Data transmission device

• US 6,590,877 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamakita, Tooru
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US09/219,984
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 370/359, 370/419, 370/911, 370/463, 370/329, 370/389, 370/401, 370/252, 370/352-356, 455/436, 455/456, 455/445
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A data transmission device is provided which can transmit data directed to a specific individual to a terminal in the vicinity of the specific individual. When a transmission event of data occurs, position data table of terminals, which the specific individual has a possibility to use, on a network is searched to extract the position data which coincides with or is the closest to the position of the specific individual at a present time or at an arbitrary time point in a given time period including the present time. The data is transmitted to a terminal corresponding to the extracted position data. Therefore, data can be transmitted to a terminal which is located in the vicinity of a specific individual and immediate accessibility of data transmission can thereby be improved.

Claims

1. A data transmission device which transmits data to a predetermined individual via a network, comprising:

first storage means for storing individual position data indicating a position of the predetermined individual at a present time or at an arbitrary time point in a given time period including the present time;

second storage means for storing terminal position data of terminals on the network, each of which the predetermined individual has a possibility to use;

means for extracting such terminal position data from said second storage means that coincides with or is the closest to the individual position data stored in said first storage means;

means for selecting a terminal having the extracted terminal position data; and

transmitting means for transmitting data to the terminal selected by said selecting means.

2. The data transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising:

first updating means for requesting transmission of individual position data from a first position detector which the specific individual has and updating the individual position data stored in said first storage means based on the individual position data transmitted from the first position detector; and

second updating means for requesting transmission of terminal position data from second position detectors attached to all the terminals, each of which the specific individual has a possibility to use, on the network, and updating the terminal position data stored in said second storage means based on the terminal position data transmitted from the second position detectors.

3. The data transmission device according to claim 1, in which said transmitting means comprises:

means for comparing a data form of transmitting data and a data form which can be processed by the selected terminal; and

means for converting the data form of the transmitting data into a data form which can be processed by the selected terminal when said comparing means detects noncoincidence.

4. A data transmission device which transmits data to a specific individual via a network, comprising:

first means for determining whether a transmitter of the data is a predetermined transmitter;

second means for determining whether a predetermined keyword is included in the data;

means for transmitting the data to a predetermined terminal on the network when said first means determines that the transmitter of the data is the predetermined transmitter or when said second means determines that the predetermined keyword is included in the data;

first storage means for storing individual position data indicating a position of the specific individual at a present time or at an arbitrary time point in a given time period including the present time;

second storage means for storing terminal position data of all terminals on the network, each of which the specific individual has a possibility to use;

selecting means for selecting a terminal of which terminal position data coincides with or is the closest to the individual position data stored in said first storage means; and

transmitting means for transmitting data to the terminal selected by said selecting means.

5. A data transmission device which transmits data to a specific individual via a network, comprising:

first means for determining whether a transmitter of the data is a predetermined transmitter;

second means for determining whether a predetermined keyword is included in the data; and

means for transmitting the data to a predetermined terminal on the network when said first means determines that the transmitter of the data is the predetermined transmitter or when said second means determines that the predetermined keyword is included in the data;

wherein said transmitting means comprises;

means for comparing a data form of transmitting data and a data form which can be processed by the selected terminal; and

means for converting the data form of the transmitting data into a data form which can be processed by the selected terminal when said comparing means detects noncoincidence.

6. A data transmission device which transmits data to a specific individual via a network, comprising:

storage means for storing use schedules of all terminals on the network, each of which the specific individual has a possibility to use;

selecting means for selecting a terminal which is assumed to be used by the specific individual with reference to the use schedules stored in said storage means when a transmission event is occurs;

transmitting means for transmitting data to the terminal selected by said selecting means;

wherein said transmitting means comprises;

means for comparing a data form of transmitting data and a data form which can be processed by the selected terminal; and

means for converting the data form of the transmitting data into a data form which can be processed by the selected terminal when said comparing means detects noncoincidence.

7. A computer readable program comprising:

program code for storing individual position data indicating a position of the predetermined individual at a present time or at an arbitrary time point in a given time period including the present time to first storage means;

program code for storing terminal position data of terminals on the network to second storage means, each of which the predetermined individual has a possibility to use;

program code for extracting such terminal position data from said second storage means that coincides with or is the closest to the individual position data stored in said first storage means;

program code for selecting a terminal having the extracted terminal position data; and

program code for transmitting data to the selected terminal.

8. The computer program according to claim 7, in which said program further comprises:

program code for requesting transmission of individual position data from a first position detector which the specific individual has and updating the individual position data stored in said first storage means based on the individual position data transmitted from the first position detector; and

program code for requesting transmission of terminal position data from second position detectors attached to all the terminals, each of which the specific individual has a possibility to use, on the network, and updating the terminal position data stored in said second storage means based on the terminal position data transmitted from the second position detectors.

9. A computer readable program comprising:

program code for determining whether a transmitter of data is a predetermined transmitter;

program code for determining whether a predetermined keyword is included in the data;

program code for transmitting the data to a predetermined terminal on the network when it is determined that the transmitter of the data is the predetermined transmitter or when it is determined that the predetermined keyword is included in the data;

program code for storing individual position data indicating a position of the specific individual at a present time or at an arbitrary time point in a given time period including the present time into first storage means;

program code for storing terminal position data of all terminals on the network, each of which the specific individual has a possibility to use into second storage means;

program code for selecting a terminal of which terminal position data coincides with or is the closest to the individual position data stored in said first storage means; and

program code for transmitting data to the selected terminal.