JP2006345580A - Location information management apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a location information management apparatus used for an intra-group call connection control system capable of determining a communication device of a call connection destination according to various determination rules including determination rules based on at least location information when a calling party calls communication devices belonging to the same group. <P>SOLUTION: When a calling request containing group identification information for identifying groups is received from a communication device 70 of the calling party, an intra-group call connection control system 1 acquires a service logic corresponding to the group identification information. The intra-group call connection control system 1 collects information required for making a decision based on the acquired service logic, determines a communication device 70 of the connection destination based on the collected information and the service logic and connects the call. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a location information management device, and more particularly, to a location information management device used in an intra-group call connection control system that controls call connection to a group-managed communication device.

  In conventional telephone communication and communication using a computer, the telephone and the computer are treated as fixed terminals, not as terminals to be moved. However, with the spread of mobile phones in recent years, the enhancement of functions of portable computers, and the expansion of wireless technologies such as WLAN (Wireless LAN), it has become easy for users to perform telephone communications and computer communications while moving.

  When a user performs telephone communication and computer communication on a fixed network, it is important that the connection can be made without depending on the geographical location of the connection partner. On the other hand, when a user performs telephone communication and computer communication while moving, it is important and necessary to provide a communication service or application associated with the location or geographical location information of the user. With the increase in the number of users who own mobile devices, for example, there is a need to call a person at an optimal location among a plurality of mobile device users.

  Conventional fixed-line services related to location and location information include “free access service” that performs incoming call charge control based on the location of the caller terminal, and connection control by binding multiple numbers to one number. There is a “free dial” to do. The “free access service” is a service for charging an incoming call within the same charging area based on a charging area managed between network operators. The billing area is a prefecture unit. If the user of the called number is charged and the caller and the callee do not exist within the same prefecture, the connection cannot be established.

“Free dial” is a method of connecting to a telephone number designated in advance according to the area where the caller makes a call. “Free dial” has a function of distributing connection destinations at a certain ratio by binding a plurality of telephone numbers to one telephone number. However, these services do not include mobile devices.
On the other hand, as a mobile communication service related to location and location information, when a caller makes a call by specifying a group number from a mobile device or a fixed telephone, among group-managed communication devices (mobile devices or fixed telephones) A technique for calling a communication device located at the shortest distance from a sender is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 10-79793 A (summary)

However, the mobile communication service disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be provided because it is configured to call only the communication device that exists in the shortest distance from the communication device of the sender among the group-managed communication devices. Limited service. For example, when a group member waits, a communication device that is the longest distance from the caller's communication device, or a plurality of communication devices are called at the same time. Could not be determined.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when a caller makes a call to a communication device belonging to the same group, the call is made according to various determination rules including at least a determination rule based on position information. Provided is a position information management device capable of determining a communication device as a connection destination.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a location information management device that provides information about a communication device in response to an inquiry from the outside, according to the type of the communication device. Device management information storage means for storing device management information necessary for acquiring position management information including at least position information, and position management acquired based on the device management information stored in the device management information storage means There is provided a position information management apparatus comprising position management information holding means for storing information.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the location information management device acquires the location management information of the communication device based on the device management information stored in the device management information storage unit, and stores the location management information in the device management information storage unit. Since it is stored, the location management information of the communication device can be provided without delay in response to an inquiry from the outside.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the positional information management device according to the first aspect, the device management information storage means includes information for identifying a network type to which the communication device belongs, and the communication device. Information relating to a relay device for connecting to the communication device, a communication protocol used to communicate with the communication device, information to be used as a conversion source of location information when the location information of the communication device cannot be directly acquired, Stores at least one of position information acquisition timer information indicating an interval for acquiring position information of the communication device, and the position management information holding means includes the latitude and longitude of the communication device, and the communication device exists in the service area. Position management information including at least one of cell identification information, acceleration of the communication device, and a moving direction of the communication device is managed.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the location management information manages various pieces of information related to the communication device, the location information management device includes a variety of location management information including the location information of the communication device. Can be provided to the inquiring device without delay.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the positional information management device according to the first or second aspect, the communication device moves in a time interval represented by the positional information acquisition timer information stored in the device management information storage unit. In the case of a communication device, it is determined according to the acceleration of the communication device.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the position information management device sets the position information acquisition timer information in accordance with the type and moving speed of the communication device, the position information management device can acquire the position information at an appropriate time interval. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the location information of the communication device and the communication device are identified on the network in the information that is stored in the device management information storage means and that is the conversion source of the location information. Communication address information and URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) information for identifying information associated with the communication device is included.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the location information management device can convert the location information of the communication device from at least one of location information, communication address information, and URI information. Even when it cannot be directly acquired, the position information can be obtained from the information as the conversion source, and the probability that the position information of the communication device cannot be acquired can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 5 is the position information management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, based on the position management information of the communication device stored in the position management information holding means. Distance calculating means for calculating a distance to the communication device is further provided, and the distance calculating means calculates the distance in the future based on the acceleration and the moving direction stored in the position management information holding means. It is characterized by that.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the position information management device includes the distance calculation means, it is possible to provide the inquiry source device with the distance information between the devices in addition to the position information of the communication device. it can. In addition, since the position information management device can calculate the distance at the future time point based on the acceleration and the moving direction, it provides the information about the distance between the devices that predicted the future state to the inquiry source device. Can do.

According to the present invention, information for determining a connection destination communication device is collected based on at least a service logic including a determination rule based on position information, and the connection destination communication device is determined based on the collected information and the service logic. In order to determine, by associating various service logics for each group according to the purpose and application, it is possible to determine the optimum call connection destination communication device according to the location information of the communication device and connect the call. . For this reason, it is possible to call members within a group in accordance with various uses and purposes.
In addition, since the location information management device that holds the location management information including the location information of the communication device is provided, the location information management device provides the location management information of the communication device of the group member in response to an inquiry from the outside. The inquiry source device can determine the call connection destination communication device based on the location management information of the communication device of the group member who has earned without delay.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the same parts as those in the other drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals.
(Embodiment)
Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing referred to in the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as in the other drawings.

[1. Constitution]
[1.1. overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an intra-group call connection control system 1 according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the intra-group call connection control system 1 includes a group management device 10, a call connection service control device 20, a location information management device 30, a GMSC (Gateway Mobile Switching Center) 40, A mobile switching center (MSC) 50, a radio network controller (RNC) 60, a mobile station 71, a fixed terminal 72, and a fixed network and other networks (not shown) are included. Composed. The mobile device 71 is a mobile phone, but may be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) or a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) as long as it is a portable device capable of mobile communication. The fixed terminal 72 is a fixed telephone, but may be a server or a personal computer as long as it is a fixed device and can communicate. In the following description, the mobile device 71 and the fixed terminal 72 are collectively referred to as “communication device 70”.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the functional configuration of the intra-group call connection control system 1. As shown in the figure, the intra-group call connection control system 1 includes a group management function, a service control function, a location information management function, a distance calculation function, and a call control function. The group management function manages a plurality of users (mobile communication service subscribers and fixed communication service subscribers) as a group, and service logic describing an algorithm for determining a communication device 70 of a call connection destination user in the group Manage. The service control function collects various data from the outside, and determines the call connection destination communication device 70 in the group. The location information management function manages geographical location information of the communication devices 70 of users (group members) belonging to a group and various types of information related to the communication devices 70 of group members. Here, “position information” in the present invention includes at least latitude and longitude, which are geographical position information. In addition, the “location information” in the present invention may include not only the latitude and longitude at the current time point but also the latitude and longitude at a future time point. Further, since the latitude and longitude at a future time can be calculated from the current acceleration and moving direction of the mobile terminal 70, the “position information” in the present invention includes the latitude and longitude, the acceleration, and the moving direction. It is a concept that includes Also, the concept of “location information” may include altitude. In this embodiment, the expression format of latitude and longitude is the latitude and longitude of the World Geodetic System (WGS (World Geodetic System) 84), which is the standard of GPS (Grobal Positioning System). The distance calculation function calculates a physical distance based on the position information of the communication device 70 of the group member.

These functions can be arranged in any device, but in the present embodiment, the group management device 10 includes the group management function. The service control function is provided in the call connection service control device 20. The position information management device 30 includes a position information management function and a distance calculation function. The GMSC 40, the serving MSC 50, and the RNC 60 have a call control function.
Each device constituting the intra-group call connection control system 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage unit, and a communication unit included in a general computer. Various programs and data for realizing the functions of the present invention are stored in the storage unit of each device.

[1.2. Group management device]
Next, the group management apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the group management apparatus 10. The group management apparatus 10 includes a group management unit 11, a service logic storage unit 12, and a service logic selection unit 13.
The group management unit 11 stores group management information for managing a plurality of users as a group. The group management information includes user identification information for identifying the communication devices 70 belonging to the group and group identification information (group ID) for identifying the group. In the present embodiment, the user identification information and the group identification information are E.E. A telephone number defined by 164 or the like is used. FIG. 4 shows an example of information managed by the group management apparatus 10. Data A shown in the figure is user identification information.

  There are two registration policies for group management information managed by the group management unit 11. As a first method, there is a method in which a group ID manager registers group management information in the group management apparatus 10. As a second method, there is a method in which there is no group ID manager, and a user who wishes to subscribe to the intra-group call connection service registers the group ID and the telephone number of the own device 70 from the mobile device 71. .

  The following means can be considered as means for registering the group management information. As a first means, a user who wishes to subscribe to the intra-group call connection service accesses the group management device 10 from the mobile device 71 by a special number operation, and sets the group ID and the service logic bound to the group ID according to the token. Confirm and register your phone number. As a second means, the user designates a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and performs Web access from the mobile device 71. A registration status confirmation button and a registration number confirmation button are displayed on the Web screen. When the user operates the buttons, the screen can transition to a registration status screen and a registration addition / deletion screen. Users can register and delete their phone numbers. As a third means, the user designates the address of the group management apparatus 10 as the mail destination address, and any of “registration status confirmation”, “registration”, and “designation of group member” is designated as the mail subject. Is entered, the telephone number of the member to be registered or the telephone number of the member to be deleted is written in the text, and a transmission instruction is given.

  The service logic storage unit 12 manages service logic for controlling group communication. Here, the service logic is a rule for determining the call connection destination communication device 70 from the communication devices 70 belonging to the group. Here, a service logic is described that describes an algorithm for determining one or a plurality (or three or more in the case of a multi-party call) of connection destination communication devices 70 from a plurality of communication devices 70 belonging to a group. Define.

  The service logic can be composed of a plurality of algorithms (determination rules). The service logic includes a determination rule according to the distance between the communication device 70 of the caller and the communication device 70 belonging to the group at at least one of the present time and the future time. The service logic includes a determination rule according to the number of connections between the caller's communication device 70 and the communication device 70 belonging to the group, a determination rule when the connection destination communication device 70 is in communication, and There may be a case where at least one of the determination rule when there are a plurality of candidates for the communication device 70 of the connection destination is included. The determination rule included in the service logic and the combination of the service logic applied to the group can be selected and determined by the service logic selection unit 13 that detects the selection input of the user. In the example shown in FIG. 4, three service logics to be applied are associated as data B with a group identified by one group ID.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of the service logic. First, as “component 1” of the service logic, logic for acquiring information necessary for determining the connection destination communication device 70 according to the service logic is described. Here, logic for acquiring data such as position information and acceleration of the communication devices 70 belonging to the group is described.
The determination algorithm A is described as “component 2”. The decision algorithm A is made up of decision rules for choice 1 and choice 2. Option 1 is an algorithm that “finds group members that are at the longest distance from the caller and can communicate”, and option 2 is an algorithm that “group members that are at the longest distance from the caller and can communicate with each other”. It is an algorithm of “determining”.

When there are a plurality of communication devices 70 as connection destination candidates as “component 3”, determination based on whether or not the multi-call connection is possible between the caller communication device 70 and the connection destination communication device 70 Rules are described.
The determination algorithm B is described as “component 4”. The decision algorithm B is composed of option 1 and option 2. Option 1 is an algorithm of “priority connection with a candidate having a high communication frequency with a caller”, and option 2 is “acceleration and movement” between a caller communication device 70 and a group member communication device 70 candidate. And a candidate that is predicted to be at the closest distance after a predetermined time from the direction ”.

  In the determination algorithms A and B described above, which one of the options 1 and 2 is applied is specified in advance by, for example, a specific user who manages the group. The service logic selection unit 13 that has detected the user's designation describes the service logic to be applied to the group in a programming language such as C language based on the designated option, and associates the service logic with the group ID. .

In addition, the user can change the determined algorithm (for example, change from option 1 to option 2). It is also possible to add new options. In this case, the service logic selection unit 13 that has detected a change or additional input from the user changes the service logic stored in the service logic storage unit 12.
FIG. 6 shows a description example of service logic when option 1 of decision algorithm A and option 1 of decision algorithm B are selected. Note that the choices 1 and 2 of the decision algorithm A can be extended to algorithms that are determined using acceleration and direction in order to increase decision accuracy.

The following methods are conceivable as service logic setting methods.
As a first method, the group manager accesses the group management apparatus 10 from the mobile device 71 using a special number. Password authentication control may be set as an option. At this time, if it is a group administrator, it is possible to check the registration status (speaking the registered telephone number, reading the service logic) and add / delete the registration number. As a second method, a method in which a URL is specified and input from the mobile device 71 can be considered. As a third method, the address of the group management apparatus 10 is input as a mail destination, and at least one of “registration status confirmation”, “registration”, “deletion”, and “designation of service logic” is specified as a mail subject. , Write the number you want to register, the number you want to delete, and the service logic in the body, and send it. As a method for designating a service logic number to be registered by the user, the service logic number list information is obtained from the group management apparatus 10 to the mobile device 71 and registered by designating the service logic number.

[1.3. Location information management device]
Next, the location information management device 30 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of the location information management device 30. The location information management device 30 includes a device management information storage unit 31 and a location management information holding unit 32.
The device management information storage unit 31 stores device management information. The device management information is information necessary for acquiring the location management information of the communication device 70. The device management information is acquired from an existing communication device management server provided on the network when there is a group member registration request. The communication device management server holds a numbering system DB. The number system DB manages the identifier, access point number, communication protocol, and the like of the network to which the communication apparatus 70 belongs in association with the telephone number system of the communication apparatus 70. For example, in the number system DB, when the telephone number starts with “050-32”, the identifier of the network in which the telephone number is managed is “NCC device C”, and the access point is “MSCP”. No. 55 ”, and information indicating that the access means is an“ ISUP (ISDN User Part) signal or MAP signal ”is stored. When the telephone number starts with “090-34”, the network identifier in which the telephone number is managed is “mobile NW-A”, and the access point is “MSCP number 345”. , Information indicating that the access means is a “MAP signal” is stored. Further, in the case of a fixed telephone system with a telephone number of “0 × −xxx ××”, it is necessary to access the address conversion DB server to acquire location information, so that the network in which the address conversion DB server exists Information indicating an access point (IP address) and a communication protocol (MAP signal or HTTP signal) is stored as an access means for accessing.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of device management information stored in the device management information storage unit 31. As shown in the figure, the device management information includes a “telephone number” for identifying the communication device 70, a “NW identifier” for identifying the type of communication network to which the communication device 70 belongs, and the communication device 70. It is possible to directly acquire the “access point” that is information related to the relay device for connection, the “access means” that is a communication protocol used to acquire the position information of the communication device 70, and the position information of the communication device 70. If it is not possible, it is configured to include a “latitude / longitude conversion source” that is information used as a position information conversion source, and a “position information acquisition timer” that indicates an interval for acquiring the position information of the communication device 70.

  The location management information holding unit 32 acquires and stores location management information based on the device management information stored in the device management information storage unit 31. FIG. 9 shows an example of location management information held by the location management information holding unit 32. As shown in the figure, the location management information includes “GPS latitude / longitude” and LAI (Location Area Identification) in the service area of the mobile communication network as information indicating the location where the communication device 70 exists geographically. Is included, information indicating the “acceleration” of the mobile device 71 and the “direction” in which it moves. Here, “GPS latitude / longitude” held by the position management information holding unit 32 is expressed by latitude and longitude of the world geodetic system. In addition, the latitude and longitude derived by the “cell ID” are expressed in the Japanese geodetic system.

  In the location management information, “communication state” indicating whether or not the communication device 70 is in a communication state, and the number of connections with other communication devices 70 as information related to the communication device 70 other than the location information. Information indicating “connection history” for calculation and “multicall” indicating whether or not the communication device 70 is a model capable of multicall communication is included. These pieces of information are acquired from an external device by existing technology based on the device management information stored in the device management information storage unit 31.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a state of data exchange when the location information management device 30 acquires location information. The location information management device 30 uses the user identifier of the communication device 70 belonging to the group as a key, the MSC 50 / RNC 60 / base station where the network user is located, the location management server of another network, and information for identifying the user Position information is acquired from a conversion DB or the like that is managed in association with position information.

  FIG. 11 shows details of the conversion DB shown in FIG. The conversion DB is a server that stores information for converting information for identifying a user into position information. In the conversion DB, an address latitude / longitude conversion database for converting the “address” that is the location of the communication device 70 into latitude and longitude, and an “IP (Internet Protocol) address” that is an identifier on the network of the communication device 70 are stored in latitude. IP address latitude / longitude conversion DB that converts to longitude, URI / Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that identifies information associated with the communication device 70, and a latitude / longitude conversion database that converts latitude / longitude A geodetic system conversion database that converts latitude and longitude and latitude and longitude of the world geodetic system (GPS latitude and longitude) is included. When “address”, “IP address”, “URI” or the like is set in the “latitude / longitude conversion source” of the device management information, the location information management device 30 accesses these conversion DBs, The latitude / longitude of the communication device 70 is acquired from the address, IP address, or URI of the communication device 70.

When the representation format of the acquired position information is the latitude and longitude of the Japanese geodetic system, the position information management device 30 accesses the geodetic system conversion database and converts the acquired position information into GPS latitude and longitude. To do.
In addition, the location information management device 30 holds a database called a moving user model (hereinafter referred to as “moving user model”) shown in FIG. The moving user model stores a user movement status determination table shown in FIG.

  The location information management device 30 sets a “location information acquisition timer” of the device management information of the mobile device 71 according to the user movement status determination table. The location information management device 30 determines the movement status of the mobile device 71 identified by the corresponding telephone number based on the conditions of the status (A) and the status determination value (B) indicating the movement speed, and matches each status. The position information acquisition timer value (C) is selected. The system administrator can freely change the values of (B) and (C).

  In addition, the mobile user model manages a rule for setting a “position information acquisition timer” value of each mobile device 71 belonging to the group. For example, if the position information acquisition timer setting rule is set to “A” (no system specific value is used), an arbitrary value can be set in the “position information acquisition timer” of the mobile device 71. In this case, the location information management device 30 determines the location information acquisition timer value using the moving user model. When the setting rule of the position information acquisition timer is set to “B (use system specific value)”, the position information management device 30 sets a fixed value, for example, “50” in the “position information acquisition timer” of the mobile device 71. Set minutes.

When the communication device 70 is the fixed terminal 72, it is not necessary to sequentially acquire the position information. Therefore, the position information management device 30 does not use the mobile user model, and does not use the “location information acquisition timer” (acquisition interval). ) Is set to “∞ (infinity)”.
If the location information management device 30 does not hold a moving user model, the location information management device 30 sets a value input from the outside in the “location acquisition timer”.

As described above, the time interval represented by the “position information acquisition timer” is set according to the moving speed of the mobile device 71 when the communication device 70 is the mobile device 71. When the communication device 70 is the fixed terminal 72, the position information of the fixed terminal 72 only needs to be acquired once, so the “position information acquisition timer” is set to “∞”.
Further, the position information management device 30 holds a geodetic system conversion database for converting the latitude and longitude of the world geodetic system into the latitude and longitude of the Japanese geodetic system.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of a description format of position information. FIG. 13A shows the data structure of the location information defined in 3GPP TS V23.032 v5.0.0. FIG. 13B shows an example in which position information is described in RDF (Resource Description Framework) format. FIG. 13C shows an example in which position information is described in GML (Geography Markup Language).

  Note that the following method can be considered as the acquisition timing of the location management information. In other words, the group management device 10 is triggered by the addition or deletion of the user identifier that identifies the communication device 70 associated with the group ID managed by the group management device 10. To notify. The location information management device 30 acquires device management information and location information related to the communication devices 70 belonging to the group in response to the notification. The location information management device 30 acquires location information at intervals specified by the “location information acquisition timer” of the device management information so that the location management information of the communication device 70 can be managed in real time.

  As another timing for acquiring location management information, a method is conceivable in which location management information is not managed by the location management information holding unit 32 in real time and is acquired every time an incoming call is received from the caller communication device 70 to the group ID. In this case, the call connection service control device 20 that has received the incoming call notification to the group ID acquires the location management information of the communication devices 30 belonging to the group. Alternatively, the call connection service control device 20 may make a location information acquisition request to the location information management device 30.

(Procedure in which location information management device stores and holds device management information and location management information)
Next, a procedure in which the location information management device 30 stores device management information in the device management information storage unit 31 and stores location management information in the location management information holding unit 32 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when a member is added to a certain group, the location information management device 30 receives a registration request for the user identifier of the group member from the group management device 10 (process P1). When receiving the registration request, the location information management device 30 transmits a response to the requesting group management device 10. The location information management device 30 makes an address request when the communication device 70 identified by the user identifier is the fixed terminal 72. Further, when the communication device 70 identified by the user identifier is the mobile device 71, the location information management device 30 cannot acquire the location information because the server managing the location information cannot be accessed. Address request is also made (process P2).
Next, the location information management device 30 acquires device management information corresponding to the user identifier from the number system DB of the communication device management server (process P3).

Next, the location information management device 30 acquires location information of the communication device 70 (process P4). Specifically, when the received user identifier is a telephone number managed by the own network, the position information management device 30 acquires the position information from the exchange of the own network. If the received user identifier is a telephone number managed by another network, the location information management device 30 acquires location information from an exchange or location management server of the other network. Further, when the communication device 70 is an IP phone or the like, the location information management device 30 transmits the IP address of the communication device 70 to the conversion DB and converts it into location information. In addition, when the location information management device 30 receives an address in the process P2, the location information management device 30 transmits the address to the conversion DB and acquires location information corresponding to the address. Moreover, the positional information management apparatus 30 converts into the world geodetic system, when the acquired positional information is a Japanese geodetic system. Further, the location information management device 30 acquires location management information that can be acquired, such as a communication state of the communication device 70 and a connection history.
The location information management device 30 stores the information acquired in the process P3 in the device management information storage unit 31 as device management information. Further, the location information management device 30 stores location management information including the location information acquired in the process P4 in the location management information holding unit 32 (process P5).

[1.4. Call connection service control device]
Next, the call connection service control device 20 will be described. The call connection service control device 20 is provided with a subscriber database. In the subscriber database, information related to the subscriber of the communication service is managed. The information regarding the subscriber includes information indicating whether or not the subscriber is subscribed to the intra-group call connection service.
FIG. 15 shows a main functional configuration of the call connection service control apparatus 20. When the group member acquisition unit 21 shown in the figure receives a call request including group identification information (group ID) for identifying a group from the communication device 70 of the caller, the group member acquisition unit 21 sets the group identified by the group identification information. User identification information (telephone number) for identifying the communication device 70 to which it belongs is acquired from the group management device 10. The call connection service control device 20 may hold group management information and acquire user identification information from the own device 20.

When receiving a call request including group identification information, the service logic acquisition unit 22 acquires the service logic associated with the group identification information from the group management apparatus 10. Note that the call connection service control device 20 may hold the service logic and acquire the service logic from the own device 20.
The determination information collection unit 23 collects information necessary for determining the connection destination communication device 70 based on the service logic acquired by the service logic acquisition unit 22 from the location information management device 30 or the like.
Here, the information necessary for determining the connection destination communication device 70 includes at least position information of the communication devices 70 belonging to the group.

  The following three methods are conceivable as a method by which the call connection service control device 20 acquires the location information of the plurality of communication devices 70 belonging to the group from the location information management device 30. The first is a method in which user identifiers are transmitted one by one and position information of the communication device 70 identified by the user identifier is acquired one by one. The second is a method in which a plurality of user identifiers are transmitted and sequentially received from the ones whose position information can be acquired at the transmission destination. The third method is a method of transmitting a plurality of user identifiers and receiving position information corresponding to all user identifiers from the transmission destination.

  FIG. 16 shows a third method of transmitting a plurality of user identifiers and receiving location information corresponding to all user identifiers. As shown in the figure, when there are n group members, the call connection service control device 20 transmits n user identifiers of the group members to the location information management device 30. The location information management device 30 prepares all location information corresponding to each of the n user identifiers, and then returns the response to the call connection service control device 20. By exchanging the user identifier and the position information in this way, the call connection service control apparatus 20 can acquire the position information more efficiently in a shorter time than when transmitting and receiving the user identifiers one by one.

  The information necessary for determining the connection destination communication device 70 includes the distance between the caller communication device 70 and the group member communication device 70. 17 and 18, when the call connection service control device 20 acquires the distance between the communication device 70 of each group member and the communication device 70 of the caller from the distance calculation unit 33 of the location information management device 30. The state of data exchange is shown.

  In FIG. 17, when there are n group members, the call connection service control apparatus 20 transmits one user identifier and corresponding position information to the position information management apparatus 30 n times and is calculated from the position information management apparatus 30. A method for receiving the measured distance n times is shown. On the other hand, in FIG. 18, the call connection service control device 20 transmits user identifiers and location information for n people to the location information management device 30 once, and the location information management device 30 sets the distance for n people once. Shows how to receive. When the number of group members is large, the time shown in FIG. 18 can be used to reduce the data exchange time.

The connection destination determination unit 24 determines the connection destination communication device 70 based on the information collected by the determination information collection unit 23 and the service logic acquired by the service logic acquisition unit 22.
In addition, in order to efficiently determine the connection destination, the connection destination determination unit 24 executes an execution resource control that activates an algorithm for obtaining a distance even if the information of all the members of the group is not collected if the number of members belonging to the group is large. It has a function. In addition, since there is a limit in the time from the originator's transmission to the connection, when the connection destination determination unit 24 exceeds a certain time, the connection destination determination unit 24 connects to the communication device 70 that is the most suitable connection destination at that time. It also has an execution resource time management function.

(Service execution method of location information management device 30)
Next, with reference to FIG. 19, the control performed when the call connection service control apparatus 20 determines the connection destination communication apparatus 70 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the location management information managed by the location management information holding unit 32 of the location management device 30 is data C to data G shown in FIG.
First, the group ID is notified from the call connection function to the call connection service control device 20 (process P11). The call connection service control device 20 transmits a request including the group ID to the group management device 10 (process P12), and the group management device 10 receives a telephone number list (data A) that is user identification information bound to the group ID. And service logic (data B) are transmitted (number expansion) (process P13).

  The determination information collection unit 23 of the call connection service control apparatus 20 transmits the telephone number list (data A) to the positional information management apparatus 30 in order to acquire the positional information of the communication apparatus 70 identified by the telephone number list (process). P14). The location management information holding unit 32 of the location information management device 30 stores the location management information (GPS latitude / longitude (data C), cell ID (data D), communication status (data E), direction (data G )) Is transmitted (process P15). Note that the location management information holding unit 32 has some information that cannot be acquired from the data C and cannot be held. At least when the communication device 70 is the mobile device 71, the location management information holding unit 32 can return the GPS latitude / longitude (data C) and the cell ID (data D). The location information management device 30 performs error processing when data cannot be returned.

  The determination information collection unit 23 of the call connection service control apparatus 20 performs distance calculation using the distance calculation unit 33 in response to a response from the location management information holding unit 32 (processes P16 and P17). The connection destination determination unit 24 of the call connection service control device 20 determines one (or a plurality) of connection destination communication devices 70 based on the service logic, distance, and other collected information, and notifies the call connection function. (Process P18).

(Control function by distance)
Next, connection destination determination control based on distance performed by the call connection service control apparatus 20 when the communication apparatus 70 transmits a call origination request including a group ID will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that the information necessary for determining the connection destination communication device 70 is only the distance between the caller communication device 70 and the group member communication device 70.

  When the call connection service control device 20 transmits the request including the group ID, the call connection service control device 20 reads the subscriber information of the caller from the subscriber database (step S101). The call connection service control device 20 determines from the read subscriber information whether the caller is an intra-group call connection service subscriber (step S102). If the caller is not a service subscriber (step S102; N), the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the caller is a service subscriber (step S102; Y), the call connection service control device 20 performs number expansion based on the received group ID (step S103). Specifically, the group member acquisition unit 21 of the call connection service control device 20 acquires group identification information (telephone number; hereinafter referred to as “development number”) corresponding to the group ID from the group management device 10.

  The call connection service control device 20 determines whether the communication device 70 identified by the expanded number is a device of its own network or a device of another network based on the acquired expanded number system (step S104). When the communication device 70 is a device of its own network (step S104; Y), the determination information collection unit 23 of the call connection service control device 20 sends the location information of the communication device 70 to the location information management device 30 in its own network. (Step S105). On the other hand, if it is a device of another network (step S104; N), the determination information collection unit 23 of the call connection service control device 20 inquires of the location management function in the other network for the location information (step S106).

  The call connection service control device 20 determines whether or not the location information of all the expansion numbers and the location information of the caller's communication device 70 have been acquired (step S107). If there is something that has not been acquired yet (step S107; N), the process returns to step S104. On the other hand, if all of them have been acquired (step S107; Y), it is determined whether the position information is GPS latitude / longitude based on the attribute information included in the acquired position information (step S108). When the acquired position information is not the GPS latitude / longitude, that is, when the acquired position information is the latitude and longitude of the Japanese geodetic system (step S108; N), the call connection service control device 20 uses the latitude and longitude of the world geodetic system. The conversion DB is inquired for conversion to. On the other hand, when the acquired position information is GPS latitude / longitude (step S108; Y), the distance between the development number and the caller is calculated and stored in the database (step S109).

In step S108, processing for converting the address, IP address, and URI of the communication device 70 into latitude and longitude may be performed.
The call connection service control device 20 determines whether or not the distances of all the expansion numbers have been obtained (step S110). If not all have been obtained (step S110; N), the processing from step S107 is repeated. On the other hand, when all are obtained (step S110; Y), the connection destination determination unit 24 of the call connection service control apparatus 20 outputs a user identifier that matches the condition according to the service logic (step S111).
The call connection service control device 20 notifies the user identifier of the connection destination to the GMSC 40 having the call connection control function (step S112).

[1.5. Call control function]
Next, the GMSC 40 and the serving MSC 50 having a call control function will be described. The GMSC 40 and the serving MSC 50 are existing exchanges. The characteristic functions of the GMSC 40 and the serving MSC 50 in the present invention are that, when a call request to a specific group ID is detected, the intra-group call connection service is activated, and the caller's communication device 70 is Is a point to transmit.
Specifically, the serving MSC 50 receives a call request including the group ID from the communication device 70 and starts the intra-group call connection service, for example, “Now, searching for the nearest member. ”Is transmitted to the communication device 70 of the caller. Further, when the GMSC 40 receives a notification from the call connection service control device 20 that the communication device 70 of the connection destination has been determined, the GMSC 40 sends a toy with the content “Connect to the phone number XX” to the caller. It transmits to the communication apparatus 70.

[2. Operation]
Next, with reference to FIG. 21, the operation when the caller makes a call by designating the group ID “090-3234-2343” from the mobile device 71a will be described.
Here, the user identification information associated with the group ID “090-3234-3424” is member number 1 “090-3234-3424”, member number 2 “090-3214-3424” and member number 3 “090”. -3768-6578 ”, and these user identification information and group identification information are stored in the group management unit 11 of the group management apparatus 10 as group management information. It is assumed that the user of the mobile device 71b is member 1, the user of the mobile device 71c is member 2, and the user of the mobile device 71d is member 3. 6 is stored in the service logic storage unit 12 of the group management apparatus 10 in association with the group ID “090-3234-3424”. Further, it is assumed that the distance between the mobile device 71a and the mobile device 71b is the longest when the connection destination communication device 70 is determined. Here, it is assumed that the call connection service control device 20 does not acquire the location information from the location information management device 30, but directly acquires it from the call control function in its own network.

First, the caller operates the mobile device 71a, inputs a group ID, and gives a call instruction. Thereby, the mobile device 71a transmits a transmission signal including the group ID (process P20).
The serving MSC 50 reads the caller number from the call connection service control device 20 as usual (process P21). The serving MSC 50 transmits to the mobile device 71a a toy with the content “We are currently searching for the nearest member” (process P22).
The serving MSC 50 transfers a call request including the group ID and the caller number to the GMSC 40 (process P23). The GMSC 40 makes an inquiry to the call connection service control device 20 using the group ID as a key, and reads out the called party number (process P24).

  When the call connection service control device 20 receives the group ID from the GMSC 40, the call connection service control device 20 reads the program for the call connection service and activates the intra-group call connection service. Accordingly, the function of FIG. 15 is realized in the call connection service control apparatus 20. First, the call connection service control device 20 reads the subscriber database (step S101 in FIG. 20), and determines whether or not the caller has subscribed to the intra-group call connection service (step S102). When the caller has subscribed to the intra-group call connection service (step S102; Yes), the group member acquisition unit 21 of the call connection service control device 20 obtains the user identifier corresponding to the group ID from the group management device 10. Obtain (step S103). Further, the service logic acquisition unit 22 of the call connection service control device 20 acquires the service logic corresponding to the group ID from the group management device 10.

The call connection service control device 20 interprets the acquired service logic and determines information necessary for determination. The determination information collection unit 23 collects necessary information based on the determination result. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the information necessary for determining the connection destination communication device 70 includes the position information (including acceleration and moving direction) of each mobile device 71 belonging to the group, and the caller's information. The distance between the mobile device 71a and each of the mobile devices 71b, 71c, 71d, whether each of the mobile devices 71b, 71c, 71d is a model capable of multi-call connection, and transmission with each of the mobile devices 71b, 71c, 71d. It is the number of times of connection with the user's mobile device 71a.
First, the determination information collection unit 23 sends a user identifier to the location information management device 30 to make an inquiry in order to acquire location information of each mobile device 71b, 71c, 71d and location information of the communication device 71a of the caller. To acquire position information corresponding to the user identifier (step S105).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 22, the call connection service control apparatus 20 transmits a location information request for each of the mobile devices 71b, 71c, 71d to the GMSC 40 (process P251). The GMSC 40 transmits a location information request message to the serving MSC 50 in the same manner as before (process P252). The serving MSC 50 transmits a paging signal to the subordinate RNC 60 (process P253), calls each mobile device 71b, 71c, 71d, and acquires position information (process P254), as in the conventional case. The serving MSC 50 transmits a location information response message to the GMSC 40 (process P255). The GMSC 40 transfers the location information response message to the call connection service control device 20 (process P256).

Returning to FIG. 21, when the call connection service control device 20 receives the location information response message from the GMSC 40, the determination information collection unit 23 acquires the distance between each mobile device 71b, 71c, 71d and the caller's mobile device 71a. Therefore, the received location information of each mobile device 71b, 71c, 71d and the location information of the sender's mobile device 71a are transmitted to the location information management device 30.
In addition, the determination information collection unit 23 of the call connection service control device 20 collects other information necessary for determination from the location information management device 30 or the like. The connection destination determination unit 24 determines the mobile device 71 of the group member connected to the mobile device 71a of the caller in accordance with the determination rule described in the service logic. Here, since the distance between the mobile device 71a and the mobile device 71b is the longest, the connection destination determination unit 24 determines that the communication device 70 of the connection destination is the mobile device 70b of the member 1 (phone number “090-3234-3424”). It is determined that

The call connection service control device 20 notifies the user identifier “090-3234-3424” of the mobile device 70b to the GMSC 40 (process P26).
GMSC40 connects to “Phone number 090-3234-3424 (Member 1)”. Is sent to the mobile device 70a (process P27). When the GMSC 40 receives a notification from the caller that the connection is permitted, the GMSC 40 performs a call connection with the mobile device 70b (process P28).

As described above, it is possible to provide a call connection service and an application using geographical location information in a plurality of grouped members. Further, by including various determination rules in the service logic, the intra-group call connection control system 1 can provide a call connection service corresponding to various needs in the group.
For example, by automatically connecting to the nearest user through communication with a user in the group, it can be used for emergency calls, taxi dispatch, home delivery service, and the like. Further, in the case of waiting, it is possible to provide a service in which the positional relationship between friends can be understood by connecting from a distant partner. Also, in a battle-type communication game, it can be used to provide a game linked to the real world by connecting to a geographically close opponent.

[3. Modified example]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea. As modifications, for example, the following can be considered.
(1) The apparatus configuration of the intra-group call connection control system 1 in the above-described embodiment is merely an example. For example, the group management device 10, the call connection service control device 20, and the location information management device 30 may be configured as a single device.
Moreover, the function sharing of the devices constituting the intra-group call connection control system 1 in the embodiment described above is an example. For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the call connection service control device 20 has the function of interpreting the service logic and determining the connection destination based on the collected data. May have. Further, the call connection service control device 20 may include the service logic selection unit 13 of the group management device 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, the call connection service control device 20 uses a centralized processing mode in which data is exchanged with each device. For example, as shown in FIG. A distributed processing form in which functions are linked may be used. In this case, when the location information of the communication device 70 identified by the telephone number (user identifier) included in the list of data A can be acquired, the location information management function causes the distance control function to calculate the location information as needed. To return the phone number and the corresponding distance. For this reason, the distance calculation function can efficiently calculate the distance, and the service control function can efficiently acquire the distance. However, if the service logic becomes complicated, it cannot be handled. Whether the implementation is centralized or distributed depends on the degree of necessity for efficiency and the scale of the service (group registration number).

(2) The service logic description format and determination rule type in the above-described embodiment are examples. For example, the service logic in the above-described embodiment includes a location information acquisition request and a rule for determining the connection destination communication device 70, but the service logic determines a connection destination communication device 70. May be included. Then, the program logic for the location information acquisition request may be stored in the call connection service control device 20.

(3) The data configuration of the device management information stored in the device management information storage unit 31 of the location information management device 30 and the location management information stored in the location management information holding unit 32 is merely an example. For example, “number of connections” and “advance” may be included in the location management information.
(4) In the above-described embodiment, the location information management device 30 detects the location of the group member communication device 70 when the group member communication device 70 is the fixed terminal 72 when the group member additional registration request is received. When the information could not be acquired, the address acquisition request of the communication device was returned to the additional registration request transmission source. However, the request to return is not limited to the address acquisition request, for example, a URI acquisition request or an IP address. An acquisition request may be returned.

(5) The method for acquiring position information is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, when the mobile device 71 has a GPS reception function, the location information acquired by the mobile device 71 from a GPS satellite may be used. Further, the location information acquisition source may be changed according to the situation. For example, when the group member communication device 70 is a communication device 70 in the own network, the call connection service control device 20 acquires the location information at the time of a call connection request, and the group member communication device 70 is out of the own network. If the number of group members is large, the position information held in the position management information holding unit 32 of the position information management device 30 may be acquired. Further, the location information management device 30 may acquire geographical location information of the communication devices 70 belonging to a plurality of groups by multicast.

  In communication within a group composed of multiple users, by setting various service logic using at least geographical location information, it can be used for call connection services within the group according to various uses and purposes. Can do.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the intra-group call connection control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of a function structure of the intra-group call connection control system which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the group management apparatus which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the data structure of the group management information and service logic which concern on the embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the service logic which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a description of the service logic which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the positional infomation management apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the device management information memorize | stored in the device management information storage part which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the position management information memorize | stored in the position management information holding part which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the mode of the data transfer at the time of the positional information management apparatus concerning the embodiment acquiring positional information. It is a figure for demonstrating the detail of conversion DB which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the mobile user model which concerns on the same embodiment. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows an example of the description format of the positional information which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure in which the positional information management apparatus which concerns on the embodiment acquires and memorize | stores apparatus management information and positional management information. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the call connection service control apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the call connection service control apparatus which concerns on the embodiment transmits a some user identifier, and receives all the positional information. The state of data exchange when the call connection service control device according to the embodiment acquires the distance between the communication device of each group member and the communication device of the caller one by one from the distance calculation unit of the location information management device is shown. . Data exchange when the call connection service control device according to the embodiment acquires all the distances between the communication device of each group member and the communication device of the caller from the distance calculation unit of the location information management device at a time Indicates. It is a figure explaining the connecting point communication apparatus determination control which the call connection service control apparatus which concerns on the embodiment performs. It is a flowchart about the connection destination determination control by the distance which the call connection service control apparatus which concerns on the embodiment performs. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of the sender | caller which concerns on the same embodiment making a group transmission from a mobile device. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement of the positional information acquisition which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the function structure of the intra-group call connection control system which concerns on a modification.

Explanation of symbols

1 Intra-group call connection control system 10 Group management device 11 Group management unit 12 Service logic storage unit 13 Service logic selection unit 20 Call connection service control device 21 Group member acquisition unit 22 Service logic acquisition unit 23 Determination information collection unit 24 Connection destination determination Unit 30 Location information management device 31 Device management information storage unit 32 Location management information holding unit 33 Distance calculation unit 40 GMSC
50 MSC
60 RNC
70, 70a, 70b Communication devices 71, 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d Mobile device 72 Fixed terminal

Claims (5)

In a location information management device that provides information about communication devices in response to inquiries from outside,
Device management information storage means for storing device management information necessary for acquiring location management information including at least location information of the communication device according to the type of the communication device;
A location information management device comprising: location management information holding means for storing location management information acquired based on the device management information stored in the device management information storage means. The device management information storage means
Information for identifying the type of network to which the communication device belongs, information regarding a relay device for connecting to the communication device, a communication protocol used for communicating with the communication device, and position information of the communication device Storing at least one of information as a conversion source of position information when it cannot be directly acquired and position information acquisition timer information indicating an interval for acquiring the position information of the communication device;
The location management information holding means includes at least the latitude and longitude of the communication device, identification information of a cell where the communication device exists in a service area, acceleration of the communication device, and a moving direction of the communication device. The position information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein position management information including 1 is managed.   The time interval represented by the position information acquisition timer information stored in the device management information storage means is determined according to the acceleration of the communication device when the communication device is a mobile communication device. The location information management device according to claim 1.   The information that is stored in the device management information storage unit and is the source of the location information includes location information of the communication device, communication address information for identifying the communication device on a network, and the communication 4. The location information management according to claim 1, wherein at least one of URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) information for identifying information associated with the device is included. apparatus. Based on the location management information of the communication device stored in the location management information holding means, further comprising a distance calculation means for calculating the distance to a certain communication device,
5. The distance calculation unit according to claim 1, wherein the distance calculation unit calculates the distance in the future based on the acceleration and the movement direction stored in the position management information holding unit. The location information management device described in 1.

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