Patent ID: 7305232

Claim:
An apparatus used in a first mobile communication system with a plurality of wireless base stations, the first mobile communication system operated by a first provider, the apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit configured to acquire identification information of the plurality of wireless base stations; a location detecting unit configured to detect a present location of the apparatus on acquiring the identification information of the plurality of wireless base stations; a storing unit configured to store first service location information with respect to the first provider in which the identification information acquired by the acquiring unit is associated with the present location of the apparatus detected by the location detecting unit; and a location information providing unit configured to calculate locally a location of the plurality of wireless base stations using the detected present location of the apparatus stored in the storing unit, and to exchange locally calculated first service location information and second service location information with respect to a second provider through an ad hoc network with a second apparatus in a second mobile communication system that is operated by the second provider, wherein the location information providing unit is configured to provide a user with information based on the first service location information and the second service location information.