Area-dependent service system and method for mobile stations

• US 20010019960A1
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Published: 09/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Takayama, Kuniharu, Sekiguchi, Minoru, Maeda, Yoshiharu, Naito, Hirohisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A service database stores a set of area information and a service program for each individual service. When position information of a mobile station and service selection information are received, the service database is searched to retrieve a service program specified by the service selection information and corresponding area information. When the mobile station is present in the area represented by the area information, the service program is executed to provide a service to the mobile station.

Claims

1. A service system comprising:

a storage device storing pieces of area information and service programs, each piece of area information corresponding to each service program;

a communication device receiving position information of a mobile station and service selection information;

a selection device retrieving from the storage device a service program specified by the service selection information and area information corresponding to the specified service program;

an area decision device making a decision of whether or not a position represented by the position information of the mobile station is included in an area represented by the retrieved area information; and

an execution device executing the retrieved service program to provide a service to the mobile station when the position is included in the area.

2. The service system according to

claim 1

, wherein, when the position is not included in the area, the execution device notifies the mobile station that the mobile station is outside a service area.

3. The service system according to

claim 1

, further comprising a user decision device, and wherein the storage device stores pieces of user information each of which corresponds to a service program, the communication device receives user identification information, the selection device retrieves user information corresponding to the specified service program, the user decision device makes a decision of whether or not a user represented by the identification information corresponds to the retrieved user information, and the execution device executes the retrieved service program when the user corresponds to the retrieved user information.

4. The service system according to

claim 1

, wherein the communication device receives one of position information sent from the mobile station and position information of a base station which have established communication with the mobile station, as the position information of the mobile station.

5. A service system comprising:

a storage device storing area information and a service program, the area information corresponding to the service program;

a communication device receiving position information of a mobile station;

a decision device for making a decision of whether or not a position represented by the position information of the mobile station is included in an area represented by the area information; and

an execution device executing the service program corresponding to the area information to provide a service to the mobile station when the position is included in the area.

6. A mobile station comprising:

a communication device transmitting service selection information to a service system which stores pieces of area information and service programs, each piece of area information corresponding to each service program; and

a device receiving a service from the service system when the service system receives service selection information and position information of the mobile station, retrieves a service program specified by the service selection information and area information corresponding to the specified service program, makes a decision of whether or not a position represented by the position information of the mobile station is included in an area represented by the retrieved area information, and executes the retrieved service program based on a result indicating that the position is included in the area.

7. A computer-readable recording medium recorded with a program for enabling a computer to perform:

retrieving a specified service program and area information which is stored corresponding to the specified service program;

deciding whether or not a position of a mobile station is included in an area represented by the retrieved area information; and

executing the retrieved service program to provide a service to the mobile station when the position is included in the area.

8. A service method comprising:

storing pieces of area information and services, each piece of area information corresponding to each service;

deciding whether or not a position of a mobile station is included in an area represented by area information corresponding to a service selected by the mobile station; and

providing the selected service to the mobile station when the position is included in the area.

9. A service system comprising:

storage means for storing pieces of area information and service programs, each piece of area information corresponding to each service program;

communication means for receiving position information of a mobile station and service selection information;

selection means for retrieving from the storage device a service program specified by the service selection information and area information corresponding to the specified service program;

area decision means for making a decision of whether or not a position represented by the position information of the mobile station is included in an area represented by the retrieved area information; and

execution means for executing the retrieved service program to provide a service to the mobile station when the position is included in the area.

10. A propagation signal for propagating a program to a computer, the program enabling the computer to perform:

retrieving a specified service program and area information which is stored corresponding to the specified service program;

deciding whether or not a position of a mobile station is included in an area represented by the retrieved area information; and

executing the retrieved service program to provide a service to the mobile station when the position is included in the area.