuations. It is.

[Calculation of heading azimuth]
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the user's walking mode and acceleration for explaining the front and rear of the acceleration plane that is a premise for deriving the “walking reference vector”.

  The “walking reference vector” and “azimuth reference vector” described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 are quantities used to determine the direction of travel of the mobile terminal 1. The calculation method uses the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-271167.

  According to FIGS. 9A to 9C, the user (pedestrian) is walking while shaking the hand holding the mobile terminal 1 back and forth. If such a general walking mode is viewed from the lateral direction, the position of the mobile terminal 1 fluctuates back and forth in a pendulum shape while drawing an arc as shown in FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (B). Further, when viewed from the traveling direction, the position of the mobile terminal 1 fluctuates up and down as shown in FIG. Such a pendulum motion of the mobile terminal 1 has the shoulder portion that is the base of the arm that holds the mobile terminal 1 as the center of rotation.

At this time, the group of acceleration vectors detected at each time point of the pendulum motion detected by the acceleration sensor 102 mounted on the mobile terminal 1 is an xyz coordinate given to the mobile terminal 1 as shown in FIG. An acceleration surface is formed in the system (FIG. 8A). Here, the acceleration vector is a vector having acceleration data ACC _x , ACC _y, and ACC _z as each axis component in the xyz coordinate system assigned to the mobile terminal 1. This acceleration surface is a surface corresponding to a surface including the center of rotation of the shoulder portion and the trajectory (arc) of the pendulum motion. As long as the mobile terminal 1 is shaken by hand, this acceleration plane is parallel to the traveling direction.

  When the arm holding the mobile terminal 1 is in the rear (opposite to the direction of travel: for example, position c), the acceleration vector has a direction inclined forward in the acceleration plane as shown in FIG. When this arm is in front (for example, position a), the acceleration vector has a direction inclined backward in the acceleration plane as shown in FIG. 9D. Here, in FIG. 9D, it is determined that the front side of the acceleration surface is the side of the progression (walking) direction.

  Therefore, a “walking reference vector” corresponding to the user's traveling (walking) direction can be derived by determining the front or rear of the acceleration plane formed by such an acceleration vector group by the following method.

Here, the acceleration components ACC _x , ACC _y, and ACC _z output from the acceleration sensor 102 are squared to obtain a sum, and a square root of the sum is taken to calculate a combined acceleration (acceleration absolute value). According to FIG. 9 (A) and (B), as a position of the portable terminal 1 held by the user,
Position a, position i, and position c are shown. The position i is a position where the user's hand is directly below, and the combined acceleration of the portable terminal 1 held by the user is maximized. On the other hand, the position a and the position c are positions where the user's hand is shaken extremely high, and the resultant acceleration is minimized.

  When the user swings up the arm holding the mobile terminal 1 while walking, the mobile terminal 1 moves from position c to position a, while the acceleration vector moves from the front to the back of the acceleration plane, and the resultant acceleration is a minimum value. From the local maximum to the local minimum. On the other hand, when the arm holding the mobile terminal 1 is swung down, the mobile terminal 1 moves from position a to position c, while the acceleration vector moves from the back to the front of the acceleration plane, and the resultant acceleration is also minimal. From the value, it reaches the local minimum through the local maximum.

  Here, in actual walking, the elapsed time from the minimum value to the minimum value in the combined acceleration when the arm is raised is longer than the elapsed time from the minimum value to the minimum value when the arm is swung down. Therefore, in the composite acceleration data, if the time interval between one local minimum point and the previous local minimum point is longer than the previous time interval, this one local minimum point is an acceleration vector that faces the back of the acceleration plane. (Absolute value). Conversely, if the time interval between one local minimum point and the previous local minimum point is shorter than the previous time interval, this one local minimum point is the absolute value of the acceleration vector (directed to the front of the acceleration plane). ).

  In this way, the front and rear of the acceleration surface shown in FIG. 9D are determined from the acceleration data.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9C, geomagnetism has arrived for the user and the mobile terminal 1. If the user holds the terminal in a certain posture and proceeds straight in one direction, the arrival direction of geomagnetism in the xyz coordinate system assigned to the portable terminal 1 is constant. However, since the user swings the portable terminal 1 held by the user back and forth, the arrival direction of the geomagnetism periodically changes in a curved manner in the xyz coordinate system in accordance with the swing of the arm.

  Under such periodic fluctuations, using the geomagnetic vector detected by the geomagnetic sensor 103 mounted on the mobile terminal 1, an “azimuth reference vector” representing the east direction is derived by the method described below. Using this “azimuth reference vector” and a “walking reference vector” similarly derived by the method described below, the direction of travel (walking) is calculated.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of deriving a walking reference vector and an azimuth reference vector and calculating a direction of travel.

  According to FIG. 10A, the group of acceleration vectors obtained from the acceleration sensor 103 and the group of geomagnetic vectors obtained from the geomagnetic sensor 103 are shown in the xyz coordinate system assigned to the mobile terminal 1. Yes.

  First, a walking reference vector is calculated from the acceleration surface. The walking reference vector corresponds to the direction of progression (walking), and is expressed by a normal vector of the acceleration plane. A normal vector extending from the origin of the xyz coordinate system can take two directions with respect to the acceleration plane. Since the acceleration plane is parallel to the traveling direction, the two normal vectors correspond to the right side and the left side in the traveling direction of the user. Here, the walking reference vector is defined as the right side of the user among the two normal vectors (of course, it may be the left side). The walking reference vector on the right side is calculated by calculating an outer product of acceleration vectors at two local minimum points indicating the front and rear of the acceleration surface.

The walking reference vector is calculated by the following equation (2). As shown in FIG.
Acceleration vector at the minimum point indicating the front of the acceleration plane: F = (x _F , y _F , z _F )
Acceleration vector at the minimum point indicating the back of the acceleration plane: B = (x _B , y _B , z _B )
Then, the walking reference vector R = (x _R , y _R , z _R ) is
(2) R = B × F
_{= (Y B z F -z B} y F, z B x F -x B z F, x B y F -y B x F)
Is calculated as

  Next, an azimuth reference vector is calculated. The azimuth reference vector can be represented by a normal vector with respect to the azimuth reference plane formed by the gravity vector and the geomagnetic vector. This normal vector can be taken in two directions from the origin of the xyz coordinate system, similarly to the walking reference vector, but needs to be determined in accordance with the direction determined by the walking reference vector. That is, if the walking reference vector is determined to be right of the pedestrian, it is determined to be right (eastward), and if it is determined to be left, it is determined left (west).

  The acceleration vector at the maximum point of the combined acceleration can be regarded as a gravity vector pointing directly below the vertical. Or it is good also considering the average of the acceleration vector in two minimum points calculated when calculating | requiring a walk reference | standard vector as gravity vector G = (B + F) / 2. On the other hand, the geomagnetic vector may be selected at the maximum point in the same manner as the gravity vector, or an average of a plurality of geomagnetic vectors detected between the timings of the two minimum points may be used.

Here, the azimuth reference vector is calculated by the following equation (3). As shown in FIG.
Gravity _{vector: G = (x G, y} G, z G)
Geomagnetic vector: M = (x _M , y _M , z _M )
Then, the azimuth reference vector E = (x _E , y _E , z _E ) is
(3) E = G × M
_{= (Y G z M -z G} y M, z G x M -x G z M, x G y M -y G x M)
Is calculated as

Next, the azimuth angle θ in the traveling (walking) direction is calculated from the walking reference vector R and the azimuth reference vector E derived using the equations (2) and (3). The angle α formed by the walking reference vector and the azimuth reference vector is expressed by the following equation (4).
(4) α = arccos ((E ・ R) / (| E || R |))

Here, the angle α takes a value of 0 to 180 ° (degrees). On the other hand, the azimuth angle θ to be obtained is an angle in which the north azimuth is 0 ° and the clockwise direction is positive, and takes a value of 0 to 360 °. Therefore, the angle α is converted into the azimuth angle θ using the following equation (5). That is, if the angle formed by E × R and the gravity vector G is β,
(5) When cos β ≧ 0, θ = α
When cos β <0, θ = 360−α
As shown, the azimuth angle θ is calculated.

  FIG. 10C is a view of FIG. 10B viewed from the vertically upward direction. According to FIG. 10C, the walking reference vector is perpendicular to the acceleration plane and extends to the right with respect to the traveling direction. On the other hand, the orientation reference vector is perpendicular to the orientation reference plane and faces east. The angle θ formed by the walking reference vector and the azimuth reference vector is exactly the angle formed by the traveling direction with respect to the north direction, that is, the azimuth angle with respect to the north.

  In this way, it is possible to derive the direction of the user's traveling (walking) direction from the acceleration vector group that is the output of the acceleration sensor 102 and the geomagnetic vector group that is the output of the geomagnetic sensor.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to derive information that can identify a communication quality degradation position in a wide area mobile communication area. In particular, by using an acceleration measuring unit and an azimuth measuring unit or a direction change measuring unit and adopting a moving amount and an azimuth or diversion in the traveling direction as movement information in a room or the like of the building, the communication quality degradation position is set to 2 It can be grasped as one point in the dimensional distribution. This makes it easy to grasp the distribution of communication quality deterioration positions in a building or the like, and to effectively take measures for improving communication quality, for example.

  In the various embodiments of the present invention described above, various changes, modifications, and omissions in the scope of the technical idea and the viewpoint of the present invention can be easily made by those skilled in the art. The above description is merely an example, and is not intended to be restrictive. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal 100 Wide area mobile communication interface part 101 Positioning part 102 Acceleration sensor 103 Geomagnetic sensor 104 Angular velocity sensor 105 Area information storage part 110 Communication quality measurement part 111 Communication quality determination part 112 Communication quality storage part 113 Positioning start control part 114 Movement information acquisition Unit 115 Movement information storage unit 116 Storage control unit 117 Degraded position information storage unit 118 Movement error calculation / determination unit 119 Data transmission / reception unit 2 Building 20 Indoor route map (area route information)
3 base station 4 GPS satellite 5 partner communication device 6 management server 7 internet 8 mobile phone network

Claims (14)

In a mobile terminal having wide area mobile communication interface means for communicating with a base station and positioning means for capturing positioning radio waves from a satellite and deriving position information,
Communication quality measuring means for measuring a communication quality value of radio waves from the base station in the wide area mobile communication interface means;
Communication quality storage means for storing the communication quality value;
Movement information acquisition means for acquiring movement information including movement amount;
Movement information storage means for storing the acquired movement information;
When the positioning means cannot capture the positioning radio wave and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold value, the communication quality storage means stores the communication quality value, and the movement information acquisition means functions. Storage control means for continuously storing the acquired movement information in the movement information storage means;
When the positioning means can capture the positioning radio wave, the position information derived by the positioning means and the communication quality deterioration position can be identified by tracing back from the position related to the position information. And a deteriorated position information storage unit for storing the movement information associated with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage unit. Communication quality determination means for determining whether or not the communication quality value is attenuated to a lower threshold value that takes a value equal to or higher than the lowest threshold value;
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning activation control unit that activates the positioning unit when the communication quality value is attenuated to be equal to or lower than the lower threshold. An acceleration measuring unit for measuring acceleration;
The said movement information acquisition means acquires the movement information containing the movement amount derived | led-out using the number of steps calculated from the periodic fluctuation | variation of the acceleration detected by the said acceleration measurement part. The portable terminal as described in. It further includes an azimuth measuring unit that measures the azimuth,
The movement information acquisition means acquires movement information including the movement amount and the azimuth of the traveling direction detected by the azimuth measuring unit,
The deteriorated position information storage means is capable of specifying a communication quality deteriorated position by tracing the position information derived by the positioning means and the position related to the position information in reverse. 4. The portable terminal according to claim 3, wherein the amount and the direction of travel direction are stored in association with a communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means. It further includes a direction change measuring unit for measuring the direction change,
The movement information acquisition means acquires movement information including the movement amount and a change in the direction of progress detected by the direction change measurement unit,
The deteriorated position information storage means is capable of specifying a communication quality deteriorated position by tracing the position information derived by the positioning means and the position related to the position information in reverse. 4. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein the amount and the change of the direction of progress are stored in association with a communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage unit. It further comprises area information storage means for storing route information of the predetermined area,
The deterioration position information storage means traces the movement amount already stored by the movement information storage means while following the route related to the stored route information from the position related to the position information derived by the positioning means. The communication quality deterioration position is specified by going back only, and the communication quality deterioration position already stored in the communication quality storage means is associated with the specified communication quality deterioration position and stored. The portable terminal described.   The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the lowest threshold is a communication quality value that allows communication with the base station to a minimum.   The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the lower threshold is a communication quality value that is detected when the mobile terminal is located indoors. A movement error calculating means for calculating a movement error based on the movement information;
Movement error determination means for determining whether or not the calculated movement error is greater than or equal to a predetermined error threshold;
9. The movement information storage unit according to claim 1, wherein when the movement error determination unit makes a true determination, the movement information storage unit discards or disables the stored movement information. Mobile devices. The communication quality determination means further determines whether or not the communication quality value has improved to an upper threshold or higher,
The positioning activation control means restarts or maintains the positioning means in the activated state when the communication quality value is improved to the upper threshold value or more.
The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the upper threshold is a communication quality value that is detected when the mobile terminal is located outdoors. The deterioration position information storage means includes
When the positioning means can capture the positioning radio wave, communication quality deterioration is caused by going back from the position related to the position information derived by the positioning means by the amount of movement information already stored by the movement information storage means. The position is specified, and the specified communication quality degradation position is stored in association with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means. Mobile devices. Further comprising data transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data via the wide area mobile communication interface means;
The data transmission / reception unit transmits the communication quality value stored in the deterioration position information storage unit and information associated with the communication quality value to a predetermined management server via a wireless link. The portable terminal of any one of Claim 1 to 11. A program for functioning a computer mounted on a portable terminal having wide area mobile communication interface means for communicating with a base station, and positioning means for capturing positioning radio waves from satellites and deriving position information,
Communication quality measuring means for measuring a communication quality value of radio waves from the base station in the wide area mobile communication interface means;
Communication quality storage means for storing the communication quality value;
Movement information acquisition means for acquiring movement information including movement amount;
Movement information storage means for storing the acquired movement information;
When the positioning means cannot capture the positioning radio wave and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold value, the communication quality storage means stores the communication quality value, and the movement information acquisition means functions. Storage control means for continuously storing the acquired movement information in the movement information storage means;
When the positioning means can capture the positioning radio wave, the position information derived by the positioning means and the communication quality deterioration position can be identified by tracing back from the position related to the position information. A program for a portable terminal, which causes a computer to function as deteriorated position information storage means for storing the received movement information in association with a communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means. A communication quality degradation position information deriving method in a portable terminal having a wide area mobile communication interface means for communicating with a base station, and a positioning means for capturing a positioning radio wave from a satellite and deriving position information,
A first step of measuring a communication quality value of radio waves from the base station in the wide area mobile communication interface means;
When the positioning means cannot capture the positioning radio wave and the communication quality value is attenuated below the lowest threshold, the communication quality storage means stores the communication quality value and acquires movement information including a movement amount. A second step of causing the information acquisition means to function and continuously storing the acquired movement information in the movement information storage means;
When the positioning means can capture the positioning radio wave, the position information derived by the positioning means and the communication quality deterioration position can be identified by tracing back from the position related to the position information. And a third step of storing the received movement information in association with the communication quality value already stored in the communication quality storage means.

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