JP2003284124A - Method for providing location information, search system and terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide location information by a method that can monitor the position of a person to be searched and protect the privacy of the person to be searched. SOLUTION: A searched terminal 12 that provides position information φ of a person to be searched 92 provides position information φ to a search terminal 10 via a search system 30 when outside a set non-search area A. However, the position information φ is not provided to the search system 30 inside the non-search area A. When the search terminal 10 cannot obtain the position information φ, it can be determined that the non-search terminal 12 is inside the non-search area A. Therefore, even if there is no detailed position information within the range, the search target terminal 12 We can grasp position. On the other hand, if the user goes out of the non-search range A, the detailed position of the searched terminal 12 is known, so that an abnormal situation can be quickly dealt with.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and system for providing position information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Portable information processing terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs have become popular. With these mobile devices,
A mobile terminal, that is, a mobile terminal, is installed by a method such as mounting a system for positioning the current position of the user by supplementing radio waves from satellites such as GPS, or acquiring the current position of the user from position information of the base station. The position information of the user can be acquired.

[0003]

With the widespread use of such portable terminals, a search service system for providing the current position of the user to a third party is being studied. The position information providing service by the third party is excellent as a system for monitoring the whereabouts and behaviors of sales persons and searching for the whereabouts of old people and children.

On the other hand, since the searcher side can always search the position of the search target person through the search system, even if the search target person has no abnormality, that is, the behavior of the search target person is always grasped or monitored. In this situation, the infringement of the searchee's privacy and the protection of personal information become problems. Also,
Even if the search target person is normal, the location information of the search target person is notified, so the communication frequency is high, it is not economical, and the communication infrastructure may be occupied by unnecessary communication. . Further, in the system of constant monitoring, it is necessary for the searcher side to always identify the position information of the search target person, and the labor and cost spent for it are large.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method and system capable of protecting privacy in a service for providing position information and reducing communication cost and infrastructure occupancy rate for providing position information. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the position information of the searched terminal (search target person) is not always provided, but a non-search area is set. By not providing the location information of the searcher, the privacy of the search target person is protected and the communication frequency is reduced.

That is, the method of providing position information according to the present invention provides a searcher with a searchable terminal registered as a searchee's information terminal outside the set non-search area. Sometimes, a first response step of providing a first response including the measured position information of the searched terminal, and a second response step of not including the measured position information of the searched terminal when not in the searchable state. A second response step for providing a response. When deploying a service that provides location information through a search system that can communicate with the searcher's terminal and the search target's terminal registered as the search target's information terminal, the search system will search the searcher's terminal for the search target. A first response step of providing a first response including the measured position information of the searched terminal when the terminal is in the searchable state outside the set non-search area; And a second response step of providing a second response that does not include the position information of the searched terminal by the search system.

When the position information is provided by this method, the searcher does not always obtain the position information of the searched terminal, but
The position information of the search target person is acquired via the search system only when the search target terminal is outside the preset non-search area (area, zone), that is, only in the irregular state. Therefore, when the searched terminal is present in the searched area, the privacy of the user who is the searched person can be protected, and the communication frequency for exchanging the position information can be reduced. On the other hand, the searcher is notified of the position of the searched terminal that has left the non-search area, so that the purpose of the service of providing position information can be achieved.

Therefore, in the present invention, means for communicating with the searcher's terminal and the searchee's terminal registered as the searchee's information terminal and the searchee's terminal are set as the searchee's terminal. Providing a first response including the positioned position information of the searched terminal when in a searchable state outside the non-search area, and positioned position information of the searched terminal when not in the searchable state It is desirable to provide a search system having a response means for providing a second response not including. Further, this search system is a program of the search system capable of communicating with the searcher's terminal and the searchee's terminal registered as the searchee's information terminal. A first response process that provides a first response including the measured position information of the searched terminal in a searchable state outside the set non-search area, and a search in the non-searchable state The system does not include the second position information of the searched terminal.
It is possible to record and provide the second response process for providing the response to a suitable recording medium as a program or a program product having an executable instruction. It can also be provided through a computer network such as the Internet.

When the position information is provided from the search system, the search system can determine whether or not the searched terminal is outside the non-search area, that is, whether or not it is in the searchable state. However, with this method, the search system realized by the server or the like always acquires the position information of the searched terminal, and it is difficult to completely protect the privacy of the non-searcher. Therefore, according to the method of providing position information of the present invention, when the position information is provided from an information terminal capable of communicating with the search system, when the position is outside the set non-search area when called from the search system. It is preferable to adopt the first transmission step of returning the first terminal response including the position information obtained by the positioning. Therefore, the method for providing position information of the present invention is an information terminal having a unit capable of communicating with a search system and a unit for positioning the current position information, and when it is called from the search system, It is desirable to use the information terminal having the transmission means for returning the first terminal response including the measured position information only when the information terminal is outside the set non-search area. The function of such a terminal is a program of an information terminal capable of communicating with the search system,
A program having an instruction capable of executing a first transmission process of returning a first terminal response including the position information of the measured position only when the user is outside the set non-search area when called from the search system. Alternatively, it can be provided as a program product through an appropriate recording medium or network.

In the case of providing position information according to the present invention, the searched terminal does not have to respond within the non-search area. , The frequency of communication can be reduced. Further, the search system may simply inform that the location information cannot be provided as the second response that does not provide the location information. On the other hand, it is possible to provide the searcher with rough information (message) that the user is in the set non-search area in the second response.

Even if the search system provides information indicating that the searched terminal is in the non-search area as the second response provided to the search terminal, the searched terminal responds to the call from the search system. do not have to. Therefore, when the search system receives a search request from the searcher's terminal, the search system calls the searched terminal, and only when the searched terminal is outside the non-search area, the search system includes the location information from the searched terminal. It is also possible to only receive the terminal response of 1. On the other hand, in that case, whether or not the searched terminal is operating becomes a problem. Therefore, it is more desirable that the search system receives a second terminal response including no position information from the searched terminal when the searched terminal is in the non-search area. Also, instead of always receiving the second terminal response, it periodically receives the second terminal response to confirm that the searched terminal is operating, while protecting privacy. It is desirable to be able to achieve it. Therefore, the searched terminal may only reject the call when it is in the non-search area, but it is desirable to return the second terminal response that does not include the position information, and further, the second terminal always responds to the response. It is desirable to periodically send the second terminal response, instead of returning the terminal response.

The non-search area may be constant or may vary with time or date. By varying the non-search area according to the search target person's schedule, it is possible to know the presence or absence of abnormality of the search target person within the range without violating privacy.

When the searched terminal changes to the searchable state, it is possible to provide the first response including the position information of the searched terminal. Accordingly, when the searched terminal moves to the outside of the non-search area, the searcher can be notified of that fact, and the abnormality of the searched person can be immediately known. If the search system knows the location of the searched terminal, the search system can provide information. When the search system does not know the position of the searched terminal, when the searched terminal goes out of the non-search area, the first terminal response including the position information may be transmitted.

On the other hand, even when the searched terminal is in the non-search area, that is, even when it is not in the searchable state,
In an emergency, it is desirable to provide the search terminal with the position information of the searched terminal. Therefore, the search system
When the first terminal response including the position information is received from the searched terminal when the searched terminal is not in the searchable state, the searcher terminal receives the first terminal response including the measured position information of the searched terminal. It is desirable to provide a response. Further, it is preferable that the searched terminal transmit the first terminal response including the position information by exceptional processing even when the searched terminal is in the non-search area.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a location information providing service that enables a searcher 91, for example, a manager, to obtain information on the whereabouts of a search target person 92, for example, a salesman from the search system 30 via the public telephone network and the Internet 4. 1 is shown in outline.

The position information providing service system 1 is
An information processing terminal (search terminal) 10 such as a personal computer, a mobile terminal, or a mobile phone, which is a terminal that can be used by the searcher 91 and has a function of accessing the Internet 4, and a searchable terminal owned by the searchee 92. 1
2, and a search system 30 capable of communicating with the search terminal 10 and the search target terminal 12 of the search target person 92.
When the search target person 92 is outside the set non-search area A, the search system 30 sends the search terminal 10 a first response R including position information φ indicating the current location of the search target terminal 12.
Provide S1.

On the other hand, when the salesman 92 is inside the non-search area A as scheduled, the search system 30 does not include the detailed position information φ in the search terminal 10, for example, "as scheduled". The second response RS2 is returned. For this reason, it is found that the search target person 92 having the search target terminal 12 is moving as scheduled, but the detailed movement of the search target person 92 in the area A is not provided to the searcher 91 and the search target person 92 is not provided. The privacy or trade secret of the searcher 92 can be protected.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the searched terminal 12. The terminal to be searched is, for example, a mobile phone 12 whose position can be obtained, and the wireless communication unit 1 which can access the public telephone network via a base station and can communicate with the search system 30.
3, a GPS unit 14 capable of positioning the present location by using radio waves from GPS satellites 8, a power supply / power supply circuit unit 15, and an input / output unit 16 for inputting / outputting data and the like,
CPU 17 for controlling these units (functions)
And a memory unit 18 serving as a storage area for data and programs. In the memory 18, a scheduler 23 that sets or defines the non-search area A according to a preset schedule, and an area determination function 22 that acquires the position information φ from the GPS unit 14 and determines whether the area is inside or outside the non-search area A. , A program 19p including an instruction capable of executing processing as the communication function 21 that makes different responses to the search system 30 depending on conditions such as whether or not the current position φ of the user is outside the non-search area A is stored. Therefore, the CPU 17 realizes respective functions based on the data 19d and the program 19p stored in the memory 18.

The transmission function 21, when called from the search system 30, if the current position φ is outside the non-search area A, the first terminal response RT including the measured position information φ.
Returns 1. When called from the search system 30,
When the current position φ is within the non-search area A, the response is normally rejected, but a second terminal response RT2 that does not include the position information φ is periodically transmitted to confirm the operation. Also,
Immediately after the current position φ leaves the non-search area A, the transmission function 21 voluntarily includes the first terminal response RT including the position information φ.
1 is transmitted to the search system 30. Furthermore, transmission function 2
1 determines that an emergency has occurred due to the operation of the input / output unit 16 or the like, as an exception, even if the position information φ is in the non-search area A, the first terminal response RT1 including the position information φ is included. To send.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the search system 30. The search system 30 includes a communication function 32 capable of communicating with the search terminal 10 and the searched terminal 12 via the Internet or a public telephone network, and a function 33 for managing personal information about a search target such as a salesperson or a search target 92. Personal information database 34 and search terminal 10
Location information search function of selecting information of the searched terminal 12 of the search target person 92 from personal information of the search target person 92 and calling the searched target terminal 12 to obtain the position information of the searched target terminal 12 31 and a response function 35 that responds to the search terminal 10 based on the result. The search system 30 is realized by a server or a server group existing on the Internet 4. Therefore, the functions described above are provided as a program for a search system that has instructions that can be executed by a server or other information processing device on a CD.
-Provided via a suitable recording medium such as a ROM or the Internet.

The response function 35 sends the position information φ of the searched terminal 12 to the searched terminal 10 when the searched terminal 12 is in the searchable state outside the set non-search area A. The first response RS1 including the second response RS2 is basically provided, and the second response RS2 not including the position information of the searched terminal 12 is basically provided when the searchable state is not provided. Second
Although it is possible to issue a message such as no response as the response RS2 of, the message indicating that the searched terminal 12 is in the non-search area A is desirable. To do so, with the location information search function 31,
When the search request is received from the search terminal 10, the searched terminal 12 is called, and when the searched terminal 12 is outside the non-search area A, the searched terminal 12 outputs the first terminal response RT1 including the position information φ. By receiving the second terminal response RT2 including no position information from the searched terminal 12 while receiving the searched terminal 12 in the non-search area A, the searched terminal 12 It is desirable to check the operation regularly.

In the search system 30 of this example, as described above, the scheduler function 2 is provided on the searched terminal 12 side.
3, the non-search area A is defined by the schedule, but the personal information management function 33 manages the personal schedule, and the non-search area A on the search system 30 side.
It is also possible to set. However, in order to do so, the position of the searched terminal 12 is constantly set to the search system 30.
Therefore, detailed position information always reaches the stage of the search system 30. Therefore, in terms of privacy protection, the searched terminal 1 for personal use is
It is desirable to set the non-search area A in 2.

A response function 35 of the search system 30 is also provided.
Is a first response R to the terminal 10 of the searcher including the position information φ of the searched terminal 12 when the searched terminal 12 leaves the non-search area A and changes to the searchable state.
Provide S1. In this example, this response is performed in response to the terminal response RT1 from the terminal to be searched (the terminal of the salesman 92) 12, but as described above, the non-search area A is set on the search system 30 side. In this case, the search system 30 voluntarily makes this response. Furthermore, the response function 35
Even when the searched terminal 12 is not in the searchable state, that is, even when the searched terminal 12 is in the non-search area A, the searched terminal 12
When the first terminal response RT1 including the position information φ is received, the searcher's terminal 10 is provided with the first response RS1 including the positioned position information φ of the searched terminal 12 to cope with the emergency. To do.

FIG. 4 shows the procedure of the position information providing service 1 of this example. First, in step 101, a schedule for setting the non-search area A in the searched terminal 12 carried by the salesperson 92 is read. This schedule may be set in the searched terminal 12, may be downloaded from the search system 30, or may be set from the search terminal 10. The non-search area that can be set in the schedule may be a region name such as "Matsumoto City", an area given by coordinates, or a radius centered on a certain point. It may be provided, a route, or a home or a building such as a hospital. Of course, it is also possible to set a static non-search area without a temporal concept. However, by setting a dynamic non-search area that fluctuates with time, the position of the searched terminal 12 can be monitored more accurately, but within a certain range.

In step 102, the terminal 12 to be searched periodically measures the position information φ of the self 12 from the GPS satellite 8. Of course, the position information φ is not limited to the satellite positioning, but can be acquired from the information of the base station 7 of the mobile phone or PHS, and the present invention does not limit the method of acquiring the position information.

Therefore, the searched terminal 12 always keeps track of the position information φ indicating the current position of the terminal. Step 1
In 03, when there is a search request D1 from the search terminal 10 to the search system 30, the search server 30 that receives the search request D1
In step 105, the personal information management function 33 searches for a method of calling the search target terminal 12 of the search target person 92, and outputs a search instruction D2 to the search target terminal 12.

In the searched terminal 12, step 10
At 5, the area determination function 22 determines whether the current position φ is inside the non-search area A designated by the scheduler 23, and the transmission function 21 retrieves various terminal responses from the search system 3
Send to 0. If it is outside the area in step 104,
First, in step 106, immediately after the outside of the area, that is, when the previous GPS positioning was within the area but outside the area by the current GPS positioning, the terminal response RT1 including the position information φ is searched. The process of transmitting the message D3 to the system 30 (third transmitting step) is performed. When the search system 30 receives the first terminal response RT1 of this process D3, it knows that the searched terminal 12 has gone out of the area, and thus step 109 (third response step).
Then, the searched terminal 12 goes out of the area, and the first response RS1 including the position information φ is transmitted as a message D4 to the search terminal 10. Upon receiving the message D4, the search terminal 10 displays in step 110 that the searched terminal 12 has gone out of the area, and transmits it to the searcher 91.

In the searched terminal 12, step 10 is executed.
7, even when a search request is received from the search system 30 outside the area, the terminal response RT1 including the position information φ
Is transmitted as a message D5 to the search system 30 (first transmitting step). Search system 30
Receives this message D5, step 111
Then, the search terminal 10 searches for the first response RS1 including the position information φ.
Processing for transmitting as a message D6 (first response step). Upon receiving this message D6, the search terminal 10 displays in step 112 that the searched terminal 12 is outside the area.

Further, in the searched terminal 12, step 1
In 08, even if there is no search request, if the time has elapsed, the search system 3 receives the first terminal response RT1 including the position information φ.
Send as message D7 for 0. As a result, the search system 30 accumulates the position information of the searched terminal 12 in step 113 so that it can be dealt with when a trace request is issued.

On the other hand, even if it is determined in step 105 that the current position φ is within the area, the searched terminal 12
In step 114, when the search target terminal 12 is instructed by the search target person 92 to be in an emergency state, the first terminal response RT1 including the position information φ is transmitted as the message D8 to the search system 30 (fourth). Transmission process). In step 115, the search system 30 determines that there is an emergency and even if the searched terminal 12 is in the non-search area A, the search terminal 10 receives the first response RS1 including the position information φ.
To the message D9 (the fourth response step). Upon receipt of this message D9, the search terminal 10 displays an urgent display in step 116, and the search target person 92
Indicates that something went wrong in the non-search area. Then, even within the non-search area, by showing the detailed position information φ, the searcher 91 or its agent can easily access the search target person (salesman) 92.

In the area, even if there is no emergency, if there is a search request and a certain period of time has passed, the searched terminal 12 determines in step 117 that the second terminal does not include position information. The terminal response RT2 is sent as a message D10 to the search system 30 (second sending step). For example, the message D10 is a message indicating that the incoming call is rejected or the response is rejected. As a result, the search system 30 can know that the searched terminal 12 is functioning normally. Therefore, in the search system 30, when the message D10 is received in step 118,
A second response RS2 that does not include the accurate position information φ, and transmits a message D11 indicating that the searched terminal 12 is in the non-detection area to the search terminal 10 (second response step). Upon receiving the message D11, the search terminal 10 displays in step 119 that the searched terminal is in the non-search area.

If there is no emergency in the area and the time has not elapsed, the searched terminal 12 makes the step 12
In 0, communication is not performed even if there is a search request. That is, no message is returned to the search system 30.
Therefore, in the search system 30, step 104
Then, if there is no response after a certain period of time has elapsed since the search instruction message D2 was sent to the searched terminal 12, in step 121, the second response RS2 containing no position information is sent to the search terminal 10. And sends it as a message D12 (second response step). Therefore, in step 122, the search terminal 10 outputs a display indicating that the searched terminal 12 is in the area. However, step 118 is not executed, and the searched terminal 12 is regularly
If no response is obtained from the search terminal 1, a message indicating that the location of the searched terminal 12 is unknown can be transmitted in step 121.
At 0, it is also possible to display a message of unknown location.

The non-search area A can be set in several patterns. Pattern 1 shows the non-search area A as “A stay in the place name AA of Matsumoto city at 10:00, a place name A of Matsumoto city at 14:00”
Move from A to place name BB in Suwa city via place name CC in Okaya city ”. As a result, the non-search area determination function 22 of the searched terminal 12 is
From 10:00 to 14:00, a certain range centered on the place name AA of Matsumoto city is determined as the non-search area A. After 14:00, the non-search area A is designated as the place name AA of Matsumoto City.
To a certain range centered on the place name CC of Okaya city and the place name BB of Suwa city, and the non-search area A of the location information φ
Determine whether it is inside or outside.

In pattern 2, 1 is assigned to a specific area (city, town, village).
This is a method of designating a group including an individual or a plurality of groups and sequentially switching the regions G1 to G3 divided into these groups according to time. Therefore, it is possible to set non-detection areas such as Matsumoto city in the morning and Okaya city and Suwa city in the afternoon.

Pattern 3 defines a starting point, and the scheduler 23 is set with a route that moves from the starting point with time. In this case, a certain range that moves with time along the route is set as the non-search area A.

The non-search area can be set from the searched terminal 12 or the searched terminal 10 each time the searched terminal 12 is monitored, such as in the morning of the day. It is also possible to automatically set the non-search area of the routine set in the search system 30 by the searched terminal 12 by downloading.

In the system 1 for providing position information of the present invention, if there is a person to be searched who has the terminal to be searched 12 in the area as scheduled, the terminal 12 to be searched responds to the call from the search system 30. Even if it does not exist, the searcher 91 can confirm that the search target person 92 is in the area. Therefore,
It is possible to reduce the communication frequency of the searched terminal 12, prevent the battery from being uselessly consumed, and prevent the communication infrastructure from being occupied for useless transmission and reception of the position information. Further, as long as the user is in the area, the position information φ of the search target person 91 is not provided to the search target person 92, so the search target person 9
The privacy of 2 can be protected.

In order to protect the privacy of the person to be searched 92 with respect to the searcher 91, the search system 30 may perform the process shown in FIG. 4 for determining and responding to the current position φ and the non-search area A. Is. in this case,
The searched terminal 12 searches the system 30 for the information φ of its own current location, which is obtained by GPS positioning regularly or irregularly.
You can send it to. However, at the stage of the search system 30, the location of the searched terminal 12 is the non-search area A.
Therefore, the privacy of the search target person 92 is not protected at the stage of the search system 30. On the other hand, in the system 1 for providing the position information of this example, the relationship between the current position φ and the non-search area A is determined at the stage of the searched terminal 12, so personal information is output to the outside. Can be prevented to the maximum.

Further, by dynamically setting the non-search area A, even if the search target person 92 carrying the search target terminal 12 is moving, if it is a scheduled action, a call from the search system 30 (position Since it is not necessary to respond to (search), unnecessary communication costs and battery consumption can be avoided. Further, since the detailed movement of the search target person 92 during the movement is not shown to the search target person 91, the privacy of the search target person 92 is protected and the secret is also protected within the range according to the schedule. On the other hand, the searcher 91
Since it is understood that the search target person 92 is moving according to the predetermined schedule, it is safe. Further, when the search target person 92 moves out of the schedule, the searcher 91 can obtain the detailed motion of the search target person 92 at any time, so that the cause of the abnormality or the search target person is searched for. 92
You can provide the help you need, when you need it, without delay.

FIG. 5 shows the position information providing system 1 of the present invention.
Is used to monitor a person having a loitering habit as the search target person 92. Non-searcher 9 as non-search area A
It is possible to set it around the second home. As long as the search target person 92 lives near his / her home, even if the searcher 91 issues a search instruction, only the second response RS2 without position information is returned, and the search target person 92 privacy is It is protected and the searcher 91 does not intervene unnecessarily. On the other hand, when the search target person 92 leaves the non-search area A, the searcher 91 is notified of the first response RS1 including the position information φ. Then, even in response to a search instruction from the searcher 91, unless the search target person 92 returns to the non-search area A, the position information φ of the search target person 92 is notified to the searcher 91. Therefore, when the searcher 91 recognizes that there is an abnormality, he / she can head to the whereabouts of the searchee 92 in order to confirm the state of the searchee 92 himself. Alternatively, in step S1, it is also possible to select the optimum service provider 40 and request the provision of a service for confirming the abnormality of the search target person 92. If the selected service provider 40 is permitted to access the search target terminal 12 of the search target person 92, the service provider 40 receives the first response RS1 including the position information φ from the search target terminal 12 from the search service 30. Alternatively, by directly receiving the first terminal response RT1 from the searched terminal 12, the guardman 41 or the like can be rushed to the searched person 92 as shown in step S2.

System 1 for providing position information of the present invention
Is not limited to the above example, the school route to the school for children, time,
By setting the action range as the non-search area A based on the stay schedule at the cram school, the child's movement status is monitored and the incidents such as lost children and kidnappings are prevented in advance, without significantly affecting the privacy of children. be able to. Further, by setting an operation route such as a truck or a bus as the non-search area A, it is possible to apply the same to the management or monitoring of delivery or transportation. If it is a train, it is possible to monitor abnormalities by setting a non-search area linked to the timetable.

Further, the person to be searched 92 is not limited to the example of the person described above, but can be used for monitoring the transportation of vehicles, valuables and the like which are easily stolen.

[0044]

As described above, in the method of providing position information of the present invention, the position information is provided to the searcher when the user goes out of the non-search area A set in the searched terminal. I am trying to do it. With this method, it is possible to monitor the movement of the search target person without providing the searcher with more detailed position information of the search target person than necessary.
It is possible to protect the privacy of the search target person and to suppress an increase in power consumption of the terminal and an increase in communication cost due to unnecessary communication. On the other hand, when the user departs from the non-search area A, the detailed position of the person to be searched can be known, so that an abnormal situation can be dealt with quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a position information service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of a search target terminal (mobile phone) shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions of the search system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a schematic operation of the position information service system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example in which the location information service system according to the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Location information service system 4 Internet 7 base stations 8 GPS satellites 10 Search terminal 12 Searched terminal (mobile phone) 21 Send function 22 Non-search area judgment function 23 Scheduler 30 search system 31 Position search function 32 communication functions 33 Personal information management function 35 Response function 40 service providers 91 Searcher 92 Searchee

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kanako Sakurai             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation F-term (reference) 5H180 AA21 BB05 CC12 EE01 FF05                       FF27                 5K067 AA34 BB04 EE02 EE07 EE10                       FF03 HH22 HH23 JJ56

Claims (47)

[Claims] 1. The positioning of the searched terminal is performed when the searched terminal registered as the information terminal of the searched person to the searcher is in a searchable state outside the set non-search area. A first response step of providing a first response including position information; and a second response of providing a second response that does not include the measured position information of the searched terminal when not in the searchable state. A method of providing location information, the method comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second response, the searched terminal provides information that the terminal to be searched is in the non-search area. 3. The method for providing position information according to claim 1, wherein the non-search area changes with time. 4. The searcher according to claim 1,
A method of providing location information, further comprising: a third response step of providing a first response including the located location information of the searched terminal when the searched terminal changes to the searchable state. . 5. The positioning of the searched terminal when the searched terminal registered as the information terminal of the searched person to the searcher changes to a searchable state outside the set non-search area. A method of providing location information, comprising a third response step of providing a first response including the location information provided. 6. A search system capable of communicating with a terminal of a searcher and a searched terminal registered as an information terminal of a searched person, wherein the searched terminal is set to a non-configured terminal for the searched terminal. A first response step of providing a first response including the measured position information of the searched terminal in the searchable state outside the search area; and the search system when not in the searchable state And a second response step of providing a second response that does not include the measured position information of the searched terminal. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein in the second response step, the search system provides information that the searched terminal is in the non-search area. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the search system calls the searched terminal when a search request is received from the searcher's terminal, and when the searched terminal is outside the non-search area. Only, the search system receives a first terminal response including the position information from the searched terminal, and the first receiving step. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein when the searched terminal is in the non-search area, the search system receives a second terminal response that does not include the position information from the searched terminal. A method for providing location information, further comprising the step of receiving 2. 10. The method for providing position information according to claim 9, wherein in the second receiving step, the second terminal response is periodically received. 11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the search system changes the non-search area with time. 12. The searched terminal according to claim 8, wherein the non-search area is changed over time.
How to provide location information. 13. The search system according to claim 6, wherein when the searched terminal changes to the searchable state, the search system includes the position information of the searched terminal with respect to the terminal of the searcher. The method of providing location information further comprising a third response step of providing a first response. 14. The search system according to claim 6, wherein when the searched terminal is not in the searchable state,
A fourth response that, when receiving a first terminal response including the position information from the searched terminal, provides a first response including the positioned position information of the searched terminal to the searcher terminal. A method of providing location information, further comprising the steps of: 15. A search system capable of communicating with a terminal of a searcher and a searched terminal registered as an information terminal of a searched person, wherein the searched terminal is located outside a set non-search area. A method of providing location information, comprising providing the searcher with a first response including the located location information of the searched terminal when the state changes. 16. A means for communicating with a terminal of a searcher and a searched terminal registered as an information terminal of a searched person, and a non-search for which the searched terminal is set for the terminal of the searcher. A first response including the located position information of the searched terminal is provided in a searchable state outside the area, and the located position information of the searched terminal is provided in the non-searchable state. And a response means for providing a second response not including. 17. The search system according to claim 16, wherein the response means provides, as the second response, information that the searched terminal is in the non-search area. 18. The means for calling the searched terminal when a search request is received from the terminal of the searcher according to claim 17, and when the searched terminal is outside the non-search area,
A second terminal that receives the first terminal response including the position information from the searched terminal and does not include the position information from the searched terminal when the searched terminal is in the non-search area. A search system having a receiving means for receiving a terminal response periodically. 19. The search system according to claim 16, further comprising means for changing the non-search area with time. 20. The response means according to claim 16, wherein when the searched terminal changes to the searchable state, the response means includes the position information of the position of the searched terminal with respect to the terminal of the searcher. A search system that provides the first response. 21. The response unit according to claim 16, wherein the searched terminal is not in the searchable state.
A search system which, upon receiving a first terminal response including the position information from the searched terminal, provides the searcher's terminal with the first response including the positioned position information of the searched terminal. 22. A means capable of communicating with a terminal of a searcher and a searched terminal registered as an information terminal of a searched person; and a searchable state in which the searched terminal is outside a set non-search area. And a response means for providing the searcher with a first response including the position information of the terminal to be searched, when the search system changes. 23. A program of a search system capable of communicating with a terminal of a searcher and a searched terminal registered as an information terminal of a searched person, wherein the searched terminal is provided to the searcher's terminal, A first response process for providing a first response including the measured position information of the searched terminal in a searchable state outside the set non-search area; A program having instructions capable of executing a second response process for providing a second response that does not include the position information of the terminal to be searched by the search system. 24. The program according to claim 23, wherein in the second response process, the search system provides information that the searched terminal is in the non-search area. 25. The processing according to claim 24, wherein the search system calls the searched terminal when a search request is received from the terminal of the searcher, and when the searched terminal is outside the non-search area. ,
When the search system receives a first terminal response including the position information from the searched terminal and the searched terminal is in the non-search area, the search system causes the searched terminal to send A program further having a command capable of executing a process of periodically receiving a second terminal response that does not include position information. 26. The program according to claim 23, further comprising an instruction capable of executing a process of changing the non-search area with time. 27. The first response according to claim 23, wherein when the searched terminal changes to the searchable state, to the terminal of the searcher, the searched terminal includes position information of the searched terminal. And a program further comprising an instruction capable of executing a third response process. 28. When the first terminal response including the position information is received from the searched terminal when the searched terminal is not in the searchable state according to claim 23, A program further comprising an instruction capable of executing a fourth response process for providing the first response including the position information of the searched terminal. 29. A search system program capable of communicating with a terminal of a searcher and a searched terminal registered as an information terminal of a searched person, wherein the searched terminal is outside a set non-search area. A program having an instruction capable of executing a process of providing, to the searcher, a first response including position information of the position of the searched terminal when the searchable state has changed. 30. A first terminal including position information obtained by positioning only when the information terminal capable of communicating with the search system is outside the set non-search area when called from the search system. A method of providing location information from a terminal, comprising a first transmitting step of returning a response. 31. The second terminal according to claim 30, wherein, when the information terminal is called from the search system and the searched terminal is in the non-search area, the second terminal does not include the position information. A method of providing location information from a terminal, further comprising a second transmitting step of returning a response. 32. In the claim 31, in the second transmitting step, the second terminal response is periodically transmitted.
A method of providing location information from a terminal. 33. The information terminal according to claim 30, wherein the non-search area is changed over time.
A method of providing location information from a terminal. 34. The information terminal according to claim 30, further comprising a third transmitting step of transmitting a first terminal response including the position information when going out of the non-search area. A method of providing location information from a terminal. 35. The terminal according to claim 30, further comprising a fourth transmitting step of transmitting a first terminal response including the position information when the information terminal is in the non-search area. How to provide location information from. 36. An information terminal having a means capable of communicating with a search system and a means for positioning the current position information, wherein the information terminal is set to a non-configured state when called from the search system. Only when you are outside the search area
An information terminal having a transmitting means for returning a first terminal response including the position information obtained by positioning. 37. The second transmission method according to claim 36, wherein the transmission means does not include the position information when the information terminal is in the non-search area when being called from the search system. An information terminal that returns a terminal response. 38. The information terminal according to claim 37, wherein the transmitting unit periodically transmits the second terminal response. 39. The information terminal according to claim 36, comprising means for changing the non-search area with the passage of time. 40. The information terminal according to claim 36, wherein the transmitting means transmits a first terminal response including the position information when going out of the non-search area. 41. The information terminal according to claim 36, wherein the transmitting means transmits a first terminal response including the position information by exception processing when in the non-search area. 42. A program for an information terminal capable of communicating with a search system, wherein the position information obtained by positioning is included only when outside the set non-search area when called from the search system. A program having an instruction capable of executing a first transmission process of returning a first terminal response. 43. The second transmission process according to claim 42, which, when called from the search system, is in the non-search area, returns a second terminal response not including the position information. A program further comprising executable instructions. 44. The program according to claim 43, wherein the second transmission process periodically transmits the second terminal response. 45. The program according to claim 42, further comprising an instruction capable of executing a process of changing the non-search area with time. 46. The program according to claim 42, further comprising an instruction capable of executing a third transmission process of transmitting a first terminal response including the position information when the user goes out of the non-search area. . 47. The instruction according to claim 42, which is capable of executing a fourth transmission process for transmitting a first terminal response including the position information by exception processing when the user is in the non-search area. Program to have further.