JP2006277464A - Emergency communication device, and emergency monitor, monitoring method and decision method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an emergency communication device allowing a holder of a terminal to notify emergency without performing special operation, and allowing low-cost and wide-range operation. <P>SOLUTION: This emergency communication device has a slant sensor part always monitoring (S202-S204) a slant angle of the emergency communication device. When the slant angle becomes larger than a threshold value angle set to an auxiliary memory by a turnover of a user (S205), the emergency communication device decides that the user turns over, and automatically notifies a family or the like registered in the auxiliary memory by a cellphone mail or a videophone (S214, S215). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an emergency contact device and an emergency monitoring device that enable a terminal holder to communicate an emergency from the terminal, and an emergency monitoring method and determination method using the device.

For the purpose of caring for the elderly and crime prevention for children, a mobile phone terminal with a positioning function such as GPS (Global Positioning System) is used. An emergency call system for notifying the location of the device has already been put into practical use. There is Patent Document 1 as a document relating to such a system.
In addition, when the terminal holder falls into an emergency situation, the terminal holder operates the terminal depending on the content of the emergency, such as being lost in the physical condition or being attacked by a thug. It may be difficult to report this. As a countermeasure in such a case, an apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 2 that can make an emergency call without operating a terminal has been proposed. This device consists of a small transmitter held by an elderly person and a receiver laid on the ground. It is determined whether there is an emergency state by using the difference in distance, that is, the intensity of the received radio wave.
JP-A-8-180286 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-15544

However, in a system that is currently in practical use (or the system described in Patent Document 1), when a family member or the like makes an inquiry about the terminal holder to the system, what can be obtained can be known by the GPS function mounted on the terminal. It is only the position information of the holder, and it cannot be known whether or not the holder is in an emergency state. In other words, in order for the terminal holder to inform the family etc. of an emergency situation, the holder needs to perform a specific operation such as pressing the emergency button on the terminal. There is a problem that you can not.
Moreover, according to the apparatus described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to automatically determine whether or not an emergency has occurred by utilizing the difference in radio wave intensity, so that the above problem can be solved. However, since this apparatus needs to newly lay many receivers on the ground, there is a demerit that costs for procuring, operating, maintaining, and managing the receivers are high. In addition, there is a problem that the area where the emergency call system can be operated is limited to an area where such a receiver can be laid.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to allow an emergency notification without special operation by the terminal holder, and to operate in a wide range at a low cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide an emergency contact device, and an emergency monitoring method and determination method using the device.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The invention according to claim 1 is directed to a monitoring means for periodically monitoring a predetermined monitoring parameter, and the monitoring parameter corresponding to an emergency situation. A storage unit that stores conditions in advance, a determination unit that performs a determination process as to whether or not there is an emergency by comparing a value of a monitoring parameter measured by the monitoring unit with a condition stored in the storage unit; An emergency communication device is provided, comprising: a first communication unit that outputs an emergency signal when the determination unit determines that the situation is an emergency.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the emergency contact device according to the first aspect, the determination means is in a state in which the monitoring parameter satisfies a condition corresponding to an emergency situation for a predetermined evaluation time. When it continues, it is judged that it is an emergency.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the emergency contact device according to the first or second aspect, the determination unit issues an alarm to the holder when the monitoring parameter satisfies a condition corresponding to an emergency situation. An alarm means that emits and an input means for the holder to input an instruction for preventing the determination that the situation is an emergency, and the instruction is input to the input means Is characterized by not determining that it is an emergency.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the emergency communication device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second communication is connected to the base station by wireless communication and makes a voice and image call. And a control means for making a call to a predetermined partner by the second communication means when it is determined that the determination means is an emergency.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the emergency communication device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the monitoring means includes at least a position detection means for detecting a location, a vertical direction, and a predetermined direction. An inclination angle detection means for detecting an inclination angle formed with the axis, an acceleration detection means for detecting an applied acceleration, and a biological information detection means for detecting biological information of the holder, The monitoring parameter may be the above-described location, tilt angle, acceleration, biological information, or a combination thereof corresponding to the monitoring means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the emergency contact device according to the fifth aspect, the determination means is configured such that the inclination angle detected by the inclination angle detection means is greater than a threshold value stored in the storage means. It is characterized by determining that it is an emergency.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the emergency contact device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the determination means is a time change in which the location detected by the position detection means is longer than a threshold time stored in the storage means. If not, it is determined to be an emergency situation.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the emergency contact device according to the fifth aspect, the determination means is urgent when the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means is larger than a threshold value stored in the storage means. It is characterized by determining that it is a situation.

The invention according to claim 9 is the emergency contact device according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the inclination angle detecting means is a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnitude of geomagnetism or an acceleration sensor for detecting the magnitude of acceleration. It is characterized by being.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the emergency contact device according to any one of the fifth to ninth aspects, the emergency signal output by the first communication means is detected by the position detecting means. And the biological information detected by the biological information detecting means.

  The invention according to claim 11 comprises monitoring means for periodically monitoring predetermined monitoring parameters, and transmission means for transmitting the monitoring parameters obtained by measurement by the monitoring means to the outside. The means comprises at least one of the position detection means, the inclination angle detection means, the acceleration detection means, and the biological information detection means, and the monitoring parameter is a location measured by the monitoring means, An emergency monitoring device is proposed that is characterized by tilt angle, acceleration, or biological information, or a combination thereof.

  The invention according to claim 12 is a step of periodically measuring a predetermined monitoring parameter consisting of a location position, an inclination angle, acceleration, biological information or a combination thereof, and the monitoring parameter obtained by the measurement is externally provided. And an emergency monitoring method characterized by comprising the step of transmitting.

  The invention according to claim 13 is a step of periodically measuring a predetermined monitoring parameter composed of a location position, an inclination angle, acceleration, biological information or a combination thereof, and a condition of the monitoring parameter corresponding to an emergency situation. Proposing an emergency determination method characterized by comprising: a step of reading; and a step of determining whether or not there is an emergency by comparing the read condition and the value of the measured monitoring parameter ing.

  According to this invention, since the inclination angle of the mobile phone terminal is detected by the mounted inclination sensor and it is determined whether the user has fallen from the detected value, the family can be operated even in a situation where the user cannot operate the terminal. It is possible to make emergency notifications reliably. In addition, since the determination of the user falling is performed in the mobile phone terminal, there is no need to prepare an external infrastructure facility for this purpose, which is economically advantageous. Further, the usable area is not limited by the presence or absence of such infrastructure facilities.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an emergency contact apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This emergency contact device is realized by a mobile phone terminal 1 equipped with a tilt sensor and a GPS function. In this figure, a mobile phone terminal 1 is a foldable mobile phone terminal provided with two housings of terminal units 1-1 and 1-2. The antenna 201 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals with a radio base station (not shown). An RF (Radio Frequency) unit 202 converts a received signal received by the antenna 201 into a received signal having an intermediate frequency and outputs the received signal to the modem unit 203. Further, the RF unit 202 modulates a transmission signal input from the modem unit 203 into a radio frequency signal and outputs the signal to the antenna 201.

  The modem unit 203 performs a demodulation process on the received signal input from the RF unit 202 and a modulation process on the transmission signal input from the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) unit 204. The CDMA unit 204 performs transmission signal encoding processing and reception signal decoding processing. The audio processing unit 205 converts the audio signal input from the microphone 301 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the CDMA unit 204. Further, the audio processing unit 205 inputs the digital audio signal from the CDMA unit 204 and converts it into an analog audio signal. The sound is output to the speaker 302 and sounded.

  The GPS antenna 401 is an antenna for receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite. The GPS receiving unit 402 demodulates a radio wave signal received from a GPS satellite, and calculates a position represented by the latitude and longitude (more altitude in the case of the three-dimensional mode) of the mobile phone terminal 1 based on the demodulated data. Is.

  The tilt sensor unit 520 calculates the tilt angle of the mobile phone terminal 1 with respect to the vertical direction by detecting the direction of geomagnetism using the three magnetic sensors 521-1 to 521-3. Here, the first magnetic sensor 521-1 detects the magnitude of geomagnetism in the longitudinal axis (X axis) direction of the mobile phone terminal 1, and the other two magnetic sensors 521-2, 521-3 are X The magnitude of geomagnetism in the direction of two axes (Y axis and Z axis) orthogonal to the axis is detected. The temperature sensor 522 detects temperature in order to perform temperature compensation of the magnetic sensors 521-1 to 521-3. The magnetic sensor control unit 523 performs predetermined data processing on the outputs of the sensors 521-1 to 521-3 and 522.

  The main control unit 601 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs main control of the mobile phone terminal 1, the ROM 602 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program of the main control unit 601 is stored, and the RAM 603 is a temporary storage of data. A RAM (Random Access Memory) to be performed and an auxiliary memory 604 are flash memories in which various setting data such as user fall determination conditions are stored.

  The notification unit 303 includes a speaker, a vibrator, a light emitting diode, and the like, and notifies the user of an incoming call or mail reception by sound, vibration, light, or the like. The clock unit 304 is a time measuring function unit used by the main control unit 601. The main operation unit 305 takes in the user's instruction input and gives it to the main control unit 601.

  The electronic imaging unit 306 is an electronic camera that converts a subject image into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the main control unit 601. The display unit 307 is a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays images, characters, and the like based on display signals input from the main control unit 601. The touch panel 308 is incorporated in the surface of the liquid crystal display of the display unit 307, and outputs a signal representing the input content by the user's contact operation to the main control unit 601. The sub operation unit 309 is a push switch used for display switching.

Next, the operation of the emergency contact device described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, when the power switch of the cellular phone terminal 1 is turned on (step S201), the tilt sensor unit 520 starts and the magnetic sensors 521-1 to 521-3 detect geomagnetism in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions. Is started (step S203). From the detected geomagnetic data, an angle formed between the geomagnetic direction and the longitudinal axis direction of the mobile phone terminal 1 is calculated, and the inclination angle θ of the mobile phone terminal 1 (vertical direction and the longitudinal axis of the mobile phone terminal 1) as a monitoring parameter is calculated. Are calculated (step S204) and output to the RAM 603. Here, the user normally wears the mobile phone terminal 1 vertically on the waist belt, and the inclination angle θ at this time is almost 0 degrees.
The detection of geomagnetism and the calculation of the inclination angle θ are executed every measurement cycle time t1 (step S202), and the inclination angle data for the evaluation time T1 (where T1> t1) is updated and held in the RAM 603 as needed. Here, times t1 and T1 are stored in advance in the auxiliary memory 604 as setting data.

  Next, the inclination angle θ is compared with the threshold angle α stored in the auxiliary memory 604 (step S205). Here, the threshold angle α is an angle at which it is determined that the user's body is falling, and is set in advance by the user. When the inclination angle θ is smaller than the threshold angle α (θ <α), it is determined that the “normal state” (the user is standing) and the processing from step S202 is repeated. When the inclination angle θ is larger than the threshold angle α (θ> α), it is determined that the state is “abnormal” (the user has fallen), and the mobile phone terminal 1 shifts to the warning mode (steps S206 to S213). To do.

  In the warning mode, first, the GPS receiver 402 receives radio waves from GPS satellites (step S206), and calculates the position (latitude and longitude) of the mobile phone terminal 1 (step S207). Then, the calculated position is compared with the position of the user's home stored in the auxiliary memory 604 (step S208). As a result, when it is determined that the mobile phone terminal 1 is at home, the warning mode is canceled and the processing from step S202 is repeated. If it is determined that the mobile phone terminal 1 is outside the home, the warning mode is continued and the process proceeds to the next process. Here, the reason for making such a determination is to operate the emergency contact apparatus only when the user is out.

  Next, in the warning mode, the notification unit 303 sounds an alarm sound to alert the user until the evaluation time T1 elapses (step S209). This is not when the user falls down, but when the mobile phone terminal 1 is temporarily removed from the waist belt and operated, placed on a desk, or when the user lies down on his / her own will, This is to give room for canceling the warning mode. The alarm sounds at a low volume at first, and then gradually increases in volume.

  Here, when the user presses the warning mode cancel button of the main operation unit 305 before the evaluation time T1 has passed (step S210, step S211), the warning mode is canceled and the alarm sound stops (step S212). The terminal 1 returns to the normal mode (standby mode). Thereafter, when θ <α and the normal use state (when the user stands on the waist belt), the tilt angle data stored in the RAM 603 is cleared and the processing from step S202 is performed again. Is executed.

On the other hand, when the evaluation time T1 elapses without releasing the warning mode, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that the user has actually fallen and the fall state continues and the alarm sound stops (step S213). The process proceeds to the emergency mode (steps S214 to S220) and the following processing is performed.
First, the location data calculated by the GPS function and the message “*** (user name) is an emergency. Please check the current location.” Is a mobile mail (first communication means). Is automatically transmitted to the family (step S214). Here, the family to which the mail is sent is stored in advance in the auxiliary memory 604 as setting data. Also, a map display software is automatically read into the mobile phone of the family who has received this mail, and a map on which the mark indicating the current position of the user is drawn based on the received position data is displayed on the display screen. Is displayed.

  Next, the cellular phone terminal 1 automatically makes a videophone (second communication means) call to the family who transmitted the cellular mail (steps S215 and S216). When a call with the family is connected, the microphone 301 collects ambient sounds and sounds, and the electronic imaging unit 306 shoots an image, and the user's surroundings are placed on the family's mobile phone terminal in the same manner as a normal videophone. And a call from the family is pronounced from the speaker 302 to alert the user or a nearby passerby (step S217). If the call with the family is not connected, the alarm means 303 will output a loud alarm sound and a voice message saying "I fell down because of a physical abnormality. Please rescue me." Is warned (step S219). Thereafter, a call termination process (step S218) or an alarm stop process (step S220) is performed, and the operation is completed.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 1 is equipped with the tilt sensor and the tilt angle θ is constantly monitored, and the detected tilt angle θ is equal to or greater than the preset threshold angle α. In this case, it is determined that the user has fallen into an emergency due to a fall or the like. That is, since it is automatically determined using the inclination angle θ that is a detection value of the inclination sensor whether or not it is an emergency situation, an emergency contact is made to the family or the like without any special operation by the user. Therefore, not only the location of the user as in the prior art, but also the family and the like can be automatically notified that the user has fallen due to abnormal physical condition or the like.

  In addition, since the inclination angle θ is detected only by an inclination sensor built in the mobile phone terminal 1, it is necessary to lay many devices on the outside (for example, the ground) for detecting that the user has fallen. Nothing at all. That is, there are merits in that there is no cost for installing and operating a large number of such devices, and the configuration of the entire emergency communication system is simplified. Further, the area where the emergency contact system can be operated is not limited to the area where the external device is laid, but can be operated in the entire service area of a normal mobile phone terminal.

  Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, only when the state where the inclination angle θ exceeds the threshold angle α continues for the evaluation time T1 or more, the user determines that the situation is an emergency. That is, when the user lies down with his / her own intention, there is no possibility that an erroneous report is immediately issued, and a highly reliable emergency notification can be made.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inclination sensor unit 520 includes the magnetic sensors 521-1 to 521-3. However, instead of the magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration applied to the mobile phone terminal 1 is used. It can also be set as the structure used. That is, three acceleration sensors are mounted so as to detect accelerations in three axial directions orthogonal to each other, and the direction (and magnitude) of acceleration applied to the mobile phone terminal 1 is calculated from the detection values of each sensor. . Normally (when no impact is applied), the only applied acceleration is gravitational acceleration, and the direction is the vertical direction, so that the inclination angle θ can be obtained as in the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the magnitude relationship between the tilt angle θ and the threshold angle α is used to determine whether the user has fallen. Instead of such a determination method, the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor is used. It may be determined that the vehicle has fallen when the size of the vehicle (usually 1G which is gravitational acceleration on the ground) exceeds a preset value. In this way, it is possible to determine the emergency from the magnitude of the impact applied when the user falls.

  Furthermore, as another method for determining an emergency situation, the user's location information is constantly monitored by the GPS function, and when the location information has not been changed for a certain period of time, the user stops unintentionally at the same location. In other words, it may be determined that the patient is in an emergency state in which the patient cannot move due to abnormal physical condition or falls.

Further, the emergency contact device according to the present invention is not limited to a foldable mobile phone terminal as in the above-described embodiment, but a wristwatch type mobile phone terminal (mobile phone function that is always worn on the user's arm). A wristwatch provided). In addition, a pulse sensor may be incorporated in the wristwatch type mobile phone terminal by taking advantage of the always-on type. Thereby, it is possible to constantly monitor the pulse and report an emergency contact when the pulse rate shows an abnormal value.
In the above embodiment, the emergency contact apparatus according to the present invention has been described by taking a CDMA mobile phone terminal as an example, but the mobile phone communication method is not related to the essence of the present invention, and any other communication method is used. It doesn't matter.

In step S208 of the above embodiment, the user's location and home position are compared using the GPS function, and the emergency contact device is activated only when the user is out. It is also possible to monitor whether or not there is an emergency even at home without making a comparison.
In addition, in step S209, the notification unit 303 sounds an alarm sound in order to call the user's attention, but other than this, attention may be given by vibration by a vibrator, blinking light by a light emitting diode, or the like.
Note that the emergency contact is not limited to the user's family, and can be set in a hospital, a nursing home, or the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the emergency contact apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the emergency contact apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cell-phone terminal 1-1, 1-2 ... Terminal unit 201 ... Antenna 202 ... RF part 203 ... Modulation / demodulation part 204 ... CDMA part 205 ... Voice processing part 301 ... Microphone 302 ... Speaker 303 ... Notification means 304 ... Clock part 305 ... Main operation unit 306 ... Electronic imaging unit 307 ... Display unit 308 ... Touch panel 309 ... Sub operation unit 401 ... GPS antenna 402 ... GPS reception unit 520 ... Tilt sensor unit 521-1 to 521-3 ... Magnetic sensor 522 ... Temperature sensor 523 ... Magnetic sensor control unit 601 ... Main control unit 602 ... ROM 603 ... RAM 604 ... Auxiliary memory

Claims (13)

Monitoring means for periodically monitoring predetermined monitoring parameters;
Storage means for storing in advance the condition of the monitoring parameter corresponding to an emergency situation;
A determination unit that performs a determination process as to whether or not an emergency has occurred by comparing the value of the monitoring parameter measured by the monitoring unit with the condition stored in the storage unit;
A first communication unit that outputs an emergency signal when the determination unit determines that the situation is an emergency;
An emergency contact device comprising: The determination means includes
2. The determination according to claim 1, wherein when the state in which the monitoring parameter satisfies a condition corresponding to an emergency situation continues for a preset evaluation time, it is determined that the situation is an emergency situation. Emergency contact device. The determination means includes
An alarm means for issuing an alarm to the holder when the monitoring parameter satisfies a condition corresponding to an emergency situation;
An input means for the holder to input an instruction for preventing the determination that the situation is an emergency;
Comprising
The emergency contact device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the instruction is input to the input means, it is not determined that the situation is an emergency. A second communication means connected to the base station by wireless communication to make a voice and image call;
Control means for making a call to a predetermined partner by the second communication means when the determination means determines that it is an emergency; and
The emergency contact device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: The monitoring means includes at least position detecting means for detecting a location position;
An inclination angle detecting means for detecting an inclination angle between the vertical direction and a predetermined axis;
Acceleration detecting means for detecting applied acceleration;
Biological information detection means for detecting the biological information of the holder;
Any one of
The monitoring parameter is
The emergency contact device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the location information, the tilt angle, the acceleration, the biological information, or a combination thereof is associated with the monitoring unit.   6. The emergency according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit determines that the situation is an emergency when the tilt angle detected by the tilt angle detection unit is greater than a threshold value stored in the storage unit. Contact device.   6. The determination unit according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit determines that an emergency has occurred when the location detected by the position detection unit does not change for a time longer than a threshold time stored in the storage unit. The emergency contact device described.   6. The emergency contact device according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit determines that an emergency has occurred when an acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than a threshold value stored in the storage unit. .   The emergency contact device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the inclination angle detecting means is a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnitude of geomagnetism or an acceleration sensor for detecting the magnitude of acceleration.   6. The emergency signal output by the first communication unit includes location data detected by the position detection unit or biological information detected by the biological information detection unit. 10. The emergency contact device according to any one of items 9. Monitoring means for periodically monitoring predetermined monitoring parameters;
Transmitting means for transmitting the monitoring parameters obtained by the measurement by the monitoring means to the outside;
Comprising
The monitoring means includes
Comprising at least one of the position detection means, the inclination angle detection means, the acceleration detection means, and the biological information detection means,
The monitoring parameter is
An emergency monitoring device characterized by being a location, an inclination angle, an acceleration, biological information, or a combination thereof measured by the monitoring means. Periodically measuring a predetermined monitoring parameter comprising a location, tilt angle, acceleration, or biological information or a combination thereof;
Transmitting the monitoring parameters obtained by measurement to the outside;
An emergency monitoring method characterized by comprising: Periodically measuring a predetermined monitoring parameter comprising a location, tilt angle, acceleration, or biological information or a combination thereof;
Reading the condition of the monitoring parameter corresponding to an emergency situation;
Performing a process of determining whether or not there is an emergency by comparing the read condition and the value of the measured monitoring parameter;
An emergency determination method characterized by comprising:

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