Mobile terminal device and positional information system

• US 7,330,729 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Niwa, Satoshi, Ichihara, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sams; Matthew C.
• Application Number:
  US10/334,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20030129995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/989, 340/992, 340/995.28, 4554561-4566, 342/357.12, 342/357.14
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A geomagnetic sensor for detecting geomagnetism is provided in a mobile terminal device. The output value of the geomagnetic sensor is compared with a first set value that has been set in advance, and the mobile terminal device is determined to be stationary when the output value of the geomagnetic sensor continues to be smaller than a first set value for at least a first set time period that has been set in advance, and the mobile terminal device is determined to be moving when the output value of the geomagnetic sensor fluctuates by at least the first set value. The determination results are transmitted to the base station, and the base station decreases the number of times for executing a process of registering the position of the mobile terminal device to the base station when the mobile terminal device is stationary, and increases the number of times of executing the process for registering position when the mobile terminal device is moving.

Claims

1. A positional information system comprising:

a mobile terminal device, comprising;

a positional information acciuisition unit for acquiring positional information, which is information of the current location;

a user interface unit for displaying said positional information;

a power supply unit for supplying power to said positional information acquisition unit and said user interface unit; and

a wireless unit for transmitting information to and receiving information from the outside;

a geomagnetic sensor for detecting geomagnetism; and

a control unit for comparing the output value of said geomagnetic sensor with a first set value that has been set in advance;

determining that said mobile terminal device is stationary when the output value of said geomagnetic sensor continues to be less than said first set value for at least a first set time period that has been set in advance; and

determining that said mobile terminal device is moving when the output value of said geomagnetic sensor fluctuates by at least said first set value,

wherein said control unit;

makes the period of executing a positional information acquisition process for acquiring positional information longer than a reference period that has been set in advance when said mobile terminal device is stationary, and

makes said period of executing said positional information acquisition process shorter than said reference period when said mobile terminal device is moving,

causes a halt of the supply of power from said power supply unit to said positional information acquisition unit and said user interface unit when the output value of said geomagnetic sensor continues to be a value that is smaller than said first set value for a time period that is equal to or greater than a second set time period that has been set in advance in addition to said first set time period; and

a base station that holds a first set value that is set in advance in accordance with the geomagnetic strength in its own vicinity and that transmits said first set value to said mobile terminal device,

the base station comprising;

means for outputting a moving state of said mobile terminal device to a caller who is currently engaged in a call to said mobile terminal device, when said caller outputs a mobile terminal device movement enquiry request,

wherein the call between said caller and said mobile terminal device is capable of being changed from speech communications to character communications between said caller and a user of said mobile terminal device, based on a conversion made by a communications device of said caller under control of said caller,

wherein character communications is made instead of speech communications when the mobile terminal device is determined to be moving at a high rate of speed.

3. The positional information system according to claim 1, wherein the caller is capable of delaying the speech communication time between the caller and the user of the mobile terminal device based on a selection made by the caller.

2. A method of controlling a positional information system, said positional information system being provided with:

a mobile terminal device that is provided with a positional information acquisition unit for acquiring positional information, which is information of the current location, and a user interface unit for displaying said positional information; and

a base station that transmits information to and receives information from said mobile terminal device;

said method comprising the steps of;

comparing an output value of a geomagnetic sensor that detects geomagnetism in the vicinity of said mobile terminal device with a first set value that has been set in advance;

determining that said mobile terminal device is stationary when the output value of said geomagnetic sensor continues to be smaller than said first set value for at least a first set time period that has been set in advance;

determining that said mobile terminal device is moving when the output value of said geomagnetic sensor fluctuates by at least said first set value;

transmitting said determination results to said base station;

when said mobile terminal device is stationary, making the period of executing a process of registering the position of said mobile terminal device to said base station longer than a reference period that has been set in advance; and

when said mobile terminal device is moving, making said period of executing a process of registering the position shorter than said reference period,

wherein;

when said mobile terminal device is stationary, the period of executing a positional information acquisition process for acquiring positional information is made longer than a reference period that has been set in advance; and

when said mobile terminal device is moving, the period of executing the positional information acquisition process is made shorter than said reference period,

wherein the supply of power to said positional information acquisition unit and said user interface unit is halted when the output value of said geomagnetic sensor continues to be a value that is smaller than said first set value for at least a second set time period that has been set in advance in addition to said first set time period,

wherein the call between said caller and said mobile terminal device is capable of being changed from speech communications to character communications between said caller and a user of said mobile terminal device, based on a conversion made by a communications device of said caller under control of said caller,

wherein character communications is made instead of speech communications when the mobile terminal device is determined to be moving at a high rate of speed.

4. The method of controlling a positional information system according to claim 2, further comprising:

delaying, by the caller, the speech communication time between the caller and the user of the mobile terminal device based on a selection made by the caller.