Abstract:
An apparatus and method for providing a location information service using a mobile code in a Mobile Station (MS). The method includes scanning, by an input device of the MS, a mobile code; analyzing identifier information of the scanned mobile code; determining whether the identifier information corresponds to other information stored in the MS; if the identifier information corresponds to other information stored in the MS, acquiring location information, to be matched on a first cyber map in the MS, corresponding to the identifier information; matching the acquired location information on the first cyber map and displaying the matched first cyber map on an output device of the MS; and calculating a moving distance and a path using at least one location corresponding to the acquired location information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to offering a location information service, and more particularly, to a system and method capable of providing location information using mobile codes, without using radio signals for positioning (or position measurement), such as Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Mobile communication systems have evolved to provide not only voice services but also a variety of additional services differentiated from the voice services. Profits of communication service providers that provide only the voice services have already been limited by market saturation. Therefore, the communication service providers are seeking new profit opportunities by providing a variety of additional services differentiated from the voice services, such as, Location Based Service (LBS) services, which are based on location information of Mobile Stations (MSs). LBS services provide user-requested additional application services by combining location information of moving users or vehicles with a variety of other information in real time. Therefore, acquisition of the location information is one of the important factors in providing the LBS services. Originally, LBS services were used by large distribution companies to track their vehicles and their freights. Recently, however, LBS services are being extended to include services for the general public, such as Find-a-Person, Real-Time Traffic Information, Weather Information at a user&#39;s current location, etc. 
         [0005]    The location information is the contents of locations of actual geographical features and objects on the surface of the earth, which are represented using a predetermined method such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) scheme and a network scheme that provides location information of MSs. In the GPS scheme, a radio navigation system for measuring accurate positions, velocities and times of objects on the surface of the earth using satellites, measures arrival times of waves by receiving satellite signals transmitted from the satellites, and calculates locations of users based on the measured times. The network scheme provides location information of MSs using Base Stations (BSs) and/or Relay Stations (RSs) in Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication systems or Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) communication systems. 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of providing an LBS service by acquiring location information using the conventional GPS scheme and the conventional network scheme. 
         [0007]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in order to acquire desired location information, an MS with a built-in GPS module can determine a distance between satellites and its user by calculating arrival times of signals transmitted from the satellites, and an MS without a built-in GPS module can provide an LBS service based upon the Cell Identifications (Cell-IDs) of cells managed by BSs or RSs currently serving the MS. In order to acquire more detailed and precise location information, triangulation may be performed using signals transmitted from three or more BSs or RSs. 
         [0008]    However, the GPS-based and network-based location schemes can only provide limited personal location information. GPS-based location information can be precisely calculated, but this precise information is limited to MSs with a GPS function, which requires GPS hardware. Further, the GPS scheme is unavailable within in a room or a building. In addition, because an accuracy of the network-based location information falls within several hundred meters through several kilometers due to a difference between a user and BSs or RSs in terms of the time and radio signals, accurate location information of the user or a service such as path guidance cannot be provided, and therefore, accuracy of the network scheme is subject to significant changes depending on the location of the user. 
         [0009]    Therefore, there is a need for a technology capable of providing location information services by extracting precise location information without using measurement values calculated by radio signals for position measurement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus and method capable of precisely detecting location information of a user, without using measurement values determined by radio signals such as GPS signals or network signals. 
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a location information service using a mobile code in a Mobile Station (MS). The method includes scanning, by an input device of the MS, a mobile code; analyzing identifier information of the scanned mobile code; determining whether the identifier information corresponds to other information stored in the MS; if the identifier information corresponds to other information stored in the MS, acquiring location information, to be matched on a first cyber map in the MS, corresponding to the identifier information; matching the acquired location information on the first cyber map and displaying the matched first cyber map on an output device of the MS; and calculating a moving distance and a path using at least one location corresponding to the acquired location information. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing a location information service using a mobile code. The system includes a Mobile Station (MS) for receiving a mobile code, analyzing an identifier stored in the mobile code, acquiring location information using the analyzed identifier, matching coordinates corresponding to the location information on a first cyber map in the MS, and displaying the first cyber map on which the location information is matched; and a server for, upon receiving a request from the MS, transmitting data corresponding to the location information of the identifier to the MS upon request of the MS, wherein the MS sends the request to the server when the identifier does not correspond to information previously stored in the MS. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of providing an LBS service by acquiring location information using the conventional GPS scheme and network scheme; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates examples different types of mobile codes to which the present invention is applicable; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates internal structures of a device for detecting location information and a server according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a procedure for providing location information using mobile codes according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features and structures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates examples of different types of mobile codes to which the present invention is applicable. A mobile code includes specific information therein, or includes Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) information to facilitate an access to a specific service. After scanning the mobile code having such information with an input device such as a digital camera or a code reader, a user may extract the information and display the extracted information, or may access the extracted URI and received information provided at the URI. 
         [0021]    For example, if a user desires to purchase goods, the user may use an input device to scan a mobile code that stores detailed information on the goods and an address of a web site where the user can purchase the goods. Thereafter, the user may check the information about the goods in the connected web site, and may further decide purchase to the goods. 
         [0022]    Such a mobile code can be used mainly for web download, Short Message Service (SMS)/E-mail transfer, automatic dialing, business cards, etc. For example, when a user is interested in purchasing goods, the user may scan, using an input device, a mobile code that stores detailed information about the goods and a URI of a web site where the user can purchase the goods. Thereafter, the user may check the information about the goods in the connected web site, and may further decide to purchase the goods. For example, if a user uses an MS to scan a mobile code that is printed on a business card of a certain person and stores a phone number and an E-mail address of the certain person, the MS may automatically dial the phone number or send an E-mail to the person. In addition, by storing an identifier including location information in the mobile code, which can store a variety of information, it is possible to provide location information of an object associated with the mobile code. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates internal structures of a device for detecting location information and a server according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the device may correspond to an MS and the server may correspond to a BS that communicates with the MS. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a device  31  for detecting location information according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a code reading module  301 , a code decoding module  305 , a location management module  307 , a path calculation module  309 , a memory  311 , a display module  303 , and a communication management module  310 . The memory  311  includes a location search table  306  and a cyber map  308 . 
         [0025]    In the device  31 , the code reading module  301  reads a mobile code from the exterior. A code reader may be used to read a one-Dimensional (1D) code, while a digital camera module generally mounted in an MS may be used to read a two-Dimensional (2D) code. The code decoding module  305  extracts text and number information stored in the read code provided from the code reading module  301 . The code decoding module  305  can extract an identifier or information including numbers, text, etc. from the read mobile code, and may directly extract location information, if location information is stored in the mobile code. The location management module  307 , a module for acquiring actual location information using the identifier acquired from the mobile code, acquires the actual location information in cooperation with the location search table  306  and the cyber map  308  in the memory  311 . 
         [0026]    The path calculation module  309  calculates a path between two points when the user&#39;s current location information and destination location information are mapped on the cyber map  308 . The location search table  306  is a module for mapping locations corresponding to identifiers of acquired mobile codes, and if locations corresponding to acquired mobile codes are not stored in the device  31 , the device  31  can receive, from a network server  33 , a location search table  325  stored in the network server  33 . The display module  303  displays information of the device  31  for the user, and the communication management module  310  connects with the server  33  to facilitate transmission/reception of necessary information when communication is performed between the device  31  and the server  33 . 
         [0027]    In the server  33 , a communication management module  319  connects with the device  31  to enable transmission/reception of necessary information when the server  33  communicates with the device  31 . A location management module  321  acquires actual location information using an identifier acquired from a mobile code when a location information request message is received from the device  31 . The location management module  321  acquires actual location information in association with the location search table  325  and a cyber map  327  in a memory  323 . The memory  323  in the server  33 , which performs similar functions as the memory  311 , transmits, to the device  31 , location information corresponding to an identifier the user desires to locate, when the location information for the desired identifier does not exist in the memory  311  of the device  31 . A procedure for providing location information using the above structures will be described below. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates a procedure for providing location information using mobile codes according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in step  401 , an input device of an MS reads a mobile code to acquire desired location information. The input device of the MS can be a camera module mounted in the MS, a code reader that exclusively reads mobile codes, or another similar device. 
         [0030]    Using the mobile code read in step  401 , the MS determines whether desired location information or an identifier from which the location information can be acquired is stored in the mobile code read by the MS, in step  403 . If location information of a specific location or building corresponding to the read mobile code, in addition to the identifier, is stored in the mobile code, the MS directly proceeds to step  413  without detecting location information using the identifier, according to a selection of the user. In step  413 , the MS can acquire location information by mapping the location information on a cyber map in the MS. However, if only the identifier, but not the location information, is stored in the read mobile code, or if the user selects the identifier, the MS acquires identifier information by analyzing the stored identifier in step  405 . 
         [0031]    In step  407 , is the MS determines whether the identifier information of the mobile code, which is analyzed in step  405 , is information included in a location search table of the MS. For example, information on a specific point, building, or shop corresponding to the identifier information is acquired, and is the MS determines whether the acquired information is information included in the location search table of the MS. If the identifier information is included in the location search table of the MS, exact location information corresponding to the location of the identifier can be acquired by detecting accurate location information from the location search table. The location information can be represented by predefined horizontal and vertical distances from a specific place and/or by the floor of the building. Further, the moving distance and coordinate information can be represented in the location information by using information such as a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude. 
         [0032]    If the identifier information is not included in the location search table of the MS, the MS accesses a server and downloads data corresponding to the location information of the identifier from a location search table in the server in step  409 . Thereafter, in step  411 , the MS can acquire accurate location information corresponding to the current location of the identifier by updating the data downloaded from the server in its location search table. 
         [0033]    The acquired location information is mapped on the cyber map in the MS and displayed in steps  413  and  415 . If the map information corresponding to the acquired location information is also not stored in the MS, the MS may access the server, download map information corresponding to the location information from a cyber map in the server, update the cyber map of the MS using the downloaded map information, and display the updated cyber map after mapping. 
         [0034]    The user can acquire location information from the current location to the destination by calculating a moving distance and a path by using the destination location information and the current location information determined through the above process. 
         [0035]    In this manner, the MS can be provided with information on a location the user desires to find, through the process of  FIG. 4 , without using values determined by measuring radio signals for position measurement, such as GPS signals or network signals. The user of the MS can find the desired location in various ways using such location information. This will be described below by way of example only. 
         [0036]    If the user&#39;s current location is already known, the user can go to the destination by using the MS to analyze an identifier of a mobile code from which location information of the destination can be obtained. The identifier stored in the mobile code is used to obtain location information of the destination as described in  FIG. 4 , and the location information can be represented by a latitude, a longitude, an altitude, and/or other predefined information on the cyber map, which represents a pertinent place. For example, the location information can be represented by a distance from a well-known building and the floor of the building. For the goods that a user desires to purchase, additional information representing features of the goods and an identifier from which displayed location information can be obtained are stored in a mobile code corresponding to the goods, so that the user can selectively check the additional information and the displayed location information from the identifier stored in the mobile code using the MS. The user can conveniently move to the place where the goods are displayed, based on the displayed location information included in the identifier in accordance with the method illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0037]    However, when the user does not have information about the place where he is presently located, the user should first check location information of the current place, and then search for a path by finding location information of the destination. This function can be very convenient in congested shopping malls. For example, upon acquiring information that the goods the user wants is in a department A of a specific shopping mall, the user goes to the shopping mall and uses the MS to read a mobile code corresponding to the department A. As mobile codes corresponding to respective departments are generally printed on a guide map at the entrance of the shopping mall, the user can easily find a mobile code for the desired department. The MS can acquire location information of the destination as described in  FIG. 4  by reading the mobile code for the department A and analyzing an identifier from the mobile code of the department A, from which the location information can be obtained. Next, the user can instruct the MS to store, as the current location information, the location information acquired by analyzing an identifier of a mobile code for the nearest department, calculate a path to the destination, and go to the department A. 
         [0038]    Also, the MS may acquire destination information from an identifier of specific goods in a shopping mall, acquire the current location information by reading a mobile code of another goods displayed around the user, and re-calculate the path, thereby enabling the user to go to the department where the specific goods are displayed. 
         [0039]    If the user wants to determine whether he is on the right path to the destination, the user can use the MS to re-acquire the current location information using an identifier of a mobile code for the goods displayed around the user or in a nearby department, re-calculate the path. Then, the user can continue towards the desired destination. 
         [0040]    As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to embodiments of the present invention, an MS can acquire desired location information using an identifier of a mobile code. Even when a user wants additional information apart from location information of a specific building or goods, the MS can transmit information on an identifier of a mobile code for the building or goods to a server along with a request for the additional information desired by the user, and receive data corresponding to the desired additional information from the server, thereby acquiring the additional information. 
         [0041]    In conclusion, an MS with a recognition device such as a digital camera can acquire precise current location information by providing a personal navigation service without using measurement values determined by radio signals such as GPS signals or network signals. 
         [0042]    While a system and method for providing a location information service using a mobile code has been shown and described with reference to a certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.