JP2004056555A - Service system for retrieving store position and portable terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a store position retrieving service system and a portable terminal device by which a user can quickly and accurately acquire information on charging service stores and prepaid card sales stores when the residual quantity of a battery and the remaining amount of a prepaid card become small. <P>SOLUTION: This portable terminal device 1 is provided with a function for obtaining position information from a GPS satellite 2 and operates with the battery as a power source. An information service center 5 is connected to a base station 3 connected to the portable terminal device 1 by radio. When the information service center 5 receives information to the effect that the residual quantity of the battery is not larger than a prescribed value and the position information by the GPS from the portable terminal device 1 through the base station 3, the information service center 5 extracts an open charging service store located near the present location of the portable terminal device 1 from a store information database 6, further extracts map information to the extracted store from a map information database 7 and transmits each information to the portable terminal device 1. The portable terminal device 1 displays the map information obtained from the information service center 5 on the display part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a store location search service system and a portable terminal device, and particularly to a display or a sound to warn the remaining battery level of a battery used as a power supply and the remaining frequency of a prepaid card, and further to a store or a prepaid The present invention relates to a store location search service system and a portable terminal device in which a map including a card store is displayed on a display.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handyphone System) phones, and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) devices were initially specialized in one function at the beginning of development, but due to advances in semiconductor technology such as LSI, CPU, and memory, In recent years, multi-functionalization and compounding have been attempted. For example, in the case of a mobile phone or a PHS phone, in addition to the original telephone function, an electronic telephone directory function, an electronic organizer function, a schedule function, a game function, an Internet connection function, a GPS (Global Positioning System), a camera function, a voice Models having a memo function and the like are commercially available. As the PDA device, a model having an Internet connection function, a GPS function, a camera function, and the like in addition to the functions of the original electronic organizer and schedule is commercially available.
[0003]
Further, a portable terminal device is also incorporated in a system. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-204085, a GPS function is mounted on a portable terminal device, and position information (latitude and longitude) of a detected current position and information to be obtained are transmitted to a fixed station via a telephone line. Based on this information, a map including department stores, stores, and the like around the current position or the destination can be obtained from the fixed station.
[0004]
Alternatively, the management center database is searched based on the position information detected by the user terminal device by GPS and the search condition set by the user, a store corresponding to the search condition is extracted, and this information is transmitted to the user terminal device. . In the user terminal device, a store is selected, and in accordance with the selection result, the management center sends map information including the position of the selected store and the position of the user terminal device to the user terminal device. Is proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-246871.
[0005]
By the way, in a portable terminal device, a primary battery or a secondary battery is used as a power source in order to use the portable terminal device without using an AC power source regardless of whether it is indoors or outdoors. Batteries have a limited usable time depending on their capacity (manganese battery, nickel-cadmium battery, lithium battery, etc.). Therefore, the user must use the portable terminal device while paying attention to the consumption of the battery, and when the battery is discharged, the user must replace or charge the battery. Most portable terminal devices have a battery level function that displays the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device in use and warns the user with a sound so that the timing of battery replacement and charging can be ascertained. This battery remaining capacity function detects a decrease in the capacity of the battery stepwise and displays it on a display unit such as an LCD or LED of the main body, or warns the user by voice or warning sound.
[0006]
If the user is a normal adult, it is possible to respond to it by being warned of the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device, but if the user is a child, a wandering old man, etc., Warnings make little sense. In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-1999 discloses a system in which a parent or a person to be searched can grasp the remaining battery level of a portable terminal device holder (children, elderly people who have wandering habits, etc.). No. 185188. According to the present invention, a child, an elderly person having a wandering habit, or the like possesses a portable terminal device equipped with a GPS function so that a parent can be notified of its location.
[0007]
By the way, when the portable terminal device is used outdoors and does not have a spare battery, the user can only grasp the situation even if notified of the low battery level, and can replace the battery. Charging will not be possible either. In order to solve such inconvenience, in recent years, stores equipped with a charging device for mobile terminal devices have appeared in downtown areas and the like, and by using this charging device, the mobile terminal device as described above can be used on the go. Battery can be dealt with.
[0008]
However, in order to do so, the user must know in advance where such a store is located, or must search around the current location. Generally, it is difficult to find a charging service store or the like within a short time in an unfamiliar city such as a place to go. Therefore, as a means for searching for a charging service store, a portable terminal device is connected to a telephone line as disclosed in JP-A-2001-204085 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-246871 described in [0003] and [0004]. A method of using various general-purpose search services is conceivable.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional mobile terminal device, when the battery is low and the search is time-consuming or when the search operation by the user takes a long time, the battery may run out more quickly. Can be When a general-purpose store search service is used, stores that are not open at the date and time of the search are also displayed, and it is often difficult to quickly determine which store is currently open.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a store location search capable of quickly and accurately obtaining information on a charging service store or a prepaid card store when the remaining battery level or the number of remaining prepaid cards is reduced due to outdoor use. A service system and a portable terminal device are provided.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has, as a first feature, a base station connected to a radio telephone network, a base station capable of detecting a current position based on position information obtained from a GPS satellite, and Wireless communication is possible, and a mobile terminal device that operates using a battery as a power source and store information including a name, a position, and business hours of a store existing in a service providing area of the mobile terminal device are registered. A store information database, a map information database in which map information in the service providing area is registered, and the position information and the remaining battery power of the battery or the remaining frequency of the prepaid card from the portable terminal device are equal to or less than a predetermined value. When the remaining amount information indicating the effect is transmitted via the base station, a store corresponding to the position information and the remaining amount information is extracted from the store information database. A store location search service, comprising: an information service center that extracts map information from the portable terminal device to the extracted store from the map information database and sends the extracted result to the portable terminal device. Provide system.
[0012]
According to this configuration, when position information and remaining amount information by GPS are transmitted from the portable terminal device to the information service center, the information service center searches the store information database and the map information database based on the information, and The map information up to the store extracted from the device is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and the map information can be displayed on the display unit in the portable terminal device. Therefore, when the remaining battery level or the number of remaining prepaid cards decreases, the location of the charging service store or the prepaid card store can be quickly and accurately grasped on the portable terminal device.
[0013]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has, as a second feature, position information detecting means for detecting a current position based on position information acquired from a GPS satellite, and a wireless device for performing wireless communication with a base station. Unit, a display unit for displaying various information by characters and images, in a portable terminal device that operates with a battery as a power supply, a battery remaining amount detection unit that detects that the remaining amount of the battery has become a predetermined value or less When the battery remaining amount detecting unit generates a detection signal, the position information by the position information detecting unit is notified to the base station together with the detection information, and based on the notification, the charging service store existing around the current location is notified. A mobile terminal device comprising: a control unit that acquires store information from the base station and displays the information on the display unit or performs a process of guiding by voice.
[0014]
According to this configuration, when the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device is detected by the battery remaining amount detection unit to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, the detection information and the position information of the mobile terminal device by GPS are transmitted to the base station side. When the base station returns store information on a charging service store located near the current location of the mobile terminal device in response to the notification, the control unit generates a display or audio guide based on the store information. As a result, when the remaining battery level becomes low, the location of the charging service store can be quickly and accurately grasped on the portable terminal device, and the battery can be charged in a short time, so that the portable terminal device cannot be used. Can be avoided.
[0015]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has, as a third feature, a position information detecting means for detecting a current position based on position information acquired from a GPS satellite, and a wireless device for performing wireless communication with a base station. In addition to a display unit for displaying various types of information using characters and images, in a portable terminal device capable of using a prepaid card, the remaining amount of the prepaid card is detected to detect that the remaining frequency of the prepaid card has become a predetermined value or less. And when the prepaid card remaining amount detecting unit generates a detection signal, notifies the base station side of the position information by the position information detecting means together with the detection information, and based on the notification, the prepaid card present around the current position. A control unit for acquiring store information relating to a card store from the base station side and displaying the information on the display unit or performing a process of guiding by voice; To provide a mobile terminal apparatus according to claim Rukoto.
[0016]
According to this configuration, when the remaining frequency of the prepaid card is detected by the prepaid card remaining amount detection unit to be equal to or less than the predetermined value, the detection information and the positional information of the portable terminal device by GPS are notified to the base station side. Then, in response to this notification, when the base station returns store information on the prepaid card store located near the current location of the portable terminal device, the control unit generates a display or voice guide based on the store information. As a result, when the number of remaining prepaid cards decreases, the location of the prepaid card store can be quickly and accurately grasped on the portable terminal device, and the prepaid card can be replenished in a short time. The state in which the card becomes unusable can be avoided.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a store location search service system of the present invention.
The mobile terminal device 1 is a mobile phone, a PHS phone, a PDA device (provided with a mobile phone or a PHS communication function), etc., and has a GPS function. You can know the position. Further, the mobile terminal device 1 can wirelessly communicate with the base station 3 via the base station antenna 4. An information service center 5 is connected to the base station 3 through a telephone line 8, and a store information database 6 and a map information database 7 are connected to the information service center 5.
[0018]
In the store information database 6, store information such as the name, position, and business hours of the charging service store of the mobile terminal device 1 in the service providing area is registered in advance. Further, the map information database 7 has registered therein map information within the service providing area. By combining the map information of the map information database 7 and the store information of the store information data service 6, a map of the charging service store that is open at a specific date and time can be displayed on the display of the portable terminal device 1. Becomes possible.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the mobile terminal device 1. Here, it is assumed that a mobile phone is used for the mobile terminal device 1.
The mobile terminal device 1 includes a control unit 11, a wireless unit 12, a wireless antenna 13 connected to the wireless unit 12, a position information detecting unit 14, an LCD display unit 15, a voice input / output unit 16, and a voice input / output unit 16. The apparatus includes a speaker 17 connected thereto, a microphone 18 connected to the audio input / output unit 16, an input key 19, a battery 20 as a power supply, and a battery remaining amount detecting unit 21 for detecting the remaining battery amount of the battery 20. Each of the wireless unit 12, the position information detecting unit 14, the voice input / output unit 16, the input key 19, and the remaining battery level detecting unit 21 is connected to the control unit 11.
[0020]
The control unit 11 is configured using a CPU, and manages the entire inside of the mobile terminal device 1. The radio unit 12 includes a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, and the like. The radio unit 12 enables communication and data transmission by connecting to a base station, and also provides access to various services using a telephone line. Used for The LCD display unit 15 is configured using a liquid crystal display, and displays input contents, telephone numbers, various service contents, and the like. The audio input / output unit 16 converts the digital signal received by the wireless unit 12 into an audio signal, outputs the audio signal to the speaker 17, and digitizes the audio signal from the microphone 18. The input key 19 includes a numeric keypad and a plurality of function keys, and is used for input operations such as telephone number input and operation selection. The battery remaining amount detecting unit 21 detects the remaining amount of the battery 20 at a predetermined timing.
[0021]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen 30 displayed on the LCD display unit 15. On this screen 30, a warning message 31 when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined value (operable lower limit) and a map 34 from the current position 32 of the mobile terminal device 1 to the location of the charging service store 33 are displayed. .
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows processing in the store location search service system and the portable terminal device of the present invention. In FIG. 4, steps are represented by S.
When the power of the portable terminal device 1 is turned on (ON) (S401), the capacity of the battery 20 is periodically or continuously checked by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 21 (S402), and the battery remaining amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. When the battery level is detected (S403), the battery level detection unit 21 notifies the control unit 11 of this detection. The control unit 11 having received the notification requests the position information detection unit 14 to provide the position information acquired from the GPS satellite 2 by the position information detection unit 14. The position information detection unit 14 that has received this request sends the position information of the current location of the portable terminal device 1 to the control unit 11 (S404). When the position information detecting unit 14 has not detected the latest position information when the position information request is received from the control unit 11, the position information detecting unit 14 acquires the position information from the GPS satellite 2 (S405), The control unit 11 is notified of the position information. The control unit 11 having received the notification of the position information notifies the wireless unit 12 of the position information of the portable terminal device 1. The wireless unit 12 wirelessly connects to the base station 3 via the wireless antenna 13, and further transmits the position information of the portable terminal device 1 and the remaining battery information indicating that the remaining battery power of the battery 20 has become a predetermined value or less. The information service center 5 is notified through the telephone line (S406).
[0023]
The information service center 5, which has received the notification of the position information and the remaining battery amount information from the mobile terminal device 1 via the base station 3, first extracts the currently open charging service store from the store information database 6, and furthermore, The charge service store closest to the position of the mobile terminal device 1 is selected (S407). Next, referring to the map information database 7, map information including a route from the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 to the selected charging service store is added (S408). The information service center 5 wirelessly notifies the portable terminal device 1 of this information via the base station 3 (S409). When the store information is selected in the information service center 5, store information of several stores may be extracted as candidates from the closest to the mobile terminal device 1 and the information may be notified to the mobile terminal device 1. Upon receiving this notification, the control unit 11 of the mobile terminal device 1 displays a message 31 indicating that the battery level of the mobile terminal device 1 is low on the LCD display unit 15 as shown in FIG. A map 33 indicating the location of the charging service store that is open is displayed.
[0024]
The user of the mobile terminal device 1 seeing this display displays the name of the charging service store in operation and a map including the charging service store on the LCD display unit 15 of the mobile terminal device 1 even if the user goes to charge. By doing so, it is possible to know that charging is required and that there is a charging service store that accepts charging nearby, and the user of the portable terminal device 1 can easily find the nearest charging service store in business. Thus, the portable terminal device 1 can be used continuously.
[0025]
As a method of guiding the charging service store to the user, a map may be displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 3, and the store name of the charging service store and the direction and distance to the store may be displayed by characters or numbers. Alternatively, an announcement may be made to the user by a voice guide or the like. In this case, it is necessary to provide the voice input / output unit 16 with a voice recognition unit.
[0026]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present invention is a system in which predetermined information is transmitted to the information service center 5 and data relating to this information is returned from the information service center 5 to the portable terminal device 1. Therefore, the target is not limited to the remaining battery level. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the mobile terminal device 1 detects that the remaining frequency of the prepaid card has become equal to or less than a predetermined value instead of the remaining battery power, and provides an information service based on the prepaid card remaining power information. The center 5 searches the database for the name, location, business hours, and the like of the store that sells the prepaid card, and can provide the portable terminal device 1 with map information including information from the portable terminal device 1 to the store.
[0027]
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Since the configuration of the store location search service system in the present embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 1, only the configuration of the portable terminal device is shown in FIG. The portable terminal device 50 shown in FIG. 5 differs from the portable terminal device 1 of FIG. 2 in that the portable terminal device 50 is provided with a prepaid card remaining amount detection unit 51. The prepaid card remaining amount detection unit 51 has a function of detecting the remaining frequency of the prepaid card loaded in the mobile terminal device 50 and notifying the control unit 11 of the same.
[0028]
Here, it is assumed that the mobile terminal device 1 is a prepaid mobile phone which is used by purchasing a prepaid card in advance. The mobile terminal device has a prepaid card remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining available frequency of the used prepaid card, and the service information database connected to the information service center is provided with service provision. It is assumed that the name, position, business hours, and the like of the prepaid card store for portable terminal devices in the region are registered in advance.
[0029]
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. The prepaid card remaining amount detection unit 51 of the portable terminal device 50 periodically or continuously checks the remaining frequency of a prepaid card (not shown), and notifies the control unit 11 when the remaining frequency falls below a prescribed amount. I do. The subsequent operation is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but the information read from the store information database 6 by the information service center 5 includes the contents of the prepaid card store, the business hours, and the like. . By displaying the name of the prepaid card store in business and a map including the prepaid card store on the LCD display unit 15 of the mobile terminal device 50, the user can operate the prepaid card before the remaining number of prepaid cards runs out. The nearest prepaid card store can be easily found, and continuous use of the prepaid card becomes possible.
[0030]
In the second embodiment, the remaining amount of the prepaid card is detected on the portable terminal device 50 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the remaining frequency is detected on the telephone service station side.
[0031]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, either the remaining battery level or the remaining frequency of the prepaid card is detected. However, both detections are performed at the same time, and the corresponding store is set to the mobile terminal according to the determination content. A store position search service system displayed on the device screen may be used.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above, according to the store location search service system of the present invention, the location information by GPS and the remaining amount information of the battery or the prepaid card are sent from the portable terminal device to the information service center, and the information service center sends both information. , The store information database and the map information database are searched, and the map information from the extracted store to the portable terminal device is returned to the portable terminal device, and the map information is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal device. Therefore, when the remaining battery level or the number of remaining prepaid cards is low, the location of the charging service store or the prepaid card store can be quickly and accurately grasped on the mobile terminal device, and the mobile terminal device or the prepaid card can be recognized. Can be prevented from functioning.
[0033]
Further, according to the portable terminal device of the present invention, a battery remaining amount detection unit for detecting that the battery in the portable terminal device has a remaining amount equal to or less than a predetermined value, the detection information, and the positional information of the portable terminal device by GPS To the base station side by the control unit, and in response to the return of the store information regarding the charging service store existing around the current location of the portable terminal device from the base station side in response to this notification, the control unit displays or outputs a voice based on the store information. Since the guide is configured to be generated, when the remaining battery power is low, the location of the charging service store can be quickly and accurately grasped on the portable terminal device, so that the battery can be charged in a short time, It is possible to avoid a state in which the portable terminal device becomes unusable.
[0034]
Further, according to another portable terminal device of the present invention, the remaining amount of the prepaid card is detected by the prepaid card remaining amount detection unit to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the detection information and the position information of the portable terminal device by GPS Is notified to the base station by the control unit. In response to this notification, when the store information on the prepaid card store existing around the current location of the portable terminal device is returned from the base station, the control unit performs the processing based on the store information. Since the display or audio guide is configured to be generated, when the number of remaining prepaid cards decreases, the location of the prepaid card store can be quickly and accurately grasped on the portable terminal device, and the The prepaid card can be replenished at the same time, and the state in which the prepaid card becomes unusable can be avoided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a store location search service system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile terminal device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a screen diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the LCD display unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in the store location search service system and the portable terminal device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portable terminal device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,50 mobile terminal device 2 GPS satellite 3 base station 4 base station antenna 5 information service center 6 store information database 7 map information database 8 telephone line 10 GPS antenna 11 control unit 12 radio unit 13 radio antenna 14 position information detection unit 15 LCD Display unit 16 Voice input / output unit 17 Speaker 18 Microphone 19 Input key 20 Battery 21 Battery remaining amount detecting unit 22 Prepaid card remaining amount detecting unit 30 Screen 31 Warning message 32 Current position 33 Charging service store 34 Map

Claims (10)

A base station connected to the wireless telephone network;
A portable terminal device capable of detecting a current position based on position information obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, communicating with a base station by radio, and operating using a battery as a power source,
A store information database in which store information including the name, position, and business hours of stores existing in the service providing area of the mobile terminal device is registered,
A map information database in which map information in the service providing area is registered,
When the position information and the remaining amount information indicating that the remaining battery level of the battery or the remaining frequency of the prepaid card is equal to or less than a predetermined value are transmitted from the portable terminal device via the base station, the position information and the A store corresponding to the remaining amount information is extracted from the store information database, map information from the mobile terminal device to the extracted store is extracted from the map information database, and the extraction results are sent to the mobile terminal device. A store location search service system, comprising: 2. The store according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device includes a display unit, and displays the extracted store and a map to the store based on information from the information service center on the display unit. 3. Location search service system. The portable terminal device includes a display unit or a voice processing unit, and notifies the name of the extracted store based on information from the information service center, a direction and a distance to the store by voice using the voice processing unit. 2. The store location search service system according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on the display unit. The store location search service system according to claim 1, wherein the information service center extracts a store that is closest to the mobile terminal device and is open from the store information database. The store location search service system according to claim 1, wherein the store is a charging service store or a prepaid card store. GPS (Global Positioning System) Position information detecting means for detecting the current position based on position information acquired from a satellite, a wireless unit for performing wireless communication with a base station, and a display for displaying various information by characters and images Unit, and operates on a battery as a power supply,
A battery remaining amount detection unit that detects that the remaining amount of the battery is equal to or less than a predetermined value,
When the battery remaining amount detection unit generates a detection signal, the position information by the position information detection unit is notified to the base station side together with the detection information, and a store related to a charging service store existing around the current location based on the notification is notified. A mobile terminal device comprising: a control unit that obtains information from the base station side and performs a process of displaying the information on the display unit or guiding by voice. The control unit may include a map including a route from a current position to the charging service store on the display unit based on the store information from the base station, and a warning that the remaining amount of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined value. 7. The portable terminal device according to claim 6, wherein a message is displayed. GPS (Global Positioning System) Position information detecting means for detecting the current position based on position information acquired from a satellite, a wireless unit for performing wireless communication with a base station, and a display for displaying various information by characters and images In addition to a mobile terminal device that can use a prepaid card,
A prepaid card remaining amount detection unit for detecting that the remaining frequency of the prepaid card has become a predetermined value or less,
When the prepaid card remaining amount detecting section generates a detection signal, the position information by the position information detecting means is notified to the base station together with the detection information, and based on the notification, a prepaid card store existing around the present location is notified. A mobile terminal device comprising: a control unit that acquires store information related to the information from the base station and displays the information on the display unit or guides the information by voice. The control unit may include a map including a route from a current position to the prepaid card store on the display unit based on the store information from the base station, and a notification that the remaining frequency of the prepaid card has become a predetermined value or less. 9. The portable terminal device according to claim 8, wherein a warning message is displayed. The control unit is connected to a battery remaining amount detecting unit that detects that a remaining amount of a battery as a power supply has become a predetermined value or less, and uses the detection information instead of the detection information of the prepaid card, or 9. The portable terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the store information is obtained by using the information together with card detection information.

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