JP2001268621A - Portable terminal device, its position information acquiring method, mobile communication system, and position information notifying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal device capable of obtaining information on the distance between this terminal and a previously registered opposite terminal even if lines of speech channels are congested. SOLUTION: On a terminal, a request to obtain information on the distance to a desired terminal is made by using a special number, etc. A center side once accepting the request manages information regarding the distance between the pair of terminals. When a request to register a position is made as the two terminals move, the information which is managed is provided over a standby channel. The terminal having received this information displays the received information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal device for obtaining information on the position of a mobile terminal, a position information obtaining method or a mobile communication system for providing information on a position between mobile terminals, and a position information notification method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are the following techniques relating to a technique for providing information on the position of a portable terminal device.

[0003] A wireless communication system that provides information on a region where a mobile radio communication terminal is located to the terminal and displays the information is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-322245. In the system of the same publication, when a user operates a terminal device and sends a request for obtaining regional information to the system side, the system transmits map information of the region based on the location registration information of the terminal device. I do.

A mobile communication system for displaying position information of a communication partner is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-4583.
No., published in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. In the system of the publication, location registration information of a mobile phone is stored in a home memory station, and when one mobile phone makes a call, the system reads the location registration information from the home memory station of the mobile phone. Then, an incoming signal including the read location registration information is transmitted to the other party's mobile phone. The receiving-side mobile phone displays the location information (for example, the name of the city, town, or village) of the calling-side mobile phone when receiving a call. Thereafter, when the called mobile phone responds to the communication, the location registration information of the called mobile phone is read from the home memory station of the called mobile phone and included in the response signal to the calling mobile terminal device. And send it to the calling mobile phone for display. Also, if one mobile phone moves through the location registration area during a call,
The location registration information of the destination is sent to the mobile phone of the other party by a channel switching signal and displayed.

[0005]

However, in the former system, only the area information of the area where the terminal device carried by the user is present is displayed.

For this reason, for example, when waiting, etc., this system cannot know how far the other party has come. In such a case, you can know the information by calling the mobile phone carried by the meeting partner and talking with the other party, but if the call line is congested and the line is not connected, , Can not know. In particular, in places where meeting is often performed, such as near stations, lines may not be connected.

On the other hand, in the latter system, since the position information of the communication partner is displayed, the position information of the partner can be known by looking at the display unit. In addition, since it is premised that the other party answers and the call becomes possible, the location information of the other party cannot be known when the communication line is congested.

When it is desired to know the location information of the other party, it is necessary to make a call to the other party each time, or to make a call once, and then to keep the communication state.

Further, in both systems, only the information of one of the user and the other party can be known, but the positional relationship between the user and the other party cannot be known.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable terminal device, a method for acquiring position information thereof, a mobile communication system, and a method for notifying position information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device capable of acquiring position information of a mobile terminal without using a communication channel, a method of acquiring the position information, a mobile communication system, and a method of notifying position information. Is to provide.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device capable of acquiring position information of a mobile terminal a plurality of times by setting a minimum number of times, a method of acquiring the position information, a mobile communication system, and a position information notification. It is to provide a method.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device capable of acquiring information relating to a positional relationship between a self-terminal and a partner terminal, a method for acquiring the positional information, a mobile communication system, and a method for notifying positional information. Is to provide.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a portable terminal device according to the present invention requires a means for requesting the provision of information on the distance between the terminal itself and at least one other terminal. It is characterized by comprising means for receiving information and means for displaying the received information.

Further, it is preferable that a means for extracting the requested information from a response signal to the location registration request be provided, and the extracted information be displayed on the display means. Further, it is desirable to receive the requested information each time the location registration request is made.

It is also possible to receive and display the requested information at a predetermined fixed time interval after the request for providing the information.

On the other hand, it is preferable that the requested information is received only when both the own terminal and the other terminal make a request.

[0018] A position information acquiring method for a portable terminal device according to the present invention requests the provision of information on the distance between the terminal itself and at least one other terminal, receives the requested information,
The received information is displayed.

It is preferable that the requested information is extracted from a response signal to the location registration request, and the extracted information is displayed. Further, it is desirable to receive the requested information each time the location registration request is made.

It is preferable that after the information provision request, the requested information is received and displayed on a standby channel.

Further, it is preferable that the requested information is received only when both the own terminal and the other terminal make a request.

A mobile communication system according to the present invention includes a mobile terminal device, a communication device that wirelessly communicates with the mobile terminal device, and a center device that stores information on the position of the mobile terminal device. A communication system, comprising: a means for receiving a request for providing information on a distance from one mobile terminal device to another mobile terminal device, and after receiving the request, a location registration request from the one mobile terminal device. Means for receiving, and in response to the location registration request, means for transmitting the information on the distance to the one mobile terminal device.

[0023] Preferably, the transmitting means transmits the information on a standby channel.

Further, it is preferable that position information of the other mobile terminal device is detected, and information on the distance is detected from the detected position information of the other mobile terminal device and the position information of the one mobile terminal device. .

[0025] Preferably, when the information provision request is received from the one mobile terminal device and the other mobile terminal device, the information is transmitted to both mobile terminal devices. Preferably, the information is transmitted in response to a location registration request of one of the mobile terminal devices.

According to the method for notifying location information of a mobile terminal device of the present invention, a request for obtaining information on the distance from one mobile terminal device to another mobile terminal device is made. The information is provided to the one mobile terminal device.

[0027] It is preferable that the information on the distance is transmitted on a control channel different from a communication channel for performing a call.

Receiving, from the other mobile terminal device, a request for obtaining information on the distance to the one mobile terminal device, and transmitting the information on the distance to the one and other mobile terminal devices; Is preferred.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration of a portable telephone for explaining a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, each of the base stations BS1 to BS11 forms a wireless zone, and communicates with a portable telephone in the zone via a wireless line. Also, each of the base stations BS1 to BS11
Are connected to the control station via a wired line. The control station is connected to a public network and an information center.

When an incoming call is received from the public network to the mobile station MS1, the control station refers to the location registration information of the mobile station MS1 in the information center, and the base station BS1 sends the mobile station MS1.
1 sends a call signal, and when a response is received from the mobile station MS1, a call is started.

On the other hand, transmission and reception between mobile stations can be performed in the same manner. That is, when a call is made from the mobile station MS1 to the MS2, the base station BS1 receives the call signal from the mobile station MS1, and the control station refers to the location registration information of the MS2 and is registered. An incoming signal is transmitted to the mobile station MS2 via the base station BS3. By responding to the incoming signal at the mobile station MS2, a call is started.

In the figure, the base stations BS1 to BS3
The base stations except for and 6 are not connected to the control station by solid lines, but are only omitted and are actually connected. Further, the mobile phone may be any of PHS and PDC. Further, although a mobile phone is shown as an example of the mobile terminal device, a mobile information terminal having a wireless modem or a wireless communication function may be used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile station and the base station shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, a mobile station MS transmits and receives a radio signal to and from a base station BS via an antenna.
And a control unit 12 connected to the wireless unit 11. The radio unit 11 includes a well-known high-frequency unit, an intermediate-frequency unit, and a modulation / demodulation unit, and the control unit 12 performs well-known transmission / reception control, a control channel, a communication channel, and the like.

The storage section 13 stores ID information of its own station and telephone directory information including a destination telephone number. Display 14
Displays the information stored in the storage unit 13 and the received information. The operation unit 15 includes ten keys, function keys, and a power key, and is operated by a user.

The audio processing unit 16 encodes the audio from the microphone 18 and sends the audio signal to the control unit 12, and decodes the audio signal received from the control unit 12 and sends it to the speaker 17.

The base station BS communicates with the mobile station M via the antenna.
It comprises a radio section 21 for transmitting and receiving S and radio signals, a control section 22 for performing various controls, and an I / F 23 for interfacing with a control station.

In FIG. 1, when transmitting an incoming signal from the base station BS, the control unit 12 of the mobile station MS stores the storage unit 13
Is compared with the ID included in the incoming signal, and when they match, an incoming notification is made by an incoming notification unit (not shown). The operation unit 1 responds to the incoming notification by the carrier.
5 is operated, the control unit 12
Sends an incoming response signal from the wireless unit 11. Base station B
When the incoming response signal is received in S, a call channel is designated and a call is started.

On the other hand, when calling from the mobile station MS,
Whether the other party is dialed from the numeric keypad of the operation unit 15,
Or, when selected from the telephone directory, the control unit 12
1 sends a call signal. The telephone number of the dialed party is displayed on the display unit 14 for confirmation. When the base station BS receives the outgoing signal, it sets the mobile station MS to a calling state, establishes an interface with the control station, and, when a response is received from the other party, connects the communication line.

The above-mentioned operations relating to outgoing / incoming calls are not specific to the present invention, and well-known techniques are applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control station and the center shown in FIG.

The control station includes an I / F unit 31 for interfacing with the base station BS, an I / F unit 33 for interfacing with the public network, an I / F unit 34 for interfacing with the center, A control unit 32 for performing control,
The center has an I / F unit 41 that interfaces with a control station, a control unit 42 that performs various controls, and a management table 43 that manages location registration information.

When receiving a call to the mobile station, the control unit 32 of the control station obtains the location registration information of the mobile station from the control unit 42 of the center, and sends an incoming signal from the base station BS at the corresponding position.

For the operations of the control station and the center, well-known techniques can be applied similarly to the mobile station and the base station.

The feature of the present invention resides in that the center manages information on a paired mobile station and information on the distance between the paired mobile stations, and notifies the mobile station of such information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a preferred example of the management table in the center.

In FIG. 4, the table includes, for each mobile station, location registration information, service request status, paired mobile station, and distance information from the paired mobile station.

For each of the mobile stations MS1 to N, the location registration information is stored correspondingly, and in FIG.
It can be seen that 1, 2, and 3 belong to the zones of the base stations BS1, 3, and 5, respectively.

[0051] In addition, for each mobile station, information as to whether or not a service for providing information on the distance from the partner mobile station in a waiting mode or the like is requested is stored correspondingly. In FIG. 4, mobile stations MS1 and MS2 have requested this service.

Further, information on the distance between the partner mobile station and the partner mobile station is paired and stored corresponding to each mobile station. The number of pairs of information on the partner mobile station and its distance may be one, but this embodiment shows that up to three pairs can be handled. Note that the number of pairs is not limited to these examples.

In FIG. 4, the mobile station MS1 has registered therein a request for a queuing service between the mobile stations MS3 and MS8 (both not shown). As information relating to the distance between the mobile stations MS1 and MS3, "3" ”, Mobile stations MS1 and MS
“1” is registered as information relating to the distance to “8”. Further, the mobile station MS2 has registered a request for a waiting service with the mobile station MS5 (not shown), and has registered “2” as information relating to the distance between the mobile stations MS2 and MS5.

In the center, a table for managing paired information required for the present invention may be formed separately from a table for managing position registration information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining information on the distance between mobile stations. The information on this distance is stored in the management table 43 of the center or a storage unit (not shown).

In FIG. 5, information on the distance between mobile stations is information corresponding to the arrangement interval between base stations.

FIG. 5A shows a first preferred example, and FIG.
Information corresponding to an arrangement interval between one base station and another base station is stored in advance. For example, distance information for each of the base stations BS1 to BS2 to N is stored for the base station BS1, and the same information is stored for all base stations. Here, the distance information “2” indicates that the base station is located at a relatively close position, and may be, for example, an adjacent range of 1 to 3 cells. Also, "3"
Indicates that the base station is at a relatively distant position, for example, indicates that the base station is at least four cells apart.

FIG. 5B shows another preferred example. For each base station, a group of base stations corresponding to information “2” and a group of base stations corresponding to information “3” are grouped. And stored.

Returning to FIG. 4, distance information "2" and "3" correspond to the information shown in FIG. 5, respectively, and are within the range of 1 to 3 cells and are separated by 4 cells or more. Is shown. The distance information “1” indicates a case where a mobile station exists in the same cell. That is, it indicates that the mobile stations MS1 and 8 exist in the same base station BS1. Note that the distance information in FIG. 4 is for ease of explanation, and is not directly related to the system configuration diagram in FIG.

For setting the distance information, the control unit 42 refers to the position registration information of at least two mobile stations,
If each mobile station has the same location information,
"1" is set as the distance information, and if the same position information is not set, "2" or "3" is set based on the information between the two base stations with reference to the table shown in FIG. I do.

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, first, the mobile station MS1 sets a waiting mode for the center. This can be performed by, for example, an operation called a general special number. After performing this special number operation, the mobile station with which to wait is registered. In this registration, it is desirable to specify the telephone number of the mobile station.

The queuing mode setting request from the mobile station MS1, that is, the service request, is received by the base station constituting the current zone, and is notified to the center via the control station. In FIG. 6, the mobile station MS1 makes a service request in the zone of the base station BS2.

At the center, upon receiving a service request,
The service request status is set in the management table shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, “*” is added. Further, the center registers the designated mobile station corresponding to the requested mobile station. In FIG. 4, mobile stations MS3 and MS8 are designated.

When the setting is completed, the center notifies the mobile station 1 of the setting completion via the control station and the base station BS2.

Next, when the mobile station MS1 moves in a zone and moves to a different zone, the mobile station MS1 issues a location registration request as is well known. The location registration request is transmitted to the mobile station MS.
Base station configuring the zone where the 1 exists (in the present embodiment,
BS1), the center is notified via the control station, and the location registration information is updated.

The center determines in response to the location registration request whether or not the mobile station is in the service request state. If the location registration request is for the mobile station making the service request, the designated mobile stations MS3 and MS8 are designated. To the mobile station MS1 as information on the distance to the mobile station MS1.

This notification is performed using the standby channel. That is, the service information is inserted into the data of the standby channel transmitted from the base station, and the mobile station monitors the standby channel in the same manner as usual, and extracts the service information in the data, that is, the position information data.

The location level notification is performed every time there is a location registration request from the requesting mobile station until the service request is released.

Here, the registration of the information on the distance from the designated mobile station is performed at the stage of receiving the position registration request. That is, when receiving the registration for registration, only the designated mobile station number is registered, and the registration of the distance information is not performed. Thereafter, when a position registration request is received, by referring to the current position registration information of the designated mobile station, if the zone is the same zone, "1" is set as the distance information and the information is notified. If the zones are not the same zone, the distance information “2” or “3” is registered with reference to the arrangement information of the base station shown in FIG.
Notify the information.

The mobile station MS1 having received the position level notification
The user is notified by displaying the received distance information on the display unit 14. In addition, it is also possible to perform notification by sound.

It is preferable to release the waiting mode by using a special number as in the case of registering the waiting mode.

As described above, according to the present invention, every time the own station moves in the zone, the information on the distance from the mobile station owned by the person who waits can be obtained.

Since the communication channel is not used for obtaining information, even if the communication line is congested, the information can be obtained by registering in advance.

In the above example, the distance information is not registered at the time of registration of the waiting mode. However, it is also possible to register the distance information at this stage. Also,
In the setting completion notification, it is also possible to notify information on the distance to the designated mobile station.

Further, in the above-described example, the position level notification is performed in response to the position registration request. However, the position level notification can be performed at fixed time intervals after the registration of the waiting mode. In this case, it is possible to receive the notification even when the mobile station that has requested the service does not move in the zone. In addition, even if the user registers at the meeting place after the meeting, the user can receive the position level notification.

In the above embodiment, when one mobile station registers a service request, information on the distance to the specified mobile station can be obtained. Will be provided. Therefore, it is desirable for the user to provide information only when agreed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 7, mobile stations receiving services provide service requests, and information is provided based on the requests from both. Hereinafter, in order to avoid redundant description, points different from the example of FIG. 6 will be described.

In FIG. 7, a mobile station M performing a meeting
S1 and MS3 make a registration request for the waiting mode. When there is a request for both registrations, the center issues a setting completion notification. Thereafter, when one of the mobile stations moves in the zone and makes a position registration request, the center uses the information on the distance between the two as a position level notification and notifies the mobile stations MS1 and MS3.
Notify.

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the mobile station MS1 designates MS3 and MS8. However, according to this operation, if there is no service request from the designated mobile stations MS3 and MS8, the mobile station MS1 moves. No information is provided to the station MS1.

In this way, it is possible to share information between mobile stations for which agreement has been obtained.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to acquire the location information of the mobile terminal by using the standby channel without using the communication channel.

Also, by transmitting the location information in response to the location registration request of the mobile terminal, it is possible to obtain the location information of the mobile terminal a plurality of times by setting the minimum number of times.

Further, by storing the positional relationship between the paired terminals on the center side, it becomes possible to obtain information relating to the positional relationship between the own terminal and the partner terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external schematic view of a system configuration in a mobile phone for explaining a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a mobile station and a base station shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a control station and a center shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a preferred example of a management table in the center shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining information on a distance between mobile stations.

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart for explaining another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 21 Radio unit 12, 22, 32, 42 Control unit 13 Storage unit 14 Display unit 15 Operation unit 16 Audio processing unit 17 Speaker 18 Microphone 23, 31, 33, 34, 41 I / F 43 Management table

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal device, comprising: means for requesting provision of information on the distance between the terminal itself and at least one other terminal; means for receiving the requested information; and displaying the received information. A portable terminal device comprising: 2. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for extracting the requested information from a response signal to the location registration request, and displaying the extracted information on the display means. 3. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the requested information is received every time the location registration request is made. 4. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the requested information is received and displayed at predetermined time intervals after the request for providing the information. 5. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the requested information is received only when both the own terminal and the other terminal make a request. . 6. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the information on the distance is stepwise information based on a communication area covered by a base station. 7. A method for obtaining location information of a portable terminal device, comprising: requesting provision of information on a distance between a terminal of the portable terminal and at least one other terminal; receiving the requested information; A method for acquiring position information of a portable terminal device, comprising displaying the information. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising extracting the requested information from a response signal to the location registration request and displaying the extracted information. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the requested information is received every time the location registration request is made. 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the requested information is received and displayed on a standby channel after the information provision request. 11. The portable terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the requested information is received only when both the own terminal and the other terminal make a request. Location information acquisition method. 12. A mobile communication system comprising: a mobile terminal device; a communication device that wirelessly communicates with the mobile terminal device; and a center device that stores information relating to the position of the mobile terminal device. Means for receiving a request for information provision from one mobile terminal device regarding the distance to another mobile terminal device; means for receiving a position registration request from the one mobile terminal device after receiving the request; Means for transmitting information regarding the distance to the one mobile terminal device in response to a registration request. 13. The transmission unit according to claim 12, wherein the transmission unit transmits the information on a standby channel.
The mobile communication system according to claim 1. 14. Further, detecting position information of the other mobile terminal device and detecting information on the distance from the detected position information of the other mobile terminal device and the position information of the one mobile terminal device. The mobile communication system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: 15. The mobile communication system according to claim 12, wherein the information on the distance is detected based on a zone unit of a base station constituting a zone within a communication range. . 16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, when receiving the information provision request from said one mobile terminal apparatus and said another mobile terminal apparatus, said information is transmitted to both mobile terminal apparatuses. 16. The mobile communication system according to any one of 15. 17. The mobile communication system according to claim 16, wherein said information is transmitted in response to a location registration request of one of said mobile terminal devices. 18. A method for notifying location information of a mobile terminal device, comprising: making a request to obtain information on a distance from one mobile terminal device to another mobile terminal device; A location information notification method, wherein information about the location information is provided to the one mobile terminal device. 19. The position information notification method according to claim 18, wherein the information on the distance is transmitted on a control channel different from a communication channel for performing a call. 20. Receiving a request from the another mobile terminal device for obtaining information on the distance to the one mobile terminal device, and transmitting the information on the distance to the one and other mobile terminal devices. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The position information notification method according to 8 or 19.