GPS terminal, control method for child GPS terminal, and program

Abstract

This invention provides a GPS device, a control method for a child's GPS device, and a program that can prioritize responding to emergency information by ensuring that children recognize and not miss emergency messages sent by their guardians, and by restricting other device operations until the content of the message is confirmed. [Solution] The system comprises: communication means for receiving messages transmitted from a monitoring terminal; message type determination means for determining whether the received message is a predetermined high-priority message; notification control means for performing a composite highlighted notification that combines at least one selected from visual, auditory, and tactile notifications when the message is determined to be high-priority; operation restriction means for temporarily restricting other terminal operations, except for predetermined emergency operations, until a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user while the highlighted notification is being executed; and confirmation operation detection means for detecting when a predetermined confirmation operation has been completed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a GPS terminal, a method for controlling a GPS terminal for children, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of children, GPS terminals (hereinafter sometimes referred to as GPS terminals for children) that can communicate with a guardian's smartphone have become widespread. These terminals generally have functions such as measuring the current position of a child and allowing the guardian to check the position information, and functions such as sending and receiving messages such as fixed phrases (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, since it is used by children, there is room for improvement in functions. The present disclosure has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and aims to improve functions more than before. One of the objects of the present disclosure is to improve the reliability of information transmission according to the importance of received messages in a terminal for children.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, a GPS terminal according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: communication means for receiving messages transmitted from a monitoring terminal; message type determination means for determining whether the received message is a message of predetermined importance; notification control means for performing a composite highlighted notification that combines at least one selected from visual notifications, auditory notifications, and tactile notifications when the message type determination means determines that the message is of high importance; operation restriction means for temporarily restricting other terminal operations, except for predetermined emergency operations, until a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user during the execution of the highlighted notification; and confirmation operation detection means for detecting when the predetermined confirmation operation has been completed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This is an overview diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a child monitoring system including a GPS terminal according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration for a GPS device for children. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram of the main functions of a GPS device for children. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a guidance screen for confirmation operations (e.g., two-point touch). [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a screen displaying an alternative confirmation operation (e.g., long press, trace a path). [Figure 6] This figure shows the screen after the confirmation operation has been completed and the system has returned to the normal standby screen. [Figure 7] This block diagram shows the configuration of an automated emergency notification system that uses voice detection and server integration. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows the entire process from receiving an emergency message to confirming it and sending the log. [Figure 9] This is a conceptual diagram illustrating how notification methods change according to the urgency level. [Figure 10] This diagram illustrates the concept of emergency operation using gestures with an accelerometer. [Figure 11]This diagram illustrates the concept of how situational information (such as whether the server is within or outside a person's living area, and the time of day) is considered in the server's urgency determination logic. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as appropriate.

[0008] In the conventional GPS devices for children mentioned above, the notification method was often uniform regardless of the importance or urgency of the message sent by the parent, which meant that children could miss emergency messages. Furthermore, even if a child noticed the notification, there was little way to reliably know from the outside whether they correctly understood the importance of the message and acknowledged its content. As a result, parents had to decide on the next course of action while feeling uncertain whether their child truly understood the situation. In particular, in situations where multiple parents were watching over the child, there was a problem in that an emergency message from one parent could be overwritten by a regular message sent later by another parent, or only the latest message could be notified, resulting in important emergency messages not being properly conveyed to the child. In addition, if the child's confirmation operation for emergency messages was too simple, it could be marked as confirmed by unintentional contact, while if it was too complex, children could not operate it. Furthermore, there were challenges such as difficulty in providing appropriate notifications according to the surrounding environment (noise, darkness, etc.) and the urgency level of the message, and limited effective SOS transmission methods when a child is unable to operate a physical button in a panic. In addition, the accuracy of determining whether a received message is truly urgent is also a challenge, as false alarms and missed messages can pose a serious problem in ensuring children's safety. Therefore, it was necessary to accurately and appropriately determine the urgency of a message and take effective warnings and safety measures only for information that truly requires attention, in order to prevent children from being confused or fatigued by misidentifying ordinary messages as urgent. This embodiment can solve any of the above problems.

[0009] (Embodiment 1) <System Configuration> Figure 1 is an overview diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a child monitoring system including a GPS terminal according to one embodiment of this disclosure. This system comprises a child GPS terminal 10 carried by the child (sometimes simply referred to as "GPS terminal 10"), a guardian terminal 60 used by the guardian, and a management server 50 that mediates communication between them and performs various information processing. These are connected to each other via a network NW (e.g., the internet, a mobile phone network, etc.). In particular, as will be described later, for functions that require advanced information processing and flexible updates, such as determining the urgency of messages, optimizing control logic for notifications and operation restrictions, and analyzing the user's behavior history, it is effective for the management server 50 to play a part or the main role and to operate in close cooperation with the child GPS terminal 10. Note that either the management server 50 or the GPS terminal 10 may be assigned all of these roles. The guardian terminal 60 is also included in the monitoring terminal.

[0010] <Hardware configuration of a GPS device for children> Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a child GPS terminal 10. The child GPS terminal 10 includes a control unit 201 that performs various controls (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, MPU: Micro Processing Unit), and a storage unit 202 that stores programs and data (e.g., ROM: Read Only Memory, RAM: Random Access Memory, The device includes flash memory, a GPS module 203 for determining the current location, a communication unit 204 (corresponding to a means of communication; for example, a communication module for mobile phone networks such as LTE or 4G / 5G, a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth® module, etc.) for communicating with other devices (such as a parent terminal 60 or a management server 50) via a network NW, a display unit 205 for displaying various information (for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display), a touch panel 206 for receiving touch operations from the user, a microphone 207 for inputting voice (corresponding to a means of sound collection), a speaker 208 for outputting voice, a vibrator 209 for generating vibrations, a motion sensor 210 for detecting acceleration and angular velocity (for example, an accelerometer or gyroscope; usable for emergency operation detection or movement detection), LED lights 211 that function as various notifications and indicator lights, an emergency button 212 (physical button) for children to operate in emergencies, and a battery 213 for supplying power to these parts. The touch panel 206 is often stacked and integrated with the front of the display unit 205. Furthermore, the child's GPS terminal 10 may incorporate biosensors (not shown) such as a heart rate sensor, a geothermal response (GSR) sensor, and a body temperature sensor, or it may be configured to acquire this information in cooperation with an external wearable device.

[0011] <Functional blocks for children's GPS devices> Figure 3 is a block diagram of the main functions of the child GPS terminal 10. Functionally, the child GPS terminal 10 includes a message receiving unit 301, a message type discrimination unit 302 (corresponding to a message type discrimination means), a notification control unit 303 (corresponding to a notification control means), a display control unit 304, a voice control unit 305, a vibration control unit 306, an LED control unit 307, an operation reception unit 308, a confirmation operation detection unit 309 (corresponding to a confirmation operation detection means), an operation restriction unit 310 (corresponding to an operation restriction means), an emergency operation detection unit 311, a location information acquisition unit 312, a voice data processing unit 313, a log generation and transmission unit 314, and the like. These functional units are mainly realized by the control unit 201 executing a program stored in the memory unit 202 and cooperating with related hardware (e.g., a communication unit 204, a display unit 205, a microphone 207, etc.). In this specification, "means" (e.g., message type determination means, notification control means, operation restriction means, confirmation operation detection means, etc.) refers to a logical configuration unit for realizing a specific function, and it is not necessary for all the hardware and software required to realize that function to be physically present inside the child GPS terminal 10. For example, a configuration in which sensors, input / output interfaces, and basic processing units on the terminal side cooperate with advanced processing units and databases on the management server 50 connected via a network NW to realize a function as a single "means" (e.g., detailed urgency determination according to the situation, generation of complex notification patterns, optimization of restriction patterns based on user operation history, etc.) may also be included in the concept of "means" in this disclosure. In this case, the child GPS terminal 10 can be interpreted as "equipped" with the "means" as it plays an indispensable role in realizing the function of the "means" as a whole system (e.g., information collection and transmission, execution of operations based on instructions from the server, interaction with the user). In this embodiment, the GPS terminal 10 is equipped with these functions, but some of them may be equipped by the management server 50 described later.

[0012] The message receiving unit 301 receives messages (voice messages, text messages, etc.) sent from the parent terminal 60 or the management server 50 via the communication unit 204.

[0013] The message type determination unit 302 determines whether the message received by the message receiving unit 301 is a predetermined emergency message. An emergency message is an example of a message of high importance. This determination may be based on flags attached to the message (such as an emergency flag), specific keywords included in the message (e.g., "Help," "Contact me immediately," "Dangerous," etc.), information about the sender, or instructions from the management server 50. Emergency messages may also be assigned an urgency level indicating the degree of urgency. Here, "determining whether or not it is a predetermined emergency message" is not limited to a static determination performed immediately upon message reception. For example, the system may include a multi-stage process in which an initial screening is performed based on the header information, some content, sender information, or assigned tags of the received message. If the user (child) performs any initial action (e.g., checking the message list, attempting to access a specific message), a more detailed content analysis of the message (keyword search in the body, presence and type of attachments, etc.), the child's situation at that time (GPS location information, time, ambient noise level, activity level, etc.), or the latest instructions from the management server are compared to determine that it is an "urgent message." In other words, the message type determination means dynamically evaluates urgency not only based on information immediately after reception, but also in response to subsequent changes in circumstances and user interaction. When it is determined that it is an "urgent message," the conditions for activating the complex highlighted notification and operation restrictions described later are met.

[0014] As used in this specification, the "message with a predetermined high importance" refers to a message that can be identified by a GPS terminal or a related system (e.g., management server) as having a high probability that the user needs to quickly check or respond to it compared to other general messages, based on the content, attributes, or metadata of the message. Here, "predetermined" means that the criteria or conditions for determining that the message has high importance are defined, set, learned, or made referenceable in the GPS terminal or related system before the message is received, by any one or a combination of the following: (1) Specific flags or identifiers (e.g., emergency flag) explicitly assigned by a monitoring terminal at the time of message transmission. (2) A message containing specific keywords, key phrases, or patterns thereof pre-stored in the memory of the GPS terminal or management server. The keywords, etc. may be set at the time of terminal shipment, and may also be set / edited by the user (e.g., guardian) or updated by the system administrator. (3) A message sent from a specific sender (e.g., primary guardian, emergency contact system from school). (4) A message classified or determined to be of high importance as a result of analyzing the content, structure, transmission status, or related context information (e.g., time, location information) of the message using a predefined rule set, logical model, statistical model, or pre-trained machine learning model. In this case, the rule set, logical model, statistical model, or machine learning model itself corresponds to the "predetermined" judgment criteria. (5) Other messages identified as being of high importance based on instruction information received from a management server or the like. Thus, the requirement of "predetermined" is not limited to the case where all the specific message character strings are enumerated in advance, but broadly includes the state where the logic or criteria for determining importance are implemented and set in the system in advance.

[0015] The determination by the message type determination unit 302 may consist of a first stage determination performed almost simultaneously with the receipt of the message, and a second stage (or subsequent stages) more detailed determination performed in response to predetermined triggers such as terminal operation by the child or the passage of time. For example, in the first stage, a common minor notification (e.g., a short notification sound or vibration, displaying an icon in the corner of the screen) is given to all received messages, and only when the child reacts to the notification and operates the terminal is a detailed analysis of the message content and a full evaluation of its urgency (second stage determination) performed. If it is determined to be an "urgent message" based on the results, the system may proceed to the complex emphasis notification and operation restriction described in this disclosure. In this case, the initial operation by the child effectively functions as the first step in filtering the importance of the message, and also plays a role in streamlining the subsequent detailed determination by the system. To improve the accuracy of emergency message determination by the message type determination unit 302, the following configurations or controls may be added. For example, (a) the emergency flag assigned by the parent when sending the message is given the highest priority, (b) multiple keyword dictionaries indicating urgency (e.g., "Help," "Danger," "SOS") are pre-registered, and parents can add and edit child-specific phrases and new keywords, (c) the management server 50 implements a logic to comprehensively determine the degree of urgency by combining multiple situational information such as the message sender (e.g., primary parent, secondary parent, school), keyword occurrence patterns, and the child's current location (e.g., outside living area, intrusion into a dangerous area) and time information (e.g., late at night) obtained from GPS information. (d) The child's GPS terminal 10 receives the judgment result, (e) the management server 50 performs emotion analysis to estimate fear, pain, urgency, etc. from the tone, volume, speed, tremor, etc. of the voice based on the voice data processing unit 313 and its features, and also incorporates the result into the urgency judgment (see Figures 7 and 11), (f) in the event that a normal message is mistakenly judged as an emergency message, or vice versa, the management server 50 is equipped with a machine learning mechanism that allows the parent to correct the judgment result and learns from that feedback to improve the accuracy of subsequent judgments.These improvements are expected to reduce the risk of missing or falsely reporting emergency messages, leading to a more reliable emergency notification system. Specifically, the message type discrimination unit 302 may incorporate logic that scores urgency by comprehensively evaluating not only keyword matching, but also the sender's trustworthiness, the context of the message, the child's situation based on GPS information (e.g., being in an unusual location or entering an area predicted to be dangerous), and even advanced analysis on the management server 50 side (e.g., emotion estimation from voice, comparison with past behavioral patterns). Furthermore, a configuration in which parents provide feedback on past judgment results and the discrimination logic improves its accuracy through machine learning is also conceivable.

[0016] The notification control unit 303 provides a combined enhanced notification when the message type determination unit 302 determines that the message is an urgent message. A combined enhanced notification is a notification that combines at least one selected from visual, auditory, and tactile notifications, with the aim of strongly attracting the child's attention and preventing them from missing the message. In particular, children may be placed in a variety of situations; for example, the effectiveness of auditory notifications is diminished in extremely noisy environments, and conversely, visual notifications are less likely to reach children in situations where visual confirmation is difficult, such as in darkness or inside a bag. Also, if a child is extremely focused on something, a single sensory stimulus may not be able to attract their attention. As in this disclosure, by combining multiple notification means of different natures (visual, auditory, and tactile), even in situations where the effectiveness of one notification means is reduced, the other notification means can function complementaryly, and the overall certainty that the child will notice the urgent message can be increased. Furthermore, by appealing to multiple sensory channels simultaneously or sequentially, the aim is to convey the importance of the message gradually and effectively, while suppressing excessive surprise or discomfort to children compared to excessively emphasizing a single notification method, thereby encouraging a calmer assessment and response. In addition, by dynamically adjusting the combination of notifications and the intensity of each notification according to the situation (described later), it becomes easier to achieve both efficient battery consumption and maximized notification effectiveness.

[0017] In this specification, "complex emphasis notification" means a notification that is objectively distinguishable from a normal message notification, using at least one notification means selected from visual, auditory, and tactile notifications, with the aim of strongly attracting the attention of the user (especially children) and preventing them from missing the message. Preferably, the notification is delivered by combining at least two notification means selected from visual, auditory, and tactile notifications, thereby further enhancing the reliability of the notification in a variety of situations. Even if only one notification method is used, a notification made by that single notification method may qualify as a "complex emphatic notification" if it differs significantly from a normal message notification in terms of intensity, pattern, content, or duration, such that it satisfies at least one of the following conditions (a) to (c). (a) The intensity of the notification exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g., volume 1.5 times or more, brightness 2 times or more, vibration intensity at the strongest level) or is at the maximum level compared to a normal notification. (b) The notification pattern or content is specific to clearly indicate urgency or importance (e.g., intermittent vibration corresponding to an SOS signal, a change in the entire screen to a warning color and a continuous display of warning icons, or the playback of a specific warning sound). (c) The duration of the notification is significantly longer than that of a normal notification, or it continues until the user performs a specified confirmation action. Furthermore, "complex" means not only combining multiple notification methods, but also, even with a single notification method, if the manner of the notification (e.g., intensity, pattern, content, duration, etc.) combines unusual characteristics in multiple elements, or if, in conjunction with the notification context (e.g., operational restrictions imposed simultaneously with the notification), it comprehensively has the effect of strongly attracting the user's attention and conveying urgency.

[0018] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the notification control unit 303 can also perform a combined enhanced notification using a single available notification means if it detects that the battery level is extremely low or that a specific notification means (e.g., voice) has been disabled by user settings. For example, in a situation where voice output is unavailable, the entire screen of the display unit 205 will flash red, the text message "Urgent! Please check!" will be continuously displayed in the center of the screen in the largest font size, and the LED light 211 will flash red at high speed (enhancement through a combination of visual notifications). Alternatively, if the display unit is damaged but voice output is possible, a predetermined emergency warning sound (e.g., siren sound), different from the normal notification sound, will be played from the speaker 208 at maximum volume and repeatedly until the user confirms the notification (enhancement through the intensity and duration of auditory notifications).

[0019] The level of "emphasized notification" in this embodiment is such that the user can clearly recognize it as different from the notifications that occur when a normal message is received (e.g., a short notification sound, a small icon displayed at the top of the screen, a short vibration of about 1 second). Specifically, the following are examples. (1) Visual notification: The background color of the entire screen of the display unit 205 is changed to a warning color (e.g., red, yellow), and a warning message is displayed in a size that occupies more than half of the screen. Alternatively, the LED light 211 flashes at a frequency of twice per second or more. (2) Auditory notification: The volume of the warning sound output from speaker 208 will be 80% or more of the maximum volume of the device, regardless of the normal notification sound volume setting, and will be played continuously for 5 seconds or more. Alternatively, a special melody or pattern sound (e.g., pulse sound) that is clearly different from the normal notification sound and has a high level of attention-grabbing power will be used. (3) Tactile notification: The vibrator 209 operates with a predetermined strong vibration pattern (e.g., intermittent strong vibrations lasting for 3 seconds or more, or an SOS Morse code pattern) that is different from a normal notification (e.g., a single short vibration).

[0020] The notification control unit 303 controls the display control unit 304, the sound control unit 305, the vibration control unit 306, the LED control unit 307, etc., to execute specific notifications. For example, the display control unit 304 changes the background color of the entire screen of the display unit 205 to a warning color such as red or yellow, and displays large warning text such as "Important!" or "Emergency!" in the center (not shown). It can also make a specific warning icon blink.

[0021] The audio control unit 305 plays a warning sound or a specific warning melody from the speaker 208 at a louder volume than usual. The vibration control unit 306 vibrates the vibrator 209 more strongly than usual, or in a characteristic pattern (e.g., intermittent vibration corresponding to an SOS signal). The LED control unit 307 flashes the LED light 211 (e.g., rapidly flashing red or white). This can improve visibility in dark places and draw attention in a manner different from a display.

[0022] If an emergency message is assigned an urgency level, the notification control unit 303 may gradually change the manner of the highlighted notification according to that level. For example, the higher the urgency level, the faster the flashing pattern of the display unit 205, the louder the volume from the speaker 208, the more piercing the tone of the warning sound, or the more intense the vibration pattern of the vibrator 209 (see Figure 9).

[0023] Furthermore, the notification control unit 303 may be configured to dynamically adjust the combination of complex highlighted notifications and the intensity of each notification (e.g., increasing the brightness of visual notifications and decreasing the volume of auditory notifications in dark places, increasing the volume of auditory notifications and strengthening the vibration in noisy environments, prioritizing a combination of notifications that consume relatively little power when the battery level is low) based on information from various sensors (such as an illuminance sensor, microphone (for noise detection), and accelerometer (for activity detection) not shown) equipped in the child's GPS terminal 10, or the remaining battery level information of the battery 213. For example, the LED light 211 may be made to flash more strongly and the brightness of the display unit 205 may be increased in dark places, while the warning sound pattern may be changed to one that is easier to distinguish and the vibration may be strengthened in noisy environments. This makes it easier for children to notice emergency messages under any circumstances and enables efficient use of the terminal's resources. Furthermore, as a form of complex emphasis notification, depending on the specific situation or level of urgency, one notification method (e.g., visual notification) could be used as the primary emphasis notification, and other types of notification methods (e.g., auditory or tactile notifications) could be combined as secondary notifications to complement the effect of the primary notification or to assist in awareness. In this case, the secondary notifications may be less intense or intermittent than the primary notification; the important thing is to create a situation where multiple different types of sensory stimuli can reach the child. For example, combining an extremely strong visual flash notification as the primary notification with a weak vibration that the child only notices when they pick up the device, or combining it with short, intermittent supplemental warning sounds, could also fall within the scope of the technical ideas of this disclosure.

[0024] The operation reception unit 308 accepts various operation inputs from the user, such as touch operations on the touch panel 206 and pressing physical buttons such as the emergency button 212.

[0025] The confirmation operation detection unit 309 determines whether a user operation received via the operation reception unit 308 is a predetermined confirmation operation while the highlight notification is being executed, and detects that the predetermined confirmation operation has been completed. Here, "predetermined confirmation operation" refers to a predetermined active operation that is not canceled by simply accidentally touching the terminal screen, but rather to clearly indicate to the child that they are aware of the existence of the received emergency message and intend to check its contents. It is important that this "active operation" is an act that involves a conscious judgment by the user to understand the meaning of the received information (emergency message) and to communicate to the system that they have "confirmed" it, rather than simply reacting to a stimulus. If the confirmation operation were extremely simple, for example, if it could be completed by simply touching somewhere on the screen, there would be a risk that the highlight notification or operation restriction would be canceled by unconscious contact before the child understands the content of the message or even notices its existence. Therefore, the "prescribed confirmation operation" in this disclosure is essentially designed to require a certain level of intentional operation (e.g., following displayed instructions, using multiple fingers, continuing the operation for a certain period of time, tracing a specific pattern, etc.) in order to effectively reduce such accidental deactivation and ensure a process in which the child proactively recognizes the situation. This allows parents to determine that, based on the fact that the child has completed the confirmation operation, there is a high probability that the child has noticed the emergency message and at least understood its content. This operation aims to reduce the possibility of errors by the child and encourage a reliable response to the emergency message. Making the child the subject of this confirmation operation in this disclosure is intended not only to confirm that the message has been seen, but also to have an educational aspect, such as giving the child an opportunity to become aware of the emergency and proactively consider the next action (e.g., evacuating to a safe place, responding to a parent, etc.), and to cultivate the child's own crisis response ability. Therefore, the most basic deactivation condition is confirmation of the child's clear expression of intent and recognition of the emergency message.One could consider a system that automatically lifts restrictions simply because a certain amount of time has passed, or because GPS information suggests the child is in a safe location, or because sensors detect that the child is behaving calmly. However, these situations do not necessarily guarantee that the child understood the content of the emergency message and recognized its meaning. For example, it is possible that the child did not understand the meaning of the message as time passed, or that they were unaware of the seriousness of the situation even when in a safe location, or that they simply transitioned from a state of panic to a state of bewilderment. As disclosed here, involving the child's own intentional "confirmation operation" is essential to obtain more reliable evidence that the child actively processed the information and recognized its content. Through this process, parents can more confidently determine that the child has received the message and is ready to move on to the next step. Thus, in this disclosure, "predetermined confirmation operation" refers to an active physical action performed based on the clear intention of the child user (e.g., touching a specific body part, performing a specific movement, or uttering a specific voice command), and is clearly distinguished from physiological state changes or unconscious reactions that are not directly linked to the user's intention, such as changes in heart rate, skin electrical response, body temperature, or unconscious changes in facial expression. Only by involving this "active action based on intention" can a more reliable judgment be made that the child is not merely reacting to the situation, but has recognized the information and is ready to respond. The "predetermined confirmation operation" requires an active action by the child to clearly recognize the existence of an emergency message and to indicate their intention to respond, and is intentionally designed to be complex in a way that would not occur through accidental contact, such as simultaneously touching multiple locations on the display unit 205 or tracing a specific shape. This effectively prevents the message from being overlooked or the user from unintentionally transitioning to a confirmed state. Conceptually, it is a "predetermined specific user operation," and specifically includes "specific touch operations on the display unit" or "specific gesture operations."

[0026] The following are some specific examples. (1) Continuous or simultaneous touch operations (see Figure 4) on a predetermined number of specific areas on the display unit 205 (touch panel 206) (e.g., the upper right corner and the lower left corner of the screen) within a predetermined time (e.g., within 1 second). The display control unit 304 may visually guide the area to be touched to prompt confirmation (e.g., by surrounding it with a blinking circle). (2) Pressing and holding a predetermined icon (e.g., key icon) on the display unit 205 for a predetermined time (e.g., 2 seconds) or longer (see Figure 5(a)). (3) Tracing a specific trajectory (e.g., a horizontal straight line, a circle, a star shape, etc.) that is pre-displayed on the display unit 205 with a finger (see Figure 5(b)).

[0027] When the confirmation operation detection unit 309 detects that these operations have been performed correctly, it notifies the notification control unit 303 and the operation restriction unit 310 accordingly.

[0028] It should be noted that the above examples of confirmation operations are not limited to these. For example, parents may configure the system to allow the selection of the type of confirmation operation (e.g., long press only, trace only) according to the child's age and proficiency level, or to allow the child to select and perform the confirmation operation that is easiest for them from among multiple methods. This would provide optimal usability for children of a wider age range. In the initial stages of consideration, confirmation using specific voice commands or specific gestures on the device was also considered as an alternative, but after comprehensively considering factors such as reliability in noisy environments or situations where voice cannot be spoken, privacy concerns with the microphone always on, consistency of operation, and ease of understanding operation through on-screen guidance, this embodiment primarily uses touch panel operation for confirmation.

[0029] The operation restriction unit 310 temporarily restricts all terminal operations except predetermined emergency operations while the notification control unit 303 is performing an emphasized notification and until the confirmation operation detection unit 309 detects the completion of a predetermined confirmation operation. Here, "temporarily restrict" is not limited to actions that make it completely impossible to perform the terminal operation in question, but is a concept that includes any actions that make it significantly difficult to perform the operation, or that impose specific disadvantages or time constraints on the user during the execution of the operation, thereby substantially suppressing or delaying the operation. For example, actions such as repeatedly displaying a warning message when attempting to access a function to complicate the operation, requiring a predetermined waiting time before starting the operation, severely limiting the time the function can be used, or making only a part of the function available (e.g., being able to view but not edit) may also be included in "restricting". These operations are restricted in order to eliminate elements that may distract a child's attention from emergency messages and to prioritize their awareness of the emergency and their focus on checking the message. Furthermore, this restriction on operation also aims to ensure that children not only passively receive information (emergency messages) from the outside, but also have time to understand its content, make their own judgments, and regain their composure in order to take the next action. For this reason, it is important that the restriction is lifted, in principle, only after the child performs a "prescribed confirmation operation" themselves, in order to encourage children to proactively recognize the situation and respond accordingly.

[0030] "Other device operations" refers to operations that are not directly related to checking emergency messages or operations that may distract a child. The higher-level concept is "use of device functions other than checking emergency messages and emergency operations," while the intermediate-level concepts include "restricting application execution," "restricting setting changes," and "restricting normal message-related operations."

[0031] Specific examples include launching game applications, changing various settings on the child's GPS device 10 (volume settings, screen brightness settings, etc.), viewing, creating, and sending normal messages (non-urgent messages), changing wireless communication settings such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and power-off operations (excluding forced shutdown by long-pressing). By restricting certain operations in this way, children will be made aware of the importance of emergency messages and their confirmation will be given top priority. It should be noted that the level of restriction on "other device operations" does not necessarily have to be uniform. For example, for operations that are unnecessary in an emergency and may strongly attract a child's attention, such as game applications, a "strong restriction" that completely blocks access can be applied. On the other hand, for specific operations that children are expected to use even in an emergency, such as the function to send standardized response messages to parents or the function to check the detailed current location, a "soft restriction" (access is possible, but there are certain obstacles) can be applied, such as displaying a warning when access is attempted or requiring a short waiting period. In this way, the strength of the restriction can be set in stages depending on the type of operation. Thus, even when combining different levels of restrictions, as long as "other terminal operations, excluding emergency operations," are "temporarily restricted" in some way, it falls within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure.

[0032] However, the scope of restricted terminal operations can be changed in stages depending on the importance and circumstances of the emergency message. Furthermore, as a variation, after the emergency message confirmation operation is complete, or under specific conditions (e.g., remote instructions from a parent), it may be possible to temporarily enable a function that allows for the sending of standardized response messages to parents (e.g., "Yes, I've seen it," "I'm safe now") with simple operations, or a function that allows for the manual re-determining and sending of the child's current location information. This would support rapid communication and safety checks with parents. While the operation restrictions generally continue until the emergency message confirmation is complete, the system could also be configured to temporarily display an interface that allows for the easy sending of standardized responses (e.g., "I've seen it," "I'm okay") to parents, triggered by the completion of the confirmation operation. Additionally, depending on the level of urgency, flexible control is possible, such as exempting certain communication functions (e.g., only the call function between the user and parent) from restrictions. Furthermore, the level of this operation restriction is not fixed, but may be dynamically changed depending on the passage of time, specific actions by the child (however, such as simple responses or screen touches that do not lead to the completion of a "prescribed confirmation operation"), or the urgency level of the emergency message received. For example, adaptive control such as setting a relatively strong restriction state immediately after receiving an emergency message, and then gradually easing the restriction level to encourage confirmation if the child responds in any way (e.g., tapping the screen), or conversely, strengthening the restriction level to provide further warning if there is no response for a certain period of time (e.g., moving from a soft restriction to a complete block), is also included within the scope of the control described in this disclosure as "temporarily restricting".

[0033] (Variations regarding remote parental involvement and the use of biometric information, etc.) The primary configuration of this disclosure is that a "prescribed confirmation operation" performed by the child themselves triggers the release of the operation restrictions. However, it is also conceivable to add auxiliary functions that allow guardians to monitor their child's safety from multiple perspectives. For example, if a child does not perform the "prescribed confirmation operation" for a certain period of time (e.g., timeout), or if a guardian determines that the situation is extremely serious, functions such as temporarily activating the microphone 207 of the child's GPS terminal to transmit ambient sound to the guardian terminal, activating the camera (if installed) to transmit ambient video, or highlighting a standard confirmation message such as "Are you okay? Please respond" on the child's GPS terminal to further encourage the child to respond or perform confirmation operations could complement the purpose of this disclosure. However, these auxiliary functions are intended to improve the accuracy of safety confirmation and situation assessment in situations where the child's own proactive confirmation is difficult, while still being based on the child's own proactive confirmation. The release of operation restrictions itself will, in principle, depend on the child's "prescribed confirmation operation."

[0034] Furthermore, the child's GPS terminal 10 may incorporate biosensors such as a heart rate sensor, a geothermal response (GSR) sensor, and a body temperature sensor, or it may be configured to acquire this information in conjunction with an external wearable device. It is also conceivable to estimate the child's emotional state (excitement, fear, calmness, etc.) by analyzing the voice picked up by the microphone 207 or by analyzing facial expressions using a camera (if one is installed). This biometric and state information can be used not as a direct trigger for releasing the operation restrictions, but for auxiliary purposes such as the following. (a) If a child is suspected to be in a state of extreme panic, send an additional alert to the parent (e.g., "Your child may be experiencing severe stress. Would you like to try a remote voice check?"). (b) Temporarily adjust the difficulty of the “prescribed confirmation procedure” according to the child’s condition (e.g., proceed as usual if the child is presumed to be calm, or change to a simpler procedure if the child is presumed to be agitated). (c) When it is estimated that the child has calmed down, a notification prompting the child to perform a "confirmation operation" will be displayed on the screen or given via voice guidance. (d) After the "prescribed verification procedure" is completed, information regarding the child's physiological state at that time will be provided to the guardian as part of the log information. Thus, biometric information and state estimation can be useful information to complement "confirmation operations" based on the child's own will and to improve the quality of monitoring, but the basic deactivation mechanism disclosed in this application still relies on the child's active actions.

[0035] (Support for verification operations and difficulty level adjustment) Furthermore, it is conceivable to use time elapsed and environmental sensor information as supplementary tools to support children in performing "prescribed confirmation operations." For example, if a confirmation operation is not performed even after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of a highlighting notification, the notification format can be changed (e.g., switching to a gentler notification to encourage confirmation), or the confirmation operation guide display can be made clearer. Also, if GPS information suggests that the child is in a safe location, or if the accelerometer determines that the child is in a calm state, temporarily lowering the difficulty of the required confirmation operation (e.g., changing from tracing a path to a long press) may be effective from the perspective of improving usability. However, even in these cases, the final release of the operation restriction should fundamentally be based on the detection of some intentional confirmation action by the child themselves (even if it is simplified). As mentioned above, using only time elapsed or environmental sensor information as a direct trigger for release would be contrary to the basic technical concept of this disclosure, which is to confirm the child's reliable awareness.

[0036] (Emergency operation) The emergency operation detection unit 311 detects emergency operations that allow the child to proactively notify others of an emergency. Here, "emergency operation" refers to an operation in which the child proactively notifies others of their own danger, and is guaranteed to be executable with the highest priority regardless of the state of the terminal (e.g., during highlighted notification or operation restriction). This operation is positioned as a last resort that enables intuitive and reliable SOS transmission even when the child is in a panic or when screen operation is difficult. This emergency operation is not subject to operation restrictions by the operation restriction unit 310 and is always executable regardless of the state of the terminal (even during highlighted notification or operation restriction). This is because "emergency operation" is the last resort for a child to notify others of a threat to their life or physical safety, and has a unique character that should take absolute priority over any other function under any circumstances. Therefore, it is clearly distinguished from other functions that may be useful in an emergency, such as the function to call a guardian or the location information confirmation function, in terms of its level of urgency and necessity, and is guaranteed to be executed unconditionally and with the highest priority.

[0037] The higher-level concept of "emergency operation" is "a specific operation performed by the user to notify of an emergency." Intermediate-level concepts include "operation of a dedicated physical key" and "specific gesture operation."

[0038] For example, (1) Pressing and holding the dedicated emergency button 212 (physical button) provided on the child GPS terminal 10 for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 seconds) or pressing it a predetermined number of times (e.g., 3 times quickly). (2) Vibration or movement of the child's GPS terminal 10 in a predetermined pattern detected by the motion sensor 210 (accelerometer) (e.g., shaking the terminal a specific number of times with a specific force; see Figure 10).

[0039] These physical operations (buttons, gestures) are intended to reliably detect and notify a child's distress call even in situations where voice recognition or touch panel operation may be difficult, such as when hands are wet, gloves are being worn, or there is a lot of ambient noise. In the initial studies, emergency operations using specific voice commands were also considered, but considering the reliability under the aforementioned adverse conditions, the risk of misrecognition, and the risk of detection by the perpetrator, physical operations were deemed more appropriate as emergency operations that can be completed using only the child's terminal.

[0040] When the emergency operation detection unit 311 detects an emergency operation, the current location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 312, along with this information, is immediately notified to the parent terminal 60 and the management server 50 via the communication unit 204.

[0041] The location information acquisition unit 312 acquires the current location information of the child's GPS terminal 10 using the GPS module 203.

[0042] The voice data processing unit 313 processes the voice data picked up by the microphone 207. For example, it performs noise reduction processing and feature extraction processing on the voice data. The processed voice data or its features can be transmitted to the management server 50 via the communication unit 204. The management server 50 performs speech recognition processing, acoustic feature analysis processing, and sentiment analysis processing (e.g., estimating fear, pain, urgency, etc. from voice tone, volume, speed, tremor, etc.) based on the received voice data and features. In this way, the management server 50 can comprehensively analyze not only the voice data, but also the message content, sender information, GPS location information, terminal sensor information, child profile information (age, allergies, etc.), and even external information (weather, disaster information, suspicious person information, etc.), thereby improving the accuracy of urgency determination and determining the optimal pattern for notifications and operation restrictions to instruct the child's GPS terminal 10, thus playing an important role in the overall system intelligence (see Figures 7 and 11).

[0043] The log generation and transmission unit 314 generates log information that records the time the emergency message was received, the time the predetermined confirmation operation was completed, and the time taken between these events, and transmits it to the parent terminal 60 or management server 50 via the communication unit 204. This allows the parent to know when their child noticed and confirmed the message.

[0044] <Processing flow when an emergency message is received> Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the main processing flow when an emergency message is received in this embodiment.

[0045] First, the message receiving unit 301 of the child's GPS terminal 10 receives a message sent from the parent terminal 60 or the like (step S801).

[0046] Next, the message type determination unit 302 determines whether the received message is an emergency message (step S802). If it is not an emergency message (NO in step S802), normal message processing is performed (for example, displaying the message content on the display unit 205 along with a normal notification sound) (step S803).

[0047] If the received message is determined to be an emergency message (YES in step S802), the control unit 201 (specifically the notification control unit 303 and the operation restriction unit 310) starts the following processing. Note that "determined to be an emergency message" here does not necessarily refer only to the determination immediately after receiving the message, but also includes the point in time when the urgency is finally determined as a result of the step-by-step or dynamic determination in response to the child's actions and changes in the situation, as described above.

[0048] First, check if there are any other unconfirmed emergency messages and if they were received before the emergency message currently being processed (step S804). If such a prior unconfirmed emergency message exists (YES in step S804), the highlighting notification for the currently received emergency message is temporarily suspended, and priority is given to confirming the prior emergency message (step S805). This ensures that even if multiple emergency messages arrive in succession, the child will not become confused and will be able to respond to them one by one in the order they are received.

[0049] If there are no prior unconfirmed emergency messages, or if confirmation has been completed (NO in step S804, or after processing in step S805 is completed), the notification control unit 303 starts a complex highlighted notification for the emergency message to be processed (step S806). For example, this is done by combining the background color change and warning text display of the display unit 205, warning sound playback from the speaker 208, vibration by the vibrator 209, and flashing of the LED light 211, as described above. At the same time, the operation restriction unit 310 restricts terminal operations other than emergency operations (step S807).

[0050] If a regular message is received later while this highlighted notification and operation restriction is in effect, the notification control unit 303 will temporarily suspend notification of the regular message or display it discreetly without sound or vibration (e.g., only display a small new message icon in the corner of the display unit 205; see reference numeral 251 in Figure 2), while continuing to prioritize the display of the highlighted message related to the emergency message in the main area of ​​the display unit 205 (step S808). This prevents important emergency messages from being buried by later-arriving regular messages.

[0051] Next, the control unit 201 (confirmation operation detection unit 309) monitors whether or not a predetermined confirmation operation has been performed by the user (step S809). Until the predetermined confirmation operation is performed (NO in step S809), the highlighted notification and operation restriction will continue.

[0052] In this specification, “prescribed user confirmation operation” refers to a series of operations or specific physical actions predetermined by the GPS terminal or related system, which the user actively performs with a clear intention to acknowledge the existence of an emergency message and confirm its contents. To prevent this confirmation operation from being completed unintentionally by simply touching the terminal or through an unconscious action, it shall require a degree of intentionality and operability characterized by any of (a) to (d) below, or a combination thereof. (a) Sequential or simultaneous operation on multiple different input points (e.g., two-point touch, pressing multiple buttons in a specific order). (b) Continuous operation of a single input point for a period of time or longer (e.g., long-pressing an icon). (c) Operations that accurately follow specific patterns or trajectories displayed (e.g., tracing shapes, swipe gestures). (d) Specific gesture operations that involve physical movement of the device (e.g., shaking or tilting a specific number of times). Thus, the "prescribed confirmation operation" is designed to require the user's attention and a certain degree of concentration, and to have a sufficiently low probability of being completed by chance, thereby ensuring the user's reliable recognition of the emergency message. Operations that carry a high risk of accidental deactivation, such as a single tap across a wide area of ​​the screen or a simple button press for a short time, may, in principle, not be included in the "prescribed confirmation operation" as intended by this invention.

[0053] When it is detected that the user has correctly performed the prescribed confirmation operation (YES in step S809), the notification control unit 303 stops the highlighted notification, and the operation restriction unit 310 releases the operation restriction (step S810). As a result, the child's GPS terminal 10 returns to the normal standby screen or starts notifying the pending normal messages. Subsequently, the log generation and transmission unit 314 may perform the process of sending log information, including the time of emergency message reception and the time of completion of the confirmation operation, to the parent terminal 60 or the like (step S811).

[0054] Furthermore, if the prescribed confirmation operation is not performed after a certain period of time (e.g., 1 minute) has elapsed since the start of the highlighted notification (timeout), the notification control unit 303 may perform control (not shown) to automatically send an additional notification to the parent terminal 60, such as "The urgent message has not been confirmed." In this case, the parent terminal may not only notify the parent that the message has not been confirmed, but may also provide an interface that allows the parent to selectively perform the auxiliary functions described above (such as requesting audio confirmation by activating the microphone, or requesting video confirmation by activating the camera). Also, as mentioned above, it is conceivable that the difficulty of the confirmation operation or the notification prompting confirmation may be changed in response to a timeout.

[0055] <Computer function improvements, UI improvements> The series of processes described above in the child GPS terminal 10 of this disclosure are realized by the control unit 201 (processor) executing a program stored in the memory unit 202. This program efficiently uses the processing resources of the computer (child GPS terminal 10) and solves the specific technical challenge of transmitting emergency information.

[0056] (Improvements to computer functionality) Optimizing Processing Load: When an emergency message is received, resources are concentrated on specific processes such as notification control and operation restrictions, while unnecessary background processing is suppressed. This optimizes the overall processing load of the terminal and maintains responsiveness. In particular, by postponing or simplifying notification processing for normal messages, computing resources necessary for executing key functions during emergencies are secured.

[0057] Improved Real-Time Capability: The processing sequence, from receiving an emergency message to initiating a highlighted notification and detecting a confirmation action, requires high real-time capabilities to ensure child safety. This disclosure minimizes delays and enables rapid information dissemination and response by implementing controls to prioritize these processes.

[0058] Data structure optimization: By appropriately designing a data structure within the storage unit 202 for managing urgent messages, regular messages, their status (unconfirmed, confirmed, etc.), and reception times, message prioritization and log information generation can be performed efficiently. For example, one possible approach is to manage message queues according to priority.

[0059] Optimizing communication volume: When sending log information, it is possible to reduce communication volume and battery consumption by limiting the data items sent to the bare minimum and sending them in batches at appropriate times.

[0060] (Improved user interface) Improved usability:

[0061] Intuitive Emergency Notifications: Combined, enhanced notifications that utilize visual (color, large text, flashing, LED), auditory (alarm sounds), and tactile (vibration) senses make it easier for children to intuitively recognize emergencies. In particular, appealing to multiple senses, which is less affected by the surrounding environment (noise, darkness, etc.), significantly improves usability. While an approach that extremely enhances only a single notification method is conceivable, in such cases, the risk of missing an alert remains in certain situations (e.g., environments where that single method is less effective, or the possibility that children may become accustomed to that single stimulus). Furthermore, an extreme single stimulus may cause excessive fear or stress in children, potentially hindering their ability to respond calmly. Combining multiple notification methods with different characteristics in a balanced manner, or shifting their hierarchy depending on the situation, as disclosed here, contributes to overall superior usability and safety from the perspectives of adaptability to a wider range of situational changes, improved reliability through notification redundancy, and psychological consideration for children. The aforementioned combination of enhanced notifications and restrictions significantly increases the likelihood that children will notice and focus on urgent messages, regardless of the circumstances. This goes beyond simply strengthening notifications, enabling information delivery that takes into account children's behavior and psychology, effectively preventing them from missing important messages.

[0062] Preventing accidental operation: By employing methods such as multiple touches, long presses, and tracing paths as "designated confirmation operations" rather than just a single touch, unintentional confirmation cancellation due to accidental contact is effectively prevented. This encourages children to perform operations only after they have fully understood the message content, thereby increasing the reliability of the operation.

[0063] Simplifying and clarifying operations: In emergencies, complex operations are difficult, so confirmation and emergency operations should be simple and straightforward, even for children. Guide displays on the display unit (such as indicating touch points) help in understanding the operation and improve usability.

[0064] Prioritizing information: When there is an unconfirmed emergency message, the interface helps children focus on the most important information by making subsequent regular message notifications less prominent or continuing to display the emergency message. This prevents information overload and improves usability.

[0065] Improving accessibility: Combined, emphatic notifications can improve accessibility by increasing the likelihood that information can be conveyed through other senses to children with specific sensory impairments (e.g., visual or hearing impairments). For example, customization could be considered, such as emphasizing stronger visual and tactile notifications for children who cannot rely on hearing.

[0066] LED light notifications enhance accessibility by providing visual alerts even in situations where the display is difficult to see or sound cannot be played.

[0067] As described above, according to the embodiments of this disclosure, a GPS terminal for children can effectively prevent children from missing emergency messages sent by their guardians, encourage them to confirm the messages, and provide a reliable means of information transmission that can also respond to emergencies involving the child themselves. Specifically, by simultaneously and continuously appealing to the child's sight, hearing, and touch, and by forcibly interrupting other activities, it is expected that the child will be much more likely to notice the emergency message and focus on its content in a variety of situations. In addition, by controlling the notification of normal messages, prioritizing the display of emergency messages, and sequentially processing multiple emergency messages, it is possible to prevent children from becoming confused by information overload and ensure that they respond to the most important information. In particular, this disclosure is characterized not only by improving the efficiency of information transmission, but also by requiring the child to perform an intentional "confirmation operation" to release the operation restrictions, thereby emphasizing the process of the child proactively recognizing the situation and responding to it, rather than passively receiving information. As a result, compared to automatic control that relies only on the passage of time and environmental conditions, it encourages children to reliably recognize the content of emergency messages before taking the next action, and as a result, it is possible to achieve safer and more reliable monitoring. While biometric information such as heart rate, sweating, and facial expressions can be useful indicators for understanding a child's condition, this information fluctuates complexly depending on the child's physical environment (after exercise, in a hot place, etc.) and psychological factors, and does not necessarily accurately reflect the degree to which the child recognizes an emergency message or their willingness to respond. Systems that automatically release operational restrictions based solely on biometric information may carry the risk of misrecognition or delayed release. In contrast, an approach that requires a clear "confirmation operation" based on the child's own intention, as disclosed here, can more directly and reliably confirm the child's recognition and intention, significantly increasing the reliability of the response process in emergencies.

[0068] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to maximize the priority of access to and response to emergency information by restricting other primary device operations until the child is certain they have recognized and consciously reviewed an emergency message sent by their parent or guardian. A GPS device carried by a child, A means of receiving messages sent from a parent's device, A message type determination means for determining whether the received message is a predetermined emergency message, When the message type determination means determines that it is an emergency message, the notification control means provides a composite highlighted notification that combines at least two or more selected from visual notifications, auditory notifications, and tactile notifications. During the execution of the aforementioned emphasis notification, operation restriction means temporarily restricts other terminal operations, except for predetermined emergency operations, until a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user. A confirmation operation detection means for detecting that the predetermined confirmation operation has been completed, A GPS device for children characterized by having the following features. According to the above-mentioned information processing device (child GPS terminal), by combining complex highlighted notifications and operation restrictions for emergency messages sent by guardians, it is possible to make it easier for children to notice messages under any circumstances and prevent them from being distracted by other operations until they consciously check the content. As a result, the importance of received messages on the child terminal, especially the reliability of information transmission for emergency messages, can be dramatically improved, contributing to ensuring the safety of children.

[0069] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to effectively prevent accidental contact or unintended actions by children when checking emergency messages, and to further ensure that children intentionally and reliably confirm the messages. In the child GPS device described above, The GPS terminal has a touch panel display, The GPS terminal for children is characterized in that the predetermined confirmation operation is a series of touch operations or simultaneous touch operations on a predetermined number of specific areas on the touch panel display within a predetermined time. This requires a clear expression of intent from the child rather than a simple one-touch operation, thus suppressing unintended transitions to a confirmed state due to accidental contact, and more strongly encouraging the child's firm recognition of emergency messages and subsequent appropriate responses.

[0070] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to restrict specific device operations that may cause children to become confused or distracted while responding to emergency messages, while ensuring that emergency operations, which are a last resort for ensuring the child's own safety, are always available. In the child GPS device described above, Other terminal operations restricted by the aforementioned operation restriction means include, at a minimum, launching applications, changing settings, and viewing messages. The emergency operation is characterized by pressing a physical button provided on the GPS terminal for a predetermined amount of time or a predetermined number of times. This effectively limits specific actions that could distract from emergency messages (such as playing games or browsing regular messages), while always ensuring intuitive and reliable emergency actions via physical buttons for children to signal their own danger, thus optimizing the balance between safety and reliable information dissemination. In this specification, "other terminal operations restricted" by the operation restriction means broadly include access to and execution of terminal functions or applications that may distract the user's (especially a child's) attention from the content of a high-priority message received and an appropriate response to it, or that may interrupt or delay the message confirmation process, excluding predetermined confirmation operations and predetermined emergency operations. This may include games, viewing and watching entertainment and informational content (videos, music, ebooks, etc.), creating and sending new messages (excluding pre-approved pre-set responses, etc.), using SNS applications, internet browsing, changing terminal system settings (volume, screen brightness, notification settings, communication settings, etc., excluding those related to emergency operations), and launching or operating other applications not directly related to responding to emergency messages. However, depending on the level of urgency and circumstances, there may be operations that are exceptionally permitted, such as remote control by a parent or extremely limited communication functions (e.g., a function for making calls only to parents), but even in such cases, the principle that responding to high-priority messages should take top priority remains.

[0071] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to enable parents to accurately and quickly understand how their children are responding to urgent messages (whether they have checked the message, how long it has taken to respond, etc.). In the child GPS device described above, A child GPS terminal further comprising log transmission means for measuring the time between the time of receiving the emergency message and the time when the confirmation operation detection means detects the completion of the predetermined confirmation operation, and transmitting log information including the measurement result to the guardian's terminal or a predetermined server. This allows parents to know exactly when their child saw the emergency message and how quickly they responded, improving the accuracy of their situation assessment and safety checks, and providing information to help them decide on the next necessary action.

[0072] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to provide an auxiliary means of automatically detecting emergencies from surrounding sounds and quickly notifying parents, even in situations where a child is unable to operate a device themselves to send an SOS (for example, being able to speak but unable to use their hands, or vice versa). In the child GPS device described above, A microphone that picks up ambient sounds, The system further comprises a communication means for transmitting audio data or its characteristic quantities, picked up by the microphone, to a predetermined server via a network. The child GPS terminal is characterized in that the server performs at least one of speech recognition processing, acoustic feature analysis processing, or sentiment analysis processing based on the received voice data or its features, determines the degree of urgency based on the analysis results, and functions as part of a system that sends an emergency notification to the guardian's terminal if it is determined to be highly urgent. This increases the likelihood that, even if the device cannot be physically operated, an emergency will be automatically detected through advanced voice analysis on the server side and notified to the parent, for example, if the child cries out "Help!" or if an unusual noise occurs.

[0073] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to further improve the accuracy of emergency assessments based on audio information by incorporating objective information about the child's situation, thereby achieving both a reduction in false alarms and an improvement in detection rates. In the child GPS device described above, The GPS terminal for children is characterized in that, when determining the degree of urgency, the server further considers, in addition to the analysis results, at least one piece of situational information selected from a group consisting of location information, time information, movement status information, and pre-registered living area information received from the GPS terminal. This allows for more accurate assessment of urgency while effectively suppressing false alarms, even in cases where it is difficult to make a judgment based on audio information alone, such as when a voice saying "Help me" is detected in a location outside the usual living area, late at night, or simultaneously with situations such as sudden movement or a fall.

[0074] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to provide variations in the confirmation process for emergency messages, thereby improving usability and encouraging intentional confirmation while preventing accidental deactivation, depending on the child's proficiency, preferences, or the situation. The GPS device for children described above, The GPS terminal for children is characterized in that the predetermined confirmation operation is a long press operation for a predetermined time or longer on a predetermined specific icon on the touch panel display of the GPS terminal, or an operation of tracing a specific trajectory that is pre-displayed on the touch panel display. This provides alternative operation methods (long press, tracing) to multiple touches, increasing the options available to children based on their skills and the situation, encouraging more reliable and intentional confirmation actions. As a result, it more effectively prevents accidental deactivation and increases the reliability of responses to emergency messages.

[0075] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to communicate the seriousness of a situation to children more intuitively and accurately by gradually changing the notification style according to the degree of urgency assigned to the received emergency message. The GPS device for children described above, The notification control means is characterized by gradually changing the manner of the combined highlighting notification (flashing pattern of the visual notification, volume or tone of the auditory notification, or vibration pattern of the tactile notification) according to the urgency level assigned to the emergency message, for a child's GPS terminal. This allows for more urgent messages to receive stronger, more prominent warnings, effectively helping children intuitively understand the seriousness of a situation and take quicker, more appropriate action.

[0076] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to enhance the visual attention-grabbing effect to make children aware of the presence of emergency messages, especially in dark environments or situations where the device is difficult to see directly, such as inside a bag. The GPS device for children described above, The aforementioned GPS terminal is further equipped with an LED light. The notification control means is characterized by flashing the LED light as the composite emphasis notification for the child's GPS terminal. This allows for not only visual notifications via the display, but also flashing dedicated LED lights. This significantly enhances the visual alert effect, as the flashing light effectively signals an emergency, especially in dark environments or when the device is in a bag and the display is not visible.

[0077] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to clearly limit the range of other specific device operations that children may unintentionally perform or that may interfere with emergency responses, in order to allow for greater focus on responding to emergency messages. The GPS device for children described above, A child's GPS terminal characterized in that other terminal operations restricted by the operation restriction means include at least creating or sending other messages, or changing wireless communication settings. This effectively reduces the risk of children accidentally creating and sending other messages, or unintentionally changing wireless communication settings such as Wi-Fi or mobile data while checking emergency messages, resulting in interruptions in emergency communications. This allows them to focus more reliably on responding to emergency messages.

[0078] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to prevent children from being distracted or overlooked by notifications of less important, regular messages received later, when there is an unconfirmed urgent message. The GPS device for children described above, The notification control means is characterized in that, until the predetermined confirmation operation for the emergency message is completed, notifications of subsequently received normal messages are temporarily suspended, or are displayed discreetly on the display unit in a manner that does not involve sound or vibration. This effectively prevents children from being distracted by notifications (sound, vibration, pop-up, etc.) from regular messages that arrive later while they are focusing on an emergency message, ensuring that they maintain priority in responding to emergency messages. This is especially effective in situations where different types of messages are sent simultaneously from multiple parents.

[0079] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to ensure that, while an unconfirmed emergency message exists, even if other regular messages are received, the most important information—the emergency message—is always visible to the child, minimizing the risk of it being overlooked. The GPS device for children described above, The control means is characterized in that, until the predetermined confirmation operation for the emergency message is completed, even if there are regular messages received later, the display unit will continue to prioritize the display of the highlighted emergency message. This ensures that when a child looks at the device screen, the most important emergency messages remain prominently displayed, without being buried among later received regular messages. This further reduces the risk of overlooking important information and encourages a quick response to emergencies.

[0080] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to enable children to calmly and reliably respond to each emergency message without becoming overwhelmed and confused when multiple emergency messages are received in quick succession. The GPS device for children described above, A GPS terminal for children, characterized in that, if multiple emergency messages are received in succession and the predetermined confirmation operation for the previously received emergency message has not been completed, the notification control means continues the composite emphasis notification and operation restriction for the previously received emergency message, and the composite emphasis notification for subsequent emergency messages starts after the confirmation operation for the previously received emergency message has been completed. This allows children to focus on responding to each emergency message in the order they receive it, without being overwhelmed by multiple pieces of information at once, effectively preventing missed responses, confusion, and panic.

[0081] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to provide an alternative means of performing emergency operations through more intuitive and physical actions, even in situations where a child has difficulty pressing a physical emergency button for any reason, or is unable to press a button based on quick judgment. The GPS device for children described above, The aforementioned GPS terminal is further equipped with an accelerometer, The emergency operation is characterized by the vibration or movement of the GPS terminal in a predetermined pattern, as detected by the acceleration sensor, for a child's GPS terminal. This allows for easy transmission of emergency signals through gestures, such as vigorously shaking the device in a specific pattern, even when physical buttons are difficult to press due to wet hands or gloves, or when there is no time to search for buttons in a panic, thereby increasing opportunities to ensure the child's safety.

[0082] Another object of this disclosure is to provide a control method for causing a computer (e.g., the control unit of the child GPS terminal, or the management server, or both) to perform characteristic information processing in the child GPS terminal described above, or in the entire system in which the terminal and the management server work together, and a program for causing the computer to perform the control method. For example, each step in the control method described in claim 15 (message reception, urgency determination, emphasis notification, operation restriction, confirmation operation detection) does not necessarily have to be completed and executed within a single device (child GPS terminal), and includes forms in which some steps (especially urgency determination and determination of notification / restriction content) are executed on the management server side, and the results or instructions are sent to the child GPS terminal to execute other steps, thereby spanning multiple devices. Similarly, the program in claim 16 can be understood as a concept that includes not only a program executed in the control unit of the child GPS terminal, but also a program executed on the management server side that works in conjunction with the terminal-side program to realize the method of this disclosure (e.g., a web application, a server-side program, etc.). These methods and programs can also produce similar effects to those described in the corresponding device claims, namely, improving the reliability of information transmission according to the importance of messages received on child terminals, and in particular enhancing the reliability of children's recognition and response to urgent messages.

[0083] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its essence. For example, although the above embodiments were described using a GPS terminal for children as an example, the technical ideas of this disclosure can also be applied to other portable terminals with emergency contact functions, such as monitoring terminals for the elderly.

[0084] Furthermore, elements of each embodiment may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0085] 10. GPS devices for children 50 Management Server 60 Parental control devices NW Network 201 Control Unit 202 Storage section 203 GPS Module 204 Communications Department 205 Display section 206 Touch Panel 207 Mike 208 speakers 209 Vibrator 210 Motion Sensor (Accelerometer) 211 LED lights 212 Emergency button 213 Battery 251 New regular message icon 301 Message Receiving Unit 302 Message Type Discrimination Unit 303 Notification Control Unit 304 Display Control Unit 305 Voice Control Unit 306 Vibration Control Unit 307 LED Control Unit 308 Operation Reception Section 309 Confirmation operation detection unit 310 Operation Restriction Unit 311 Emergency Operation Detection Unit 312 Location information acquisition unit 313 Audio Data Processing Unit 314 Log generation and transmission unit S801~S811 Each step of the flowchart

Claims

1. A means of receiving messages sent from a monitoring terminal, A message type determination means for determining whether the received message is a message of predetermined importance, When the message type determination means determines that the message is of high importance, the notification control means provides a composite emphasis notification that combines at least one of the following: visual notification, auditory notification, and tactile notification. During the execution of the aforementioned emphasis notification, operation restriction means temporarily restricts other terminal operations, except for predetermined emergency operations, until a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user. A confirmation operation detection means for detecting that the predetermined confirmation operation has been completed, A GPS terminal equipped with [a specific feature / ability].

2. It has a touch panel display, The aforementioned predetermined confirmation operation is a series of touch operations or simultaneous touch operations on a predetermined number of specific areas on the touch panel display within a predetermined time period. The GPS terminal according to claim 1.

3. Other terminal operations restricted by the aforementioned operation restriction means include, at a minimum, launching applications, changing settings, and viewing messages. The emergency operation is the pressing of a physical button on the GPS terminal for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of times. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The system further includes log transmission means that measures the time between the time of receipt of the high-priority message and the time when the confirmation operation detection means detects the completion of the predetermined confirmation operation, and transmits log information including the measurement result to the monitoring terminal or a predetermined server. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A microphone that picks up ambient sounds, The system further comprises a communication means for transmitting audio data or its characteristic quantities, picked up by the microphone, to a predetermined server via a network. The server performs at least one of the following based on the received audio data or its features: speech recognition processing, acoustic feature analysis processing, and sentiment analysis processing; determines the degree of urgency based on the analysis results; and sends an emergency notification to the monitoring terminal if it determines that the urgency is high. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

6. When determining the degree of urgency, the server further considers, in addition to the analysis results, at least one piece of situational information selected from a group consisting of location information, time information, movement status information, and pre-registered living area information received from the GPS terminal. The GPS terminal according to claim 5.

7. The aforementioned predetermined confirmation operation is a long press operation for a predetermined time or longer on a predetermined specific icon on the touch panel display of the GPS terminal, or an operation of tracing a predetermined specific trajectory displayed on the touch panel display. The GPS terminal according to claim 1.

8. The notification control means progressively changes the manner of the composite highlighting notification according to the urgency level assigned to the high-importance message. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The aforementioned GPS terminal is further equipped with an LED light. The notification control means flashes the LED light as the composite emphasis notification. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

10. Other terminal operations restricted by the aforementioned operation restriction means include, at a minimum, creating or sending other messages, or changing wireless communication settings. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The notification control means temporarily suspends notifications of subsequently received regular messages, or displays them discreetly on the display unit in a manner that does not involve sound or vibration, until the predetermined confirmation operation for the high-priority message is completed. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

12. The control means causes the display unit to continue to prioritize the display of the highlighted message until the predetermined confirmation operation for the high-priority message is completed, even if there are regular messages received later. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

13. If multiple high-priority messages are received consecutively, and the predetermined confirmation operation for the first high-priority message received has not been completed, the notification control means continues the composite emphasis notification and operation restriction for the first high-priority message received, and the composite emphasis notification for subsequent high-priority messages begins after the confirmation operation for the first high-priority message received has been completed. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

14. Equipped with an accelerometer, The emergency operation is the vibration or movement of the GPS terminal in a predetermined pattern, as detected by the acceleration sensor. A GPS terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

15. The steps include receiving messages sent from the monitoring terminal, The steps include determining whether the received message is a message of predetermined importance, If a message is determined to be of high importance, the system provides a composite highlighting notification that combines at least one of the following: visual, auditory, and haptic notifications. During the execution of the aforementioned emphasis notification, the user temporarily restricts other terminal operations, except for predetermined emergency operations, until a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user. A step of detecting that the predetermined confirmation operation has been completed, A control method including

16. In the processor, To receive messages sent from the monitoring terminal, The system determines whether the received message is a message of predetermined importance. When a message is determined to be of high importance, a composite highlighting notification is provided, combining at least one of the following: visual, auditory, and haptic notifications. During the execution of the aforementioned highlighting notification, other terminal operations, except for predetermined emergency operations, will be temporarily restricted until the user performs the prescribed confirmation operation. To detect that the aforementioned predetermined verification operation has been completed, A program that executes a process.

17. Equipped with a GPS terminal, a server, and a monitoring terminal, The GPS terminal is, A means of receiving messages sent from a monitoring terminal, A message type determination means for determining whether the received message is a message of predetermined importance, When the message type determination means determines that the message is of high importance, the notification control means provides a composite emphasis notification that combines at least one of the following: visual notification, auditory notification, and tactile notification. During the execution of the aforementioned emphasis notification, operation restriction means temporarily restricts other terminal operations, except for predetermined emergency operations, until a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user. A confirmation operation detection means for detecting that the predetermined confirmation operation has been completed, A microphone that picks up ambient sounds, The system further comprises a communication means for transmitting audio data or its characteristic quantities, picked up by the microphone, to a predetermined server via a network. The aforementioned server, Based on the received audio data or its features, at least one of the following is performed: speech recognition processing, acoustic feature analysis processing, or sentiment analysis processing. Based on the analysis results, the degree of urgency is determined, and if it is determined to be highly urgent, an emergency notification is sent to the guardian's device. system.

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