Mobile device system and mobile device

• US 20080081649A1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nagata, Hideki, Ide, Takayuki, Minakata, Hiroyuki, Kohashi, Atsushi, Omaki, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• 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 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

A mobile device system includes a plurality of mobile devices, each to which unique identification information is assigned, wherein each mobile device includes a location-information acquisition unit, a communication unit, and a group registration unit. The communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the mobile device and the identification information of the mobile device, sends the information to other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices. The group registration unit detects other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices and the location information of the mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

Claims

1. A mobile device system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices, to each of which unique identification information is assigned,

wherein each mobile device includes

a location-information acquisition unit configured to acquire location information,

a communication unit configured to communicate with other mobile devices, and

a group registration unit,

wherein, in each mobile device, the communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the mobile device and the identification information of the mobile device, sends the information to other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices, and

wherein, in each mobile device, the group registration unit detects other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices received by the communication unit and the location information of the mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

2. The mobile device system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the mobile devices includes a notification unit configured to provide a notification of information about other mobile devices associated with the identification information registered as a group in the group registration unit.

3. The mobile device system according to claim 1, wherein each mobile device includes an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the number of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the mobile device changes.

4. The mobile device system according to claim 1, wherein each mobile device includes an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the combination of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the mobile device changes.

5. A mobile device comprising:

a location-information acquisition unit configured to acquire location information;

a communication unit configured to communicate with other mobile devices; and

a group registration unit,

wherein the communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the mobile device and the identification information of the mobile device, sends the information to other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices, and

wherein the group registration unit detects other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices received by the communication unit and the location information of the mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

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

a notification unit configured to provide a notification for information of other mobile devices associated with the identification information registered as a group in the group registration unit.

7. The mobile device according to claim 5, further comprising:

an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the number of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the mobile device changes.

8. The mobile device according to claim 5, further comprising:

an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the combination of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the mobile device changes.