WO2007069363A1

WO2007069363A1 - Emergency report terminal device

Info

Publication number: WO2007069363A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/315068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kazuhiro Matsumoto; Hirokazu Masuda; Koji Sakamoto; Ikuo Tsujimoto; Hideo Tanaka; Shinsuke Ueda
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-12-16
Filing date: 2006-07-24
Publication date: 2007-06-21
Also published as: EP1969387A1; JP4915644B2; JP2007166520A

Abstract

An emergency report terminal device (1) used in an emergency report system comprises a terminal device controller (2) , a GPS positioning device (3) and a wireless communication device (4) . When a base station (5A) to which the wireless communication device (4) is connected is changed to another base station (5B) while the wireless communication device (4) is activated, the terminal device controller (2) obtains a mobile country code among identification codes transmitted from the base station currently connected. When the mobile country code is changed from that of the base station previously connected, the terminal device controller (2) stores the mobile country code in a memory, and performs initialization processing by deleting a rough current location data of the terminal device (1) held in the positioning device (3) . Thereby, satellite signals from the GPS satellites can be received and the accurate current location of the terminal device (1) can be detected immediately, without providing a positioning server or without operation of a user of the terminal device (1) .

Description

DESCRIPTION

EMERGENCY REPORT TERMINAL DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an emergency report terminal device having a positioning function for detecting own location with using a satellite positioning system. Background Art

In late years, a mobile terminal device, which comprises a positioning function for detecting own location with performing positioning arithmetic processing using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), is put to practical use. A device for detecting own location with using the satellite positioning system is called GPS positioning device in the following description. As for such a mobile terminal device, an emergency report terminal device used for emergency report system is known. The emergency report terminal device is generally possessed by, for example, a child or an aged person. When the emergency report terminal device is operated in emergency situation, the location of the emergency report terminal device at the operation of emergency report is detected with GPS positioning arithmetic processing. Subsequently, the detected location data is transmitted to a calling center of the emergency report system through a wireless communication system from the emergency report terminal device. In the calling center, the location of the possessor of the emergency report terminal device can be acquired from the location data transmitted from the emergency report terminal device.

By the way, in order to perform the GPS positioning arithmetic processing in the GPS positioning device, it is necessary to obtain positional relationships between the emergency report terminal device and GPS satellites, and to select a plurality of appropriate GPS satellites among the GPS satellites so as to receive GPS signals. Furthermore, positioning data such as current time, orbit data of the GPS satellites, a rough current location data of the emergency report terminal device are necessary to obtain the positional relationships. Among these positioning data, the current time and the orbit data of the GPS satellites are obtained with receiving signals from any one of the GPS satellites. In order to obtain the current time and the orbit data from the GPS satellite, the GPS positioning device must have a state where the signals from the GPS satellite can be received stably for about 30 seconds. The emergency report terminal device, however, is likely located behind buildings or the possessor oneself, so that the signals from the GPS satellite might be obstructed. In such a case, the signals from the GPS satellite cannot be received stably for a term necessary for obtaining the current time and the orbit data, and thereby, the precise current location of the emergency report terminal device cannot be detected.

In order to solve such problems, another emergency report terminal device using a network type GPS positioning device is realized, in which a positioning server is used for obtaining the orbit data of the GPS satellites and so on at a position where the signals from the GPS satellites can be received stably. Still another emergency report terminal device is realized that the orbit data of the GPS satellites responding to an operation by the possessor are previously obtained at a position where the signals from the GPS satellites can be received stably before using the emergency report terminal device.

On the other hand, as for the current location data of the emergency report terminal device among the positioning data, the location data of the emergency report terminal device which was detected last time is used as a rough location data thereof. However, in case that the possessor with the emergency report terminal device has migrated more than several hundreds kilometers from a place where the location data was previously detected, even when the GPS positioning device tries to acquire the signals transmitted from the GPS satellites on the basis of the location data previously detected, the GPS satellites have moved outside of the receivable area at that time. In other words, the GPS positioning device tries to acquire unreceivable signals, so that no signal from the GPS satellites is acquired. Therefore, in the conventional network type GPS, a location data of a base station of wireless communication network, to which the emergency report terminal device accesses, is transmitted to the emergency report terminal, and the location data of the base station is used as a rough current location data of the emergency report terminal. In addition, for example, when the possessor of the emergency report terminal device migrates long-distance, the emergency report terminal device is constituted that the location data previously detected and memorized in a memory of the emergency report terminal device can be deleted with a manual operation by the possessor, so that it is possible to prevent to use the location data previously detected, which is largely discrepant from the current location, is used as the rough location data of the emergency report terminal device.

In the above mentioned network type GPS, it, however, is necessary to install a positioning server comprising the base stations always for collecting the orbit data of all GPS satellites which are receivable with the emergency report terminal device. When the area where the emergency report terminal device can be used becomes wider, it is necessary to install many base stations in the positioning server for covering the area, so that cost for installing and maintaining the base stations becomes higher corresponding to the size of the area. Although, it is necessary to provide a data communication system which enables to transmit and receive data more than 1 k-byte between the emergency report terminal device and the positioning server, there is no data communication system when the emergency report terminal device is used in various countries in the world, and in particular when it is used together with voice service.

Furthermore, it is a troublesome operation for the possessor to obtain the orbit data of the GPS satellites and so on, or to delete the location data previously detected with the manual operation by the possessor oneself. When the possessor is a child or an aged person in particular, the operation may not be performed surely due to the possessor forgets the necessity of the operation. When the operation was not performed surely, the orbit data may not be acquired or a location data largely discrepant from the current location may be set as the rough location data of the emergency report terminal device, so that the GPS positioning arithmetic processing may not be performed. By the way, if the power of the emergency report terminal device is always switched on so as to acquire the updated positioning data, the GPS positioning arithmetic processing can be performed surely. Power consumption of the emergency report terminal device, however, becomes larger, so that such assumption is not realistic for the emergency report terminal device which is driven by a battery.

In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-159026 discloses a conventional mobile phone which detects the current location thereof with using the GPS positioning device, and switches the method for detecting the location thereafter corresponding to an area where the terminal device exists. However, effective means to solve the above mentioned problems is not disclosed in this patent document. Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is conceived to solve the above mentioned problems and aimed to provide an emergency report terminal device which is treatable and enables to detect a current location with a positioning device which acquires signals transmitted from satellites with installing no positioning server or no operation by a possessor oneself, and thereby enabling to constitute an emergency report system inexpensively.

For accomplishing the above-mentioned purpose, an emergency report terminal device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention comprises: a positioning device for detecting current location data thereof with receiving signals from satellite positioning system; a wireless communication device connected to a wireless communication network which is comprised of a plurality of wireless communication base stations, and performing wireless communication with transmitting and receiving wireless signals with respect to any one of the wireless communication base station; and a terminal device controller connected to the positioning device and the wireless communication device, and having a function to transmit the current location data detected with the positioning device to the wireless communication base station which is currently connected through the wireless communication device; wherein the positioning device has positioning data necessary for detecting the current location data; and the terminal device controller has a function for performing initialization processing of the positioning data, automatically.

According to such a configuration, since the terminal device controller has the function automatically performing the initialization processing of the positioning data which is necessary for detecting the current location data, it is possible to obtain orbit data of the satellites when the signals transmitted from the satellites can be received stably or to delete the current location data which was detected last time, when the possessor of the emergency report terminal device has been migrated long-distance from the position where the detection of the current location data was performed last time. Thus, it is possible to detect the current location data with acquiring the signals from the satellites through the positioning device immediately with providing no positioning server which is used in the network type GPS or with no manual operation by the possessor of the emergency report terminal device. Consequently, the emergency report terminal device becomes treatable and can be provided at low price. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an emergency report terminal device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining an example of motion of the above emergency report terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining an example of motion of the emergency report terminal device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a map explaining an example of motion of the above emergency report terminal device. FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining an example of motion of an emergency report terminal device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an emergency report terminal device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention FIRST EMBODIMENT

A first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an emergency report terminal device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. This emergency report terminal device (hereinafter, abbreviated as terminal device) 1 is a standalone positioning type communication terminal used for emergency report system. The terminal device 1 comprises a terminal device controller 2, a GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning device (hereinafter, abbreviated as positioning device) 3 and a wireless communication device 4. This terminal device 1 is connected to a wireless communication network which is comprised of a plurality of wireless communication base stations (hereinafter, abbreviated as base station) 5a, 5b, 5c, * ^{• •} . When the terminal device 1 is operated by a possessor such as a child or an aged person, the terminal device 1 transmits a current location data of the terminal device 1 to, for example, a calling center (not illustrated) of the emergency report system. In other words, when the terminal device 1 is operated on in emergency situation by the possessor, the current location data is transmitted to the calling center from the terminal device 1 , so that the current location of the possessor can be identified in the calling center.

The terminal device controller 2 is comprised of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 2b. The CPU 2a is constituted to communicate with the RAM 2b, the positioning device 3 and the wireless communication device 4 so as to control the motion of the terminal device 1. The RAM 2b stores the location data obtained with the positioning device 3, and so on.

The positioning device 3 has a GPS antenna 3c for receiving signals of a satellite positioning system such as GPS. The positioning device 3 performs positioning arithmetic processing to the received signals so as to obtain a location data of current location of the terminal device 1 (current location data). The positioning device 3 further has positioning data which are necessary for obtaining the location data. The positioning data is used for acquiring satellite signals from the GPS satellites. As for the positioning data, current time, a rough current location data of the terminal device 1 and orbit data of the GPS satellites are used. Among the positioning data, the current time and the orbit data are obtained with receiving the satellite signals transmitted from the GPS satellites. In addition, the rough current location data of the terminal device 1 is obtained from the location data which was detected with the positioning device 3 last time and is stored in the RAM 2b. The positioning device 3 selects a plurality of GPS satellites among all GPS satellites with using the positioning data so that satellite signals transmitted from these GPS satellites can be received with the GPS antenna 3c, and obtains a current location data of the terminal device 1 with performing the positioning arithmetic processing on the basis of the received satellite signals transmitted from the selected GPS satellites. In addition, the positioning device 3 holds the positioning data while it is not activated to detect the current location thereof. When the positioning device 3 is activated for detecting the current location, it is possible to identify the receivable GPS satellites with using the positioning data, and thereby, enabling to obtain the current location data with receiving the satellite signals from the identified GPS satellites, immediately.

The wireless communication device 4 has a wireless circuit controller 4a and a wireless circuit 4b. In the wireless communication device 4, the wireless circuit controller 4a accesses the wireless circuit 4b multiply in time-sharing for controlling it, so that the wireless circuit 4b transmits and receives wireless signals through an antenna 4c connected to the wireless circuit 4b responding to the control of the wireless circuit controller 4a. While a power source is switched on, the wireless communication device 4 performs wireless communication processing, so that the terminal device 1 comes in a state that it is always connected to one of the base station 5a, 5b, 5c - ^• ' between which the wireless signals can be transmitted and received in good condition. Thus, the terminal device 1 can always transmit or receive the wireless signals with respect to the wireless communication network comprised of a plurality of base stations 5 including, for example, the base station 5a to which the terminal device 1 is connected.

The wireless communication device 4 obtains a location area identity code (hereinafter, abbreviated as identification code) which is included in the wireless signals transmitted from, for example, the connected base station 5a. The identification codes include a mobile country code showing the country where, for example, the base station 5a is installed, a mobile network code showing the wireless communication network into which the base stations 5a, 5b, 5c * ^• - are included, location area codes showing the area where each of the base stations 5a, 5b, 5c ^• * are installed, base station identification codes each uniquely identifying the base stations 5 a, 5b, 5c ^{• •} , and so on. The terminal device controller 2 is constituted to obtain these identification codes from the wireless communication device 4.

When the location of the terminal device 1 is changed corresponding to the migration of the possessor, the base station, to which the terminal device 1 is connected, is changed to another base station installed in another area. In other words, when the base station to which the terminal device 1 is connected is changed from the base station 5a to another base station 5b, the identification codes, which the wireless communication device 4 obtains, are varied.

Subsequently, an example of motion of the terminal device 1 which is operated by the possessor is described below. When terminal device 1 is operated, the wireless communication device 4 becomes an active state where the wireless communication device 4 can communicate with a calling center through the connection with the wireless communication network. Simultaneously, the positioning device 3 detects the current location of the terminal device 1 with performing the GPS positioning arithmetic processing on the basis of satellite signals transmitted from the GPS satellites which are received through the GPS antenna 3c. When a location data showing the current location of the terminal device 1 is obtained, the location data is not only stored in the RAM 2b but also transmitted to the calling center through the wireless communication device 4. Consequently, the current location of the terminal device 1 is grasped in the calling center.

The terminal device controller 2 is constituted automatically to perform an initialization processing of the location data stored in the RAM 2b, when an area of the base station which is currently communicated with the wireless communication device 4 is changed from the area of the base station which was previously communicated with the wireless communication device 4. In other words, the terminal device controller 2 performs the initialization processing automatically when it detects the migration of the terminal device 1 on the basis of the wireless communication between the wireless communication device 4 and the base stations 5. Specifically, the terminal device controller 2 detects the mobile country code among the identification codes included in the wireless signals transmitted from the base station, and judges that the country (or area) where the base station is installed is changed when the mobile country code is changed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of motion of the initialization processing that the terminal device controller 2 performs. At first, the terminal device controller judges whether the wireless communication device 4 is operable or not (Sl). While the wireless communication device 4 is operable (YES in S l), the terminal device controller further judges whether the base station which is currently connected with the wireless communication device 4 is changed from, for example, the base station 5a to the base station 5b due to migration of the terminal device 1, or not. When the base station is changed (YES in S2), the terminal device controller 2 obtains the identification codes of the base station 5b from the wireless communication device 4 (S3). Subsequently, the terminal device controller 2 judges whether the mobile country code in the identification codes of the base station 5b is different from the mobile country code in the identification codes of the base station 5a which was previously communicated with the wireless communication device 4, or not (S4). When the mobile country code of the base station 5b is different from that of the base station 5a (YES in S4), the terminal device controller 2 stores the mobile country code of the base station 5b into the RAM 2b (S5), and deletes the location data which was previously detected and held as the rough current location of the terminal device 1 in the positioning device 3 (S6). Thereby, the initialization processing is completed.

In case that the possessor of the terminal device 1 migrates long-distance, for example, from a country where the positioning is previously performed to another country, if the positioning device 3 uses the location data previously detected as the rough current location of the terminal device 1 for searching receivable satellite signals, the exact current location of the terminal device 1 is largely discrepant from the rough current location. Thus, the positioning device 3 may search the satellite signals from the unreceivable satellites, and thereby, the time necessary for searching the satellite signals becomes rather longer. In contrast, the terminal device controller 2 performs the initialization processing of the positioning data when it is judged that the area where the base station currently connected to the wireless communication device 4 is installed is changed from the area where the base station previously connected to the wireless communication device 4 is installed on the basis of the change of the mobile country codes. Thus, the time necessary for searching the satellite signals becomes rather shorter than the above mentioned assumption. Therefore, the satellite signals can be received immediately, and thereby, the current location data of the terminal device 1 can be obtained, with installing no positioning server used in the network type GPS or with no manual operation by the possessor of the terminal device. Consequently, the terminal device 1 can be treatable and the emergency report system can be made simple and provided at low cost. In addition, another data included in the positioning data other than the rough current location data of the terminal device 1 can be deleted with the rough current location data.

The terminal device 1 may be constituted to memorize a typical location of each country with respect to each mobile country code into the RAM 2b of the terminal device controller 2. In such a case, a typical location of a country corresponding to a renewed mobile country code is inputted to the positioning device 3 from the terminal device controller 2 for performing the initialization processing instead of deleting the rough current location data of the terminal device 1 when the mobile country code is changed. With using the data of the typical location corresponding to the mobile country code as the rough current location data of the terminal device 1, the searching processing of the GPS satellites when the positioning device 3 is activated can be performed as quickly as possible, even when the possessor of the terminal device 1 is migrated long-distance.

Alternatively, the terminal device controller 2 may be constituted to detect the change of the area from the change of the mobile network code, location area code or base station identifying code among the identification codes included in the wireless signals transmitted from the base stations instead of the change of the mobile country code. For example, the constitution of the terminal device controller 2 that the change of the area is detected on the basis of the change of the mobile network code is particularly effective in a case that an area of the country is wide and a plurality of networks are provided in the country. In such a case, when the initialization processing of the positioning data is performed with detecting the change of the mobile network code, it is possible to detect the fact that the possessor of the terminal device has migrated long-distance, precisely, and to perform the initialization processing with deleting the rough current location data of the terminal device properly, in comparison with the case of performing the initialization processing of the positioning data with detecting the change of the mobile country code.

Alternatively, when the terminal device controller 2 is constituted that the change of the area is detected on the basis of the change of the location area code, the terminal device controller 2 can judge whether the migration distance is within a range where the location data previously detected can be used as a rough current location of the terminal device, or not, with comparing the location data previously detected with a location corresponding to the location area code, so that the initialization processing can be performed more properly.

Specifically, the terminal device controller 2 holds a range data for each area where the base station 5 is installed corresponding to each location area code. When the location of the terminal device 1 previously detected is within a predetermined distance from an area where the base station currently connected is installed, the terminal device controller 2 does not perform the initialization processing. Thereby, when the migration distance is short and the location data previously detected can be used as the rough current location data of the terminal device 1, it is possible to prevent unnecessary activation of the positioning device 3 and to reduce electric power consumption of the terminal device 1.

Similarly, even when the terminal device controller 2 is constituted that the change of the area is detected with the change of the mobile country code, it is possible to perform the initialization processing more properly with comparing the location of the terminal device 1 previously detected with the location corresponding to the mobile country code. Specifically, the terminal device controller 2 holds a range data for each area where the base station 5 is installed corresponding to each mobile county code. When the location of the terminal device 1 previously detected is within a predetermined distance from an area where the base station currently connected is installed, the terminal device controller 2 may not perform the initialization processing. Thereby, it is possible to reduce electric power consumption of the terminal device 1 due to unnecessary activation of the positioning device 3.

Similarly, even when the terminal device controller 2 is constituted that the change of the area is detected with the change of the base station identification code, it is possible to judge whether the migration distance is within a range where the location data previously detected can be used, or not, and thereby to perform the initializing processing more properly. Furthermore, when the terminal device controller 2 is constituted so as not to activate the positioning device 3 until the base station identification code is changed, that is, the migration of the terminal device 1 is detected, it is possible to prevent unnecessary electric power consumption due to trying to obtain the positioning data at a place where the GPS signals cannot be received. SECOND EMBODIMENT

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention is described. In each embodiment described below, elements similar to or the same as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same numerical references and only portions different from the first embodiment are described.

In the second embodiment, the CPU 2a of the terminal device controller 2 has a migration detection counter and performs migration counting processing. In the migration counting processing, the counter counts a number of times of migration of the terminal device 1 detected by, for example, change of the location area code that is a migration detection factor. When the terminal device 1 is migrated, the number of times of migration and the corresponding location area code are memorized in the RAM 2b. The RAM 2b can store a plurality of sets of the location area codes and the number of times of migration. When the counting number of the counter reaches to a predetermined value in the migration counting processing, the terminal device controller 2 performs the initializing processing of the positioning data for deleting the location data previously detected and memorized as the rough current location data of the terminal device 1 from the RAM 2b.

FIG. 3 shows a flow of the migration counting processing. At first, the terminal device controller judges whether the positioning device is activated or not (Sl 1). When the positioning device 3 is activated (YES in S I l), the terminal device controller 2 further judges whether the positioning device 3 succeeds to detect the current location of the terminal device 1 or not (S 12). When the positioning device 3 detects the current location of the terminal device 1 (YES in S 12), the terminal device controller 2 resets the counting number of the counter showing the number of times of migration of the terminal device 1 to "0" (S 13). Subsequently, the terminal device controller 2 obtains the identification codes from the wireless communication device 4 (S 14), and stores the location area code included in the identification codes into the RAM 2b with the number of times of migration (S 15).

Alternatively, when the positioning device 3 is not activated (NO in SI l), the terminal device controller 2 obtains the location area code included in the identification codes from the wireless communication device 4 (S21), and judges whether the location area code is changed, or not (S22). When the location area code is changed (YES in S22), the terminal device controller 2 increases the counting number of times of migration by one (S23). Subsequently, the terminal device controller 2 judges whether the location area code newly changes is already stored in the RAM 2b or not (S24). When the location area code newly changed is not stored in the RAM 2b (NO in S24), the terminal device controller 2 stores the increased counting number of times of migration with the location area code into the RAM 2b (S26). On the other hand, when the location area code newly changed is the same as that already stored in the RAM 2b (YES in S24), the terminal device controller 2 compares the number of times of migration stored in the RAM 2b with the increased counting number of times of migration (S25). Only when the increased counting number of times of migration is smaller than the other (YES in S25), the terminal device controller 2 renews the number of times of migration stored in the RAM 2b to the increased counting number of times of migration (S27). In other words, in this migration counting processing, when the number of the migration detection factor coincides with the value of the migration detection factor stored in the RAM 2b of the terminal device 1 , the counted value of the counter is initialized.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the migrations of the terminal device 1. In FIG. 4, each numerical reference designates a number of times of migration with respect to each area stored in the RAM 2b. In this example, the terminal device 1 starts the migration along arrows from the area designated by numeral "0". It is assumed that the terminal device 1 migrated from the area designated by numeral "4" in first appearance to the area designated by numeral "2" again. When the terminal device 1 is migrated and the location area code is changed, the current counting number of times of migration becomes "5" that is increased by one to the counting number "4". The area designated by numeral "2", however, was previously passed when the counting number of times of migration was "2", so that the location area code and the counting number of times of migration "2" of this area are stored in the RAM 2b. Since the counting number of times of migration "2" stored in the RAM 2b is smaller than the current counting number of times of migration "5", the current counting number of times of migration is renewed to "2". Subsequently, when the terminal device 1 further migrates along arrows from the area designated by numeral "2" to an area designated by numeral "3" in second appearance, the current counting number of times of migration is increased by one so that it becomes "3". The location area code of the area designated by numeral "3" in second appearance and the counting number of times of migration "3" are stored in the RAM 2b.

As a result of performing the migration counting processing, the counting number of the counter of the terminal device controller 2 shows a maximum number of times of migration necessary for migrating the terminal device 1 to the area corresponding to the current counting number from the area where the location of the terminal device 1 was detected last time. When the counting number of the counter is multiplied by a referential distance which is necessary for migrating through an area, an assumed longest migration distance from the area where the location of the terminal device 1 was detected last time to the current location of the terminal device 1 can be obtained. As for the referential distance necessary for migrating through an area, the longest width or a mean width of the areas can be used.

When the assumed longest migration distance is longer than a predetermined distance, the terminal device controller 2 performs the initialization processing to delete the rough current location data of the terminal device 1 held in the positioning device 3. Thus, it is possible to prevent failure of searching the GPS satellites due to a discrepancy between the actual current location of the terminal device 1 and the rough current location stored in the positioning device 3.

In the second embodiment, it is possible to detect that the possessor of the terminal device 1 returns to the same area which was previously passed, so that the migration distance from the place where the location of the terminal device 1 was previously detected to the current location of the terminal device 1 can be estimated more precisely. Thus, the initialization processing of the positioning data can be performed only when it is really needed, so that it is possible to shorten a time for detecting the current location of the terminal device 1 without unnecessary initialization processing of the positioning data. As for a reference value of the assumed longest migration distance at which the initialization processing be performed, it is preferable to set in a range from, for example, about 500 km to 5000 km. THIRD EMBODIMENT

Subsequently, a third embodiment of the present invention is described. The terminal device controller 2 of the third embodiment is constituted to perform the initialization processing of the rough current location of the terminal device 1 and the initialization processing of the orbit data of the GPS satellites with activating the positioning device 3 at a predetermined time interval. Precise orbit data (ephemeris data) of the GPS satellites, which is necessary to detect the current location of the terminal device 1 with performing the positioning arithmetic processing with the positioning device 3, is renewed at a time interval of about two hours. In the third embodiment, the terminal device controller 2 activates the positioning device 3 at a predetermined time interval so that the positioning device 3 always holds the updated orbit data of the GPS satellites, thereby enabling to detect the current location data of the terminal device 1, immediately.

Hereupon, the precise orbit data (ephemeris data) transmitted from the GPS satellites is renewed at the interval of about two hours. In addition, the satellite positioning system is constituted with more than 24 GPS satellites, and the GPS satellites take substantially the same disposition whenever the earth rotates one turn. In other words, it is forecasted that the GPS satellite more than one on average newly rises in the sky per one hour. Thus, the predetermined interval for activating the positioning device 3 should be equal to or shorter than an hour so as to obtain the precise orbit data (ephemeris data) of the GPS satellite newly rising in the sky.

The terminal device 1 is constituted that the location data of the terminal device 1 detected last time can be used as the rough current location of the terminal device 1 for searching the GPS satellites when the positioning device 3 is activated next. However, when the terminal device 1 is migrated greatly, for example, more than 500 km, it may acquire satellite signals from other GPS satellites which are searched on the bases of the rough current location of the terminal device 1. In the third embodiment, the terminal device 1 is constituted that the positioning device 3 is activated at a predetermined time interval for detecting the location of the terminal device 1 prior to the terminal device 1 is migrated greatly. The time interval for performing the positioning arithmetic processing may be set in consideration of the maximum moving speed of the possessor of the terminal device 1. For example, when the possessor does not utilize airplane, the time interval should be set for about two hours. Alternatively, when the possessor often utilizes the airplane, the time interval should be set for about one hour.

In this way, the time interval to activate the positioning device 3 for obtaining the orbit data of the GPS satellites and to perform the positioning arithmetic processing should be in a range from one hour to two hours. In particular, it should be set as shorter as possible in a scope where the power consumption due to the periodic activation of the positioning device 3 is acceptable.

Still furthermore, the precise orbit data (ephemeris data) of each GPS satellite consists of three frame data of a device for six seconds, and the same data is transmitted by period for 30 seconds every five frames from the GPS satellite. For obtaining the orbit data, it is necessary to receive a satellite signal continuously for 36 seconds at a maximum after starting to receive the satellite signal. Thus, the positioning device 3 needs a term which is further added a term necessary for acquiring the GPS satellite to the above 36 seconds actually for obtaining the orbit data. If the term for acquiring the satellite signal can be extended longer, the probability that can acquire the orbit data of the GPS satellite increases, but electric power consumed with the positioning device 3 increases. Thus, a term for activating the positioning device 3 should be set to be longer than 36 seconds in a scope where the power consumption due to the positioning device 3 is acceptable.

Subsequently, the initialization processing of the positioning data performed with the terminal device controller 2 is described. After performing the initialization processing of the positioning data stored in the positioning device 3, the terminal device controller 2 judges whether a predetermined time interval, for example, one hour has passed or not (S31). When the predetermined time interval has passed (YES in S31), the terminal device controller 2 activates the positioning device 3 (S32). Then, the positioning device 3 waits for a predetermined term, for example, 10 seconds for acquiring the satellite signals from the GPS satellites after the activation (S33). Subsequently, the terminal device controller 2 judges whether the positioning device 3 can acquire at least one GPS satellite signal transmitted from the GPS satellite or not (S34). When at least one satellite signal transmitted from the GPS satellite is acquired in the waiting time (YES in S34), the positioning device 3 further waits for a predetermined term, for example, 50 seconds for obtaining the orbit data of the GPS satellite (S35). After passing the predetermined term, the terminal device controller 2 judges whether the positioning device 3 can be detected the current location of the terminal device 1 with obtaining the orbit data and with performing the positioning arithmetic processing or not (S36). When the positioning device 3 detects the current location of the terminal device 1 (YES in S36), the result of detection of the current location of the terminal device 1 is stored in the RAM 2b (S37), and the terminal device controller 2 stops the positioning processing of the positioning device 3 (S38).

In this way, the next initialization processing of the positioning data is not preformed after passing the predetermined time interval such as one hour after completing the initialization processing. When the predetermined time interval has passed after stopping the activation of the positioning device 3, the terminal device controller 2 performs the initialization processing, again. When the positioning device 3 cannot detect the current location of the terminal device 1 (NO in S36), the terminal device controller 2 stops the positioning processing of the positioning device 3 (S38), and waits for the predetermined time interval passes, again.

As mentioned above, since the orbit data of the GPS satellites and the rough current location data of the terminal device 1 are periodically obtained in the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the current location of the terminal device 1 immediately when the terminal device 1 is operated by the possessor. Furthermore, since the terminal device controller 2 takes the detected location data of the terminal device 1 from the positioning device 3 and stores it in the RAM 2b whenever the positioning device 3 detects the current location of the terminal device 1 periodically, it is possible to transmit the location data stored in the RAM 2b to a calling center of the emergency report system through the wireless communication device 4 instead of the current location data of the terminal device 1 when the terminal device 1 is operated in the emergency situation. With transmitting the stored location data, it is possible to grasp a history of migration of the terminal device 1 in the calling center, and thereby enabling to estimate the current location of the terminal device 1 even when the positioning device 3 cannot receive the satellite signal when the terminal device 1 is operated by the possessor.

Still furthermore, since the terminal device controller 2 does not perform next initialization processing of the positioning data held in the positioning device 3 after passing the predetermined time interval, for example, one hour from a time when the initialization processing has performed last time, it is possible to prevent that unnecessary initialization processing is performed while the orbit data of the GPS satellites has not been renewed or when the total migration distance is not so long although the number of detection of the migration of the terminal device 1 is large. Consequently, the power consumption due to the initialization processing of the positioning data can be reduced. On the other hand, when the positioning device 3 acquires no satellite signal while the waiting term, for example, 10 seconds (NO in S34), the terminal device controller 2 judges that level of the satellite signal is too low to obtain the orbit data therefrom, so that the terminal device controller 2 stops the activation of the positioning device 3 (S41). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the electric power consumption due to unnecessary activation of the positioning device 3 when the terminal device 1 is located at a position where no satellite signal can be received such as within a building or underground.

After stopping the activation of the positioning device 3, the terminal device controller 2 obtains identification codes of base stations included in the wireless signals transmitted from the receivable base stations 5 including the base station to which the wireless communication device 4 is currently connected, and the identification codes of the base stations are stored in the RAM 2b as a list of the identification codes of the base stations (S42). After waiting a predetermined term, for example, 12 minutes (S43), the terminal device controller 2 obtains the list of the identification codes of the receivable base stations again (S44), and compares the list of the identification codes newly obtained with the list of the identification codes stored in the RAM 2b, thereby judging whether the terminal device 1 has migrated or not (S45).

Hereupon, the list of the identification codes of the base stations may be a combination of the identification codes of the base stations 5 simply, or may be modified for enabling the detection of short migration of the terminal device 1 in consideration with superiority or inferiority sequence of levels of received signals. For example, when the superiority or inferiority sequence of levels of received signals of the base stations 5 received by the wireless communication device 4 is changed, the terminal device controller 2 may judge that the terminal device 1 has been migrated because it can be regarded that superiority or inferiority sequence of connection of the terminal device 1 to the base stations 5 is changed. When the list of the identification codes of the base stations newly obtained is different from that stored in the RAM 2b (NO in step S45), the satellite signal may be receivable because of the migration of the terminal device 1 , so that the terminal device controller 2 activates the positioning device 3 again (S32) and tries to receive the satellite signal while waiting the predetermined term (S33, S34).

In other words, the terminal device controller 2 varies the time interval for performing the initialization processing of the positioning data of the positioning device 3 corresponding to the signal reception condition of the positioning device 3. Specifically, when the satellite signals from the GPS satellites are received, the time interval for performing the initialization processing is made longer. Alternatively, when no satellite signal from the GPS satellite is received, for performing the initialization processing is made shorter. Thus, it is possible to obtain the orbit data of the GPS satellites in high ratio, and thereby the current location data of the terminal device 1 can be detected immediately when the terminal device is operated by the possessor.

In addition, the condition that no satellite signal is received with the positioning device 3 while waiting the predetermined term in the step S34 for stopping the activation of the positioning device 3 may be replaced to a condition that the satellite signals from GPS satellites more than three cannot be received. With such a modification, the positioning processing with the positioning device 3 is performed on the basis of at least three satellite signals transmitted from the GPS satellites equal to or more than three, so that the current location of the terminal device 1 can be detected successfully.

When the terminal device 1 is operated by the possessor thereby for transmitting the current location data of the terminal device 1 through the wireless communication device 4 during the initialization processing of the positioning data of the positioning device 3, the initialization processing of the positioning data is continuously performed, and the location data which is obtained in subsequent positioning processing is transmitted to the calling center through the wireless communication device 4. Since the initialization processing may not be paused and not be started all over again due to the operation by the possessor, the current location data of the terminal device can be detected as soon as possible.

In addition, the wireless communication device 4 of the terminal device 1 may be constituted to store a plurality of lists of the identification codes of the base stations, signals from which are receivable with the wireless communication device 4 in the step S42, when no satellite signal is received, and thereby, activation of the positioning device 3 is stopped. In such a case, the positioning device 3 may be re-activated to try to acquire the satellite signals, only when the list of the identification codes of the base stations, with which the wireless communication device 4 is connected, is not coincided with any list of the identification codes of the base stations stored in the RAM 2b. Thus, even in an environment where the combination of the receivable base stations is frequently varied due to instability of the signal transmission although the terminal device 1 is located at the same place, it is possible to prevent the activation of the positioning device 3 whenever the combination of the receivable base stations varies. Consequently, electric power consumption due to the activation of the positioning device 3 can be reduced. Alternatively, the terminal device controller 2 may be constituted always to monitor the list of the identification codes of the receivable base stations with the wireless communication device 4 and to re-activate the positioning device 3 immediately when the list of the identification codes of the base stations is varied.

Still furthermore, the terminal device controller 2 may be constituted that the positioning device 3 is not activated when the wireless communication device 4 receives no wireless signal from any base station 5. When the wireless signal cannot be received, the possibility to receive the satellite signals from the GPS satellites may be lower. Thus, it is possible to prevent the electric power consumption due to unnecessarily activation of the positioning device 3. In such a case, the terminal device controller 2 activates the positioning device 3 when the wireless communication device 4 becomes to receive the wireless signal from any base station 5, that is, the signal receiving condition of the wireless signal with the wireless communication device 4 is varied, so that the positioning device 3 can be activated when the possibility to receive the satellite signals is increased. FOURTH EMBODIMENT

Subsequently, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described. FIG. 6 shows a constitution of the terminal device 1 in accordance with the fourth embodiment. The terminal device 1 has a rechargeable battery (not illustrated) as a power source, and it is consisted that the secondary battery can be charged with connection of an external battery charger 6.

The terminal device controller 2 can detect whether the terminal device 1 is connected to the battery charger 6 or not. When the terminal device 1 is not connected to the battery charger 6, the terminal device controller 2 performs the initialization processing of the positioning data with activating the positioning device 3 regularly, for example, at a time interval of one hour similar to the above mentioned third embodiment. Alternatively, when the terminal device 1 is connected to the battery charger 6, the terminal device controller 2 performs the initialization processing with increasing frequency of activation or elongating the activation time of the positioning device 3. In other words, since the electric power consumption of the terminal device 1 is irrelevant while charging the battery, the initialization processing of the positioning data can be performed frequently so as to detect the current location data of the terminal device 1 immediately when the terminal device 1 is operated by the possessor.

For example, when the battery charger 6 is a stationary type and the battery of the terminal device 1 is usually charged at a fixed place, it may be constituted that the location data of the place where the battery charger 6 is installed is previously memorized in the terminal device 1 and the location data of the battery charger 6 is used as the rough current location of the terminal device 1 when the terminal device 1 is connected to the battery charger 6. Even when the terminal device 1 has been migrated long-distance while the electric power of the terminal device 1 has been switched off, the rough current location of the terminal device 1 can be renewed to the right location at the charging of the battery. Thus, the subsequent positioning processing with the positioning device 3 can be performed immediately. OTHER MODIFICATIONS

The present invention is not limited to the above mentioned constitutions of the embodiments, and appropriately various kinds of transformation are possible in a scope where the gist of this invention is not changed. For example, the positioning device 3 of the terminal device 1 is not limited to correspond to only the GPS, and it may correspond to another global navigation satellite system such as GALILEO or GRONASS. In such a modification, since the terminal device is constituted to perform the initialization processing of the positioning data automatically, the emergency report system can be provided with treatable and inexpensive. In addition, although the positioning data and the rough current location data are dispersedly stored in the RAM 2b of the terminal device controller 2 and in the positioning device 3 in the above mentioned embodiments, they may be intensively stored in one of the RAM 2b of the terminal device controller 2 and in the positioning device 3.

Still furthermore, it is sufficient that the emergency report terminal device in accordance with the present invention comprises: a positioning device for detecting current location data thereof with receiving signals from satellite positioning system; a wireless communication device connected to a wireless communication network which is comprised of a plurality of wireless communication base stations, and performing wireless communication with transmitting and receiving wireless signals with respect to any one of the wireless communication base station; and a terminal device controller connected to the positioning device and the wireless communication device, and having a function to transmit the current location data detected with the positioning device to the wireless communication base station which is currently connected through the wireless communication device. The positioning device has positioning data necessary for detecting the current location data, and the terminal device controller has a function for performing initialization processing of the positioning data, automatically.

According to such a configuration, the terminal device controller has a function automatically performing the initialization processing of the positioning data which is necessary for obtaining the data of current location. Thus, it is possible to obtain orbit data of the satellites when the signals from the satellites can be received stably or to delete the data of current location which was detected last time when the possessor of the emergency report terminal device has been migrated long-distance from the position where the detection of the current location was performed last time. Furthermore, it is possible to detect the current location with acquiring the signals from the satellites through the positioning device immediately without providing the positioning server which is used in the network type GPS or without operation by the possessor oneself of the emergency report terminal device. Consequently, the emergency report terminal device becomes treatable and can be provided at low price.

In the above mentioned constitution, it is preferable that the terminal device controller automatically performs the initialization processing of the positioning data when it detects migration of the emergency report terminal device corresponding to wireless communication data between the wireless communication device and a wireless communication base station based on variation of an area where a wireless communication base station currently connected is installed from another area where another wireless communication base station previously connected is installed. According to such a constitution, the terminal device controller detects the migration of the terminal device on the basis of the wireless communication data between the wireless communication device and the base station currently connected without providing any sensor for detecting the migration of the terminal device, and performs the initialization processing of the positioning data when the migration of the terminal device is detected. Thus, the positioning device is activated only when the terminal device is migrated, so that it is possible to prevent unnecessary activation of the positioning device in a place where the satellite signal from the satellites cannot be received, and thereby enabling to reduce the electric power consumption due to the positioning device obtains the positioning data. Furthermore, the initialization processing of the positioning data is performed when the terminal device is migrated long-distance from the location where the positioning processing was performed last time, so that it is possible to prevent that the rough current location of the terminal device previously stored in a memory of the terminal device is erroneously used for detecting the current location of the positioning device.

In the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that the terminal device controller detects the variation of the area where the wireless communication base station currently connected is installed from variation of one of a location area identification code, a mobile country code, a mobile network code, a location area code and an identification code of base station which are included in the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication base station.

According to such a constitution, when the terminal device is migrated long-distance from the place where the positioning processing was performed last time, the location area identification code, the mobile country code, the mobile network code, the location area code and the identification code of base station included in the wireless signal transmitted from the base station currently connected are changed from those included in the wireless signal from the base station previously connected. Thus, the terminal device controller can detect that the terminal device is migrated long-distance on the basis of the change of any one of these codes. Furthermore, the positioning device can perform the positioning processing with using the location data corresponding to any one of those codes included in the wireless signal as the rough current location data of the terminal device instead of the location data of the terminal device previously detected. Consequently, even when the terminal device has been migrated long-distance from the place where the positioning processing was performed last time, the rough current location of the terminal device may not be largely discrepant from actual location of the terminal device, so that the positioning device can detect the current location of the terminal device immediately. Still furthermore, since the areas of the mobile country code, the location area code and the mobile network code are relatively wider, the change of these codes shows that the terminal device has been migrated long-distance. Thus, the terminal device controller can perform the initialization processing of the positioning data corresponding to the migration of long-distance. Alternatively, since the area of the identification code of the base station is relatively narrower, the change of the identification code of the base station may show that the terminal device is migrated from a place where the satellite signal cannot be received to another place where the satellite signal can be received. Thus, the terminal device controller can perform the initialization processing of the positioning data corresponding to the change of the signal receiving condition of the terminal device.

In the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that the terminal device controller holds scope data of a plurality of areas where a plurality of wireless communication base stations is installed respectively, the terminal device controller judges whether the location data used as the positioning data is within a predetermined distance from an area where the wireless communication base station currently connected is installed or not when the migration of the emergency report terminal device is detected, and when the location data is within the predetermined distance, the terminal device controller does not perform the initialization processing of the positioning data.

According to such a constitution, when the location data which is used as the rough current location data is within the predetermined distance from the area where the base station currently connected is installed, the discrepancy between the rough current location data and the actual location data of the terminal device is relatively smaller. Thus, even when the positioning device performs the positioning processing with using the location data previously detected as the rough current location data of the terminal device, the satellite signals from, for example, the GPS satellites can be received, and thereby, the current location data of the terminal device can be detected precisely. Consequently, it is possible to prevent unnecessary activation of the positioning device for performing the initialization processing of the positioning data, and thereby, the electric power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

Alternatively, in the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that the terminal device controller detects the migration of the emergency report terminal device based on a variation of one of a combination of the wireless communication base stations which are connectable with the wireless communication device, level of received signals with the wireless communication device or order of priority of the wireless communication base stations which ads to be connected to the wireless communication device.

According to such a constitution, the positioning device is activated only when the terminal device may be migrated from a place where the satellite signals cannot be received to another place where the satellite signals can be received. Thus, the electric power consumption for obtaining the positioning data can be reduced. In the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is further preferable that the terminal device controller has a memory means for storing at least one migration detection factor when the migration of the emergency report terminal device is detected, and when the migration detection factor in the detection of the migration of the emergency report terminal device coincides with the previous migration detection factor stored in the memory means, the terminal device controller does not perform the initialization processing of the positioning data.

According to such a constitution, since the initialization processing of the positioning data is not performed when the migration detection factor in the detection of the migration of the terminal device coincides with the previous migration detection factor, for example, list of the receivable base stations, it is possible to prevent that unnecessary initialization processing is repeated due to the migration detection factor is repeatedly changed among the same migration detection factors, for example, when the terminal device is located in the vicinity of a boundary between two areas where the migration detection factors are changed. Consequently, the electric power consumption due to unnecessary activation of the positioning device for obtaining the positioning data can be reduced, and the current location data of the terminal device can be detected immediately without performing the initialization processing of the positioning data when the terminal device is operated by the possessor. Alternatively, in the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that the terminal device controller detects the migration of the emergency report terminal device when signal receiving condition of the wireless communication device receiving wireless signals transmitted from the wireless communication base station is varied.

According to such a constitution, the terminal device controller does not activate the positioning device while the wireless signal cannot be received, and activates the positioning device to perform the initialization processing of the positioning data only when the wireless signal can be received. Thus, the electric power consumption due to activation of the positioning device for obtaining the positioning data can be reduced.

In any one of the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that a counter is further comprised for counting a number of times of migration of the emergency report terminal device, and when a counting number of the counter becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the terminal device controller performs the initialization processing of the positioning data.

According to such a constitution, since the initialization processing of the positioning data is performed when the counting number of the counter which shows the times of migration of the terminal device becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined value, even though the area of the country is too wide to use the mobile country code for detecting the migration of the terminal device, it is possible to judge whether the terminal device has been migrated long-distance or not with reference to the counting number of the counter. Specifically, the total migration distance of the terminal device can be estimated with multiplying, for example, a mean value of widths of the location areas in the country which is relatively smaller by the counting number of the counter. Thus, the initialization processing of the positioning data can be performed when the terminal device has been migrated long-distance, although the mobile country code is not changed.

Alternatively, in the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that a counter is further comprised for counting a number of times of migration of the emergency report terminal device, when a counting number of the counter becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the terminal device controller performs the initialization processing of the positioning data, and when a value of the migration detection factor in the detection of the migration of the emergency report terminal device coincides with a migration detection factor stored in the memory, the terminal device controller resets the number of the counter.

According to such a constitution, since the counting number of the counter is reset when a value of the migration detection factor in the detection of the migration of the terminal device coincides with a migration detection factor stored in the memory, it is possible to detect that the terminal device returns to a place where it was previously passed. Thus, the total migration distance of the terminal device from a place where the positioning processing was performed last time can be estimated more precisely. Consequently, the initialization processing of the positioning data is performed only when needed.

In any one of the above mentioned constitutions of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that the terminal device controller waits to perform subsequent initialization processing of the positioning data until a predetermined term passes after completion of the initialization processing of the positioning data, even though the migration of the emergency report terminal device is detected.

For example, when the migration distance of the terminal device is not so long, it is no need to perform the initialization processing of the positioning data. According to such a constitution, unnecessary activation of the positioning device for initializing the positioning data can be prevented, and thereby, the electric power consumption due to the activation of the positioning device can be reduced.

In the above mentioned constitution of the emergency report terminal device, it is further preferable that the terminal device controller varies the predetermined term corresponding to signal receiving condition of the positioning device for receiving satellite signals of a satellite positioning system while the initialization processing of the positioning data. For example, when the satellite signal can be received in the previous initialization processing, it is possible to estimate that the signal receiving condition of the terminal device is good. Alternatively, when the satellite signal cannot be received in the previous initialization processing, it is possible to estimate that the signal receiving condition of the terminal device is not good. According to such a constitution, when the signal receiving condition of the terminal device is not good, the terminal device controller shortens the predetermined term for waiting to perform subsequent initialization processing of the positioning data, so that the positioning device frequently tries to receive the positioning data. Consequently, it is possible to increase the success rate of obtaining the positioning data while the electric power consumption due to the activation of the positioning device can be reduces as smaller as possible.

In any one of the above mentioned constitutions of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that the terminal device controller performs subsequent initialization processing of the positioning data when a predetermined term has passed after completion of the initialization processing of the positioning data, even though the migration of the emergency report terminal device is not detected.

According to such a constitution, even when the migration distance of the terminal device is too short to be detected, the positioning data can always be held in the terminal device, so that the current location of the terminal device can be detected immediately when the terminal device is operated by the possessor.

In any one of the above mentioned constitutions of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that when the positioning device receives no satellite signal of a satellite positioning system in a predetermined term after being activated for performing the initialization processing of the positioning data, the terminal device controller stops the activation of the positioning device.

According to such a constitution, when the satellite signal cannot be received at all or when the positioning data cannot be obtained due to the satellite signal is too weak, the activation of the positioning device is stopped. Thus, the activation term of the positioning device can be shortened, and thereby, the electric power consumption due to the activation of the positioning device can be reduced.

In any one of the above mentioned constitutions of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that the terminal device controller stores location data previously obtained in the initialization processing, and the wireless communication device transmits the location data to a wireless communication base station when the emergency report terminal device establishes a ground network communication with a communication center such as a calling center through the wireless communication base station.

According to such a constitution, since the location data which is previously detected in the initialization processing of the positioning data is transmitted to the base station from the wireless communication device of the terminal device when the wireless communication is succeeded, it is possible to know a history of migration of the terminal device in, for example, a calling center of the emergency report system before receiving the current location data of the terminal device which is newly detected by the positioning device when the terminal device is operated by the possessor. Thus, even if the current location of the terminal device cannot be detected, the current location of the terminal device can be estimated from the history of migration of the terminal device.

In any one of the above mentioned constitutions of the emergency report terminal device, it is preferable that when the wireless communication between the wireless communication device and a wireless communication base station is needed while the initialization processing of the positioning data is performed, the terminal device controller continues the initialization processing of the positioning data, and when the positioning device detects the current location data of the emergency report terminal device after completing the initialization processing, the wireless communication device transmits the current location data to a wireless communication base station currently connected.

According to such a constitution, even when the wireless communication between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication base station is needed while the initialization processing of the positioning data is performed, the initialization processing of the positioning data is continued, so that precise current location data of the terminal device can be detected immediately with using the positioning data obtained in the initialization processing, and thereby, the current location of the terminal device can be transmitted to a calling center of the emergency report system, as soon as possible.

This application is based on Japanese patent application 2005-363593 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by references.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Claims

1. An emergency report terminal device comprising: a positioning device for detecting current location data thereof with receiving signals from satellite positioning system; a wireless communication device connected to a wireless communication network which is comprised of a plurality of wireless communication base stations, and performing wireless communication with transmitting and receiving wireless signals with respect to any one of the wireless communication base station; and a terminal device controller connected to the positioning device and the wireless communication device, and having a function to transmit the current location data detected with the positioning device to the wireless communication base station which is currently connected through the wireless communication device; wherein the positioning device has positioning data necessary for detecting the current location data; and the terminal device controller has a function for performing initialization processing of the positioning data, automatically.

2. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the terminal device controller automatically performs the initialization processing of the positioning data when it detects migration of the emergency report terminal device based on wireless communication data between the wireless communication device and a wireless communication base station.

3. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the terminal device controller detects the variation of the area where the wireless communication base station currently connected is installed from variation of one of a location area identification code, a mobile country code, a mobile network code, a location area code and an identification code of base station which are included in the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication base station.

4. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the terminal device controller holds scope data of a plurality of areas where a plurality of wireless communication base stations is installed respectively; the terminal device controller judges whether the location data used as the positioning data is within a predetermined distance from an area where the wireless communication base station currently connected is installed or not when the migration of the emergency report terminal device is detected; and when the location data is within the predetermined distance, the terminal device controller does not perform the initialization processing of the positioning data.

5. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the terminal device controller detects the migration of the emergency report terminal device based on a variation of one of a combination of the wireless communication base stations which are connectable with the wireless communication device, level of received signals with the wireless communication device or order of priority of the wireless communication base stations which ads to be connected to the wireless communication device.

6. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the terminal device controller has a memory means for storing at least one migration detection factor when the migration of the emergency report terminal device is detected; and when the migration detection factor in the detection of the migration of the emergency report terminal device coincides with the previous migration detection factor stored in the memory means, the terminal device controller does not perform the initialization processing of the positioning data.

7. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the terminal device controller detects the migration of the emergency report terminal device when signal receiving condition of the wireless communication device receiving wireless signals transmitted from the wireless communication base station is varied.

8. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 7, wherein a counter is further comprised for counting a number of times of migration of the emergency report terminal device; and when a counting number of the counter becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the terminal device controller performs the initialization processing of the positioning data.

9. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 8, wherein a counter is further comprised for counting a number of times of migration of the emergency report terminal device; when a counting number of the counter becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the terminal device controller performs the initialization processing of the positioning data; and when a value of the migration detection factor in the detection of the migration of the emergency report terminal device coincides with a migration detection factor stored in the memory, the terminal device controller resets the number of the counter.

10. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the terminal device controller waits to perform subsequent initialization processing of the positioning data until a predetermined term passes after completion of the initialization processing of the positioning data, even though the migration of the emergency report terminal device is detected.

11. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the terminal device controller varies the predetermined term corresponding to signal receiving condition of the positioning device for receiving satellite signals of a satellite positioning system while the initialization processing of the positioning data.

12. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the terminal device controller performs subsequent initialization processing of the positioning data when a predetermined term has passed after completion of the initialization processing of the positioning data, even though the migration of the emergency report terminal device is not detected.

13. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 7, wherein when the positioning device receives no satellite signal of a satellite positioning system in a predetermined term after being activated for performing the initialization processing of the positioning data, the terminal device controller stops the activation of the positioning device.

14. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the terminal device controller stores location data previously obtained in the initialization processing, and the wireless communication device transmits the location data to a wireless communication base station when the emergency report terminal device establishes a ground network communication with a communication center through the wireless communication base station.

15. The emergency report terminal device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 7, wherein when the wireless communication between the wireless communication device and a wireless communication base station is needed while the initialization processing of the positioning data is performed, the terminal device controller continues the initialization processing of the positioning data; and when the positioning device detects the current location data of the emergency report terminal device after completing the initialization processing, the wireless communication device transmits the current location data to a wireless communication base station currently connected.