JP2010028322A - System of sharing location information of group member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict users who can participate as a group member when a group sharing location information is formed. <P>SOLUTION: In a group consisting of a plurality of members, when a new member participates in an existing group in a system in which the members share location information with each other, the following processing is carried out. First of all, a member terminal 1 acquires a group ID from an owner terminal 1a of the group by infrared communication (S210). The member terminal 1 generates a member registration request including the group ID and transmits the member registration request to a server 3 (S214). The server 3 confirms the group ID and approves participation (S220). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for sharing position information among a plurality of group members, and more particularly to a technique for forming a highly secure group.

In order to allow a plurality of group members to easily know each other's position at a theme park or the like, Patent Document 1 discloses a map image and the positions of other group members on the map on the mobile terminal of each group member. A position information sharing system for group members that displays is described.
JP 2006-276380 A

  By the way, in the system of Patent Document 1, any registered user can freely participate in an already registered group. That is, there is no particular restriction on the user's participation in the group. Therefore, in such a system, an unspecified number of users can be members of the same group. For example, strangers who are not acquainted at all may even be members of the same group.

  If you are in the same group as another stranger, your location information will be known to other people, which is not preferable in terms of security.

  Further, in the system of Patent Document 1, it is more convenient if communication can be freely performed between group members when a group is formed and position information is shared among group members.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to limit users who can participate as group members when forming a group sharing position information.

  Another object of the present invention is to enable easy communication between group members sharing position information.

In the group member location information sharing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a group including at least one owner and one or more members is formed, the owner terminal possessed by the owner and each member possessed And a server device that transmits map information and position information of each member terminal to the member terminal.
The owner terminal includes a storage unit that stores owner approval information that approves the joining of a group, and short-range communication means that transmits the owner approval information to each member terminal.
Each member terminal includes position detection means for detecting the current position of the own terminal, near field communication means for receiving the owner approval information from the owner terminal, and owner approval information received from the owner terminal, Means for generating a group participation request for requesting participation of the owner terminal in the group; means for generating a group information acquisition request including current position information of the own terminal detected by the position detecting means and identification information of the own terminal; A server communication unit that transmits the group participation request and the group information acquisition request to the server and receives respective responses; and the map data and group information received by the server communication unit as a response to the group information acquisition request. And a display device for displaying a map image and the positions of other member terminals in the group on the map image. That.
The server receives the group participation request and the group information acquisition request from each member terminal, and associates the member terminal communication means for transmitting the response and the identification information of each member terminal with the group to which each belongs. And a group information storage unit that stores current position information of each member terminal, and when the member terminal communication means receives the group participation request from the first member terminal, owner approval information included in the group participation request And a member registration means for authorizing the first member terminal to participate in the group of owner terminals and storing the identification information of the first member terminal in association with the group of owner terminals. When the member terminal communication means receives the group information acquisition request from the second member terminal, the received group information is received. Update means for storing and updating the current position information of the second member terminal included in the group information acquisition request in the group information storage unit, and the second member based on the received group information acquisition request. The current position information of other member terminals in the same group as the terminal is acquired from the group information storage unit, and map data including the current position of the predetermined member terminal is acquired from the map database. A response to the received group information acquisition request including map data including current position information of other member terminals and the current position of the predetermined member terminal, and a response to the generated group information acquisition request Group information providing means for causing the second member terminal to transmit to the member terminal communication means.

In a preferred embodiment, each member terminal further includes a comment input unit that receives a comment input, and the server communication unit may transmit comment data related to the comment input by the comment input unit to the server. Good.
In the server, comment data transmitted from each member terminal is further stored in the group information storage unit, and the group information providing means includes other member terminals in the same group as the second member terminal. Comment data may be acquired from the group information storage unit, and the acquired comment data may be included in a response to the group information acquisition request.
In the second member terminal, the display device may further display a comment based on comment data included in the response to the received in-group terminal position information acquisition request.

  In a preferred embodiment, the second member terminal may display the comment in association with the position on the map of the member terminal that has accepted the input of the comment.

  In a preferred embodiment, the server communication means transmits the current location information of the own terminal and the identification information of the own terminal included in the group information acquisition request to the server device at different timings. Good.

In the server device according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a group including at least one owner and one or more members is formed, the map information and the position of each member terminal are transferred to a plurality of member terminals possessed by each member. Send information.
Each member terminal includes position detection means for detecting the current position of the own terminal, short-range communication means for receiving owner approval information from the owner terminal possessed by the owner, and owner approval information received from the owner terminal Generating a group information acquisition request including means for generating a group participation request for requesting participation of the owner terminal in a group, and current position information of the own terminal detected by the position detecting means and identification information of the own terminal Means, server communication means for transmitting the group participation request and group information acquisition request to the server and receiving respective responses, and map data and groups received by the server communication means as responses to the group information acquisition request A display device for displaying a map image and positions of other member terminals in the group on the map image based on the information; When it is equipped with a,
The server device
Member terminal communication means for receiving the group participation request and the group information acquisition request from each member terminal and transmitting a response thereof;
The identification information of each member terminal is stored in association with the group to which each member terminal belongs, and the group information storage unit that stores the current position information of each member terminal;
When the member terminal communication means receives the group join request from the first member terminal, the first member terminal joins the group of owner terminals based on owner approval information included in the group join request. And member registration means for storing the identification information of the first member terminal in association with the group of owner terminals,
When the member terminal communication means receives the group information acquisition request from the second member terminal, the current location information of the second member terminal included in the received group information acquisition request is stored in the group information storage unit. Updating means for updating
Based on the received group information acquisition request, the current position information of other member terminals in the same group as the second member terminal is acquired from the group information storage unit, and the predetermined member terminal of the predetermined member terminal is acquired from the map database. A response to the received group information acquisition request that acquires map data including the current position and includes map data including the current position information of other member terminals in the acquired same group and the current position of the predetermined member terminal Group information providing means for causing the second member terminal to transmit a response to the generated group information acquisition request to the member terminal communication means.

  A group member location information sharing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. When a group is composed of a plurality of members, this system displays a map image and the positions of the members in the group on the map on the terminal device carried by each member, and Provide services that can share location information. At this time, the range to which this service can be applied (member's action range) may be limited to a certain range such as a theme park, or may be an arbitrary area including a city area without particular limitation.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the present system. As shown in the figure, in this system, a plurality of member terminals 1, 1,... And a plurality of member terminals 1, 1,. Access points 7 and 7 to be performed, and a server 3 connected to the access points 7 and 7 via the network 9 are provided.

  In the present embodiment, the members constituting the group include one or more owners Mo and one or more participants Ma. The member who created the group himself becomes the owner Mo of the group. A member who joins an existing group is a participant Ma. However, even the participant Ma can become a new owner Mo upon approval of the existing owner Mo. As will be described below, the owner Mo has owner authority that is not given to the participant Ma. For example, the owner Mo performs group dissolution, member participation approval, member forced deletion, etc. with owner authority. In the following embodiments, the member terminal 1 having an owner authority is particularly referred to as an owner terminal 1a.

  The member terminals 1, 1,... May be any computer device having a current position detection function, a short-range communication function, and a communication function with the server 3, for example, a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, or a general-purpose device. A typical personal computer may be used. The functions or configurations of the member terminals 1, 1,... Described below are based on predetermined hardware included in the member terminals 1, 1,... And predetermined software (computer program) that controls or operates them. Can be realized.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the member terminal 1.

  As shown in the figure, the member terminal 1 includes a display device 111, an input device 113, a GPS processing unit 115, an infrared communication unit 117, a wireless communication unit 119, a group data storage unit 131, and a map data storage. Unit 133, owner processing unit 135, group participation processing unit 137, and group data acquisition request generation unit 139.

  The display device 111 includes, for example, a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel and a control unit that performs control to display an image or the like on the display unit.

  The input device 113 includes, for example, an operation unit such as a push button, a keyboard, a touch panel, or a pointing device, and a control unit that controls the operation unit.

  The GPS processing unit 115 is a current position detection unit of the member terminal 1, and processes the GPS antenna and the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna to identify the coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the current position of the member terminal 1. Signal processing means. Note that the member terminal 1 may include position detecting means other than the GPS processing unit 115. For example, instead of the GPS processing unit 115, position detection means using WiFi radio waves of a wireless LAN may be used.

  The infrared communication unit 117 is a short-range communication unit, and includes an infrared light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a control unit that controls them. The infrared communication unit 117 communicates with other member terminals 1 using infrared rays. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, only the member terminal 1 that has acquired the group ID from the owner terminal 1a using the infrared communication unit 117 can join the group. As a result, the group members can be limited to those who are familiar with the owner. Note that the member terminal 1 may include short-range communication means other than the infrared communication unit 117. For example, instead of the infrared communication unit 117, a short-distance communication means using Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used.

  The wireless communication unit 119 includes a predetermined wireless transmission / reception device and its control means, and performs wireless communication with the access point 7.

  The group data storage unit 131 stores group data necessary for receiving provision of this service. For example, the group data storage unit 131 stores a member ID 1310 that identifies the member terminal 1 (or a member that owns the member terminal 1), and a group ID 1312 that identifies the group to which the member terminal 1 belongs. Further, in the case of the owner terminal 1a, the group data storage unit 131 stores an owner flag 1314 indicating that it is the owner terminal 1a.

  The map data storage unit 133 receives the map data acquired from the server 3 by the wireless communication unit 119 and the member data 450 (see FIG. 5C) of other member terminals 1 in the group when receiving the group service. Remember. The display device 111 displays a group position information screen 800 (see FIG. 10) described later using the data stored in the map data storage unit 133.

  The owner processing unit 135 performs processing for the member terminal 1 to become the owner terminal 1a and owner authority processing that is permitted only to the owner terminal 1a.

  First, the owner processing unit 135 generates a group creation request 500 that requests the server 3 to create a new group and that the member terminal 1 becomes the owner terminal 1a. The group creation request 500 includes, for example, a group name 510, an owner name 520, and an expiration date 530 as shown in FIG. 3A. This group creation request 500 is transmitted to the server 3 via the wireless communication unit 119. The server 3 creates a new group in response to the group creation request 500, as will be described later. When the group ID of the created group and the member ID of the member terminal 1 are transmitted from the server 3, the owner processing unit 135 receives it via the wireless communication unit 119. The owner processing unit 135 stores the received group ID 1312 and member ID 1310 in the group data storage unit 131 and sets an owner flag 1314 indicating that it is the owner of the group with the group ID 1312.

  When the owner flag 1314 is set, the member terminal 1 becomes the owner terminal 1a, and the owner processing unit 135 can further perform the following processes that are recognized as owner authority. For example, the owner processing unit 135 generates an owner authority processing request such as a group dissolution request or a member forced deletion request, and transmits the request to the server 3 via the wireless communication unit 119. When generating the owner authority processing request, the owner processing unit 135 checks the presence or absence of the owner flag 1314.

  Further, the owner processing unit 135 can approve the participation of the other member terminals 1 to the group of which the owner is an owner when the owner flag 1314 is set. In the present embodiment, the owner terminal 1a transmits the group ID 1312 to the other member terminals 1 via the infrared communication unit 117, thereby confirming the participation of the member terminal 1 as the partner. That is, the group ID 1312 passed from the owner terminal 1a is owner approval information that proves that the owner has approved participation in the group. Therefore, the data passed from the owner terminal 1a via the infrared communication unit 117 may be information indicating that the owner has approved participation in the group, and is not necessarily limited to the group ID. The owner terminal 1a may prohibit the group ID 1312 from being output by means other than the infrared communication unit 117 (for example, communication using the wireless communication unit 119).

  As can be seen from the above description, the owner processing unit 135 is used when the member terminal 1 becomes the owner terminal 1a and functions as the owner terminal 1a.

  The group participation processing unit 137 generates a group participation request 600 that requests the server 3 to join an existing group member as a participant. The group participation request 600 includes, for example, a group ID 610 and a member name 620 as shown in FIG. 3B. As the group ID 610, the group ID 1312 acquired in advance from the owner terminal 1 a by the infrared communication unit 117 and stored in the group data storage unit 131 is used. This group participation request 600 is transmitted to the server 3 via the wireless communication unit 119. In the server 3, when the group participation request 600 is approved, a member ID is assigned to the member terminal 1. When the assigned member ID is transmitted from the server 3, the group participation processing unit 137 receives it via the wireless communication unit 119. The member ID received by the group participation processing unit 137 is stored in the group data storage unit 131.

  As can be seen from the above description, the group participation processing unit 137 is used when the member terminal 1 joins an existing group.

  Further, the group participation processing unit 137 may generate a withdrawal request from the group and transmit it to the server 3. Furthermore, the group participation processing unit 137 may generate a non-notification member request that does not notify other members of its own location information even if it is a group member, and transmits it to the server 3.

  The group data acquisition request generation unit 139 generates an acquisition request (hereinafter referred to as a group data acquisition request) 700 of the current member data 450 (see FIG. 5C) of another member terminal 1 belonging to the same group as the member terminal 1. . The group data acquisition request 700 also serves as notification of the position coordinates of the member terminal 1 to the server 3 at the same time. That is, the group data acquisition request 700 includes a member ID 710 and a current position coordinate 720 as shown in FIG. 3C.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the server 3.

  The server 3 is configured by a general-purpose computer system, for example, and individual components or functions in the server 3 described below are realized by executing a computer program, for example.

  The server 3 includes a communication processing unit 31, a group data management unit 33, a navigation processing unit 35, a map database 37, and a group database 39.

  The communication processing unit 31 communicates with each member terminal 1 via the network 9 and the access point 7.

  The map database 37 stores map data for navigation.

  The group database 39 stores information regarding groups and members belonging to each group. For example, the group database 39 stores a group table 41, a group configuration table 43, and a member table 45.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of the data structure of the group table 41. As shown in the figure, the group table 41 includes a group ID 411, a group name 413, an owner member ID 415, and an expiration date 417 as data items. When a group is created, one record is added to the group table 41 for each group.

  FIG. 5B shows an example of the data structure of the group configuration table 43. As shown in the figure, the group configuration table 43 has a group ID 431 and member IDs 433 of members constituting the group as data items. When there are a plurality of members in one group, member IDs 433 corresponding to the number of members are provided.

  FIG. 5C shows an example of the data structure of the member table 45. The member table 45 stores data (hereinafter referred to as member data) 450 relating to each member belonging to any group. The member data 450 stored in the member table 45 includes, as data items, a group ID 451, a member name 452, position coordinates 453, a position acquisition time 455, a comment 457, and a comment update time 459 as data items.

  Referring again to FIG. 4, the group data management unit 33 manages the data stored in the group database 39 and the data regarding the members of each group.

  For example, the group data management unit 33 receives a group creation request 500 from the user terminal 1 and creates a group. As the group creation processing, for example, the group data management unit 33 assigns a group ID for a new group and a member ID for a member who becomes an owner according to predetermined rules. Then, the group data management unit 33 generates a record including the group ID, member ID, and expiration date, and the group name 510 and expiration date 530 included in the received group creation request 500, and registers them in the group table 41. To do. If the expiration date 530 is not included in the group creation request 500, the group data management unit 33 may set the expiration date of the new group. The group data management unit 33 notifies the member terminal 1 that has transmitted the group creation request 500 of the group ID and member ID. Thereby, the member terminal 1 becomes the owner terminal 1a. Further, the group data management unit 33 adds a record corresponding to the member terminal 1 (owner terminal 1a) that transmitted the group creation request 500 to the group configuration table 43 and the member table 45. This completes the creation of a new group.

  When the group data management unit 33 receives the group participation request 600 from the member terminal 1, the group data management unit 33 performs the group participation process of the member terminal 1 that is the transmission source. As the group participation process, the group data management unit 33 performs, for example, the following process. First, when receiving the group participation request 600, the group data management unit 33 determines whether to approve the group participation request 600. That is, if the group data management unit 33 can confirm that the data record having the group ID 610 included in the group participation request 600 exists in the group table 41 and the expiration date 417 of the record has not passed, the group participation management unit 33 Approve request 600. As already described, the member terminal 1 must obtain the group ID from the owner terminal 1a by infrared communication. Therefore, it is considered that the member terminal 1 having the group ID has made a group participation request with the explicit approval of the owner.

  When the group participation request 600 is approved, the group data management unit 33 assigns a member ID to the member terminal 1 that has transmitted the request. Then, the group data management unit 33 identifies a corresponding record in the group configuration table 43 based on the group ID 610 included in the group participation request 600, and adds the member ID assigned to the record. Further, the group data management unit 33 adds a record of the member ID to the member table 45. Thereby, participation of the new member to the existing group is completed.

  Further, when the group data management unit 33 receives a request for dissolution of a group or forced deletion of members from the owner terminal 1a, the group data management unit 33 performs processing corresponding to the request. For example, when a group dissolution request is received, the group data management unit 33 deletes data related to the group specified in the group dissolution request from the group database 39. In addition, upon receiving the member forced deletion request, the group data management unit 33 deletes the data related to the group designated by the member forced deletion request from the group database 39.

  When the group data management unit 33 receives a group withdrawal request from any of the group terminals 1, the group data management unit 33 deletes the member data from the group database 39. When the group data management unit 33 receives a non-notifying member request from any of the group terminals 1, the group data management unit 33 may register the position coordinates of the member as a non-notifying member that does not notify other members. For the non-notifying member, information capable of identifying the non-notifying member may be stored in the member table 45.

  In response to the group data acquisition request 700 from the member terminal 1, the navigation processing unit 35 provides group data including position information of other member terminals 1 to which the member terminal 1 belongs. For example, the navigation processing unit 35 refers to the group configuration table 43 and specifies another member terminal 1 in the same group as the member ID 710 included in the group data acquisition request 700. Then, the member data 450 of the member terminal 1 specified here is acquired from the member table 45, and is returned to the member terminal 1 that is the transmission source of the group data acquisition request 700.

  Further, the navigation processing unit 35 updates the position coordinate 453 and the comment 457 of the member table 45 based on the position coordinate 720 and the comment 730 included in the group data acquisition request 700. The position acquisition time 455 and the comment update time 459 may be times when the navigation processing unit 35 updates the position coordinates 453 and the comments 457, and the member terminal 1 includes each time data in the group data acquisition request 700. When sent, the time data may be reflected.

  Next, a processing procedure performed by the system will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the group creation process.

  First, when a user operates the input device 113 to input a group name, an owner name, and an expiration date, the member terminal 1 receives them (S110). The owner processing unit 135 generates a group creation request 500 including the received group name, owner name, and expiration date, and transmits the generated group creation request 500 to the server 3 via the wireless communication unit 119 ( S112).

  When the communication processing unit 31 of the server 3 receives the group creation request 500 via the access point 7 and the network 9, the group data management unit 33 determines the group ID of the new group, and the transmission source member of the group creation request 500 A member ID is assigned to the terminal 1 (S120). Then, a record is added to the group table 41, the group configuration table 43, and the member table 45 (S122). The group data management unit 33 notifies the member terminal 1 of the group ID and member ID assigned to the member terminal 1 via the communication processing unit 31 (S124).

  When the member terminal 1 receives a response to the group creation request 500 sent from the server 3, the member terminal 1 stores the group ID and member ID included in the response in the group data storage unit 131 (S114). Then, the owner processing unit 135 sets the owner flag 1314 in the group data storage unit 131 (S116).

  Through the above process, a new group is created, and the terminal of the member who has made the group creation request becomes the owner terminal.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the group participation process.

  The member terminal 1 of the user who wishes to participate in the existing group acquires a group ID from the owner terminal 1a using the infrared communication unit 117 (S210).

  When the user operates the input device 113 and inputs a member name, the member terminal 1 receives these (S212). The group participation processing unit 137 generates a group participation request 600 including the group ID acquired in step S210 and the member name received in step S212, and the generated group participation request 600 is transmitted to the server 3 via the wireless communication unit 119. (S214).

  When the communication processing unit 31 of the server 3 accepts the group participation request 600 via the access point 7 and the network 9, the group data management unit 33 refers to the group table 41 and approves the group participation request 600. Is determined (S220). Here, when the group participation request 600 is not approved (S220: unapproved), predetermined error processing is executed.

  When the group participation request 600 is approved (S220: approval), the group data management unit 33 assigns a member ID to the member terminal 1 that is the transmission source of the group participation request 600 (S222). Then, the group data management unit 33 adds a record corresponding to the member terminal 1 to the group configuration table 43 and the member table 45 (S224). The group data management unit 33 notifies the member ID assigned to the member terminal 1 to the transmission source member terminal 1 via the communication processing unit 31 (S226).

  When the member terminal 1 receives the response to the group participation request 600 sent from the server 3, the member terminal 1 stores the member ID included in the response in the group data storage unit 131 (S216).

  By the above processing, only members approved by the owner of the existing group can join the existing group and become members of the group. In particular, by acquiring owner approval information (group ID) from the owner terminal 1a by short-range communication means such as infrared communication, it is possible to receive approval from the owner for the first time, so uninformed members join the group. This can be prevented.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a position information sharing process (group navigation) between group members is executed.

  As a premise for performing this processing, the GPS processing unit 115 of each member terminal 1 detects the current position at a predetermined time interval (current position acquisition interval).

  When group navigation is started on the member terminal 1, the member terminal 1 performs the following processing at a predetermined time interval (group member sharing interval) (S300). First, the group data acquisition request generation unit 139 acquires the current position coordinates from the GPS processing unit 115 (S302). The group data acquisition request generation unit 139 checks whether or not a comment is input by the input device 113 (S304). At this time, if a comment is input (S304: Yes), the group data acquisition request generation unit 139 acquires the input comment (S306). If no comment has been input (S304: No), step S306 is skipped.

  The group data acquisition request generation unit 139 generates a group data acquisition request 700 including a member ID 710, a position coordinate 720, and a comment (if already input) 730 (S308). Then, the group data acquisition request 700 is transmitted to the server 3 via the wireless communication unit 119 (S310).

  When the server 3 receives the group data acquisition request 700, the member data 450 of the member table 45 is updated based on the group data acquisition request 700 received by the navigation processing unit 35 (S320).

  The navigation processing unit 35 further refers to the group configuration table 43 and identifies the member ID 433 of the other member terminal 1 belonging to the group (target group) to which the member ID 710 included in the group data acquisition request 700 belongs (S322). Then, the navigation processing unit 35 acquires the member data 450 of the member ID specified in step S322 from the member table 45 (S324). In addition, the navigation processing unit 35 acquires map data in the vicinity of the current position of the member terminal 1 that transmitted the group data acquisition request 700 from the map database 37 (S326). In step S326, if specified in advance, the map data in the vicinity of the current position of the member terminal 1 other than the member terminal 1 that transmitted the group data acquisition request 700 may be acquired from the map database 37. The navigation processing unit 35 transmits the member data 450 acquired in step S324 and the map data acquired in step S236 to the member terminal 1 that transmitted the group data acquisition request 700 (S328). The map data does not necessarily have to be transmitted every time. For example, transmission of map data that has already been transmitted to the member terminal 1 may be omitted.

  In step S324, the member data 450 of the user set as a non notification member need not be acquired.

  When the member terminal 1 receives a response to the group data acquisition request 700 sent from the server 3, the member terminal 1 temporarily stores the data included in the response in the map data storage unit 133 (S312). Then, it returns to step S300 and repeats the above-mentioned process.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying the group position information screen 800.

  First, in the member terminal 1, the display device 111 performs the following processing at a predetermined time interval (display interval) (S400). That is, the display device 111 reads the member data 450 and map data stored in the map data storage unit 133 (S402). Further, the display device 111 acquires the current position coordinates from the GPS processing unit 115 (S404). Then, the display device 111 displays a group position information screen 800 as shown in FIG. 10 (S406). Then, it returns to step S400 and repeats the above-mentioned process.

  Here, an example of the group position information screen 800 displayed on the display device 111 in step S406 is shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the group position information screen 800 includes a map image 810 and a position display 820 indicating the position of the member terminal 1 on the map. Thereby, members in the same group can share each other's position information.

  In addition, a comment 830 is also displayed for a member for which a comment is input. This comment 830 is associated with a position 820 on the map of the member who input the comment. In the example of the figure, a comment is displayed in a balloon from a position 820 on the map of the member.

  Further, the group position information screen 800 includes a group member list 850. When a member is selected in the group member list 850, the display device 111 may switch the display of the map image 810 so that the current position of the selected member is the center.

  For example, in FIG. 10A, the map image 810 is displayed so that the position of the user name “XXX” is at the center. At this time, when the user name “ΔΔ” is selected in the group member list 850, the map image 810 is switched so that the current position of the user name “ΔΔ” is at the center as shown in FIG. 10B.

  The display device 111 may not display the position display 820 on the map for members whose position coordinates 453 are abnormal values, but may display them on the group member list 850.

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, since the owner terminal 1a is also the member terminal 1, the position information of other terminal devices in the group can be displayed, but the other terminal device in the group can be displayed on the owner terminal 1a. It may be omitted to install the position information display function. That is, the owner terminal 1a may be a terminal that performs only processing based on owner authority.

  In the above-described embodiment, the position information of the member terminal 1 is notified to the server 3 in the group data acquisition request 700. However, the notification of the position information of the member terminal 1 to the server 3 is sent to the group data acquisition request 700. You may go separately.

It is a block diagram of the positional information sharing system of the group member which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a configuration diagram of a member terminal 1. FIG. The data structure of the group creation request 500, the group participation request 600, and the group data acquisition request 700 is shown. 3 is a configuration diagram of a server 3. FIG. The data structure of each table in the group database 39 is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a group creation process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a group participation process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of execution of the positional information sharing process (group navigation) between group members. 10 is a flowchart showing a display processing procedure of a group position information screen 800. An example of the group position information screen 800 is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1,... Member terminal 1a Owner terminal 3 Server 31 Communication processing unit 33 Group data management unit 35 Navigation processing unit 37 Map database 39 Group database 115 GPS processing unit 117 Infrared communication unit 119 Wireless communication unit 131 Group data storage unit 133 Map Data Storage Unit 135 Owner Processing Unit 137 Group Participation Processing Unit 139 Group Data Acquisition Request Generation Unit 500 Group Creation Request 600 Group Participation Request 700 Group Data Acquisition Request 800 Group Location Information Screen

Claims (6)

When a group including at least one owner and one or more members is formed, an owner terminal possessed by the owner, a plurality of member terminals possessed by each member, map information and each member terminal to the member terminals A position information sharing system for group members comprising a server device for transmitting the position information of
The owner terminal is
A storage unit for storing owner approval information for approving membership in the group;
Short-range communication means for transmitting the owner approval information to each member terminal,
Each member terminal
Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the terminal;
Short-range communication means for receiving the owner approval information from the owner terminal;
Means for generating a group participation request for requesting participation of the owner terminal in a group, including owner approval information received from the owner terminal;
Means for generating a group information acquisition request including current position information of the terminal detected by the position detection means and identification information of the terminal;
Server communication means for transmitting the group participation request and the group information acquisition request to the server and receiving respective responses;
A display device for displaying a map image and a position of another member terminal in the group on the map image based on the map data and group information received as a response to the group information acquisition request by the server communication means. ,
The server device
Member terminal communication means for receiving the group participation request and the group information acquisition request from each member terminal and transmitting a response thereof;
The identification information of each member terminal is stored in association with the group to which each member terminal belongs, and the group information storage unit that stores the current position information of each member terminal;
When the member terminal communication means receives the group join request from the first member terminal, the first member terminal joins the group of owner terminals based on owner approval information included in the group join request. And member registration means for storing the identification information of the first member terminal in association with the group of owner terminals,
When the member terminal communication means receives the group information acquisition request from the second member terminal, the current location information of the second member terminal included in the received group information acquisition request is stored in the group information storage unit. Updating means for updating
Based on the received group information acquisition request, the current position information of other member terminals in the same group as the second member terminal is acquired from the group information storage unit, and the predetermined member terminal of the predetermined member terminal is acquired from the map database. A response to the received group information acquisition request that acquires map data including the current position and includes map data including the current position information of other member terminals in the acquired same group and the current position of the predetermined member terminal A group member location information sharing system comprising: group information providing means for causing the second member terminal to transmit a response to the generated group information acquisition request to the member terminal communication means. Each member terminal
It further comprises a comment input means for accepting comment input,
The server communication means transmits comment data related to the comment input by the comment input means to the server,
In the server,
The group information storage unit further stores comment data transmitted from each member terminal,
The group information providing means acquires comment data of other member terminals in the same group as the second member terminal from the group information storage unit, and the acquired comment data is received in response to the group information acquisition request. Including
The second member terminal is
2. The group member location information sharing system according to claim 1, wherein the display device further displays a comment based on the comment data included in the response to the received in-group terminal location information acquisition request. The second member terminal is
3. The group member position information sharing system according to claim 2, wherein the display device displays the comment in association with the position on the map of the member terminal that has received the input of the comment.   The server communication means transmits the current location information of the own terminal and the identification information of the own terminal included in the group information acquisition request to the server device at different timings. The position information sharing system for group members according to any one of the above. A server device that transmits map information and position information of each member terminal to a plurality of member terminals possessed by each member when a group including at least one owner and one or more members is formed,
Each member terminal is
A group of owner terminals, including position detecting means for detecting a current position of the own terminal, short-range communication means for receiving owner approval information from an owner terminal possessed by the owner, and owner approval information received from the owner terminal Means for generating a group participation request for requesting participation in the device, means for generating a group information acquisition request including current position information of the terminal detected by the position detection means and identification information of the terminal, and the group participation A server communication means for transmitting the request and the group information acquisition request to the server and receiving respective responses; and a map based on the map data and group information received as a response to the group information acquisition request by the server communication means. An image and a display device for displaying the position of other member terminals in the group on the map image
The server device
Member terminal communication means for receiving the group participation request and the group information acquisition request from each member terminal and transmitting a response thereof;
The identification information of each member terminal is stored in association with the group to which each member terminal belongs, and the group information storage unit that stores the current position information of each member terminal;
When the member terminal communication means receives the group join request from the first member terminal, the first member terminal joins the group of owner terminals based on owner approval information included in the group join request. And member registration means for storing the identification information of the first member terminal in association with the group of owner terminals,
When the member terminal communication means receives the group information acquisition request from the second member terminal, the current location information of the second member terminal included in the received group information acquisition request is stored in the group information storage unit. Updating means for updating
Based on the received group information acquisition request, the current position information of other member terminals in the same group as the second member terminal is acquired from the group information storage unit, and the predetermined member terminal of the predetermined member terminal is acquired from the map database. A response to the received group information acquisition request that acquires map data including the current position and includes map data including the current position information of other member terminals in the acquired same group and the current position of the predetermined member terminal And a group information providing unit that causes the second member terminal to transmit a response to the generated group information acquisition request to the member terminal communication unit. When a group including at least one owner and one or more members is formed, an owner terminal possessed by the owner, a plurality of member terminals possessed by each member, map information and each member terminal to the member terminals A position detection means for detecting the current position of the terminal, and the owner approval information from the owner terminal. A computer program for the member terminal comprising:
Including owner approval information received from the owner terminal, and generating a group participation request for requesting participation of the owner terminal in a group;
Generating a group information acquisition request including current position information of the own terminal detected by the position detecting means and identification information of the own terminal;
Transmitting the group participation request and the group information acquisition request to the server, and receiving respective responses;
Based on the map data and group information received as a response to the group information acquisition request, displaying a map image and a position of another member terminal in the group on the map image on the display unit, A computer program to be executed.

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