Mobile termainal position information detection method and system using the method

• US 5,434,904 A
• Filed: 07/21/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tsuzuki, Takuo, Ishiwata, Yasumasa, Tabuchi, Yasuhide
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chernoff, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US08/089,506
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 342/455, 342/387, 342/442, 342/457, 342/444, 342/465, 342/450, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/54.1, 455/54.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile terminal position information display system which detects accurate information on a position between a radio controller and a radio telephone and displays the position and locus of movement of the radio telephone. The system includes one or more mobile terminals which make communication by radio to output signals indicative of their positions; one or more mobile terminal control units for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from a mobile terminal, at least one exchange to which a mobile terminal control unit is connected, and an output processor including an analyzer for analyzing the signal indicative of the position of the mobile terminal from the reporting unit to output information on the position of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal control units each include a detector for detecting a signal indicative of the position of a mobile terminal. Each exchange includes a reporting unit for providing to the output processor a signal indicative of the position of the mobile terminal detected by the detector.

Claims

1. A method of confirming movement of a mobile terminal in a communication system having one or more mobile terminals which communicate by radio and output positions signals indicative of positions of said mobile terminals, one more mobile terminal control units for detecting said position signals, an exchange connected to said mobile terminal control units for storing data including position information related to said position signals detected by said mobile terminal control units and connecting said mobile terminals with said mobile terminal control units, and an output processing apparatus for analyzing position information contained in said data stored in said exchange, comprising the steps of:

previously inputting values of areas in which electric waves outputted from mobile terminal control units in said areas can reach said output processing apparatus;

transmitting said data stored in said exchange from said exchange to said output processing apparatus;

analyzing, by said output processing apparatus, loci of said mobile terminals on the basis of said data and displaying said loci by said output processing apparatus;

while said mobile terminals are present in said areas, determining, by said output processing apparatus, on the basis of said loci whether any of said mobile terminals are moving in a direction out of said areas; and

when it is determined that a mobile terminal is moving in a direction out of said areas, notifying said mobile terminal by said exchange that said mobile terminal is moving in a direction out of said areas.

2. A method of confirming a movement of a mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein said exchange has a voice function and said notifying step comprises a step of notifying that said mobile terminal is moving in a direction out of said areas through said voice function.

3. A method of confirming a movement of mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein said inputting step further comprises the steps of:

inputting phone numbers of fixed phones in relation to each of said mobile terminal control units into said output processing apparatus; and

connecting said voice function to an optional fixed phone, in a case where said mobile terminal is busy or no response from said mobile terminal is received, when a connection between said voice function and said mobile terminal is tried by said exchange.

4. A method of confirming movement of a mobile terminal in a communication system having one or more mobile terminals which communicate by radio and output position signals indicative of positions of said mobile terminals, one or more mobile terminal control units for detecting said position signals, an exchange connected to said mobile terminal control units for storing data including position information related to said position signals detected by said mobile terminal control units and connecting said mobile terminals with said mobile terminal control units, and an output processing apparatus for analyzing position information contained in said data stored in said exchange, comprising the steps of:

inputting planned passing position and passing time of a mobile terminal into said output processing apparatus;

transmitting said data stored in said exchange concerning said mobile terminals from said exchange to said output processing apparatus;

analyzing, by said output processing apparatus, a locus of said mobile terminal on the basis of said data transmitted from said exchange and comparing results of analysis with said planned passing position and passing time by said output processing apparatus; and

connecting said mobile terminal with a predetermined phone by said exchange, when results of said analyzing step do not coincide with said planned passing position and passing time.