JP2003333184A - Location information providing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a location information providing apparatus in which a location of at least one moving object is reported to a number of persons distributed over various places. <P>SOLUTION: In a location information providing apparatus 1 in which location information of at least one moving object carrying a mobile telephone 10A therewith in transmitted to a mobile telephone 17 via the Internet 6 or a mobile packet communication network 15 to report the location of the moving object to a user of the mobile telephone 17, the location information providing apparatus is provided with: a storage means stored with the location information of the moving object while making the information corresponding to each of moving objects; a storage means stored with map information; and a means for creating map picture plane data indicated with the location of the moving object based upon the stored location information of the moving object and map information, and transmitting the map picture plane data to the mobile telephone 17 in response to a reference request of a map picture plane when there is the reference request from the mobile telephone 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position information providing device, and more specifically, to at least one mobile object (for example, a person) via an information terminal device (for example, a personal computer or a mobile phone) via a communication line. ), The position information providing device for providing the user of the information terminal device with the position information of the moving body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of the children's games is "game of tag". “Oni-gokko” is a game in which a child who has become a demon (challenge) chases an escaping companion, and when he catches it, the demon (role) is replaced. Usually "game of tag"
Is about a few people and is not so wide, but it is better to have a larger number of people and a wider range.
It seems to be more fun and more exciting.

By the way, in recent years, the demand for mobile phones has soared, and the number of subscribers of fixed-line phones has already exceeded the number of PHS (Personal Handyphone System). One of the popularity of such mobile phones lies in the ability to communicate from person to person (personal communication). Originally, the mobile phone was literally used only as a phone, but it has also come to be used as mobile computing in which data is exchanged with another computer by connecting to a laptop computer or a mobile information terminal.

Therefore, the present inventor cannot use this mobile computing to provide children with a play such as "playing tag" that can be performed by a larger number of people in a wider range. I was wondering.

[0005] For example, although it is the opposite of the conventional "game of tag", it is possible to teach the whereabouts of a person who has become the role of the demon who runs away to children who catch the demon through the display screen of a mobile phone. If possible, it is possible to realize "game of tag" in a wide range (for example, 1 km square) without losing the game.

Also, if "game of tag" can be realized in a wide range, the game will not be lost even if the number of participants is increased (rather, the number of participants is increased and the capture of the demons is competed with each other. It will be more fun), and more people will be able to enjoy it.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] A system for teaching the location of a specific person to another person has already been developed. For example, as one of such systems, a lost infant or an elderly person may be used. (For example, a wandering old man)
There is a mobile search system that searches for mobiles such as.

[0008] In such a mobile object search system, for example, GPS can be applied to an old person who may lose his / her whereabouts.
(Global Positioning System) Receive a positioning radio wave transmitted from a satellite, detect your position, and carry a small transmitter equipped with a means for transmitting the detected position information. The search management center receives the incoming position information, displays a map showing the whereabouts of the old man on the display screen, and can search for the old man.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional moving body search system, in order to know the whereabouts of the moving body (elderly person), it is necessary to look at the display screens installed in the search management center, and it is scattered in various places. It was not possible to inform the large number of people of the whereabouts of the moving body.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a position information providing apparatus capable of notifying a large number of people who are scattered in various places whereabouts of at least one moving body. It is an object.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects Thereof In order to achieve the above object, a position information providing apparatus (1) according to the present invention
A position information providing device for providing the user of the information terminal device with the position information of the moving body by transmitting the position information of at least one moving body to the information terminal device via a communication line. The position information of the moving body is stored in the position information storage unit in which the position information is stored in association with each moving unit, the map information storage unit in which map information is stored, and the position information storage unit. From the information terminal device, a map screen data creating unit that creates map screen data displaying the position of the mobile unit based on the position information of the mobile unit and the map information stored in the map information storage unit. When there is a request to browse the map screen, the map screen data created by the map screen data creating means is transmitted to the information terminal device via the communication line in response to the view request. Is characterized by and a map screen data transmitting means that.

According to the position information providing device (1), the map screen data displaying the position of the moving body (for example, the person who has become the demon running away) is created, and the information terminal device (for example, When a request for browsing the map screen is made from a personal computer or a mobile phone), the map screen data is transmitted to the information terminal device via the communication line such as the Internet.

As described above, when the information terminal device is requested to browse the map screen, the map screen data is transmitted to the information terminal device. Therefore, the information terminal device analyzes the map screen data. Then, if a function of displaying the map screen on the display screen provided in the information terminal device is provided, the map screen displaying the position of the moving body is displayed on the display screen. You can Therefore, the user of the information terminal device can know the whereabouts of the moving body by looking at the map screen displayed on the display screen.

If a portable information terminal such as a laptop computer or a mobile phone is used as the information terminal device, a large number of people scattered in various places (provided that internet communication or the like can be used) can be used. The location of the moving body can be notified.

As a result, for example, by having the children who catch the demon carry a mobile phone capable of displaying a map screen showing the whereabouts of the person who has become the demon running away, it is more fun and exciting. You can realize a game called "game of tag".

In the position information providing device (2) according to the present invention, in the position information providing device (1), the map screen data creating means creates map screen data corresponding to each type of the information terminal device. Further, the map screen data transmitting means corresponds to the type of the information terminal device based on the type information of the information terminal device included in the environment data transmitted from the information terminal device. It is characterized in that map screen data is transmitted to the information terminal device.

As the information terminal device, a personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like can be used. However, since there is a large difference in the sizes of the displays equipped with the personal computer and the mobile phone, the information is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer. Even if the map screen is suitable for, it is quite possible that it is not suitable for display on the display screen of a mobile phone.

[0018] Also, since there are a plurality of companies that provide services using mobile phones, and there are parts where each company develops its own service, data to be transmitted for each company. Need to create and send.
For example, as a service using packet communication, NTT
Docomo's "i-mode" and KDDI-based "Ezweb"
There is. Since these have different specifications, for example, data created for "i-mode" cannot be adopted for "Ezweb".

According to the position information providing device (2), the map screen data corresponding to each type of the information terminal device is created, and the information terminal device is included in the environmental data transmitted from the information terminal device. So that the map screen data corresponding to the type of the information terminal device is transmitted to the information terminal device based on the type information of the information terminal device (for example, information indicating the company using the mobile phone service). Has become. In this way, since the map screen data corresponding to the type can be transmitted to the information terminal device, data suitable for the information terminal device can be transmitted.

Further, the position information providing device (3) according to the present invention is, in the position information providing device (1) or (2), detailed screen data for creating detailed screen data showing detailed information of the moving body. When there is a request for viewing the detailed screen from the creating means and the information terminal device, the detailed screen data created by the detailed screen data creating means is sent to the information via the communication line in response to the viewing request. A detailed screen data transmission unit for transmitting to the terminal device is provided, and the map screen data creation unit adds the read destination data indicating the read destination of the detailed screen to create the map screen data. It is characterized by that.

According to the position information providing device (3), the detailed screen data showing detailed information of the moving body (for example, a person who has become a demon running away) is created, and the information terminal device (for example, , A map screen data is transmitted to the information terminal device via the communication line such as the Internet.

As described above, when the detailed screen data is transmitted to the information terminal device when the detailed screen data is requested by using the information terminal device, the detailed screen data is analyzed by the information terminal device. Then, if a function of displaying the detailed screen on the display screen provided in the information terminal device is provided, the detailed screen showing the detailed information of the moving body is displayed on the display screen. be able to. Therefore, the user of the information terminal device can know the whereabouts of the moving body in more detail by looking at the detailed screen displayed on the display screen.

Further, according to the position information providing device (3), read destination data (for example, address code) indicating the read destination of the detailed screen is added to the map screen data. In other words, since the detailed screen is linked to the map screen, the user of the information terminal device can easily use the map screen displayed on the display screen equipped in the information terminal device. The detailed screen can be read out.

Further, in the position information providing device (4) according to the present invention, in the position information providing device (3), the detailed screen data creating means creates detailed screen data corresponding to each type of the information terminal device. Further, the detailed screen data transmission means, based on the type information of the information terminal device included in the environmental data transmitted from the information terminal device, the detailed screen data transmission means corresponding to the type of the information terminal device. The detailed screen data is transmitted to the information terminal device.

According to the position information providing device (4), the detailed screen data corresponding to each type of the information terminal device is created, and the information terminal device is included in the environmental data transmitted from the information terminal device. The detailed screen data corresponding to the type of the information terminal device is transmitted to the information terminal device based on the type information (for example, information indicating a company using a mobile phone service). Has become. As described above, since the detailed screen data corresponding to the type can be transmitted to the information terminal device, data suitable for the information terminal device can be transmitted.

Further, the position information providing device (5) according to the present invention, in any of the position information providing devices (1) to (4), comprises means for collecting and storing position information of a plurality of moving bodies. When there is a request for transmitting the position information of the mobile unit from the outside, the device is connected via a communication line to a position information collecting device having means for transmitting position information according to the transmission request to a transmission requester. The position information storage device stores the first position information requesting means for requesting the position information collecting device to send position information of a predetermined moving body and the position information transmitted from the position information collecting device. And a first storage control means for storing the means in the storage means.

At present, position information of a plurality of moving bodies (for example, carrying a portable information terminal) is collected and accumulated, and when a request for transmitting the position information of the moving bodies is made from the outside, the transmission requesting person is requested to do so. There is a service institution that provides a service such as transmitting position information according to the transmission request.

According to the position information providing device (5), for example, the position information collecting device installed in the service institution is connected via a communication line, and the predetermined information is supplied to the position information collecting device. Is requested to transmit the position information of the moving body (for example, a person who has played the role of a demon), and the position information transmitted from the position information collecting device is stored in the position information storage means. There is.

Therefore, since the position information of the predetermined moving body can be acquired by using the position information provided by the service organization, a system for collecting the position information of the predetermined moving body is constructed. Since it is not necessary to do so, cost reduction can be achieved.

Further, the position information providing device (6) according to the present invention, in any of the position information providing devices (1) to (4), has means for collecting and storing position information of a plurality of moving bodies. A position information collecting device having means for fetching the position information of the moving body based on a transmission request from the outside, and means for transmitting the fetched position information of the moving body to the transmission request destination Second position information requesting means connected to the position information acquisition device via a communication line and requesting the position information acquisition device to transmit position information of a predetermined moving body; and transmission from the position information acquisition device. And a second storage control means for storing the received position information in the position information storage means.

By the way, in the case of fetching information from the position information collecting device equipped in the service organization or the like, taking into account the safety, the communication line such as the Internet is not used, but it is dedicated because of security problems. It is better to use lines.

According to the position information providing device (6), unlike the position information providing device (5), the position information of the predetermined moving body is not directly acquired from the position information collecting device, but the position information collecting device is used. It is adapted to be acquired through the position information acquisition means. Therefore, the security problem can be cleared.

Further, in the position information providing device (7) according to the present invention, in any one of the position information providing devices (1) to (6), the information terminal device belongs to any group, and the map screen is displayed. The data creating means creates map screen data displaying the position of the moving body corresponding to each group, and the map screen data transmitting means creates the map screen data according to the group to which each belongs. Is transmitted to the information terminal device.

According to the position information providing device (7), the information terminal device belongs to any of the groups, and the map screen data for displaying the position of the moving body is created for each group. The map screen data according to the group to which each member belongs is transmitted to the information terminal device.

Thus, when a request is made to browse the map screen using the information terminal device, the map screen data according to the group to which the information terminal device belongs is transmitted. A map screen according to a group to which each user belongs can be displayed on the display screen equipped in the terminal device. Therefore, for example, a plurality of games (events) such as the above-mentioned "game of playing" can be performed at the same time.

[0036]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a position information providing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a position information providing system in which the position information providing device according to the embodiment (1) is adopted.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a position information providing device,
The position information providing device 1 is configured to include a Web server 2, a user information database 3, a mobile body information database 4, and a participant information database 5, and is connected to the Internet 6. The Web server also includes a map data storage unit 2a in which map data is stored,
The data holding unit 2b holds the map screen data and the like created using the map data.

The user information database 3 is a database for storing information about users input from information terminal devices such as personal computers 13 and mobile phones 17 owned by each user, and as shown in FIG. 2 (a). ,
User code, user name, password, phone number,
Stores information about users such as email addresses.

The moving body information database 4 is a database for storing information about the person (moving body) who has become the part of the demon running away in the event of "game of tag".
As shown in (b), the event code of the event in which the mobile unit participates as a demon role, the mobile communication device code of the mobile phone 10A carried by the mobile unit, the mobile phone 10A telephone number, and the mobile unit The latest position information, time information when the latest position information is acquired, past position information, and the like are stored.

The participant information database 5 is a database that stores information about the participants who participate in the "game of tag" event as the side that catches the demons.
As shown in (c), the event code of the event in which the participant participates, the user code, the number of times the participant accessed the location information providing device 1 using the personal computer 13 or the mobile phone 17, and the like are stored. ing.

The position information collecting device 7 is a mobile phone 1 transmitted via the base station 9 and the mobile packet communication network 8.
0, 10A location information, time information when the location information was detected by the mobile phones 10, 10A, and the mobile telephones 10, 10
The telephone number information of A is collected, and the position information and the time information can be accumulated in association with the telephone numbers of the mobile phones 10 and 10A. The mobile phones 10 and 10A have means for receiving positioning radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites and detecting their own positions.

The position information capturing device 11 is connected to the Internet 6, and the position information collecting device 7 and the private line 1 are connected.
2 and the position information providing device 1 sends a request to send the position information of the mobile phone 10A via the Internet 6, the data stored in the position information collecting device 7 is changed based on the request. The position information of the mobile phone 10A is searched, and the position information of the mobile phone 10A and the mobile phone 10 are searched.
The time information when the position information is detected in A can be fetched, and the fetched information can be transmitted to the position information providing device 1 via the Internet 6.

A request for transmitting the position information of the mobile phone 10A from the position information providing device 1 to the position information capturing device 11 is sent from the position information providing device 1 to the position information capturing device 11.
This is performed by transmitting the telephone number information indicating the telephone number assigned to the mobile phone 10A. In addition, the mobile phone 10A based on the data accumulated in the position information collecting device 7 in the position information capturing device 11
The position information is searched for by searching the position information of the mobile phone to which the phone number is assigned, based on the phone number information.

When the position information providing device 1 receives the information transmitted from the position information capturing device 11, the position information providing device 1 associates the received position information with the latest information of the mobile device based on the telephone number information. As the position information, the received time information as the time information when the latest position information is detected,
The mobile unit information database 4 is written, and the latest position information up to that point is written in the mobile unit information database 4 as past position information.

In addition, the Web in the position information providing device 1
The server 2 uses a mobile phone for each event based on the event code, the mobile communication device code, the latest position information stored in the mobile body information database 4, and the map data stored in the map data storage unit 2a. The map screen data showing the position of the moving body (the person who played the role of the demon) carrying 10A is created, and the created map screen data is stored in the data holding unit 2b. Figure 3
Shows an example of the map screen showing the position of the moving body, and the symbols on the map screen show the position of the moving body.

Further, the Web server 2 creates detailed screen data showing the position of each moving body in more detail, and stores the created detailed screen data in the data holding section 2b. FIG. 4 shows an example of a detailed screen showing the position of the moving body in more detail.

The personal computer 13 is connected to the position information providing device 1 via the Internet 6, and the mobile phone 1 of company A
7 is connected to the position information providing device 1 via the base station 16, the mobile packet communication network 15, the access server 14, and the Internet 6.

Next, the processing operation in the Web server 2 and the mobile phone 17 of the position information providing device 1 according to the embodiment (1) will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. First, a predetermined URL (Uniform) is transmitted from the mobile phone 17 to the Internet 6 via the base station 16, the mobile packet communication network 15, and the access server 14.
When the resource locator) is accessed and connected to the position information providing device 1 (step S1), the position information providing device 1 transmits top screen data to the mobile phone 17 (step S2).

When the mobile phone 17 receives the top screen data (step S3), based on the received top screen data, an explanation sentence about the method of participating in the event as shown in FIG. 7 is described. The top screen is displayed on the display screen (step S4). In the top screen shown in FIG. 7, a region surrounded by a broken line is a portion displayed on the display screen,
Other parts can be displayed on the display screen by scrolling the screen up and down. Also, an event that the user wants to participate in can be selected through the top screen.

Next, when the user selects [Event 1], [Event 2], etc. on the top screen (step S5), the position information providing apparatus 1 transmits the login screen data according to the selected event. Request, that is, access to the link destination (URL) attached to [Event 1], [Event 2], etc. (step S6). Based on the request, the position information providing device 1
The login screen data created for each event is transmitted to the mobile phone 17 (step S7).

When the mobile phone 17 receives the login screen data (step S8), the login screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display screen based on the received login screen data (step S9).
As shown in FIG. 8, a password can be entered through the login screen and the entered password can be transmitted to the position information providing device 1.

When the user inputs a password through the login screen (step S10) and the user gives an instruction to transmit the password, the input password, the event code of the event previously selected by the user, and the mobile phone 17 are assigned. The telephone number information indicating the telephone number that has been set is transmitted to the position information providing device 1 (step S11). In the location information providing device 1, the password, event code,
And the telephone number information (step S12), the user information database 3 is searched based on the received password and telephone number information (step S13).
It is determined whether the user is already registered and the password is correct (step S14).

The user is already registered,
If it is determined that the password is correct, the event code of the event in which the user participates and the user code for identifying the user are written in the participant information database 5 as participant information (step S15),
Then, it progresses to step S31 (refer FIG. 6). On the other hand, if the user determines that the user is not registered or the password is incorrect, the user performs a process to warn the user.

Next, when the user selects "New" (see FIG. 8) on the login screen (step S1)
6) Send the new registration screen data to the position information providing device 1
Is requested, that is, the link destination (URL) attached to [New] is accessed (step S17).
Upon receiving the request, the position information providing device 1 transmits new registration screen data based on the request (step S1).
8).

When the mobile phone 17 receives the new registration screen data (step S19), a new registration screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display screen based on the received new registration screen data (step S19). S2
0). As shown in FIG. 9, the user's name, e-mail address, and password can be input through the new registration screen, and the input information can be transmitted to the position information providing device 1.

When the user inputs a name, a mail address, and a password through the new registration screen (step S21) and sends an instruction to send information such as the input name, the name, mail address, password, and the user The phone number information indicating the event code of the selected event and the phone number assigned to the mobile phone 17 is transmitted to the position information providing device 1 (step S2).
2).

When the position information providing device 1 receives the information such as the name transmitted from the mobile phone 17 (step S23), a user code for identifying the user is set, and the user code is received in correspondence with the user code. The registered information (name, password, telephone number, email address) is registered as user information in the user information database 3 (step S24), and then the event code of the event in which the user participates and the user code of the user. It writes in the participant information database 5 as participant information (step S25), and then in step S31.
(See FIG. 6).

In step S31, the map screen data corresponding to the event is read from the data holding unit 2b based on the event code of the event in which the user participates, and then the read map screen data is displayed (indicating other information. Then, the data is sent to the mobile phone 17 (step S32). Note that examples of the other information include a brief description of the map screen and a company advertisement.

When the mobile phone 17 receives the map screen data transmitted from the position information providing device 1 (step S33), the map screen shown in FIG. 10 is mainly displayed based on the received map screen data. Is displayed on the display screen (step S3).
4). In the information providing screen shown in FIG. 10, a region surrounded by a broken line is a part displayed on the display screen, and other parts are displayed on the display screen by scrolling the screen up and down. Further, through the information providing screen, it is possible to request transmission of detailed screen data of each moving body or update of the map screen.

Then, the user selects one of the following items on the information providing screen, or [moving object] to [moving object].
When any of the above is selected (step S35), the detailed information screen data of each moving body is transmitted.
Request, that is, access to a link destination (URL) pasted on any of ~ ([moving body] to [moving body]) on the map screen (step S36).
Note that the same link destinations are pasted on the map screen and [moving body], the same link destinations are pasted on the map screen and [moving body], and are the same on the map screen and [moving body]. The link is pasted.

Upon receipt of the request, the position information providing device 1 transmits detailed screen data (adding data indicating other information) based on the request (step S3).
7). It should be noted that examples of the other information include a brief description of a detailed screen, a corporate advertisement, and the like.

When the mobile phone 17 receives the detailed screen data transmitted from the position information providing device 1 (step S38), based on the received detailed screen data,
The information providing screen mainly including the detailed screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display screen (step S39).
In the information providing screen shown in FIG. 11, the area surrounded by the broken line is the part displayed on the display screen, and the other parts are displayed on the display screen by scrolling the screen. You can do it.

On the other hand, when the user selects [Update] on the information providing screen as shown in FIG. 10 (step S40), the position information providing apparatus 1 is requested to update the map screen, that is, [[ The link destination (URL) attached to [Update] is accessed (step S41).

When the position information providing device 1 receives the request, the map information screen data created based on the latest position information of the moving body based on the request (adding data indicating other information) It is transmitted (step S42). When the mobile phone 17 receives the map screen data transmitted from the position information providing device 1 (step S43), mainly the map screen in which the position information of the moving body is updated based on the received map screen data. The information providing screen is displayed on the display screen (step S44).

According to the position information providing apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment (1), the map screen data displaying the position of the moving body carrying the mobile phone 10A (here, the person who has become the demon running away). When a request for browsing the map screen is made from the mobile phone 17, the map screen data is transmitted to the mobile phone 17 via the Internet 6.

As described above, when the mobile phone 17 is used to request the browsing of the map screen, the map screen data is transmitted to the mobile phone 17, so that the map screen displaying the position of the mobile unit is displayed on the mobile phone. It can be displayed on the display screen of the telephone 17. Therefore, the user carrying the mobile phone 17 can know the whereabouts of the moving body by looking at the map screen displayed on the display screen. Therefore, it is possible to inform a large number of people scattered in various places (within the range where communication with the base station 16 is possible) whereabouts of the mobile body.

As a result, by making the children catching the demon carry the mobile phone 17 capable of displaying the map screen showing the whereabouts of the person who became the demon running away, more fun and more exciting " It is possible to realize a game called "game of tag".

In the position information providing apparatus according to the above embodiment (1), the position information of the moving body carrying the mobile phone 10A is acquired from the position information collecting apparatus 7 via the position information capturing apparatus 11. However, in the position information providing device according to another embodiment, the position information collecting device 7 is directly accessed without using the position information capturing device 11 to acquire the position information of the moving body. May be.

Further, in the position information providing apparatus according to the above-mentioned embodiment (1), when the mobile phone 17 requests the viewing of the map screen, the map screen data is transmitted to the mobile phone 17. However, in the position information providing device according to another embodiment, a predetermined timing (for example, periodically) is irrelevant regardless of a browsing request from the mobile phone 17.
The map screen data may be transmitted by.

Further, in the position information providing apparatus according to the above embodiment (1), only when the mobile packet communication network connected to the Internet 6 is the mobile packet communication network 15 of one company A (that is, A (Only when exchanging various kinds of information with the mobile phone 17 that receives the service of the company), the mobile packet communication of the company B different from the company A is shown in FIG. 12, for example. A mobile phone 21 whose network 19 is connected to the Internet 6 (via the access server 18) and which receives the services of company B
It goes without saying that various information can be exchanged with (connected to the mobile packet communication network 19 via the base station 20) as in the case of the company A. In the position information providing system shown in FIG. 12, the same components as those of the position information providing system shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted here.

However, when the service specifications of the company A and company B are different, the data created for the mobile phone 17 (company A) may not be adopted in the mobile phone 21 (company B). Therefore, it is necessary for the position information providing device 1A (Web server 2A) to create data (map screen data, etc.) corresponding to various specifications and transmit the data that matches the specifications of each mobile phone. Regarding the differences in the specifications of the mobile phones, the mobile phones 17, 21 are set as environmental data.
Since it is transmitted from the location information providing apparatus 1A to the location information providing apparatus 1A, the environment data may be used.

Further, the position information providing apparatus according to the above embodiment (1) has been described only for the case of using "game of tag", but the use of the position information providing apparatus is limited to the event of "game of tag". It is very useful in all cases where the location of a mobile is known to a large number of people (scattered in various places), and not the case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a position information providing system in which a position information providing device according to an embodiment (1) of the present invention is adopted.

2A is a diagram showing an example of a structure of a user information database, FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of a structure of a mobile information database, and FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a participant information database. It is the figure which showed an example of the structure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a map screen displaying a position of a moving body.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed map screen displaying a position of a moving body.

FIG. 5 shows W of the position information providing device according to the embodiment (1).
It is a flow chart which showed processing operation in an eb server and a mobile telephone.

FIG. 6 shows W of the position information providing device according to the embodiment (1).
It is a flow chart which showed processing operation in an eb server and a mobile telephone.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen corresponding to screen data transmitted from the position information providing device according to the embodiment (1).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen corresponding to screen data transmitted from the position information providing apparatus according to the embodiment (1).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen corresponding to screen data transmitted from the position information providing device according to the embodiment (1).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen corresponding to screen data transmitted from the position information providing device according to the embodiment (1).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen corresponding to screen data transmitted from the position information providing device according to the embodiment (1).

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a position information providing system in which a position information providing device according to another embodiment is adopted.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A Position information providing device 2, 2A Web server 3 user information database 4 Mobile Information Database 5 Participant information database 7 Position information collection device 8 Position information capture device 10, 10A, 17, 21 mobile phones

Continued front page    F term (reference) 5K024 AA74 BB04 CC11 DD04 FF04                       GG05 GG10                 5K067 AA34 BB04 BB41 DD20 DD52                       DD57 EE02 EE10 FF02 FF03                       FF23 HH21 HH22 HH23 JJ56                 5K101 KK08 LL12 MM07 NN18 NN21                       PP03 PP04 SS07

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A position for providing position information of the mobile unit to a user of the information terminal unit by transmitting position information of at least one mobile unit to the information terminal unit via a communication line. An information providing apparatus, wherein position information of the moving body is stored in correspondence with each moving body, position information storage means, map information storage means in which map information is stored, and storage in the position information storage means Map screen data creating means for creating map screen data displaying the position of the moving body based on the position information of the moving body being stored and the map information stored in the map information storing means; When there is a request to browse the map screen from the terminal device, the map screen data created by the map screen data creating means is sent to the information terminal via the communication line in response to the view request. Position information providing apparatus characterized by and a map screen data transmitting means for transmitting to the device. 2. The map screen data creating unit creates map screen data corresponding to each type of the information terminal device, and the map screen data sending unit sends data from the information terminal device. The map screen data corresponding to the type of the information terminal device is transmitted to the information terminal device based on the type information of the information terminal device included in the incoming environment data. The position information providing device described. 3. A detailed screen data creating means for creating detailed screen data showing detailed information of the mobile body, and, when there is a request for browsing the detailed screen from the information terminal device, the detailed screen data is generated in response to the browsing request. A detailed screen data transmission unit for transmitting the detailed screen data created by the detailed screen data creation unit to the information terminal device via a communication line, and the map screen data creation unit The position information providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the map screen data is created by adding read destination data indicating a read destination. 4. The detailed screen data creating unit creates detailed screen data corresponding to each type of the information terminal device, and the detailed screen data sending unit sends the detailed screen data from the information terminal device. 4. The detailed screen data corresponding to the type of the information terminal device is transmitted to the information terminal device based on the type information of the information terminal device included in the incoming environment data. The position information providing device described. 5. A means for collecting and accumulating position information of a plurality of moving bodies, and a request for transmission of the position information of the moving bodies from the outside, a position corresponding to the transmission request to a transmission requester. First position information requesting means, which is connected through a communication line to a position information collecting device having means for transmitting information, and requests the position information collecting device to transmit position information of a predetermined moving body. And the position information transmitted from the position information collecting device,
The position information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first storage control unit that stores the position information in the position information storage unit. 6. A means for fetching position information of a moving body based on a transmission request from the outside from a position information collecting device having means for collecting and accumulating the position information of a plurality of moving bodies, and the fetched means It is connected through a communication line to a position information capturing device having means for transmitting the position information of the moving body to a transmission request destination, and transmits the position information of a predetermined moving body to the position information capturing device. Second position information requesting means for requesting the position information, and position information transmitted from the position information capturing device,
The position information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second storage control unit that stores the position information in the position information storage unit. 7. The information terminal device belongs to any one of the groups, and the map screen data creating means creates map screen data displaying the position of the moving body corresponding to each group, 7. The map screen data transmitting means transmits the map screen data according to a group to which the map screen data belongs to the information terminal device.
The position information providing device according to any one of 1.