Position data notification system and position data notification method

• US 20030114171A1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

The present invention provides a position data notification system and a position data notification method whereby, in consonance with the will of a transient person, the current position of the pertinent person can be reported. The system of the invention includes a position search server, which is requested for position search request from a communication terminal, receives position data from another communication terminal, and creates a map on which the position of an individual user is indicated. This system also includes a group/user management DB for managing a user or a group that consists of a predetermined number of users. This system can be applied to notify current position information of a user carrying a device, which is not pre-registered for utilizing this system.

Claims

1. A position data notification system for reporting a current position of a communication terminal, said system comprising:

a position search server that can communicate with said communication terminal through a network;

wherein,

when said server receives a position search request for searching a current position of a second communication terminal and address data of the second communication terminal from a first communication terminal, said server transmits an email including information, that differs depending on which communication terminal receives said email, to said second communication terminal, and.

when a current position information of the second communication terminal is notified to said server by performing a predetermined process to the email transmitted from said server in the second communication terminal, said server creates a map indicating the current position of said second communication terminal according to the current position information.

2. The position data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein, when said server receives a map transmission request from said first communication terminal, said server transmits said map to said first communication terminal.

3. The position data notification system according to claim 1,

wherein said server designates, as a group, said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal, and

wherein said email includes information used for identifying said group and said second communication terminal.

4. The position data notification system according to claim 2,

wherein said server designates, as a group, said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal, and

wherein said email includes information used for identifying said group and said second communication terminal.

5. The position data notification system according to claim 3,

wherein, when the information contained in said email is a URL in a text body of said email, said predetermined process performed in said second terminal is to select said URL.

6. The position data notification system according to claim 4,

wherein, when the information contained in said email is a URL in a text body of said email, said predetermined process performed in said second terminal is to select said URL.

7. The position data notification system according to claim 3,

wherein, when the information contained in said email is an email address prepared by said server as a transmission source account, said predetermined process in performed in said second communication terminal is to transmit a response to said email address prepared by said server.

8. The position data notification system according to claim 4,

wherein, when the information contained in said email is an email address prepared by said server as a transmission source account, said predetermined process in performed in said second communication terminal is to transmit a response to said email address prepared by said server.

9. The position data notification system according to claim 7,

wherein an image of the periphery of the position of said second communication terminal is attached to said response for said email.

10. The position data notification system according to claim 8,

wherein an image of the periphery of the position of said second communication terminal is attached to said response for said email.

11. The position data notification system according to claim 3,

wherein, for each group, said server creates said map with the current position of said first communication terminal as the center, using a scale whereat the current position of said second communication terminal can be displayed.

12. The position data notification system according to claim 4,

wherein, for each group, said server creates said map with the current position of said first communication terminal as the center, using a scale whereat the current position of said second communication terminal can be displayed.

13. A position search server utilized for a position data notification system and capable of communicating with communication terminals through a network, said server comprising:

a receiving section for receiving a requests and information data from communication terminals;

a transmitting section for transmitting information data to the communication terminals;

an email message creating section for creating an email including information, that differs depending on which communication terminal receives the email, according to the request and information received by the receiving section; and

a map creating section for creating a map indicating a current position of the communication terminal;

wherein, when said receiving section receives a position search request for requesting for searching a current position of a second communication terminal and address data of the second communication terminal from a first communication terminal, said email message creating section prepares an email including information suitable for said second communication terminal, and said transmitting section transmits said email created by said email message creating section to said second communication terminal, and

wherein, when said receiving section receives a current position information of the second communication terminal by performing. a predetermined process to said email by the second communication terminal, said map creating section creates a map indicating the current position of said second communication terminal according to the current position information.

14. The position search server according to claim 13,

wherein, when said receiving section server further receives a map transmission request from said first communication terminal, said transmitting section transmits said map created by said map creating section to said first communication terminal.

15. A position data notification method, for providing a notification of the current position of a communication terminal, using a position data notification system that includes said communication terminal and a server that communicates with said communication terminal via a network, comprising:

an email transmission step of said server, upon receiving from a first communication terminal a position search request for the performance of a search for the current position of a second communication terminal and for destination data to be used for connecting with said second communication terminal, transmitting to said second communication terminal an email including information that differs, depending on which communication terminal receives said email;

a current position information notification step of said second communication terminal performing a predetermined process for an email received from said server and transmitting to said server current position data for said second communication terminal; and

a map creating step of said server employing said current position data to create a map indicating the current position of said second communication terminal.

16. The position data notification method according to claim 15, further comprising:

a map transmission step of said server, upon receiving from said first communication terminal a map transmission request for said map created at said map creating step, transmitting said map to said first communication terminal.