US20030144792A1 — Position locating system, server, position locati…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 142 words

1 . A position locating system comprising: a client apparatus for detecting current position of the client apparatus and transmitting obtained position information at a predetermined frequency; an information terminal for transmitting an instruction for searching for the current position of the client apparatus; and a server for receiving the current position search instruction from the information terminal and transmitting map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus to the information terminal based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus, wherein the server includes a position estimation section for estimating the current position of the client apparatus based on the already acquired position information when the server cannot acquire the position information from the client apparatus and the server requests the client apparatus to transmit position information in response to the search instruction from the information terminal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 142 words

1 . A position locating system comprising: a client apparatus for detecting current position of the client apparatus and transmitting obtained position information at a predetermined frequency; an information terminal for transmitting an instruction for searching for the current position of the client apparatus; and a server for receiving the current position search instruction from the information terminal and transmitting map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus to the information terminal based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus, wherein the server includes a position estimation section for estimating the current position of the client apparatus based on the already acquired position information when the server cannot acquire the position information from the client apparatus and the server requests the client apparatus to transmit position information in response to the search instruction from the information terminal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 64 words

2 . The position locating system according to claim 1 , wherein the server further includes a database, which stores geographic data indicating a reception failure position where there is a possibility that reception of the position information from the client apparatus may stop dead; and wherein the position estimation section estimates the current position of the client apparatus based on the geographic data.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 59 words

3 . The position locating system according to claim 2 , wherein an estimated area where it is estimated that the client apparatus exists is set based on the already acquired position information; and wherein the position estimation section estimates the reception failure position in the estimated area as a candidate for the current position of the client apparatus.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

4 . The position locating system according to claim 3 , wherein the position estimation section sets variably the estimated area based on history information up to the most recent position of the client apparatus.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

5 . The position locating system according to claim 1 , wherein the server sorts the current positions of the client apparatus estimated by the position estimation section in order of possibility that the client apparatus may exist and transmits the sorted data to the information terminal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 133 words

6 . A server comprising: a transmission-reception section for receiving position information from a client apparatus at a predetermined frequency, receiving a position search instruction from an information terminal, and transmitting map image data containing current position of the client apparatus to the information terminal; a position locating processing section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus located based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus; and a position estimation section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus estimated based on the already acquired position information when the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired and the client apparatus is requested to transmit position information in response to the search instruction from the information terminal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 133 words

6 . A server comprising: a transmission-reception section for receiving position information from a client apparatus at a predetermined frequency, receiving a position search instruction from an information terminal, and transmitting map image data containing current position of the client apparatus to the information terminal; a position locating processing section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus located based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus; and a position estimation section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus estimated based on the already acquired position information when the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired and the client apparatus is requested to transmit position information in response to the search instruction from the information terminal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 57 words

7 . The server according to claim 6 , further comprising a database, which stores geographic data indicating a reception failure position where there is a possibility that reception of the position information from the client apparatus may stop dead, wherein the position estimation section estimates the position of the client apparatus based on the geographic data.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

8 . The server according to claim 7 , wherein an estimated area where it is estimated that the client apparatus exists is set based on the already acquired position information; and wherein the position estimation section estimates the reception failure position in the estimated area as a candidate for the current position of the client apparatus.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 104 words

9 . A position locating method comprising the steps of: requesting a client apparatus to transmit position information in response to current position search instruction; locating current position of the client apparatus based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus; estimating the current position of the client apparatus based on already acquired position information when the client information is requested to transmit the position information in response to the current position search instruction and the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired; and transmitting map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus, which is located or estimated.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 104 words

9 . A position locating method comprising the steps of: requesting a client apparatus to transmit position information in response to current position search instruction; locating current position of the client apparatus based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus; estimating the current position of the client apparatus based on already acquired position information when the client information is requested to transmit the position information in response to the current position search instruction and the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired; and transmitting map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus, which is located or estimated.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

10 . The position locating method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: detecting the current position of the client apparatus; and transmitting the obtained position information at a predetermined frequency.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 112 words

11 . The position locating method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: detecting as to whether the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired when the client apparatus is requested to transmit position information in response to the current position search instruction; and setting an estimated area where it is estimated that the client apparatus exists based on the already acquired position information, wherein in the estimating step, a reception failure position where there is a possibility that reception of the position information from the client apparatus may stop deadin the estimated area is estimated as a candidate for the current position of the client apparatus.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 112 words

12 . The position locating method according to claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: detecting as to whether the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired when the client apparatus is requested to transmit position information in response to the current position search instruction; and setting an estimated area where it is estimated that the client apparatus exists based on the already acquired position information, wherein in the estimating step, a reception failure position where there is a possibility that reception of the position information from the client apparatus may stop deadin the estimated area is estimated as a candidate for the current position of the client apparatus.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 145 words

13 . A program executed by a server for causing a computer to function as: a transmission-reception section for receiving position information from a client apparatus at a predetermined frequency and receiving a position search instruction from an information terminal and transmitting map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus to the information terminal; a position locating processing section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus located based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus; and a position estimation section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus estimated based on the already acquired position information when the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired and the client apparatus is requested to transmit position information in response to the search instruction from the information terminal.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 145 words

13 . A program executed by a server for causing a computer to function as: a transmission-reception section for receiving position information from a client apparatus at a predetermined frequency and receiving a position search instruction from an information terminal and transmitting map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus to the information terminal; a position locating processing section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus located based on the position information transmitted from the client apparatus; and a position estimation section for generating the map image data containing the current position of the client apparatus estimated based on the already acquired position information when the position information from the client apparatus cannot be acquired and the client apparatus is requested to transmit position information in response to the search instruction from the information terminal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 52 words

14 . The program executed by a server according to claim 13 , wherein the position estimation section estimates the position of the client apparatus based on geographic data indicating a reception failure position where there is a possibility that reception of the position information from the client apparatus may stop dead.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 61 words

15 . The program executed by a server according to claim 14 , wherein an estimated area where it is estimated that the client apparatus exists is set based on the already acquired position information; and wherein the position estimation section estimates that the reception failure position in the estimated area is candidate for the current position of the client apparatus.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 64 words

16 . A position information transmission apparatus being installed in a mobile unit, for detecting position of the apparatus and transmitting acquired position information to a server for locating the position of the apparatus, the position information transmission apparatus comprising: a position information transmission frequency setting section for setting transmission frequency of the position information in response to move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 64 words

16 . A position information transmission apparatus being installed in a mobile unit, for detecting position of the apparatus and transmitting acquired position information to a server for locating the position of the apparatus, the position information transmission apparatus comprising: a position information transmission frequency setting section for setting transmission frequency of the position information in response to move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 72 words

17 . The position information transmission apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising: a position detection section for detecting position information indicating the current position of the mobile unit every predetermined interval; an accumulation section for accumulating the position information; and a transmission section for transmitting the position information accumulated in the accumulation means to the server based on the transmission frequency set by the position information transmission frequency setting section.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

18 . The position information transmission apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the position information transmission frequency setting section sets the transmission frequency based on time reference responsive to the move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

19 . The position information transmission apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the position information transmission frequency setting section sets the transmission frequency based on distance reference responsive to the move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 94 words

20 . The position information transmission apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein when the move speed of the mobile unit is equal to or higher than predetermined speed, the position information transmission frequency setting section sets the transmission frequency based on the distance reference responsive to the move speed of the mobile unit; and wherein when the move speed of the mobile unit is less than the predetermined speed, the position information transmission frequency setting section sets the transmission frequency based on time reference responsive to the move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 49 words

21 . The position information transmission apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein when the move speed of the mobile unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined speed lower than the predetermined speed, the transmission section immediately transmits the position information accumulated in the accumulation section.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 53 words

22 . The position information transmission apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein when the move speed of the mobile unit remains the second predetermined speed after the transmission section immediately transmits the position information, the later transmission frequency is set to the frequency set by the position information transmission frequency setting section.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

23 . The position information transmission apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the transmission section transmits only the position information, which has not been transmitted to the server, of the position information accumulated in the accumulation section.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 58 words

24 . A position information transmission method comprising the steps of: detecting position of a mobile unit; and transmitting acquired position information to a server for locating the position of the mobile unit; determining move speed of the mobile unit; and setting transmission frequency of the position information in response to the move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 58 words

24 . A position information transmission method comprising the steps of: detecting position of a mobile unit; and transmitting acquired position information to a server for locating the position of the mobile unit; determining move speed of the mobile unit; and setting transmission frequency of the position information in response to the move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 86 words

25 . The position information transmission method according to claim 24 , wherein in the transmission frequency setting step, the transmission frequency is set based on distance reference responsive to the move speed of the mobile unit when the move speed of the mobile unit is equal to or higher than predetermined speed; and the transmission frequency is set based on time reference responsive to the move speed of the mobile unit when the move speed of the mobile unit is less than the predetermined speed.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 46 words

26 . The position information transmission method according to claim 25 , further comprising the steps of immediately transmitting the acquired position information when the move speed of the mobile unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined speed lower than the predetermined speed.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 52 words

27 . The position information transmission method according to claim 26 , further comprising the steps of setting the later transmission frequency to the frequency set in the transmission frequency setting step when the move speed of the mobile unit remains the second predetermined speed after the position information is immediately transmitted.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 68 words

28 . A program for detecting the position of a mobile unit and transmitting acquired position information to a server for locating the position of the mobile unit, said program for causing a computer to function as: a section for determining move speed of the mobile unit; and a section for setting transmission frequency of the position information in response to the move speed of the mobile unit.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 68 words

28 . A program for detecting the position of a mobile unit and transmitting acquired position information to a server for locating the position of the mobile unit, said program for causing a computer to function as: a section for determining move speed of the mobile unit; and a section for setting transmission frequency of the position information in response to the move speed of the mobile unit.

Position locating system, server, position locating method, and program

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