Network-connected device management system

• US 6,286,044 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): WILEY, DAVID ARMAND
• Application Number:
  US09/175,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223-226, 709/249, 445/266, 445/442, 445/456, 445/439, 342/457, 342/387, 379/211, 340/825, 370/52, 455/455, 714/39
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A managing apparatus constructs a database for each network-connected apparatus. Each network-connected apparatus receives ID electric waves transmitted from at least three PHS base stations located at different places, and transmits the amplitudes of the received electric waves and IDs to the managing apparatus. The managing apparatus computes the positions of each network-connected apparatus based on the IDs and amplitudes of the electric waves received from each network-connected apparatus and position of the PHS base stations, and stored the position of each network-connected apparatus in the database.

Claims

1. A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected,

said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a radio base station,

said method comprising:

a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus;

a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations located at different places and transmits the amplitude of received signal to said managing apparatus; and

a step in which said managing apparatus computes a position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and positions of said radio base stations and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

2. The network managing method of claim 1 wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives and transmits signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores said position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly.

3. A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected,

said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a communication satellite,

said method comprising:

a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus;

a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from at least four different communication satellites and transmits the data to said managing apparatus; and

a step in which said managing apparatus computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database,

wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

4. A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected,

said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a mobile station, said mobile station having a communication unit for receiving signals transmitted by a radio base station,

said method comprising:

a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus;

a step in which said mobile station is brought close to said network-connected apparatus;

a step in which said mobile station receives signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations located at different places and transmits the amplitude of the signals to said network-connected apparatus using said communicating unit;

a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives the amplitudes from said mobile station and transmits them to said managing apparatus;

a step in which said managing apparatus computes position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and positions of said radio base stations and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

5. The network managing method of claim 4 wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives and transmits the amplitudes from said mobile station and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly.

6. A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected,

said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a portable terminal, said portable terminal having a communication unit for receiving signals transmitted by a communication satellite,

said method comprising:

a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus;

a step in which said portable terminal receives signals transmitted from at least four different communication satellites and transmits the data to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit;

a step in which the network-connected apparatus receives the data from said portable terminal and transmits it to said managing apparatus; and

a step in which said managing apparatus computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database,

wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives data and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

7. A network management facility comprising:

at least three radio base stations located at different positions and each transmitting a particular data;

at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network;

said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said radio base stations; and

wherein said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from said radio base stations and transmits the amplitude of the signals to said managing apparatus, and

said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and position of said radio base stations, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

8. A network management facility as claimed in claim 7 wherein said network-connected apparatus repeatedly receives and transmits said signals transmitted from said radio base stations and said managing apparatus repeatedly computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus.

9. A network management facility comprising:

at least four communication satellites each transmitting a particular data;

at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network;

said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said communication satellites; and

wherein said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from said communication satellites and transmits the data to said managing apparatus; and

said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said databases,

wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

10. A network managing facility comprising:

at least three radio base stations located at different positions and each transmitting a particular data;

a mobile station having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said radio base stations;

at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network;

said network-connected apparatus capable of transacting a data between the mobile station using a communication unit; and

wherein said mobile station receives signals transmitted from said radio base stations when said mobile station is brought closer to said network-connected apparatus and transmits the amplitude of received signals to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit;

said network-connected apparatus receives the amplitudes from said mobile station and transmit them to said managing apparatus; and

said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and position of said radio base stations, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said data base.

11. A network managing facility as claimed in claim 10 wherein

said network-connected apparatus repeatedly receives and transmits the amplitudes from said mobile station and said managing apparatus repeatedly computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus.

12. A network management facility comprising:

at least four communication satellites each transmitting a particular data;

a portable terminal having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said communication satellites;

at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network;

said network-connected apparatus capable transacting data between said portable terminal using a communication unit; and

wherein said portable terminal receives signals from said communication satellites when said mobile terminal is brought close to the network-connected apparatus and transmits the data to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit;

said network-connected apparatus transmits the data received from the portable terminal to said managing apparatus; and

said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus and computes the positions of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database,

wherein said step in which said portable terminal receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

13. A network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a network, comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations, said base stations located at different places and each transmitting a particular data;

wherein the amplitude of signals received by said receiver is transmitted to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus determines the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes and position of said radio base stations.

14. A network-connected apparatus as claimed in claim 13 said receiver repeatedly receives said signals transmitted from the radio base stations said amplitude of signals received by said receiver is repeatedly transmitted to said managing apparatus.

15. A network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a network, comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from at least four communication satellites, each of said communication satellite transmits a particular data;

wherein the data of the signals received by said receiver is transmitted to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus determines the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said receiver, and wherein further said position is determined repeatedly.