System for conforming position of moving terminal

• US 5,842,131 A
• Filed: 06/17/1997
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamane, Kazuyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, SCO
• Application Number:
  US08/877,495
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 455/461, 455/435, 455/426, 455/456, 342/452
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• 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 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

A system for confirming a position of a moving terminal in a radio communication network including a plurality of base stations each corresponding to one of a plurality of individual radio areas. A moving terminal having a specific identification number is provided which includes a receiver for receiving a paging signal including the specific identification number, and a transmitter for wirelessly outputting a response signal in response to the paging signal. A first data base is provided for storing position data representing positions within the plurality of individual radio areas to which a person holding the moving terminal may visit, and base station data representing respective ones of the base stations corresponding to the positions to which the person holding the moving terminal may visit. The position data and the base station data are stored in the first data base in an associated manner with respect to the identification number of the moving terminal. A position retrieving means is provided for identifying base station data corresponding to a given one of the base stations which receives the response signal output by the moving terminal, for retrieving from the first data base corresponding position data associated with the identified base station data, and for outputting the retrieved position data as a candidate for location of the person holding the moving terminal.

Claims

1. A system for confirming a position of a moving terminal comprising:

a radio communication network including a plurality of base stations, each of said base stations corresponding to one of a plurality of individual radio areas;

a moving terminal having a specific identification code, said moving terminal including a receiver for receiving a paging signal including said specific identification code, and a transmitter for wirelessly outputting a response signal in response to said paging signal;

a first data base for previously storing position data representing positions within said plurality of individual radio areas to which a person holding said moving terminal may visit, and base station data representing respective ones of said base stations corresponding to said positions to which the person holding said moving terminal may visit, said position data and said base station data being stored in an associated manner with respect to said identification number of said moving terminal; and

a service center means for paging one of said moving terminals by use of said radio communication network and for identifying base station data corresponding to a given one of said base stations which receives said response signal output by said moving terminal; and

position retrieving means for retrieving from said first data base corresponding position data associated with said identified base station data, and for outputting said retrieved position data as a candidate for location of the person holding said moving terminal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said location data comprises names of companies and individuals which the person holding said moving terminal may visit.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said system includes a plurality of moving terminals, and said system further comprises:

a request device for requesting retrieval of a position of one of said moving terminals.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

said first data base and said position retrieving means are provided in said service center means and operate together to determine a candidate for location of the person holding the requested one of said moving terminals; and

said service center means includes a transmitter for transmitting to said request device the candidate for location of the person holding the requested one of said moving terminals.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said request device comprises:

a second data base for storing telephone number data and address data; and

retrieving means for retrieving a telephone number and an address from said second data base corresponding to the candidate for location received from said service center means.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

said service center means includes a transmitter for transmitting to said request device a signal identifying the given one of said base stations which receives said response signal output from the requested one of said moving terminals; and

said first data base and said position retrieving means are provided in said request device and operate together to determine a candidate for location of the person holding the requested one of said moving terminals.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said request device comprises:

a second data base for storing telephone number data and address data; and

retrieving means for retrieving a telephone number and an address from said second data base corresponding to the determined candidate for location of the person holding the requested one of said moving terminals.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein said service center means comprises means for executing a non-signaling paging of a specific moving terminal according to a requested position retrieval service.

9. A device for retrieving a position of a moving terminal in a wireless network paging system having a plurality of radio base stations each corresponding to one of a plurality of individual radio areas, said device comprising:

a data base for previously storing position data identifying positions to which a person holding said moving terminal may visit and base station data identifying ones of said radio base stations corresponding to said positions to which the person holding said moving terminal may visit;

retrieving means for retrieving from said data base corresponding position data associated with a base station data, wherein the base station data corresponds to a given one of said base stations which receives a paging response signal from said moving terminal; and

outputting means for outputting said retrieved Position data as a candidate for location of the person holding said moving terminal;

wherein said paging system comprises a terminal device for outputting a request for paging, and service center means for paging said moving terminal in response to the request; and

wherein said data base, said retrieving means, and said outputting means are provided in said terminal device.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said position data stored in said data base comprises names of companies, individuals, and locations which the person holding said moving terminal may visit.

11. A method for confirming a position of a person holding a moving terminal in a wireless communication network including a plurality of radio base stations each corresponding to one of a plurality of individual areas, said method comprising the steps of:

a) preparing a first data base for storing position data identifying positions to which a person holding said moving terminal may visit and base station data identifying ones of said radio base stations corresponding to said positions to which the person holding said moving terminal may visit;

b) paging said moving terminal and identifying a given one of said radio base stations which receives a response signal from said moving terminal;

c) retrieving from said first data base position data associated with base station data corresponding to the identified given one of said base stations which receives the response signal from said moving terminal;

d) outputting said retrieved position data as a candidate for location of the person holding said moving terminal;

(e) providing a second data base for storing telephone number and address data of companies and individuals; and

(f) retrieving a telephone number and an address from said second data base corresponding to said position data retrieved in said step (c);

wherein said position data stored in said first data base in said step (a) comprises names of companies and individuals which the person holding said moving terminal may visit.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of requesting retrieval of a position of said moving terminal by means of a request device, and wherein the steps (b), (c), and (d) are executed by a service center means.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of requesting retrieval of a position of said moving terminal by means of a request device, and wherein the steps (b), (c), and (d) are executed by said request device.

14. A system for confirming a position of a moving terminal, comprising:

a radio communication network including a plurality of base stations, each of said base stations corresponding to one of a plurality of individual radio areas;

a terminal, having a specific identification code and movable within said individual radio areas, for wirelessly outputting a response signal to a given one of said base stations corresponding to a given one of said individual radio areas in which said terminal is positioned in response to a predetermined signal from the given one of said base stations;

a first data base for storing position data representing positions within said plurality of individual radio areas to which a person holding said terminal may visit, and base station data representing respective ones of said base stations corresponding to said positions to which the person holding said terminal may visit, said position data and said base station data being stored in an associated manner with respect to said specific identification code of said terminal; and

position retrieving means for identifying base station data corresponding to the given one of said base stations which receives said response signal output by said terminal, retrieving from said first data base corresponding position data, and outputting said retrieved position data as a candidate for location of the person holding said terminal.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said position data comprises names of companies and individuals which the person holding said terminal may visit.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a request device for requesting a retrieval of a position of said terminal, and

a service center for paging a specific terminal;

wherein said radio communication network serves as a paging system for said service center.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said first data base and said position retrieving means are provided in the service center, and the service center transmits a retrieval result of said position retrieving means to the request device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said request device comprises a second data base for storing data of telephone numbers and addresses of companies and individuals, and location retrieving means for retrieving a telephone number and an address of a location where the person having said terminal may visit based on the retrieval result transmitted by the service center.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said first data base and position retrieving means are provided in said request device, said service center includes means for transmitting data of a base station responding to a paging of the terminal to the request device, and said request device includes means for obtaining a candidate of the location of the terminal based on response base station data received from said service center.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein said request device further comprises a second data base for storing data of telephone numbers and addresses of companies and individuals, and location retrieving means for retrieving a telephone number and an address of a location where the person having said terminal may visit based on the retrieval result of said position retrieving means.

21. The system according to claim 16, wherein said service center comprises means for executing a non-signaling paging of specific terminal according to a requested position retrieval service.