Mobile communication device and method for determining whether to transmit position data

• US 7,107,064 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US10/245,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20030054840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 340/989, 455/414.1, 4554561-457, 455/410, 455/411, 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

A mobile communication device and other users form a communication network along with a position search server. When a position search request from the user terminal is sent through the position search server, the mobile communication terminal determines the urgency level of that search request by referring to a telephone book having preset urgency levels. The mobile communication device automatically sends its own position data to the requesting source in response to high urgency levels such as tracing a stolen vehicle, and automatically sends its own position data or stands by for terminal user approval as required in response to low urgency level—high priority requests.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal device for communication with a communication network comprising:

radio communication means for communicating by radio with the communication network;

a position data memory for storing position data indicating a current position;

input means for a user to enter instructions;

determination means for deciding an urgency level of a position search request received by the radio communication means from the communication network;

control means for sending the position data to a station making the position search request without an approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency is high and sending the position data to the station in response to the approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency level is low;

a telephone book memory for storing preset telephone numbers of other stations and priority level information related to the preset telephone numbers; and

requesting station determination means for determining whether telephone number of the requesting station determined to have a low urgency level is contained in the telephone book memory,

wherein the control means sends the position data to the requesting station, when determined by the determination means that the telephone book memory does not contain the telephone number but the user enters an approval instruction by the input means.

2. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 1, wherein:

the radio communication means receives urgency level information indicating the urgency level of the position search request; and

the control means determines the urgency level of the position search request based on the urgency information.

6. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises a base station, the position search request being sent to the mobile communication terminal device by the base station.

3. A mobile communication terminal device for communication with a communication network comprising:

radio communication means for communicating by radio with the communication network;

a position data memory for storing position data indicating a current position;

input means for a user to enter instructions;

determination means for deciding an urgency level of a position search request received by the radio communication means from the communication network;

control means for sending the position data to a station making the position search request without an approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency is high and sending the position data to the station in response to the approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency level is low;

a telephone book memory for storing preset telephone numbers of stations; and

requesting station determination means for determining whether a telephone number of the requesting station determined to have the low urgency level is contained in the telephone book memory,

wherein the control means sends the position data to the requesting station when the determination means determines the telephone number is contained in the telephone book memory, and

wherein the control means sends the position data to the requesting station, when the determination means determines that the telephone number is not contained in the telephone book memory but the user enters an approval instruction by the input means.

7. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 3, wherein:

the radio communication means receives urgency level information indicating the urgency level of the position search request; and

the control means determines the urgency level of the position search request based on the urgency information.

8. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 3, wherein the communication network comprises a base station, the position search request being sent to the mobile communication terminal device by the base station.

4. A mobile communication terminal device for communication with a communication network comprising:

radio communication means for communicating by radio with the communication network;

a position data memory for storing position data indicating a current position;

input means for a user to enter instructions;

determination means for deciding an urgency level of a position search request received by the radio communication means from the communication network;

control means for sending the position data to a station making the position search request without an approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency is high and sending the position data to the station in response to the approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency level is low;

a telephone book memory for storing preset telephone numbers of other stations and priority level information related to the preset telephone numbers; and

requesting station determination means for determining whether the telephone number of the requesting station determined to have the low urgency level is contained in the telephone book memory,

wherein the control means sends the position data to the requesting station, when determined by the determination means that the telephone book memory contains the telephone number and that information with a high priority level is contained in the telephone book memory.

9. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 4, wherein:

the radio communication means receives urgency level information indicating the urgency level of the position search request; and

the control means determines the urgency level of the position search request based on the urgency information.

10. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 4, wherein the communication network comprises a base station, the position search request being sent to the mobile communication terminal device by the base station.

5. A mobile communication terminal device for communication with a communication network comprising:

radio communication means for communicating by radio with the communication network;

a position data memory for storing position data indicating a current position;

input means for a user to enter instructions;

determination means for deciding an urgency level of a position search request received by the radio communication means from the communication network;

control means for sending the position data to a station making the position search request without an approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency is high and sending the position data to the station in response to the approval instruction from the input means when the determination means determines the urgency level is low;

a telephone book memory for storing preset telephone numbers of other stations and priority level information related to the preset telephone numbers; and

requesting station determination means for determining whether the telephone number of the requesting station determined to have the low urgency level is contained in the telephone book memory,

wherein the control means sends the position data to the requesting station, when the user enters an approval instruction by the input means under a condition that the telephone book memory contains a low priority level of the telephone number of the requesting station.

11. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 5, wherein:

the radio communication means receives urgency level information indicating the urgency level of the position search request; and

the control means determines the urgency level of the position search request based on the urgency information.

12. A mobile communication terminal device as in claim 5, wherein the communication network comprises a base station, the position search request being sent to the mobile communication terminal device by the base station.