Infromation terminal device and PC card that a user can easily find a hot spot to access a wireless LAN

• US 20040127252A1
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshikazu, Tsunomoto, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/554.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

An information terminal device includes a wireless local area network (LAN) access section, a search section and a display section. The wireless local area network (LAN) access section accesses a wireless LAN. The search section searches a hot spot in or near a desire place based on a desire place data indicating the desire place. The hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established. The desire place is a place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN. The display section displays a hot spot data indicating a place of the hot spot searched by the search section.

Claims

1. A information terminal device comprising:

a wireless local area network (LAN) accesses section which access a wireless LAN;

a search section which searches a hot spot in or near a desire place based on a desire place data indicating said desire place, wherein said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established, said desire place is a place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN; and

a display section which displays a hot spot data indicating a place of said hot spot searched by said search section.

3. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said desire place data includes a telephone number of said desire place.

4. The information terminal device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a first memory section which stores a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said first table data.

5. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said desire place data includes an address of said desire place.

6. The information terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second memory section which stores a second table data including a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses,

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said second table data.

7. The information terminal device according to claim 4, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said display section displays said one of plurality of maps.

8. The information terminal device according to claim 6, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said display section displays said one of plurality of maps.

9. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said desire place data includes an area code for a telephone number of said desire place,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said area code,

said display section displays said area map data searched by said search section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

10. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said desire place data includes a zip code for said desire place,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said zip code,

said display section displays said area map data searched by said search section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

11. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said hot spot data includes a first map data indicating a first area containing said place of said hot spot,

said display section displays one of said first map data and a second map data indicating a second area containing said first area, and

said display section displays places of hot spots which are in said second area except for said first area.

12. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said search section updates said hot spot data without any operation by said user.

13. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said display section displays a first hot spot and a second hot spot distinguishably, said first hot spot can be used for said user, and said second hot spot can not be used for said user.

14. The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory which stores a setting data that is used for accessing said wireless LAN in said hot spot and was stored when accessing said wireless LAN last time in said hot spot.

15. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said desire place data is inputted by said user.

16. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said desire place data is the place which the information terminal device detects.

2. A information terminal device comprising:

a wireless local area network (LAN) accesses section which access a wireless LAN;

a sending section which sends a desire place data to a server, wherein said desire place data indicates a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN;

a receiving section which receives a hot spot data from said server, wherein said hot spot data indicates a place of a hot spot in or near said desired place searched by said server based on said desire place data, said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established; and

a display section which displays said hot spot data.

17. A PC card which is connected with an information terminal device with a display section and used for accessing a wireless local area network (LAN) comprising:

a search section which searches a hot spot in or near a desire place based on a desire place data indicating said desire place, wherein said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established, said desire place is a place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN;

wherein said search section outputs said searched hot spot data to said display section.

19. The PC card according to claim 17, wherein said desire place data includes a telephone number of said desire place.

20. The PC card according to claim 19, further comprising:

a first memory section which stores a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said first table data.

21. The PC card according to claim 17, wherein said desire place data includes an address of said desire place.

22. The PC card according to claim 21, further comprising:

a second memory section which stores a second table data including a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses,

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said second table data.

23. The PC card according to claim 20, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said search section outputs a signal for displaying said one of plurality of maps by said display sections.

24. The PC card according to claim 20, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said search section outputs a signal to be display said one of plurality of maps by said display sections.

25. The PC card according to claim 17, wherein said desire place data includes an area code for a telephone number of said desire place,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said area code,

said search section outputs a signal for displaying said area map data by said display section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

26. The PC card according to claim 17, wherein said desire place data includes a zip code for said desire place,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said zip code,

said search section outputs a signal for displaying said area map data by said display section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

27. The PC card according to claim 17, wherein said hot spot data includes a first map data indicating a first area containing said place of said hot spot,

said search section outputs a signal for displaying one of said first map data and a second map data indicating a second area containing said first area, and

said search section outputs a signal for displaying places of hot spots which are in said second area except for said first area.

28. The PC card according to claim 17, wherein said search section updates said hot spot data without any operation by said user.

29. The PC card according to claim 17, wherein said search section outputs a signal for displaying a first hot spot and a second hot spot distinguishably, said first hot spot can be used for said user, and said second hot spot can not be used for said user.

30. The PC card according to claim 17, further comprising:

a memory which stores a setting data that is used for accessing said wireless LAN in said hot spot and was stored when accessing said wireless LAN last time in said hot spot.

18. A PC card which is connected with an information terminal device with a display section and used for accessing a wireless local area network (LAN) comprising:

a sending request outputting section which outputs a sending request that indicates sending a desire place data to a server, wherein said desire place data indicates a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN; and

an output request outputting section which outputs an output request that indicates outputting a hot spot data received from said server to said display section, wherein said hot spot data indicates a place of a hot spot in or near said desired place searched by said server based on said desire place data, said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established.

31. A method of finding a hot spot in a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN, comprising:

searching a hot spot in or near a desire place in response to a desire place data indicating said desire place, wherein said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established, said desire place is a place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN; and

displaying a hot spot data indicating a place of said hot spot based on a searching result.

33. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 31, wherein said desire place data includes a telephone number of said desire place.

34. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 33, wherein said step of searching said hot spot comprises:

searching said hot spot based on a first table data,

said first table data includes a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and

said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers.

35. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 31, wherein said desire place data includes an address of said desire place.

36. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 35, wherein said step of searching said hot spot comprises:

searching said hot spot based on a second table data,

said second table data includes a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and

said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses.

37. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 34, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.

38. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 36, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.

32. A method of finding a hot spot in a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN, comprising:

sending a desire place data to a server, wherein said desire place data indicates a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN;

receiving a hot spot data from said server, wherein said hot spot data indicates a place of a hot spot in or near said desired place searched by said server based on said desire place data, said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established; and

displaying said hot spot data.

39. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium and comprising code that, when executed for a method of finding a hot spot in a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN, causes a computer to perform the following:

searching a hot spot in or near a desire place in response to a desire place data indicating said desire place, wherein said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established, said desire place is a place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN; and

displaying a hot spot data indicating a place of said hot spot based on a searching result.

41. The computer program product according to claim 39, wherein said desire place data includes a telephone number of said desire place.

42. The computer program product according to claim 41, wherein said step of searching said hot spot comprises:

searching said hot spot based on a first table data,

said first table data includes a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and

said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers.

43. The computer program product according to claim 39, wherein said desire place data includes an address of said desire place.

44. The computer program product according to claim 43, wherein said step of searching said hot spot comprises:

searching said hot spot based on a second table data,

said second table data includes a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and

said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses.

45. The computer program product according to claim 42, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.

46. The computer program product according to claim 44, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.

40. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium and comprising code that, when executed for a method of finding a hot spot in a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN, causes a computer to perform the following:

sending a desire place data to a server, wherein said desire place data indicates a desire place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN;

receiving a hot spot data from said server, wherein said hot spot data indicates a place of a hot spot in or near said desired place searched by said server based on said desire place data, said hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established; and

displaying said hot spot data.