Mobile communications system

• US 6,317,605 B1
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sakuma, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Legree, Tracy
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US08/932,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/457, 455/68, 455/419, 455/69, 455/412, 455/432, 455/556, 455/435, 455/404, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 342/359, 342/450, 342/419, 342/457
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal includes a location information database storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations. When receiving a data request including an identification of a second mobile terminal from a first mobile terminal through a first radio cell station, the database is searched for first location data of the first radio cell station, second location data of a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the second mobile terminal is located, and map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations. Then the first and second location data and retrieved map data are transferred to the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station and thereby a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals are displayed on screen based on the retrieved map data and the first and second location data.

Claims

1. In a mobile communications system comprising a plurality of radio cell stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals, a method for transferring location information to a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations onto a database;

b) receiving a data request from a first mobile terminal through a first radio cell station, the data request including designation of a second mobile terminal;

c) retrieving first location data of the first radio cell station, second location data of a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the second mobile terminal is located, and map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to the data request; and

d) transferring the first and second location data and retrieved map data to the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station wherein said first mobile terminal is a calling terminal and said second mobile terminal is a called terminal;

the first location data and the second location data including absolute location data for the first radio cell station and the second radio cell station, respectively, the first location data and the second location data not including any data specifying a location of the first mobile terminal or a location of the second mobile terminal other than the absolute location data for the first radio cell station included in the first location data and the absolute location data for the second radio cell station included in the second location data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data request further includes form selection of map data which is used to select the retrieved map data from first map data for the first radio cell station, second map data for the second radio cell station, and a combination of the first and second map data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps b) and c) comprise the steps of:

receiving a location registration request from the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station, the location registration request including a first identification of the first mobile terminal;

retrieving first location data of the first radio cell station from the database in response to the location registration request;

receiving a location data request from the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station, the location data request including a first identification of the first mobile terminal and a second identification of the second mobile terminal;

retrieving the second location data of the second radio cell station from the database in response to the location data request;

receiving a map data request from the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station, the map data request including a first identification of the first mobile terminal, a second identification of the second mobile terminal, and a map data form; and

retrieving the map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations depending on the map data form from the database in response to the map data request.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the map data form is used to select the retrieved map data from first map data for the first radio cell station, second map data for the second ratio cell station, and a combination of the first and second map data.

5. In a mobile communications system comprising a plurality of radio cell stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals, a method for transferring location information to a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations onto a database;

b) receiving a data request from a first mobile terminal through a first radio cell station, the data request including designation of a second mobile terminal;

c) retrieving first location data of the first radio cell station, second location data of a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the second mobile terminal is located, and map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to the data request; and

transferring the first and second location data and retrieved map data to the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station, wherein the steps c) and d) comprise the steps of;

retrieving the first location data, the second location data, first map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations, and second map data for at least one radio cell station located between the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to the data request; and

transferring the first and second location data and retrieved first and second map data to the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station.

6. A map displaying method for displaying a map on screen in a mobile terminal which is registered in a mobile communications system comprising a plurality of radio cell stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

at the mobile communications system,

a) storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations onto a database;

b) receiving a data request from a first mobile terminal through a first radio cell station, the data request including designation of a second mobile terminal said first mobile terminal is a calling terminal and said second mobile terminal is a called terminal; and

c) retrieving first location data of the first radio cell station, second location data of a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the second mobile terminal is located, and map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to the data request;

at the first mobile terminal,

d) receiving the first and second location data and retrieved map data from the mobile communications system through the first radio cell station; and

e) displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved map data and the first and second location data, second location data, first map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations, and second map data for at least one radio cell station located between the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to the data request,

the steps d) and e) comprise the steps of;

receiving the first and second location data and retrieved first and second map data from the mobile communications system through the first radio cell station; and

displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved first and second map data and the first and second location data;

the first location data and the second location data including absolute location data for the first radio cell station and the second radio cell station, respectively, the first location data and the second location data not including any data specifying a location of the first mobile terminal or a location of the second mobile terminal other than the absolute location data for the first radio cell station included in the first location data and the absolute location data for the second radio cell station included in the second location data.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data request further includes form selection of map data which is used to select the retrieved map data from first map data for the first radio cell station, second map data for the second radio cell station, and a combination of the first and second map data.

8. A map displaying method for displaying a map on screen in a mobile terminal which is registered in a mobile communications system comprising a plurality of radio cells stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

at the mobile communications system,

a) storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations onto a database;

b) receiving a data request from a first mobile terminal through a first radio cell station, the data request including designation of a second mobile terminal; and

c) retrieving first location data of the first radio cell station, second location data of a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the second mobile terminal is located, and map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to the data request;

at the first mobile terminal,

d) receiving the first and second location data and retrieved map data from the mobile communications system through the first radio cell station; and

e) displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved map data and the first and second location data, wherein the step c) comprises the step of retrieving the first location data, the second location data, first map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations, and second map data for at least one radio cell station located between the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to the data request,

the steps d) and e) comprise the steps of;

receiving the first and second location data and retrieved first and second map data from the mobile communications system through the first radio cell station; and

displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved first and second map data and the first and second location data.

9. A mobile terminal of a mobile communications system comprising a plurality of radio cell stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals and having a database for storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations, a first mobile terminal comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting a data request to the mobile communication system through a nearby first radio cell station, the data request including designation of a second mobile terminal and for receiving first and second location data and retrieved map data from the database of the mobile communications system through the nearby radio cell station, the first location data including absolute location data for the nearby first radio cell station, the second location data including absolute location data for a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the second mobile terminal is located, and the retrieved map data being of at least one of the first and second radio cell stations, the first mobile terminal is a calling terminal and the second mobile terminal is a called terminal; and

a display controller for displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved map data and the first and second location data;

the first location data and the second location data not including any data specifying a location of the first mobile terminal or a location of the second mobile terminal other than the absolute location data for the nearby first radio cell station and the absolute location data for the second radio cell station.

10. The first mobile terminal according to claim 9, wherein the data request further includes form selection of map data which is used to select the retrieved map data from first map data for the first radio cell station, second map data for the second radio cell station, and a combination of the first and second map data.

11. The first mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein, when the retrieved map data is the first map data, the first map data is displayed with at least the location of the first mobile terminal.

12. A mobile terminal of a mobile communications system comprising a plurality of radio cell stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals and having a database for storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations, the mobile terminal comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting a data request to the mobile communication system through a nearby radio cell station, the data request including designation of another mobile terminal and for receiving first and second location data and retrieved map data from the database of the mobile communications system through the nearby radio cell station, the first location data being of the nearby radio cell station, the second location data being of a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the other mobile terminal is located, and the retrieved map data being of at least one of the first and second radio cell stations; and

a display controller for displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved map data and the first and second location data,

wherein the data request further includes form selection of map data which is used to select the retrieved map data from first map data for the first radio cell station, second map data for the second radio cell station, and a combination of the first and second map data and wherein, when the retrieved map data is the combination of the first and second map data, the combination is displayed such that one screen is divided into a plurality of parts displaying the first and second map data with the locations of the first and second mobile terminals, respectively.

13. A mobile terminal of a mobile communications system comprising a plurality of radio cell stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals and having a database for storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations, the mobile terminal comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting a data request to the mobile communication system through a nearby radio cell station, the data request including designation of another mobile terminal and for receiving first and second location data and retrieved map data from the database of the mobile communications system through the nearby radio cell station, the first location data being of the nearby radio cell station, the second location data being of a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which the other mobile terminal is located, and the retrieved map data being of at least one of the first and second radio cell stations; and

a display controller for displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved map data and the first and second location data, wherein the transceiver receives the first location data, the second location data, first map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations, and second map data for at least one radio cell station located between the first and second radio cell stations from the database of the mobile communications system through the nearby radio cell station; and

the display controller for displaying a map and two locations corresponding to the first and second mobile terminals on screen based on the retrieved first and second map data and the first and second location data.

14. A mobile communications system comprising:

a plurality of radio cell stations each forming a micro cell, the mobile communication system performing call connections between mobile terminals through a plurality of radio cell stations;

a database for storing location data and map data for each of the radio cell stations; and

a controller for retrieving first location data including absolute location data for a first radio cell station forming a micro cell in which a first mobile terminal is located, second location data including absolute location data for a second radio cell station forming a micro cell in which a second mobile terminal is located, and map data for at least one of the first and second radio cell stations from the database in response to a data request received from the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station, and for transferring the first and second location data and retrieved map data to the first mobile terminal through the first radio cell station wherein the first mobile terminal is a calling terminal and a second mobile terminal is a called terminal;

the first location data and the second location data not including any data specifying a location of the first mobile terminal or a location of the second mobile terminal other than the absolute location data for the first radio cell station and the absolute location data for the second radio cell station.

15. The mobile communications system according to claim 14, wherein the data request further includes form selection of map data which is used to select the retrieved map data from first map data for the first radio cell station, second map data for the second radio cell station, and a combination of the first and second map data.