Method of locating a mobile terminal with its position being displayed on another mobile terminal

• US 20060040680A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Daurensan, Veronique
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of methods of locating a mobile terminal and displaying its position on another mobile terminal. The method comprises: a communications step between a first mobile terminal and a server, the first mobile terminal supplying the server with the number of a second mobile terminal; a definition step in which the first mobile terminal defines at least one permitted movement area on a map of a site; a locating step of locating the second mobile terminal; a display step of displaying on the screen of the first mobile terminal firstly at least a portion of the map, and secondly the position of the second mobile terminal on the map; the locating and display steps being updated over time; a sending step whereby the server sends a main alarm to the first mobile terminal when the second mobile terminal leaves the permitted area; and a sending step in which the server or the first mobile terminal sends a secondary alarm in the form of a voice message to the second mobile terminal when the second mobile terminal is leaving or has left the permitted area. The invention can be applied to enabling a parent to keep an eye on a child.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a communications step between a first mobile terminal and a server, the first mobile terminal supplying the server with the number of a second mobile terminal;

a definition step in which the first mobile terminal defines at least one permitted movement area on a map of a site;

a locating step of locating the second mobile terminal;

a display step of displaying on the screen of the first mobile terminal firstly at least a portion of the map, and secondly the position of the second mobile terminal on the map;

the locating and display steps being updated over time;

a sending step whereby the server sends a main alarm to the first mobile terminal when the second mobile terminal leaves the permitted area; and

a sending step in which the server or the first mobile terminal sends a secondary alarm in the form of a voice message to the second mobile terminal when the second mobile terminal is leaving or has left the permitted area.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the secondary alarm is a prerecorded voice message.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the secondary alarm comprises putting the first mobile terminal into voice communication with the second mobile terminal.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the server locates the second mobile terminal by triangulation.

5. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the server locates the second mobile terminal by triangulation.

6. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the server locates the second mobile terminal by triangulation.

7. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the server locates the second mobile terminal by triangulation between beacons disposed in the site.

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the density of the beacons is sufficient for the second mobile terminal to be located with accuracy to within better than 10 meters.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the density of beacons is sufficient for the second mobile terminal to be located with accuracy to within better than 5 meters.

10. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the second mobile terminal includes a trigger, which on being activated by the user of the second mobile terminal, leads to a step of sending the main alarm even if the second mobile terminal has not left the permitted area.

11. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the second mobile terminal includes a trigger, which on being activated by the user of the second mobile terminal, leads to a step of sending the main alarm even if the second mobile terminal has not left the permitted area.

12. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the second mobile terminal includes a trigger, which on being activated by the user of the second mobile terminal, leads to a step of sending the main alarm even if the second mobile terminal has not left the permitted area.

13. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the second mobile terminal includes a trigger, which on being activated by the user of the second mobile terminal, leads to a step of sending the main alarm even if the second mobile terminal has not left the permitted area.

14. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that activation of the trigger automatically leads to the first mobile terminal being put into communication with the second mobile terminal.

15. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that for a map that is subdivided into regions, the permitted area is defined by confirming a fraction of the regions by using the first mobile terminal.

16. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that for a map that is subdivided into regions, the permitted area is defined by confirming a fraction of the regions by using the first mobile terminal.

17. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that for a map that is subdivided into regions, the permitted area is defined by confirming a fraction of the regions by using the first mobile terminal.

18. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that for a map that is subdivided into regions, the permitted area is defined by confirming a fraction of the regions by using the first mobile terminal.

19. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the permitted area is dynamic and corresponds to a perimeter around the position of the first mobile terminal.

20. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that in that the main alarm is a ring tone.

21. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the server automatically proposes implementing the method to the first mobile terminal as soon as the first mobile terminal enters into the site.

22. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the site is an amusement park.

23. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the locating is performed by the server using UMTS stations.

24. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of displaying the position of the second mobile terminal also indicates the travel direction of the second mobile terminal.

25. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the display step also displays the position of the first mobile terminal.

26. A mobile terminal for implementing the method according to claim 1.

27. A server for implementing the method according to claim 1.