Position display system of mobile terminal

• US 20010036833A1
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ace K Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ace K Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Kurokawa, Hiroyuki, Koshima, Hiroaki, Iwagami, Ryuichi, Kumamoto, Katsuhiko, Muya, Kimio
• Granted Patent: US 6,349,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A position detection system of a mobile terminal includes a small zone communication system (50) such as the PHS system, and a center station (1) connected to an exchange station (2) forming the PHS system. When a call is dispatched from the center station to the telephone number of a mobile station 7 of which the position is to be identified, the call signal is transmitted to a repeater (6) located closest to the mobile station (7) via exchange stations (2, 4) and main lines (3, 5) forming the PHS system (50). Since the mobile station (7) can identify the identification number of the closest repeater (6), the position of repeater (6) can be identified by referring to the database of the PHS system (50) using the repeater database provided in a center control station (51). The position can be displayed on a CRT screen at the center station (1) side. A position detection apparatus of a mobile terminal that can detect a position at low cost and at high accuracy is provided.

Claims

1. A position display system of a mobile terminal employing a small zone communication system, said small position display system comprising:

a repeater provided in each of a plurality of small zones,

a mobile terminal for communicating with said repeater,

a center control station for processing communication data with a plurality of said repeaters, and

a center station that can access the communication data of said center control station,

wherein said center station includes detection means for detecting a position of said mobile terminal according to said communication data.

2. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 1

, wherein said small zone communication system includes a PHS system.

3. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 2

, wherein said center control station includes a database for identifying said plurality of small zones, and wherein a name of a repeater with which said mobile terminal communicates is stored in said database during communication therebetween,

wherein said position detection means detects a position of said mobile terminal according to said repeater name of communication stored in said database.

4. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 1

, wherein said mobile terminal includes wireless communication means for carrying wireless communication with said center station,

wherein said mobile terminal has a signal identifying said repeater entered during communication with said repeater,

wherein said means detecting the position of said mobile terminal carries out detection according to said signal identifying said repeater from said mobile terminal.

5. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 1

, wherein said mobile terminal comprises

monitor means for monitoring electric field intensity of a plurality of said repeaters, and

means for transmitting to said center station the electric field intensity of the plurality of repeaters monitored by said monitor means,

wherein said position detection means identifies the position of said mobile terminal according to said transmitted electric field intensity from the plurality of repeaters.

6. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 1

, wherein said position detection means comprises

means for displaying a map around the position of said mobile terminal, and

means for displaying the position of said mobile terminal on said map at a predetermined configuration.

7. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 4

, wherein said center station comprises means for calling said mobile terminal for operating said position detection means.

8. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 7

, wherein said position display system of a mobile terminal is operated in a normal mode and a position detection mode, wherein control is provided so that a call ring bell is set mute at said mobile terminal in said position detection mode.

9. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 8

, wherein said center station comprises storage means,

wherein said position detection means detects a position of said mobile terminal for a plurality of times at different time points, and wherein results of said detected position of a plurality of times are stored in said storage means.

10. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 8

, wherein said center station comprises disconnection means for disconnecting a line between said center station and said mobile station in said position detection mode after communication between said mobile terminal and said repeater is established to have data designating said repeater entered into said mobile terminal.

11. A mobile terminal described in

claim 1

, comprising:

an antenna for communicating with said repeater,

means for detecting an identification number designating said repeater of communication, and

means for providing said detected identification number to said center station.

12. The mobile terminal according to

claim 11

, further comprising means for storing said identification number.

13. The mobile terminal according to

claim 12

, further comprising audio input means and audio output means.

14. The mobile terminal according to

claim 11

, wherein said means for providing an identification number to said center station outputs an identification number in response to a call from said center station.

15. The mobile terminal according to

claim 14

, further comprising emergency notify means, wherein an operation of said emergency notify means is provided to said center station together with an identification number of said repeater when said emergency notify means is operated.

16. The mobile terminal according to

claim 14

, comprising means for automatically disconnecting line connection with said center station after providing said identification number to said center station in response to a call from said center station.

17. A center station described in

claim 1

, comprising:

means for connecting to said small zone communication system,

means for requesting an identification number of a repeater communicating with said mobile terminal,

means for receiving said identification number and detecting a position of said mobile terminal according to said identification number,

means for displaying a map in the proximity of said repeater, and

means for displaying a position of said mobile terminal on said map with a predetermined mark.

18. The center station according to

claim 17

, wherein said identification number receiving means achieves reception via said small zone communication system.

19. The center station according to

claim 17

, wherein said identification number receiving means receives an identification number directly from said mobile terminal.

20. The center station according to

claim 17

, further comprising means for storing a position of a mobile terminal detected by said position detection means.

21. A position display system of a mobile terminal using a small zone communication system, said position display system comprising:

a repeater provided in each of a plurality of small zones, and

a mobile terminal for carrying out communication with said repeater,

wherein said repeater provides information designating said repeater to said mobile terminal during communication with said mobile terminal,

a center station that can communicate with said mobile station,

wherein said center station comprises detection means for detecting a position of said mobile station according to said repeater designating information.

22. The position display system of a mobile terminal according to

claim 21

, wherein said mobile terminal comprises

monitor means for monitoring electric field intensity of a plurality of said repeaters, and

means for transmitting to said center station electric field intensity of a plurality of repeaters monitored by said monitor means,

wherein said position detection means identifies position of said mobile terminal according to said transmitted electric field intensity of said plurality of repeaters and a wave propagation pattern information according to a position of said mobile terminal.

23. A position determining system comprising:

means for obtaining a wave maximum propagation distance centering about a wave generation source for each level of electric field intensity for generating a first wave propagation pattern according thereto,

means for detecting an arrangement and profile of a building around said wave generation source according to of an electronic map,

means for obtaining a crossing point of said first wave propagation pattern and said profile of a building, and

means for automatically generating a second wave propagation pattern taking into consideration said profile of a building from said crossing point of said first wave propagation pattern and said profile of a building.

24. The position determining system according to

claim 23

, wherein a plurality of said wave generation sources are provided, further comprising:

means for forming a plurality of second wave propagation patterns from said first wave propagation pattern and said profile of a building, and

means for detecting an overlapping portion of said plurality of second wave propagation patterns.