Information terminal device and PC card that a user can easily find a hot spot to access a wireless LAN

• US 7,164,923 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshikazu, Tsunomoto, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/724,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20040127252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/456.5, 455/422.1, 455/557, 455/558, 455/554.2, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 709/231, 709/219
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

An information terminal device includes a wireless local area network (LAN) access section, a search section and a display section. The wireless local area network (LAN) access section accesses a wireless LAN. The search section searches a hot spot in or near a desire place based on a desire place data indicating the desire place. The hot spot is a place where a wireless LAN connection can be established. The desire place is a place where a user desires to access a wireless LAN. The display section displays a hot spot data indicating a place of the hot spot searched by the search section.

Claims

1. An information terminal device comprising:

a wireless local area network (LAN) access section;

a search section which searches for wireless LAN access hot spot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot criteria include a telephone number in an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot location data;

a display section which displays the wireless LAN access hot spot data indicating locations of the wireless LAN access hotspots; and

a first memory section which stores a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said first table data.

2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said display section displays said one of plurality of maps.

3. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes an area code for a telephone number in an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot position data,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said area code,

said display section displays said area map data searched by said search section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

4. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes a zip code for an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot hot spot position data,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said zip code,

said display section displays said area map data searched by said search section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

5. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said hot spot data includes a first map data indicating a first area containing said place of said hot spot,

said display section displays one of said first map data and a second map data indicating a second area containing said first area, and

said display section displays places of hot spots which are in said second area except for said first area.

6. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said search section updates said hot spot data without any operation by said user.

7. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said display section displays a first hot spot and a second hot spot distinguishably, said first hot spot can be used for said user, and said second hot spot can not be used for said user.

8. The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory which stores a setting data that is used for accessing said wireless LAN in said hot spot and was stored when accessing said wireless LAN last time in said hot spot.

9. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless LAN location criteria are inputted by said user.

12. The information terminal device according to claim 2, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots, each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said display section displays said one of plurality of maps.

10. A information terminal device comprising:

a wireless local area network (LAN) accesses section;

a sending section which sends to a server user generated wireless LAN access hot spot criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of said wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN;

a receiving section which receives wireless LAN access hot spot data from said server, wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data indicates wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN;

a first memory section which stores a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said first table data; and

a display section which displays said wireless LAN access hot spot data.

11. An information terminal device comprising:

a wireless local area network (LAN) access section;

a search section which searches for wireless LAN access hot spot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes an address in an area where the user desires wireless LAN access hot spot position data;

a display section which displays the wireless LAN access hot spot data indicating locations of the wireless LAN access hotspots; and

a second memory section which stores a second table data including a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses,

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said second table data.

13. A PC card connected with an information terminal device having a display section and used for accessing a wireless local area network (LAN), comprising:

a search section which searches for wireless LAN access hotspot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN; and

a first memory section which stores a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot criteria include a telephone number in an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot location data, and

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said first table data and outputs said wireless LAN access hot spot data to said display section.

14. The PC card according to claim 13, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said search section outputs a signal for displaying said one of plurality of maps by said display sections.

15. The PC card according to claim 13, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said search section outputs a signal to be display said one of plurality of maps by said display sections.

16. The PC card according to claim 13, said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes an area code for a telephone number in an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot position data,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said area code,

said search section outputs a signal for displaying said area map data by said display section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

17. The PC card according to claim 13, wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes a zip code for an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot hot spot position data,

said search section searches an area map data indicating a map of an area which corresponds to said zip code,

said search section outputs a signal for displaying said area map data by said display section, and

said search section searches said hot spot data of said hot spot in or near a specific area which is a part of said area and selected by said user.

18. The PC card according to claim 13, wherein said hot spot data includes a first map data indicating a first area containing said place of said hot spot,

said search section outputs a signal for displaying one of said first map data and a second map data indicating a second area containing said first area, and

said search section outputs a signal for displaying places of hot spots which are in said second area except for said first area.

19. The PC card according to claim 13, wherein said search section updates said hot spot data without any operation by said user.

20. The PC card according to claim 13, wherein said search section outputs a signal for displaying a first hot spot and a second hot spot distinguishably, said first hot spot can be used for said user, and said second hot spot can not be used for said user.

21. The PC card according to claim 13, further comprising:

a memory which stores a setting data that is used for accessing said wireless LAN in said hot spot and was stored when accessing said wireless LAN last time in said hot spot.

22. A PC card which is connected with an information terminal device having a display section and used for accessing a wireless local area network (LAN), the PC card comprising:

a sending request outputting section which outputs a request that a server send wireless LAN access hot spot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN;

a first table data storing section which stores a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

wherein said sending request outputting section outputs a request that a server send wireless LAN access hot spot data based on said first table data; and

an output request outputting section which outputs a request that said display section display said wireless LAN access hot spot data received from said server.

23. A PC card connected with an information terminal device having a display section and used for accessing a wireless local area network (LAN), comprising:

a search section which searches for wireless LAN access hotspot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN; and

a second memory section which stores a second table data including a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes an address in an area where the user desires wireless LAN access hot spot position data, and

wherein said search section searches said hot spot based on said second table data.

24. A method of finding wireless LAN access hot spots in or near wireless LAN locations where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN, the method comprising:

storing in a first memory section a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers;

sending to a server user generated wireless LAN access hot spot criteria based on said first table data for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said server searches said hot spot based on said first table data;

receiving wireless LAN access hot spot data from said server, wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data indicates wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN; and

displaying said wireless LAN access hot spot data.

25. A method of finding wireless LAN access hot spots in or near wireless LAN locations where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN, the method comprising:

searching first table data for wireless LAN access hot spot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot criteria include a telephone number in an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot location data, and

wherein said first table data includes a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers; and

displaying said wireless LAN access hot spot data based on a searching result.

26. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 25, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.

27. A method of finding wireless LAN access hot spots in or near wireless LAN locations where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN, the method comprising:

searching second table data for wireless LAN access hot spot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes an address in an area where the user desires wireless LAN access hot spot position data, and

wherein said second table data includes a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots, each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses; and

displaying said wireless LAN access hot spot data based on a searching result.

28. The method of finding a hot spot according to claim 27, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots, each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.

29. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium and comprising code that, when executed for a method of finding wireless LAN access hot spots in or near wireless LAN locations where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN, causes a computer to perform the following:

storing in a first memory section a first table data including a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, wherein each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers;

sending to a server user generated wireless LAN access hot spot criteria based on said first table data for locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said server searches said hot spot based on said first table data;

receiving wireless LAN access hot spot data from said server, wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data indicates wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN;

displaying said wireless LAN access hot spot data.

30. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium and comprising code that, when executed for a method of finding wireless LAN access hot spots in or near wireless LAN locations where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN, causes a computer to perform the following:

searching first table data for wireless LAN access hot spot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot criteria include a telephone number in an area where a user desires wireless LAN access hot spot location data, and

wherein said first table data includes a relationship between a plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of hot spots, each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of telephone numbers; and

displaying said wireless LAN access hot spot data based on a searching result.

31. The computer program product according to claim 30, wherein said first table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of telephone numbers and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of telephone numbers corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.

32. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium and comprising code that, when executed for a method of finding wireless LAN access hot spots in or near wireless LAN locations where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN, causes a computer to perform the following:

searching second table data for wireless LAN access hot spot data based on user criteria for wireless LAN locations in or near places not currently in a reception range of the wireless LAN access section where a user desires to relocate to access a wireless LAN,

wherein said wireless LAN access hot spot data includes an address in an area where the user desires wireless LAN access hot spot position data, and

wherein said second table data includes a relationship between a plurality of addresses and a plurality of hot spots, each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of hot spots, and said plurality of hot spots is in or near a place corresponding to one of said plurality of addresses; and

displaying said wireless LAN access hot spot data based on a searching result.

33. The computer program product according to claim 32, wherein said second table data further includes a data indicating a relationship between said plurality of addresses and a plurality of maps each of which corresponds to said plurality of hot spots,

each of said plurality of addresses corresponds to one of said plurality of maps, and

said step of displaying said hot spot data displaying said one of plurality of maps.