JP2002278973A - Position information managing device and position information reference terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it is difficult to obtain position information from an IP address and to search the unit of the IP address belonging to a prescribed area irrespective of the geographical position relation of the IP address and the unit having the IP address. SOLUTION: The IP address and geographical position information are associatively stored in a memory 706. Geographical position information is returned to an inquiry with the IP address from a reference terminal 714 via a network 713 as a key. The IP address is returned to the inquiry by setting geographical position information as the key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position information management device and a position information reference terminal for managing the geographical position of devices connected to the Internet such as information home appliances.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to the rapid increase of Internet users,
The depletion of P addresses has become a problem, and a new I
P-address standards have been established. Computers have been the mainstream for devices connected to the Internet, but information appliances connected to communication networks including the Internet are also being developed. For mobile equipment, Bluetoot
By using a short-distance communication network such as h, wireless high-speed data communication can be performed. Blue
Tooth refers to wireless communication technology for portable information devices,
Bidirectional communication is possible within a communication range having a radius of about 10 m, and there is no directivity as in infrared communication. The connection process is automatically performed when the user enters the communication range, and the process is automatically interrupted when the user departs from the range. Therefore, communication can be automatically performed without the user performing any special operation.

[0003]

However, there is no relation between the IP address and the geographical positional relationship of the device having the IP address, and it is not possible to obtain positional information from the IP address or to obtain the IP address of a device belonging to a certain area. It was impossible to look for. In other words, even if the mobile terminal has a function to connect to the network via a short-distance communication network, in order to obtain position information, a position detection function such as a GPS unit is built in, or even if the mobile terminal is connected wirelessly, It was necessary to carry a device such as a GPS having a position detection function.

[0004] Furthermore, for example, in managing the location of information-accessible appliances and network-connectable devices that can be terminals on the street, it has not been possible to perform positional management while connected as a network.

[0005] Further, even with respect to the problem of illegal dumping of home electric appliances, there is no way to determine where the appliance has been used, so that a user who is responsible for management could not be specified.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, the present invention firstly provides a memory for storing an IP address and geographical position information, and a case where there is an inquiry using the IP address as a key. Extracting means for extracting the extracted geographical position information from the memory.
Enabled to refer to location information from address.

Second, it has a memory for storing an IP address and geographical location information, and an extracting means for extracting an IP address corresponding to an inquiry using the geographical location information as a key from the memory. This makes it possible to refer to the IP address of a device existing in a specific area.

Third, a memory for storing the IP address and the geographical location information, setting means for registering the IP address and the geographical location information stored in the memory, and an inquiry using the IP address as a key are provided. In some cases, a communication unit for outputting position information corresponding to the IP address is provided, and it is possible to refer to the geographical position information of the device having the IP address from the IP address.

Fourth, a memory for storing the IP address and the geographical location information, setting means for registering the IP address and the geographical location information stored in the memory, Communication means for outputting an IP address corresponding to the location information when there is an inquiry.

Fifth, an information provision control table in which an IP address or an IP address permitted to provide geographical location information or an IP address not permitted to be provided is registered, It checks the IP address of the inquirer of the appropriate location information, and refers to the information provision control table as to whether to return the IP address or the geographical location information to the inquirer, and determines whether the IP address is permitted to be provided or is not permitted. It is characterized by comprising information provision control means for judging, and it is possible to ensure security by adding control to information of the IP address of the position information management device or reference to the position information.

Sixth, the location acquisition means acquires location information from another location information management device of the local area network connected to the communication means, and dynamically sets the location of the device. Was made possible.

Seventh, a memory storing the reliability of another position information management device connected to the local area network connected to the communication means together with the position information by the position obtaining means, and a reference stored in the memory. And setting means for determining whether or not to acquire the location information, thereby enabling the location information set in the local area network to be acquired.

Eighth, a database for storing the map, display means for displaying the map, communication means for obtaining position information from the position information management device, a database for storing the map of the obtained position information, It is characterized by having a map display means for displaying the position information superimposed on the map, thereby improving the accuracy of the position information.

Ninth, a database for storing maps, display means for displaying maps, communication means for obtaining position information from the position information management device, a database for storing maps of the obtained position information, A map display means for superimposing and displaying position information on the map is provided, so that the relation between the IP address and the geographical position information can be displayed on the map.

[0015] This makes it possible to manage the geographical position of the device having the IP address, and to obtain a position information acquiring function without using a position detecting device such as a GPS by connecting to a network. Further, it becomes possible for a manufacturer or the like to manage the location of the device, and even when the device is illegally dumped, it is possible to determine the place where the device was used, thereby solving the problem of illegal dumping. It becomes one technique.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a location information management system according to the present invention. The memory 101 stores an IP address and geographical location information in association with each other. The geographical position information is desirably an absolute value based on latitude and longitude. Relative position information from another device may be used, but in that case, absolute position information can be obtained by following the reference device. As an example of tracing the reference device, absolute position information such as accurate latitude and longitude is registered in the base station and the home server as a reference point, and the device connected to them is By storing the position information as a relative position from the reference point, the amount of data defining the position can be reduced. Then, when it is desired to know the position of the device, it can be calculated based on the relative position of each device and the position of the reference point.

Further, the position information may be included in an extension area of the IP address. FIG. 8 shows an example of an IP address header format in IPv6. An optional area is used to include latitude and longitude position information (information home appliance) in the IP address.

To the memory 101 configured as described above, the position information can be returned using the IP address as a key, or the IP address can be returned using the position information as a key.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a position information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Location information management device 201
A memory 2 for storing an IP address and location information
06, setting means 202 for setting the IP address and position information in the memory 206, position obtaining means 203 for obtaining position information, extracting means 207 for obtaining information from the memory 206, and communication means 2 for communicating with the network 205
04. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the process. The processing will be described with reference to FIGS. First,
An IP address is set in the memory 206 by the setting means 202 (step 301). The position information acquired by the position acquisition means 203 is set in the memory 206 (step 302). The inquiry information is received by the communication means 204 (step 304). The inquiry information is determined (step 305). If the inquiry information is an IP address, the position information stored in the memory 205 is extracted by the extraction means 207 and output via the communication means 204 (step 306). When the inquiry information is the position information, the IP address stored in the memory 205 is extracted by the extracting means 207 and output via the communication means 204 (step 307). The processing after step 304 is repeated until the reception of the inquiry information is completed, and the processing is completed by ending the reception of the inquiry information (step 308).

With the above configuration, the location information is obtained from the IP address, or the IP address is obtained from the location information.
It becomes possible to obtain an address. Then, since the IP address can be acquired from the position information, for example, a so-called area marketing use can be realized in which a local use situation survey of the device can be performed. Also,
By providing location information of shops and ATM terminals having different operating hours, users can search for shops and devices included in a specific area and make inquiries using IP addresses. In addition, position information of the mobile device can be obtained.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a location information management apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The difference from the configuration of FIG. 2 is that an information provision control unit 408 and an information provision control table 409 are added. Reference numerals 401 to
407 is the same element as the element in FIG. The information provision control table 409 has an IP
An IP address for which provision of an address or location information is permitted or an IP address for which provision is not permitted is registered. If the description of the IP address can be defined even at a level in the middle of the address, registration becomes easy. In addition, a function of analyzing an IP address from a host name or a function of inquiring of a server having an analysis function via a network 405 about an IP address may be easily recognized as being able to describe even a full name or a partial name of a host. Is required. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the process. The difference of the flowchart from FIG. 3 is as follows.
When the inquiry information is received by the communication unit 404, the IP address of the inquiry source is received, and the information provision control table 409 is referred to. From the information provision control table 409 and the IP address of the inquiry source, it is determined whether or not the inquiry source is permitted to provide information.
If not permitted, the process waits for input again without performing the information provision process, and if permitted, information is provided in the same manner as in FIG. In the case of an IP address that is not defined in the information provision control table, it is preferable that the IP address depends on the mounting method and basic settings of the location information management device. As described above, the security of information provision can be considered.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a position information management device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 6 are the same as the elements in FIG. 2 and their description is omitted. The difference from the configuration in FIG. 2 is that the position obtaining unit 603 obtains position information from another device connected to the network 605 by the communication unit 604. That is, a device connected to a local area network that is geographically and
If there is a location information management device that retains location information, when another location information management device is newly connected to the local area network, the location information is received from the already connected device and automatically set. This makes it possible to set the position information by connecting the device to the network. The network may be in the form of the Internet or wireless communication. In addition, using a short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth, a mobile terminal communicates with a location information management device that holds geographical information, and the mobile terminal can acquire location information from the location information management device. It is possible. Further, the reliability of the position information is also stored in the memory 606, and when the position information is obtained, the position information is read out from the memory 606 to refer to the reliability, and the position information is obtained from a more reliable position information management device. good. For example, if the reliability is set to 0, 1, and 2 in three stages, 0 is not set, 1 is set, and 2 is set and reliable position information. , The position information is acquired from the device having the reliability of 2, and the reliability is set as 1.
Here, the reliability 2 means information measured by a position measurement device or the like, for example, position detection by GPS. When the position information management device is disconnected from the network, it is desirable that the reliability is automatically set to 0.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a location information management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An IP address is stored in the memory 706, a position information management device 701 sets a position information in the memory 706, a setting unit 702 that obtains position information, and a position information acquisition unit 703 that sets the position information in the memory 706. Information provision control means 7 for acquiring position information or IP address from the memory 706 based on the information provision control table 707
04, a communication means 705 for directly connecting to the network 713 or performing communication via the communication management device 708,
The location information management device 701 and the network 713
A communication means 709 for performing communication via the PC, a map database 712 for storing map data, and a map display means 711 for reading a map from the map database 712 and displaying the map on the display device 710. It becomes possible for the map display means 711 to pass the IP address to the location information management device 701 via the network 713 to receive the location information, or to pass the range of the location information to receive the IP address.
Further, not only the IP address or the position information but also the serial number for specifying the device may be received. As described above, for example, in an information home appliance equipped with a position information management device, a use in which a manufacturer of the information home appliance manages position information becomes possible. As a result, the service provided by the manufacturer can be improved and it is possible to determine where the device is used. Available as That is, the location information reference terminal 71
4 to the location information management device 70 using the IP address as a key.
1, the position information management device 701 returns the position information. When the position information reference terminal 714 makes an inquiry to the position information management device 701 using the position information as a key, the position information management device 701 returns an IP address. This is effective for the maintenance service by the manufacturer. When the manager of the location information management device consciously provides information, the location information reference terminal is operated by a user permitted by the manager. For example, when lending a location information management device, the administrator (service provider)
In order to manage a lender (customer), information is provided to a user (an employee of a service providing company) authorized by the administrator. Further, when the administrator provides information for a fee, the information can be controlled for the user of the position information management device according to the information content subscribed to by the user.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first
In addition, the provision of the memory for storing the IP address and the geographical location information in association with each other has an effect of returning the geographical location information in response to an inquiry using the IP address as a key.

Second, the provision of the memory for storing the IP address and the geographical location information in association with each other has the effect of returning the IP address in response to an inquiry using the geographical location information as a key.

Third, there is provided a memory for storing the IP address and the geographical location information, setting means for registering the IP address and the geographical location information stored in the memory, and communication means for performing communication. This has an effect of returning geographical location information in response to an inquiry using an IP address as a key.

Fourth, a memory for storing an IP address and geographical location information, setting means for registering the IP address and the geographical location information stored in the memory, and communication means for performing communication Has the effect of returning an IP address corresponding to location information in response to an inquiry using geographical location information as a key.

Fifth, the IP address or the IP address permitted to provide geographical location information or the information provision control table in which the IP address not permitted to be provided is registered, and the IP address is checked via the communication means. With reference to the information provision control table as to whether to return the IP address to the inquiry source, it is possible to restrict the provision of information and enhance security.

Sixth, there is an effect that the information can be obtained via the Internet by the communication means via the Internet.

Seventh, there is an effect that information can be obtained wirelessly by the communication means performing wireless communication.

Eighth, the provision of the position acquisition means capable of acquiring position information from the outside makes it possible to update the position information at any time even if the position information management device moves.

Ninth, by means of position acquisition means for acquiring position information from other devices of the local area network connected to the communication means,
If there is a device for which position information is set, there is an effect that position information can be acquired from the device.

Tenthly, a position information management device which also stores the reliability of position information, based on the reliability of another position information management device connected to the local area network connected to the communication means. Determining whether or not to acquire position information has an effect that the reliability of the position information can be further increased.

Eleventh, a database for storing maps,
A display device for displaying a map, and a map display device for acquiring position information from a position information providing system by a communication unit, reading a map of the position information from a database, and superimposing the position information on the map and displaying the map on the display device. By
This has the effect that the position information of the position information management device can be referenced from outside.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a location information management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a position information management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a location information management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a position information management device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a location information management system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an extended area of an IP address of the position information management device according to the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 memory 201 location information management device 202 setting means 203 location acquisition means 204 communication means 205 network 206 memory 401 location information management device 402 setting means 403 location acquisition means 404 communication means 405 network 406 memory 407 extraction means 408 information provision control means 409 information Provision control table 601 Location information management device 602 Setting means 603 Location acquisition means 604 Communication means 605 Network 606 Memory 607 Extraction means 701 Location information management device 702 Setting means 703 Location acquisition means 704 Information provision control means 705 Communication means 706 Memory 707 Information provision Control table 708 Communication management device 709 Communication means 710 Display device 711 Map display means 712 Database 713 Network 714 rank Information reference terminal

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a memory for storing an IP address and geographical position information; and an extracting unit for extracting geographical position information corresponding to an inquiry using the IP address as a key from the memory. Location information management device. 2. A memory for storing an IP address and geographical location information, and extracting means for extracting an IP address corresponding to an inquiry using the geographical location information as a key from the memory. Location information management device. 3. A memory for storing an IP address and geographical location information, setting means for registering the IP address and geographical location information stored in the memory, and a case where an inquiry is made using the IP address as a key. And a communication unit for outputting position information corresponding to the IP address. 4. A memory for storing an IP address and geographical location information, setting means for registering the IP address and geographical location information stored in the memory, and an inquiry using the location information as a key. A location information management device, comprising: a communication unit that outputs an IP address corresponding to the location information when the location information exists. 5. An information provision control table in which an IP address or an IP address for which provision of geographical position information is permitted or an IP address for which provision is not permitted is registered, and an IP address or a geographical position via communication means. The IP address of the information inquiry source is checked, and whether the IP address or the geographical location information is returned to the inquiry source is referred to the information provision control table to determine whether the IP address is permitted to be provided or is not permitted. The position information management device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising information provision control means. 6. The location information management device according to claim 3, wherein said communication means is via the Internet. 7. The position information management device according to claim 3, wherein the communication unit performs wireless communication. 8. The position information management device according to claim 3, further comprising a position acquisition unit capable of acquiring the position information from outside. 9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said location acquisition means acquires location information from another location information management device of the local area network connected to said communication means.
The position information management device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 10. A memory storing the reliability of another location information management device connected to the local area network connected to the communication means together with the location information by the location acquisition means, and referring to the memory stored in the memory. The position information management device according to claim 9, further comprising a setting unit that determines whether to acquire position information. 11. A database storing a map, display means for displaying a map, communication means for obtaining position information from the position information management device, a database storing a map of the obtained position information, and the map And a map display means for superimposing and displaying position information on the position information reference terminal.