Safety confirmation system, mobile terminal for use in safety confirmation system, and safety confirmation method

• US 8,583,077 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rio Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rio Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamashita, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US13/481,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20120302199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/456.2, 455/404.1, 455/407, 455/408
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A safety confirmation system includes a mobile terminal that receives early disaster information, a center apparatus that manages a safety status of a user of the mobile terminal, and a map server that provides map information. The mobile terminal holds destination information and automatically acquires current location information upon receiving the early disaster information. The mobile terminal automatically transmits the current location information to the center apparatus and the map server, and automatically transmits the destination information to the map server. The center apparatus receives the current location information transmitted from the mobile terminal. The map server searches for a return route from the current location to a destination, generates map information including the return route, and transmits the map information to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives and stores the map information including the return route and displays the map information.

Claims

1. A safety confirmation system comprising:

a mobile terminal that receives early disaster information;

a center apparatus that manages a safety status of a user of the mobile terminal; and

a map server that provides map information, wherein

the mobile terminal includes;

a processor;

a display; and

a memory having a program, when executed, causing the processor to perform the following processes;

a registration process to register destination information before receiving the early disaster information; and

a post disaster process early disaster information, without intervention of a user of the mobile terminal, the post disaster process including;

acquiring current location information;

transmitting the current location information to the center apparatus and the map server, and transmitting the destination information to the map server;

receiving and storing map information including a return route from a current location to a destination for displaying the map information on the display;

the map server includes;

a return route search section that searches for a return route from the current location to a destination based on the current location information and destination information;

a map information generation section that generates the map information including the return route; and

a map information transmission section that transmits the map information to the mobile terminal; and

the center apparatus includes a location information reception section that receives the current location information transmitted from the mobile terminal, wherein

the destination information includes first and second destinations,

the mobile terminal transmits the current location information and the first and second destinations to the map server, and

the map server transmits to the mobile terminal first map information including a return route from the current location to the first destination and second map information including a return route from the current location to the second destination.

2. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the center apparatus further includes a location information transmission section that automatically transmits, upon receiving the current location information from the mobile terminal, the current location information to another mobile terminal.

3. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal further includes

a safety confirmation information input section that receives an input of safety confirmation information after automatically transmitting the current location information and

a safety confirmation information transmission section that transmits the safety confirmation information and the center apparatus further includes

a safety confirmation information reception section that receives the safety confirmation information and

a safety confirmation information management section that manages the safety confirmation information.

4. The safety confirmation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the center apparatus automatically transmits, upon receiving the safety confirmation information from the mobile terminal, the safety confirmation information to another mobile terminal.

5. A mobile terminal comprising:

a processor;

a display; and

a memory having a program, when executed, causing the processor to perform the following processes;

a registration process to register destination information before receiving early disaster information; and

a post disaster process performed responsive to the reception of the early disaster information, without intervention of a user of the mobile terminal, the post disaster process including;

acquiring current location information;

transmitting the current location information to a center apparatus and the map server, and transmitting the destination information to the map server;

receiving and storing map information including a return route from a current location to a destination for displaying the map information on the display, wherein

the destination information includes first and second destinations,

the mobile terminal transmits the current location information and the first and second destinations to the map server, and

the map server transmits to the mobile terminal first map information including a return route from the current location to the first destination and second map information including a return route from the current location to the second destination.

6. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 5 further includes:

a safety confirmation information input section that receives an input of safety confirmation information after automatically transmitting the current location information; and

a safety confirmation information transmission section that transmits the safety confirmation information to the center apparatus.

7. A safety confirmation method executed by a mobile terminal having an early disaster information reception function and a location information acquisition function, the method including the steps of:

registering destination information before receiving the early disaster information;

automatically acquiring current location information upon receiving the early disaster information;

automatically transmitting the current location information to a center apparatus and a map server, and automatically transmitting the destination information to the map server;

receiving and storing map information including a return route from a current location to a predetermined destination for displaying the map information, wherein

the destination information includes first and second destinations,

the mobile terminal transmits the current location information and the first and second destinations to the map server, and

the map server transmits to the mobile terminal first map information including a return route from the current location to the first destination and second map information including a return route from the current location to the second destination.

8. The safety confirmation method as claimed in claim 7 further includes the steps of:

receiving an input of safety confirmation information after automatically transmitting the current location information; and

transmitting the safety confirmation information to the center apparatus.