WEARABLE TERMINAL, GROUP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND WEARABLE TERMINAL CONTROL METHOD

In order to promptly specify, with low power consumption, a location of a wearable device departed from a group, the wearable terminal includes a short-distance radio communicator, a location information report request receiver, a location information acquisition unit, and a long-distance radio communicator. The short-distance radio communicator normally performs short-distance radio communication with another wearable terminal. The location information report request receiver receives an externally transmitted location information report request requesting a wearable terminal to report location information of the local terminal to a specified destination. When the location information report request receiver receives the location information report request, the location information acquisition unit acquires location information of the local terminal. The long-distance radio communicator transmits the acquired location information to a destination specified by the location information report request.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-202146, filed on Nov. 7, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wearable terminal, a group management system and wearable terminal control method.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a situation in which a location of each member needs to be grasped in a group of people such as aged people suffering from dementia, infants and/or children, a correctional institution, a group tour, and leisure-time amusements or sports by a group. Methods of meeting such a need have been under study.

For example, PTL 1 (Japanese Patent No. 5476861) discloses a method of each operator constituting a group wearing a wearable terminal, and each wearable terminal acquiring GPS positioning information and transmitting location information of the local terminal to a control center. The method allows grasping of locations of operators. PTL 1 also discloses a method of transferring location information between wearable terminals by use of short-distance radio and transmitting the location information from a repeater to the control center. Use of the method keeps a communication fee low.

SUMMARY

However, the technology in PTL 1 has a problem that power consumption of a wearable terminal is high. In the technology, a wearable terminal performs reception of a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal and calculation of a location at predetermined intervals. Consequently, power consumption cannot be reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wearable terminal having low power consumption and being capable of promptly specifying a location of a wearable terminal departed from a group.

In order to resolve the aforementioned problem, the wearable terminal includes a short-distance radio communication means, a location information report request reception means, a location information acquisition means, and a long-distance radio communication means. The short-distance radio communication means normally performs short-distance radio communication with another wearable terminal. The location information report request reception means receives an externally transmitted location information report request requesting a wearable terminal to report location information of the local terminal to a specified destination. When the location information report request reception means receives the location information report request, the location information acquisition means acquires location information of the local terminal. The long-distance radio communication means transmits the acquired location information to a destination specified by the location information report request.

As described above, the present invention can provide a wearable terminal having low power consumption and being capable of promptly specifying a location of a wearable terminal departed from a group.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

Example embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to drawings. Although technically preferred limitations for implementing the present invention are applied to the example embodiments described below, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. The same numeral is given to similar components in the drawings, and description thereof may be omitted.

First Example Embodiment

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a wearable terminal10according to the present example embodiment. The wearable terminal10includes a short-distance radio communication means1, a location information report request reception means2, a location information acquisition means3, and a long-distance radio communication means4.

The short-distance radio communication means1normally performs short-distance radio communication with another wearable terminal. The short-distance radio communication is assumed a communication method having low power consumption and a communication distance ranging from several meters to several tens of meters. Examples of a specific short-distance radio communication method that may be used include Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Zigbee (registered trademark).

The location information report request reception means2receives an externally transmitted location information report request requesting a wearable terminal10to report location information of the wearable terminal10to a specified destination.

When the location information report request reception means2receives a location information report request, the location information acquisition means3acquires location information of the local terminal. For example, the location information is GPS data.

The long-distance radio communication means4transmits acquired location information to a destination specified by a location information report request. For example, the long-distance radio communication means4is a communication unit using a communication method having a communication distance ranging from several kilometers to several tens of kilometers. Examples of a specific communication method that may be used include various methods based on low power wide area (LPWA) and long term evolution (LTE).

As described above, the wearable terminal according to the present example embodiment normally performs short-distance radio communication having low power consumption and only when receiving a location information report request, starts the location information acquisition means and the long-distance radio communication means that have high power consumption and reports location information of the local terminal to a specified destination. Accordingly, a location of a wearable terminal departed from a group can be promptly specified while power consumption of wearable terminals is kept low.

Second Example Embodiment

A group management system managing a group formed of a plurality of people, animals, and/or the like can be configured by use of the wearable terminals10according to the first example embodiment. A group is herein defined as members gathering in a range in which short-distance radio can be performed. The group may be moving.

In order to perform group management, first, each member constituting the group wears a wearable terminal10. Then, the wearable terminals10form an ad hoc communication network using short-distance radio.FIG. 2is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of such a group management system20. First, as illustrated in Diagram (a) inFIG. 2, a plurality of wearable terminals10(10ato10d) form an ad hoc communication network31by use of short-distance radio communications30using the short-distance radio communication means1. The wearable terminals10periodically confirm each other's location by use of short-distance radio communication.

As illustrated in Diagram (b) inFIG. 2, it is assumed that a wearable device10departs from the group; in other words, the terminal departs from a range in which short-distance radio communication can be performed. An example of the wearable device10cdeparted from the group is illustrated. Then, other wearable devices10detect that the location of the wearable device10ccannot be confirmed. When departure of the wearable device10cis detected, a location information report request50is transmitted from a management terminal to the wearable device10cby use of a long-distance radio communication40. Then, the location information report request reception means3in the wearable device10creceives the location information report request. When receiving the location information report request, the wearable device10cstarts the location information acquisition means4and acquires location information. Then, the wearable device10ctransmits the location information of the local terminal to a destination specified by the location information report request by use of the long-distance radio communication means2. Diagram (b) inFIG. 2illustrates an example of the wearable device10abecoming the management terminal, transmitting the location information report request50specifying a destination as the wearable device10a, and receiving location information60. However, as will be described later, a form of the management terminal is not limited thereto.

As described above, wearable terminals in the group management system according to the present example embodiment confirm each other's location by use of short-distance radio communication having low power consumption while a member (wearable terminal) departed the group does not exist. Then, only when a departed member (a wearable terminal departed from the group: hereinafter also referred to as a departed terminal) exists, a location information report request is transmitted by use of long-distance radio communication having high power consumption. Only when receiving the request, the departed terminal starts the location information acquisition means having high power consumption, acquires location information, and reports the location information by use of long-distance radio communication. By an operation as described above, a wearable device departed from a group can be promptly found while power consumption of wearable devices is normally kept low.

Third Example Embodiment

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relation between terminals in a group management system1000according to a third example embodiment. The group management system1000includes a plurality of wearable terminals100and one or more management terminals200. While four wearable terminals100(100atod) and one management terminal200are illustrated in this example, the numbers of wearable terminals100and management terminals200are not limited thereto.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the wearable terminal100and the management terminal200according to the present example embodiment. The wearable terminal100includes a first short-distance radio communication unit110, a first long-distance radio communication unit120, a wearable terminal list generation unit130, a departed terminal detection unit140, and a location information acquisition unit150. The management terminal200includes a second long-distance radio communication unit210, a departed terminal information acquisition unit220, and a location information report request generation unit230.

Returning toFIG. 3, a function and an operation of each unit will be described. A plurality of wearable terminals100perform short-distance radio communications300by use of the short-distance radio communication units110and form an ad hoc communication network310. Then, at least one wearable terminal100becomes a master, and the wearable terminal list generation unit130of the wearable terminal100generates a list of wearable terminals100constituting a group. The wearable terminal list may be shared with other wearable terminals100by use of short-distance radio communication.

The wearable terminals100periodically perform short-distance radio communications300with one another, and the departed terminal detection unit140confirms whether each terminal is apart from the group. When every wearable terminal100listed in the wearable terminal list is present as illustrated in Diagram (a) inFIG. 3, the location information acquisition unit150is not started. On the other hand, when a wearable terminal100(departed terminal) being apart by a distance unreachable by short-distance radio exists as illustrated in Diagram (b) inFIG. 3, the terminal cannot communicate with another terminal. Then, based on inability to communicate, the departed terminal detection unit140detects the departed terminal. The wearable terminal100cis the departed terminal in the example in Diagram (b) inFIG. 3. When the departed terminal detection unit140detects the departed terminal, the wearable terminal100bbeing a master transmits a report indicating departure of the wearable terminal100cto the management terminal200by use of a long-distance radio communication400. When the management terminal200is within a reachable range of short-distance radio, a short-distance radio may be used as the communication.

The management terminal200acquires the information indicating departure of the wearable terminal100cby the departed terminal information acquisition unit220. Then, the location information report request generation unit230transmits, by long-distance radio, a location information report request requesting reporting of location information to the wearable terminal100c. The wearable terminal100creceiving the location information report request starts the location information acquisition unit150and acquires location information of the local terminal. Then, the wearable terminal100ctransmits the acquired location information to the management terminal200. The management terminal200receiving the location information can acquire the location of the wearable terminal100cbeing a departed terminal.

Hardware of the wearable terminal100has only to include a short-distance radio communication device, a long-distance radio communication device, a processor, a memory, and a battery. Since only a small amount of processing is required, each piece of the hardware may be small-scale and for example, may be a chip-type device; however, a cellular phone or a smartphone may also be used. When a chip-type device is used, the device can be readily attached to a shoe, clothes, or the like.

Hardware of the management terminal200has only to include a short-distance radio communication device, a long-distance radio communication device, a processor, a memory, and a battery. Examples of the management terminal200include a cellular phone, a smartphone, and a communication-capable computer. Alternatively, the management terminal200may be a stationary computer or a server. When the management terminal200includes a display, a location of a departed terminal can be displayed on the display.

Next, an operation of the group management system according to the present example embodiment will be described.FIG. 5is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation. First, the wearable terminals100atodform an ad hoc communication network by use of short-distance radio communication (S1). Then, a wearable terminal list is shared in the communication network (S2). Then, the wearable terminal100cdeparts from the group (S3). The wearable terminal100bbeing a master transmits a location confirmation (S4) but the wearable terminal100ccannot receive the message. Then, based on a lack of a reply, the wearable terminal100bdetects departure of the wearable terminal100c(S5). The wearable terminal100breports the departure of the wearable terminal100cto the management terminal200by use of long-distance radio (S6). Based on the report, the management terminal200detects departure of the wearable terminal100c(S7). Triggered by the detection, the management terminal200transmits a location information report request to the wearable terminal100cby use of long-distance radio (S8). The wearable terminal100creceiving the location information report request starts the location information acquisition unit150, acquires location information (S9), and transmits the location information to the management terminal200(S10).

As described above, according to the present example embodiment, when every member (wearable terminal) of the group is present, location information is not acquired, and therefore power consumption of the wearable terminals can be kept very low. On the other hand, location information of a departed terminal can be promptly acquired. Then, at this time, other wearable terminals do not acquire location information, and therefore required power is low.

Fourth Example Embodiment

FIG. 6is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relation between terminals in a group management system1001according to a fourth example embodiment. The group management system1001includes wearable terminals101and management terminals201. The wearable terminals101and the management terminals201form the same ad hoc communication network in the present example embodiment. For example, such a configuration is applicable to situations such as a plurality of teachers leading children and tour conductors guiding tourists. While five wearable terminals101(101atoe) and two management terminals201(201aandb) are illustrated in this example, the numbers of the terminals may be larger.

FIG. 7is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the wearable terminal101and the management terminal201according to the present example embodiment. The wearable terminal101includes a first short-distance radio communication unit111, a first long-distance radio communication unit121, and a location information acquisition unit131. Functions of the units are similar to those according to the second example embodiment, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

The management terminal201includes a second short-distance radio communication unit211, a second long-distance radio communication unit221, a wearable terminal list generation unit231, a departed terminal detection unit241, and a location information report request generation unit251.

Returning toFIG. 6, a function and an operation of each unit will be described. The plurality of wearable terminals101and management terminals201perform short-distance radio communication and form an ad hoc communication network as illustrated in Diagram (a) inFIG. 6. Then, the management terminal201generates a list of wearable terminals101constituting a group by use of the wearable terminal list generation unit231. It is assumed in this example that the management terminal201ais a master.

The wearable terminals101and the management terminal201periodically perform short-distance radio communication, and the departed terminal detection unit241confirms whether each terminal is apart from the group. When every wearable terminal101listed in the wearable terminal list is present as illustrated in Diagram (a) inFIG. 6, the location information acquisition unit131is not started. On the other hand, when a wearable terminal101(departed terminal) being apart by a distance unreachable by short-distance radio exists as illustrated in Diagram (b) inFIG. 6, the terminal cannot communicate with another terminal. Then, based on inability to communicate, the departed terminal detection unit241detects the departed terminal. The wearable terminal101ais the departed terminal in the example illustrated in Diagram (b) inFIG. 6.

When the departed terminal detection unit241in the management terminal201adetects the departed terminal, the location information report request generation unit251transmits a location information report request requesting location information to the wearable terminal101aby long-distance radio. The wearable terminal101areceiving the location information report request starts the location information acquisition unit131and acquires location information of the local terminal. Then, the wearable terminal101atransmits the acquired location information to the management terminal201a. The management terminal201areceiving the location information can acquire the location of the wearable terminal101abeing a departed terminal.

Hardware of the wearable terminal101may be similar to that according to the third example embodiment; however, since an amount of processing performed in the wearable terminal101is less in the present example embodiment, the hardware may have lower performance and lower capacity compared with that according to the third example embodiment.

Hardware of the management terminal201has only to include a short-distance radio communication device, a long-distance radio communication device, a processor, a memory, and a battery. Examples of the management terminal201includes a cellular phone, a smartphone, and a tablet terminal. When the management terminal201includes a display, a location of a departed terminal can be displayed on the display.

Next, an operation of the group management system according to the present example embodiment will be described.FIG. 8is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation. First, the wearable terminals101atoeand the management terminals201aandbform an ad hoc communication network by use of short-distance radio communication (S101). Then, by use of the communication network, the management terminal201generates a wearable terminal list (S102). It is assumed that the two management terminals201aandbshare the wearable terminal list. Next, the wearable terminal101adeparts from the group (S103). The management terminal201atransmits a location confirmation (S104) but the wearable terminal101acannot receive the message. Then, based on a lack of a reply, the management terminal201adetects departure of the wearable terminal101a(S105). Triggered by the detection, the management terminal201atransmits a location information report request to the wearable terminal101aby use of long-distance radio (S106). The wearable terminal101areceiving the location information report request starts the location information acquisition unit131, acquires location information (S107), and transmits the location information to the management terminal201a(S108).

While the operation inFIG. 8is an operation of the management terminal201detecting departure, transmitting a location information report request, and receiving location information, the operation may be an operation of the management terminal201detecting departure and the wearable terminal101transmitting a location information report request and receiving location information.FIG. 9is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation. An operation up to S105in which departure of the wearable terminal101ais detected is the same as that inFIG. 8. After S105, the management terminal201arequests, by short-distance radio communication, the wearable terminal101bto transmit a location information report request (S106a). In response to the request, the wearable terminal101btransmits a location information report request to the wearable terminal101aby use of long-distance radio communication (S107a). In response to the request, the wearable terminal101aacquires location information (S108a) and transmits the location information to the wearable terminal101bby use of long-distance radio communication (S109a). By the operation described above, the wearable terminal101bcan acquire the location of the wearable terminal101a. The destination of the location information in S109amay be configured to be either one of the management terminals201aandb.

As described above, the present example embodiment can provide an effect similar to that of the second example embodiment with a less expensive wearable terminal configuration.

Fifth Example Embodiment

FIG. 10is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relation between terminals in a group management system1002according to a fifth example embodiment. The group management system1002includes a plurality of wearable terminals102. In the present example embodiment, one of the wearable terminals102serves as a master (management terminal), and an effect similar to that of the third example embodiment can be provided by use of the same wearable terminal102only.FIG. 11illustrates an example of a configuration of a wearable terminal achieving the purpose. The wearable terminal102includes a short-distance radio communication unit112, a long-distance radio communication unit122, a wearable terminal list generation unit132, a master arrangement unit142, a departed terminal detection unit152, a location information report request generation unit162, and a location information acquisition unit172.

Returning toFIG. 10, a configuration and an operation of the group management system1002will be described. First, the wearable terminals102(102atog) constituting a group form an ad hoc communication network. At this time, a wearable terminal being a master functioning as a management terminal is determined. The wearable terminal102cis selected as a master in the example inFIG. 10. A master may be determined by any method, and for example, a wearable terminal102with the highest remaining battery power may be arranged as a master. A wearable terminal being a master can be successively changed in the present example embodiment, and therefore for example, when a wearable terminal102with the highest remaining battery power is to be selected as a master, battery life of the group management system as a whole can be extended.

In this case, a list of wearable terminals102constituting the group is generated also by use of the ad hoc communication network. While the generation may be performed by any wearable terminal, at least the wearable terminal102cbeing the master holds the list.

Each wearable terminal102periodically performs short-distance radio communication, and the departed terminal detection unit152confirms whether each terminal is apart from the group. When every wearable terminal102listed in the wearable terminal list is present as illustrated in Diagram (a) inFIG. 10, the location information acquisition unit172is not started. On the other hand, when a wearable terminal102a(departed terminal) being apart by a distance unreachable by short-distance radio exists as illustrated in Diagram (b) inFIG. 10, the terminal cannot communicate with another terminal. Then, based on inability to communicate, the departed terminal detection unit152detects the departed terminal.

When the departed terminal detection unit152in the master wearable terminal102cdetects the departed terminal, the location information report request generation unit162transmits a location information report request to the wearable terminal102aby long-distance radio. The wearable terminal102areceiving the location information report request starts the location information acquisition unit172and acquires location information of the local terminal. Then, the wearable terminal102atransmits the acquired location information to the master wearable terminal102c. The wearable terminal102creceiving the location information can acquire the location of the wearable terminal102abeing a departed terminal.

For example, hardware of the wearable terminal102according to the present example embodiment may be similar to that according to the second example embodiment. A wearable terminal102selected as a master. The master serves as a management terminal and grasps a location of a departed terminal in the present example embodiment. Accordingly, a wearable terminal102including a display is suitable, and for example, a smartphone is suitable.

Next, an operation of the group management system according to the present example embodiment will be described.FIG. 12is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation. First, the wearable terminals102atogform an ad hoc communication network by use of short-distance radio communication (S201). Then, a master is selected by use of the communication network. The wearable terminal102cis selected as a master in this example (S202). Next, the wearable terminal102cgenerates a wearable terminal list (S203). Next, the wearable terminal102adeparts from the group (S204). The wearable terminal102ctransmits a location confirmation (S205) but the wearable terminal102acannot receive the message. Then, based on a lack of a reply, the wearable terminal102cdetects departure of the wearable terminal102a(S206). Triggered by the detection, the wearable terminal102ctransmits a location information report request to the wearable terminal102aby use of long-distance radio (S207). The wearable terminal102areceiving the location information report request starts the location information acquisition unit132, acquires location information (S208), and transmits the location information to the wearable terminal102c(S209).

As described above, the present example embodiment allows appropriate change of a master serving as a management terminal out of a plurality of wearable terminals. Consequently, battery life of the group management system as a whole can be extended.

A program causing a computer to execute the processing according to the aforementioned first to fourth example embodiments and a recording medium storing the program are also included in the scope of the present invention. Examples of the recording medium that may be used include a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a semiconductor memory.

A wearable terminal including:

a short-distance radio communication means for normally performing short-distance radio communication with another wearable terminal;

a location information report request reception means for receiving a location information report request requesting reporting of location information of the local terminal;

a location information acquisition means for, when the location information report request is received, acquiring location information of the local terminal; and

a long-distance radio communication means for, when the location information is acquired, transmitting the location information to a destination specified by the location information report request by long-distance radio communication.

The wearable terminal according to supplementary note 1, further including

a wearable terminal list generation means for generating a wearable terminal list listing one or more of the other wearable terminals with which the short-distance radio communication can be performed.

The wearable terminal according to supplementary note 2, further including

a departed terminal detection means for, when a wearable terminal with which the short-distance radio communication cannot be performed out of one or more wearable terminals listed in the wearable terminal list exists, detecting the terminal as a departed terminal.

The wearable terminal according to supplementary note 3, further including

a location information report request generation means for generating the location information report request to the departed terminal.

A group management system including:

a plurality of the wearable terminals according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3; and

a management terminal configured to manage a location of the wearable terminal,

wherein the management terminal includesa second departed terminal detection means for detecting the wearable terminal that cannot perform short-distance radio communication with the another wearable terminal as a departed terminal;a location information report request generation means for generating a location information report request to the departed terminal; anda second long-distance radio communication means for transmitting the location information report request to the departed terminal and receiving the location information transmitted from the departed terminal.

A group management system including:

a plurality of the wearable terminals according to supplementary note 4; and

a management terminal configured to manage a location of the wearable terminal,

wherein the management terminal includes:a second departed terminal detection means for detecting the wearable terminal that cannot perform short-distance radio communication with the another wearable terminal as a departed terminal; anda second long-distance radio communication means for receiving the location information transmitted from the departed terminal.

The group management system according to supplementary note 5 or 6,

wherein the management terminal includes a second short-distance radio communication means for performing short-distance radio communication with the wearable terminal.

The group management system according to any one of supplementary notes 5 to 7,

wherein the management terminal is selected out of the wearable terminals.

The group management system according to supplementary note 8,wherein the selection is made based on remaining battery power of the wearable terminal.

A wearable terminal control method including:

normally performing short-distance radio communication with another wearable terminal;

receiving a location information report request requesting reporting of location information of the local terminal;

when the location information report request is received, acquiring location information of the local terminal; and

when the location information is acquired, transmitting the location information to a destination specified by the location information report request by long-distance radio communication.

The wearable terminal control method according to supplementary note 10, further including

generating a wearable terminal list listing one or more of the other wearable terminals with which the short-distance radio communication can be performed.

The wearable terminal control method according to supplementary note 11, further including

when a wearable terminal with which the short-distance radio communication cannot be performed out of one or more wearable terminals listed in the wearable terminal list exists, detecting the terminal as a departed terminal.

The wearable terminal control method according to supplementary note 12, further including

transmitting the location information report request to the departed terminal.

A group management system control method for a group management system including a plurality of the wearable terminals according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4 and a management terminal configured to manage a location of the wearable terminal, the control method including, by the management terminal:

detecting the wearable terminal that cannot perform short-distance radio communication with the another wearable terminal as a departed terminal;

generating a location information report request to the departed terminal; and,

by use of long-distance radio communication, transmitting the location information report request to the departed terminal and receiving the location information transmitted from the departed terminal.

The group management system control method according to supplementary note 14, further including, by the management terminal,

performing short-distance radio communication with the wearable terminal.

The group management system control method according to supplementary note 14 or 15, further including

selecting the management terminal out of the wearable terminals.

The group management system control method according to supplementary note 16,

wherein the selecting is made based on remaining battery power of the wearable terminal.

A control program for a wearable terminal, the program causing a wearable terminal to execute:

processing of normally performing short-distance radio communication with another wearable terminal;

processing of receiving a location information report request requesting reporting of location information of the local terminal;

processing of, when the location information report request is received, acquiring location information of the local terminal; and

processing of, when the location information is acquired, transmitting the location information to a destination specified by the location information report request by long-distance radio communication.

A control program for a management terminal in the group management system according to any one of supplementary notes 5 to 9, the program causing the management terminal to execute:

processing of detecting the wearable terminal that cannot perform short-distance radio communication with the another wearable terminal as a departed terminal;

processing of generating a location information report request to the departed terminal; and

processing of, by use of long-distance radio communication, transmitting the location information report request to the departed terminal and receiving the location information transmitted from the departed terminal.

The previous description of embodiments is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Moreover, various modifications to these example embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles and specific examples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of inventive faculty. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the example embodiments described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope as defined by the limitations of the claims and equivalents.