JP2011171799A - Cellular phone terminal, method of transmitting position information of the same, and position information transmission program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cellular phone terminal for reducing power to be consumed by an A-GPS function without annoying a user. <P>SOLUTION: The cellular phone terminal includes: a GPS unit for calculating position information by an A-GPS system using assist data subsidiarily; and a control unit for establishing a session with a position information server for generating assist data in periodically acquiring the position information by an automatic GPS function, and for notifying the position information server of temporary position information indicating a pseudo-current position when the assist data are acquired from the position information server, and releasing the session. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile phone terminal that acquires position information by the A-GPS method.

  Mobile phone terminals equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) function are widely used. Among a plurality of methods, the A (Associated) -GPS method is a mainstream method capable of realizing high-sensitivity and high-speed positioning. The A-GPS method acquires assist data necessary for calculating position information from a position information server included in a mobile communication network, and calculates position information using the assist data. Here, the assist data includes information such as an approximate time to position measurement, an approximate position of a GPS satellite, and navigation data of the GPS satellite.

  On the other hand, services using location information acquired by mobile phone terminals are also widespread. The auto GPS function is a function for periodically acquiring position information of the mobile phone terminal. A service for grasping the current position of the mobile phone terminal using the position information acquired by the auto GPS function and notifying the mobile phone terminal of information corresponding to the current position has been developed.

  In the position information acquisition sequence by the A-GPS method, it is necessary to access the mobile communication network and acquire assist data. Therefore, when the mobile phone terminal periodically acquires position information by the auto GPS function or the like, the amount of power consumed cannot be ignored each time. Under such circumstances, it is required to reduce the power consumption related to the acquisition of position information using the GPS function and extend the battery life of the mobile phone terminal.

  In Patent Document 1, when it takes a long time to acquire search information, it is possible to avoid forcing the user to wait for a long time, thereby improving the convenience of wireless communication. A terminal is disclosed.

  The wireless communication terminal of Patent Literature 1 includes a plurality of search means and a control means. Each of the plurality of search means searches for a GPS satellite or a base station. The control means acquires search information related to GPS satellites and base stations searched by the plurality of search means, and transmits the acquired search information from the telephone wireless means to the position information server.

  When the GPS / base station search mode is selected by the user, the control means operates both the search means for searching for the GPS satellites and the search means for searching for the base station among the plurality of search means. The GPS satellite information and the base station information are transmitted from the telephone wireless means to the position information server. On the other hand, when the base station search mode is selected by the user, the operation of the search means for searching for GPS satellites among a plurality of search means is prohibited and only the search means for searching for a base station is operated, and the acquired base station Only information is transmitted from the telephone wireless means to the location information server.

  According to the wireless communication terminal of Patent Document 1, when the base station search mode is set, the search for the GPS satellite is stopped, so that the time required to acquire the positioning result is shortened and the user waits for a long time. Can be avoided, and convenience can be improved.

  However, the wireless communication terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a user to set a mode, which is troublesome. In addition, when it is necessary to automatically notify the location information by the auto GPS function, there is a possibility that such a setting cannot be performed.

Japanese Patent No. 3791369

  The objective of this invention is providing the mobile telephone terminal which can reduce the power consumption which concerns on an A-GPS function, without making a user troublesome.

  A mobile phone terminal according to the present invention is a session between a GPS unit that calculates position information by an A-GPS method that uses assist data as an auxiliary, and a position information server that generates assist data for periodic acquisition of position information by an auto GPS function. When the assist data is acquired from the position information server, provisional position information indicating a pseudo current position is notified to the position information server and the session is released.

  The mobile phone terminal location information notification method according to the present invention includes a GPS unit that calculates location information by an A-GPS method that uses assist data as an auxiliary, and a control unit that periodically acquires location information by an auto GPS function. A step of establishing a session with a location information server that generates assist data for periodic acquisition of location information by the auto GPS function, a step of obtaining assist data from the location information server, and a pseudo current location Including a step of notifying the location information server of the temporary location information indicating, and a step of releasing the session.

  The mobile phone terminal location information notification program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the above-described location information notification method for a mobile phone terminal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the mobile telephone terminal which can reduce the power consumption concerning an A-GPS function can be provided, without making a user troublesome.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone terminal 1 in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation in the auto GPS function of the cellular phone terminal 1 in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone terminal 1 when receiving a positioning command from the user in the present embodiment.

  A mobile phone terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The cellular phone terminal according to the present embodiment periodically measures position information (automatic GPS function) by the A-GPS method, and notifies the position information server of its own position information. When receiving the assist data from the position information server, the mobile phone terminal transmits temporary position information indicating a pseudo current position to the position information server to release communication. The mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment does not calculate position information based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites using assist data unless there is an explicit command input from the user. Therefore, the mobile phone terminal can shorten the time for connecting communication with the location information server, and can suppress power consumption. Here, the temporary location information is included in the location information and assist data of the radio base station captured by the mobile phone terminal if the communication between the mobile phone terminal and the location information server can be normally released. Initial position information or dummy data can be used. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the mobile phone terminal of this embodiment will be described.

[Description of configuration]
First, the configuration of the mobile phone terminal in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone terminal 1 in the present embodiment.

  The cellular phone terminal 1 can access the mobile communication network 10 and perform voice calls and data communications. The mobile communication network 10 includes a radio base station 7, a network 8, and a location information server 9. The radio base station 7 transmits a radio wave to configure a radio area. The location information server 9 stores location information of the mobile phone terminal 1. The location information server 9 provides assist data, which is auxiliary data used for calculating location information by the mobile phone terminal 1, to the mobile phone terminal 1. The network 8 transfers communication between the mobile phone terminal 1 and the location information server 9. The mobile communication network 10 includes various configurations for realizing voice calls and data communication by the mobile phone terminal 1 other than those shown in FIG. 1, but does not affect the present invention. Description is omitted.

  The mobile phone terminal 1 includes a communication unit 2, a GPS unit 3, an input / output unit 4, a storage unit 5, and a control unit 6. The communication unit 2, the GPS unit 3, the input / output unit 4, the storage unit 5, and the control unit 6 are connected to each other via a bus and can transmit and receive data.

  The input / output unit 4 is an input / output interface with the user of the mobile phone terminal 1. The input / output unit 4 is exemplified by a numeric keypad for inputting characters and numbers, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for image display. The user can operate the cellular phone terminal 1 by operating the input / output unit 4.

  The communication unit 2 includes an antenna. The communication unit 2 can perform radio communication with the radio base station 7 by transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the radio base station.

  The GPS unit 3 includes an antenna. The GPS unit 3 receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite (not shown) and acquires a GPS signal for calculating position information. The GPS unit 3 calculates position information of the mobile phone terminal 1 using a GPS signal. In the present embodiment, the cellular phone terminal 1 calculates the position information based on the A-GPS method. Therefore, the GPS unit 3 inputs assist data, which is auxiliary data for calculating position information, from the control unit 6 described later, and calculates position information using the assist data as an auxiliary.

  The storage unit 5 stores computer programs and data for realizing the functions of the mobile phone terminal 1. The storage unit 5 is exemplified by a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory).

  The control unit 6 executes the computer program stored in the storage unit 5 to realize the function of the mobile phone terminal 1. The control unit 6 is exemplified by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 6 can access the mobile communication network 10 via wireless communication by the communication unit 2 and communicate with the location information server 9 included in the mobile communication network 10.

  The above is the description of the configuration of the mobile phone terminal 1 in the present embodiment.

[Description of operation]
Next, the operation of the cellular phone terminal 1 in the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation in the auto GPS function of the cellular phone terminal 1 in the present embodiment.

  First, the control unit 6 of the mobile phone terminal 1 starts positioning of position information (step S10). In the present embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 1 has an auto GPS function. Therefore, the cellular phone terminal 1 periodically acquires the location information of the cellular phone terminal 1 and notifies the location information server 9 of the mobile communication network 10. The start of positioning of position information may be triggered by the control unit 6 of the mobile phone terminal 1 or may be triggered by the position information server 9.

  When the position information positioning is started, the control unit 6 establishes a communication session with the position information server 9 via the communication unit 2 (step S20). When the communication session with the position information server 9 is established, the control unit 6 requests assist data (step S30). The position information server 9 receives a request for assist data from the mobile phone terminal 1, and based on information on the radio base station 7 that includes the mobile phone terminal 1 and the radio area that the radio base station 7 configures, assist data Is generated. The location information server 9 transmits assist data to the mobile phone terminal 1 via the network 8 and the wireless base station 7 (step S40).

  The control unit 6 of the mobile phone terminal 1 receives assist data via the communication unit 2. Upon receiving the assist data, the control unit 6 transmits temporary position information indicating a pseudo current position to the position information server 9 via the communication unit 2 (step S50), and releases the session with the position information server 8. (Step S60). Thereby, the location information notification to the location information server 9 by the mobile phone terminal 1 is completed (step S70).

  The above is description of operation | movement in the auto GPS function of the mobile telephone terminal 1 in this embodiment. Here, if the temporary location information can normally release communication between the mobile phone terminal and the location information server, the location of the radio base station 7 or the femtocell base station or the like captured by the mobile phone terminal Information, position information based on these, initial position information included in assist data, or dummy data based on dummy positioning results can be used.

  These pieces of information are inferior in accuracy compared with the position information calculated by the GPS unit 3 using the GPS signal from the GPS satellite and the assist data. However, the control unit 6 can release the communication session at an early stage by notifying the position information server 9 of the temporary position information. Therefore, the power consumption related to position information positioning in the mobile phone terminal 1 can be suppressed. As a result, there is also an effect of extending the battery life (not shown) of the mobile phone terminal 1.

  As described above, the cellular phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment does not calculate the position information using the GPS signal and the assist data in the periodic position information notification operation by the auto GPS function, and calculates the pseudo current position. The temporary position information shown is notified to the position information server 9. As described above, the accuracy of the location information of the mobile phone terminal 1 notified to the location information server 9 is low. Therefore, when the mobile phone terminal 1 receives an explicit position positioning command from the user, the mobile phone terminal 1 calculates position information using the GPS signal and the assist data.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone terminal 1 when receiving a positioning command from the user in the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, steps S10 to S70 are the same as the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The user inputs a position positioning command to the input / output unit 4 of the mobile phone terminal 1 (step S80). When detecting the positioning command from the user, the control unit 6 accesses the mobile communication network 10 via the communication unit 2 and establishes a communication session with the position information server 9 (step S90). When a communication session with the location information server 9 is established, the control unit 6 requests assist data (step S100). The position information server 9 receives a request for assist data from the mobile phone terminal 1, and based on information on the radio base station 7 that includes the mobile phone terminal 1 and the radio area that the radio base station 7 configures, assist data Is generated. The location information server 9 transmits assist data to the mobile phone terminal 1 via the network 8 and the wireless base station 7 (step S110).

  The control unit 6 of the mobile phone terminal 1 receives assist data via the communication unit 2. The control unit 6 outputs assist data to the GPS unit 3. The GPS unit 3 calculates the position information of the mobile phone terminal 1 based on the GPS signal from the GPS satellite and the assist data (step S120). The position information (hereinafter, calculated position information) of the mobile phone terminal 1 calculated in this way has higher accuracy than the position information notified to the position information server 9 as temporary position information, although it takes time to calculate. Therefore, when more accurate position information is required, such as when the user is using any application on the mobile phone terminal 1, it is preferable to use the position information calculated in this way.

  The GPS unit 3 notifies the control unit 6 of the calculated position information. The control unit 6 notifies the calculated position information to the position information server 9 via the communication unit 2 (step S130), and releases the session with the position information server 8 (step S140). Thereby, the location information notification to the location information server 9 by the mobile phone terminal 1 is completed (step S150).

  The above is description of operation | movement of the mobile telephone terminal 1 when the position positioning command is received from the user in this embodiment. Thus, when receiving an explicit position positioning command from the user, the GPS unit 3 calculates the position information of the mobile phone terminal 1 based on the GPS signal and the assist data. Therefore, position information data with higher accuracy can be notified to the position information server 9.

  Up to this point, the mobile phone terminal 1 in the present embodiment has been described. The cellular phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment notifies the location information server 9 of its location information by the auto GPS function using the A-GPS method. When receiving the assist data from the position information server, the cellular phone terminal 1 transmits temporary position information indicating a pseudo current position to the position information server 9 to release communication. The mobile phone terminal 1 of this embodiment does not calculate position information based on GPS signals received from GPS satellites using assist data unless there is an explicit command input from the user. With such a configuration, the cellular phone terminal 1 can shorten the time for connecting the communication with the location information server 9 without taking time and effort for the user, and can suppress power consumption.

  The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile telephone terminal 2 Communication part 3 GPS part 4 Input / output part 5 Storage part 6 Control part 7 Wireless base station 8 Network 9 Location information server 10 Mobile communication network

Claims (7)

A GPS unit that calculates position information by an A-GPS method that uses assist data as an auxiliary,
In the periodic acquisition of position information by the auto GPS function, a session with the position information server that generates the assist data is established, and when the assist data is acquired from the position information server, temporary position information indicating a pseudo current position is And a control unit that notifies the information server and releases the session. The mobile phone terminal according to claim 1,
The temporary position information is position information of a radio base station or a femtocell base station that is currently captured, initial position information included in assist data, or dummy data that is measured in a pseudo manner . The mobile phone terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
When detecting a position measurement command from a user, the control unit reestablishes the session with the position information server, re-acquires assist data from the position information server, and notifies the GPS unit of the assist data. A mobile phone terminal that notifies the location information server of location information calculated by the A-GPS method in the GPS unit and opens the session. A GPS unit that calculates position information by an A-GPS method that uses assist data as an auxiliary,
In a mobile phone terminal comprising a control unit that periodically acquires position information by an auto GPS function,
Establishing a session with a location information server that generates the assist data for periodic acquisition of location information by the auto GPS function;
Obtaining assist data from the location information server;
Notifying the position information server of temporary position information indicating a pseudo current position;
A method for notifying location information of a mobile phone terminal, comprising: releasing the session. A location information notification method for a mobile phone terminal according to claim 4,
The temporary position information is position information of a radio base station or a femtocell base station that is currently captured, initial position information included in assist data, or dummy data that is measured in a pseudo manner Location information notification method. A method for notifying location information of a mobile phone terminal according to claim 4 or claim 5,
Detecting a position measurement command from a user;
Re-establishing the session with the location information server;
Reacquiring assist data from the location information server;
Notifying the GPS unit of the assist data;
A location information notification method for a mobile phone terminal, further comprising: notifying the location information server of location information calculated by the A-GPS method in the GPS unit and releasing the session.   A mobile phone terminal location information notification program for causing a computer to execute the mobile phone terminal location information notification method according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

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