Apparatus for providing location information of hand-held device and method thereof

A method and apparatus for providing location information of a user terminal is provided, which makes it possible to mark the location of a user terminal using geographical information stored in a broadcast receiver.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a broadcast receiver providing location information of a user terminal, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for a broadcast receiver providing location information of a user terminal, wherein location information of a user terminal is marked on map information.

BACKGROUND ART

The use of not only wired Internet services but also various wireless Internet services using mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones or PDAs have been significantly increased along with the development of Internet technologies. The development of wireless Internet technologies is realizing a ubiquitous environment in which users can freely access networks anywhere and anytime. An example technology for realizing such a ubiquitous environment is a Location Based Service (LBS)-related technology which has been intensively developed along with the development of wireless Internet and mobile computing technologies. The LBS has been used in various situations and various applications such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Geographic Information Systems (GISs) for providing vicinity information, criminal or emergency signals, and SOS. To use the LBS, it is necessary to locate wireless communication terminals. Technologies used for locating terminals using wireless communication are divided into a location technology based on base stations and a location technology based on GPS satellites. A combination of the base-station-based and GPS-satellite-based location technologies has also been used recently. To locate terminals based on base stations, terminals register their current location information in a Home Location Register (HLR). The mobile communication network can determine a base station whose range includes a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA since its current location information registered in the HLR includes identification information of the base station which is currently responsible for wireless communication with the mobile terminal. The GPS-based location method determines the current location of a mobile phone or the like using GPS signals received from 24 GPS satellites that orbit the Earth. The GPS-based location method generally uses triangulation. When the counterpart requests transmission of location information from a terminal such as a mobile phone in order to locate the terminal, the terminal marks the current location of the terminal determined using GPS signals on a map. Specifically, the terminal retrieves map information from a database in the terminal or from a separate server and marks the current location of the terminal on the map information and transmits the map information marked with the current location to the counterpart.

However, this conventional method has the following problems. A very large amount of data is transmitted and received since the user terminal transmits the map marked with the current location to the counterpart.

The counterpart cannot directly mark places associated with the location of the user terminal (for example, places which the user of the user terminal frequently visits) on the map since the counterpart only passively confirms the location of the user terminal received from the user terminal.

When the user of the user terminal desires to transmit video or audio information of ambient environments or the like of the user terminal in addition to the current location of the user terminal, it is necessary to transmit information a number of times since the user terminal cannot transmit the video or audio information together with the location information.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in a method and apparatus for providing location information of a user terminal, wherein it is possible to locate the user terminal such as a mobile phone using a broadcast receiver.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in providing a method and apparatus for providing location information of a user terminal, wherein map information is stored in a broadcast receiver, so that it is possible to mark the current location of the user terminal at the broadcast receiver even if the broadcast receiver has received only coordinate information of the current location of the user terminal from the user terminal.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in providing a method and apparatus for providing location information of a user terminal, wherein a broadcast receiver can receive and output video or audio information together with location information of the user terminal from the user terminal.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in providing a method and apparatus for providing location information of a user terminal, wherein it is possible to confirm the location information of the user terminal even when power of the broadcast receiver is off.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in providing a method and apparatus for providing location information of a user terminal, wherein it is possible to modify geographical information stored in a broadcast receiver.

Technical Solution

The objects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a method for a broadcast receiver providing location information of a user terminal connected to the broadcast receiver through a communication network, the method including requesting location information of the user terminal from the user terminal; receiving the location information from the user terminal in response to the request; retrieving geographical information stored in the broadcast receiver; marking a location of the user terminal on the geographical information using the location information; and outputting the marked location of the user terminal.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a broadcast receiver for performing a method for providing location information of a user terminal, the broadcast receiver including a user interface functioning to interface with a user; a communication unit for requesting location information of a user terminal from the user terminal through a communication network and receiving the location information from the user terminal in response to the request; a storage unit for storing geographical information; a location information processor for marking a location of the user terminal on the geographical information using the location information received from the user terminal; an output unit for outputting the marked location of the user terminal; and a controller for controlling overall operations of the broadcast receiver and allowing the location of the user terminal to be marked and output on the geographical information according to a request from the user through the user interface.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, the method and apparatus for providing location information of a user terminal according to the invention has a variety of advantages. For example, it is possible to locate the user terminal using a broadcast receiver.

The broadcast receiver marks the location of the user terminal using geographical information stored in the broadcast receiver so that the broadcast receiver does not need to receive geographical information from the user terminal, thereby reducing the amount of transmission data required to mark the location of the user terminal.

The user terminal can transmit video or audio information together with the location information of the user terminal to the broadcast receiver while the broadcast receiver can receive and output the video or audio information together with the location information of the user terminal.

At the broadcast receiver, it is still possible to confirm the location information of the user terminal even when the power of the broadcast receiver is off.

It is also possible to modify geographical information stored in the broadcast receiver.

BEST MODE

FIG. 1schematically illustrates a system for providing location information of user terminals according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the system for providing location information of user terminals includes a broadcast receiver101, GPS satellites103, a user terminal105, and a communication network107. The broadcast receiver101is a device that receives a broadcast signal and outputs broadcast information such as video or audio. The broadcast receiver101according to the invention is coupled to the user terminal105through the communication network107. The broadcast receiver101includes a data communication module which allows it to perform network interfacing with the user terminal105. The broadcast receiver101requests location information of the user terminal105from the user terminal105through the data communication module and receives the location information from the user terminal105in response to the request. The user terminal105is easy to carry and includes a mobile phone, PDA, PMP, or the like which can perform communication with the broadcast receiver101. The user terminal105according to the invention includes a GPS signal receiving module which can receive GPS signals from the GPS satellites103. The user terminal105receives GPS signals from the GPS satellites103and determines a current location of the user terminal105and transmits the current location of the user terminal105to the broadcast receiver101. The broadcast receiver101retrieves geographical information stored in the broadcast receiver101in order to mark the current location information on a map. The broadcast receiver101marks the current location of the user terminal105on the retrieved geographical information and then outputs the geographical information marked with the current location.

FIG. 2is an internal block diagram of the broadcast receiver101according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 2, the broadcast receiver101includes a broadcast signal input unit201, a decoding unit205, an A/V signal output unit107, and a location information provider209for implementing the method for providing location information according to the invention. The broadcast signal input unit201tunes to a channel frequency received through an antenna, a cable, a satellite, or the like. The broadcast signal input unit201demodulates the tuned signal into a transport stream according to a method, which is the inverse of a modulation method that was performed on the signal at the transmitting side. In the case where the broadcast signal input unit201receives an analog broadcast signal, the broadcast signal input unit201decodes the analog broadcast signal using an analog signal decoder (not shown) and an MPEG-2 encoder (not shown). The broadcast signal input unit201can receive a broadcast signal from an external device. In the case where the broadcast signal input unit201receives a signal such as a DVD or HDMI signal from the external device, the broadcast signal input unit201decodes the received signal by converting it into a format complying with the specification of the broadcast receiver101. The decoding unit205separates audio, video, and other data streams from the demodulated transport stream with reference to a packet ID and decodes the separated audio, video, and other data streams using respective decoding algorithms to reconstruct original signals. The reconstructed signals are output to a screen and a speaker through the A/V signal output unit so that the screen displays the video signal and the speaker outputs the audio signal.

The location information provider209includes a user interface211, a controller213, an OSD processor215, a signal converter217, a communication unit219, a storage unit221, and a location information processor223. The user interface211functions to interface with the user and transfers commands from the user to the controller213. The user interface211includes a remote controller or a keypad mounted on the broadcast receiver101. The OSD processor215generates and outputs OSD data. Using the OSD processor215, the user can select the location information providing method of the invention and input identification information of a user terminal which the user desires to locate. When the broadcast receiver101receives location information from the user terminal105, the OSD processor215marks the location of the user terminal on geographical information and outputs the geographical information marked with the location. The OSD processor215can output the geographical information together with or separately from the signal from the A/V signal output unit207. That is, the user can use the location information of the user terminal received from the user terminal105while viewing or listening to a video or audio signal output through the A/V signal output unit207. The location information that the broadcast receiver101receives from the user terminal105may include video or audio information. In the case where the location information of the user terminal received from the communication unit219includes video or audio information that does not comply with the specification of the broadcast receiver101, the signal converter217converts the format of the video or audio information into a format complying with the specification of the broadcast receiver101. The communication unit219provides an interfacing function when the broadcast receiver101performs two-way data communication with the user terminal105. The broadcast receiver101transmits a signal requesting user terminal location information to the user terminal105through the communication unit219and receives the user terminal location information from the user terminal105through the communication unit219. The location information processor223uses the received user terminal location information and the geographical information retrieved from the storage unit221to mark the current location of the user terminal on the retrieved geographical information. That is, the location information processor223receives coordinate information of the user terminal105from the user terminal105and marks the coordinate information on geographical information including administrative location information such as street name and number and facility location information such as location information of main facilities and buildings. The controller213controls the overall operations of the broadcast receiver101and requests that the user terminal105transmit location information according to a command of the user received through the user interface211and marks the current location of the user terminal on the geographical information using the user terminal location information received from the user terminal105.

The storage unit221stores an operating program, a system program, and geographical information used to mark the user terminal location information. The storage unit221may include a PVR or DVR. The PVR or DVR includes a hard disk drive (HDD) and an HDD interface. Although not illustrated, the PVR or DVR can be connected to an external HDD to extend the storage capacity thereof. Although it is assumed here that the geographical information is stored in a database of the storage unit221, the invention is not limited to this assumption and can also be extracted from a Geographic Information System (GIS) (not shown). The storage unit221can store geographical information marked with the location of the user terminal105automatically or according to selection of the user of the broadcast receiver. When the broadcast receiver user desires to store a movement path of the user terminal105, the broadcast receiver user inputs a command for the controller213to store the movement path of the user terminal105through the user interface211. According to the command of the broadcast receiver user, the controller213controls the location information processor221and the storage unit221to store the geographical information marked with the location of the user terminal105in the storage unit221. Upon receiving the command from the controller213, the location information processor223marks locations of the user terminal105on the geographical information in the order in which a series of corresponding location information of the user terminal105are received from the user terminal105to mark the movement path of the user terminal105on the geographical information and transfers the geographical information marked with the movement path of the user terminal105to the storage unit221. The storage unit221stores the geographical information received from the location information processor223. In order to confirm the current location or the movement path of the user terminal105, the broadcast receiver user requests that the controller213provide the locations of the user terminal105using the user interface211. In response to the request from the broadcast receiver user, the controller213retrieves and outputs the geographical information marked with the movement path of the user terminal105.

FIG. 3is an internal block diagram of a user terminal according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 3, the user terminal105includes a GPS signal receiver301, an input/output (IO) unit303, a controller305, an RF transceiver307, and a memory unit309. The GPS signal receiver301receives GPS signals from multiple GPS satellites. When the broadcast receiver101requests user terminal location information from the user terminal105, the GPS signal receiver301of the user terminal105calculates GPS coordinates from the GPS signals received from the GPS satellites. The I/O unit303includes an input unit (not shown) and an output unit (not shown). The input unit processes input data such as commands, characters, or numbers that the user has input using a keypad on the user terminal or voice information that the user has input using a microphone. When the user terminal105receives a request to transmit user terminal location information from the broadcast receiver101, the input unit receives an input to choose whether or not to transmit the location information from the user of the user terminal. The output unit outputs the overall states of the user terminal, information that the user has input through the input unit, or the like through the screen or speaker. When the user terminal105receives a request to transmit user terminal location information from the broadcast receiver101, the output unit outputs information indicating the request to allow the user of the user terminal105to decide whether or not to transmit the location information. The RF transceiver307converts an RF signal requesting user terminal location information received from a base station into an electrical signal and inputs the electrical signal to the controller305. The RF transceiver307also converts GPS coordinates received from the controller305into an RF signal and transmits the RF signal to the base station. The memory unit309stores a system program and an operating program of the controller305and an identification number of the broadcast receiver101which is permitted to receive location information of the user terminal105. The controller305controls the overall operations of the user terminal105while controlling operations associated with the method for providing location information of the user terminal according to the invention. When receiving a request to transmit user terminal location information from the broadcast receiver101, the controller305retrieves a broadcast receiver identification number stored in the memory unit309and compares the stored broadcast receiver identification number with the identification number of the broadcast receiver101which has made the request to transmit user terminal location information. The controller305retrieves and transmits GPS coordinates to the broadcast receiver101when the broadcast receiver identification number stored in the memory unit309is identical to the identification number of the broadcast receiver101which has made the request to transmit user terminal location information.

FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate a screen of a broadcast receiver which outputs user terminal location information according to an embodiment of the invention. The broadcast receiver101receives user terminal coordinate information from the user terminal105and marks the user terminal location information on the geographical information and then outputs the geographical information marked with the user terminal location information. The broadcast receiver101continuously marks locations of the user terminal105in the order in which a series of corresponding location information of the user terminal105are received from the user terminal105to mark (or display) the movement path of the user terminal105on a screen401. As shown inFIG. 5, the screen501of the broadcast receiver101is divided into a portion505for displaying user terminal location information and a portion503for displaying image information received together with the user terminal location information from the user terminal105. When receiving a request to transmit user terminal location information from the broadcast receiver101, the user of the user terminal can choose whether or not to transmit video or audio information together with the location information. When the user of the user terminal105has chosen to transmit video or audio information together with the location information, the user terminal105generates video or audio information and transmits the video or audio information together with the coordinate information to the broadcast receiver101. Specifically, in response to the location information transmission request, the user of the user terminal105captures an image of the vicinity of the user terminal105or records a voice message which the user desires to deliver to the user of the broadcast receiver101. The user terminal105transmits the video or audio information together with the user terminal location information to the broadcast receiver101. The broadcast receiver101displays the video information received together with the user terminal location information from the user terminal105on the screen501. The broadcast receiver101outputs the audio information received together with the user terminal location information from the user terminal105through the speaker (not shown).

In the example ofFIGS. 4 and 5, the location of the user terminal105can be output through the A/V signal output unit207or the OSD processor215. The location of the user terminal105can also be output together with broadcast information received through the broadcast signal input unit201. That is, the broadcast information and the user terminal location information can be output together or separately. When the user of the broadcast receiver101makes a request to power the broadcast receiver101off through the user interface211, the broadcast receiver101requests that the broadcast receiver user choose whether to continue or stop outputting the user terminal location information. When the broadcast receiver user chooses to continue outputting the user terminal location information, the broadcast receiver101turns off power to components, other than the location information provider209which performs the method for providing location information, and supplies power to the components of the location information provider209(i.e., the user interface211, the controller21, the OSD processor215, the signal converter217, the communication unit219, the storage unit221, and the location information processor223) so that the location information provider209continues outputting the user terminal location information.

The user of the broadcast receiver can modify the geographical information stored in the broadcast receiver101. Specifically, the user of the broadcast receiver can modify the geographical information by adding places, which the user of the user terminal frequently visits or needs to memorize, to the geographical information.

Modified geographical information507and509is shown inFIG. 5. The user of the broadcast receiver can modify the geographical information by changing the scale of the geographical information, inserting an image, avatar, emoticon, or the like into the geographical information, or inserting audio data into the geographical information.

FIG. 6illustrates an OSD according to an embodiment of the invention. Upon receiving a menu display request from the user of the broadcast receiver101, the broadcast receiver101displays a menu OSD on a screen601or603as shown inFIG. 6. The menu OSD includes various menu items such as channel, external signal, video recording, video, audio, and general menu items. The general menu item includes submenu items such as broadcast guide, location tracking service, and Internet access. When the user of the broadcast receiver selects the location tracking service from the submenu items, a window for entering the identification number of a user terminal105for location tracking is displayed. When the broadcast receiver user desires to track the location of a user terminal105whose identification number has been previously stored (or registered) in the broadcast receiver101, the broadcast receiver user selects the registered user terminal identification number. The controller213of the broadcast receiver101retrieves the unique identification number of the broadcast receiver101and the identification number of the user terminal105selected by the broadcast receiver user and transmits the retrieved identification numbers to the user terminal105through the communication unit219.

When the broadcast receiver user desires to track the location of a user terminal105whose identification number is not stored in the broadcast receiver101, the broadcast receiver user directly enters the identification number of the user terminal105not stored in the broadcast receiver101as illustrated on the screen603. The broadcast receiver101then transmits the unique identification number of the broadcast receiver101and the identification number of the user terminal105entered by the broadcast receiver user to the user terminal105.

FIG. 7illustrates a procedure in which a user terminal accepts a location information transmission request according to an embodiment of the invention. Upon receiving a location information transmission request from the broadcast receiver101, the user terminal105displays the request on a screen701and receives an input to choose whether or not to transmit location information from the user of the user terminal105as shown inFIG. 7. Although the user of the user terminal105may choose whether or not to transmit location information each time the user terminal105receives a location information transmission request from the broadcast receiver101, the user terminal105may also automatically decide whether or not to transmit the user terminal location information as described above with reference toFIG. 3. Specifically, the user terminal105previously stores an identification number of a broadcast receiver, which is permitted to receive location information of the user terminal105, in the memory unit309. Then, when the user terminal105receives a request to transmit user terminal location information from a broadcast receiver101, the user terminal105may compare the identification number of the broadcast receiver stored in the memory with the identification number of the broadcast receiver101which has made the location information transmission request and then may automatically retrieve and transmit corresponding GPS coordinates to the broadcast receiver101when the two identification numbers are identical. If the user of the user terminal105permits the broadcast receiver101to receive location information and then chooses to transmit video or audio information together with the location information, the user terminal105allows the user to enter video or audio information to be transmitted together with the location information on a screen705and receives the entered video or audio information. The user terminal105generates video or audio information to be transmitted together with the location information using a screen707or using a microphone. The user terminal105transmits the generated video or audio information together with the location information to the broadcast receiver101.

FIG. 8is a flow chart of a method for providing location information, which is performed at a broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 8, the broadcast receiver101receives a location tracking service request from the user of the broadcast receiver101(801). The user of the broadcast receiver can select the location tracking service from the menu using the OSD as in the example ofFIG. 6. The broadcast receiver101receives information of the user terminal for location tracking from the broadcast receiver user (803). The broadcast receiver101accesses a location information provider server (not shown) through the communication network107(805). The broadcast receiver101transmits a signal which carries the identification number of the broadcast receiver and the identification number of the user terminal to a base station (not shown) through the communication network107and requests location information of the user terminal (807). The base station receives the signal from the broadcast receiver101and transmits the signal to the location information provider server. The location information provider server locates the user terminal105whose location tracking has been requested by the broadcast receiver101and transmits the received signal to the user terminal105. The user terminal105generates user terminal location information in response to the request from the broadcast receiver101and transmits the user terminal location information to the location information provider server through the base station. The broadcast receiver101receives the location information of the user terminal105from the location information provider server (809). The broadcast receiver101determines whether or not the location information includes geographical information (811). The broadcast receiver101extracts coordinate information from the location information if the location information does not include geographical information (813). The broadcast receiver101retrieves geographical information for a location corresponding to the coordinate information from the storage unit221(815). The broadcast receiver101marks the location of the user terminal on the geographical information using the coordinate information (817). The broadcast receiver101also determines whether or not the location information includes video or audio information (819). The broadcast receiver101determines whether or not the video or audio information complies with the specification of the broadcast receiver101if the location information includes video or audio information (821). The broadcast receiver101converts the video or audio information into a format complying with the specification of the broadcast receiver101if the video or audio information does not comply with the specification of the broadcast receiver101(823). The broadcast receiver101decodes the video or audio information complying with the broadcast receiver101(825) and outputs the location of the user terminal105together with the video or audio information (827). The broadcast receiver101outputs the location of the user terminal105if the location information does not include video or audio information (829).

FIG. 9is a flow chart of a method for providing location information, which is performed at a user terminal according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 9, the user terminal105receives GPS signals from GPS satellites103(901). To accomplish this, the user terminal105includes a GPS signal receiver301which can receive GPS signals. The user terminal105receives a location information transmission request from the broadcast receiver101through a base station (not shown) and a location information provider server (not shown) (903). The user of the user terminal decides whether or not to transmit user terminal location information to the broadcast receiver101(905). If the user of the user terminal decides to transmit the user terminal location information to the broadcast receiver101, the GPS signal receiver301generates coordinate information from the GPS signals received from the GPS satellites103(907). The user of the user terminal chooses whether or not to transmit video or audio information together with the location information (909). If the user of the user terminal chooses to transmit video or audio information together with the location information, the user terminal105generates video or audio information and transmits the video or audio information together with the location information to the broadcast receiver101(913). If the user of the user terminal chooses to transmit only the location information, the user terminal105transmits corresponding coordinate information to the broadcast receiver101.

Mode for Invention

Various embodiments have been described above in the description of the Best Mode section.

Industrial Applicability

The invention allows the broadcast receiver to provide location information of a user terminal.