Portable communication terminal with GPS function

• US 8,253,556 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshihiko Mizukami
• Original Assignee: Toshihiko Mizukami
• Inventors: Mizukami, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/991,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,188 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 340/571, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/8.1, 4554041-4042, 4554561-457, 342/357.22, 34235754-35757
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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

This invention aims to provide a Mobile Communications Terminal (MCT) equipped with a GPS function that automatically transmits the information on the current position of the MCT after the power of the MCT is turned off. The MCT comprises a GPS Receiver Unit 105 for receiving signal data from a GPS satellite, a Position Determining Unit 107 for determining a current position of the MCT based on the aforesaid signal data, a Positional Information Transmitter Unit 108 for automatically transmitting information on the position obtained by the Position Determining Unit 107 and other information, a Controller Unit 104 for sending a request command to the Positional Information Transmitter Unit 108, and a Timer Circuit Unit 102 for turning on the MCT at a predetermined time interval, after power of the MCT is turned off.

This invention enables the MCT to automatically transmit the information on the position information and other information of the MCT at a predetermined time interval while the power of the MCT is on, and automatically transmit the information on the position information and other information of the MCT at the a predetermined time interval after the power of the MCT is turned off.

Claims

1. A Mobile Communication Terminal (MCT), characterized in that the MCT is comprising

a GPS Receiver Unit for receiving some signal data from a GPS satellite,

a Position Determining Unit for determining a current position of the MCT based on the aforesaid signal data,

a Positional Information Transmitter Unit for transmitting information on the position obtained by the aforesaid Position Determining Unit and other information,

a Controller Unit for sending a positional information transmission request to the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit,

a Timer Circuit Unit for turning on power of the MCT at predetermined time intervals after the power of the MCT is turned off,

a Display Unit for displaying the current situation of the MCT, and

a Manipulation Unit for offering the input interface of user'"'"'s operation,

and the MCT is having

a function of automatically transmitting the information on the position information and other information of the MCT at a predetermined time interval T2 while the power of the MCT is on,

a function of automatically transmitting the information on the position information and other information of the MCT at the a predetermined time interval T0 after the power of the MCT is turned off and afterwards at a predetermined time interval T1, and

a secret mode function of maintaining off in the aforesaid Display Unit during transmitting the position information and other information of the MCT after the power of the MCT is turned off,

wherein the aforesaid secret mode function is comprising a function of disabling display of an ongoing process of automatically transmitting the position information and other information of the MCT during the power of the MCT is on by user'"'"'s operation, and

a function of disabling a manipulation of automatically transmitting the position information and other information of the MCT during the power of the MCT is on by user'"'"'s operation.

2. The Mobile Communication Terminal (MCT) according to claim 1, wherein the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit is comprising a means for transmitting to the predetermined specific address

a position information of the MCT obtained by the aforesaid Position Determining Unit,

a time information of having detected the aforesaid position information,

a terminal information of having been registered in the MCT beforehand,

a reception information of having been received by MCT, and other information of having been obtained by calculating based on the aforesaid reception information.

3. The Mobile Communication Terminal (MCT) according to claim 1, wherein the aforesaid Controller Unit is comprising

a means for instructing a Wireless Communication Unit to send a message reporting on a remaining battery power of the MCT when the remaining battery power has became lower than a predetermined threshold value, and

a means for automatically changing the value of the predetermined time interval (T1, T2) to the value for which the user hopes, because the aforesaid time interval is lengthened.

4. The Mobile Communication Terminal (MCT) according to claim 1, wherein the MCT is comprising a Camera Unit for capturing a visual image,

wherein the aforesaid Controller Unit is comprising

a means for instructing a visual image capture to the aforesaid Camera Unit, and

a means for passing the visual image information captured by the aforesaid Camera Unit to the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit,

wherein the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit is comprising

a means for adding the aforesaid visual image information to the position information and other information of the MCT and transmitting them,

wherein the aforesaid Controller Unit is comprising a means for controlling to halt the instruction of the visual image capture to the aforesaid Camera Unit when the remaining battery power has became lower than a predetermined threshold value.

5. The Mobile Communication Terminal (MCT) according to claim 1, wherein the MCT is comprising a Sound Recording Unit for recording sound information onto the MCT,

wherein the aforesaid Controller Unit is comprising

a means for instructing a sound recording to the aforesaid Sound Recording Unit, and

a means for passing the sound information recorded by the aforesaid Sound Recording Unit to the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit,

wherein the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit is comprising

a means for adding the aforesaid the sound information to the position information and other information of the MCT and transmitting them,

wherein then the aforesaid Controller Unit is comprising a means for controlling to halt the instruction of the sound recording to the aforesaid Sound Recording Unit when the remaining battery power has became lower than a predetermined threshold value.

6. The Mobile Communication Terminal (MCT) according to claim 1, wherein the MCT is having

a function of halting the transmitting of the information on the position of the MCT if the information on the position currently acquired by the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit is within a specific range,

wherein the aforesaid specific range is obtained by calculating based on the information on the position previously acquired by the aforesaid Positional Information Transmitter Unit.