A method and system for creating a geographical fence to prevent young children from getting lost

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of mobile communication technology, and specifically relates to a method and system for creating a geographic fence suitable for preventing young children from getting lost. The method includes: determining an area to be monitored, dividing the area to be monitored into multiple grid areas; setting a wireless network transmission module in the grid area where the center of the area to be monitored is located; using a mobile terminal carried by the young child, collecting location information and signal strength information based on wireless signal strength; within the area to be monitored, based on the collected signal strength information, if the wireless signal strength of a certain grid area is equal to a preset threshold, it is determined to be a geographic fence boundary point; connecting each geographic fence boundary point into a closed loop to form the activity boundary of the young child; establishing a monitoring mechanism, and automatically triggering an alarm when it is shown that the young child is about to cross the activity boundary. This method improves the accuracy and real-time performance of monitoring, and effectively solves the problem of inaccurate positioning indoors or in shielded environments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular relates to a method and system for creating a geographical fence suitable for preventing young children from getting lost. Background Art

[0002] The rapid development of mobile communication technology has revolutionized people's lifestyles. This is particularly true in the area of child safety management, where parents and guardians have a growing need to ensure the safety of their young children. Traditional child monitoring methods, such as manual surveillance and simple electronic device positioning, no longer meet the needs of modern society. They suffer from numerous limitations, including blind spots, inaccurate positioning, and a lack of real-time warning mechanisms.

[0003] Against this backdrop, geofencing technology has emerged. Geofencing is a location-based service that creates virtual boundaries in the real world. When a mobile device enters or leaves these virtual boundaries, it triggers a specific application response, such as sending a warning message to a guardian. While this technology has greatly improved the safety management of young children, existing geofencing technology still has room for improvement. For example, existing technologies often rely on GPS signals, which are weak indoors or in obscured environments, resulting in low positioning accuracy. Furthermore, the existing geofencing setup process is complex and inflexible, making it difficult to meet the needs of personalized and precise monitoring. Summary of the Invention

[0004] (1) Technical issues to be resolved

[0005] The present invention mainly addresses the above problems and proposes a method and system for creating a geographical fence suitable for preventing young children from getting lost. Its purpose is to solve the problems of existing technologies such as blind spots in monitoring, inaccurate positioning, and lack of real-time warning mechanisms.

[0006] (2) Technical solution

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides, in a first aspect, a method for creating a geo-fence suitable for preventing children from getting lost, the method comprising:

[0008] Step 1: determine an area to be monitored and divide the area to be monitored into multiple grid areas;

[0009] Step 2: Setting a wireless network transmission module in the grid area where the center of the area to be monitored is located as a signal transmission point;

[0010] Step 3: Using the mobile terminal carried by the child, the location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area are collected based on the wireless signal strength;

[0011] Step 4: Within the monitored area, based on the collected signal strength information, if the wireless signal strength of a grid area is equal to a preset threshold, then the grid area is determined as a geo-fence boundary point;

[0012] Step 5: Connect the boundary points of each geo-fence into a closed loop to form the activity boundary of the child;

[0013] Step 6: Establish a monitoring mechanism to automatically trigger an alarm when the location information reported by the child's mobile terminal device shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary.

[0014] Furthermore, in step 6, the monitoring mechanism updates the child's location information in real time through real-time communication with the child's mobile terminal; when the monitoring system detects that the child's mobile terminal location information shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary, the monitoring system will select one or more alarm methods such as sound, vibration or light signal according to the settings of the child's mobile terminal to issue an alarm to remind the child and the guardian.

[0015] Furthermore, in step 3, the location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area are collected based on the wireless signal strength through the mobile terminal carried by the young child. This step includes: the young child's mobile terminal starts the wireless signal receiver to receive the signal transmitted by the wireless network transmission module; the mobile terminal measures and records the strength of the received wireless signal; combined with the current location information of the mobile terminal, each measured wireless signal strength is matched with the grid area where it is located to form a set of paired data of location information and signal strength information; the mobile terminal sends the paired data to the monitoring system.

[0016] Furthermore, in step 5, when the distribution of the geo-fence boundary points is irregular, all the geo-fence boundary points are connected in a clockwise or counterclockwise order to form a closed polygon.

[0017] Furthermore, in step 5, when the distribution of geofence boundary points is relatively uniform and there are no special terrain or obstacle restrictions, a circle is drawn by selecting the signal transmission point as the center and the distance from the farthest geofence boundary point to the signal transmission point as the radius.

[0018] Furthermore, in step 5, when the distribution range of the geofence boundary point in one axial direction is greater than the distribution range in another axial direction, two axial directions are determined, and the distance from the farthest geofence boundary point to the signal transmission point is calculated as the two semi-axes of the ellipse to draw the ellipse.

[0019] To achieve the above objectives, the second aspect of the present invention provides a geo-fence creation system for preventing children from getting lost, the system comprising:

[0020] Region division module: used to determine an area to be monitored and divide the area to be monitored into multiple grid areas;

[0021] Wireless network transmission module: located in the grid area at the center of the area to be monitored, serving as a signal transmission point for transmitting wireless signals;

[0022] Mobile terminal module: carried by the child, collects location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area based on wireless signal strength; the mobile terminal module includes a wireless signal receiver for receiving signals transmitted by the wireless network transmission module and measuring and recording the strength of the received wireless signal;

[0023] Boundary determination module: used to determine, within the monitored area, based on the collected signal strength information, if the wireless signal strength of a grid area is equal to a preset threshold, then the grid area is determined as a geo-fence boundary point;

[0024] Boundary connection module: used to adopt different connection methods according to the distribution of geographic fence boundary points;

[0025] Monitoring module: used to establish a monitoring mechanism, which automatically triggers an alarm when the location information reported by the child's mobile terminal device shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary.

[0026] (3) Beneficial effects

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a method and system for creating a geo-fence suitable for preventing young children from getting lost. First, by setting a wireless network transmission module at the center of the area to be monitored, and using a mobile terminal carried by the young child to collect the location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area based on the wireless signal strength, the present invention provides a more accurate positioning method. Secondly, based on the collected signal strength information, a certain grid area can be accurately determined as the boundary point of the geo-fence, thereby forming a closed loop as the activity boundary of the young child. Finally, by establishing a monitoring mechanism, when the location information reported by the young child's mobile terminal device shows that the young child is about to cross the activity boundary, an alarm is automatically triggered. Compared with traditional geo-fence technology that relies on GPS signals, this method based on wireless network transmission modules and signal strength information collected by mobile terminals significantly improves the accuracy and real-time performance of monitoring, effectively solves the problem of inaccurate positioning in indoor or shielded environments, and also makes the geo-fence setting process simpler and more flexible, which can better meet personalized and precise monitoring needs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 This is a diagram of the interaction process between various entities disclosed in this application.

[0029] Figure 2This is a framework diagram of the main modules and their relationships of a geo-fence creation system disclosed in this application.

[0030] Figure 3 A logical decision diagram for selecting different geo-fence shapes disclosed in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, clearly and completely describing the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] This invention primarily addresses the limitations of existing child monitoring methods and systems, such as blind spots, inaccurate positioning, and a lack of real-time warning mechanisms. Among these methods, geofencing technology, which relies on GPS signals, suffers from significant positioning errors in indoor or obstructed environments. Furthermore, the existing geofencing setup process is complex and inflexible, making it difficult to meet the needs of personalized and precise monitoring. Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a more accurate, flexible, and easy-to-implement geofence creation method and system to improve the real-time and accuracy of child monitoring.

[0033] This embodiment provides a method for creating a geo-fence for preventing children from getting lost, aiming to improve the efficiency and accuracy of child safety monitoring, and is particularly suitable for indoor environments, such as indoor playgrounds. Figure 1-Figure 3 , the following are the detailed steps of the method of the present invention:

[0034] Step 1: determine an area to be monitored and divide the area to be monitored into multiple grid areas;

[0035] First, determine an area that needs to be monitored, such as a kindergarten or indoor playground. Divide the monitoring area into multiple grid areas. The size of each grid area can be adjusted according to actual monitoring needs to ensure the monitoring precision and coverage.

[0036] Step 2: Setting a wireless network transmission module in the grid area where the center of the area to be monitored is located as a signal transmission point;

[0037] The wireless network transmission module is responsible for sending wireless signals to the surrounding grid area so as to determine the location of the child by signal strength.

[0038] Step 3: Using the mobile terminal carried by the child, the location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area are collected based on the wireless signal strength;

[0039] In this embodiment, the mobile terminal carried by the young child is a wristband, and the location information and signal strength information will be used for subsequent geo-fence boundary determination.

[0040] Step 4: Within the monitored area, based on the collected signal strength information, if the wireless signal strength of a grid area is equal to a preset threshold, then the grid area is determined as a geo-fence boundary point;

[0041] Step 5: Connect the boundary points of each geo-fence into a closed loop to form the activity boundary of the child;

[0042] Step 6: Establish a monitoring mechanism to automatically trigger an alarm when the location information reported by the child's mobile terminal device shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary.

[0043] Through the above steps, the present invention not only accurately monitors children's activities within a designated area, preventing them from getting lost, but also instantly triggers an alarm if a child attempts to leave the monitored area, quickly drawing the attention of guardians and ensuring their safety. Compared to traditional GPS-based geofencing technology, this invention is more adaptable to mixed indoor and outdoor monitoring environments, providing more precise and reliable security measures.

[0044] In step 6, the monitoring mechanism updates the child's location information in real time through real-time communication with the child's mobile device. This mechanism ensures that the monitoring system can continuously track the child's real-time location, thereby enhancing the system's ability to monitor the child's movements within and outside the boundaries of the child's activities.

[0045] When the monitoring system detects that a child's mobile device location indicates they are about to cross an activity boundary, it automatically triggers an alert. Based on the child's mobile device settings, the system uses one or more of the following alert methods: sound, vibration, or light. This diverse set of alerts effectively draws the attention of children and guardians, alerting them to potential safety risks.

[0046] Sound Alarm: It can be set to a series of rapid tone changes, which is enough to attract the attention of people around and have an immediate warning effect on young children.

[0047] Vibration Alarm: Generates strong vibrations on the mobile terminal carried by young children, especially suitable for use in noisy environments to ensure that young children can sense the alarm.

[0048] Light signal alarm: Visual alarm is issued by flashing LED lights on mobile terminals, which is particularly suitable for environments with good visibility.

[0049] This multi-alarm mechanism not only increases the perceived value of alerts but also provides flexibility to adapt to different environments and scenarios. Through real-time location updates and diverse alert methods, this embodiment effectively enhances the practicality and reliability of the child prevention geofencing system, ensuring the safety of children within the designated activity boundaries.

[0050] In step 3, the child's mobile terminal collects location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area based on wireless signal strength. This step involves the child's mobile terminal activating a wireless signal receiver to receive signals transmitted by a wireless network transmitter module. The wireless signal receiver is designed to capture and receive wireless signals emitted by the wireless network transmitter module within the monitoring area. The wireless network transmitter module is located at the center or other key locations of the monitoring area to provide coverage for the entire monitoring area.

[0051] When a mobile device receives wireless signals, it measures and records their strength. Signal strength is often used to estimate the distance between the signal source and the receiver. In this scenario, the signal strength measurement can help determine the child's approximate location relative to the wireless network transmitter.

[0052] The mobile terminal combines the measured wireless signal strength with its current location. This means that for each signal strength measurement, the mobile terminal records its location, such as which grid area within the monitoring area it is in. This creates a set of paired data, each containing a specific location (grid area) and the measured wireless signal strength at that location.

[0053] Once the location and signal strength data are paired, the mobile device sends this data to the monitoring system, which can use it to determine whether the child is within a safe area or is approaching or has crossed the boundary of the geofence.

[0054] like Figure 3 ,In step 5, when the distribution of geo-fence boundary points is irregular, all ,geofence boundary points are connected in a clockwise or counterclockwise order to form a closed polygon.

[0055] like Figure 3 ,In step 5, when the distribution of geo-fence boundary points is relatively ,uniform and there are no special terrain or obstacle restrictions, a circle ,is drawn by selecting the signal transmission point as the ,center and the distance from the farthest geo-fence boundary point to the signal transmission point as the ,radius.

[0056] like Figure 3,In step 5, when the distribution range of the geo-fence boundary point in one axial direction is larger than the distribution range in another axial direction, two axial directions are determined, and the distance from the farthest geo-fence boundary point to the signal transmission point is calculated as the two semi-axes of the ellipse, and the ellipse is drawn.

[0057] To achieve the above purpose, the second aspect of this embodiment provides a geo-fence creation system suitable for preventing children from getting lost, such as Figure 2 As shown, the system includes:

[0058] Region division module 100: used to determine a region to be monitored and divide the region to be monitored into multiple grid regions;

[0059] Wireless network transmitting module 200: located in the grid area at the center of the area to be monitored, serving as a signal transmitting point for transmitting wireless signals;

[0060] Mobile terminal module 300: carried by the child, collects location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area based on wireless signal strength; the mobile terminal module includes a wireless signal receiver for receiving signals transmitted by the wireless network transmission module and measuring and recording the strength of the received wireless signal;

[0061] Boundary determination module 400: for determining, within the monitored area, based on the collected signal strength information, if the wireless signal strength of a grid area is equal to a preset threshold, the grid area as a geo-fence boundary point;

[0062] Boundary connection module 500: used to adopt different connection methods according to the distribution of geographic fence boundary points;

[0063] Monitoring module 600: used to establish a monitoring mechanism, which automatically triggers an alarm when the location information reported by the child's mobile terminal device shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary.

[0064] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present application may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for creating a geo-fence suitable for preventing children from getting lost, characterized in that: The steps include: Step 1: determine an area to be monitored and divide the area to be monitored into multiple grid areas; Step 2: Setting a wireless network transmission module in the grid area where the center of the area to be monitored is located as a signal transmission point; Step 3: Using the mobile terminal carried by the child, the location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area are collected based on the wireless signal strength; Step 4: Within the monitored area, based on the collected signal strength information, if the wireless signal strength of a grid area is equal to a preset threshold, then the grid area is determined as a geo-fence boundary point; Step 5: Connect the boundary points of each geo-fence into a closed loop to form the activity boundary of the child; Step 6: Establish a monitoring mechanism to automatically trigger an alarm when the location information reported by the child's mobile terminal device shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary.

2. A method for creating a geo-fence for preventing children from getting lost according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 6, the monitoring mechanism updates the child's location information in real time through real-time communication with the child's mobile terminal; when the monitoring system detects that the child's mobile terminal location information shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary, the monitoring system will select one or more alarm methods such as sound, vibration or light signal according to the settings of the child's mobile terminal to alert the child and guardian.

3. The method for creating a geo-fence for preventing children from getting lost according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 3, the location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area are collected based on the wireless signal strength through the mobile terminal carried by the young child. This step includes: the young child's mobile terminal starts the wireless signal receiver to receive the signal transmitted by the wireless network transmission module; the mobile terminal measures and records the strength of the received wireless signal; combined with the current location information of the mobile terminal, each measured wireless signal strength is matched with the grid area where it is located to form a set of paired data of location information and signal strength information; the mobile terminal sends the paired data to the monitoring system.

4. The method for creating a geo-fence for preventing children from getting lost according to claim 1, wherein: In step 5, when the distribution of the geo-fence boundary points is irregular, all the geo-fence boundary points are connected in a clockwise or counterclockwise order to form a closed polygon.

5. The method for creating a geo-fence for preventing children from getting lost according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 5, when the distribution of geofence boundary points is relatively uniform and there are no special terrain or obstacle restrictions, select the signal transmission point as the center of the circle and draw a circle with the distance from the farthest geofence boundary point to the signal transmission point as the radius.

6. The method for creating a geo-fence for preventing children from getting lost according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 5, when the distribution range of the geofence boundary points in one axial direction is greater than the distribution range in another axial direction, two axial directions are determined, and the distance from the farthest geofence boundary point to the signal transmission point is calculated as the two semi-axes of the ellipse to draw the ellipse.

7. A geo-fence creation system for preventing children from getting lost, characterized by: Includes the following modules: Region division module: used to determine an area to be monitored and divide the area to be monitored into multiple grid areas; Wireless network transmission module: located in the grid area at the center of the area to be monitored, serving as a signal transmission point for transmitting wireless signals; Mobile terminal module: carried by the child, collects location information and signal strength information corresponding to each grid area based on wireless signal strength; the mobile terminal module includes a wireless signal receiver for receiving signals transmitted by the wireless network transmission module and measuring and recording the strength of the received wireless signal; Boundary determination module: used to determine, within the monitored area, based on the collected signal strength information, if the wireless signal strength of a grid area is equal to a preset threshold, then the grid area is determined as a geo-fence boundary point; Boundary connection module: used to adopt different connection methods according to the distribution of geographic fence boundary points; Monitoring module: used to establish a monitoring mechanism, which automatically triggers an alarm when the location information reported by the child's mobile terminal device shows that the child is about to cross the activity boundary.

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