Location information integration system

Abstract

To provide a location information integrating system capable of location information notification with a little consumption of a terminal battery by reducing an amount of transmission communication.SOLUTION: The location information integrating system communicates by a data communication exclusive SIM, and includes: location information acquisition means for acquiring, from the outside, source information related to a location where the location information integrating system is located; location calculation means for calculating a current location where the location information integrating system is located from the source information acquired by the location information acquisition means; and location notification means for notifying a location information receiver of the current location calculated by the location calculation means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a position information integration system for a small mobile communication terminal that notifies other terminals of the location of the mobile communication terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional location information notification systems transmit raw information about the location of a mobile communication terminal to a server (generally managed by a carrier), which calculates the location information and notifies the location information receiving device (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-125087 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Generally, the battery consumption of a mobile communication terminal depends heavily on the amount of communication transmitted. When raw information on the location of a mobile communication terminal is transmitted, the amount of communication increases, which causes the terminal battery to be consumed more. Furthermore, a terminal having a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) for voice calls must, in principle, always maintain a communication connection with a base station, which also causes a large amount of battery consumption. Furthermore, there are various methods for detecting the location of a mobile communication terminal, and when the raw information of each method is transmitted, the amount of communication increases several times, which causes the terminal battery to be consumed more.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and has an object to provide a location information integration system that can reduce the amount of communication traffic transmitted and thereby reduce the consumption of terminal batteries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The location information integration system of the present invention is a location information integration system that communicates using a SIM card dedicated to data communication, and includes a location information acquisition means that acquires raw information relating to the location where the location information integration system is located from outside according to a plurality of protocols, and a According to multiple protocols Acquired Multiple The location information integration system exists from the original information. One The present invention is characterized by comprising a position calculation means for calculating a current position, and a position notification means for notifying the current position calculated by the position calculation means to the position information receiving device by email. Effect of the Invention

[0008] It is possible to provide a location information integration system capable of notifying location information with reduced transmission traffic and reduced battery consumption of the terminal. Furthermore, the current location is transmitted in the form of an e-mail, which is a carrier-independent format, allowing for simple and highly reliable notification of location information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a location information integration system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a location information integration system having a network address in embodiment 1. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram for explaining functions of a position information integration system 102 having a network address in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for notifying location information assuming indoor use in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining a method for notifying location information assuming outdoor use in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram for explaining a method for notifying location information assuming a direct connection between a location information integration system and a location information receiving device in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 to 6 are diagrams illustrating the embodiments of the present invention, and in these diagrams, parts with the same reference numerals represent the same objects, and the basic configurations and operations are similar.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a location information integration system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, a location information integration system 102 communicates with a GPS satellite 103, a mobile base station 104, and a short-range communication access point 105, acquires raw information on the location from each device, and notifies a common server 101 of the current location through network communication. The short-range communication access point may be, for example, a W-LAN, BLE, Zigbee, 920 MHz, or other access point.

[0012] When common server 101 receives location information from location information integration system 102, it notifies location information receiving device 106 of the received location information. The location information receiving device 106 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, or a PC. That is, by using this location information integration system 102, it is possible to notify the location information receiving device 106 of the acquired location information.

[0013] The location information integration system 102 is a device that can automatically perform calculations within the location information integration system 102 based on location information from GPS satellites 103 , mobile base stations 104 , and short-range communication access points 105 . Also, it is not impossible to perform calculations unless position information from all of the GPS satellites 103, mobile base stations 104, and short-range communication access points 105 is collected.

[0014] That is, it can be calculated using location information from one or more devices (GPS satellites 103, mobile base stations 104, and short-range communication access points 105 can be freely combined).

[0015] In conventional systems, location information was calculated in common server 101. However, in this system, calculations are performed within location information integration system 102, so that common server 101 can calculate location information, and it is not necessary to limit it to a specific server (generally managed by a carrier). For example, location information can be notified via a general server such as an e-mail server or a short message server.

[0016] The location information integration system 102 and the common server 101 can be connected via mobile communication, a router, or the like. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the location information integration system 102 having a network address in the first embodiment.

[0017] 2, the wireless network control unit 203 is a circuit that is connected to the GPS satellite 103, the mobile base station 104, and the short-range communication access point 105, and transmits and receives data according to various protocols. The wireless control unit 212 is a circuit that can connect to the GPS satellite 103, the mobile base station 104, and the short-range communication access point 105 by the communication control unit 213, and establish a communication path according to the communication procedure corresponding to each.

[0018] Moreover, the wireless network control unit 203 and the wireless control unit 212 are circuits that preferably include a SIM dedicated to data communication and transmit and receive data according to various protocols via mobile communication, a router, etc. The wireless control unit 212 is a circuit that can connect to mobile communication, a router, etc., and establish a communication path according to the communication procedure corresponding to each.

[0019] The CPU 211 is a circuit that executes an operation system (not shown) and a control program 202 stored in a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as an "HDD") 201, and performs various processes and controls each unit according to these programs.

[0020] The HDD 201 is a device for storing a control program 202 that describes various processes and control of each unit in the position information integration system 102. The functions described in the control program 202 will be described later. The ROM 208 is a non-volatile memory circuit that stores data and programs required at the time of startup.

[0021] The RAM 209 is a memory circuit that temporarily stores various programs and data when the CPU 211 executes the programs. After the position information integration system 102 is started, the RAM 209 stores location information management 210 in which location information previously acquired by the position information integration system 102 from one or more GPS satellites 103, mobile base stations 104, and short-range communication access points 105 is registered. However, the location information management 210 may be stored not only in the RAM 209 but also in the HDD 201 or other storage media.

[0022] The database 207 is a device that stores the authentication numbers and authentication codes of the GPS satellites 103 , the mobile base stations 104 , and the short-range communication access points 105 that can be connected to the location information integration system 102 .

[0023] It is also a device that stores an authentication number and authentication code for connecting the location information integration system 102 and the common server 101 via mobile communication, a router, or the like. It should be noted that the CPU 211 executes the control program 202 to realize a control unit having various functions.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the function of the location information integration system 102 having a network address in the first embodiment. The location information integration system 102 includes a network communication unit 301, a location information acquisition unit 302, a location information calculation unit 303, and a result output unit 304. The network communication unit 301 transmits and receives data related to a connection. When the location information acquisition unit 302 receives raw information on the location of the location information integration system 102 via the network communication unit 301, the location information acquisition unit 302 stores the raw information in the location information management 210. The location information calculation unit 303 calculates the current location of the location information integration system 102 from the raw information on the location acquired from the GPS satellite 103, the mobile base station 104, and the short-range communication access point 105 in the location information management 210. The result output unit 304 notifies the location information receiving device of information on the current location calculated by the location information calculation unit 303 via the network communication unit 301.

[0025] Next, the operation of each device in the above system will be described. That is, one embodiment of the communication path establishment method of the present invention will be described. The process after the network communication unit 301 is started and the process when the short-range communication access point 105 is connected to the network communication unit 301 will be described.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for establishing a communication path and notifying the acquired location information between a location information integration system 102 having a network address, a short-range communication access point 105, a common server 101, and a location information receiving device 106 in accordance with a procedure compliant with international standards, as an example assuming indoor use in embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0027] First, when the location information integration system 102 is started, it waits for connections with the GPS satellites 103, the mobile base station 104, and the short-range communication access point 105. After starting, a communication path is established with one or more of the short-range communication access point 105, the mobile base station 104, and the GPS satellites 103 according to a connection procedure.

[0028] First, a location information request S401 is transmitted from the location information receiving device 106 to the common server 101. The location information request S401 can be made by stating the request in the text of an e-mail or a short message using an e-mail address of the location information integration system 102 having a network address or a telephone number used for short messages. When the common server 101 receives the location information request S401, it transmits a location information request S402 to the location information integration system 102. When the location information integration system 102 receives the location information request S402, it establishes a communication path with the short-range communication access point 105 in accordance with a procedure compliant with international standards.

[0029] First, a process will be described in which the location information integration system 102 connects to the short-range communication access point 105, acquires location information, and notifies the location information receiving device 106 via the common server 101. The short-range communication access point 105 can connect to an access point such as W-LAN, BLE, Zigbee, or 920 MHz, and can acquire location information from one or more devices.

[0030] First, a process will be described when the position information integration system 102 is connected to the short-range communication access point 105. When the position information integration system 102 receives a position information request S402 transmitted from the common server 101, the short-range communication control unit 206 transmits a position information request S403 to the short-range communication access point 105. When the short-range communication access point 105 receives the position information request S403, it transmits position information data S404 to the position information integration system 102. The position information data S404 refers to information that can identify a position, such as latitude and longitude, time information, and access point information. The position information integration system 102 receives the position information data S404 transmitted from the short-range communication access point 105 from the short-range communication control unit 206. When the position information integration system 102 receives the position information data S404, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210 to calculate the current position of the position information integration system 102 from the received position information data (position information calculation process S405). If the current position can be calculated from the position information data S404, it is determined that the position information is indoors. At that time, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 registers the acquired position information in the position information management 210 and the information acquired in the position information data S404 in the database 207. Then, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 of the position information integration system 102 controls the wireless control unit 212 to transmit a position information notification S406 to the common server 101. The position information notification S406 can be performed by describing a request in the text of an e-mail, a short message, or the like using an e-mail address of the position information integration system 102 having a network address or a telephone number used for a short message, or the like. When common server 101 receives the location information notification S406, it transmits a location information notification S407 to location information receiving device 106.

[0031] Furthermore, if the location information request S401 from the location information receiving device 106 includes content that conveys continuous location information requests, a continuous notification of location information S450 is performed. Even if the location information integration system 102 does not receive a location information request S401 from the location information receiving device 106 via the common server 101, continuous location information notification S450 can be performed by initiation from the location information integration system 102.

[0032] Next, when the continuous location information notification S450 is to be stopped, the location information receiving device 106 transmits a location information request stop S409 to the common server 101. The location information request stop S409 can be performed by describing the request in the text of an e-mail or a short message using an e-mail address of the location information integration system 102 having a network address or a telephone number used for a short message. When the common server 101 receives the location information request stop S409, it transmits a location information request stop S410 to the location information integration system 102. When the location information integration system 102 receives the location information request stop S410, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the location information management 210 and stops acquiring location information from all devices that can be acquired from the short-range communication access point 105. In the location information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 controls the wireless control unit 212 to stop the transmission of the location information notification S406 to the common server 101.

[0033] Next, the operation of each device in the above system will be described. That is, one embodiment of the communication path establishment method of the present invention will be described. The process after the network communication unit 301 is started, and the process when the GPS satellite 103 and the mobile base station 104 are connected to the network communication unit 301 when receiving the location information will be described.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for establishing a communication path and notifying the acquired location information between a location information integration system 102 having a network address, a GPS satellite 103, a mobile base station 104, a common server 101, and a location information receiving device 106 in accordance with a procedure compliant with international standards, as an example assuming outdoor use in embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0035] First, when the location information integration system 102 is started, it waits for connections with the GPS satellites 103, the mobile base station 104, and the short-range communication access point 105. After starting, a communication path is established with one or more of the short-range communication access point 105, the mobile base station 104, and the GPS satellites 103 according to a connection procedure.

[0036] First, a location information request S501 is transmitted from the location information receiving device 106 to the common server 101. The location information request S501 can be made by stating the request in the text of an e-mail or a short message using an e-mail address of the location information integration system 102 having a network address or a telephone number used for short messages. When the common server 101 receives the location information request S501, it transmits a location information request S502 to the location information integration system 102. When the location information integration system 102 receives the location information request S502, it establishes a communication path with the short-range communication access point 105 in accordance with a procedure compliant with international standards.

[0037] First, a process will be described in which the location information integration system 102 cannot connect to the short-range communication access point 105, connects to either the GPS satellite 103 or the mobile base station 104, acquires location information, and notifies the location information receiving device 106 via the common server 101. The short-range communication access point 105 can use an access point such as W-LAN, BLE, Zigbee, or 920 MHz, and can acquire location information from one or more devices, but this is not possible in this embodiment. Also, it is assumed that the device can connect to either the GPS satellite 103 or the mobile base station 104, and can obtain location information from one or more of these devices.

[0038] First, a process will be described when the position information integration system 102 attempts to connect to the short-range communication access point 105. When the position information integration system 102 receives a position information request S502 transmitted from the common server 101, the short-range communication control unit 206 transmits a position information request S503 to the short-range communication access point 105. When transmitting to the position information receiving device 106, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210 and sets a connection timer T550.

[0039] Next, if the position information integration system 102 cannot receive position information data from the short-range communication access point 105 for a certain period of time, it determines that it is out of range of the short-range communication access point 105. In other words, it determines that it is outdoors.

[0040] When the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 of the position information integration system 102 detects a short distance period timeout S510, the CPU 211 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210, and causes the mobile communication control unit 204 to transmit a position information request S504 to the mobile base station 104. When the mobile base station 104 receives the position information request S504, it transmits position information data S505 to the position information integration system 102. The position information integration system 102 receives the position information data S505 transmitted from the mobile base station 104 from the mobile communication control unit 204.

[0041] Next, in the position information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210, and receives the position information data S506 from the GPS satellite 103 at the GPS communication control unit 205. Note that the position information data S505 and the position information data S506 refer to information capable of identifying a position, such as latitude and longitude, time information, and access point information.

[0042] When the position information integration system 102 receives the position information data S505 and the position information data S506, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210 to calculate the current position of the position information integration system 102 from the received position information data (position information calculation process S507). At this time, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 registers the acquired position information in the position information management 210, the position information request S504, and the information acquired in the position information data S505 in the database 207. Then, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 of the position information integration system 102 controls the wireless control unit 212 to transmit the position information notification S508 to the common server 101. The position information notification S508 can be performed by describing the request in the text of an e-mail, a short message, or the like, using the e-mail address of the position information integration system 102 having a network address or a telephone number used for a short message, or the like. When common server 101 receives the location information notification S508, it transmits a location information notification S509 to location information receiving device 106.

[0043] Furthermore, if the location information request S501 from the location information receiving device 106 is a request for continuous location information, then continuous location information notification S513 is performed. Even if the location information integrated system 102 does not receive the location information request S501 from the location information receiving device 106 via the common server 101, continuous location information notification S513 can be performed by activation from the location information integrated system 102. Next, when the continuous notification of location information S513 is to be stopped, a location information request stop S514 is transmitted from the location information receiving device 106 to the common server 101.

[0044] The location information request stop S514 can be performed by describing the request in the text of an e-mail or a short message using the e-mail address of the location information integration system 102 having a network address or a telephone number used for a short message. When the common server 101 receives the location information request stop S514, it transmits a location information request stop S515 to the location information integration system 102. When the location information integration system 102 receives the location information request stop S515, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the location information management 210, stops the acquisition of location information from all devices that can be acquired from the short-distance communication access point 105 by the short-distance communication control unit 206, and stops the acquisition of location information from all devices that can acquire location information by the mobile communication control unit 204 and the GPS communication control unit 205. In addition, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 of the location information integration system 102 controls the wireless control unit 212 to stop the transmission of the location information notification S508 to the common server 101.

[0045] Next, the operation of each device in the above system will be described. That is, one embodiment of the communication path establishment method of the present invention will be described. The process after the network communication unit 301 is started, and the process when the GPS satellite 103, the mobile base station 104, the short-range communication access point 105, and the location information receiving device 106 are connected to the network communication unit 301 when receiving location information will be described.

[0046] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram explaining a method of establishing a communication path and notifying the acquired location information between the location information integration system 102 having a network address, and the GPS satellite 103, mobile base station 104, common server 101, short-range communication access point 105, and location information receiving device 106, in accordance with a procedure compliant with international standards, as an example assuming a direct connection between the location information integration system 102 and the location information receiving device 106 in embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0047] First, when the location information integration system 102 is started, it waits for connections with the GPS satellites 103, the mobile base station 104, and the short-range communication access point 105. After starting, a communication path is established with one or more of the short-range communication access point 105, the mobile base station 104, and the GPS satellites 103 according to a connection procedure.

[0048] First, a process when the location information integration system 102 is connected to the location information receiving device 106 will be described. In the location information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the location information management 210, and transmits a connection request S601 to the location information receiving device 106 by the short-distance communication control unit 206. When the location information receiving device 106 receives the connection request S601, it transmits a connection response S602 to the location information integration system 102. The connection response S602 refers to information that can identify a location, such as latitude and longitude, time information, and access point information. The location information integration system 102 receives the connection response S602 transmitted from the location information receiving device 106 by the short-distance communication control unit 206. That is, by continuously performing the receiving device connection period S612, it is determined that the location information integration system 102 and the location information receiving device 106 are in a continuously connectable state. Next, a process will be described in the case where the location information integration system 102 cannot connect to the location information receiving device 106.

[0049] First, a process will be described when the location information integrated system 102 attempts to connect to the location information receiving device 106. The location information integrated system 102 transmits a connection request S603 to the location information receiving device 106 by the short-distance communication control unit 206. When transmitting to the location information receiving device 106, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the location information management 210 and sets a connection timer T650.

[0050] Next, if the position information integration system 102 cannot receive position information data from the position information receiving device 106 for a certain period of time, it determines that the position information integration system 102 is out of communication range with the position information receiving device 106 .

[0051] First, a process will be described in which the location information integration system 102 connects to the short-range communication access point 105, acquires location information, and notifies the location information receiving device 106 via the common server 101. The short-range communication access point 105 can connect to an access point such as W-LAN, BLE, Zigbee, or 920 MHz, and can acquire location information from one or more devices. Next, a process when the location information integration system 102 is connected to the short-range communication access point 105 will be described.

[0052] When the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 of the position information integration system 102 detects a receiving device connection timeout T613, the CPU 211 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210, and causes the short-range communication control unit 206 to transmit a position information request S604 to the short-range communication access point 105. Upon receiving the position information request S604, the short-range communication access point 105 transmits position information data S605 to the position information integration system 102. The position information integration system 102 receives the position information data S605 transmitted from the short-range communication access point 105 via the short-range communication control unit 206.

[0053] Next, in the location information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the location information management 210, and causes the mobile communication control unit 204 to transmit a location information request S606 to the mobile base station 104. Upon receiving the location information request S606, the mobile base station 104 transmits location information data S607 to the location information integration system 102.

[0054] Next, in the position information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210, and receives position information data S608 from the GPS satellite 103 at the GPS communication control unit 205. Note that the position information data S607 and the position information data S608 refer to information capable of identifying a position, such as latitude and longitude, time information, and access point information.

[0055] When the position information integration system 102 receives one or more of the position information data S605, the position information data S607, and the position information data S608, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210 to calculate the current position of the position information integration system 102 from the received position information data (position information calculation process S609). At that time, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 registers the acquired position information in the position information management 210, the position information data S605, the position information data S607, and the position information data S608 in the database 207. Then, in the position information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 controls the wireless control unit 212 to transmit a position information notification S610 to the common server 101.

[0056] The location information notification S508 can be performed by describing the request in the text of an e-mail, a short message, etc., using the e-mail address of the location information integration system 102 having a network address, or a telephone number used for short messages, etc. When the common server 101 receives the location information notification S610, it transmits a location information notification S611 to the location information receiving device 106. Furthermore, if the position information reception device 106 continuously notifies the position information, continuous notification of position information S617 is performed.

[0057] Next, in order to stop the continuous location information notification S617, when the location information integration system 102 and the location information receiving device 106 become connectable, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the location information management 210, stops acquiring location information from all devices that can be acquired from the short-range communication access point 105 by the short-range communication control unit 206, except for the location information acquisition process from the location information receiving device 106, and stops acquiring location information from all devices that can acquire location information by the mobile communication control unit 204 and the GPS communication control unit 205. Also, in the location information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 controls the wireless control unit 212 to stop the transmission of the location information notification S610 to the common server 101.

[0058] Also, the position information receiving device 106 transmits a position information request stop S618 to the common server 101. The position information request stop S618 can be performed by describing the request in the text of an e-mail or a short message using the e-mail address of the position information integration system 102 having a network address or a telephone number used for a short message or the like. When the common server 101 receives the position information request stop S618, it transmits a position information request stop S619 to the position information integration system 102. When the position information integration system 102 receives the position information request stop S619, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 refers to the database 207 and the position information management 210, and stops acquiring position information from all devices that can be acquired from the short-distance communication access point 105 by the short-distance communication control unit 206, except for the position information acquisition process from the position information receiving device 106, and stops acquiring position information from all devices that can acquire position information by the mobile communication control unit 204 and the GPS communication control unit 205. In addition, in the position information integration system 102, the CPU 211 executing the control program 202 controls the wireless control unit 212 to stop the transmission of the position information notification S610 to the common server 101. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 101 Common Server 102 Location Information Integrated System 103 GPS satellites 104 Mobile base station 105 Near Field Communication Access Point 106 Location information receiving device 201 Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 202 Control Program 203 Wireless Network Control Unit 204 Mobile communication control unit 205 GPS communication control unit 206 Short-range communication control unit 207 Database 208 ROM 209 RAM 210 Location information management 211 CPU 212 Radio control unit 213 Radio control unit 301 Network Communications Department 302 Location information acquisition unit (location information acquisition means) 303 Location information calculation unit (position calculation means) 304 Result output unit (location notification means)

Claims

[Claim 1] A location information integration system that communicates using a data communication-only SIM, a location information acquisition means for acquiring raw information relating to a location where the location information integration system exists from outside in accordance with a plurality of protocols; a location calculation means for calculating a current location where the location information integration system exists from the raw information acquired by the location information acquisition means according to a plurality of protocols; a position notifying means for notifying a position information receiving device of the current position calculated by the position calculating means by email; A location information integration system comprising:

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