JP2002288063A - Device with operation control function by present position and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device with operation control function by present position varied in operation according to whether the present position is within a geographic range intended by a producer or not, and a program. SOLUTION: A position measuring device 12 acquires the present position of the device 10, and a geographic range memory part 16 stores the geometric range conformed to the device 10. A control part 14 makes the device 10 perform a desired operation when the present position is within the geometric range stored in the memory part 16, and makes the device 10 perform the limited operation of the desired operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device having an operation control function based on a current position, a program, and a center device used for the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to various circumstances such as business, law, religion, and the like, various products are sold in a limited area, the release time is different for each area, or the selling price is different for each area. Sometimes.

[0003]

However, in practice, parallel imports may resell in unintended areas. Also, products that are supposed to be sold exclusively in one area may be copied illegally and sold in areas where it is not intended.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an apparatus with an operation control function based on a current position, the operation of which differs depending on whether or not it is within a geographic range intended by a manufacturer. It is to provide a program and a center device used for the program.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an apparatus according to the present invention comprises a current position obtaining means for obtaining a current position of an apparatus, and a current position within a geographical range corresponding to the apparatus. Operation control means for causing the device to perform a first operation in some cases, and for causing the device to perform a second operation different from the first operation when the device is not within the geographical range. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the current position of a device (a device having an operation control function based on a current position, or a device operated by a current position recognition program) is within a geographical range associated with the device. Will behave differently. In addition, as the device, any device such as a stationary or portable game machine, a telephone, a computer, various media players, and the like can be adopted.

In one aspect of the present invention, a geographical range obtaining means for obtaining a geographical range associated with the device, and a current position obtained by the current position obtaining means, wherein And determining means for determining whether the position is within a geographical range obtained by the means. This allows the device to determine whether the current position of the device is within the geographic range associated with the device.

In one aspect of the present invention, a current position transmitting means for transmitting a current position acquired by the current position acquiring means to a center device, and a geographical location in which a current position is associated with the device from the center device. And information receiving means for receiving information corresponding to whether the information is within the target range. In this way, the center device can determine whether the current position of the device is within the geographical range associated with the device.

In one aspect of the present invention, the operation control means causes the expected operation of the apparatus to be performed as the first operation and restricts the expected operation as the second operation. Perform the operation. In this way, the intended operation is restricted when the current position is not within the geographic range associated with the device.

In one aspect of the present invention, the operation control means outputs a message corresponding to a current position acquired by the current position acquisition means as at least a part of the second operation. In this case, for example, an alarm message or the like in a language corresponding to the current position can be displayed or output by voice or the like, and the message can be easily transmitted to the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a program includes a first step of acquiring a current position of a computer, and a step of deciding whether or not to cause the computer to perform an intended operation based on the acquired current position. Step 2, and if it is determined that the computer is to perform the intended operation, the intended operation is performed by the computer, while if it is determined that the intended operation is not performed, And a third step of causing the computer to perform the operation in which the intended operation is restricted.

According to the present invention, the computer performs the desired operation or not depending on the current position of the computer. As the device, any device that can execute a program, such as a stationary or portable game machine, a telephone, a computer, and various media players, can be used. The determination in the second step may be performed only by the computer, or may be performed after making an inquiry to another device, for example, a center device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second step acquires a geographical area associated with the program, and the current position acquired in the first step is within the geographical area. A check is made to determine whether or not to cause the computer to perform an intended operation based on the result. In this way, the intended operation is restricted when the current position of the computer is not within the geographic range associated with the program.

Further, the center device according to the present invention includes a current position receiving means for receiving a current position from each of the plurality of devices, and a geographic range storage for storing a geographic range in association with each of the plurality of devices. Means for judging whether or not the current position received by the current position receiving means is within a geographical area stored in the geographical area storage means in association with the device which transmitted the current position Means, and a determination result returning means for returning a result of the determination by the determination means to the apparatus which transmitted the current position received by the current position receiving means.

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to notify the plurality of devices whether or not the current position of each of the plurality of devices is within the geographical range associated with the plurality of devices. Also, since the geographical range corresponding to each of the plurality of devices is stored in the center device,
The geographic range corresponding to each device can be easily changed.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of an apparatus with an operation control function based on a current position according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a positioning unit 12 and a control unit 14.
And a geographical area storage unit 16, and includes a main function for operating as, for example, a stationary or portable game machine, a telephone, a computer, various media players, and the like. An operation control function for limiting the operation is provided.

In the device 10, the positioning unit 12 is
It detects and outputs the current position of GPS (Glob
al Positioning System) and an arithmetic unit. Here, it is assumed that the positioning unit 12 is configured using GPS, but PHS (Personal H) is used.
The positioning unit 12 may be configured using other positioning means such as an andyphone system. Note that the data format of the current position output from the positioning unit 12 may be, for example, an area (cell, country, or the like) to which the current position belongs, in addition to a set of latitude and longitude.

The geographic range storage unit 16 stores a geographic range associated with the apparatus 10 in advance, and includes, for example, a RAM and a ROM. In the case of including the RAM, the geographical range (data) is stored in the RAM via the control unit 14 from a communication network or an information storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD. As the data format of the geographic range, any format can be adopted, such as a boundary line represented by a set of latitude and longitude, and an area number for specifying the geographic range. The geographic range stored in the geographic range storage unit 16 is appropriately read in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 14.

The control unit 14 has a main function, and controls the operation of the main function based on the current position output from the positioning unit 12 and the geographic range output from the geographic range storage unit 16 ( Sub-function). Specifically, when the current position is within the geographic range output from the geographic range storage unit 16, the main function is executed without limitation, and when the current position is not within the same geographic range, the main function is executed. Is prohibited and an alarm is output instead. The alarm is based on, for example, sound, vibration, display, or the like. The control unit 14 outputs a speaker, a vibrator, a monitor, and an LE as necessary for alarm output.
D and the like. The control unit 14 can be configured by a known computer system including a microprocessor and software, for example. At this time, the main function and the sub-function are realized by executing a predetermined program by a computer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of this program. The program includes a main program for realizing a main function, an operation control program based on a current position for realizing a sub-function, and a geographical range ( Data). Among these, the main program is, for example, a game program, a control program for a mobile phone, or a program for reproducing data such as a movie or music. The operation control program based on the current position is a program for executing the main program or outputting an alarm based on the output from the positioning unit 12 and the contents stored in the geographic range storage unit 16. Further, the geographic range is stored in the geographic range storage unit 18. This program is supplied to the control unit 14 by an information storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, and a ROM cartridge. Alternatively, it is supplied to the control unit 14 via a communication network such as the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit 14. As shown in the figure, the control unit 14 first obtains the current position of the device 10 obtained from the positioning unit 12 (S101). Next, from the geographical range storage unit 16 to the device 1
0 is read out (S10)
2). Then, the current position acquired in S101 is S10
It is checked whether it is within the geographical range read out in S2 (S1).
03). If it is within the geographic range, the control unit 14 executes the main program (S104), and if it is not within the geographic range, it outputs an alarm (S105).

According to the apparatus 10 described above, the main program is executed if the current position is within the geographical range associated with the apparatus 10, but if not, an alarm (for example, “in an appropriate area of use, Is not displayed.) And the main program is not executed. For this reason, the device 10 can be used only at the place intended by the manufacturer, and for example, it is possible to prevent parallel import and distribution of the imitation product in the third country.

It is preferable to output an alarm message as follows. That is, as shown in the alarm message table shown in FIG.
0 (or an information storage medium applied to the device 10), and at the time of alarm output, an alarm message stored corresponding to the geographical area to which the current position belongs is output. With this configuration, the alarm message can be output in a language corresponding to the current position, so that the message content can be reliably transmitted to the user.

Second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a use area restriction system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The use area restriction system 20 shown in FIG.
, The Internet 24, a management server 26, and a database 28. Here, the Internet 24 is an example of a data communication network, and another data communication network may be used. Further, the management server 26 and the database 28
The game device 22 functions as a center device for restricting a geographical area in which the game machine 22 and game software executed on the game machine 22 can be used.

First, the game machine 22 is a portable or stationary game machine having a known configuration, and includes a CD-ROM,
DVD, ROM cartridge or Internet 24
The user can enjoy the game by executing the game software supplied to the game machine 22 through the above-mentioned operations. In addition, the game machine 22 is particularly provided with positioning means in order to limit a geographical area in which the game machine 22 and the game software can be used. The positioning means can be easily realized by using, for example, GPS or PHS as described above.

In the use area restriction system 20, a geographical area for which use is permitted is previously defined for the game machine 22 and the game software executed therein, and the game machine 22 is activated within the range. When the game software is executed, the intended operation, that is, the game software can be executed as it is. On the other hand, when the game machine 22 is started or the game software is executed outside the geographical area where use is permitted, the start of the game machine 22 and the execution of the game software are restricted, and the “usable” It is not an area. " Here, the usable geographical range of the game machine 22 and the game software is limited. However, the usable geographical range of any other device or software can be similarly limited.

The management server 26 can be constituted by, for example, a known server computer or the like, and the game machine 22 and a game to be executed by the game machine 22 together with the current position of the game machine 22 are provided. The software ID is received via the Internet 24. Then, the management server 26 determines whether the current position of the game machine 22 is within a geographical range where the game machine 22 and the game software can be used, based on the information. Then, the result of the determination, that is, the operation permission of the game machine 22 or the execution permission of the game software is returned to the game machine 22 via the Internet 24.

When the management server 26 determines whether the game machine 22 or the game software is within a usable geographic range, the management server 26 refers to a use-permitted geographic range table stored in the database 28. The database 28
Is composed of, for example, a known hard disk storage device. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usable geographic range table. The table shown in FIG.
And the geographical range are stored in association with each other. Here, the ID is information for identifying the game machine 22 and the game software, and the geographic range is the usable geographic range of the game machine 22 and the game software identified by the ID. The management server 26 sends the game machine 22
ID identifying the game machine 22 together with the current position of the game machine 22
When the game machine 22 receives an ID for identifying the game software to be executed on the game machine 22, it reads out the geographical range stored corresponding to the received ID from the usable geographical range table of FIG. Then, it checks whether or not the read geographical range includes the received current position of the game machine 22. If the current position of the game machine 22 is included, information indicating that the operation is permitted is returned to the game machine 22. If it is not included, information indicating that the operation is not permitted is returned to the game machine 22. The game machine 22 receives this information and controls the operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the game machine 22. The processing shown in the figure is executed when the hardware of the game machine 22 is started or when the game software is started. When executed at the time of hardware startup, a program describing the processing shown in FIG. 3 is stored in a storage device such as a ROM built in the game machine 22. When the program is executed at the time of starting the game software, the program includes a storage device such as a ROM built in the game machine 22,
It is stored in the game software itself. In this process,
First, the game machine 22 acquires a current position by a current position acquisition means provided in the game machine 22 (S201). Then, the current position and the ID of the game machine 22 or the game software
Is transmitted to the management server 26 via the Internet 24 (S202).

At this time, with respect to the ID, the ID for which it is necessary to determine whether or not the operation is permitted is transmitted to the management server 26. For example, when the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed when the hardware of the game machine 22 is activated, the ID of the game machine 22 is transmitted to the management server 26 to inquire whether the activation of the hardware of the game machine 22 should be restricted. What should I do? When the processing shown in the figure is executed at the time of starting the game software, the ID of the game software may be transmitted to the management server 26 to inquire whether the start of the game software should be restricted. Also,
If the processing shown in the figure is not executed when the hardware of the game machine 22 is started, it is determined whether or not the hardware operation of the game machine 22 should be restricted when the game software is started.
An inquiry may be made at the same time. In addition, the inquiry about either the game machine 22 or the game software may be omitted.

Next, the game machine 22 receives the response from the management server 26, and checks whether the response is a response to the effect that the operation is permitted or a response to the effect that the operation is not permitted (S203). If the response indicates that the operation is permitted, the main program is executed (S204). For example, in the case where the processing shown in the figure is executed when the hardware of the game machine 22 is started, the main program performs a program for displaying a guide screen indicating that the game software is to be stored and an option setting of the game machine 22. And the like for displaying a menu screen for display. In addition, when the processing shown in the figure is executed at the time of starting the software, the main program is a program for displaying an initial screen of the software. On the other hand, when the response from the management server 26 is a response indicating that the operation is not permitted, a message indicating that the operation is not permitted, such as “not in the use permitted area”, is output by voice or display.

The use area limiting system 20 described above
According to the management server 26, it is determined whether or not the game machine 22 or the game software has been activated in a usable place.
Side will be able to judge. Also, since the available geographical range is managed collectively in the database 28,
At a later time, the available geographic area can be expanded or reduced as needed.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The operation of the device or the program can be made different depending on whether it is within the geographic range intended by the manufacturer, and the manufacturer can easily control the geographic range where the device or the program is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a device with an operation control function based on a current position according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program supplied to a control unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an alarm message table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a use area restriction system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a usage-permitted geographical range table stored in a database of the management server.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the game machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 devices (devices with an operation control function based on the current position),
12 positioning unit, 14 control unit, 16 geographic range storage unit,
20 use area restriction system, 22 game machine, 24
Internet, 26 management servers, 28 databases.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A current position acquisition means for acquiring a current position of an apparatus, and, when the current position is within a geographical area associated with the apparatus, causing the apparatus to perform a first operation; Operation control means for causing the device to perform a second operation different from the first operation when the distance is not within the target range. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a geographic range acquisition unit that acquires a geographic range associated with the device; and a current position acquired by the current position acquisition unit,
Determining means for determining whether or not the position is within a geographical range acquired by the geographical range acquiring means. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a current position transmitting unit that transmits a current position acquired by the current position acquiring unit to a center, and a geographical area in which a current position from the center is associated with the device. Information receiving means for receiving information corresponding to whether the information is within the target range. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control means causes the device to perform an intended operation as the first operation, and performs the operation as the second operation. An apparatus for performing an operation in which an intended operation is restricted. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit responds to the current position acquired by the current position acquisition unit as at least a part of the second operation. An apparatus for outputting a message. 6. A first method for acquiring a current position of a computer.
And a second step of determining whether or not to cause the computer to perform an intended operation based on the acquired current position.If it is determined that the computer is to perform the intended operation, A third step of causing the computer to perform an intended operation, while causing the computer to perform an operation that restricts the intended operation when it is determined not to perform the intended operation; For causing the computer to execute. 7. The program according to claim 6, wherein, in the second step, a geographical area associated with the program is obtained, and the current position obtained in the first step is the geographical range. A program for determining whether or not the computer is in a range, and determining whether or not to cause the computer to perform an intended operation based on the result. 8. A current position receiving means for receiving a current position from each of the plurality of devices; a geographic range storing means for storing a geographic range in association with each of the plurality of devices; Determining whether or not the current position received by the device is within the geographic range stored in the geographic range storage unit in association with the device that has transmitted the current position; and determining by the determining unit And a determination result returning means for returning a result to the apparatus which transmitted the current position received by the current position receiving means.