Location reporting method and related mobile communication terminal

• US 7,558,584 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hiroyuki, Takahara, Koichi, Nakajima, Kaoru, Kosuge, Kazunori, Matsuo, Junko, Maeda, Masaaki, Tanibayashi, Yoichi, Kaiwa, Masahiro, Murata, Katsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US09/980,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,021 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.2, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/566, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/426.1, 455/456.1, 455/5, 455/414.3, 455/466, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 340/539.13, 340991-993, 709227-228, 709/245, 701/200
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Menu data supplied from an IP server 500 to a mobile station 101 is embedded with a location information substitution data string “NULLAREA” together with a URL of a particular IP server 500. The mobile station 101, upon detection of the location information substitution data string from a menu data selected by the user, determines whether location information can be transmitted to the IP server 500. In the case where the determination is that the transmission is permitted, the mobile station 101 detects its location information and, after substituting the location information for the location information substitution data string, transmits the data to the IP server 500.

Claims

1. A location reporting method, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a mobile communication terminal, from a computer through a mobile communication network, data comprising a character string representing a request for location information;

identifying, with said mobile communication terminal, a description format for said requested location information;

acquiring at said mobile communication terminal location information indicating a location of said mobile communication terminal;

said mobile communication terminal upon acquisition of said location information, substituting said acquired location information for said character string in accordance with said description format; and

transmitting a resulting data to said computer as up data.

2. A location reporting method as described in claim 1,

wherein said steps performed by said mobile communication terminal further include the step of:

detecting whether said character string contains requesting location information acquisition time, and if said requesting location information acquisition time is detected then;

wherein, said acquiring step further includes acquiring said acquisition time of said location information; and

wherein, said substituting step further includes adding said acquired location information acquisition time before transmission.

3. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein said steps performed by said mobile communication terminal further include the steps of:

detecting whether said data contains requesting information on a state of a user, and if said requesting information on a state of a user is detected, then;

determining a state of a user of said mobile communication terminal from said acquired location information; and

wherein, said substituting step further includes adding said information on said determined state of said user before transmission.

4. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein said steps performed by said mobile communication terminal further include the steps of:

detecting whether said data contains requesting information on a state of a user and if said requesting information on a state of a user is detected then;

prompting a user of said mobile communication terminal to select a state; and

wherein, said substituting step further includes adding said information on said selected state of said user before transmission.

5. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting, to said computer, said data that includes said substituted acquired information as said up data.

6. A location reporting method as described in one of claims 1-4, wherein, said data contains information indicating an address to which location information is to be transmitted.

7. A location reporting method as described in claim 1,

wherein said data contains a plurality of addresses;

wherein, said steps performed by said mobile communication terminal include the step of;

obtaining said plurality of the addresses from said data; and

wherein, said transmitting step includes transmitting said resulting data to said plurality of the addresses in succession.

8. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein,

after said data is received, said location information is acquired and transmitted at predetermined intervals.

9. A location reporting method as described in claim 8, wherein,

said transmitting step includes transmitting said location information acquired at said predetermined intervals during the period from a time point to another time point designated by said data.

10. A location reporting method as described in claim 8, wherein,

said transmitting step includes, accumulating said location information acquired at said predetermined intervals, transmitting said accumulated location information acquired at said predetermined intervals at a time point designated by said data.

11. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein,

said acquiring step includes generating, by said mobile communication terminal, the location of said mobile communication terminal using a global positioning system.

12. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein,

said acquiring step includes the steps of:

transmitting, by said mobile communication terminal, a request signal requesting a predetermined node of said mobile communication network to generate the location information;

generating, by said predetermined node, the location information of said mobile communication terminal in response to said request signal and transmitting said location information to said terminal; and

receiving, by said mobile communication terminal, the location information transmitted from said predetermined node.

13. A location reporting method as described in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

receiving, by said mobile communication terminal, radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites constituting a global positioning system;

wherein, said step of transmitting said request signal includes transmitting information contained in a plurality of said received radio waves, together with said request signal; and

wherein, said step of generating said location information includes generating said location information using said information contained in said plurality of said received radio waves.

14. A location reporting method as described in claim 1,

wherein, disclosure information indicating whether said location information is to be disclosed to said computer is stored, in advance, in a predetermined storage means.

15. A location reporting method as described in claim 14,

wherein, said transmitting step includes transmitting, in the case of receiving said data from said computer to which said location information is not to be disclosed, a notice of rejection of provision of said location information to said computer.

16. A location reporting method as described in claim 1,

wherein, said data contains information designating a method of location measurement;

wherein, said mobile communication terminal is configured to acquire location information by any of a plurality of different location measuring methods and said acquiring step includes the step of selecting a location measuring method designated by said data from among said plurality of said location measuring methods; and

wherein, said transmitting step includes transmitting, as part of said up data, said location information acquired by said selected location measuring method in said acquiring step.

17. A location reporting method as described in claim 16,

wherein, said data contains a designation of a quality condition of location information;

and

wherein, said step of selecting a location measuring method includes selecting a location measuring method based on said designated quality condition.

18. A location reporting method as described in claim 16, wherein,

said plurality of location measuring methods include any one of a method of using a global positioning system and, a method of identifying a base station covering a range in which said mobile communication terminal is located.

19. A location reporting method as described in claim 16,

wherein, said location information contains:

latitude and longitude;

or

information based on an administrative classification.

20. A location reporting method as described in claim 1,

wherein, said computer is an information providing server configured to provide said mobile communication terminal with location-related information related to said location of said mobile communication terminal.

21. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein, said computer is a terminal connected to a network that is capable of transmitting and receiving by radio or wire.

22. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein, said mobile communication terminal is a portable telephone for performing phone conversations by radio.

59. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein said receiving step includes:

displaying menu items in a menu window of said mobile communication terminal based on said data;

receiving an input operation with said mobile communication terminal to select one of said menu items; and

determining whether said character string is embedded in said selected one of said menu items.

61. A location reporting method as described in claim 1, wherein identifying, with said mobile communication terminal, a description format comprises accessing a format information file provided by said computer to identify said description format.

23. A location reporting method for reporting, to a predetermined computer, location information of a mobile communication terminal acquired in a mobile communication network serving the mobile communication terminal which is capable of performing radio communication, comprising the steps of:

acquiring by said mobile communication terminal location information indicating said location of said mobile communication terminal for use by a destination mobile communication terminal;

said mobile communication terminal retrieving from memory a pre-stored network address and a character string, the pre-stored network address indicative of a server that provides map location information that is accessible by said destination mobile communication terminal in conjunction with said location information; and

transmitting, by said mobile communication terminal, said pre-stored network address for receipt by said destination mobile communication terminal after substituting said acquired location information for said character string.

24. A location reporting method as described in claim 23,

wherein, said acquiring step includes generating by said mobile communication terminal the location of said mobile communication terminal using a global positioning system.

25. A location reporting method as described in claim 23,

wherein, said computer is a terminal connected to a network and capable of transmitting and receiving by radio or wire.

26. A location reporting method as described in claim 23,

wherein, said mobile communication terminal is a portable telephone for performing phone conversations by radio.

27. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

communication means for receiving through a mobile communication network data containing a character string comprising a request for location information from a computer; and

a processor configured to identify a description format for said requested location information;

said processor further configured to acquire location information indicating a location of said mobile communication terminal;

wherein said processor is further configured to substitute said acquired location information for at least a portion of said character string in accordance with said description format,

wherein said communication means is further configured to transmit said data that includes substituted information as up data to said computer.

28. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27,

wherein said processor is further configured to detect whether said character string includes a request for a location information acquisition time, and if representation of said request for a location information acquisition time is detected, then;

wherein, said processor is further configured to acquire said location information acquisition time; and

wherein, said communication means is further configured to add said acquired location information acquisition time to said data before transmission of said up data.

29. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27,

wherein said processor is configured to detect whether said data contains a request for information on a state of a user, and if said request for information on a state of a user is detected, then

said processor is further configured to determine a state of a user of said mobile communication terminal from said acquired location information;

and

wherein, said communication means is further configured to add said information on said determined state of said user to said up data before transmission.

30. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27,

wherein said processor is further configured to detect whether said data contains a request for information on a state of a user, and if said request for information on a state of a user is detected, then;

means for prompting a user of said mobile communication terminal to select his/her own state is enabled; and

wherein, said communication means is further configured to add information on said selected state of said user to said up data before transmission.

31. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27,

wherein said processor is further configured to detect whether said data contains a plurality of addresses;

and

wherein said processor is configured to obtain said plurality of the addresses from said data; and

wherein, said communication means is further configured to transmit said up data to each of said plurality of addresses in succession.

32. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, wherein,

after receiving said data, said location information is acquired at predetermined intervals before transmission.

33. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 32, wherein,

said communication means is further configured to transmit said location information acquired at said predetermined intervals during the period from a time point to another time point designated by said data.

34. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 32, wherein,

said communication means is further configured to accumulate said location information acquired at said predetermined intervals before transmitting said location information at a time point designated by said data.

35. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, wherein,

said processor is further configured to generate a location of said mobile communication terminal using a global positioning system.

36. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, wherein,

said processor is further configured to direct transmission of a request signal requesting a predetermined node of said mobile communication network to generate said location information;

and

and direct receipt of said location information transmitted, in response to said request signal, from said predetermined node.

37. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 36, further comprising:

means for receiving radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites constituting a global positioning system,

wherein, said processor is further configured to direct transmission of information contained in said plurality of received radio waves, together with said request signal.

38. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, wherein,

said processor is capable of acquiring location information by a plurality of different location measuring methods, and said data contains information designating a location measuring method;

wherein, said processor is further configured to select a location measuring method designated by said data, from among said plurality of different location measuring methods; and

wherein, said communication means is further configured to transmit, carried on said up data, location information acquired by said processor according to said selected location measuring method.

39. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 38, wherein

said data contains data designating a quality condition of location information;

and

wherein, said processor is further configured to select a location measuring method based on said designated quality condition.

40. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 38, wherein,

said processor is configured to direct a location measuring method that includes either one of

using a global positioning system, or

identifying a base station covering an area in which said mobile communication terminal is located.

41. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 38, wherein

said location information contains:

latitude and longitude;

or

information based on an administrative classification.

42. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, further comprising:

storage means for storing disclosure information indicating whether said computer is a computer to which said location information is to be disclosed,

wherein, said communication means is further configured, in a case of receiving data from said computer to which said location information is to be disclosed, to add said acquired. location information to said received data before transmission to said computer as up data.

43. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 42, wherein,

said communication means is further configured to transmit, in a case of receiving data from a computer to which said location information is not to be disclosed, a notice for rejecting provision of said location information.

44. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, wherein

said mobile communication terminal is a portable telephone configured to perform phone conversations by radio waves.

60. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, further comprising:

means for displaying a menu window that includes menu items based on said data;

means for accepting selection of one of said menu items; and

means for determining if said character string is embedded in said selected one of said menu items.

62. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 27, wherein said processor is further configured to access a format information file provided by said computer to identify said description format.

45. A mobile communication terminal served by a mobile communication network and reporting location information of itself to a predetermined computer, comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring location information indicating a location of said mobile communication terminal, for use by an arbitrary terminal; and

transmitting means for substituting said acquired location information for a character string included with a network address of a server, the server configured to supply map information based on said location information, said map information displayable by said arbitrary terminal,

wherein said transmitting means is configured to transmit said address and said location information for receipt by said arbitrary terminal to allow a present location of said mobile communication terminal to be mapped by said arbitrary terminal using said location information and said network address to obtain map information.

46. A mobile communication terminal as described in claim 45, wherein, said acquiring means generates, said location of said mobile communication terminal using a global positioning system.

47. A mobile communication terminal as descibed in claim 45, wherein, said mobile communication terminal is a portable telephone for performing phone conversations by radio.

48. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a radio unit configured to receive wirelessly transmitted data that includes a predetermined data string, the predetermined data string comprising a request for a current location of said mobile communication terminal;

a microcomputer configured to direct acquisition of location information indicative of a current location of said mobile communication terminal in response to existence of said request;

wherein said microcomputer is configured to replace at least a portion of said predetermined data string with said acquired location information; and

wherein, after replacement with said location information, said radio unit is configured to wirelessly transmit a resulting data as up data in response to said request.

49. The mobile communication terminal of claim 48, wherein said data includes a request for a state of a user, wherein said state comprises a selectable status indication of a user.

50. The mobile communication terminal of claim 49, wherein said selectable status indication is determinable by said microcomputer.

51. The mobile communication terminal of claim 49, wherein said selectable status indication is manually selectable by a user of said mobile communication terminal.

52. The mobile communication terminal of claim 49, wherein said selectable status indication comprises at least one of at home, moving in a car, moving on a train, or in a meeting.

53. The mobile communication terminal of claim 48, wherein said microcomputer is further configured to determine, prior to transmission of said location information, whether a source of said data is authorized to receive said location information.

54. The mobile communication terminal of claim 48, further comprising an information display unit configured to display a menu that includes selectable menu items in response to receipt of said data, wherein at least some of said menu items include said predetermined data string.

55. The mobile communication terminal of claim 48, wherein said data includes a plurality of destination addresses and said up data is transmittable in succession to each of said destination addresses.

56. The mobile communication terminal of claim 48, wherein said microcomputer is configured to direct acquisition of location information at predetermined time intervals, and said radio unit is configured to transmit said up data each time said location information is acquired until a time specified in said data is reached.

57. The mobile communication terminal of claim 48, wherein said radio unit is configured to transmit said up data at a time specified in said data.

58. The mobile communication terminal of claim 48, wherein said data includes information designating a location information measurement method, wherein said microcomputer is configured direct acquisition of location information with said designated location information measurement method.