Patent Publication Number: US-2005134453-A1

Title: Position data obtaining system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This application claims benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-409839 filed on Dec. 9, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by the reference.  
      The present invention relates to position data obtaining systems and, more particularly, to position data obtaining systems, which permits, by using short distance radio techniques, to obtain position data even in an underground market or like place incapable of being reached by GPS (global positioning system) signals, and activity history recorders using the same systems.  
      As portable terminal set or car navigation set, such as portable telephone set or PDA (personal digital assistant), a set having a GPS function to receive radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites on stationary orbits and obtain position data by carrying out calculations, has been proposed. The portable terminal set is adapted to radio communicate with a number of base stations each having a relatively narrow service area. Thus, the set can obtain its (or its users) position data on the basis of the data of base stations communicated with it and obtain activity history data from the position data.  
      Techniques of the position data obtaining or activity history recording using such portable terminal set or the like, are disclosed in various literatures. For example, an activity history output device and recording medium capable of reading data from a personal computer are disclosed. The disclosed device and medium are adapted to obtain position data from a GPS or the like with a position data receiving means, obtain the time instant of obtaining the position data with a clock and display a position name corresponding to the position data in time sequence on a display (see Literature 1, for instance). As another example, a mobile terminal data providing system and a parking place managing system are disclosed. In this case of disclosure, a plurality of radio/distribution line transfer communication converters for converting very low level output radio communication to distribution line transfer communication and vice versa, are installed on the power distribution line in the facility. These converters can communicate with and specify the positions of mobile terminals and provide data services thereto even in an underground market, a station or like place, which is complicated in shape and difficultly permits radio communication with universal portable terminals (see Literature 2, for instance).  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the above prior art activity history recorder disclosed in the Literature 1. This activity history recorder  90  comprises an antenna  91 , a position data receiver  92 , a display  93 , a keyboard  94 , a mouse  95 , a CPU (central processing unit)  96 , a main memory  97 , a secondary memory  98  and a clock  99 . The elements  92  to  99  are inter-connected via buses for data exchange.  
      In this activity history recorder  90 , the position data recorder  92  receives GPS signal on radio via the antenna  91 . The secondary memory  98  stores the position data received by the position data receiver  92 . Using the receiver  92 , position data is received periodically from GPS under control of the CPU  96 , and the obtained position data is recorded together with time data obtained from the clock  99  in the secondary memory  98 . When it is required, desired activity history data is obtained with output of the stored position data to the display  93  for display thereon.  
      In the prior art position data obtaining system described above with reference to  FIG. 9 , position data is obtained by using GPS signals. However, in an underground market or like place which is incapable of being reached by GPS signal, it is impossible to obtain position data. Also, a database server is used to obtain correspondence of the position data based on GPS and the position name to each other. Therefore, when correcting the position name, the database in the server also has to be corrected. Neglecting of the correction leads to the impossibility of obtaining the correspondence of the position data and the position name.  
      To preclude the above problems, the above prior art techniques as disclosed in the Literature 2 may be used. In this case, it is possible to obtain position data of base stations in the PHS (personal; handy-phone system) Besides, even in an underground market or like place incapable of being reached by radio waves from base stations, communication is possible by using the radio/distribution line communication converter.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position data obtaining system comprising a number of position data servers each covering a narrow service area and transmitting the own position data and name thereof, wherein: a portable terminal present in the service area of each position data server receives the position data and name thereof transmitted from the position data server, and stores the received position data and name thereof in an internal storing unit.  
      The position data servers transmit the position data and name thereof periodically in a predetermined cycle. The position data servers each have a key input unit and, when it is required, write or re-write the own position data and name thereof. The portable terminal also has an image display unit for displaying, when it is required, the position data and name thereof stored in the storing unit. The position data servers are installed even in underground markets, inside of buildings, tunnels and like places incapable of receiving GPS signal. The position data servers transmit map data in addition to the position data and name thereof.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an activity history recorder for recording the activity history produced during movement of the user of a portable terminal in a predetermined area for a predetermined period of time, comprising a number of position data servers each covering and located in various space in a narrow service area and periodically transmitting the own position data and name thereof, wherein: a portable terminal present in the service area of anyone of the position data servers receives the position data and name thereof transmitted by the position data server, stores the received position data and name thereof together with the reception time data as position data history data in its own storing unit, and when it is required, reads out the stored position data history data and displays the read-out data on an image display unit.  
      The position data servers further transmit map data, and the portable terminal has a map data storing unit for storing the map data received from the pertinent position data server, and displays the stored map data together with the activity history data on the image display unit.  
      According to other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position data obtaining method comprising steps of: transmitting position data and name data thereof from a position data server which is communicated with a portable terminal; receiving by the portable terminal the position data and the name data from the position data server; recording the received position data and name data together with time data obtained by the portable terminal in a memory; and displaying, if required, the position data, name data and time data on a display.  
      According to further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position data obtaining method comprising steps of: transmitting position data, name data and map data thereof from a position data server which is communicated with a portable terminal; receiving by the portable terminal the position data, name data and map data from the position data server; recording the received position data, name data and map data together with time data obtained by the portable terminal in a memory; and displaying, if required, the position data, name data map data and time data on a display.  
      The received data is recorded together with the time data in response to a request from a timer. The received data is recorded together with the time data in response to a request by a user of the portable terminal.  
      With the position data obtaining system and the activity history recording system using the same according to the invention, the following practically pronounced effects are obtainable. With a number of position data servers each covering a very narrow service area and installed in underground markets, inside of buildings, etc., it is possible to obtain position data even in places incapable of being reached by GPS signal. Also, since not only the position data of a position data server but also the name of position is transmitted, it is possible to obtain the name corresponding to the position data without need of accessing any position name database. Furthermore, since the position data server can transmit map data as well, the activity history can be grasped at a glance by displaying the map data on the image display.  
      Other objects and features will be clarified from the following description with reference to attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a position data obtaining system as a preferred embodiment of the invention:  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of an example of the portable terminal  101  shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of the position data server  102  shown in  FIG. 1 :  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing the potion data obtaining operation according to the embodiment;  
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing detailed operation of the potion data obtaining operation shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing the position data transmitting operation according to the embodiment;  
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a portable terminal used in a second embodiment;  
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a position data server used in the second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a prior art. 
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a position data obtaining system as a preferred embodiment of the invention. This position data obtaining system  100  comprises a plurality of narrow band radio networks  104 . Each narrow band radio network  104  includes position data servers  102  and  103  and a plurality of portable terminals  101 . The position data servers  102  and  103  can provide services to the portable terminals  101 .  
      The position data server  102  is installed in various urban places (such as shops and public facilities), and it is arranged with short-distance radio techniques and radio transmits the position data and name to the portable terminals  101  periodically in a predetermined cycle. Each portable terminal  101  in the narrow service area obtains (i.e., receives) position data and name from the position data server  102 , and records these data together with time data of that time instant as activity history. Those data may be displayed on a display, if required.  
      The position data server  102  also has a radio communication interface in a narrow area for radio communication with the portable terminals  101 . The position data server  102  further has an input means (such as a keyboard or a mouth), and can input position data and name of the position. The position data server  102  further has a position data storing unit for storing inputted position data and name.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of an example of the portable terminal  101  shown in  FIG. 1 . The portable terminal  101  shown in  FIG. 2  includes a microcomputer  201 , a position data history storing unit  202 , a key input unit  203 , a clock  204 , a timer  205 , an image display  206 , a transmitting/receiving unit  207  and an antenna  208 . The elements  202  to  207  are connected to the microcomputer  201  and operable under control thereof.  
      In the portable terminal  101  shown in  FIG. 2 , the position data history recording unit  202  records position data obtained from the position data server  102  or the like via the antenna  208  and the transmitting/receiving unit  207  together with time data obtained from the clock  204 . The position data history storing unit  202  is connected to the microcomputer  201 , and data is inputted to (i.e., written in) and outputted from (read out from) it according to processes executed in the microcomputer  201 . The position data history storing unit  202  is constituted by a semiconductor memory, an HDD (hard disc), etc., and provides a function of a data storing means.  
      As noted above, to the microcomputer  201  are connected the position data history recording unit  202 , the key input unit  203 , the clock  204 , the timer  205 , the image display unit  206  and the transmitting/receiving unit  207 . The microcomputer  201  performs, in addition to the data input output controls as noted above, controls according to input data from the key input unit  203 , control for obtaining the time data from the clock  204 , control of the timer  205 , controls of transmission and reception of various data from and in the transmitting/receiving unit  207 , controls for displaying these data in the image display unit  206  and control for displaying the results on the image display unit  206 .  
      The key input unit  203  may be of the push-button type or rotary dial type, but these types are by no means limitative. Data specified by the user, such as the position data display request and the position data obtaining request are transmitted to the microcomputer  201 . The clock  204  is used for obtaining time data, and transmits the time data in response to a request from the microcomputer  201 . The timer  205  provides interruptions to the microcomputer  201  in predetermined time intervals.  
      The image display unit  206  provides a function as image display means, and it may be such a display panel as an LCD (liquid crystal display) for monochromatic or color display. The liquid crystal display, however, is by no means limitative. The transmitting/receiving unit  207  provides a function as transmitting/receiving means, and it is connected to the antenna  208  and transmits and receives various data by radio communication under control of the microcomputer  201 . At the time of the transmission and reception of various data from and in the transmitting/receiving unit  207 , the antenna  208  sends out signals received from the transmitting/receiving unit  207  as radio waves. The antenna  208  thus is radio connected to nearby position data servers  102  or the like for radio wave transmission and reception.  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of the position data server  102  shown in  FIG. 1 . The position data server  102  as shown in  FIG. 3  includes a microcomputer  301 , a position data storing unit  302 , a key input unit  303 , a timer  304 , an image display unit  305 , a transmitting/receiving unit  306  and an antenna  307 .  
      In the position data server  102  shown in  FIG. 3 , the position data storing unit  302  stores position data and name thereof of the position data server  102 . The position data storing unit  302  is connected to the microcomputer  301 , and data is inputted to and outputted from it according to processes executed in the microcomputer  301 . The position data storing unit  302  is constituted by a semiconductor memory, a hard disc, etc., and provides a function as data storing means.  
      To the microcomputer  301  are connected the position data storing unit  302 , the key input unit  303 , the timer  304 , the image display unit  305  and the transmitting/receiving unit  306 . The microcomputer  301  performs, in addition to the various data input output controls noted above, controls according to input data from the key input unit  303 , control of the timer  304 , controls for transmitting and receiving various data from and in the transmitting/receiving unit  306  and control for displaying the results on the image display unit  305 .  
      The key input unit  303  may be of the push-button type or rotary dial type. These types, however, are by no means limitative. The timer  304  provides interruptions to the microcomputer  201  in predetermined time intervals. The image display unit  305  provides a function as image display means, and it may be a liquid crystal display for monochromatic or color display. The liquid crystal display, however, is by no means limitative.  
      The transmitting/receiving unit  306  is connected to the antenna  307 , and it provides a function as transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving various data by radio communication under control of the microcomputer  301 . When the transmitting/receiving unit  306  transmits and receives various data, the antenna  307  sends out signals received from the transmitting/receiving unit  306  as radio waves. The antenna  307  thus is radio connected to nearby portable terminals  101  for radio wave transmission and reception.  
      “Position data obtaining operation”, in which the portable terminal  101  shown in  FIG. 2  obtains position data, will now be described with reference to the flow charts of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . First, the portable terminal  101  checks whether an interruption has been provided from the timer  205  (step S 41 ). When the interruption has been provided (“Yes” in step S 41 ), the portable terminal  101  executes the position data obtaining flow as shown in  FIG. 5  (step S 50 ). When the interruption has not been provided (“No” in step S 41 ), the portable terminal  101  checks whether the user has made a position data obtaining request (step S 42 ). When the request has been made (“Yes” in step S 42 ), the portable terminal executes the position data obtaining flow shown in  FIG. 5  (step S 50 ). When no request has been made (“No” in step S 42 ), the portable terminal  101  checks whether the user has made a request for ending the routine (step S 43 ). When no request has been made (“No” in step S 43 ), the portable terminal  101  returns to the step S 41  noted above. When the request has been made (“Yes” in step S 43 ), the portable terminal  101  brings an end to the routine.  
      Now, the position data obtaining flow in the above step S 50  will be described in details with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 5 . First, the portable terminal  101  tries the “position data obtaining” from the position data server (step S 51 ). When the position data could not have been obtained, that is, when the position data server  102  is not present in the radio communication range (“No” in step S 52 ), the portable terminal  101  brings an end to the routine. When the position data could have been obtained (“Yes” in step S 52 ), the portable terminal  101  obtains time data from the clock  204  in it (step S 53 ). Then, the portable terminal  101  stores the obtained position data and time data as a pair in the position data history storing unit  202  (step S 54 ).  
      Now, “position data transmitting operation”, in which the position data server  102  shown in  FIG. 3  transmits position data, will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in  FIG. 6 . First, the position data server  102  checks whether the interruption from the timer  304  has been provided (step S 61 ). When the interruption has been provided (“Yes” in step S 61 ), the position data server  102  transmits the position data and the name (step S 62 ). Then, the position data server  102  checks whether the user has made a request for ending the routine (step S 63 ). When no request has been made (“No” in step S 63 ), the position data server  102  returns to the step S 61 . When the request has been made (“Yes” in step S 63 ), the position data server  102  brings an end to the routine.  
      Now, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. This embodiment is the same in the basic arrangement as the preceding embodiment, but it is improved in connection with activity history display. The arrangement of this embodiment is shown in the block diagrams of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . For the sake of the brevity of description, elements like those in the first embodiment are designated by like reference numerals.  
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a portable terminal used in the second embodiment. This portable terminal  101 A includes a microcomputer  201 , a position data history storing unit  202 , a key input unit  203 , a clock  204 , a timer  205 , an image display unit  206 , a transmitting/receiving unit  207 , an antenna  208  and a map data storing unit  209 . As is obvious from the comparison with the portable terminal  101  in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the portable terminal  101 A in the second embodiment further includes the map data storing unit  209 . The map data storing unit  209  is constituted by a semiconductor memory, a hard disc, etc., for storing map data, and provides a function as data storing means.  
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a position data server used in the second embodiment of the invention. The position data server  102 A includes a microcomputer  301 , a position data storing unit  302 , a key input unit  303 , a timer  304 , an image display unit  305 , a transmitting/receiving unit  306 , an antenna  307 , and a map data storing unit  308 . The position data server  102 A is different from the position data server  102  of the first embodiment described before with reference to  FIG. 3  in that it further includes the map data storing unit  308 . In the map data storing unit  308 , a map around the position data server  102 A is accumulated. The map data storing unit  308  is constituted by a semiconductor memory, a hard disc, etc., and provides a function as a data storing means.  
      The position data server  102 A transmits map data to the portable terminal  101 A when a request therefrom is made. The portable terminal  101 A stores the map data transmitted from the position data server  102  in the map data storing unit  209 , and when displaying the activity history, it also displays the stored map data on the map display unit  305 . As shown, in the second embodiment the map data is also stored, and thus it is possible to obtain an effect that the display of the activity history can be understood at a glance. The map data is accumulated in each position data server  102 A, and the portable terminal  101 A need not include any large memory capacity memory.  
      In the foregoing, preferred embodiments of the position data obtaining system and the activity history recorder using the same according to the invention have been described. According to the invention, the disposition and activity status of vehicles and personals in large facilities or grounds, the car activity status of taxi companies and home distribution dealers and so forth, can be grasped without substantial limitation on the place of activity. The invention thus is applicable to various purposes.  
      Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting.