Position data obtaining system and method

• US 20050134453A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Tsutomu
• Application Number:
  US11/004,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134453A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Position data servers 102 each covering a narrow service area are installed in a number of places including underground markets and the like, and periodically transmit position data and name thereof. A portable terminal 101 present in the service area of a certain position data server 102 receives the position data and name thereof from the position data server 102, and stores the received data together with reception time data obtained from a clock 204 in a position data history storing unit 202. When it is required, he portable terminal 101 displays the position data history data in the position data history storing unit 202 on an image display unit 206. Thus, it is possible to obtain position data and also readily obtain name thereof even in an underground market or like place incapable of being reached by GPS signal.

Claims

1. A position data obtaining system comprising a number of position data servers each covering a narrow service area and transmitting the own position data and name thereof, wherein:

a portable terminal present in the service area of each position data server receives the position data and name thereof transmitted from the position data server, and stores the received position data and name thereof in an internal storing unit.

2. The position data obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein the position data servers transmit the position data and name thereof periodically in a predetermined cycle.

3. The position data obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein the position data servers each have a key input unit and, when it is required, write or re-write the own position data and name thereof.

4. The position data obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal also has an image display unit for displaying, when it is required, the position data and name thereof stored in the storing unit.

5. The position data obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein the position data servers are installed even in underground markets, inside of buildings, tunnels and like places incapable of receiving GPS signal.

6. The position data obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein the position data servers transmit map data in addition to the position data and name thereof.

13. The position data obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein the position data servers each have a key input unit and, when it is required, write or re-write the own position data and name thereof.

14. The position data obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein the portable terminal also has an image display unit for displaying, when it is required, the position data and name thereof stored in the storing unit.

15. The position data obtaining system according to claim 3, wherein the portable terminal also has an image display unit for displaying, when it is required, the position data and name thereof stored in the storing unit.

16. The position data obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein the position data servers are installed even in underground markets, inside of buildings, tunnels and like places incapable of receiving GPS signal.

17. The position data obtaining system according to claim 3, wherein the position data servers are installed even in underground markets, inside of buildings, tunnels and like places incapable of receiving GPS signal.

18. The position data obtaining system according to claim 4, wherein the position data servers are installed even in underground markets, inside of buildings, tunnels and like places incapable of receiving GPS signal.

19. The position data obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein the position data servers transmit map data in addition to the position data and name thereof.

20. The position data obtaining system according to claim 3, wherein the position data servers transmit map data in addition to the position data and name thereof.

21. The position data obtaining system according to claim 4, wherein the position data servers transmit map data in addition to the position data and name thereof.

22. The position data obtaining system according to claim 5, wherein the position data servers transmit map data in addition to the position data and name thereof.

7. An activity history recorder for recording the activity history produced during movement of the user of a portable terminal in a predetermined area for a predetermined period of time, comprising a number of position data servers each covering and located in various space in a narrow service area and periodically transmitting the own position data and name thereof, wherein:

a portable terminal present in the service area of any one of the position data servers receives the position data and name thereof transmitted by the position data server, stores the received position data and name thereof together with the reception time data as position data history data in its own storing unit, and when it is required, reads out the stored position data history data and displays the read-out data on an image display unit.

8. The activity history recorder according to claim 7, wherein the position data servers further transmit map data, and the portable terminal has a map data storing unit for storing the map data received from the pertinent position data server, and displays the stored map data together with the activity history data on the image display unit.

9. A position data obtaining method comprising steps of:

transmitting position data and name data thereof from a position data server which is communicated with a portable terminal;

receiving by the portable terminal the position data and the name data from the position data server;

recording the received position data and name data together with time data obtained by the portable terminal in a memory; and

displaying, if required, the position data, name data and time data on a display.

11. The position data obtaining method according to claim 9, wherein the received data is recorded together with the time data in response to a request from a timer.

12. The position data obtaining method according to claim 9, wherein the received data is recorded together with the time data in response to a request by a user of the portable terminal.

10. A position data obtaining method comprising steps of:

transmitting position data, name data and map data thereof from a position data server which is communicated with a portable terminal;

receiving by the portable terminal the position data, name data and map data from the position data server;

recording the received position data, name data and map data together with time data obtained by the portable terminal in a memory; and

displaying, if required, the position data, name data, map data and time data on a display.