Passenger location information system, portable information terminal, and server

• US 7,706,970 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Inoue, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/043,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-213, 340/989, 340/990, 340/992, 340/993, 340/994
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention provides a passenger location information system that provides information on the current location of a user during a trip in real time and in a mode suitable for each user. A configuration is provided in which passenger location information, at least including information on the ends (station, stop, etc.) of a transportation line interval in which a portable information terminal is located, is output at a predetermined time on a user terminal 1 such as a mobile phone terminal connectable to a network. In addition, using notification means such as a ringing tone or a vibrator, the user terminal 1 notifies the user, under a condition set by the user in advance, that the user is approaching a destination to prevent the user from riding past a destination due to dozing.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal comprising:

location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on said portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval; and

means for determining a transportation being used by a user of said portable information terminal from location information on said portable information terminal wherein,

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

automatically determines a transportation line interval in which said portable information terminal is located based on the location information on said portable information terminal; and

repeatedly determines passenger location information, which at least includes information on names of locations constituting the transportation line interval, at a predetermined time.

2. A portable information terminal comprising:

location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on said portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval;

means for inputting destination information on a trip; and

means for determining a transportation being used by a user of said portable information terminal from the location information on said portable information terminal wherein,

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

automatically determines a transportation line interval in which said portable information terminal is located based on the location information on said portable information terminal and the destination information; and

repeatedly determines passenger location information, which at least includes information on names of locations constituting the transportation line interval, at a predetermined time.

3. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 2, further comprising

means for storing transportation line information at least including a required time of each interval of each transportation wherein

said portable information terminal calculates and outputs an estimated time of arrival to the destination based on a time required to arrive at the destination and on a current time and

executes a predetermined arrival advance-notice operation when a relation between the destination and the location information on said portable information terminal satisfies a predetermined condition.

4. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 2, further comprising:

means for calculating a traveling acceleration of said portable information terminal based on a change in the location information wherein

a predetermined second arrival advance-notice operation is executed when the traveling acceleration of said portable information terminal fall below a predetermined threshold value.

5. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 2 further comprising:

means for sending at least the passenger location information to a predetermined other terminal.

6. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 2 wherein

said portable information terminal has a passenger location information display area, in which the location information is output in the passenger location information providing mode, on a display and

outputs at least the passenger location information in the passenger location information display area.

7. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 2 wherein

said portable information terminal receives an advertisement content from a predetermined advertisement server and

outputs the passenger location information as well as the advertisement content.

8. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 2 wherein

said portable information terminal receives user'"'"'s attribute information including the location information on said portable information terminal and sends the user attribute information to a predetermined advertisement server and

receives an advertisement content, which matches the attribute of the user of said portable information terminal, from the advertisement server and outputs the passenger location information as well as the advertisement content.

23. A passenger location information system comprising:

the portable information terminal as defined by claim 2; and

a content server that delivers the passenger location information, as well as a content to be displayed, to said portable information terminal in response to attribute information sent from said portable information terminal and including the location information on said portable information terminal, wherein

said portable information terminal and said content server are connected via a network.

9. A portable information terminal connectable to a passenger information providing server comprising means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from location information on said portable information terminal, said portable information terminal comprising:

location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on said portable information terminal wherein,

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

sends the location information on said portable information terminal, acquired from said location information acquisition means, to said passenger information providing server at a predetermined time interval and receives a determination result of the transportation line interval in which said portable information terminal is located, and

repeatedly determines passenger location information, which at least includes information on names of locations constituting the transportation line interval, at a predetermined time, based at least on the determined transportation line interval information and the location information on said portable information terminal acquired repeatedly.

10. A portable information terminal connectable to a passenger information providing server comprising means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from a location on said portable information terminal and a destination, said portable information terminal comprising:

location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on said portable information terminal; and

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein,

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

sends the location information on said portable information terminal, acquired from said location information acquisition means, and the destination information to said passenger information providing server at a predetermined time interval and receives a determination result of the transportation line interval in which said portable information terminal is located; and

repeatedly determines passenger location information, which at least includes information on names of locations constituting the transportation line interval, at a predetermined time, based at least on the determined transportation line interval information and the location information on said portable information terminal acquired repeatedly.

11. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 10, wherein

said portable information terminal is connectable to a server which stores transportation line information including at least a required time of each interval of each transportation,

inquires said server, which stores transportation line information, about an estimated time of arrival to the destination, based on a required time to the destination and a current time, and outputs the estimated time of arrival, and

executes a predetermined arrival advance-notice operation when a relation between the destination and the location information on said portable information terminal satisfies a predetermined condition.

12. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 10, further comprising:

means for calculating a traveling acceleration of said portable information terminal based on a change in the location information wherein

a predetermined second arrival advance-notice operation is executed when the traveling acceleration of said portable information terminal fall below a predetermined threshold value.

13. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 10 further comprising:

means for sending at least the passenger location information to a predetermined other terminal.

14. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 10 wherein

said portable information terminal has a passenger location information display area, in which the location information is output in the passenger location information providing mode, on a display and

outputs at least the passenger location information in the passenger location information display area.

15. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 10 wherein

said portable information terminal receives an advertisement content from a predetermined advertisement server and

outputs the passenger location information as well as the advertisement content.

16. The portable information terminal as defined by claim 10 wherein

said portable information terminal receives user'"'"'s attribute information including the location information on said portable information terminal and sends the user attribute information to a predetermined advertisement server and

receives an advertisement content, which matches the attribute of the user of said portable information terminal, from the advertisement server and outputs the passenger location information as well as the advertisement content.

24. A passenger location information system comprising:

a passenger information providing server comprising at least means for determining a transportation line interval, in which a portable information terminal is located, from location information on said portable information terminal and a destination;

the portable information terminal as defined by claim 10; and

a content server that delivers the passenger location information, as well as a content to be displayed, to said portable information terminal in response to attribute information sent from said passenger information providing server or said portable information terminal and including the location information on said portable information terminal, wherein

said passenger information providing server, said portable information terminal, and said content server are connected via a network.

26. A passenger information providing server at least comprising:

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which a portable information terminal is located, from location information on said portable information terminal and a destination; and

means for sending the determination result of a transportation line interval, in which each portable information terminal is located, to the portable information terminal as defined by claim 10.

17. A portable information terminal connected to a passenger information providing server comprising location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on each portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from a location of said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information, said portable information terminal comprising;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server, and

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time, wherein

said portable information terminal is connectable to a server which stores at least transportation line information including a required time of each interval of the transportation,

inquires said server, which stores transportation line information, about an estimated time of arrival to the destination based on a time required to arrive at the destination via the determined transportation and on a current time and outputs the estimated time of arrival, and

executes a predetermined arrival advance-notice operation when a relation between the destination and the location information on said portable information terminal satisfies a predetermined condition.

18. A portable information terminal connected to a passenger information providing server comprising location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on each portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from a location of said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information, said portable information terminal comprising;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server, and

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time, further comprising;

means for calculating a traveling acceleration of said portable information terminal based on a change in the location information wherein

a predetermined second arrival advance-notice operation is executed when the traveling acceleration of said portable information terminal fall below a predetermined threshold value.

19. A portable information terminal connected to a passenger information providing server comprising location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on each portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from a location of said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information, said portable information terminal comprising;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server, and

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time, wherein

at least the passenger location information is sent to a predetermined other terminal.

20. A portable information terminal connected to a passenger information providing server comprising location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on each portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from a location of said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information, said portable information terminal comprising;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server, and

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time, wherein

said portable information terminal has a passenger location information display area, in which the location information is output in the passenger location information providing mode, on a display and

outputs at least the passenger location information in the passenger location information display area.

21. A portable information terminal connected to a passenger information providing server comprising location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on each portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from a location of said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information, said portable information terminal comprising;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server, and

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time, wherein

said portable information terminal receives an advertisement content from a predetermined advertisement server and

outputs the passenger location information as well as the advertisement content.

22. A portable information terminal connected to a passenger information providing server comprising location information acquisition means for acquiring location information on each portable information terminal at a predetermined time interval;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from a location of said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information, said portable information terminal comprising;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein

when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it,

sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server, and

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time, wherein

said portable information terminal receives user'"'"'s attribute information including the location information on said portable information terminal and sends the user attribute information to a predetermined advertisement server and

receives an advertisement content, which matches the attribute of the user of said portable information terminal, from the advertisement server and outputs the passenger location information as well as the advertisement content.

25. A passenger location information system comprising:

a passenger information providing server comprising;

means for acquiring location information on a portable information terminal;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which said portable information terminal is located, from the location information on said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information;

a portable information terminal connected to the passenger information providing server, the portable information terminal comprising;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein, when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal;

moves to a passenger location information providing mode,

inquires destination information on a trip from the user and inputs it,

sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server,

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time; and

a content server that delivers the passenger location information, as well as a content to be displayed, to said portable information terminal in response to attribute information sent from said passenger information providing server or said portable information terminal and including the location information on said portable information terminal, wherein

said passenger information providing server, said portable information terminal, and said content server are connected via a network.

27. A passenger information providing server comprising:

means for acquiring location information on each portable information terminal;

means for determining a transportation line interval, in which a portable information terminal is located, at least from the location information on said portable information terminal and a destination; and

passenger location information delivery means for generating and sending passenger location information corresponding to the transportation line interval information in response to a request from the portable information terminal;

wherein the portable information terminal comprises;

means for inputting destination information on a trip wherein when predetermined information is input, said portable information terminal;

moves to a passenger location information providing mode, inquires destination information on a trip from user and inputs it, sends the destination information to said passenger information providing server,

requests said passenger information providing server for the passenger location information at a predetermined time interval, and

repeatedly determines the passenger location information at a predetermined time.