JP2001103539A - Mobile terminal and client device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relieve a job load for acquiring positional information. SOLUTION: This mobile terminal, that makes communication via a base station in a communication area corresponding respectively to each communication area of base stations, is provided with a positional information acquisition section 54 that acquires positional information denoting a current position, a position history information storage section 58 to store positional information, a positional information storage section 56 that sequentially stores the acquired positional information to the position history information storage section 58 as a history in time series, a condition reception section 50 that receives client information by using schedule data 52a denoting timing of transmission of the positional information stored in the positional information storage section 56 as a transmission condition of the positional information on the basis of client information, a condition storage section 52 that stores the schedule data 52a and an information transmission section 80 that transmits the positional information stored in the position history information storage section 58 according to the schedule data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a mobile terminal used in a system for confirming the position of a mobile terminal from a remote place, and a client device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, PHS (personal handypho
ne system) wireless communication infrastructure, not only normal voice calls, but also a small zone system, using the location information search to search for the location of the terminal by a request from a remote client device The system is considered.

That is, the output of a PHS terminal is 10 m.
W and the output of the base station is about 20 mW, so that the communicable distance between the base station and the mobile terminal is about 10 mW.
0 m and the PHS system recognizes which base station communication area (zone) each terminal is in. Therefore, the base station of the communication area (zone) where the terminal to be searched exists is located. By obtaining the position of the station, it can be specified that the user is within the zone, that is, within 100 m from the installation location of the base station (this installation location is known).

A conventional location information search system using a small zone obtains desired location information, that is, the location of a base station in which a terminal to be searched exists, as follows. First, when there is a request for location information search from the client device, the center station transmits the P of the target mobile terminal.
Auto dial the HS number. Then, via a base station having a mobile terminal in the cell via an exchange or the like,
A telephone line is connected to the target mobile terminal. When a line connection is made between the center station and the mobile terminal, the code (base station ID) of the base station that has made the line connection is recognized and stored in the database of the center station. Since the recognition of the base station and the storage of the base station code are performed instantaneously, the line between the center station and the mobile terminal can be immediately disconnected. The position information of the base station stored in this database is represented by the code of the base station or the latitude or longitude of the base station, and is transmitted to the client device that has requested the position information search.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional location information retrieval system, the location of the mobile terminal can be retrieved in response to a request from a remote client device. However, conventionally, whenever position information is required in the client device, a request for position information search has to be transmitted by a user operation each time. For this reason, even when it is desired to periodically make a request for position information, the operation for requesting the position information must be performed every time, and the work load is heavy.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a mobile terminal and a client device capable of reducing the work load for obtaining position information.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a mobile terminal communicating via a base station in a communication area corresponding to each of a plurality of base stations acquires position information representing a current position. Position information obtaining means, position history information storing means for storing position information, and the position information obtained by the position information obtaining means are sequentially stored in the position history information storing means as a history in time series. Position information storage means for performing the operation, schedule data acquisition means for acquiring schedule data indicating the timing at which the position information stored in the position information storage means is to be transmitted, and the position information according to the schedule data set by the schedule setting means. And a second information transmitting means for transmitting the position information stored in the history information storing means.

Further, the present invention provides a client apparatus for communicating with a mobile terminal communicating in a communication area corresponding to each of a plurality of base stations via a location information management server. Schedule setting means for setting schedule data indicating a timing for requesting a position information search; schedule management means for transmitting a position information request to the mobile terminal according to the schedule data set by the schedule setting means; A location information acquisition unit that acquires the location information transmitted from the mobile terminal in response to the location information request transmitted by the management unit.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a position information search system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a location information search system according to this embodiment includes a mobile station 10, a base station 12,
The network includes an S network 14, a public network 16, a location information management server 18, and a client device 20. In the present embodiment, a configuration is used in which a small-zone wireless communication system using a PHS (personal handyphone system) is used.

The mobile station 10 (PHS terminal) is connected to the base station 12
Wireless communication is performed between the base station 12 and the base station 12, which records the location information indicating which communication area (zone) is currently located by the base station 12 with the passage of time, movement, or operation of a specific button. In response to a position information request (4) including a condition specification for the position information from the base station 12, or according to preset schedule data, position information according to the specified condition is extracted and collectively collected. And has a function of transmitting the position information as a response (5). Further, the mobile station 10 can output the stored history of the positional information by directly connecting to the client device 20 without passing through the base station 12 or each network.
The schedule data is set in the mobile station 10 by a client device 20 described later.

The base station 12 performs wireless communication with the mobile station 10, and identification information (base station ID) for specifying a unique base station is set for each base station 12, and the base station ID is always set.
Is transmitted (basic configuration of PHS).
When receiving the position information request (3) via the PHS network 14, the base station 12 transmits a position information request (4) to the mobile station 10 to be searched for position information. When the location information response (5) corresponding to the information request (4) is received, the location information response (6) is sent to the PHS network 14.
Send

The PHS network 14 integrates a plurality of base stations 12. When a position information request (2) is received from the position information management server 18 via the public network 16, the position information is searched. The target mobile station 10 requests position information from the base station 12 existing in the communication area (3).
Is transmitted, and when a position information response (6) corresponding to the position information request (3) is received, a position information response (7) is transmitted to the position information management server 18 via the public network 16. The public network 16 is a communication path for connecting the PHS network 14 and the location information management server 18, and is, for example, an ISD.
An N network is used.

The location information management server 18 is a system for providing a service for performing a location search of the mobile station 10, and a terminal location information requesting acquisition of location information on a predetermined mobile station 10 from the client device 20. When the request (1) (location information request) is received, a location information request (2) is sent to the mobile station 10 to be searched, and a location information response (7) according to the location information request (2) is sent. Is received, a calculation relating to the position of the mobile station 10 (latitude and longitude), address, travel route, etc. is executed based on the history of the location information included in the location information answer (7), and The result is transmitted to the client device 20 as the terminal location information response (8).

The client device 20 is a location information management server 18 composed of a personal computer or the like.
, A terminal information request (1) for requesting position information for a predetermined mobile station 10 is provided by a position information management server via ISDN or the Internet. 18 and receives a terminal location information response (8) corresponding to the terminal location information request (1), and receives a mobile station based on the location information included in the terminal location information response (8). There is provided a function of performing a position display (for example, display of a position on a map, a route, etc., display of a list of position information histories, etc.). In the client device 20, schedule data indicating the timing of transmitting a position information request (terminal position information request (1)) to the mobile station 10 is set, and a position information request to the mobile station 10 is transmitted according to the schedule data. A schedule management function is provided.

Next, the configuration of the mobile station 10 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the mobile station 10 according to the present embodiment. The mobile station 10 in the present embodiment reads, for example, a program recorded on a recording medium, and a computer whose operation is controlled by the program, a so-called PDA (personal digital assista).
(nt), a portable information device with a PHS wireless communication function, a PHS terminal capable of general voice communication, or a dedicated mobile terminal for location information search with no voice communication function can do.

The mobile station 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. The control circuit 30 controls the entire apparatus, and realizes various functions by executing based on programs and data stored in the memory 31. In the present embodiment, by executing the position information communication program 31b, a position information request from the base station 12 is received, and communication for transmitting a position information response to the position information request is controlled. By executing 31c, a function of acquiring position information and storing and saving the history as a history is realized. In the present embodiment, the position information includes a set of identification information for identifying a base station (hereinafter, referred to as a base station ID) and information indicating the electric field intensity from the base station. The storage time information indicating the time when the strength information is stored is added. The control circuit 30
Controls the communication function. In addition to the control for voice communication, the base station ID detected by the ID detection circuit 44
And control for providing information indicating the electric field intensity measured by the electric field intensity measurement circuit 45.

The memory 31 is a memory device that is read-only or readable and writable by the control circuit 30, and stores programs and data. In the present embodiment, the mobile station 1
Control program 31 for controlling the basic functions of
a, as necessary, the location information communication program 31b,
A program such as the position information management program 31c is stored. The memory 31 stores a location history information storage area 31d for storing location information, a current location information storage area 31e for storing current location information, and conditions for location information to be acquired and transmitted. Data areas such as a condition storage area 31f for storing and a schedule data storage area 31g for storing schedule data indicating the timing of transmitting the position information request are secured.

The storage device 35 is a device for storing various programs and data. The program recorded on the recording medium handled by the storage device 35 is read out to the memory 31 as needed and executed to realize various functions. In addition, the storage device 35 includes the portable storage medium 3.
It is assumed that data can be read from and written to 5a.

The display device 36 displays input data and output results,
Alternatively, it is for displaying a message or the like relating to communication control, and is constituted by, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display). When the mobile station 10 is a portable information device, a tablet is provided as an input device and the display device 3
6 may be configured to be integrated with the display surface of FIG.

The dial button 37 is used to designate a telephone number of a communication partner as a basic function of the mobile station 10, and is also used to make various settings for functions provided in the mobile station 10. , 0-9, and buttons showing a plurality of symbols. The function button 38 is a button used to input various instructions for functions provided in the mobile station 10. The RTC 39 supplies clock information, and is used to obtain information on the date and time.

Next, details of the communication function will be described.
The communication function performs wired or wireless telephone communication, and uses PHS (personal communication) as wireless communication.
It is realized by a handyphone system, and performs data communication and the like in addition to communication by a normal voice call.

The antenna 40 is for transmitting and receiving signals for wireless communication, and is connected to the receiving circuit 41 and the transmitting circuit 46. The receiving circuit 41 amplifies the signal received by the antenna 40 and outputs the amplified signal to the demodulating circuit 42 and the electric field strength measuring circuit 45. The demodulation circuit 42 demodulates the reception signal amplified by the reception circuit 41 and outputs the ID detection circuit 44
Output to The communication unit 43 is used when a normal voice communication is performed by the communication function. The voice is input by the microphone 43a, transmitted through the modulation circuit 47 and the transmission circuit 46, and received by the reception circuit 41 and the demodulation circuit. The sound obtained via the speaker 42 is output from the speaker 43b. The ID detection circuit 44 detects identification information (base station ID) for identifying the base station 12 included in the received signal based on the signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit 42. The electric field strength measuring circuit 45 measures the electric field strength with the base station 12 capable of receiving a signal based on the received signal amplified by the receiving circuit 41. The transmission circuit 46 amplifies the signal modulated by the modulation circuit 47 and transmits the signal through the antenna 40. The modulation circuit 47 modulates the transmission signal generated by the transmission signal generation circuit 48 and outputs it to the transmission circuit 46. The transmission signal generation circuit 48 generates a transmission signal under the control of the control circuit 45 and outputs the transmission signal to the modulation circuit 47.

FIG. 3 shows a control program 31a and a position information communication program 3 in the system configuration shown in FIG.
1b is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of functions realized by executing a program such as a position information management program 31c by a control circuit 30.

The condition receiving unit 50 is provided with a position information management server 18 (client device 2) obtained through the base station 12.
Various conditions are received and stored in the condition storage unit 52 in accordance with an instruction notified from 0), an instruction input by operating the dial button 37 and the function button 38, or setting of schedule data by the client device 20. The condition information received by the condition receiving unit 50 includes a position information storage condition for storing the position information,
There is a position information extraction condition for extracting position information to be transmitted from the position information history, and a position information transmission condition (schedule data 52a) indicating the timing at which the position information stored as the history should be transmitted to the base station 12. .

The condition storage unit 52 stores the condition information (position information storage condition, position information extraction condition, position information transmission condition) received by the condition receiving unit 50. The position information acquisition unit 54 is configured to obtain the base station ID obtained by the communication function unit 32.
And the information of the electric field strength is acquired and notified to the position information storage unit 56.

The position information storage unit 56 includes a position information acquisition unit 5
The information on the base station ID and the electric field strength obtained in step 4 is stored in the position history information storage unit 58. The position information storage unit 56 also stores information acquired by the time acquisition unit 60 and the information calculation unit 62 in the position history information storage unit 58 together with information on the base station ID and the electric field strength.
The position information storage unit 56 stores various types of information as position information histories in the position history information storage unit 58 in accordance with the position information storage conditions stored in the condition storage unit 52.

The position history information storage unit 58 stores the position information history by the position information storage unit 56. In the present embodiment, the position information includes information on the base station ID and the electric field strength, and further includes information on the storage time.

The time acquisition unit 60 acquires time information from the RTC 39 and notifies the position information storage unit 56 of the time information. The information calculation unit 62 is based on the position information previously stored in the position history information storage unit 58, and based on the movement direction calculation unit 64, the address calculation unit 65, the map information storage unit 66, the position calculation unit 68, and the base station information. The storage unit 69 includes a function of calculating other information.

The moving direction calculating unit 64 calculates a moving direction in which the mobile station 10 is likely to move in the future based on the change based on the position information previously stored in the position history information storage unit 58 and calculates the position. Notify the information storage unit 56. The address calculation unit 65 stores the current position (latitude and longitude) calculated by the position calculation unit 68 based on the current position information stored in the position history information storage unit 58 in the map information storage unit 66. With reference to the map information thus obtained, the address of the current position is obtained and notified to the position information storage unit 56.

The map information storage unit 66 stores position information indicating characteristic positions represented on the map, for example, roads (intersections, etc.), public facilities, buildings, factories, parks, and the like, and addresses corresponding to the respective locations. Are stored in association with each other. The position calculator 68 calculates the current position information (base station ID, electric field strength) stored in the position history information storage 58 and the base station information (base station position (latitude) stored in the base station information storage 69. (The longitude or the address), the transmission power of the base station, the installation height of the antenna, etc.), and calculates the current position (latitude / longitude), and notifies the position information storage unit 56.

The base station information storage section 69 stores, for each base station 12, information indicating the base station ID, the position (latitude and longitude or address) of each base station, the transmission power of the base station, the antenna installation height, and the like. Is stored. The position information transmission request receiving unit 79 receives a position information request from the client device 20 via the base station 12, and outputs the position information transmission instruction unit 86
Notify. Note that when the position information transmission request receiving unit 79 receives the position information request, the condition receiving unit 50 can simultaneously receive the position information extraction condition.

The information sending section 80 is provided with the position history information storing section 5
8 is transmitted to the base station 12 (addressed to the client device 20 via the location information management server 18) in accordance with an instruction from the location information transmission instructing unit 86, and is used to extract the location information. Unit 82 and position information sending unit 84
Function is provided. The position information extraction unit 82 extracts the corresponding position information from the position history information storage unit 58 based on the position information extraction condition (including the transmission timing according to the schedule data 52a) stored in the condition storage unit 52, and Notify the information sending unit 84. When the position information extraction condition is not specified, all the position information stored in the position history information storage unit 58 is extracted at a time. The position information transmitting unit 84 transmits the history of the position information extracted by the position information extracting unit 82 to the base station 12.
It is sent out as information on the location information response.

The position information transmission instructing unit 86 is provided in the condition storage unit 5.
2 instructs the information sending unit 80 to execute the sending of the position information in accordance with the position information sending condition stored in 2. When the position information transmission instructing unit 86 receives the position information request by the position information transmission request receiving unit 79 as a condition for instructing the execution of position information transmission, the timing (time) indicated by the position information transmission condition (schedule data 52a) , There may be a case where a specific button designated as the position information transmission condition is operated to input the status notification, or a combination thereof. Timekeeping unit 88
Detects that it is time to transmit position information according to the position information transmission condition (schedule data 52a) stored in the condition storage unit 52.

Next, the configuration of the location information management server 18 will be described. The position information management server 18 in the present embodiment is realized by, for example, a computer which reads a program recorded on a recording medium and whose operation is controlled by the program. The position information management server 18 in the present embodiment is configured as shown in FIG.

The CPU 90 controls the entire apparatus, and realizes various functions by executing based on programs and data stored in the memory 92. In the present embodiment, by executing the location information service program 92b, a service for performing location information search on the mobile station 10 requested by the client device 20 is provided. The CPU 90 receives the terminal position information request from the client device 20 by executing the position information communication program 92c, and performs communication for transmitting a terminal position information response to the terminal position information request to the client device 20. Control and position information calculation program 92d
, A function of calculating a position (latitude and longitude, address) based on the history of the acquired position information is realized.

The memory 92 is a memory device that is read-only or readable and writable by the CPU 90, and stores programs and data. In the present embodiment, a location information service program 92b is stored as needed, in addition to a control program 92a for controlling basic functions of the location information management server 18. The location information service program 92b includes programs such as a location information communication program 92c and a location information calculation program 92d.

In the memory 92, a location history information storage area for storing location information acquired from the mobile station 10, a location (latitude / longitude) of the mobile station 10 calculated based on a history of location information, An area for storing information such as an address is secured (not shown). Terminal database 94
In the field, information on the mobile station 10 to be searched for position information is registered.

In the base station database 95, information on the base station 12 installed in the area to be searched for position information is registered in order to calculate the position (latitude and longitude) of the mobile station 10 based on the position information. The base station 12
For example, information indicating the base station ID, the position (latitude and longitude or address) of each base station, the transmission power of the base station, the installation height of the antenna, and the like are stored.

The map database 96 stores the position information indicating the characteristic positions displayed on the map, for example, the positions of roads (intersections, etc.), public facilities, buildings, factories, parks, etc., and the corresponding addresses. They are stored in association with each other. The communication unit 98 performs communication via ISDN, a dedicated line (Internet), or the like.

The storage device 99 stores various programs (control program 92a, position information service program 92b).
Etc.) and data (history of position information acquired from the mobile station 10, etc.). The programs recorded on the recording medium handled by the storage device 99 are read out to the memory 92 as necessary and executed to realize various functions.

Next, the configuration of the client device 20 will be described. Client device 20 in the present embodiment
Is realized by, for example, a personal computer whose operation is controlled by reading a program recorded on a recording medium. The client device 20 in the present embodiment is configured as shown in FIG.

The CPU 100 controls the entire apparatus, and realizes various functions by executing based on programs and data stored in the memory 102. In the present embodiment, by executing the position information communication program 102b, a terminal position information request to the position information management server 18 is transmitted, and communication for receiving a terminal position information response to the terminal position information request is performed. By controlling and executing the search program 102c, a position information search request from the user is input, and the mobile station 10 receives the request based on the position information included in the terminal position information response obtained in response to the request. Location display (for example, location on a map,
(E.g., display of a route, a list of history of position information, etc.) In addition, by executing the schedule management program 102e, the mobile station 1
In order to register the schedule data indicating the timing of transmitting the position information request to the schedule database 113 and to set the schedule data in the mobile station 10 and to transmit the position information from the mobile station 10 at the timing according to the schedule data. Execute the processing of

The memory 102 is a memory device that is read-only or readable and writable by the CPU 100, and stores programs and data. In the present embodiment, programs such as a location information communication program 102b, a search program 102c, and a schedule management program 102e are stored as needed in addition to the control program 102a for controlling the basic functions of the client device 20. . Further, the memory 102 has a location information management server 18.
In addition to the location information storage area 102d for storing the information on the location of the mobile station 10 received from the mobile station 10, the scheduling table storage area 102f in which the schedule data registered in the schedule database 113 is expanded,
Various data areas are secured.

The storage device 104 is a device for storing various programs and data. Programs and data recorded on a recording medium handled by the storage device 104 are read out to the memory 102 as necessary and executed to realize various functions. The storage device 35 can read and write data from and to the portable storage medium 104a, and can read and write data from and to the portable storage medium 35a handled by the mobile station 10.

The display device 106 displays various types of information. The display device 106 displays a map based on the map information stored in the map database 112 and moves on the map in accordance with the execution of the search program 102c. The position or route of the station 10 is displayed.

The input device 108 inputs various information. The communication unit 110 connects to the mobile station 10 directly in addition to the communication via the ISDN or the dedicated line (Internet) or the like, and stores the location information stored in the memory 31 (the location history information storage unit 58) of the mobile station 10. History can be entered.

The map database 112 includes, in addition to data for displaying a map, characteristic positions represented on the map,
For example, position information indicating positions of roads (intersections, etc.), public facilities, buildings, factories, parks, and the like, and corresponding addresses are stored in association with each other.

The schedule database 113 is a database in which schedule data created by executing the schedule management program 102e is registered. The detailed data structure will be described later (FIG. 7). R
The TC 114 supplies clock information, and is used to obtain information on the date and time.

Next, the operation of the position information search system according to this embodiment will be described. First, the process of setting a schedule for transmitting a position information request from the client device 20 to the mobile station 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the client device 20, each schedule can be set for a plurality of mobile stations 10. Also, a plurality of mobile stations 10 can be managed as a group, and a schedule can be set for each group.

First, when a request to create a schedule is input, the CPU 100 executes the schedule management program 1
02e is started to start the schedule setting process. C
The PU 100 causes the display device 106 to display a list of mobile stations for which a schedule can be set, and allows the user to arbitrarily designate a schedule setting target from the list (step S1). In the list display, a group including a plurality of mobile stations (for example, groups 1, 2,...) Or individual mobile stations 10 can be designated as a schedule setting target. When a group is specified as a schedule setting target, a position information request is transmitted to each mobile station 10 included in the group with the same schedule.

When the schedule setting target is specified, C
The PU 100 inputs a schedule specification input by operating the input device 108 (Step S2).
In the schedule specification, a date range setting for acquiring position information for several days (step S21), a date setting for acquiring position information for a specific day (step S22), and acquiring position information within a specific time period Time / interval setting (step S23), time setting for acquiring position information at a specific time (step S24), day designation for acquiring position information on a specific day (step S25), etc. Can be specified arbitrarily. The above settings can be used in any combination. In addition, for each schedule,
Based on the position information acquired from the mobile station 10, a position information answer mode indicating whether to immediately display the screen (position display on a map) or only to store the position information can be set (step S26). .

When the schedule is specified in this way, the CPU 100 stores the schedule data indicating the contents of the set schedule in the schedule database 1.
13 (step S3).

In the same manner, a schedule is arbitrarily specified for another mobile station or group, and the schedule data is stored in the schedule database 113.
(Step S4).

FIG. 7 shows the schedule database 11
3 shows an example of schedule data registered in No.3. As shown in FIG. 7, the schedule specification (step S
21 to S26), the year, month, day, date range, day of the week, time range, time interval, time, location information response processing mode, and the like are individually set according to the setting contents.
The terminal number is registered in association with a group including a plurality of mobile stations.

The client device 20 sets the schedule data registered in the schedule database 113 in the mobile station 10 corresponding to the terminal number, and automatically sends the location information from the mobile station 10 side, A second method for transmitting a position information request from the client device 20 to the corresponding mobile station 10 according to the schedule data and receiving a position information response to the position information request can be arbitrarily selected.

Next, the operation of the mobile station 10 will be described. First, a first method for setting schedule data in the mobile station 10 will be described. For setting the schedule data, the mobile station 10 is connected to the client device 20 by, for example, a code, the schedule data registered for the terminal number of the connected mobile station 10 is read from the schedule database 113, and the mobile station 10
In the memory 31 (schedule data storage area 31g).

First, the location information storage processing in the mobile station 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. For the mobile station 10, the condition for storing the position information is set by the position information storing process. As a condition for storing the position information, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the mobile station 10 moves and the other base station 1
It is assumed that conditions have been set for storing position information that can be acquired at the position, for example, when the terminal enters the communication area (zone) 2 or when a position information request is received.

The position history information storage unit 58 basically stores information indicating (a) base station ID, (b) electric field strength, and (c) storage time in association with each other. .
When acquiring the base station ID unique to each base station 12 constantly transmitted from each base station 12,
Together with the base station ID, information on the electric field strength with the base station 12 is obtained.

The position information storage unit 56 is provided with the position information acquisition unit 5
4 holds a set of the base station ID and the electric field strength from the base station 12 acquired as the current position information.

The position information storage unit 56 stores information indicating whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step A1) or whether the position information acquisition unit 54 has acquired a base station ID different from the base station ID of the current position information. (Step A
2) The information indicating the acquired base station ID and electric field strength is stored in the position history information storage unit 58 (step A3). The position information storage unit 56 stores the information acquired by the time acquisition unit 60 in association with the information on the time at that time.

Further, regardless of the elapse of a predetermined time and the transmission timing of the position information according to the schedule data stored in the schedule data storage area 31g, regardless of the invasion of another base station 12 into the communication area (zone), (Step A0), the position information storage unit 56 stores the acquired base station ID and information indicating the electric field strength in the position history information storage unit 58 (Step A3). In this case, the position information stored in the position history information storage unit 58 is transmitted to the client device 20 (see FIG. 11 described later).
Steps B5, B8, B9).

The position information stored in the position history information storage unit 58 includes information on (d) traveling direction, (e) address, and (f) latitude and longitude in addition to information on base station ID, electric field strength, and storage time. Information can be selectively calculated and stored by the information calculation unit 62 (FIG. 8, step A5).

For example, (d) the traveling direction information is obtained by the moving direction calculation unit 64 based on a plurality of pieces of position information previously stored in the position history information storage unit 58, and the mobile station 10 will change in the future. It can be stored by calculating a moving direction that is likely to move. Simply, for example, (c) with the change of the storage time, (b) the electric field strength is increased, and (a) when the base station ID exists, the base station 12 indicated by the base station ID It is moving in the direction.

(F) The information on the latitude and longitude is obtained by the position calculating section 68 from the current position information (base station ID, electric field strength) stored in the position history information storing section 58 and the base station information storing section 69. The current position (latitude / longitude) is calculated based on the base station information (base station position (latitude / longitude or address), base station transmission power, antenna installation height, etc.) stored in it can.

(E) The address information is stored in the position calculating section 6.
8, the current position (latitude and longitude) calculated based on the current position information stored in the position history information storage unit 58
, The address of the current position can be obtained and stored with reference to the map information stored in the map information storage section 66.

FIG. 9 shows how the mobile station 10 obtains information on the base station ID and the electric field strength. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the mobile station 10 exists in an area common to the communication area of the base station 1 and the communication area of the base station 2, the base station ID (ID1, ID1, I
D2) can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to measure the electric field strength between each base station and obtain the respective electric field strengths (strength 1 and strength 2).

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the mobile station 10 moves and passes through the area 1, the area 2, and the area 3 indicating the communication areas of the different base stations 12,
The information of the base station ID and the electric field strength obtained at each position is stored in the position history information storage unit 58 (in the example shown in FIG. 10, only the storage is performed at regular intervals).

For example, at the position shown in FIG.
10, the base station ID “A” of the area 1 is stored in association with information on, for example, the electric field strength “2”.
At the position (2), since the mobile station 10 exists in the area common to the areas 1 and 2, the base station ID “A” and the electric field strength “8” in the area 1 and the base station ID “B” in the area 2 The information of the electric field strength “1” is stored in the position history information storage unit 58 in association with each other, and in the position of FIG.
Since the mobile station 10 exists in the area common to the two and three,
Similarly, the base station ID “A” and the electric field strength “1” of the area 1 corresponding to each area, and the base station ID of the area 2
The information of “B” and the electric field strength “3”, and the information of the base station ID “C” of the area 3 and the electric field strength “1” are stored in the position history information storage unit 58 in association with each other.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, for simplicity of explanation, a situation in which two or three base stations 12 are provided is described as an example, but the position (latitude and longitude) of the mobile station 10 is shown in FIG. In order to calculate accurately based on the base station information, the position information on three or more base stations 12, preferably 3 to 7 base stations 12, more preferably the electric field strength among the 3 or more base stations 12 It is desirable to store the position information on the base stations 12 of the three or more top stations having the strongest. However, if it is permissible even if the accuracy of position detection is low, only the position information for the two base stations 12 may be used.

In the description with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the conditions for storing the position information include a case where the transmission timing is in accordance with the schedule data, a case where a predetermined time has passed, and a case where the mobile station 10 is moving. By doing so, it is assumed that the mobile station has entered the communication area (zone) of another base station 12, but the location information can be stored according to the location information storage conditions stored in the condition storage unit 52.

The position information storage condition is set in advance by receiving an instruction notified from the client device 20 at an arbitrary timing or an instruction input by operating the dial button 37 and the function button 38 by the condition receiving unit 50. Shall be performed.

For example, as the position information storage condition, “current information” indicating that position information obtained when a position information request is made or at a transmission timing according to schedule data is stored, for example, as shown in FIG.
A1 and A2) “all cases” indicating that the position information is stored in all cases that satisfy the conditions, for example, as shown in FIG. 8 within the time specified by the range (specified by the date and time).
(Time range) indicating that the position information is stored when the conditions of (Steps A0, A1, A2) are satisfied, and a range specified by an address or a position (latitude and longitude) (for example, two points of a diagonal representing a rectangle) "Area range" indicating that the position information is stored when the condition of FIG. 8 (steps A0, A1, A2) is satisfied, and that the specified number of position information is stored. There is "number".
In the condition storage unit 52, the position information storage condition can be designated by an arbitrary combination from the above-described plurality of conditions. For "time range" and "number of cases", specific numerical values for each are specified together, and for "area range", specific addresses and ranges are both specified.

The position information storage section 56 refers to the position information storage conditions stored in the condition storage section 52, and stores the position information in the position history information storage section 58 when the state corresponds to the designated condition. To be stored.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 11, of a position information transmitting process for transmitting position information from the mobile station 10.

The history of the location information stored in location history information storage section 58 of mobile station 10 as described above is stored in base station 1.
The position information transmission conditions to be transmitted to the client device 2 include “when transmission request is made” indicating that position information is transmitted when there is a position information request from the client device 20, and at each timing according to schedule data set by the client device 20. "Schedule designation" (specific time is designated) indicating transmission of position information.

When the transmission condition setting request is received (step B1), the condition receiving unit 50 sets the designated condition in the condition storage unit 52 (step B2). The position information transmission condition is set in advance by receiving an instruction notified from the client device 20, an instruction input by operating the dial button 37 and the function button 38, or setting of schedule data by the client device 20 by the condition receiving unit 50. Is set.

The position information transmission instructing section 86 is provided in the condition storage section 5.
In accordance with the position information transmission condition (including schedule data) set to 2, the timing to transmit the history of the position information stored in the position history information storage unit 58 is determined.

That is, when the schedule data is set (step B3), the position information sending instruction section 86
Is the schedule data 5 stored in the condition storage unit 52
With reference to 2a (step B4), it is determined whether or not the time to send the position information corresponding to the schedule data 52a, that is, whether or not the sending timing has been detected, is detected by the timer unit 88 (step B5). Here, when it is detected that the transmission timing has come, the position information transmission instructing unit 86 instructs the information transmitting unit 80 to transmit the position information.

The information sending section 80 is provided with the position information sending instruction section 8.
When the transmission of the position information is instructed from 6, the position information extraction unit 82 extracts the position information corresponding to the condition from the position history information storage unit 58 (step B8). The position information extraction unit 82 extracts the position information according to the position information extraction condition set in the condition storage unit 52, and notifies the position information transmission unit 84 of the extracted position information. The position information sending unit 84 includes a position information extracting unit 82
The location information extracted as a whole is sent to the base station 12 (addressed to the client device 20) as a location information response (5) (see FIG. 1) (step B9).

On the other hand, when it is notified from the position information transmission request receiving section 79 that the position information request has been received (step B6), the position information transmission instructing section 86 makes the condition storage section 52
, And if "at the time of transmission request" has been set (step B7), the information transmission unit 80 is instructed to transmit position information.

The information transmitting section 80 extracts the position information corresponding to the condition from the position history information storage section 58 by the position information extracting section 82 in the same manner as described above,
, And collectively sends the extracted location information to the base station 12 (addressed to the client device 20) as a location information answer (5) (see FIG. 1) (step B9).

In this way, by setting the schedule data registered in advance in the schedule database 113 by the client device 20 for the mobile station 10 as the position information transmission condition, the client device 2
The location information stored in the location history information storage unit 58 can be transmitted to the client device 20 without the user performing the operation on the mobile station 10 as well as the operation at 0.

Next, the location information service processing in the location information management server 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This location information service processing is realized by executing the location information service program 92b.

First, when there is a terminal position information request (1) from the client device 20 (step C1), the position information management server 18 sends a request from the communication unit 98 to the PHS network 14 under the control of the CPU 90. A position information request (2) is sent (step C2). When a position information extraction condition is requested from the client device 20, the contents of the position information extraction condition are also transmitted.

When the location information response (7) is received in response to the location information request (2) (step C3), the location information management server 18 also stores the history of the location information obtained by the location information response (7). Then, a position (latitude and longitude) for each position information is obtained (step C4).

That is, the CPU 90 determines the position information (base station ID, electric field strength), the base station information (base station position (latitude / longitude or address) stored in the base station database 95, base station transmission power, antenna The current position (latitude / longitude) is calculated based on the installation height (step C).
4).

The moving route is calculated and obtained based on the position (latitude and longitude) for each position information (step C).
5). That is, since the history of the time-series position information is acquired by the position information answer (7), the movement route of the mobile station 10 is predicted and obtained based on the change in the position calculated based on each position information. .

For example, the position (latitude / longitude) calculated from each position information may be represented as a connected line, or may be corrected to a position such as a road based on the map information stored in the map database 96. , The moving route of the mobile station 10 may be determined.

Further, by registering a characteristic position on the map from the client device 20 in advance as a destination destination of the mobile station 10 (designation of position, address, name, etc.), the designated position When the mobile station 10 passes in the vicinity, the route may be determined as passing through the registered position. The location information management server 18 sends the information obtained based on the location information as the terminal location information response (8) to the client device 20 that has issued the location information request (step C6).

Next, the position information search processing in the client device 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The position information search processing is realized by executing the search program 102c. By this location information search processing, a second method of transmitting a location information request to the mobile station 10 in accordance with schedule data registered in the schedule database 113 and receiving a location information response to the location information request is executed.

First, the client device 20 stores the schedule data registered in the schedule database 113 for the terminal number of the mobile station 10 whose location information is to be acquired in the scheduling table storage area 102f of the memory 102 for the corresponding date. (Step D1). As shown in FIG. 7, a date, a date range, a day of the week, a time range, a time interval, a time, and the like are designated as a timing of transmitting the position information request. Create time series data of the time to send the request. For example, if a time range / interval is specified, a time for each specified time interval is set. If a date or a day of the week is specified, a specific time of the corresponding day (for example, a time near the end of the day) (23:59) or 17:00 arbitrarily specified).

The CPU 100 always refers to the scheduling table expanded in the scheduling table storage area 102f, and monitors whether it is time to transmit the position information request to the mobile station 10 (see FIG. 4). Steps D4 and D5).

During this time, the position information answer mode registered in advance in the schedule database 113 can be changed arbitrarily (steps D2 and D3). That is, it is possible to change whether the screen display (position display on the map) is performed immediately based on the position information acquired from the mobile station 10 or only the position information is stored.

When it is detected that the timing for transmitting the position information request has come, the client device 20 transmits a terminal position information request (1) to the position information management server 18 (step D6). This terminal location information request (1)
In response to the terminal location information response (8) from the location information management server 18 (step D7), the client device 20 stores the information acquired by the terminal location information response (8) in the location information storage area. It is stored and stored in 102d (step D8).

Here, the CPU 100 refers to the location information answer processing mode set for the mobile station 10 from which the location information is to be obtained, and confirms whether or not the screen display is set (step D9). ). If the location information answer processing mode is set to display a screen, the client device 20 sets the map database 112
Is displayed on the display device 106 based on the map information stored in the mobile station 10 based on the received information.
Is displayed on the map (step D1).
0).

In the same manner, the processing is executed for all the data at the time of transmitting the position information request developed in the scheduling table. When the processing for all data is completed, the processing for that day is completed (step D11), so that the CPU 100 stores all the position information stored in the position information storage area 102d in a predetermined format in the storage device 104 or the like. A daily closing process for recording is performed (step D12).

[0098] The above-described location information search processing is performed in the individual mobile station 10 in which the schedule data is registered in the schedule database 113 or in each of the mobile stations 10 included in the group, or in a mobile station selectively selected from them. This is performed for the station 10 and is counted as information for each mobile station in the closing process.

In this way, it is possible to automatically transmit a position information request to the mobile station 10 based on the schedule data registered in the schedule database 113 and receive a position information response to the position information request. Since it is possible, every time a position information request is made, an operation by the user is not required, and the work load for acquiring the position information can be reduced.

Note that the method described in the above-described embodiment includes, as programs that can be executed by a computer, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM,
DVD and the like, and can be written to a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory and provided to various devices. Further, it is also possible to transmit the data via a communication medium and provide it to various devices. A computer that implements the present apparatus reads the program recorded on a recording medium or receives the program via a communication medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0101]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, location information is stored in the mobile terminal as a history in a time-series manner, and a location search request transmitted from a client device according to schedule data or a preset location search request is stored. The mobile terminal automatically sends the location information to the client device according to the timing indicated by the schedule data, so that the user does not need to perform an operation every time the location information is requested, and the location information can be obtained. The work load can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a position information search system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the mobile station 10.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of functions realized in the system configuration shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a position information management server 18.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client device 20.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of setting a schedule for transmitting a location information request to the mobile station 10 by the client device 20.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of schedule data registered in the schedule database 113.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a location information storage process in the mobile station 10.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how a mobile station 10 acquires information on a base station ID and electric field strength.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a mobile station 10 passes through communication areas of different base stations 12.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a position information transmission process for transmitting position information from the mobile station 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a location information service process in the location information management server 18.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a position information search process in the client device 20.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Mobile station 12 ... Base station 18 ... Location information management server 20 ... Client device 30 ... Control circuit 31 ... Memory 37 ... Dial button 38 ... Function button 39 ... RTC 40 ... Antenna 41 ... Receiving circuit 42 ... Demodulation circuit 43 ... Unit 44 ID detection circuit 45 Electric field strength measurement circuit 46 Transmission circuit 47 Modulation circuit 50 Condition reception unit 52 Condition storage unit 54 Position information acquisition unit 56 Position information storage unit 58 Position history information storage unit 60 ... time acquisition unit 79 ... position information transmission request reception unit 80 ... information transmission unit 82 ... location information extraction unit 84 ... location information transmission unit 86 ... location information transmission instruction unit 88 ... time clock unit 94 ... terminal database 95 ... base station Databases 96, 112: Map databases 98, 110: Communication units 108: Input devices 113: Schedule data Database

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Noboru Suzuki 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo In the head office of Toshiba Corporation (72) Inventor Ichiro Hayashi 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Corporation F-term in office (reference) 5H180 BB04 BB05 EE02 FF03 FF10 FF22 FF33 5K067 AA34 BB04 DD13 DD19 DD20 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF03 GG01 HH23 HH24 JJ52 JJ66 JJ69 KK15

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mobile terminal communicating via a base station in a communication area corresponding to each of a plurality of base stations, a position information obtaining means for obtaining position information representing a current position, Position history information storage means for storing the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means,
Position information storage means for sequentially storing the position history information in the position history information storage means in time series, and schedule data acquisition for acquiring schedule data indicating the timing at which the position information stored in the position information storage means should be transmitted. Means for transmitting the location information stored in the location history information storage means according to the schedule data set by the schedule setting means. 2. A client device for communicating with a mobile terminal communicating in a communication area corresponding to each of a plurality of base stations via a location information management server, comprising: Schedule setting means for setting schedule data indicating the timing of requesting a search; schedule management means for transmitting a position information request to the mobile terminal according to the schedule data set by the schedule setting means; A client device comprising: a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information transmitted from the mobile terminal in response to the transmitted position information request.