JP2012105094A - Server device, mobile communication terminal, position search system, communication method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a terminal to which position search was performed to recognize that the position search was performed to the terminal even in the case that the terminal could not receive a position search request.SOLUTION: A position search request receiving part 11 receives a position search request from a communication terminal 20. The position search request is a search request for a position of a mobile communication terminal 30. When the position search request receiving part 11 receives the position search request, a positioning instruction transmitting part 12 transmits a positioning instruction to the mobile communication terminal 30. A positioning result information receiving part 13 receives positional information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 30 as a response to the instruction. A mobile communication terminal positional information transmitting part 14 transmits positional information indicating a position of the mobile communication terminal 30, which is obtained depending on the positional information received by the positioning result information receiving part 13, to the communication terminal 20. A notification transmitting part 15 transmits a notification indicating that the position search was requested to the mobile communication terminal 30 at a predetermined timing in the case that the positioning result information receiving part 13 cannot receive positioning result information from the mobile communication terminal 30 by a time limit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a location search for a mobile communication terminal.

  A technique is known in which the position of a mobile communication terminal capable of measuring the position of its own device is searched from other communication terminals (Non-Patent Document 1). Further, Patent Document 1 acquires a position that has transitioned outside the service area as an out-of-service transition position when detecting a transition from a communicable service area to a non-communicable service area, and the transition time to the out-of-service area The portable terminal which acquires and memorize | stores as time is disclosed. This mobile terminal displays the out-of-service transition position and the out-of-service transition time when a display request is received from the user. Further, Patent Document 2 describes that an e-mail for notifying an incoming history when a mobile communication terminal could not receive an incoming voice call was created, and that the mobile communication terminal entered an area where incoming calls could be received. It discloses disclosing the e-mail when it is confirmed.

JP 2009-218777 A JP 2004-40217 A

“Imadoko Search (Search for Children's Whereabouts)”, [online], NTT DoCoMo, [Search June 2, 2010], Internet, <URL: http://www.mydocomo.com/web/useful/imadoco /index.html>

In the techniques of Non-Patent Document 1, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is possible to know that a position search has been performed when a position search request cannot be received, such as when the terminal where the position search has been performed is out of range. could not.
The present invention provides a technique capable of knowing that a position search has been performed even when the terminal cannot receive a position search request when the position search is performed.

The present invention provides a position search request receiving means for receiving a position search request, which is a request for searching for a position of a mobile communication terminal, from the communication terminal, and when the position search request receiving means receives the position search request, the mobile communication terminal Positioning instruction transmitting means for transmitting a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device, and positioning result information receiving means for receiving positioning result information including position information transmitted as a response to the positioning instruction from the mobile communication terminal And mobile communication terminal position information transmitting means for transmitting to the communication terminal mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal obtained in accordance with the positioning result information received by the positioning result information receiving means. When the positioning result information receiving means cannot receive the positioning result information, a notification transmission for transmitting a notification that the position search request has been made to the mobile communication terminal Providing a server device and a stage.
According to this server apparatus, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot receive the position search request when the position search is performed, the user of the mobile communication terminal can know that the position search has been performed.

In a preferred aspect, the positioning result receiving means may receive the positioning result information received by the positioning result receiving means after the notification transmitting means has transmitted the notification as a response to the positioning instruction.
According to this server apparatus, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot respond when the position search is performed, the terminal that has performed the position search can be in a state in which the position of the mobile communication terminal can be known.

In another preferred aspect, the server device stores the history of the position of the mobile communication terminal when the positioning result receiving unit receives the positioning result information after the notification transmitting unit transmits the notification. From the extraction means for extracting the position of the mobile communication terminal at a time prior to the time when the position search request was made, the position indicated by the positioning result information received by the positioning result receiving means, and the extracting means Estimation means for estimating the position of the mobile communication terminal at the time when the position search request is made by interpolation processing using the extracted position, and the estimation means estimates the mobile communication terminal position information. It may be information indicating the position.
According to this server apparatus, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot respond when the position search is performed, the terminal that has performed the position search can know the estimated position when the position search of the mobile communication terminal is performed. can do.

In still another preferred aspect, the server device stores a history of the position of the mobile communication terminal when the positioning result information receiving unit receives the positioning result information after the notification transmitting unit transmits the notification. Extraction means for extracting the position of the mobile communication terminal at the time closest to the time when the position search request was made from storage means, and the mobile communication terminal position information indicates the position extracted by the extraction means It may be information.
According to this server apparatus, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot respond when the position search is performed, the terminal that has performed the position search can know the position when the position search of the mobile communication terminal is performed. be able to.

In still another preferred aspect, the extraction unit may extract the position of the mobile communication terminal at a plurality of times based on a time closest to the time when the location search request is made from the storage unit. .
According to this server apparatus, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot respond when the position search is performed, the terminal that has performed the position search for the route in the time zone based on the time when the position search of the mobile communication terminal was performed Can get to know.

In still another preferred embodiment, the mobile communication terminal has a confirmation unit that confirms that the mobile communication terminal is ready to respond, and after the confirmation unit confirms that the mobile communication terminal is ready to respond. The notification transmission unit may transmit the notification.
According to this server device, the notification can be delivered more reliably as compared with the case where the confirmation is not performed.

In still another preferred aspect, the notification transmitting means transmits the notification to the mobile communication terminal when the positioning result information receiving means fails to receive the positioning result information by a predetermined time limit, and the confirmation The means may stop the confirmation when a time equal to or greater than a threshold value has elapsed since the expiration date.
According to this server device, it is possible to reduce network traffic compared to a configuration in which confirmation is not stopped.

The present invention also provides a positioning instruction receiving means for receiving a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device transmitted by the server device in response to a position search request from a communication terminal, and the positioning instruction receiving means includes the positioning When receiving the instruction, positioning result information transmitting means for transmitting positioning result information including position information indicating the position of the own device to the server device, and when the server device cannot receive the position information, from the server device A mobile communication terminal comprising: a notification receiving means for receiving a notification that the location search request has been sent from the communication terminal; and a display means for displaying in accordance with the notification received by the notification receiving means. provide.
According to this mobile communication terminal, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot receive a position search request when the position search is performed, the user of the mobile communication terminal can know that the position search has been performed.

Furthermore, the present invention is a location search system having a server device, a mobile communication terminal, and a communication terminal, wherein the server device receives a location search request that is a request for searching the location of the mobile communication terminal from the communication terminal. A position search request receiving means, a positioning instruction transmitting means for transmitting a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device to the mobile communication terminal when the position search request receiving means receives the position search request, and the movement Positioning result information receiving means for receiving positioning result information including position information transmitted as a response to the positioning instruction from a communication terminal, and obtained according to the positioning result information received by the positioning result information receiving means, Mobile communication terminal position information transmitting means for transmitting mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal to the communication terminal, and the positioning result information receiving means are the positioning Notification information means for transmitting to the mobile communication terminal a notification that the location search request has been received if the location information cannot be received, and the mobile communication terminal receives the positioning instruction. And positioning result information transmitting means for transmitting positioning result information including the position information of the own device to the server apparatus when the positioning instruction receiving means receives the positioning instruction, and the communication transmitted from the server apparatus. Provided is a position search system comprising: a notification receiving unit that receives a notification that the position search request has been received from a terminal; and a display unit that displays in accordance with the notification received by the notification receiving unit. To do.
According to this position search system, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot receive the position search request when the position search is performed, the user of the mobile communication terminal can know that the position search has been performed.

Furthermore, the present invention is a communication method in a communication system having a mobile communication terminal, a communication terminal, and a server device, wherein the server device sends a location search request that is a request for searching for the location of the mobile communication terminal to the communication device. Receiving from the terminal; when receiving the position search request, the server device transmits a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device to the mobile communication terminal; and the mobile communication terminal includes the positioning Receiving the instruction, and receiving the positioning instruction, the mobile communication terminal transmits positioning result information including position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal to the server device as a response to the positioning instruction; The server device receives the positioning result information from the mobile communication terminal, and is obtained according to the received positioning result information. The server device transmits mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal to the communication terminal, and if the server device fails to receive the positioning result information, the position search request is received. And a step of transmitting a notification to that effect to the mobile communication terminal.
According to this communication method, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot receive the position search request when the position search is performed, the user of the mobile communication terminal can know that the position search has been performed.

Further, the present invention provides a step of receiving, from the communication terminal, a position search request that is a request for searching for the position of the mobile communication terminal, and receiving the position search request to the computer, A step of transmitting a positioning instruction for measurement, a step of receiving positioning result information including position information transmitted as a response to the positioning instruction from the mobile communication terminal, and a response obtained according to the received positioning result information Transmitting the mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal to the communication terminal, and if the positioning result information is not received, a notification that the position search request has been made is sent to the mobile terminal. A program for executing the step of transmitting to a communication terminal is provided.
According to this program, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot receive the position search request when the position search is performed, the user of the mobile communication terminal can know that the position search has been performed.

  According to the present invention, even when the mobile communication terminal cannot receive a location search request when performing a location search, the user of the mobile communication terminal can know that the location search has been performed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server 10. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile communication terminal 30. FIG. 3 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communication system 1. It is a figure which illustrates the structure of a network. 3 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communication system 1. It is a figure which illustrates the screen displayed in Step S205. It is a figure which illustrates the screen displayed when the message of Drawing 7 is chosen. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the communication terminal 20. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the communication terminal 20. FIG.

1. Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment. The communication system 1 includes a server 10, a communication terminal 20, and a mobile communication terminal 30. Server 10, communication terminal 20, and mobile communication terminal 30 are connected via a mobile communication network (not shown). In the communication system 1, the communication terminal 20 (for example, a mobile phone) can search for the position of a mobile communication terminal 30 (for example, a mobile phone) that is another terminal.

  The server 10 includes, as functional elements, a location search request reception unit 11, a positioning instruction transmission unit 12, a positioning result information reception unit 13, a mobile communication terminal location information transmission unit 14, a notification transmission unit 15, and a storage unit 16. And an extraction unit 17, an estimation unit 18, and a confirmation unit 19.

  The position search request receiving unit 11 receives a position search request from the communication terminal 20. The position search request is a request for searching for the position of the mobile communication terminal 30. When the position search request receiving unit 11 receives the position search request, the positioning instruction transmitting unit 12 transmits a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device to the mobile communication terminal 30. The positioning result information receiving unit 13 receives positioning result information including position information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 30 as a response to the positioning instruction. The mobile communication terminal position information transmitting unit 14 transmits to the communication terminal 20 mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal 30 obtained according to the information received by the positioning result information receiving unit 13. When the positioning result information receiving unit 13 cannot receive the positioning result information from the mobile communication terminal 30, the notification transmitting unit 15 transmits a notification that there is a position search request to the mobile communication terminal 30.

  The storage unit 16 stores a history of the position of the mobile communication terminal 30. When the positioning result information receiving unit 13 receives the positioning result information after the notification transmitting unit 15 transmits the notification, the extracting unit 17 determines the position of the mobile communication terminal 30 at a time before the time when the position search request is made. Extracted from the storage unit 16. The estimation unit 18 estimates the position of the mobile communication terminal 30 at the time when the position search request is made. The estimation is performed by interpolation processing using the position indicated by the positioning result information received by the positioning result information receiving unit 13 and the position extracted by the extracting unit 17. The confirmation unit 19 confirms that the mobile communication terminal 30 is ready to respond. The notification transmission unit 15 transmits a notification after confirming that the mobile communication terminal 30 is ready to respond.

  The mobile communication terminal 30 includes a positioning unit 31, a positioning instruction receiving unit 32, a positioning result information transmitting unit 33, a notification receiving unit 34, and a display unit 35 as functional elements. The positioning unit 31 measures the position of the own device. The positioning instruction receiving unit 32 receives a positioning instruction transmitted by the server 10 in response to a position search request from the communication terminal 20. When the positioning instruction receiving unit 32 receives the instruction, the positioning result information transmitting unit 33 transmits the positioning result information including the position measured by the positioning unit 31 to the server 10. The notification receiving unit 34 receives a notification transmitted from the server 10 that the location search request has been received from the communication terminal 20. The display unit 35 displays according to the notification received by the notification receiving unit 34.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the server 10. The server 10 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a communication IF 130. The control unit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113. These hardware elements are connected by a bus (not shown). The storage unit 120 is a storage device that stores data and programs, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The communication IF 130 is an interface that performs communication via a mobile communication network or other networks. The RAM 113 is a volatile storage device. The ROM 112 is a non-volatile storage device. The CPU 111 executes a program stored in the ROM 112 or the storage unit 120 using the RAM 113 as a work area, and controls other hardware elements. The function shown in FIG. 1 is implemented by the cooperation of this program and hardware. The communication IF 130 controlled by the CPU 111 executing the program includes a position search request receiving unit 11, a positioning instruction transmitting unit 12, a positioning result information receiving unit 13, a mobile communication terminal position information transmitting unit 14, a notification transmitting unit 15, and It is an example of the confirmation part 19. FIG. The storage unit 120 is an example of the storage unit 16. The CPU 111 executing the program is an example of the extraction unit 17 and the estimation unit 18.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the mobile communication terminal 30. The mobile communication terminal 30 includes a control unit 310, a storage unit 320, a communication IF 330, an input unit 340, a display unit 350, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 360. The control unit 310 includes a CPU 311, a ROM 312, and a RAM 313. The storage unit 320 is a storage device that stores data and programs, for example, a flash memory. The communication IF 330 is an interface that performs communication via a base station, and includes an antenna and a transceiver. The input unit 340 is an input device that inputs information corresponding to a user operation to the control unit 310, for example, a keypad or a touch panel (touch screen). The display unit 350 is a display device that displays information, such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The GPS receiver 360 receives a signal from a GPS satellite and calculates the position of the own device using the received signal. The CPU 311 executes programs stored in the ROM 312 or the storage unit 320 using the RAM 313 as a work area, and controls other hardware elements. The function shown in FIG. 1 is implemented by the cooperation of this program and hardware. The communication IF 330 controlled by the CPU 311 executing the program is an example of the positioning instruction receiving unit 32, the positioning result information transmitting unit 33, and the notification receiving unit 34. A GPS receiver 360 controlled by the CPU 311 executing the program is an example of the positioning unit 31. The display unit 350 controlled by the CPU 311 that is executing the program is an example of the display unit 35.

  Although illustration is omitted, the communication terminal 20 includes a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as an HDD, an input device such as a keyboard, and a display device such as a display.

2. Operation 2-1. Operation when Mobile Communication Terminal 30 can Respond FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communication system 1. FIG. 4 particularly shows the operation when the mobile communication terminal 30 can respond to the position search request, that is, when the position search can be performed normally. First, the user of the communication terminal 20 operates the keyboard of the communication terminal 20 and requests a position search of the mobile communication terminal 30. The request for the position search is performed by accessing a specific website for position search from the mobile communication terminal 30, for example. The user can request a position search by operating according to the guidance on the screen displayed on the browser. In response to a user operation, the mobile communication terminal 30 transmits a location search request to the server 10 (step S101). The location search request includes an identifier (for example, a telephone number) of the mobile communication terminal 30 that is the terminal to be searched.

  The location search request receiving unit 11 of the server 10 receives a location search request from the communication terminal 20. When the position search request receiving unit 11 receives the position search request, the positioning instruction transmitting unit 12 transmits a positioning instruction to the mobile communication terminal 30 (step S102). For example, the positioning instruction is transmitted as described below.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration. In this example, the communication terminal 20 is also a mobile phone like the mobile communication terminal 30. The mobile communication network includes a server 10, a gateway 40, a relay switch 50, a home memory 60, and a subscriber switch 70. The network further includes an RNC (Radio Network Controller) 80 and a base station 90. This network has a plurality of subscriber exchanges 70, and subscripts are used like the subscriber exchange 70-1 in order to distinguish them. The same applies to other devices. Since these devices are well known in mobile communication, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  A location search request from the communication terminal 20 is sent to the server 10 via the base station 90-1, RNC 80-1, subscriber exchange 70-1, relay exchange 50, and gateway 40. The server 10 extracts the identifier of the terminal to be searched from the position search request. In this example, the identifier of the mobile communication terminal 30 is extracted. When receiving the position search request, the server 10 transmits a position registration area inquiry to the home memory 60. This inquiry includes the identifier of the mobile communication terminal 30. Upon receiving the inquiry, the home memory 60 reads the location registration area of the mobile communication terminal 30 from the database, and selects the subscriber exchange (in this example, the subscriber exchange 70-2) that is responsible for the location registration area to which the mobile communication terminal 30 belongs. Identify. The home memory 60 requests the subscriber exchange 70-2 to perform incoming call processing. Upon receiving the request, the subscriber exchange 70-2 returns a response to the request to the server 10 via the home memory 60. Upon receiving the response, the server 10 connects a line with the subscriber exchange 70-2. When the line is connected, the subscriber switch 70-2 transmits the mobile communication terminal to the base stations (in this example, the base station 90-2 and the base station 90-3) belonging to the location registration area managed by the subscriber switch 70-2. Paging is performed to connect the line 30 to the line. When receiving the paging, the mobile communication terminal 30 transmits a response to the subscriber exchange 70-2 and connects the line to the subscriber exchange 70-2. In this way, a line is connected between the server 10 and the mobile communication terminal 30. The server 10 transmits a positioning instruction to the mobile communication terminal 30 via the line thus connected.

  Again referring to FIG. The positioning instruction receiving unit 32 of the mobile communication terminal 30 receives a positioning instruction from the server 10. When the positioning instruction receiving unit 32 receives the positioning instruction, the positioning unit 31 measures the position of the own device (step S103). The positioning result information transmitting unit 33 transmits position information indicating the position measured by the positioning unit 31 to the server 10 as positioning result information (step S104). The positioning result information receiving unit 13 of the server 10 receives positioning result information from the mobile communication terminal 30. The mobile communication terminal position information transmission unit 14 transmits the mobile communication terminal position information to the communication terminal 20 that is the transmission source of the position search request in accordance with the positioning result information received by the positioning result information reception unit 13 (step S105). . In this example, since the communication terminal 20 accesses a website for position search using a browser, the mobile communication terminal position information transmission unit 14 displays a mark indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal 30 on the map. The image data of the image and the HTML data for displaying the image data are transmitted as the mobile communication terminal position information. When receiving the mobile communication terminal position information from the server 10, the communication terminal 20 displays according to the received mobile communication terminal position information. For example, the communication terminal 20 displays an image showing the position of the mobile communication terminal 30 on the map by a browser function. The browser of the mobile communication terminal 30 displays information waiting until the mobile communication terminal location information is received after the location search request is transmitted.

2-2. Operation when Mobile Communication Terminal 30 Cannot Respond FIG. 6 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communication system 1. FIG. 6 particularly shows the operation when the mobile communication terminal 30 cannot respond to the position search request, that is, when the position search cannot be performed normally. The case where the response is impossible is, for example, a case where the mobile communication terminal 30 is in a place where radio waves from the base station cannot be received (so-called out of service area), or a case where the power of the mobile communication terminal 30 is turned off. .

  The transmission of the position search request in step S101 and the transmission of the positioning instruction in step S102 are as described in FIG. However, in this example, the mobile communication terminal 30 does not respond to paging. That is, the mobile communication terminal 30 cannot receive a positioning instruction. The control unit 110 of the server 10 measures the elapsed time from the time when the position search request is received. A predetermined time limit is set for receiving the positioning result information from the mobile communication terminal 30. When the positioning result (response) cannot be received by this time limit, the control unit 110 performs error processing. First, the control unit 110 stores the position search request in the storage unit 120 (the storage unit 16 as a functional element) with a flag indicating that the position search has not been performed normally. The storage unit 120 (storage unit 16) stores the time at which the position search request was made, along with the position search request. Furthermore, the control unit 110 transmits an error notification via the communication IF 130 to the communication terminal 20 that is the transmission source of the position search request (step S201). When receiving the error notification, the communication terminal 20 performs error processing. For example, the browser of the communication terminal 20 displays a message indicating that the position search was not successful, such as “position cannot be detected”. The user exits the browser.

  After transmitting the error notification, the confirmation unit 19 of the server 10 confirms whether or not the mobile communication terminal 30 is ready to respond (hereinafter referred to as “returnable within range”). Step S202). The confirmation of return within the range is performed as follows, for example. The confirmation unit 19 transmits an inquiry about the location registration area of the mobile communication terminal 30 to the home memory 60 at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 5 minutes). When the home memory 60 receives an inquiry about the location registration area, the subscriber exchange 70-2 performs paging for connecting a line with the mobile communication terminal 30 as described above. When the response is received from the home memory 60 and the line can be connected to the mobile communication terminal 30, the confirmation unit 19 determines that the mobile communication terminal 30 has returned to the service area. When a response is not received from the home memory 60 and a line cannot be connected to the mobile communication terminal 30, the confirmation unit 19 determines that the mobile communication terminal 30 has not yet returned to the service area. When it is confirmed that the mobile communication terminal 30 has returned to the service area, the notification transmission unit 15 transmits a notification to the effect that there has been a location search request to the mobile communication terminal 30 (step S203). This notification includes the identifier (user name or terminal ID) of the communication terminal 20 or the user who is the transmission source of the position search request, and the time when the position search request is transmitted.

  The notification receiving unit 34 of the mobile communication terminal 30 receives a notification from the server 10. When receiving the notification from the server 10, the mobile communication terminal 30 disconnects the line with the server 10. When the notification receiving unit 34 receives the notification, the display unit 35 displays according to the notification (step S204).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in step S204. In this example, the message “Location was searched when out of service area” is displayed.

  Again referring to FIG. The control unit 310 of the mobile communication terminal 30 is in a state of waiting for a user operation while displaying the screen of FIG. When the user performs some operation, the control unit 310 performs processing according to the operation. In the example of FIG. 7, it is possible to perform an operation of selecting an area in which a message is displayed (for example, an operation of setting the input focus on this message and pressing the enter button, or an operation of touching this message on the touch panel). is there.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed when the message of FIG. 7 is selected. In this example, details of the position search history are displayed. The details of the location search include the date and time when the search was performed (6/2, 16:59 in this example) and the identifier of the person who performed the search (in this example, 090-1234-5678 and Taro Yamada). Yes. A menu for the next process is shown below the position search history. In this example, the following four options are presented as the next processing.
(1) Notify the current position.
(2) Inform the route to the present.
(3) Make a phone call.
(4) Do nothing.
When the option (1) is selected, the position information of the current position of the mobile communication terminal 30 is transmitted to the server 10, and the communication terminal 20 that is the transmission source of the position search request can know the current position of the mobile communication terminal 30. become. When the option (2) is selected, the position information of the current position of the mobile communication terminal 30 is transmitted to the server 10, and the communication terminal 20 can know the route to the current position of the mobile communication terminal 30. When option (3) is selected, mobile communication terminal 30 sends a voice call to communication terminal 20. When option (4) is selected, the mobile communication terminal 30 ends the process for position search. That is, the mobile communication terminal 30 ends the process of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the communication system 1 will be described by taking the case where the option (2) is selected as an example. Again referring to FIG. When the user performs an operation of selecting the option (2), the positioning unit 31 measures the position of the own device. The positioning result information transmitting unit 33 transmits position information indicating the position measured by the positioning unit 31 to the server 10 as positioning result information (step S206).

  When the positioning result information corresponding to the position search request stored in the storage unit 120 (storage unit 16) is received as a position search request in which the position search is not normally performed, the control unit 110 of the server 10 causes the communication IF 130 to be used. Then, a notification to that effect is transmitted to the communication terminal 20 (step S207). The notification is transmitted from the server 10 to the communication terminal 20 in the same manner as the notification is transmitted from the server 10 to the mobile communication terminal 30. When the server 10 receives the notification, the communication terminal 20 displays a screen corresponding to the notification (step S208).

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed at this time. This screen displays a message indicating that the location of the searched terminal has returned to the service area, such as “Taro Yamada, who searched for the location on 6/2 16:59,” and a menu for the next processing to be performed. Has been. The user operates the communication terminal 20 while seeing this screen (step S209), and selects a process to be performed next. In this example, the following four options are presented as the next processing.
(1) Check the current position.
(2) Check the route to the present.
(3) Estimate the position at that time.
(4) Make a phone call.
(5) Do nothing.
When option (1) is selected, communication terminal 20 requests server 10 for the current position of mobile communication terminal 30. When the option (2) is selected, the communication terminal 20 requests the server 10 for a route to the current position of the mobile communication terminal 30. When option (3) is selected, the communication terminal 20 requests the server 10 for the position of the mobile communication terminal 30 at the time when the position search request is made. When option (4) is selected, communication terminal 20 transmits a voice call to mobile communication terminal 30. When the option (5) is selected, the communication terminal 20 ends the process for position search. That is, the communication terminal 20 ends the process of FIG.

  Refer to FIG. 6 again. When any one of the options (1) to (3) is selected, the communication terminal 20 transmits a response including information specifying the selected option to the server 10 (step S210). The information transmitted here corresponds to mobile communication terminal location information. The server 10 processes the position information according to the options (step S211). Details are as follows.

  When option (1) is selected, the server 10 uses the position information (that is, information indicating the current position of the mobile communication terminal 30) included in the positioning result information received from the mobile communication terminal 30 as the mobile communication terminal position information. To use as.

  When the option (2) is selected, the server 10 determines to use information indicating the route of the mobile communication terminal 30 as the mobile communication terminal location information. In this case, the server 10 stores the history of the position of the mobile communication terminal 30 in the past certain period (for example, 12 hours) in the storage unit 120. The position stored as this history is, for example, the identifier (base station ID) of the base station with which the mobile communication terminal 30 was communicating. This history includes a plurality of sets of time and base station ID. First, the extraction unit 17 obtains base station IDs in a predetermined range based on the time at which a location search request is made (hereinafter referred to as “search time”) from the location history stored in the storage unit 16. Extract. In this example, the predetermined range is a range from a time before the search time and closest to the search time to the current time. The estimation unit 18 converts the base station ID extracted by the extraction unit 17 into a position. The storage unit 120 stores a database that associates a base station ID with the position of the base station (for example, the latitude and longitude of the base station). The estimation unit 18 refers to this database and converts the base station ID into a position. The estimation unit 18 calculates a figure composed of lines connecting the positions thus obtained in time series. The estimation unit 18 determines to use the information indicating the graphic thus obtained as the mobile communication terminal position information.

  When option (3) is selected, server 10 estimates the position of mobile communication terminal 30 at the search time, and determines to use information indicating the estimated position as mobile communication terminal position information. First, the extraction unit 17 determines, based on the position history stored in the storage unit 16, the mobile communication terminal 30 at a time that is earlier than the time when the position search request is made and closest to the time when the position search request is made. Base station ID is extracted. The estimation unit 18 uses the base station ID extracted by the extraction unit 17 and the position information included in the positioning result information received from the mobile communication terminal 30, and the mobile communication terminal 30 at the time when the position search request is made. Estimate the position. This estimation is performed by interpolation processing, for example. First, the estimation unit 18 converts the base station ID extracted by the extraction unit 17 into a position. This position is the start point, and the position indicated by the position information included in the positioning result information received from the mobile communication terminal 30 is the end point. Hereinafter, the time corresponding to the start point, that is, the time closest to the time when the position search request is made in the position history is referred to as “start time”. The time corresponding to the end point, that is, the time when the positioning result information is received from the mobile communication terminal 30 is referred to as “end point time”. Next, the estimating unit 18 calculates an equation of a line segment connecting the start point and the end point. Further, the estimation unit 18 calculates a position at the search time using the start point time, the end point time, and the search time. For example, when the difference between the end point time and the start point time is 60 minutes and the difference between the search time and the start point time is 10 minutes, the estimation unit 18 starts from the start point among the points on the calculated line segment. A point advanced by a distance of 10/60 toward the end point is estimated as a position at the search time.

  When the processing according to the option is performed as described above, the mobile communication terminal location information transmission unit 14 transmits the information determined to be used to the communication terminal 20 that is the transmission source of the location search request to the mobile communication terminal location. It transmits as information (step S212). When receiving the mobile communication terminal position information, the communication terminal 20 displays a screen corresponding to the mobile communication terminal position information.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the communication terminal 20. In this example, the case where option (3) is processed in step S211 is shown. Thus, according to the present embodiment, when a location search is performed, even if the searched terminal cannot respond, the user of the searched terminal can know that the location search has been performed. it can.

3. Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. Hereinafter, some modifications will be described. Of the modifications described below, two or more may be used in combination.

  The confirmation of the return to the area in step S202 of FIG. 6 may be canceled depending on the situation. For example, there may be a situation where the user of the communication terminal 20 no longer expects a response from the mobile communication terminal 30 such as when a very long time (for example, several days) has elapsed since the position search. In order to cope with such a situation, the confirmation unit 19 may set a time limit for the process in step S202 or the process in step S203. In this case, after the expiration date has passed, the confirmation unit 19 stops the process of confirming the return within the area in step S202.

  The communication terminal 20 that is the terminal that performs the position search may not be a mobile communication terminal. For example, the communication terminal 20 may be a personal computer connected to the Internet. In this case, the communication terminal 20 does not communicate with the base station 90 in FIG. 5, but communicates with the server 10 in the mobile communication network via the Internet. In this case, the server 10 and the communication terminal 20 cannot communicate via a voice line.

  The positioning unit 31 is not limited to the one using a GPS receiver. The positioning unit 31 may perform network type positioning using the position of the base station. In this case, the positioning unit 31 transmits a set of the base station IDs of the neighboring base stations and the received electric field strength of the radio waves received from these base stations to the server 10 as positioning result information.

  The timing at which the notification transmitter 15 transmits a notification to the mobile communication terminal 30 is not limited to that described in the embodiment. For example, the notification transmission unit 15 may transmit a notification to the mobile communication terminal 30 when there is a request from the communication terminal 20 that is the transmission source of the position search request. Alternatively, the notification may be transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 30 when the mobile communication terminal 30 accesses the network such as reading of an e-mail. Further alternatively, regardless of the state of the communication terminal 20 and the mobile communication terminal 30, a trigger may be generated on the mobile communication network side, and a notification may be transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 30 by this trigger. In this case, the server 10 may not have the confirmation unit 19.

  The start of the time limit for performing the error notification in step S201 in FIG. 6 may be set in any manner. For example, the start time may be set based on the time when the server 10 receives the position search request. Alternatively, when the time at which the position search is performed is included in the position search request, the start time may be set based on the time at which the position search is performed. Further, the determination as to whether the time limit has passed may be made by a device other than the server 10. In this case, the server 10 acquires information indicating the presence / absence of a response from another device in the mobile communication network.

  Part or all of the processing after step S205 in FIG. 6 may be omitted. For example, the communication system 1 may simply provide notification that a location search request has been made. In another example, the process for the server 10 to obtain the mobile communication terminal location information may be determined in advance. That is, the server 10 may perform only one process determined as a default among the processes described as the options (1) to (3) in step S211 in the embodiment. In this case, it is not necessary to display the screens of FIGS.

  The method for estimating the position at the search time is not limited to that described in the embodiment. The estimation unit 18 may not only connect the start point and the end point with the shortest distance, but may estimate the position in consideration of geographical conditions such as roads and buildings. That is, the estimation unit 18 may acquire a graphic connecting the start point and the end point, avoiding places where the mobile communication terminal 30 cannot be located, such as buildings, mountains, and ponds.

  The sharing of functions in the server 10, the communication terminal 20, and the mobile communication terminal 30 is not limited to that described in the embodiment. The communication terminal 20 or the mobile communication terminal 30 may have a part of what is described as the function of the server 10 in the embodiment. For example, the mobile communication terminal 30 may estimate the position at the search time in step S211. In this case, the server 10 relays the position information included in the positioning result information received from the mobile communication terminal 30 to the communication terminal 20.

  The network configuration of the communication system 1 is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. A network having any configuration may be used as long as it can transmit and receive search requests, notifications, positioning result information, and positioning instructions. In addition, notification, information, and other data described as being transmitted / received using line connection type communication in the embodiment may be transmitted / received by packet communication. For example, the notification transmission by the notification transmission unit 15 may be performed using electronic mail.

  The functional configuration and hardware configuration of the server 10, the communication terminal 20, and the mobile communication terminal 30 that constitute the communication system 1 are not limited to those described in the embodiment. A part of the functional configuration in FIG. 1 may be omitted, or the hardware configuration may be changed accordingly. In the embodiment, the example in which the position search request is made by browsing the site by the browser has been shown. However, the position search request may be made using a dedicated application program.

  In the above-described embodiment, the program executed by the control unit 110 includes a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk (HDD, FD (Flexible Disk)), etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk (CD (Compact Disk), DVD ( Digital Versatile Disk))), a magneto-optical recording medium, and a computer-readable recording medium such as a semiconductor memory (flash ROM or the like). The program may be downloaded via a network such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... Server, 11 ... Position search request | requirement receiving part, 12 ... Positioning instruction | indication transmission part, 13 ... Positioning result information receiving part, 14 ... Mobile communication terminal position information transmission part, 15 ... Notification transmission part, 16 ... Storage unit, 17 ... extraction unit, 18 ... estimation unit, 20 ... communication terminal, 30 ... mobile communication terminal, 31 ... positioning unit, 32 ... positioning instruction reception unit, 33 ... positioning result information transmission unit, 34 ... notification reception unit, 35 ... Display unit, 40 ... Gateway, 50 ... Relay exchange, 60 ... Home memory, 70 ... Subscriber exchange, 80 ... RNC, 90 ... Base station, 110 ... Control unit, 111 ... CPU, 112 ... ROM, 113 ... RAM , 120 ... storage section, 130 ... communication IF, 310 ... control section, 311 ... CPU, 312 ... ROM, 313 ... RAM, 320 ... storage section, 330 ... communication IF, 340 ... input section, 350 ... display section, 3 0 ... GPS receiver

Claims (11)

A position search request receiving means for receiving a position search request, which is a request for searching for the position of the mobile communication terminal, from the communication terminal;
When the position search request receiving means receives the position search request, a positioning instruction transmitting means for transmitting a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device to the mobile communication terminal;
Positioning result information receiving means for receiving positioning result information including position information transmitted as a response to the positioning instruction from the mobile communication terminal;
Mobile communication terminal position information transmitting means for transmitting to the communication terminal mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal obtained according to the positioning result position information received by the positioning result information receiving means;
A server apparatus comprising: a notification transmission unit configured to transmit a notification that the position search request has been made to the mobile communication terminal when the positioning result information receiving unit cannot receive the positioning result information. The positioning result receiving unit receives the positioning result information received by the positioning result receiving unit after the notification transmitting unit has transmitted the notification as a response to the positioning instruction. The server apparatus of description. When the positioning result receiving unit receives the positioning result information after the notification transmitting unit transmits the notification, the time when the location search request is made from the storage unit storing the location history of the mobile communication terminal Extraction means for extracting the position of the mobile communication terminal at an earlier time;
The position of the mobile communication terminal at the time when the position search request is made is estimated by interpolation using the position indicated by the positioning result information received by the positioning result receiving means and the position extracted by the extracting means. And an estimation means for
The server apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mobile communication terminal position information is information indicating a position estimated by the estimation unit. When the positioning result information receiving unit receives the positioning result information after the notification transmitting unit transmits the notification, the location search request is made from the storage unit storing the location history of the mobile communication terminal. Extracting means for extracting the position of the mobile communication terminal at the time closest to the time;
The server apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mobile communication terminal position information is information indicating a position extracted by the extraction unit. 5. The position of the mobile communication terminal at a plurality of times based on a time closest to the time at which the position search request is made is extracted from the storage unit. Server device. Confirmation means for confirming that the mobile communication terminal is ready to respond;
6. The notification transmission unit transmits the notification after it is confirmed by the confirmation unit that the mobile communication terminal is ready to respond. 6. The notification according to claim 1, wherein the notification transmission unit transmits the notification. Server device. The notification transmitting means transmits the notification to the mobile communication terminal when the positioning result information receiving means fails to receive the positioning result information by a predetermined time limit,
The server device according to claim 6, wherein the confirmation unit stops the confirmation when a time equal to or greater than a threshold value elapses after the expiration date. Positioning instruction receiving means for receiving a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device transmitted by the server device in response to a position search request from a communication terminal;
When the positioning instruction receiving means receives the positioning instruction, positioning result information transmitting means for transmitting positioning result information including position information indicating the position of the own device to the server device;
Notification receiving means for receiving a notification from the communication terminal that the location search request has been sent, when the server device cannot receive the location information;
A mobile communication terminal comprising: display means for displaying according to the notice received by the notice receiving means. A position search system having a server device, a mobile communication terminal, and a communication terminal,
The server device
A position search request receiving means for receiving a position search request from the communication terminal, which is a request for searching for the position of the mobile communication terminal;
When the position search request receiving means receives the position search request, a positioning instruction transmitting means for transmitting a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device to the mobile communication terminal;
Positioning result information receiving means for receiving positioning result information including position information transmitted as a response to the positioning instruction from the mobile communication terminal;
Mobile communication terminal position information transmitting means for transmitting to the communication terminal mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal obtained according to the positioning result information received by the positioning result information receiving means;
If the positioning result information receiving means could not receive the positioning result information, it has a notification sending means for sending a notification that the location search request has been made to the mobile communication terminal, and
The mobile communication terminal is
Positioning instruction receiving means for receiving the positioning instruction;
When the positioning instruction receiving means receives the positioning instruction, positioning result information transmitting means for transmitting positioning result information including position information of the own device to the server device;
A notification receiving means for receiving a notification of the location search request from the communication terminal, transmitted from the server device;
And a display means for displaying according to the notification received by the notification receiving means. A communication method in a communication system having a mobile communication terminal, a communication terminal, and a server device,
The server device receiving from the communication terminal a location search request that is a request to search for the location of the mobile communication terminal;
Upon receiving the position search request, the server device transmits a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device to the mobile communication terminal;
The mobile communication terminal receiving the positioning instruction;
When receiving the positioning instruction, the mobile communication terminal transmits positioning result information including position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal to the server device as a response to the positioning instruction;
The server device receiving the positioning result information from the mobile communication terminal;
The server device transmitting mobile communication terminal position information indicating the position of the mobile communication terminal obtained according to the received positioning result information to the communication terminal;
And a step of transmitting, to the mobile communication terminal, a notification that the location search request has been made when the server device cannot receive the positioning result information. On the computer,
Receiving a position search request, which is a request for searching for the position of the mobile communication terminal, from the communication terminal;
When receiving the position search request, transmitting a positioning instruction for measuring the position of the own device to the mobile communication terminal;
Receiving positioning result information including position information transmitted as a response to the positioning instruction from the mobile communication terminal;
Transmitting mobile communication terminal location information indicating the location of the mobile communication terminal, obtained according to the received positioning result information, to the communication terminal;
A program for executing a step of transmitting, to the mobile communication terminal, a notification that the position search request has been made when the positioning result information cannot be received.

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