Information processing apparatus and method, and program storage medium

• US 7,111,069 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Narioka, Hiroto, Bando, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, NGHI V
• Application Number:
  US09/892,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/229, 709/238, 709/244, 709/232, 709/223, 709/246, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A position information generating unit of a personal computer generates position information using GPS and/or PHS, and outputs the generated information to a supplementary information generating unit. The generating unit supplements the position information from the position information generating unit with additional information such as map data, and outputs the supplemented information to an HTML generating unit. The HTML generating unit generates an HTML file out of the supplemented position information from the supplementary information generating unit, and transmits the generated file to a content server. A position information transmission-reception control unit of the content server stores the HTML-format position information thus sent from the personal computer into a storage unit. An HTML acquiring unit of the personal computer acquires position information in HTML format about another member from the storage of the position information transmission-reception control unit, and causes the obtained information to appear on a display unit.

Claims

1. An information processing system, comprising:

a first information processing apparatus, including;

position information acquiring unit configured to acquire position information of the first information processing apparatus;

position information converting unit configured to convert said position information acquired by said position information acquiring unit into converted data to be displayed on an at least one second information processing apparatus;

said converted data being a position map in a predetermined format which permits implementation of a website content;

transmitting unit configured to transmit to a server said converted data at first time intervals and to transmit a message asking the server for data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus;

first receiving unit configured to receive said data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus from the server at second time intervals;

a display unit to display the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus; and

display updating unit configured to supplement the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus displayed with new data at said second time intervals; and

said server including;

second receiving unit configured to receive said converted data from said first information processing apparatus at said first time intervals and to receive said message from a user for data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus;

storing unit configured to store said received data into predetermined user-wise directories furnished previously in a storage area which is applicable to individual users;

transmitting unit configured to transmit a data stored in a specified directory in response to a request from the user who sends said message at said second time intervals of updating the data by said specified at least one second information processing apparatus.

2. A method of information processing in an information processing system, comprising the steps of:

acquiring position information of said information processing system by a first information processing apparatus;

converting said position information acquired in said position information acquiring step into converted data to be displayed on at least one second information processing apparatus;

said converted data being a position map in a predetermined format which permits implementation of a website content;

transmitting from said first information processing apparatus to a server said converted data at first time intervals and transmitting a message asking the server for data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus;

receiving at said server, data including position information from a plurality of information processing apparatus at said first time intervals and receiving said message from a user for data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus;

storing said received data into predetermined user-wise directories furnished previously in a storage area which is applicable to individual users;

transmitting data stored in a specified directory of said storage area in response to a request from the user who sends said message at second time intervals of updating the data by said first specified information processing apparatus;

receiving at said first information processing apparatus, said data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus from the server at said second time intervals;

displaying the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus; and

supplementing the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus displayed with new data at said second time intervals.

3. A first information processing apparatus comprising:

position information acquiring unit configured to acquire position information of the first information processing apparatus;

position information converting unit configured to convert said position information acquired by said position information acquiring unit into converted data to be displayed on an at least one second information processing apparatus;

said converted data being a position map in a predetermined format which permits implementation of a website content;

transmitting unit configured to transmit to a server said converted data at first time intervals and to transmit a message asking the server for data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus;

receiving unit configured to receive said data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus from the server at second time intervals;

a display unit to display the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus; and

display updating unit configured to supplement the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus displayed with new data at said second time intervals.

4. A method of information processing using a first information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

acquiring position information of said first information processing apparatus by said processing apparatus;

converting said position information acquired in said position information acquiring step into converted data to be displayed on an at least one second information processing apparatus;

said converted data being a position map in a predetermined format which permits implementation of a website content;

transmitting to a server said converted data at first time intervals and transmitting a message asking the server for data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus;

receiving said data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus from the server at second time intervals;

displaying the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus; and

supplementing the data of the position of the at least one second specified information processing apparatus displayed with new data at said second time intervals.