SAFETY CONFIRMATION SYSTEM, MOBILE TERMINAL FOR USE IN SAFETY CONFIRMATION SYSTEM, AND SAFETY CONFIRMATION METHOD

• US 20120302199A1
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rio Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rio Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: YAMASHITA, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A safety confirmation system includes a mobile terminal that receives early disaster information, a center apparatus that manages a safety status of a user of the mobile terminal, and a map server that provides map information. The mobile terminal holds destination information and automatically acquires current location information upon receiving the early disaster information. The mobile terminal automatically transmits the current location information to the center apparatus and the map server, and automatically transmits the destination information to the map server. The center apparatus receives the current location information transmitted from the mobile terminal. The map server searches for a return route from the current location to a destination, generates map information including the return route, and transmits the map information to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives and stores the map information including the return route and displays the map information.

Claims

1. A safety confirmation system comprising:

a mobile terminal that receives early disaster information;

a center apparatus that manages a safety status of a user of the mobile terminal; and

a map server that provides map information, wherein the mobile terminal includes;

a destination information holding section that holds destination information;

a current location information acquisition section that automatically acquires current location information upon receiving the early disaster information;

a location information transmission section that automatically transmits the current location information to the center apparatus and the map server, as well as automatically transmits the destination information to the map server;

a map information acquisition section that receives and stores map information including a return route from a current location to a destination; and

a display section that displays the map information,

the center apparatus includes a location information reception section that receives the current location information transmitted from the mobile terminal,

the map server includes;

a return route search section that searches for a return route from the current location to a destination based on the current location information and destination information;

a map information generation section that generates the map information including the return route; and

a map information transmission section that transmits the map information to the mobile terminal.

2. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of destinations is registered in advance in the mobile terminal.

3. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

a plurality of destinations includes first and second destinations,

the mobile terminal transmits the current location information and the first and second destinations to the map server, and

the map server transmits to the mobile terminal first map information including a return route from the current location to the first destination and second map information including a return route from the current location to the second destination.

4. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mobile terminal selects one of the plurality of destinations that is closest to the current location and transmits the destination information of the selected destination to the map server.

5. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the center apparatus further includes a location information transmission section that automatically transmits, upon receiving the current location information from the mobile terminal, the current location information to another mobile terminal.

6. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the mobile terminal further includes

a safety confirmation information input section that receives an input of safety confirmation information after automatically transmitting the current location information and

a safety confirmation information transmission section that transmits the safety confirmation information and

the center apparatus further includes

a safety confirmation information reception section that receives the safety confirmation information and

a safety confirmation information management section that manages the safety confirmation information.

7. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the center apparatus automatically transmits, upon receiving the safety confirmation information from the mobile terminal, the safety confirmation information to another mobile terminal.

8. A mobile terminal comprising:

an early disaster information reception section that receives an early disaster information;

a destination information holding section that holds destination information;

a current location information acquisition section that automatically acquires current location information upon receiving the early disaster information;

a location information transmission section that automatically transmits the current location information to a center apparatus and a map server, as well as automatically transmits the destination information to the map server;

a map information acquisition section that receives and stores map information including a return route from a current location to a predetermined destination; and

a display section that displays the map information.

9. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 8 further includes:

a safety confirmation information input section that receives an input of safety confirmation information after automatically transmitting the current location information; and

a safety confirmation information transmission section that transmits the safety confirmation information to the center apparatus.

10. A safety confirmation method executed by a mobile terminal having an early disaster information reception function and a location information acquisition function, the method including the steps of:

receiving an input of destination information;

automatically acquiring current location information upon receiving the early disaster information;

automatically transmitting the current location information to a center apparatus and a map server, as well as automatically transmitting the destination information to the map server;

receiving and storing map information including a return route from a current location to a predetermined destination; and

displaying the map information.

11. The safety confirmation method as claimed in claim 10 further includes the steps of:

receiving an input of safety confirmation information after automatically transmitting the current location information; and

transmitting the safety confirmation information to the center apparatus.