Abstract:
The invention provides a method for guiding a mobile communication device in a wireless communication network. At first, the method according to the invention determines a plurality of referenced positions covered in the wireless communication network. Afterward, the method obtains a plurality of communication quality parameters which each corresponds to one of the plurality of referenced positions. Next, the method transmits the plurality of referenced positions and the plurality of communication quality parameters to the mobile communication device and receives a target position from the mobile communication device. Then, the method determines a current position relative to the mobile communication device. Finally, according to the target position and the current position, the method generates a guiding information and transmits the guiding information to the mobile communication device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a guiding system and method and particularly, to a guiding system and method for guiding a mobile communication device in a wireless communication network. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     With the extension of wireless communication network and the popularity of mobile communication devices with wireless internet access functions, such as notebooks, personal digital assistants, mobile phones, and navigation devices, users can easily uses these mobile communication devices to implement various online applications over the wireless communication network. 
     However, communication quality of the wireless communication network is sensitive to factors such as distance, buildings, topographic situations, and so on. A user usually does not know how to find the position with better communication quality when the user try to link to the wireless communication network via the mobile communication device. 
     Accordingly, a scope of the invention is to provide a guiding system and method for guiding a first mobile communication device in a wireless communication network to solve the aforesaid problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A scope of the invention is to provide a guiding system and method for guiding a first mobile communication device in a wireless communication network. The guiding system and method is capable of generating a guiding information according to a current position and a target position. Via the guiding information, the user can easily reach the target position to acquire better communication quality. Thereby, it is more convenient for the user to use the mobile communication device. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the guiding method firstly determines a plurality of referenced positions covered in the wireless communication network. Then, the method obtains a plurality of communication quality parameters which each corresponds to one of the plurality of referenced positions. Next, the method transmits the referenced positions and the communication quality parameters to the first mobile communication device. Afterward, the method receives a target position selected from the referenced positions from the first mobile communication device. After that, the method determines a current position relative to the first mobile communication device. Finally, the method generates a guiding information according to the target position and the current position and transmits the guiding information to the first mobile communication device. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the guiding system includes a positioning module, a transmitting module and a processing module. The positioning module is used for determining a plurality of referenced positions covered in the wireless communication network, determining a current position relative to the first mobile communication device, and receiving a plurality of the communication quality parameters which each corresponds to one of the plurality of referenced positions. The processing module is coupled to the positioning module and the transmitting module respectively. The processing module is used for transmitting the referenced positions and the communication quality parameters to the first mobile communication device through the transmitting module, receiving a target position selected from the referenced positions from the first mobile communication device, generating a guiding information in accordance with the target position and the current position, and transmitting the guiding information the first mobile communication device through the transmitting module. 
     Therefore, the guiding system and method is capable of generating a guiding information according to a current position and a target position. Via the guiding information, the user can easily reach the target position to achieve better communication quality. Thereby, it is more convenient for the user to use the mobile communication device. 
     The advantage and spirit of the invention may be understood by the following recitations together with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a functional block diagram of the guiding system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the guiding system shown in  FIG. 1  in a wireless communication network. 
         FIG. 3  shows the guiding system and the referenced positions of the first mobile communication device determined by the positioning module. 
         FIG. 4  shows the guiding system and the referenced positions of the second mobile communication devices determined by the positioning module. 
         FIG. 5  shows the received signal strength distribution map generated by the processing module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows the guiding information generated by the processing module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a flow chart of the method for guiding the first mobile communication device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a flow chart of the method for guiding the first mobile communication device according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  shows a functional block diagram of the guiding system  10  according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  shows the guiding system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  in a wireless communication network  1 . In the embodiment, the guiding system  10  is capable of guiding a first mobile communication device  12  in a wireless communication network  1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 1 , the guiding system  10  includes a positioning module  100 , a transmitting module  102  and a processing module  104 . The processing module  104  is coupled to the positioning module  100  and the transmitting module  102  respectively. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 3  shows the guiding system  10  and the referenced positions RP of the first mobile communication device  12  determined by the positioning module  100 .  FIG. 4  shows the guiding system  10  and the referenced positions RP of the second mobile communication devices  14  determined by the positioning module  100 . In the embodiment, the positioning module  100  is capable of determining the plurality of referenced positions RP covered in the wireless communication network  1 . In practice, the positioning module  100  could be assisted by at least one assisting mobile communication device with positioning function to determine the referenced positions RP covered in the wireless communication network  1 . 
     In an embodiment, the referenced positions RP are determined during a movement of the first mobile communication device  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first mobile communication device  12  moves along a track Tk, and the positioning module  100  can determine a plurality of referenced positions on the track Tk during the movement of the first mobile communication device  12 . 
     In actual applications, time length of the movement (i.e. when to begin and finish the determination of the referenced positions RP) can be, but not limited to, defined by the user, a motion sensor (not shown) or the positioning module  100 . For example, the user can set the time length of the movement. Otherwise, the time length can be determined by a motion sensor incorporated with a clock disposed in the first mobile communication device  12 . Furthermore, the positioning module  100  can determine the positions of the first mobile communication device  12  and cooperate with a clock to calculate the time length of the movement of the first mobile communication device  12 . 
     In the embodiment, the first mobile communication device  12  can measure a received signal strength at each of the referenced positions RP it passes through, and the positioning module  100  can receive the received signal strengths. In the embodiment, the communication quality parameter can be, but not limited to, the received signal strength. In practice, the positioning module  100  can receive the received signal strengths through a receiving module (not shown). 
     In another embodiment, the referenced positions RP are determined relative to a plurality of second mobile communication devices  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the positioning module  100  can determine plural referenced positions RP relative to the second mobile communication devices  14 . In the embodiment, each of the second mobile communication devices  14  can measure a received signal strength corresponding to one of the referenced positions RP, and the positioning module  100  can receive the received signal strengths. 
     In another embodiment, the positioning module can determine a referenced position RP relative to the first mobile communication device  12  and plural referenced positions RP relative to the second mobile communication devices  14 . In the embodiment, the first mobile communication device  12  can measure a received signal strength corresponding to its referenced position RP, and the positioning module  100  can receive the received signal strengths. Besides, each of the second mobile communication devices  14  can measure a received signal strength corresponding to one of the referenced positions RP, and the positioning module  100  can receive the received signal strengths. 
     In the embodiment, the processing module  104  can transmit the referenced positions RP and the received signal strengths to the first mobile communication device  12  through the transmitting module  102 . The processing module  104  also receives a target position TP selected from the referenced positions RP from the first mobile communication device  12 . In practice, the processing module  104  can receive the target position TP through the receiving module described above. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows a received signal strength distribution map  20  generated by the processing module  104  shown in  FIG. 1 . In actual applications, the processing module  104  can generate the received signal strength distribution map  20  according to the referenced positions RP and corresponding received signal strengths, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The received signal strength distribution map  20  includes a map MAP, a plurality of referenced positions RP 1 -RP 7  and a plurality of received signal strengths RSS 1 -RSS 7 , where each of the plurality of received signal strengths RSS 1 -RSS 7  corresponds to one of the plurality of referenced positions RP 1 -RP 7 . A user can refer to the received signal strength distribution map  20  and determine a target position TP according to the received signal strengths RSS 1 -RSS 7 , topographic situations of the referenced positions RP 1 -RP 7  and other factors. In other words, the target position TP is not necessarily the position with the strongest received signal strength. It could be the position determined by the user according to the received signal strengths RSS 1 -RSS 7 , topographic situations of the referenced positions RP 1 -RP 7  and other factors. In addition, the received signal strength distribution map  20  can further include a mark of the strongest received signal strength Max (on the received signal strength RSS 4  shown in  FIG. 5 ) and a mark of the second strongest received signal strength Sec (on the received signal strength RSS 2  shown in  FIG. 5 ) for user reference. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  shows the guiding information GI generated by the processing module  104  shown in  FIG. 1 . The positioning module  100  can determine a current position CP relative to the first mobile communication device  12 . The processing module  104  can generate a guiding information GI in accordance with the target position TP received from the first mobile communication device  12  and the current position CP. The processing module  104  can also transmit the guiding information GI to the first mobile communication device  12  through the transmitting module  102 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the guiding information GI includes, but not limited to, a map MAP and a direction icon DI. According to the guiding information GI, the user can reach the target position TP easily. Since the first mobile communication device  12  has better received signal strength at the target position TP, the user can acquire excellent communication quality when using the first mobile communication device  12  at the target position TP. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 , together with  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7  shows a flow chart of the method for guiding the first mobile communication device  12  according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment, the method can be used for guiding the first mobile communication device  12  in a wireless communication network  1 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the method, firstly, performs step S 10  to determine a plurality of referenced positions RP covered in the wireless communication network  1 . In an embodiment, the referenced positions RP can be determined during a movement of the first mobile communication device  12 . In another embodiment, the referenced positions RP are determined relative to a plurality of second mobile communication devices  14 . In still another embodiment, the plurality of referenced positions RP are determined relative to the first mobile communication device  12  and a plurality of second mobile communication devices  14 . The method for determining the referenced positions RP is as described above. 
     Then, the method performs step S 12  to obtain plural received signal strengths which each corresponds to one of the plurality of referenced positions RP. Method for obtaining the received signal strengths is as described above. Next, the method performs step S 14  to transmit the referenced positions RP and the received signal strengths to the first mobile communication device  12 . Afterwards, the method performs step S 16  to receive a target position TP selected from the referenced positions RP from the first mobile communication device  12 . Then, the method performs step S 18  to determine a current position CP relative to the first mobile communication device  12 . After that, the method performs step S 20  to generate a guiding information GI according to the target position TP and the current position CP. Finally, the method performs step S 22  to transmit the guiding information GI to the first mobile communication device  12 . According to the guiding information GI, the user can reach the target position TP easily. Since the first mobile communication device  12  has better received signal strength at the target position TP, the user can acquire excellent communication quality when using the first mobile communication device  12  at the target position TP. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8 , together with  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  shows a flow chart of the method for guiding the first mobile communication device  12  according to another embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment, the method includes following steps. Firstly, the method performs step S 30  to judge whether the quantity of the second mobile communication devices  14  is zero, and if YES, performs step S 32 , if NO, performs step S 50 . 
     Step S 32  is to determine a plurality of referenced positions RP relative to the first mobile communication device  12 , and then performs step S 34 . In an embodiment, the reference positions RP can be determined during a movement of the first mobile communication device  12 . Then, the method performs step S 34  to obtain plural received signal strengths which each corresponds to one of the plurality of referenced positions RP. Method for obtaining the received signal strengths is as described above. Next, the method performs step S 36  to transmit the referenced positions RP and the received signal strengths to the first mobile communication device  12 . Afterwards, the method performs step S 38  to receive a target position TP selected from the referenced positions RP from the first mobile communication device  12 . Then, the method performs step S 40  to determine a current position CP relative to the first mobile communication device  12 . After that, the method performs step S 42  to generate a guiding information GI according to the target position TP and the current position CP. Finally, the method performs step S 44  to transmit the guiding information GI to the first mobile communication device  12 . According to the guiding information GI, the user can reach the target position TP easily. Since the first mobile communication device  12  has better received signal strength at the target position TP, the user can acquire excellent communication quality when using the first mobile communication device  12  at the target position TP. 
     Step S 50  is to determine a plurality of referenced positions RP relative to the first mobile communication device  12  and the second mobile communication devices  14 . Then, the method performs step S 52  to obtain plural received signal strengths which each corresponds to one of the plurality of referenced positions RP. Method for obtaining the received signal strengths is as described above. Afterwards, the method performs step S 54  to evaluate the plurality of received signal strengths in a evaluation way and judging if the received signal strengths pass the evaluation, and if YES, performs step S 56 , if NO, performs step S 32 . It is noticeable that in the evaluation way according to an embodiment, the method can judge whether the received signal strength of the first mobile communication device  12  larger than each of the received signal strengths of the second mobile communication devices  14 , and if YES, performs step S 32 , if NO, performs step S 56 . In the evaluation way according to another embodiment, the method can judge whether each of the received signal strengths smaller than a threshold, and if YES, performs step S 32 , if NO, performs step S 56 . 
     Step S 56  is to transmit the referenced positions TP and the received signal strengths to the first mobile communication device  12 . Afterwards, the method performs step S 58  to receive a target position TP selected from the referenced positions RP from the first mobile communication device  12 . Then, the method performs step S 60  to determine a current position CP relative to the first mobile communication device  12 . After that, the method performs step S 62  to generate a guiding information GI according to the target position TP and the current position CP. Finally, the method performs step S 64  to transmit the guiding information GI to the first mobile communication device  12 . According to the guiding information GI, the user can reach the target position TP easily. Since the first mobile communication device  12  has better received signal strength at the target position TP, the user can acquire excellent communication quality when using the first mobile communication device  12  at the target position TP. 
     Comparing to prior arts, the guiding method and system of the invention is capable of generating a guiding information according to a current position and a target position. Via the guiding information, the user can easily reach the target position to acquire better communication quality. Thereby, it is more convenient for the user to use the mobile communication device. 
     With the example and explanations above, the features and spirits of the invention will be hopefully well described. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.