Mobile device system and mobile device

• US 8,311,480 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nagata, Hideki, Minakata, Hiroyuki, Ide, Takayuki, Kohashi, Atsushi, Omaki, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanidu, Ganiyu A
• Application Number:
  US11/903,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20080081649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/456.1, 455/435.1, 455/518, 370/351, 370/381, 370/382
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• 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 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

A mobile device system includes a plurality of mobile devices, each to which unique identification information is assigned, wherein each mobile device includes a location-information acquisition unit, a communication unit, and a group registration unit. The communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the mobile device and the identification information of the mobile device, sends the information to other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices. The group registration unit detects other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices and the location information of the mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

Claims

1. A mobile device system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices associated with a predetermined user, to each of which unique identification information is assigned,

wherein each mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices includes

a control unit configured to repeatedly execute detection of a misplaced mobile device at a set periodic interval,

a storage unit configured to hold the identification information for other mobile devices in the plurality of mobile devices associated with the predetermined user;

a location-information acquisition unit configured to acquire location information,

a communication unit configured to communicate only with the other mobile devices of the predetermined user, and

a group registration unit,

wherein, in the each mobile device, the communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the each mobile device and the identification information of the each mobile device, sends the information to the other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices, and

wherein, in the each mobile device, the group registration unit detects the other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the each mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices received by the communication unit and the location information of the each mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

2. The mobile device system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of the mobile devices includes a notification unit configured to provide a notification of information about the others of the plurality of mobile devices associated with the identification information registered as a group in the group registration unit.

3. The mobile device system according to claim 1, wherein the each mobile device includes an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the number of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the each mobile device changes.

4. The mobile device system according to claim 1, wherein the each mobile device includes an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the combination of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the each mobile device changes.

5. A mobile device associated with a predetermined user comprising:

a control unit configured to repeatedly execute detection of a misplaced mobile device at a set periodic interval;

a storage unit configured to hold identification information for other mobile devices of the predetermined user; and

a location-information acquisition unit configured to acquire location information;

a communication unit configured to communicate only with the other mobile devices of the predetermined user; and

a group registration unit,

wherein the communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the mobile device and the identification information of the mobile device, sends the information to the other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices, and

wherein the group registration unit detects the other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices received by the communication unit and the location information of the mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

6. The mobile device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a notification unit configured to provide a notification for information of the other mobile devices associated with the identification information registered as a group in the group registration unit.

7. The mobile device according to claim 5, further comprising:

an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the number of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the mobile device changes.

8. The mobile device according to claim 5, further comprising:

an announcing unit configured to provide a notification when the combination of identification information items registered as a group in the group registration unit of the mobile device changes.