Terminal device, server, safety confirmation system, safety confirmation method, control program and computer-readable recording medium

• US 20070024450A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Atsushi, Yoshimura, Masako, Shichiku, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US11/452,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A terminal device carried by a person being monitored comprises a position obtaining section; an activity range information storage section; an information storage section; an activity detection section; a communication section; and a self-person and circumstance authentication section.

Claims

1. A terminal device on a person being monitored side, carried by the person being monitored, comprising:

a position obtaining section for obtaining positional information of the terminal device from a positional information providing section;

an activity range information storage section for storing information of an activity range and an activity pattern of the person being monitored, the activity range and the activity pattern being set by a monitoring person or the person being monitored;

an information storage section for a monitoring person for storing at least a contact address of the monitoring person;

an activity detection section for detecting the relationship between the positional information and the range stored in the activity range information storage section;

a communication section for informing the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side of the relationship between the positional information and the stored range; and

a self-person and circumstance authentication section for performing a self-person and circumstance authentication process in accordance with a request from the terminal device on the monitoring person side in order to confirm the identity of the person being monitored and also to confirm the circumstance in which the person being monitored is being placed, wherein

a result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication indicating whether the circumstance in which the person being monitored is being placed is safe is informed to the terminal device on the monitoring person side by the communication section.

3. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication section has a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication functions, the plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication functions being selectable in accordance with a state of the person being monitored, wherein

the self-person and circumstance authentication section is capable of informing the monitoring person or the server of the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication by the self-person and circumstance authentication function selected by the person being monitored.

5. A terminal device according to claim 3, further comprising an authentication information storage section for storing a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information, the plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information being selectable in accordance with a state of the person being monitored, wherein

the self-person and circumstance authentication section performs the self-person and circumstance authentication process by using the self-person and circumstance authentication information which is stored in the authentication information storage section.

6. A terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an authentication information storage section for storing a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information, the plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information being selectable in accordance with a state of the person being monitored, wherein

the self-person and circumstance authentication section performs the self-person and circumstance authentication process by using the self-person and circumstance authentication information which is stored in the authentication information storage section.

9. A terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication information is registered in the authentication information storage section, the self-person and circumstance authentication information indicating whether the person being monitored is in a safe situation or in a dangerous situation.

10. A terminal device according to claim 6, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication information is registered in the authentication information storage section, the self-person and circumstance authentication information indicating whether the person being monitored is in a safe situation or in a dangerous situation.

13. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication section includes a sensor section for sensing at least one of a finger print, an iris of an eye and a face, and

the self-person and circumstance authentication process is performed by verifying (i) the information of at least one of the finger print, the iris of the eye and the face measured by the sensor section and (ii) information of at least one of a finger print, an iris of an eye and a face registered corresponding to the information of at least one of the finger print, the iris of the eye and the face measured by the sensor section as the self-person and circumstance authentication information.

15. A terminal device according to claim 6, wherein the a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information selectable in accordance with the state of the person being monitored includes a finger print information of one finger and a finger print information of another finger different from the one finger, and the self-person and circumstance authentication information is set in the authentication information storage section so as to indicate a safe situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the one finger for verification and a dangerous situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the another finger for verification.

16. A terminal device according to claim 13, wherein the a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information selectable in accordance with the state of the person being monitored includes a finger print information of one finger and a finger print information of another finger different from the one finger, and the self-person and circumstance authentication information is set in the authentication information storage section so as to indicate a safe situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the one finger for verification and a dangerous situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the another finger for verification.

19. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the information storage section for the monitoring person stores one or more contact addresses of one or more terminal devices on one or more monitoring persons'"'"' side or a plurality of contact addresses of a plurality of terminal devices on a monitoring person side along with the order of priority thereof can be stored.

20. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the positional information providing section includes a GPS satellite, a position augmentation system which uses a differential GPS (DGPS) other than the GPS satellite, a base station or relay station for a mobile phone device or a combination thereof.

22. A terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a positional information storage section for storing the positional information at each predetermined time.

24. A terminal device according to claim 22, further comprising a speed detection section for detecting a moving speed with which the position of the positional information changes, wherein

the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the position of the positional information changes at the speed faster than or equal to that previously set when the position of the positional information changes at a speed faster than or equal to that previously set.

26. A terminal device according to claim 22, further comprising a speed detection section for detecting a moving speed with which the position of the positional information changes, wherein

the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the position of the positional information does not change for the time longer than or equal to that previously set when the position of the positional information does not change for a time longer than or equal to that previously set.

28. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the positional information is out of the range stored in the activity range information storage section when the positional information is out of the range stored in the activity range information storage section.

29. A terminal device according to claim 28, wherein the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server is informed at each predetermined time by using the communication section of the fact that the positional information is within the range stored in the activity range information storage section when the positional information is within the range stored in the activity range information storage section.

30. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server is informed at each predetermined time by using the communication section of the fact that the positional information is within the range stored in the activity range information storage section when the positional information is within the range stored in the activity range information storage section.

31. A terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a backup power supply section having a power supply not being able to be disconnected by an external operation, wherein

even when a normal power supply is disconnected, the normal power supply is backed up by the backup power supply section, and the positional information obtaining section can at least obtain the positional information.

33. A terminal device according to claim 22, wherein when a contact with the terminal device on the monitoring person side cannot be established by the communication section, the positional information storage section stores the positional information obtained by the position obtaining section and clock time information when the positional information has been obtained by the position obtaining section.

35. A terminal device according to claim 33, wherein the positional information storage section stores clock time information from a GPS satellite as the clock time information.

37. A terminal device according to claim 33, further comprising a clock section, wherein

the positional information storage section stores a clock time from the clock section as the clock time information.

39. A terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm output section for generating an alarm sound, wherein

the alarm sound is generated by the alarm output section so as to notify the self-person and circumstance authentication request when a self-person and circumstance authentication request is issued from the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server to the terminal device on the person being monitored side.

41. A terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an audio output section for storing a terminal beeping sound corresponding to the self-person and circumstance authentication request and reproducing the stored sound, wherein

the sound registered in the audio output section is reproduced as to notify the self-person and circumstance authentication request when a self-person and circumstance authentication request is issued from the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server to the terminal device on the person being monitored side.

43. A terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an information storage section for a person being monitored for storing information for identifying the person being monitored.

66. A safety confirmation system, comprising:

a terminal device on a person being monitored side according to claim 1;

and

a terminal device on a monitoring person side for monitoring the terminal device on the person being monitored side, the terminal device on the monitoring person side having a communication section for performing a communication with the terminal device on the person being monitored side, wherein

the terminal device on the monitoring person side is informed by the terminal device on the person being monitored side of the fact that the positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out the activity range or activity pattern previously stored when positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out an activity range or activity pattern previously set, a self-person and circumstance authentication is requested to the terminal device on the person being monitored side in accordance with a request from the terminal device on the monitoring person side so as to perform a self-person and circumstance authentication process, and result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication process is informed to the terminal device on the monitoring person side so as to notify the terminal device on the monitoring person side of the circumstance of the person being monitored based on the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication process.

68. A safety confirmation method controlled with a computer control using;

a terminal device on a person being monitored side according to claim 1, and a terminal device on a monitoring person side for monitoring the terminal device on the person being monitored side, the terminal device on the monitoring person having a communication section for performing a communication with the terminal device on the person being monitored side, the method on the terminal device on the person being monitored side comprising;

a step of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side, from the terminal device on the person being monitored side, of the fact that positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out an activity range or activity pattern previously set when the positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out the activity range or activity pattern previously set;

a step of requesting a self-person and circumstance authentication to the terminal device on the person being monitored side in accordance with a request from the terminal device on the monitoring person side; and

an authentication result information informing step of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication, the self-person and circumstance authentication which has been performed at the terminal device on the person being monitored side, wherein

a circumstance of the person being monitored is informed to the terminal device on the monitoring person side based on the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication.

70. A safety confirmation method according to claim 68, wherein the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication has been authenticated by the person being monitored and when an authentication result indicates a dangerous situation, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is in a dangerous situation, and thus inform the person being monitored or inform the police”

.

72. A safety confirmation method according to claim 68, wherein the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication has been authenticated by the person being monitored and when an authentication result indicates a normal situation, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is not in a dangerous situation, and thus inform the person being monitored and give them an appropriate instruction”

.

74. A safety confirmation method according to claim 68, wherein the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication has not been authenticated by the person being monitored, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of requesting a self-person and circumstance authentication a plurality of times, and furthermore of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is in a dangerous situation, or an unusual situation exists in which the authentication has been performed by a third person”

when the authentication by the person being monitored has not been obtained within a predetermined time.

76. A safety confirmation method according to claim 68, wherein when the self-person and circumstance authentication process has not been performed, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of requesting that a warning be issued to the terminal device on the person being monitored side or outputting a warning to the terminal device on the person being monitored side, and furthermore of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is in a dangerous situation”

when the authentication has not been performed within a predetermined time.

78. A control program for causing a computer to execute each step of a safety confirmation method according to claim 68.

2. A terminal device on a person being monitored side, carried by the person being monitored, comprising:

a position obtaining section for obtaining positional information of the terminal device from a positional information providing section;

a communication section for sending the positional information to a server, and for receiving a self-person and circumstance authentication request from the server; and

a self-person and circumstance authentication section for performing a self-person and circumstance authentication process in accordance with the self-person and circumstance authentication request in order to confirm the identity of the person being monitored and also to confirm the circumstance in which the person being monitored is being placed, wherein

a result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication indicating whether the circumstance in which the person being monitored is being placed is safe is informed to the server side by the communication section.

4. A terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication section has a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication functions, the plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication functions being selectable in accordance with a state of the person being monitored, wherein

the self-person and circumstance authentication section is capable of informing the monitoring person or the server of the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication by the self-person and circumstance authentication function selected by the person being monitored.

7. A terminal device according to claim 4, further comprising an authentication information storage section for storing a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information, the plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information being selectable in accordance with a state of the person being monitored, wherein

the self-person and circumstance authentication section performs the self-person and circumstance authentication process by using the self-person and circumstance authentication information which is stored in the authentication information storage section.

8. A terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising an authentication information storage section for storing a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information, the plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information being selectable in accordance with a state of the person being monitored, wherein

the self-person and circumstance authentication section performs the self-person and circumstance authentication process by using the self-person and circumstance authentication information which is stored in the authentication information storage section.

11. A terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication information is registered in the authentication information storage section, the self-person and circumstance authentication information indicating whether the person being monitored is in a safe situation or in a dangerous situation.

12. A terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication information is registered in the authentication information storage section, the self-person and circumstance authentication information indicating whether the person being monitored is in a safe situation or in a dangerous situation.

14. A terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the self-person and circumstance authentication section includes a sensor section for sensing at least one of a finger print, an iris of an eye and a face, and

the self-person and circumstance authentication process is performed by verifying (i) the information of at least one of the finger print, the iris of the eye and the face measured by the sensor section and (ii) information of at least one of a finger print, an iris of an eye and a face registered corresponding to the information of at least one of the finger print, the iris of the eye and the face measured by the sensor section as the self-person and circumstance authentication information.

17. A terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information selectable in accordance with the state of the person being monitored includes a finger print information of one finger and a finger print information of another finger different from the one finger, and the self-person and circumstance authentication information is set in the authentication information storage section so as to indicate a safe situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the one finger for verification and a dangerous situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the another finger for verification.

18. A terminal device according to claim 14, wherein the a plurality of self-person and circumstance authentication information selectable in accordance with the state of the person being monitored includes a finger print information of one finger and a finger print information of another finger different from the one finger, and the self-person and circumstance authentication information is set in the authentication information storage section so as to indicate a safe situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the one finger for verification and a dangerous situation when the person being monitored uses the finger print information of the another finger for verification.

21. A terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the positional information providing section includes a GPS satellite, a position augmentation system which uses a differential GPS (DGPS) other than the GPS satellite, a base station or relay station for a mobile phone device or a combination thereof.

23. A terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising a positional information storage section for storing the positional information at each predetermined time.

25. A terminal device according to claim 23, further comprising a speed detection section for detecting a moving speed with which the position of the positional information changes, wherein

the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the position of the positional information changes at the speed faster than or equal to that previously set when the position of the positional information changes at a speed faster than or equal to that previously set.

27. A terminal device according to claim 23, further comprising a speed detection section for detecting a moving speed with which the position of the positional information changes, wherein

the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the position of the positional information does not change for the time longer than or equal to that previously set when the position of the positional information does not change for a time longer than or equal to that previously set.

32. A terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising a backup power supply section having a power supply not being able to be disconnected by an external operation, wherein

even when a normal power supply is disconnected, the normal power supply is backed up by the backup power supply section, and the positional information obtaining section can at least obtain the positional information.

34. A terminal device according to claim 23, wherein when a contact with the terminal device on the monitoring person side cannot be established by the communication section, the positional information storage section stores the positional information obtained by the position obtaining section and clock time information when the positional information has been obtained by the position obtaining section.

36. A terminal device according to claim 34, wherein the positional information storage section stores clock time information from a GPS satellite as the clock time information.

38. A terminal device according to claim 34, further comprising a clock section, wherein

the positional information storage section stores a clock time from the clock section as the clock time information.

40. A terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising an alarm output section for generating an alarm sound, wherein

the alarm sound is generated by the alarm output section so as to notify the self-person and circumstance authentication request when a self-person and circumstance authentication request is issued from the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server to the terminal device on the person being monitored side.

42. A terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising an audio output section for storing a terminal beeping sound corresponding to the self-person and circumstance authentication request and reproducing the stored sound, wherein

the sound registered in the audio output section is reproduced as to notify the self-person and circumstance authentication request when a self-person and circumstance authentication request is issued from the terminal device on the monitoring person side or the server to the terminal device on the person being monitored side.

44. A terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising an information storage section for a person being monitored for storing information for identifying the person being monitored.

65. A safety confirmation system, comprising:

a terminal device on a person being monitored side according to claim 2;

a server for monitoring the terminal device on the person being monitored side, comprising, the server comprising;

an activity range information storage section for storing an activity range and activity pattern of the person being monitored, the activity range and activity pattern of the person being monitored being set by a monitoring person or the person being monitored side;

an information storage section for a monitoring person for storing at least a contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person;

a communication section for communicating with the terminal device on the person being monitored side and with the terminal device on the monitoring person side;

a positional information storage section for storing positional information obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section;

an activity detection section for detecting the relationship between the positional information and the range stored in the activity range information storage section; and

an authentication request section for issuing a self-person and circumstance authentication request to the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section when the relationship between the positional information and the range stored in the activity range information storage section has a predetermined relationship; and

a terminal device on a monitoring person side for monitoring the terminal device on the person being monitored side, the terminal device on the monitoring person side having a communication section for performing a communication with the terminal device on the person being monitored side and with the server, wherein

the terminal device on the monitoring person side is informed, from the terminal device on the person being monitored side and/or the server, of the fact that the positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out the activity range or activity pattern previously set when positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out an activity range or activity pattern previously set, a self-person and circumstance authentication is requested to the terminal device on the person being monitored side in accordance with a request from the terminal device on the monitoring person side so as to perform a self-person and circumstance authentication process, and result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication process is informed to the terminal device on the monitoring person side so as to notify the terminal device on the monitoring person side of the circumstance of the person being monitored based on the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication process.

45. A server for monitoring a terminal device on a person being monitored side, comprising:

an activity range information storage section for storing an activity range and activity pattern of the person being monitored, the activity range and activity pattern of the person being monitored being set by a monitoring person or the person being monitored side;

an information storage section for a monitoring person for storing at least a contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person;

a communication section for communicating with the terminal device on the person being monitored side and with the terminal device on the monitoring person side;

a positional information storage section for storing positional information obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section;

an activity detection section for detecting the relationship between the positional information and the range stored in the activity range information storage section; and

an authentication request section for issuing a self-person and circumstance authentication request to the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section when the relationship between the positional information and the range stored in the activity range information storage section has a predetermined relationship.

46. A server according to claim 45, wherein when the relationship has the predetermined relationship, the authentication request section informs the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side of the fact that the relationship has the predetermined relationship, and issues the self-person and circumstance authentication request to the terminal device on the person being monitored side in accordance with a request from the terminal device on the monitoring person side.

47. A server according to claim 46, wherein when the relationship has the predetermined relationship, the authentication request section automatically issues the self-person and circumstance authentication request to the terminal device on the person being monitored side.

48. A server according to claim 45, wherein when the relationship has the predetermined relationship, the authentication request section automatically issues the self-person and circumstance authentication request to the terminal device on the person being monitored side.

49. A server according to claim 45, wherein when the positional information is out of the range stored in the activity range information storage section in the predetermined relationship, the positional information is obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section at an time interval shorter than that when the positional information is within the range.

50. A server according to claim 45, wherein when the positional information is out of the range stored in the activity range information storage section in the predetermined relationship, the positional information is obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section at an time interval longer than that when the positional information is within the range.

51. A server according to claim 50, wherein the positional information is obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section at an interval, when the remaining charge of the power supply of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is determined to be lower than a predetermined value, the interval being longer than that of before the remaining charge of the power supply of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is determined to be low.

52. A server according to claim 45, wherein the positional information is obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section at an interval, when the remaining charge of the power supply of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is determined to be lower than a predetermined value, the interval being longer than that of before the remaining charge of the power supply of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is determined to be low.

53. A server according to claim 52, wherein the determination that the remaining charge of the power supply of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is lower than the predetermined value determines that the remaining charge of the power supply is low when a received voltage level is lower than a predetermined value, the received voltage level received when the positional information is obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side by using the communication section.

54. A server according to claim 45, wherein the information storage section for the monitoring person stores one or more contact addresses of one or more terminal devices on one or more monitoring persons'"'"' side or a plurality of contact addresses of a plurality of terminal devices on a monitoring person side along with the order of priority thereof can be stored.

55. A server according to claim 54, wherein the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the positional information cannot be obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored at each predetermined time when the positional information cannot be obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored at each predetermined time, the contact address being stored in the information storage section for the monitoring person.

56. A server according to claim 45, wherein the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the positional information cannot be obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored at each predetermined time when the positional information cannot be obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored at each predetermined time, the contact address being stored in the information storage section for the monitoring person.

57. A server according to claim 45, wherein the positional information storage section stores the positional information obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side and clock time information when the positional information has been obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored side.

58. A terminal device according to claim 45, further comprising an information storage section for a person being monitored for storing information for identifying the person being monitored.

59. A server according to claim 45, wherein the positional information storage section stores the positional information obtained at each predetermined time.

60. A server according to claim 57, wherein the positional information storage section stores the positional information obtained at each predetermined time.

61. A server according to claim 60, further comprising a speed detection section for detecting a moving speed with which the position of the positional information changes, wherein

the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the positional information changes at the speed faster than or equal to that previously set when the position of the positional information changes at a speed faster than or equal to that previously set.

62. A server according to claim 60, further comprising a speed detection section for detecting a moving speed with which the position of the positional information changes, wherein

the contact address of the terminal device on the monitoring person side is informed by using the communication section of the fact that the positional information does not change for the time longer than or equal to that previously set when the position of the positional information does not change for a time longer than or equal to that previously set.

63. A server according to claim 60, wherein when a contact with the terminal device on the monitoring person side cannot be established by the communication section, the positional information storage section stores (i) the positional information obtained from the terminal device on the person being monitored and (ii) at least one of clock time information when the positional information has been obtained from the position obtaining section, when the positional information has been obtained at the terminal device on the person being monitored and when a contact with the terminal device on the monitoring person side has not been be established.

64. A server according to claim 63, further comprising a clock section, wherein

the positional information storage section stores a clock time from the clock section as the clock time information.

67. A safety confirmation method controlled with a computer control using;

a terminal device on the person being monitored side;

a server; and

a terminal device on a monitoring person side for monitoring the terminal device on the person being monitored side, the terminal device on the monitoring person having a communication section for performing a communication with the terminal device on the person being monitored side and with the server, respectively, the method on the server side comprising;

a step of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side, from the server, of the fact that positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out an activity range or activity pattern previously set when the positional information of the terminal device on the person being monitored side is out the activity range or activity pattern previously set;

a step of requesting a self-person and circumstance authentication to the terminal device on the person being monitored side from the sever in accordance with a request from the terminal device on the monitoring person side; and

an authentication result information informing step of obtaining, at the server side, result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication which has been performed at the terminal device on the person being monitored side and contacting the terminal device on the monitoring person side from the server, wherein

a circumstance of the person being monitored is notified to the terminal device on the monitoring person side based on the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication.

69. A safety confirmation method according to claim 67, wherein the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication has been authenticated by the person being monitored and when an authentication result indicates a dangerous situation, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is in a dangerous situation, and thus inform the person being monitored or inform the police”

.

71. A safety confirmation method according to claim 67, wherein the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication has been authenticated by the person being monitored and when an authentication result indicates a normal situation, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is not in a dangerous situation, and thus inform the person being monitored and give them an appropriate instruction”

.

73. A safety confirmation method according to claim 67, wherein the result information of the self-person and circumstance authentication has not been authenticated by the person being monitored, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of requesting a self-person and circumstance authentication a plurality of times, and furthermore of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is in a dangerous situation, or an unusual situation exists in which the authentication has been performed by a third person”

when the authentication by the person being monitored has not been obtained within a predetermined time.

75. A safety confirmation method according to claim 67, wherein when the self-person and circumstance authentication process has not been performed, the authentication result information informing step includes a step of requesting that a warning be issued to the terminal device on the person being monitored side or outputting a warning to the terminal device on the person being monitored side, and furthermore of informing the terminal device on the monitoring person side of information indicating “

the person being monitored is in a dangerous situation”

when the authentication has not been performed within a predetermined time.

77. A control program for causing a computer to execute each step of a safety confirmation method according to claim 67.

79. A computer-readable recording medium having a control program stored thereon according to claim 77.

80. A computer-readable recording medium having a control program stored thereon according to claim 80.