JP2002082890A - Method for transmitting positional information transmitting mail and portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To remove anxiety of a user and reduce an increase in traffic. SOLUTION: A mobile terminal 3a notifies the mobile terminal 3b of an automatic transmission time zone in advance by GPS mail. In the mobile terminal 3b, when the user agrees with the notified automatic transmission time zone, a reply mail is automatically transmitted to the mobile terminal 3a. Thereby, in the mobile terminals 3a and 3b,
The position information automatic transmission timer 21 starts. Then, when the automatic transmission start time comes, the GP with the position information obtained by the GPS unit 19 attached to each other only during the automatic transmission time zone.
It sends an S-mail and displays the position of itself and the other party on the map data acquired from the server 1 with icons.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for transmitting position information transmission mail and a portable terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, GPS (Global Positioning System) has been used in portable terminals such as portable telephones and PHS terminals.
m), a position information is acquired using an e-mail (hereinafter referred to as GPS mail) attached with the position information to a partner terminal at predetermined time intervals to display a relative position with the partner. ing. The mobile terminal can display the position of the partner, which changes from moment to moment, on the map data based on the position information of the partner attached to the received e-mail.

[0003]

By the way, in the prior art, a GPS mail to which position information acquired by GPS is attached is always transmitted. However, at all times,
Disclosing your location to the other party gives you a sense of psychological anxiety that is always monitored. In addition, since the GPS mail is automatically transmitted constantly, there is a problem that traffic increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a position information transmission mail transmission method and a portable terminal capable of removing anxiety of a user and reducing an increase in traffic.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a position information transmission mail transmitting method according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a position information transmission mail transmitting a position information transmission mail to which own position information is attached. , An automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail is set in advance, and when the automatic transmission start time is reached, the position information transmission mail is automatically transmitted.

In a preferred embodiment, for example, in the method for transmitting a location information transmission mail according to the first aspect of the present invention, a consent reminder mail in which an automatic transmission start time of the location information transmission mail is described to a partner terminal. An automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail when transmitting and receiving the consent e-mail for the consent reminder mail from the partner terminal may be set.

In a preferred embodiment, in the method for transmitting a location information transmission mail according to claim 1, for example, a consent reminder mail in which an automatic transmission start time of the location information transmission mail is recorded from a partner terminal. , An acceptance reply mail is transmitted to the partner terminal only when accepting at the automatic transmission start time, and after sending the acceptance reply mail, the automatic transmission start time for automatically sending the location information transmission mail is set. You may.

In a preferred embodiment, in the position information transmission mail transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, for example, in addition to the automatic transmission start time, an automatic transmission end time The automatic transmission of the position information transmission mail may be terminated when the automatic transmission end time is reached.

In a preferred embodiment, in the method of transmitting a position information transmission mail according to any one of the first to third aspects, for example,
When a user's end instruction operation is performed, GP
The automatic transmission of the S-mail may be ended.

In a preferred aspect, in the position information transmission mail transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, for example, the position information is a GPS which detects latitude / longitude data. May be acquired.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, a portable terminal according to the present invention for transmitting a position information transmission mail having its own position information attached thereto is an automatic terminal for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail. It is characterized by comprising a setting means for presetting a transmission start time, and a mail transmission means for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail when the automatic transmission start time set by the setting means is reached.

In a preferred embodiment, for example, in the portable terminal according to the present invention, the mail sending means includes a consent urging mail in which a sending time zone of the position information sending mail is written to the partner terminal. The setting means may set an automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail when receiving the consent e-mail for the consent reminder mail from the partner terminal.

In a preferred embodiment, for example, in the portable terminal according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the mail originating means includes a consent in which an automatic transmission start time of the position information transmission mail is written from the partner terminal. When receiving the reminder mail, only when accepting at the automatic transmission start time, the consent reply mail is transmitted to the partner terminal, and the setting means automatically transmits the location information transmission mail after transmitting the consent reply mail. The start time may be set.

As a preferred mode, in the portable terminal according to any one of claims 7 to 9, for example, in addition to the automatic transmission start time, the setting means may include an automatic transmission end time. A time may be set, and when the automatic transmission end time has been reached, the automatic transmission of the position information transmission mail may be terminated.

In a preferred embodiment, in the portable terminal according to any one of claims 7 to 9, for example, the mail sending means may perform a user end instruction operation during automatic sending. If there is, the automatic transmission of the GPS mail may be forcibly terminated.

In a preferred embodiment, the portable terminal according to any one of claims 7 to 11 is provided with a GPS means for detecting latitude and longitude data as the position information. You may do so.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A. Configuration of Embodiment A-1. System Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a business server 1 is connected to a network 6 such as the Internet, and includes a map data storage unit 2. The map data storage unit 2 stores map data. The business server 1 reads out predetermined map data from the map data storage unit 2 based on a map data request from mobile terminals 3 a and 3 b described later, and reads the map data via the network 6 and the communication line network 5. To be sent to.

Next, the portable terminals 3a and 3b are carried by a user and are driven by a battery, such as a portable telephone, a PHS
A terminal, a portable information terminal, or the like, which has functions similar to those of a normal telephone, such as a liquid crystal display unit and dial keys. The mobile terminals 3a and 3b communicate with the public base stations 4a and 4b by radio to make telephone calls and data communication via the communication network 5, and to communicate electronically via a mail server (not shown) on the network 6. Send and receive emails.

The portable terminals 3a and 3b have a function of acquiring their own position information using GPS, and can transmit a GPS mail with position information attached to another portable terminal according to the user's will. A time zone for automatic transmission is set, and the GPS mail is transmitted to the partner terminal only in the time zone. Also, the mobile terminals 3a and 3b are
When the mail is received, a map data request is transmitted to the business server 1 via the communication network 5 and the network 6, and the map data transmitted from the business server 1 is transmitted in response to the request. The position of the user and the terminal of the other party are displayed as icons on the top.

Next, the communication line network 5 is composed of a normal analog telephone line network or a dedicated digital line network spread all over the country, and is interconnected with a network 6 such as the Internet. Public base stations 4a, 4b
Are installed in the communication network 5 at predetermined intervals, each have their own service area (radio wave reachable range: communication area), and the mobile terminals 3a, 3b existing in the service area
Is a relay station that wirelessly connects to the communication network 5.

A-2. Next, the configuration of the above-described mobile terminal will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile terminal.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a transmission / reception unit, which comprises a frequency conversion unit and a modem. Through the antenna ANT,
In order to perform radio communication with the base stations 4a and 4b, it performs frequency conversion and modulation / demodulation of radio waves. Next, the communication control unit 11 performs communication control based on a predetermined communication method (for example, TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), etc.). Next, the audio processing unit 12
Performs encoding / decoding of an audio signal.

Next, the key input unit 15 includes numeric keys for inputting a telephone number of a destination, a switch for on-hook / off-hook, a volume switch for changing audio output, and the like. The control unit 16 controls the entire apparatus according to a predetermined program. Specifically, the control unit 16 sets a time zone for automatically transmitting a GPS mail with position information attached to another mobile terminal, and transmits the GPS mail to the partner terminal only in the time zone. It has become. When the control unit 16 receives the GPS mail,
A map data request is transmitted to the business server 1 via the communication line network 5 and the network 6, and the map data request transmitted from the business server 1 is transmitted in response to the request. The position with the side terminal is displayed as an icon. The ROM 17 stores the control unit 16
And various parameters are stored. The RAM 18 stores data generated under the control of the control unit 16 and is used as a working area.

Next, the GPS unit 19 has at least about four of the geodetic satellites (NAVSTAR: currently 24 orbiting the earth) launched by the U.S. Department of Defense Radio wave (1.22760G / 1.57542GHz) transmitted from the geodetic satellite of
, The phase of the radio wave (difference in reception timing) is calculated, and triangulation is performed between the receiver and the satellite to obtain position information including the latitude / longitude (· altitude) information of the current position. The display unit 20 is composed of a liquid crystal display, and displays an operation mode, various data such as a telephone number and a talk time, received map data, and the like under the control of the control unit 16. In addition, the position information automatic transmission program timer 21
The control unit 16 is activated when the user accepts the automatic transmission time zone of the GPS mail, and notifies the control unit 16 when the automatic transmission start time and the automatic transmission end time are reached.

B. Next, an operation according to the above-described embodiment will be described. B-1. Setting of Automatic Transmission Time First, the operation when setting the automatic transmission time zone of GPS mail between the mobile terminal 3a and the terminal 3b will be described. Here, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of setting the transmission and reception of the GPS mail between the terminals. First, in step S10, the user of the mobile terminal 3a automatically sends a GPS mail to the user (or a plurality of mobile terminals) of the mobile terminal 3b in addition to a body describing a meeting schedule, as shown in FIG. GP with date and time of transmission
Send an S-mail. In the illustrated example, the scheduled time PM7:
Before 30, GPS mails are automatically transmitted between PM 5:00 and PM 8:00, and mutually transmitted and received.

On the portable terminal 3b side, in step S20,
It is determined whether or not the GPS mail has arrived.
When the PS mail arrives, the received GPS mail is displayed on the display unit in step S22. Here, the mobile terminal 3
After confirming the body of the GPS mail, the user of FIG.
In the display screen shown in FIG. 5, the automatic transmission time zone of the GPS mail is confirmed, and if the automatic transmission time zone is acceptable, the "OK" button is selected and accepted.

In step S24, the portable terminal 3b determines whether or not it has been accepted. When the automatic transmission time period of the GPS mail is accepted, the portable terminal 3a is notified of the acceptance in step S26. Replies to GPS mail. Thereafter, in step S28, a position information automatic transmission program timer for automatically transmitting GPS mail during the automatic transmission time period is started. The mobile terminal 3b
If the user does not accept the above automatic transmission time zone, no reply mail is sent (a message not to accept may be sent as a reply mail). In such a case, the user of the mobile terminal 3b transmits a GPS mail (not a reply mail) describing a time zone or the like according to the user's own convenience, and sets a meeting time or an automatic transmission time zone with the user of the mobile terminal 3a. Just negotiate.

On the other hand, at the portable terminal 3a side, step S1
At 2, it is determined whether there is a reply mail. If there is a reply mail from the mobile terminal 3b, at step S14,
A position information automatic transmission program timer 21 for automatically transmitting a GPS mail in an automatic transmission time zone is started. At this time, in the portable terminal 3a, as shown in FIG.
A message indicating that the position information automatic transmission program timer 21 has been set to 0, an automatic transmission time zone, and the like are displayed. If there is no reply mail, the position information automatic transmission program timer 21 is not started.

B-1. Automatic operation of transmitting GPS mail Next, an operation of automatically transmitting GPS mail between the mobile terminal 3a and the mobile terminal 3b based on the position information automatic transmission program timer will be described. Here, FIG.
It is a flowchart for demonstrating the automatic transmission operation | movement of GPS mail. Since the mobile terminal 3a and the mobile terminal 3b mutually transmit and receive GPS mails, the mobile terminal on the transmitting side performs the operation shown in FIG.
The operation shown in FIG. 4B is performed in the portable terminal on the receiving side.

First, in each of the portable terminals 3a and 3b, in step S30, the position information automatic transmission program timer 2
It is determined whether or not the automatic transmission start time of the GPS mail has reached based on the information of the GPS mail. Send to That is, the GPS mail is transmitted from the mobile terminal 3a to the mobile terminal 3b and from the mobile terminal 3b to the mobile terminal 3a. And
In step S34, it is determined whether or not the automatic transmission end time has come. If not, the process returns to step S32,
Repeat the transmission of GPS mail. As a result, the GPS mail is transmitted between the mobile terminals 3a and 3b at predetermined time intervals as shown in FIG.

The portable terminals 3a and 3b each determine in step S40 whether or not a GPS mail has been received. When the GPS mail is received, the process proceeds to step S42.
Then, the location information of the other party attached to the received GPS mail is extracted, and the map data is requested to the server 1 via the communication network 5 and the network 6. The server 1 reads predetermined map data from the map data storage unit 2 based on map data requests from the mobile terminals 3a and 3b,
The data is transmitted to the portable terminal via the network 6 and the communication line network 5. In each of the mobile terminals 3a and 3b, step S
At 44, it is determined whether or not map data has been received.
Upon receiving the map data from the server 1, step S4
In step 6, as shown in FIG. 9, the own position and the position of the other party are displayed as icons 30a and 30b on the map data.

The portable terminals 3a and 3b can send an e-mail or make a telephone call (voice communication) to the portable terminal of the other party by selecting the icon of the other party. In addition, by the service from the server 1, it is possible to display navigation information (direction guidance: displaying a route to the other party's location) to the other party's location.

In the above-described embodiment, the automatic transmission time zone of the GPS mail is set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least the automatic transmission start time of the GPS mail may be set. In this case, when the automatic transmission start time is reached, the transmission of the GPS mail may be started, and the automatic transmission of the GPS mail may be ended by the operation of the user. Alternatively, an automatic transmission time zone (automatic transmission start time and automatic transmission end time) of the GPS mail is set, and when the user performs a termination instruction operation during the automatic transmission operation, the GPS mail is forcibly transmitted. The automatic transmission may be ended.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the automatic transmission time zone of the GPS mail is set by receiving the GPS mail. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the user may set it by key operation or the like.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting a position information transmission mail attached with its own position information is set in advance, and when the automatic transmission start time is reached, Since the position information transmission mail is automatically transmitted, only when necessary based on the user's will, it is possible to send an e-mail with the position information attached, it is possible to remove the user's anxiety, The advantage is that the increase in traffic can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a consent reminder mail describing the automatic transmission start time of the position information transmission mail is transmitted to the partner terminal, and the consent reminder for the consent reminder mail is received from the partner terminal. Since the automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail is set, the e-mail with the position information can be transmitted only when necessary based on the user's intention, An advantage is obtained that anxiety can be eliminated and an increase in traffic can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when receiving the consent reminder mail describing the automatic transmission start time of the position information transmission mail from the partner terminal, only when the automatic transmission start time is accepted, the partner After sending the consent reply mail to the terminal, and after sending the consent reply mail, the automatic sending start time for automatically sending the location information sending mail is set, so the location is set only when necessary based on the user's will. It is possible to send an e-mail with information attached, to remove the user's anxiety, and to reduce the increase in traffic.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an automatic transmission end time is set in addition to the automatic transmission start time, and when the automatic transmission end time is reached, the automatic transmission of the position information transmission mail is performed. Because it is terminated, it is possible to send an e-mail with location information attached only when necessary based on the user's will, so that the user's anxiety can be removed and the increase in traffic can be reduced. Is obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the automatic transmission of the GPS mail is forcibly terminated when the user performs a termination instruction operation during the automatic transmission. The e-mail attached with the location information can be transmitted only when necessary based on the will, so that the user can be less anxious and the traffic can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the position information is acquired by the GPS for detecting the latitude / longitude data, so that the position information is obtained only when necessary based on the user's intention. It is possible to send an e-mail with information attached, to remove the user's anxiety, and to reduce the increase in traffic.

According to the present invention, an automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail is set in advance by the setting means, and the automatic transmission start time set by the setting means is set. When the time has arrived, the e-mail sending means automatically sends the e-mail with the position information, so that the e-mail with the position information attached can be sent only when necessary based on the user's will, This has the advantage that the user's anxiety can be removed and the increase in traffic can be reduced.

According to the invention of claim 8, the mail sending means sends a consent reminder mail describing the sending time zone of the position information sending mail to the partner terminal, and the setting means sets the partner reminder mail. When receiving the consent e-mail for the consent reminder mail from, the automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission e-mail is set, so the position information is attached only when necessary based on the user's will. It is possible to send an e-mail, remove the user's anxiety, and reduce the increase in traffic.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the consent reminder mail in which the automatic transmission start time of the position information transmission mail is described is received from the partner terminal, the mail transmission means accepts the automatic transmission start time. Only when sending a consent reply mail to the partner terminal,
After the consent reply mail is sent, the automatic sending start time for automatically sending the location information sending mail is set, so that the e-mail with the location information attached is sent only when necessary based on the user's will. This makes it possible to eliminate the user's anxiety and reduce the increase in traffic.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the setting means sets an automatic transmission end time in addition to the automatic transmission start time.
When the automatic transmission end time is reached, the automatic transmission of the position information transmission mail is terminated, so that the e-mail with the position information attached can be transmitted only when necessary based on the user's will. This has the advantage that the user's anxiety can be eliminated and the increase in traffic can be reduced.

Further, the automatic transmission of the GPS mail is forcibly ended by the mail transmission means when the user performs a termination instruction operation during the automatic transmission. Therefore, it is possible to send an e-mail with location information attached only when necessary based on the user's will, thereby eliminating the user's anxiety and reducing the increase in traffic. can get.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, G
Since the latitude and longitude data is detected as the position information by the PS means, an e-mail attached with the position information can be transmitted only when necessary based on the user's intention, and the user is uneasy. The advantage is that the feeling can be removed and the increase in traffic can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation at the time of setting of transmission / reception of GPS mail between terminals.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an automatic sending operation of GPS mail.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen display on the mobile terminal at the time of automatic call setting.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen display on the mobile terminal at the time of automatic call setting.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen display on the mobile terminal at the time of automatic call setting.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen display on the mobile terminal during an automatic calling operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of map data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 server 2 map data storage unit 3a, 3b mobile terminal 4a, 4b public base station 5 communication line network 10 transmission / reception unit 11 communication control unit 12 voice processing unit 13 speaker 14 microphone 15 key input unit 16 control unit (setting unit, mail transmission Means) 17 ROM 18 RAM 19 GPS unit (GPS means) 20 Display unit 21 Position information automatic transmission timer

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A position information transmission mail transmission method for transmitting a position information transmission mail attached with its own position information, wherein an automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail is set in advance. A position information transmission mail transmission method, wherein the position information transmission mail is transmitted automatically when a start time is reached. 2. A consent reminder mail describing the automatic transmission start time of the position information transmission mail is transmitted to the partner terminal, and when the consent reminder for the consent reminder mail is received from the partner terminal, the position information transmission mail is automatically transmitted. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an automatic transmission start time is set. 3. Receiving a consent reminder mail describing the automatic transmission start time of the position information transmission mail from the partner terminal,
Only when accepting at the automatic transmission start time, an acceptance reply mail is transmitted to the partner terminal, and after the acceptance reply mail is transmitted, an automatic transmission start time at which the position information transmission mail is automatically transmitted is set. Item 1. The location information transmission mail transmission method according to item 1. 4. An automatic transmission end time is set in addition to the automatic transmission start time, and when the automatic transmission end time is reached, the automatic transmission of the position information transmission mail is terminated. 3. The method for transmitting a position information transmission mail according to any one of (1) to (3). 5. The position according to claim 1, wherein the automatic transmission of the GPS mail is forcibly terminated when the user performs a termination instruction operation during the automatic transmission. Information transmission mail transmission method. 6. The position information transmission mail transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the position information is acquired by a GPS that detects latitude / longitude data. 7. A portable terminal for transmitting a position information transmission mail with its own position information attached thereto, wherein: a setting means for presetting an automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail; A mobile terminal for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail when the automatic transmission start time is reached. 8. The mail sending means sends a consent reminder e-mail describing a time period for sending position information sending e-mail to the partner terminal, and the setting means receives a consent e-mail for the consent reminder mail from the partner terminal. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein an automatic transmission start time for automatically transmitting the position information transmission mail is set. 9. The mail sending means, upon receiving an acceptance prompt mail describing an automatic sending start time of the position information sending mail from the partner terminal, only accepting the automatic sending start time and returning the acceptance to the partner terminal. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the mobile terminal transmits an e-mail, and sets the automatic transmission start time at which the position information transmission mail is automatically transmitted after the consent reply mail is transmitted. 10. The setting means sets an automatic transmission end time in addition to the automatic transmission start time. When the automatic transmission end time arrives, the mail transmitting means automatically transmits the position information transmission mail. 10. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the process is terminated. 11. The system according to claim 7, wherein said mail sending means forcibly ends the automatic sending of the GPS mail when the user instructs the end during the automatic sending. A mobile terminal according to any of the above. 12. The portable terminal according to claim 7, further comprising a GPS unit for detecting latitude / longitude data as the position information.