MOBILE STATION AND LOCATION INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD

• US 20100150073A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Sasao, Nobuaki
• Application Number:
  US12/638,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20100150073A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption

Abstract

A mobile station comprises: a memory; a location acquisition unit that acquires location information of the mobile station; a detecting unit that detects a communication-ready network; a determining unit that, when the detecting unit detects the communication-ready network and determines whether the memory stores the location information in association with the network; and a control unit that, when the determining unit determines that the memory stores the location information in association with the network, performs a predetermined process using the stored location information, and when the determining unit determines that the memory does not store the location information in association with the network, instructs the location acquisition unit to acquire the location information of the mobile station, performs the predetermined process using the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit, and causes the memory to store the location information in association with the network detected by the detecting unit.

Claims

1. A mobile station comprising:

a memory;

a location acquisition unit that acquires location information of the mobile station;

a detecting unit that detects a communication-ready network;

a determining unit that, when the detecting unit detects the communication-ready network and determines whether the memory stores the location information in association with the network; and

a control unit that, when the determining unit determines that the memory stores the location information in association with the network, performs a predetermined process using the stored location information, and when the determining unit determines that the memory does not store the location information in association with the network, instructs the location acquisition unit to acquire the location information of the mobile station, performs the predetermined process using the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit, and causes the memory to store the location information in association with the network detected by the detecting unit.

2. The mobile station according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring unit that measures a received radio field intensity when the detecting unit detects the communication-ready network, wherein:

the control unit causes the memory to store the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit in association with the received radio field intensity measured by the measuring unit; and

when plural of location information is associated with the network, calculates new location information on the basis of received radio intensities corresponding to the plural location information, and causes the memory to store the newly calculated location information in association with the received radio field intensity.

3. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a process that displays information associated with the location information on a display section of the mobile station.

4. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a process that calculates new location information.

5. The mobile station according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit that receives the instructions.

6. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit attempts to detect a communication-ready network at a predetermined timing.

7. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the location acquisition unit acquires location information using a base station location system or a GPS.

8. A location information acquisition method used in a mobile station including a location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the mobile station, comprising:

detecting a communication-ready network;

determining, when the detecting unit detects the communication-ready network, whether the memory stores the location information in association with the network;

performing, when the determining unit determines that the memory stores the location information in association with the network, a predetermined process using the stored location information;

issuing, when the determining unit determines that the memory does not store the location information in association with the network, instructions for the location acquisition unit to acquire the location information of the mobile station;

performing the predetermined process using the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit; and

causing the memory to store the location information in association with the network detected by the detecting unit.

9. A storing medium that stores a program for causing a computer implemented in a mobile station to execute:

acquiring location information of the mobile station, comprising;

detecting a communication-ready network;

determining, when the detecting unit detects the communication-ready network, whether the memory stores the location information in association with the network;

performing, when the determining unit determines that the memory stores the location information in association with the network, a predetermined process using the stored location information;

issuing, when the determining unit determines that the memory does not store the location information in association with the network, instructions for the location acquisition unit to acquire the location information of the mobile station;

performing the predetermined process using the location information acquired by the location acquisition unit; and

causing the memory to store the location information in association with the network detected by the detecting unit.