JPH08336178A - Portable terminal search device in mobile communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To positively search a lost portable terminal and to enable the recovery by making an exchange station have a lost notification reception function, a portable terminal unfair use control function and a lost portable terminal search function, in a portable terminal searching device. CONSTITUTION: An exchange station holds subscriber information (subscribed numbers, names, identification numbers and where to make contact etc.) and has the lost notification reception function (a lost dial) corresponding to a lost notification, a portable terminal unfair use control function and a lost portable terminal search function (callings, the search by notification information). When a subscriber losts a portable terminal, the notifies the exchange station of the lost. In the exchange station, whether the unfair use recording by the lost portable terminal exists or not is investigated, the information is notified the subscriber if the recording exists, a portable terminal search processing is performed and the location of the portable terminal is notified to the subscriber when the location can be confirmed. The subscriber searches the lost portable terminal with this notification information as a clue.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal searching apparatus and portable terminal for searching a portable terminal when the portable terminal is lost or stolen in mobile communication.

In mobile communication using a portable terminal, a communication service is provided by the portable terminal by connecting the wireless base station and the portable terminal via a wireless channel. The subscriber can receive the communication service anytime and anywhere by carrying the mobile terminal all the time.

However, since the subscriber carries the portable terminal, it is conceivable that the portable terminal may be lost or stolen while traveling or while moving. If the mobile device is lost (including theft), the subscriber will not be able to find the mobile device.
If the mobile terminal cannot be found as it is, of course, the communication service by the mobile terminal cannot be received, the mobile terminal must be rented or purchased again. Therefore, there is a need for a service for finding lost mobile terminals.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional mobile communication, when a mobile terminal is lost, it is a passive service such as a service that is used only by a subscriber by entering a password, or a service is stopped when lost, and others cannot use it. There is only a complicated service. According to these services, it is possible to reduce the risk that a lost mobile terminal will be used by another person, but if this alone does not find the mobile terminal, the rental or purchase of the mobile terminal must be arranged again. In addition, the lost mobile terminal's telephone number (subscriber number) cannot be used, which reduces the convenience of the system.

[0005]

As described above, when a portable terminal is lost, after waiting for the lost portable terminal to be found after making arrangements to prevent others from using it, The only option was to give up on the discovery and arrange for rental or purchase of a mobile device again.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable a lost portable terminal to be actively searched for.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a use record information holding means for holding use record information of a portable terminal and a portable terminal when the portable terminal is lost. Loss information management means for managing lost information based on a loss notification from a subscriber using a telephone line, and illegal use of a mobile terminal after loss by referring to the use record information based on the lost information There is provided a portable terminal searching device in mobile communication, which is provided with an unauthorized use management means for searching whether or not there is any, and an unauthorized use record information notifying means for notifying the subscriber of the unauthorized use record information if there is any unauthorized use.

In this portable terminal searching device, based on a notification of loss from a subscriber who has lost the portable terminal, an unauthorized use of the lost portable terminal (illegal use of the lost portable terminal by someone after the loss) is searched, If there is unauthorized use, the unauthorized use information (including area information in which the lost mobile terminal was used) is notified to the subscriber. Therefore, the subscriber can search for the lost mobile terminal by using this unauthorized use information as a clue.

In another aspect of the present invention,
Lost information management means for managing lost information based on a loss notification from a subscriber using a telephone line when a mobile terminal is lost, and a lost mobile terminal outgoing call monitoring for monitoring the transmission from the lost mobile terminal based on the lost information There is provided a mobile terminal searching device in mobile communication, comprising means and location information notifying means for notifying the subscriber of location information of the lost mobile terminal when a call from the lost mobile terminal is detected.

In this portable terminal searching apparatus, the transmission from the lost portable terminal is monitored based on the notification of loss by the subscriber who lost the portable terminal, and when there is such a transmission, the lost portable terminal is notified of based on the transmission. Obtaining location information and notifying the subscriber of the location information. Therefore, the subscriber can search for the lost mobile terminal by using this unauthorized use information as a clue.

The mobile terminal searching apparatus may be configured not to connect the transmission when the transmission from the lost mobile terminal is detected. As a result, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the lost mobile terminal.

In another aspect of the present invention,
Loss information management means for managing lost information based on a loss notification from a subscriber using a telephone line when a mobile terminal is lost, and searching for a lost mobile terminal search call using simultaneous call based on the lost information Calling means, search frequency designating means for notifying the mobile terminal of the search frequency when there is a call response from the lost mobile terminal to the search call, and detailed position information transmitted from the lost mobile terminal using the search frequency. There is provided a mobile terminal searching device in mobile communication, which is provided with a detailed position information notifying means for notifying the subscriber.

In this portable terminal searching device, a search call is made to the lost portable terminal based on a notification of loss by the subscriber who lost the portable terminal. In contrast, when the search frequency is specified and the detailed location information is notified from the lost mobile terminal using the search frequency, the subscriber is notified of the detailed location information, and the subscriber uses this unauthorized use information as a clue. You can search for lost mobile terminals.

The portable terminal searching apparatus may be configured to add the search calling information to the notification information and send it out when the lost portable terminal does not respond to the search call.

Further, according to the present invention, when the received search call or the search call information added to the broadcast information is addressed to itself, a response is transmitted to the mobile network side, and the power off operation is not accepted thereafter. There is provided a mobile terminal adapted to transmit detailed position information to the mobile network side using the search frequency notified from the mobile network side.

Further, in the present invention, means for setting a timer state, and means for stopping the receiving operation and not accepting processing other than power ON / OFF control until a predetermined time has timed out in the timer state. There is provided a mobile terminal provided with means for performing processing of reception and transmission of necessary information when the predetermined time has timed out, and means for controlling to restart the timer state after the processing is completed.

According to this portable terminal, a timer function for saving power consumption is provided so that the standby processing (reception of notification information, incoming call, etc.) is not performed for a certain period of time. If the subscriber sets the mobile terminal to timer control (timer state), the operation is almost the same as turning off the power (not accepting incoming calls), and even when the mobile terminal is lost, the search notification from the mobile network side is received. You can respond by searching and you can search.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a search procedure between a subscriber and an exchange when a mobile terminal is lost, as an embodiment of the present invention.

When the subscriber notices that the mobile terminal is lost, the subscriber first notifies the exchange of the loss of the mobile terminal by a loss notification. The exchange checks whether there is a record of unauthorized use by the lost mobile terminal, and if there is a record of unauthorized use, informs the subscriber of the information. Further, the exchange performs a mobile terminal search process, and when the location of the mobile terminal can be confirmed, the subscriber is notified. As a result, the subscriber can search for the lost mobile terminal by using the information notified from the exchange as a clue.

In order to realize the above search, the switching center
It holds subscriber information (subscriber number, subscriber name, personal identification number, contact information, contact method, etc.) and has the following functions for responding to a loss notification from the subscriber. Lost notification acceptance function (lost dial) Mobile terminal illegal use management function Lost mobile terminal search function (call, search by notification information) The details of the above three functions and search means are shown in FIG.
The unit (b) is described in detail below.

(A) Receiving Lost Notification FIG. 2 shows the detailed contents of (a) of the search procedure outline of FIG. 1, and relates to the search procedure and processing from the lost notification reception processing to the portable terminal use record information notification. FIG.
In this process, the mobile terminal unauthorized use management function of the exchange exchange searches the unauthorized use record for the loss notification from the subscriber, monitors the unauthorized use, and notifies the subscriber of the unauthorized use result information. is there.

Details of the notification procedure are as follows. First, the subscriber notifies the exchange that the mobile terminal has been lost by a loss notification. The method of notification of loss is to dial a lost dial (number) from a fixed terminal (a public telephone, a subscriber-specific wired telephone, or a mobile terminal that is not a lost mobile terminal). This lost dial is a predetermined dial number for the mobile terminal lost notification.
If you can connect to the lost dial, dial in the lost information. The lost information input by the subscriber is subscriber information (subscriber number, personal identification number) and information that the mobile terminal was last used (call start time or call end time).

Loss information from the subscriber is sent from the fixed terminal to the exchange. The exchange can accept a lost notification all day (24 hours), and assigns a lost management number to the lost notification. The assigned loss management number is notified to the subscriber, and the subscriber holds the loss management number until he / she discovers the mobile terminal.

Further, the lost management number and lost information are transferred from the exchange to the home memory station, where the home memory station
Lost information is stored and managed using the lost management number as an index. When the terminal is found, the subscriber is notified of the lost management number to complete the lost mobile terminal search process.

The home memory station has a function of always holding a fixed amount of use record information such as a call for each subscriber for a fixed period. At the home memory station that has received the transfer information related to loss, the home memory station searches the use record information in the station for a record (illegal use record information) used at the time after the loss,
If any, the information (use area, use time) is notified to the exchange.

The exchange notifies the subscriber of the unauthorized use record information. As a method of notifying the subscriber, if the subscriber has joined the fixed network, the fixed terminal is notified. Alternatively, notification is made by mail or the like according to the contact information and contact means registered in the subscriber information. As a result, the subscriber can search for the lost mobile terminal by using the notified illegal use record information (use area, use time, etc.) as a clue.

Further, in the home memory station, after the notification of the unauthorized record information is completed, or when there is no unauthorized record information, the outgoing call from the lost portable terminal after the receipt of the lost notification is monitored (the lost portable terminal outgoing call monitoring process is started. ) Do.

FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram regarding the processing when a call origination request from an unauthorized user is received by the home memory station. Lost mobile terminal call Check if the call is from a lost mobile terminal against the call being monitored, and if it is from a lost mobile terminal, the connection is not performed and the location information [the area where the call originated (( Information to inform the wireless zone)
To notify the subscriber. The subscriber can search for the mobile terminal from the notified information.

(B) Searching for Mobile Terminal When searching for a lost mobile terminal, it is necessary to first establish communication between the lost mobile terminal and the search source (exchange office). Take measures to identify the location of the lost mobile device. 4 to 7 show detailed contents of (b) of the outline of the search procedure of FIG. 1, and are explanatory diagrams regarding lost mobile terminal search processing (calling, search by notification information).

[Establishment of Communication with Lost Mobile Terminal] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to a lost mobile terminal call search process. The exchange confirms the latest location information of the lost mobile terminal from the home memory station and makes a search call. What is a search call?
A call signal is sent in the same call area as a call for ordinary incoming calls. The content of the call signal is an identification code (search call) to identify a lost mobile terminal search call as a normal call signal. ID code) is added. When the lost mobile terminal receives a call and confirms that the search call is addressed to itself, it sends a response signal to the exchange without ringing the calling bell. Also, the mobile terminal cannot accept the power OFF operation after receiving the search call, that is, the power OF
Even if the F operation is performed, the ON state is continued and the control to turn it off becomes impossible.

If there is no response from the portable terminal to the above search call, the exchange station can also send out a search call signal to the adjacent general call area.

Further, if there is no response to the search call, the search call information (search portable terminal identifier, search call identification code) is added to the broadcast information in the general calling area and transmitted. The lost mobile terminal that has received the notification information performs the same incoming call processing as when the incoming call is received.

[Identification of Location of Lost Mobile Terminal] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of lost mobile terminal location identification processing. When the exchange receives the response signal from the mobile terminal, it stops the search call to the mobile terminal, corrects the notification information (deletes the search call information from the notification information and returns it to the normal notification information), and calls The home memory station selects and specifies the search frequency for the mobile terminal.
The mobile terminal transmits detailed position information (standby wireless zone, peripheral wireless zone) using the specified search frequency. The search frequency is a frequency assigned in advance exclusively for the search, and is to be distinguished from the frequency providing the communication service. As for the search frequency, one frequency is used for each search mobile terminal, and it is not used for other searches until the search of the mobile terminal is completed. Mobile terminal
The detailed position information is continuously transmitted until a detailed position information transmission stop request from the exchange described later is received.

The exchange notifies the subscriber of the detailed position information received from the lost mobile terminal, and the subscriber can search for the mobile terminal by using the detailed position information as a clue.

[Search Completion Processing] When the subscriber finds a lost mobile terminal after notifying the exchange of loss, the subscriber notifies the exchange of the fact. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a case where a notification is made from a mobile terminal that is lost and discovered.
The method of notification from the discovered mobile terminal is to first dial in the personal identification number, and then dial in the lost management number received from the exchange at the time of the loss notification. In the mobile terminal, the identification code (discovery identification code) indicating that the subscriber number and the discovery are added to the personal identification number and the loss management number input by the subscriber as discovery information, and it is sent to the exchange together with the detailed position information.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in the case of making a notification from a fixed terminal (a public telephone, a wire telephone unique to a subscriber, a mobile terminal which is not a lost mobile terminal, etc.). The notification method from the fixed terminal is to dial the lost dial number as well as when it was lost, and once the connection is established, further subscriber information (subscriber number,
Dial the secret code) and discovery information (lost management number, discovery identification code).

At the exchange that has received the discovery information, the information (subscriber number, personal identification number, lost management number, discovery identification code)
Is sent to the home memory station, a detailed position information transmission stop request is transmitted to the mobile terminal, and the lost management number is released.

The home memory station clears the lost management information of the lost mobile terminal and stops the lost mobile terminal transmission monitoring process. Further, the lost information added to the notification information is deleted, and the search frequency assigned to the lost mobile terminal is released to enable use.

As described above, the exchange has the function of receiving a notification of loss, the function of managing the unauthorized use of the mobile terminal, the function of searching for the lost mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal has a function of receiving information from the exchange when lost. By providing a function of responding to a search notification (search call, notification information) and making full use of these functions when the mobile terminal is lost, it is possible to actively search for the mobile terminal.

[Saving Power Consumption Since Mobile Terminal Can Operate for a Long Time When Searching for Mobile Terminal] By the way, mobile terminals in mobile communication need to be connected to various types of networks (exchange offices) unless the power is turned on. I cannot receive service. However, turning on the power supply even when the mobile terminal is not used surely consumes the power of the mobile terminal.
The continuous standby time of mobile terminals has dramatically increased year by year, but there is still a desire to reduce power consumption when not in use, people who mainly use outgoing calls, who do not want to receive calls (cannot) In some cases (such as during a meeting or in a train), it is quite possible for the subscriber to turn off the power of the mobile terminal when not in use or when he / she does not want to receive a call.

However, when the portable terminal is lost while the power is off, or when a person who picks up the lost portable terminal turns off the power, there is no means for searching for the portable terminal at present. Therefore, there is a need for a service that saves power consumption and operates the mobile terminal for as long as possible so that it can be searched for when it is lost. Therefore, a method for realizing a mobile terminal which can be searched when it is lost while being in almost the same state as when the power is turned off will be described below.

In the conventional portable terminal, the power consumption of the portable terminal during standby is reduced by the intermittent reception of the radio channel. In this method, mobile terminals are divided into several groups (groups), and incoming information is sequentially transmitted from the base station for each group. Then, the mobile terminal of the private branch exchange receives only the incoming call information of the group to which it may be called, and turns off the reception function when the mobile terminals of other groups are called.
With this method, power consumption is suppressed while dealing with incoming calls that occur randomly. If you do not want to receive the call again, leave it in the answering machine mode or turn off the power.
Leave.

Therefore, the power switch of the portable terminal is turned on.
In addition to / OFF, add power saving mode (timer state).
By switching the power switch to timer control as shown in FIG. 8C, the portable terminal is set to the timer state. The timer control is control to start a timer for a fixed time and shift to a timer state. In the timer state, neither BCCH (notification information) nor PCH (incoming call) is received, and processing other than timer timeout and power ON / OFF control is not accepted. When the timer times out, BCCH and PCH are received. If location registration is required depending on the received content, it is performed, and if called at that time, it responds. Further, a process of fetching necessary information in the notification information is performed, and when these processes are completed, the timer is restarted and the timer state is entered. This is repeated until the power switch is controlled to be ON or OFF. The timer value can be set by the manufacturer and the subscriber.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the portable terminal timer control. When the subscriber wants to turn off the power of the mobile terminal, the subscriber sets the power switch to timer control (operation in the figure). The mobile terminal starts a timer for a fixed time and shifts to a timer state. When the timer times out, BCCH and PCH reception processing is performed, and when the processing is completed, the timer is restarted and enters the timer state.

When the subscriber turns on the power (operation in the figure) while the portable terminal is in the timer state, the portable terminal is
The timer is stopped, initialization processing is performed when the power is turned on, and the operation enters standby mode.

When the subscriber turns off the power (operation in the figure) while the portable terminal is in the timer state, the portable terminal stops the timer and shifts to the operation stopped (power off) state.

As described above, the portable terminal is provided with the power saving mode (timer function) for saving the power consumption, and the standby processing (reception of notification information, incoming call reception) is not performed for a certain period of time. Therefore, if the subscriber controls the mobile terminal by timer (timer state),
Realized almost the same operation as FF (not accepting incoming calls),
Even when the mobile terminal is lost, the search notification of the exchange can be received and responded, and the search can be performed.

[0048]

According to the present invention, it is possible to actively search for a lost mobile terminal, to recover the lost mobile terminal in an early stage, and to eliminate the need for re-procedures such as rental and purchase. , Service can be improved.

Further, according to the mobile terminal of the present invention using the power consumption saving method, the power consumption of the mobile terminal can be saved, and even when the mobile terminal is lost, it is possible to operate for a long time for searching, and the service can be saved. Can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a search procedure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a search procedure based on notification of mobile terminal usage record information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a search procedure (illegal transmission) by notification of mobile terminal usage record information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a search procedure by calling a lost mobile terminal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a lost mobile terminal location identification procedure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a lost mobile terminal search completion procedure (notification from the found mobile terminal).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a lost mobile terminal search completion procedure (notification from a fixed terminal).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a power switch (sliding switch) of a mobile terminal for saving power consumption.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating mobile terminal timer control.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Use record information holding means for holding use record information of a mobile terminal, and loss information management means for managing lost information based on a loss notification from a subscriber using a telephone line when the mobile terminal is lost. An unauthorized use management means for referring to the use record information based on the lost information to search for an unauthorized use of the mobile terminal after the loss, and, if there is an unauthorized use, the unauthorized use record information to the subscriber. A mobile terminal searching device in mobile communication, comprising: unauthorized use record information notifying means for notifying. 2. A lost information managing means for managing lost information based on a lost notification from a subscriber using a telephone line when the portable terminal is lost, and monitoring a transmission from the lost portable terminal based on the lost information. A mobile terminal search device in mobile communication, comprising: lost mobile terminal transmission monitoring means; and location information notification means for notifying the subscriber of location information of the lost mobile terminal when a transmission from the lost mobile terminal is detected. 3. The portable terminal searching device according to claim 2, wherein when a call from the lost mobile terminal is detected, the call is not connected. 4. A lost information managing means for managing lost information based on a lost notification from a subscriber using a telephone line when the portable terminal is lost, and a lost portable terminal using simultaneous calling based on the lost information. Search calling means for making a search call, search frequency designating means for notifying the mobile terminal of the search frequency when there is a call response from the lost mobile terminal to the search call, and transmission from the lost mobile terminal using the search frequency Mobile terminal searching device in mobile communication, comprising detailed position information notifying means for notifying a subscriber of detailed position information. 5. The mobile terminal searching device in mobile communication according to claim 4, wherein when the lost mobile terminal does not respond to the search call, the search call information is added to the notification information and transmitted. 6. When the received search call or the search call information added to the broadcast information is addressed to itself, a response is transmitted to the mobile network side, and the power-off operation is not accepted thereafter, and the mobile network side rejects the operation. A mobile terminal configured to transmit detailed position information to the mobile network side using the notified search frequency. 7. A means for setting a timer state, a means for stopping the reception operation and not accepting processing other than power ON / OFF control until a predetermined time expires in the timer state, and the predetermined time period. A mobile terminal comprising means for receiving and transmitting necessary information when time out occurs, and means for controlling to restart the timer state after the processing is completed.