Summary of the invention
One embodiment of the present invention provide a kind of makes the user of mobile computing device their current location can be offered third-party method.Described user uses known for those of ordinary skills any available mechanism to determine the current estimated position of mobile computing device.This mobile computing device is created position data file then, and this document comprises the information that comprises following content: accuracy of the estimated position of this equipment mark, this equipment, the time of estimation, estimation or the like.This mobile computing device sends described position data file to third-party option to the user then.Described third party can be another user's a computing equipment, can be mobile device.Described position data file can send by SMS (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Message service), Email or instant message.
Especially, one embodiment of the present invention provide a kind of mobile device, comprising: memory is configured to the storaging position data record; Transceiver is configured such that and can carries out two-way communication between mobile device and communication network; And processor, be operable as and make described transceiver in response to from user's instruction and send at least one described position data record to first computing equipment via described communication network.
Thereby mobile device of the present invention can make the user send position data easily to the third party.This means that the user does not need to wait for that friend or colleague come request position information as in the prior art system.What substitute is, mobile device of the present invention can make the user send positional information easily and not need to rely on third-party server or from another user's request.In addition, because position data is sent straight to another equipment with point-to-point form, so the user can avoid paying the expense that scheme produced based on server.
Preferably, described processor is operable as in response to from user's instruction and ask position of mobile equipment data from second computing equipment.Described second computing equipment is for utilizing the location-server of determining the position of mobile equipment data based on the location of sub-district.Described transceiver is operable as the position of mobile equipment data of reception from described second computing equipment, and described processor is operable as in response to from the reception of the mobile position data of described second computing equipment and create position data record.
Preferably, described mobile device also comprises keypad, and described processor also is operable as and makes the user can use described keypad to create position data record.Described processor also is operable as and makes the user can edit existing position data record.
Each described position data record all preferably includes a plurality of fields, and each field is configured to accept the location dependent data of predefined type.The type of location dependent data comprises at least one in coordinate, position precision, positioning mark, date, time and the street address.
Described position data record preferably is sent to described first computing equipment by one in SMS, MMS, Email and the instant message.Described first computing equipment is preferably mobile phone, and described mobile device is preferably mobile phone or smart phone.
Preferably, described transceiver is operable as the position data record of reception from other mobile devices, and described processor is operable as based on reception and the display position data record.Described processor can also be configured to obtain or be created on the map of the position that defines in the position data record.
Another execution mode of the present invention provides a kind of position data record is sent to the method for first computing equipment from mobile device, and this method comprises: position data is stored in the described mobile device as position data record; And in response to sending described position data record to described first computing equipment from the user's of described mobile device instruction.
Embodiment
Referring to Fig. 1, mobile device 100 comprises shell 101, receiver 102 and microphone 103.This mobile device 100 also comprises keypad 104 and display 105.Described keypad 104 can make the user be input to information in this mobile device 100 and indicate this mobile device to carry out the various functions that this equipment provides.For example, the user can import telephone number, perhaps selects another mobile device in the tabulation from be stored in this mobile device 100, and carries out the function such as telephone calling.
Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram of the assembly of the described mobile device 100 of demonstration.This equipment comprises system bus 106, and described assembly is connected to this bus, and this bus allows these assemblies to communicate with one another.Here, described assembly is shown as communicating via individual system bus 106.Yet in practice, mobile device can comprise that some buses are to connect various assemblies.The assembly of this mobile device 100 comprises processor unit 107, memory 108, receiver controller 109, microphone controller 110, display controller 111, keypad controller 112, memory block and transceiver 113.Fig. 2 has shown single processor unit 107, yet in practice, this equipment can comprise that two or more processor units are to control the different assemblies of this equipment.Especially, this equipment 100 can comprise the baseband processor unit that is used to control phone storehouse (telephonystack), and the application processor that is used to control the operating system and the user interface of this equipment.Described transceiver 113 is also connected to antenna 114.Described mobile device 100 is configured to use described transceiver 113 to communicate by letter with the base station (not shown) of mobile telephone network.
As shown in Figure 3, memory 108 comprises multiple type of memory.Specifically, memory 108 comprises read-only memory 108a, random access memory 108b and user data memory 108c.Described read-only memory 108a stores any important use that described operating system, graphic user interface and this equipment provide, and for example message transmits and uses and the audio call interface application.Be applied in when needing during the routine operation of mobile device 100 and be loaded among the random access memory 108b.Described user data memory 108c is used to store by mobile operator or user and is loaded into user data and application in this subscriber equipment 100.For example, this user data memory 108c can store correspondent party data, calendar data, user message (such as Email, SMS or MMS message) and image.Described user data memory 108c is used to the locator data record that store location is used and is correlated with, and will describe the two in more detail below.
Above-described each memory can be located physically separately in the described mobile device 100.For example, described read-only memory 108a can be arranged in described processor unit 107 and described random access memory 108b can adopt the independent integrated circuit of installing on the printed circuit board (PCB) of described mobile device 100 form.Described user data memory 108c can adopt the form of internal hard disk drive or removable memory device (for example flash card).
Referring to Fig. 4, mobile device 100 and environment 200 related demonstrations, described environment 200 comprises mobile telephone base station 201a, the 201b of a part that forms mobile telephone network 202.Described mobile device 100 is configured to carry out call or need carry out data with described mobile telephone network being connected when setting up the internet and connect and communicating by letter with mobile telephone network 202 as the user.Show third party's mobile device 203a and 203b equally, the two is configured to communicate by letter with described mobile telephone network in the mode identical with mobile device 100.Especially, thus mobile device 100 can be by setting up audio call or by sending SMS via mobile telephone network 202 or MMS message is communicated by letter with 203b with third party's mobile device 203a via mobile telephone network 202.These are used for setting up method for communicating between this equipment and process is known to those skilled in the art, no longer repeat at this.Third party's mobile device 203a and 203b comprise shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and the feature of the mobile device of describing 100.
Described mobile telephone network 202 also is connected with internet 204, and the mobile device that allows to be connected to described mobile telephone network 202 via described internet 204 set up with other servers (for example mail server) between data be connected.Described mobile telephone network 202 also is connected with the telephone network 205 based on landline of conventional fixed, allows mobile device 100 foundation and landline telephone and the call of the mobile device that is connected with other mobile telephone networks.
Service (LBS) server 206 based on the location is also shown among Fig. 4.Described LBS server 206 provides based on the service of locating to the user of the mobile device that is connected to described mobile telephone network 202.The function of described LBS server 206 is connected to the position of the mobile device of described mobile telephone network 202 for estimation.Described LBS server 206 uses the position of estimating mobile device based on the location of sub-district.Described LBS server 206 keeps base station location database (not shown), and this database comprises the record of the location of the every other base station in base station 201a and 201b and this mobile telephone network 202.Basic location information is the form of the standard coordinate of longitude and latitude.In addition, the location details of described base station locator data library storage street address form.Described LBS server 206 can and can directly be visited via the application based on web of described internet 204 visits by mobile device 100 by the application that moves on the mobile device 100.Described mobile telephone network 202 knows mobile device is connected to maybe and will be connected to (connecting if desired) which base station.This information can mobile device on or provide the application that moves on the computer server based on the service of location via access to the Internet, and this information is sent to LBS server 206 with any location estimation request.Described then LBS server 206 can be carried out locating function in the location database of base station, and the position that will estimate mobile device for the identical position, location of nearest base station.If the base station is the sub-district service with 100m radius, then the accuracy of location estimation is ± 100m.This information is passed back to mobile device or computer server then.Described position data comprises the coordinate of the estimation of mobile device, the street address of estimation and the accuracy of location estimation.
Described mobile device 100 comprise be configured to carry out specific function, be stored in the application among random access memory 108a and the user data memory 108c.In use, described application is loaded among the random access memory 108b, and the instruction of definition in these are used is carried out by processor unit 107.Any reference symbol that regards to the processor unit 107 of carrying out specific function down is for being included in the reference symbol of the processor that instructs in one or more application to execution.Especially, user data memory 108c comprises position application (shown in Fig. 3), and this position application offers various functions about position data the user of described mobile device 100.Described position application comprises graphic user interface (GUI) so that the user of mobile device 100 can be provided by the various functions that provided by described position application.Next, when position application is described to that information or option offered the user of mobile device, should be appreciated that this is to import by keypad 104 by display 105 instructions that realize and that Any user provides.The operation of mobile device 100 will be described now.
As mentioned above, described position application offers various functions the user of described mobile device 100.Function sends to third party's computing equipment for the details with the current location of mobile device 100, for example third party's mobile device 203a.This function shows in Fig. 5.When the user wanted that position data sent to the third party, described user opened position application (step 301).Present to a plurality of menu options of user then.One of them option is " a propelling movement position data ", and it is then by user-selected (step 302).Described position application is given the further option of user then, and one of them is " a propelling movement current location ".The user selects " propelling movement current location " (step 303) then.
In case the user has selected " propelling movement current location ", described position application is at first determined the current location of mobile device 100.Described position application via transceiver 113 set up with LBS server 206 between data be connected, and ask current location data (step 304).Described LBS server 206 is estimated the position of described mobile device 100 then, as mentioned above, and connects this information of transmission via the data set up and uses (step 305) to the location.As mentioned above, described positional information comprises the coordinate of the estimation of mobile device, the street address of estimation and the accuracy of positional information.In case completing steps 305, then described position application generates position data record (step 306).
Position data record (shown in Fig. 3) is the record with mobile device or other computing equipment location information related.Position data record also can be used in record and fixing significantly location location information related, such as Automatic Teller Machine or travel purpose ground.The field of the date and time when described position data record comprises street address, the estimated position of accuracy, the position of the device location that is used for the related equipment mark of described record, estimation, estimated position and the accuracy of estimation.Be the example of typical record below:
Positioning mark: Generic device S56-J.Smith
Position data :+51.475 ,-0.221
Data accuracy: ± 100m
Street address: Stevenage Road, Fulham, London
Dater: 5th April 2007
Timestamp: 1:48pm
Described position data record is stored among the user data memory 108c.Described position data record can represent with text formatting, so that these data can use multiple different media to send simply, for example via the SMS text message.The described textual form of above-mentioned record will be shown as:
Beginning: posdata
Sign: Generic device S56-J.Smith
Position :+51.475 ,-0.221
Accuracy: ± 100
Address: stevenage road; Fulham; London
Date: 05042007
Time: 1348
Finish: posdata
Described position application will convert above-described position data record form from the positional information that LBS server 206 receives to.In case finish record, then the position application variety of option that will be used to send position data record offers user's (step 307).These options comprise: text message, Multimedia Message, instant message, Email and server.In these options each will be described below.
If the user selects " text message " or " Multimedia Message ", then position application requires the user to import third party's mobile device 203a that these position data record should be sent to and the details of 203b.These information can be with the form of telephone number or with the coordinator's that selects from address book etc. form input (step 308).This message transmits interface application and uses process known to a person of ordinary skill in the art that position data record is sent to third party's mobile device 203a and 203b (step 309) then.
If the user selects " instant message transmission ", then position application is opened the instant message that is stored in the memory 108 and is transmitted interface application.Described instant message transmits interface application and provides the tabulation of available correspondent party to the user, and described correspondent party is set up in advance by the user of mobile device 100.These correspondent party can comprise and moving and fixing computing equipment, and this tabulation has shown current any equipment that can receive instant message.Described user selects those then, and they want to send to it third party's mobile device 203a and the 203b (step 308) of position data record.Described position application transmits interface application via described localization message then position data record is sent to third party's mobile device (step 309).
If the user selects " Email ", then described position application is opened message and is transmitted interface application.Described position application requires the expection recipient's of user's input position data record e-mail address (step 308).Described message transmits interface application and then position data record is sent to e-mail address (step 309) by user's input as the annex of Email.
In the process of Miao Shuing, in step 303, described user selects " propelling movement current location " in the above.The option that described position application also will push the position data record of being created by this user offers this user.With reference now to Fig. 6, the flow process that pushes existing position data record is described.
As mentioned above, when the user wanted to send position data to the third party, this user opened position application (step 401) and presents to a plurality of menu options of this user.One of them option is " a propelling movement position data ", and the user selects this option (step 402) subsequently.Described position application is given the further option of user then, and one of them option is " pushing existing position data record ", and the user can select this option (step 403) subsequently.
In case the user has selected " pushing existing position data record ", described position application is opened the file browser interface application (step 404) that is stored among the random access memory 108a.Described browser is opened the file that is stored among the user data memory 108c earlier, and this document folder is the default location that is stored in the position data record on the mobile device 100 for all.Described browser allows the user to check the essential information that is stored in each position data record, such as this equipment mark or should record related position and the time and/or the date of should record creating.Described then user can select them to want the record (step 405) that sends.
Selected position data record is subsequently to be sent to the third party with the top identical mode of describing in conjunction with Fig. 5.The user selects required transformat (step 406), input destination details (step 407), and position data record is sent to third party device (step 408).
When the user opened described position application, first available options was " a propelling movement locator data ".Before this point had been described in conjunction with Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.Second option that this position application provided is " establishment position data record ".To process that create new data record be described in conjunction with Fig. 7 now.
When the user opens described position application (step 501), the flow process of creating new position data record begins.Offer the option of this user " propelling movement position data " or " establishment position data record ".In this case, the user selects " establishment position data record " (step 502).All fields of position data record all can manually be imported, yet when the user uses described position application to create record, give the various selections of user so that data are input in the field of record automatically.Described position application can provide data automatically for most of field of record, as this program send done when current location data writes down to the third party.
In case the user has selected " establishment position data record ", whether then described position application inquiry user wants to create the record (step 503) based on the current location of this mobile device 100.If the user selects "Yes", then position application is got in touch described LBS server 206, and to ask current location data with the identical mode of describing in conjunction with Fig. 5 before.Described position application transmit a request to described LBS server 206 (step 504), and this LBS server 206 is estimated the position of described mobile device 100 before to described mobile device 100 (step 505) in loopback location information.Described position application is filled the field (step 506) of the position data record of new establishment then.Described then position application prompting user input is for the sign of this position data record, and this sign is imported (step 507) by the user by keypad 104 after a while.Described sign can be user's name or the title of user's current location, for example title of tourist attraction., these contents are being saved among the user data memory 108c (step 508) before herein, the user can manually change any data in the position data record.
In step 503, if the user does not want to create the new position data record based on the current location of described mobile device 100, then the user can select "No", in this case, position application is opened the blank position data record, and allows the user manually to enter data in each field of this position data record (step 509).The user is saved in this position data record among the user data memory 108c (step 508) then.
With reference now to Fig. 8, the process that third party's mobile device 203a, 203b received and handled position data record is described.When the message that comprises position data record was received (step 601) by third party's mobile device 203a, message transmitted interface application and identifies form that text is a position data record and generate position data record (step 602) based on the information that provides in the described message.Described message transmits interface application notice location data record and is received, and " checks " for the user or the selection (step 603) of " withdrawing from ".If the user selects " withdrawing from ", then this flow process finishes (step 604).The user can obtain described information and check described position data record after a while by the inbox position of transmitting interface application from message.If described third party selects " checking ", then on third party's mobile device 203a, show described position data record (step 605), so that the user can see the position of the moment place's mobile device 100 that is write down in this position data record.
In conjunction with Fig. 9 preferred implementation of the present invention is described now.Each can both move user 700a, 700b and 700c in given geographic area shown in Figure 9.Each user 700a, 700b and 700c have corresponding mobile phone 701a, 701b and 701c.In these phones each all is configured to communicate by letter with mobile telephone network with the mode that those of ordinary skills are familiar with.And each mobile phone 701a, 701b and 701c are configured to move in the mode identical with the mobile device described in conjunction with Fig. 1-Fig. 8 100.
Also show position provider 702 among Fig. 9, it can be GPS.Among mobile phone 701a and the 701b each all comprises GPS unit (not shown), so that the position that mobile phone can use signal 703a that gps satellite produces and 703b to determine mobile phone.The replacement that the mechanism that is provided for determining the position provides as LBS server 206 based on the location of sub-district.In this embodiment, the step 305 in Fig. 5, mobile phone 701a and 701b ask position datas from their GPS unit 701 separately, rather than from LBS server 206 request position datas.As shown in Figure 9, thus mobile phone 701a and 701b can by push 704ab, 704ac, the 704bc position data is given each other and mobile phone 701c provides positional information.
Now the operation of the execution mode shown in Fig. 9 will be described in conjunction with Figure 10.Figure 10 has shown the mutual sequence chart 801 between user 700a, 700b and 700c and mobile phone 701a, 701b and the 701c.Described sequence chart 801 comprises the expression of user 700a, 700b and 700c, position provider 702 and timer 802.Described timer 802 moves on mobile phone 701a and 701b, and will be discussed in more detail below.Described sequence chart also comprises the expression of mobile phone 701a, 701b and 701c.First element of described sequence chart is a location tracking control sequence 803.Described mobile device 701b has been written into above-described position application thereon.Except function above-mentioned, described position application also is configured to send position data automatically with the time interval of rule.Therefore, if user 700b wants to meet with one group of user, then each user in this group can keep knowing the position of this user 700b.In order to achieve this end, to offer described position application and be used to open or close the option that the automated location data send.Described position application also is configured to user 700b can be provided with the regularity that sends position data.This regularity can be for example per minute, per 5 minutes or each hour.One group of user that described position application can also the assigned address data record should be automatically sent to.This function is by 803 expressions of location tracking control sequence.User 700b can open or close described location tracking service (step 804), with activate or forbidding for the tracking observability (step 805) of user 700a and 700c and track frequency (step 806) is set.
Next element in the sequence chart 801 is that the position obtains sequence 807.Here, position provider (being GPS here) sends positional information (step 808) to each mobile phone 701a, 701b and 701c.Though described GPS sends position signalling to all directions, has only mobile phone 701a and 701b can use the GPS unit of their inside to come these signals of decipher.
Last element is that positional information pushes sequence 809 in the sequence chart 801.This sequence is sent " ticktack " at timer 802 and was begun in 810 o'clock, and described " ticktack " 810 indication position application should push the current location data record.The position application that is loaded into mobile phone 701b then is pushed to all users that are included in described group, i.e. user 700a and 700c (step 811) with the current location data record.This point can be realized according to previously described method.Mobile phone 701a and 701c receive the current location data record then.Preferably, mobile phone 701a and 701c also are loaded into described position application on it.Described position application also is configured to the position with the phone that has carried out loading, the position of mobile phone 701b is compared, and calculates the Estimated Time of Arrival (step 812) of user 701b.This point can be by calculating the distance between each mobile phone and determining the route of this distance needs how long to realize.Replacedly, described mobile phone can be loaded with navigation system or can visit navigation system, and described navigation system can more be newly arrived based on the traffic of real road length and live telecast and be estimated hourage exactly.User 700b also can send the details of the route with position data record of their expection.This point can be used to improve to be estimated hourage.If the user wants to use public transport, then estimate hourage to consider the live public traffic information available via the internet.Other mechanism that are used to estimate the time of specific travelling are known to those skilled in the art.At last, mobile phone 701a and 701c make user 700a and 700c know the position of user 700b and the time of advent (step 813) of estimation.
Mobile Network Operator provides the mapping function based on web equally, and this function makes the user checking the position that defines on the map in position data record.In case the position data record that receives is opened by the user of mobile device 203a, then message transmits interface application demonstration " option " menu icon, and this icon can use the menu navigation system of third party's mobile device 203a to open by the third party.Described " option " menu comprises " obtaining map " option.Refer again to Fig. 8, if the user of mobile device 203a selects " obtaining map " (step 606), then mobile device 203a is connected to mapping server (not shown) (step 607) via mobile telephone network 202.Third party's mobile device 203a uploads the position data record that receives and is created on the map of the position that defines in the position data record to described mapping server (step 608) and described mapping server, and this map is sent back to third party's mobile device 203a (step 609) then.Described third party's mobile device 203a shows this map (step 610) then on the display of third party's mobile device 203a.
As the replacement of above-mentioned mapping function based on web, third party's mobile device 203a can use mapping and be loaded in advance in its user data memory.The map that is written in advance that comprises given area (for example Britain) is used in this mapping.When the user selected " obtaining map " in " option " menu, this mapping was used and is written into, then should application generation and be presented at the map of appointed positions in the position data record.
Although having described, top execution mode comprises that the system that operates in the mobile phone in the mobile telephone network, other execution mode comprise the system of the method (for example WLAN (wireless local area network)) that the mobile device (for example laptop computer) that utilizes other types and other data transmit.Term " mobile device " can refer to mobile phone, smart phone, laptop computer, PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) or any other mobile computing device.Especially, mobile device can refer to the computing equipment based on vehicle, and this equipment can be fixed in or be built in the vehicle, and by vehicle self be move this equipment also move.Such equipment allows vehicle is for example transported the tracking of the position of lorry or the like.In addition, the further modification of above-described execution mode, interpolation and distortion are conspicuous for the expection reader as those of ordinary skills, all will fall within the scope of claims so that the further execution mode that comprises original conception of the present invention to be provided.