U.S. patent application number 11/721314 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-24 for search system of communications device.
Invention is credited to Atsushi Iwasaki, Makoto Koushiro, Motoshi Tamura, Akimichi Tanabe.
Application Number | 20090240656 11/721314 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37396667 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090240656 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanabe; Akimichi ; et
al. |
September 24, 2009 |
SEARCH SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
Abstract
A communications system is provided which can search for
information about a communications device that is not registered in
a network by designating time. The search system, which includes a
plurality of communications devices, gateways and an entity
management server, can execute a search method. The entity
management server stores in a storage device the identification
information of the communications device sent from the gateways
with establishing correspondence with notification time. The entity
management server receives from a mobile terminal the
identification information of the communications device and
designated time. The entity management server searches for the
identification information stored in the storage device at the
designated time, and identifies the location information of the
gateways corresponding to the identification information included
in the search request.
Inventors: |
Tanabe; Akimichi; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Tamura; Motoshi; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
Iwasaki; Atsushi; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Koushiro;
Makoto; (Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Workman Nydegger;1000 Eagle Gate Tower
60 East South Temple
Salt Lake City
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
37396667 |
Appl. No.: |
11/721314 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
May 12, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP06/09581 |
371 Date: |
June 8, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.003; 707/999.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/02 20130101; H04L
67/16 20130101; H04W 64/00 20130101; H04W 68/00 20130101; H04W
8/005 20130101; H04W 88/16 20130101; H04L 67/18 20130101; H04W
4/029 20180201; H04W 88/14 20130101; H04W 8/26 20130101; H04L
67/1097 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/3 ;
707/10 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A search system of a communications device having a plurality of
gateways connected to the communications device, and a control
server of the communications device, said control server
comprising: memory control means for storing identification
information of said communications device sent from said gateways
in a storage device at every notification time with establishing
correspondence with location information of the gateways that send
the identification information; search request receiving means for
receiving a search request including the identification information
of said communications device and a designated time; and search
means for retrieving the location information of the gateways to
which the communications device corresponding to the search request
is connected by searching, in response to reception of the search
request, for the identification information at the designated time
stored in said storage device.
2. A control server of a communications device comprising: memory
control means for storing identification information of said
communications device sent from a plurality of gateways connected
to said communications device in a storage device at every
notification time with establishing correspondence with location
information of the gateways; search request receiving means for
receiving a search request including the identification information
of said communications device and a designated time; and search
means for retrieving the location information of the gateways to
which the communications device corresponding to the search request
is connected by searching, in response to reception of the search
request, for the identification information at the designated time
stored in said storage device.
3. The control server of the communications device as claimed in
claim 2, wherein said search means includes notification request
means for requesting said gateways to provide notification of the
identification information of the communications device connected
to the gateways at the designated time received.
4. The control server of the communications device as claimed in
claim 3, wherein the search request of said communications device
includes information about a geographical area, and said
notification request means requests the gateways in the
geographical area to provide notification of the identification
information of said communications device.
5. A search method of a communications device in a control server
of the communications device, said search method comprising: a step
of storing identification information of said communications device
sent from a plurality of gateways connected to said communications
device in a storage device at every notification time with
establishing correspondence with location information of the
gateways; a step of receiving a search request including the
identification information of said communications device and a
designated time; and a step of retrieving the location information
of the gateways to which the communications device corresponding to
the search request is connected by searching, in response to
reception of the search request, for the identification information
at the designated time stored in said storage device.
6. A computer program for causing a computer to function as: memory
control means for storing identification information of said
communications device sent from a plurality of gateways connected
to said communications device in a storage device at every
notification time with establishing correspondence with location
information of the gateways; search request receiving means for
receiving a search request including the identification information
of said communications device and a designated time; and search
means for retrieving the location information of the gateways to
which the communications device corresponding to the search request
is connected by searching, in response to reception of the search
request, for the identification information at the designated time
stored in said storage device.
7. A search system of a communications device having a plurality of
gateways connected to the communications device, and a control
server of the communications device, said control server
comprising: memory control means for storing attribute information
of said communications device sent from said gateways in a storage
device with establishing correspondence with location information
of the gateways; search request receiving means for receiving a
search request including the attribute information; and search
means for retrieving the location information of the gateways to
which the communications device corresponding to the search request
is connected by searching, in response to reception of the search
request, for the attribute information stored in said storage
device.
8. A control server of a communications device comprising: memory
control means for storing attribute information of said
communications device sent from a plurality of gateways connected
to said communications device in a storage device with establishing
correspondence with location information of the gateways; search
request receiving means for receiving a search request including
the attribute information; and search means for retrieving the
location information of the gateways to which the communications
device corresponding to the search request is connected by
searching, in response to reception of the search request, for the
attribute information stored in said storage device.
9. The control server of the communications device as claimed in
claim 8, wherein the search request includes information about a
designated time, and said search means includes notification
request means for requesting said gateways to provide notification
of the attribute information of the communications device connected
to the gateways at the designated time received.
10. The control server of the communications device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the search request of said communications device
includes information about a geographical area, and said
notification request means requests the gateways in the
geographical area to provide notification of the attribute
information of said communications device.
11. The control server of the communications device as claimed in
claim 2 or 8, further comprising estimating means for estimating
the location of said communications device at a designated time
from a plurality of location information items at different
notification times stored in said storage device.
12. The control server of the communications device as claimed in
claim 2 or 8 wherein said communications device is an IC tag
attached to an article.
13. A search method of a communications device in a control server
of the communications device, said search method comprising: a step
of storing attribute information of said communications device sent
from a plurality of gateways connected to said communications
device in a storage device with establishing correspondence with
location information of the gateways; a step of receiving a search
request including the attribute information; and a step of
retrieving the location information of the gateways to which the
communications device corresponding to the search request is
connected by searching, in response to reception of the search
request, for the attribute information stored in said storage
device.
14. A computer program for causing a computer to function as:
memory control means for storing attribute information of said
communications device sent from a plurality of gateways connected
to said communications device in a storage device with establishing
correspondence with location information of the gateways; search
request receiving means for receiving a search request including
the attribute information; and search means for retrieving the
location information of the gateways to which the communications
device corresponding to the search request is connected by
searching, in response to reception of the search request, for the
attribute information stored in said storage device.
15. A search system of a communications device having a plurality
of first communications devices, a plurality of gateways connected
to said first communications devices, and a control server for
managing locations of said gateways, said first communications
devices being able to communicate with a second communications
device provided with identification information, said control
server comprising: search request receiving means for receiving a
search request including the identification information and
information about a geographical area; and search request
transmitting means for transmitting the identification information
received to the gateways in the geographical area, and said
gateways comprising: inquiring means for requesting said first
communications devices to search for the second communications
device that stores the identification information received; and
inquiring result receiving means for receiving a result of the
inquiry from said first communications devices.
16. The search system of the communications device as claimed in
claim 15, wherein said second communications device is an IC tag
attached to an article.
17. A search method of a communications device in a search system
having a plurality of first communications devices, a plurality of
gateways connected to said first communications devices, and a
control server for managing locations of said gateways, said first
communications devices being able to communicate with a second
communications device provided with identification information,
said method comprising: a step of receiving in said control server
a search request including the identification information and
information about a geographical area; a step of transmitting from
said control server the identification information received to the
gateways in the geographical area; a step of causing said gateways
to request said first communications devices to search for the
second communications device that stores the identification
information received; and a step of receiving in the gateways a
result of the search from said first communications devices.
18. An information search system having a service agent server for
receiving a transmission request of information from a terminal,
and a control server for managing information to be provided to
said terminal, said service agent server comprising: storing means
for storing types of services to be provided to said terminal and
attribute information of information collecting instruments with
establishing correspondence between them; transmission request
receiving means for receiving the transmission request including a
type of service from said terminal; and transmitting means for
extracting, from said storing means, attribute information
corresponding to the type of service included in the transmission
request, and for transmitting the attribute information to said
control server, and said control server comprising: collected
information storing means for storing the attribute information of
said information collecting instruments and collected information
transmitted from said information collecting instruments with
establishing correspondence with locations of said information
collecting instruments; and search means for retrieving the
collected information corresponding to the received attribute
information by searching said collected information storing
means.
19. The information search system as claimed in claim 18, further
comprising gateways for mediating communication between said
information collecting instruments and said control server, wherein
said collected information storing means stores locations of the
gateways as the locations of said information collecting
instruments.
20. The information search system as claimed in claim 18, wherein
said search request receiving means further receives information
about a geographical area from said terminal; said transmitting
means further transmits the information about the geographical
area; and said search means acquires information collected by said
information collecting instruments included in the geographical
area received.
21. The information search system as claimed in claim 18, wherein
said search request receiving means further receives information
about a designated time from said terminal; and said search means
acquires collected information at the designated time.
22. The information search system as claimed in claim 18, wherein
said control server further comprises notification means for
notifying said service agent server of the collected information
acquired by said search means; and said service agent server
further comprises processing means for processing the collected
information sent from said notification means into offering
information to be provided to said terminal.
23. The information search system as claimed in claim 22, wherein
said storing means stores the collected information and the
offering information with establishing correspondence between them;
and said processing means retrieves from said storing means the
offering information corresponding to the collected information
sent by said notification means.
24. The information search system as claimed in claim 18, wherein
said control server further comprises notification means for
sending a notification to said service agent server when the
collected information retrieved by said search means meets a
prescribed condition.
25. The information search system as claimed in claim 18, further
comprising setting means for setting operating conditions of the
information collecting instruments corresponding to the search
request.
26. The information search system as claimed in claim 18, wherein
said search means retrieves a plurality of collected information
items transmitted from one of said information collecting
instruments in the past; and wherein said information search system
further comprises: estimating means for estimating, from the
plurality of collected information items, the collected information
to be transmitted from one of said information collecting
instruments at a designated time.
27. An information search method in an information search system
having a service agent server for receiving a transmission request
of information from a terminal, and a control server for managing
information to be provided to said terminal, said service agent
server having storing means for storing types of services to be
provided to said terminal and attribute information of information
collecting instruments with establishing correspondence between
them, said control server having collected information storing
means for storing identification information of said information
collecting instruments and the collected information transmitted
from said information collecting instruments with establishing
correspondence with locations of said information collecting
instruments, said information search method comprising: a step of
receiving, in said service agent server, the transmission request
including a type of service from said terminal; a step of
extracting, in said service agent server, the attribute information
corresponding to the type of service included in the transmission
request from said storing means, and of transmitting the attribute
information to said control server; and a step of retrieving, in
said control server, collected information of the information
collecting instruments corresponding to the received attribute
information by searching said collected information storing means.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a search system of a
communications device, and more particularly to a search system and
method of a communications device, a control server of the
communications device, information search system and method, and
computer program for searching for articles or information in
response to a service request from a user.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In an existing communications system, terminals have
communication functions and a protocol adapted to the network, and
carry out communication by connecting to the network using
them.
[0003] In a typical communications method, a sending terminal makes
transmission by using a mobile phone number (or mail address), and
is connected through a home location register (HLR) that resolves
the location information about the terminal.
[0004] In a service using such a communications system, a user
designates a communication party terminal and connects up to the
party terminal. After completing the connection, the user requests
a desired service to be offered from the party terminal.
Subsequently, it can receive the service from the party terminal.
As for such a method, when the user cannot identify the party
terminal, the user cannot receive the services offered.
[0005] Recently, systems are proposed which can solve such a
problem, and implement a computing environment the user can use
without being conscious of the location or existence. Such systems
enable the communication without being conscious of the protocol in
a variety of communications devices (see, Patent Documents 1 and 2,
for example).
[0006] As specific services, a technique is disclosed in which a
user who lost the article, to which a data tag capable of
communicating with an observation apparatus is attached, transmits
information about the article to be searched for to a server using
a terminal. The server carries out communication with the data tag
through a plurality of observation devices (see Patent Document 3,
for example).
[0007] The conventional search systems, however, cannot track the
object of search in terms of time.
[0008] In addition, in the conventional search systems, the range
of the search is restricted by the protocol to which the gateway
conforms or within an area communicable through the gateway.
Accordingly, it is not rare for the conventional search system to
be unable to search for the object of search even if the object is
present near the observation apparatus.
[0009] Furthermore, the conventional search system cannot conduct
the search when the user side does not know the identification
information about the object of search. Accordingly, it has a
problem of being unable to search for a specific type of articles
or information such as searching for a printer nearby.
[0010] Patent Document 1: Japanese patent application laid-open No.
2004-208101. Patent Document 2: Japanese patent application
laid-open No. 2004-280350. Patent Document 3: Japanese patent
application laid-open No. 2004-132732.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention provides a search system capable of
searching for an article designated by time.
[0012] In addition, the present invention provides a search system
capable of searching for a greater number of target objects by
increasing an observable target range.
[0013] Furthermore, the present invention provides a search system
capable of carrying out a search by designating the type and
attribute of a search target.
[0014] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the
search system of the communications device is a search system
having a plurality of gateways connected to the communications
device, and a control server of the communications device, the
control server comprising: memory control means for storing
identification information of the communications device sent from
the gateways in a storage device at every notification time with
establishing correspondence with location information of the
gateways that send the identification information; search request
receiving means for receiving a search request including the
identification information of the communications device and a
designated time; and search means for retrieving the location
information of the gateways to which the communications device
corresponding to the search request is connected by searching for
the identification information at the designated time stored in the
storage device in response to reception of the search request.
[0015] Thus, the control server stores identification information
of the communications device sent from the gateways in the storage
device at every notification time with establishing correspondence
with location information of the gateways that send the
identification information; receives the search request including
the identification information of the communications device and the
designated time; and retrieves the location information of the
gateways to which the communications device corresponding to the
search request is connected by searching, in response to reception
of the search request, for the identification information at the
designated time stored in the storage device. Therefore it can
provide the notification of the past and present locations of the
search target.
[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the
control server of the communications device in accordance with the
present invention comprises: memory control means for storing
identification information of the communications device sent from a
plurality of gateways connected to the communications device in a
storage device at every notification time with establishing
correspondence with location information of the gateways; search
request receiving means for receiving a search request including
the identification information of the communications device and a
designated time; and search means for retrieving the location
information of the gateways to which the communications device
corresponding to the search request is connected by searching, in
response to reception of the search request, for the identification
information at the designated time stored in the storage
device.
[0017] Thus, it stores identification information of the
communications device sent from the plurality of gateways connected
to the communications device in the storage device at every
notification time with establishing correspondence with location
information of the gateways; receives the search request including
the identification information of the communications device and the
designated time; and retrieves the location information of the
gateways to which the communications device corresponding to the
search request is connected by searching, in response to reception
of the search request, for the identification information at the
designated time stored in the storage device. Therefore it can
provide the notification of the past and present locations of the
search target.
[0018] Here, the search means can include notification request
means for requesting the gateways to provide notification of the
identification information of the communications device connected
to the gateways at the designated time received.
[0019] Thus, it requests the gateways to provide notification of
the identification information of the communications device
connected to the gateways at the designated time received.
Therefore it can provide the notification of the location of the
search target at any desired future point.
[0020] Here, the search request of the communications device can
include information about a geographical area, and the notification
request means can request the gateways in the geographical area to
provide notification of the identification information of the
communications device.
[0021] Thus, the search request of the communications device
includes information about the geographical area, and the gateways
in the geographical area is requested to provide notification of
the identification information of the communications device.
Therefore, it can narrow the search processing down to a specified
geographical area, and reduce the load imposed on the network side
by the search processing.
[0022] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the
search method of the communications device in accordance with the
present invention is a search method of the communications device
in a control server of the communications device, the search method
comprising: a step of storing identification information of the
communications device sent from a plurality of gateways connected
to the communications device in a storage device at every
notification time with establishing correspondence with location
information of the gateways; a step of receiving a search request
including the identification information of the communications
device and a designated time; and a step of retrieving the location
information of the gateways to which the communications device
corresponding to the search request is connected by searching, in
response to reception of the search request, for the identification
information at the designated time stored in the storage
device.
[0023] Thus, it stores the identification information of the
communications device sent from the plurality of gateways connected
to the communications device in the storage device at every
notification time with establishing correspondence with location
information of the gateways; receives the search request including
the identification information of the communications device and the
designated time; and retrieves the location information of the
gateways to which the communications device corresponding to the
search request is connected by searching, in response to the
reception of the search request, for the identification information
at the designated time stored in the storage device. Therefore it
can provide the notification of the past and present locations of
the search target.
[0024] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a
computer program in accordance with the present invention causes a
computer to function as: memory control means for storing
identification information of the communications device sent from a
plurality of gateways connected to the communications device in a
storage device at every notification time with establishing
correspondence with location information of the gateways; search
request receiving means for receiving a search request including
the identification information of the communications device and a
designated time; and search means for retrieving the location
information of the gateways to which the communications device
corresponding to the search request is connected by searching, in
response to reception of the search request, for the identification
information at the designated time stored in the storage
device.
[0025] Thus, it causes the computer to function in such a manner
as: to store identification information of the communications
device sent from the plurality of gateways connected to the
communications device in the storage device at every notification
time with establishing correspondence with location information of
the gateways; to receive the search request including the
identification information of the communications device and the
designated time; and to retrieve the location information of the
gateways to which the communications device corresponding to the
search request is connected by searching, in response to the
reception of the search request, for the identification information
at the designated time stored in the storage device. Therefore it
can provide the notification of the past and present locations of
the search target.
[0026] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a
search system of the communications device in accordance with the
present invention is a search system of a communications device
having a plurality of gateways connected to the communications
device, and a control server of the communications device, the
control server comprising: memory control means for storing
attribute information of the communications device sent from the
gateways in a storage device with establishing correspondence with
location information of the gateways; search request receiving
means for receiving a search request including the attribute
information; and search means for retrieving the location
information of the gateways to which the communications device
corresponding to the search request is connected by searching, in
response to reception of the search request, for the attribute
information stored in the storage device.
[0027] Thus, the control server stores attribute information of the
communications device sent from the gateways in the storage device
with establishing correspondence with location information of the
gateways; receives the search request including the attribute
information; and retrieves the location information of the gateways
to which the communications device corresponding to the search
request is connected by searching, in response to the reception of
the search request, for the attribute information stored in the
storage device. Therefore it can search for the communications
device by designating the attribute even if a user does not know
the identification information of the communications device.
[0028] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the
control server of the communications device in accordance with the
present invention comprises: memory control means for storing
attribute information of the communications device sent from a
plurality of gateways connected to the communications device in a
storage device with establishing correspondence with location
information of the gateways; search request receiving means for
receiving a search request including the attribute information; and
search means for retrieving the location information of the
gateways to which the communications device corresponding to the
search request is connected by searching, in response to reception
of the search request, for the attribute information stored in the
storage device.
[0029] Thus, it stores the attribute information of the
communications device sent from the plurality of gateways connected
to the communications device in the storage device with
establishing correspondence with location information of the
gateways; receives the search request including the attribute
information; and retrieves the location information of the gateways
to which the communications device corresponding to the search
request is connected by searching, in response to the reception of
the search request, for the attribute information stored in the
storage device. Therefore it can search for the communications
device by designating the attribute even if a user does not know
the identification information of the communications device.
[0030] Here, the search request can include information about a
designated time, and the search means can include notification
request means for requesting the gateways to provide notification
of the attribute information of the communications device connected
to the gateways at the designated time received.
[0031] Thus, the search request includes the information about the
designated time, and the gateways are requested to provide the
notification of the attribute information of the communications
device connected to the gateways at the designated time received.
Therefore it can provide the notification of the location of the
search target at any desired future point.
[0032] In addition, the search request of the communications device
can include information about a geographical area, and the
notification request means can request the gateways in the
geographical area to provide notification of the attribute
information of the communications device.
[0033] Thus, the search request of the communications device
includes the information about the geographical area, and requests
the gateways in the geographical area to provide the notification
of the attribute information of the communications device.
Therefore, it can narrow the search processing down to the
specified geographical area, and reduce the load imposed on the
network by the search processing.
[0034] Besides, it can further comprise estimating means for
estimating the location of the communications device at a
designated time from a plurality of location information items at
different notification times stored in the storage device.
[0035] Thus, it estimates the location of the communications device
at the designated time from the plurality of location information
items at different notification times stored in the storage device.
Therefore it can estimate locations in the past time not informed
and predict future locations.
[0036] Furthermore, the communications device can be an IC tag
attached to an article.
[0037] Thus using the IC tag attached to the article as the
communications device enables the search of the article provided
with the IC tag.
[0038] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the
search method of the communications device in accordance with the
present invention is a search method of the communications device
in a control server of the communications device, the search method
comprising: a step of storing attribute information of the
communications device sent from a plurality of gateways connected
to the communications device in a storage device with establishing
correspondence with location information of the gateways; a step of
receiving a search request including the attribute information; and
a step of retrieving the location information of the gateways to
which the communications device corresponding to the search request
is connected by searching, in response to reception of the search
request, for the attribute information stored in the storage
device.
[0039] Thus, it stores attribute information of the communications
device sent from the plurality of gateways connected to the
communications device in the storage device with establishing
correspondence with location information of the gateways; receives
the search request including the attribute information; and
retrieves the location information of the gateways to which the
communications device corresponding to the search request is
connected by searching, in response to the reception of the search
request, for the attribute information stored in the storage
device. Therefore it can search for the communications device by
designating the attribute even if a user does not know the
identification information of the communications device.
[0040] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a
computer program in accordance with the present invention causes a
computer to function as: memory control means for storing attribute
information of the communications device sent from a plurality of
gateways connected to the communications device in a storage device
with establishing correspondence with location information of the
gateways; search request receiving means for receiving a search
request including the attribute information; and search means for
retrieving the location information of the gateways to which the
communications device corresponding to the search request is
connected by searching, in response to reception of the search
request, for the attribute information stored in the storage
device.
[0041] Thus, it causes the computer to function as: the memory
control means for storing attribute information of the
communications device sent from the plurality of gateways connected
to the communications device in the storage device with
establishing correspondence with the location information of the
gateways that send the identification information; search request
receiving means for receiving the search request including the
attribute information; and search means for retrieving the location
information of the gateways to which the communications device
corresponding to the search request is connected by searching, in
response to the reception of the search request, for the attribute
information stored in the storage device. Therefore it can search
for the communications device by designating the attribute even if
a user does not know the identification information of the
communications device.
[0042] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a
search system of the communications device in accordance with the
present invention is a search system of a communications device
having a plurality of first communications devices, a plurality of
gateways connected to the first communications devices, and a
control server for managing locations of the gateways, the first
communications devices being able to communicate with a second
communications device provided with identification information, the
control server comprising: search request receiving means for
receiving a search request including the identification information
and information about a geographical area; and search request
transmitting means for transmitting the identification information
received to the gateways in the geographical area, and the gateways
comprising: inquiring means for requesting the first communications
devices to search for the second communications device that stores
the identification information received; and inquiring result
receiving means for receiving a result of the inquiry from the
first communications devices.
[0043] Thus, the first communications devices are able to
communicate with the second communications device provided with
identification information, and the control server comprises:
search request receiving means for receiving a search request
including the identification information and information about a
geographical area; and search request transmitting means for
transmitting the identification information received to the
gateways in the geographical area, and the gateways comprise:
inquiring means for requesting the first communications devices to
search for the second communications device that stores the
identification information received; and inquiring result receiving
means for receiving a result of the inquiry from the first
communications devices. Therefore it can increase the range of
searchable targets because the first communications devices operate
as additional gateways.
[0044] Here, the communications device can be an IC tag attached to
an article.
[0045] Thus using the IC tag attached to the article as the
communications device enables the search of the article provided
with the IC tag.
[0046] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the
search method of the communications device in accordance with the
present invention is a search method of the communications device
in a search system having a plurality of first communications
devices, a plurality of gateways connected to the first
communications devices, and a control server for managing locations
of the gateways, the first communications devices being able to
communicate with a second communications device provided with
identification information, the method comprising: a step of
receiving in the control server a search request including the
identification information and information about a geographical
area; a step of transmitting from the control server the
identification information received to the gateways in the
geographical area; a step of causing the gateways to request the
first communications devices to search for the second
communications device that stores the identification information
received; and a step of receiving in the gateways a result of the
search from the first communications devices.
[0047] Thus, it receives in the control server the search request
including the identification information and information about a
geographical area; transmits from the control server the
identification information received to the gateways in the
geographical area; causes the gateways to request the first
communications devices to search for the second communications
device that stores the identification information received; and
receives in the gateways the result of the search from the first
communications devices. Therefore it can increase the range of the
searchable targets because the first communications devices operate
as the additional gateways.
[0048] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention,
the information search system in accordance with the present
invention is an information search system having a service agent
server for receiving a transmission request of information from a
terminal, and a control server for managing information to be
provided to the terminal, the service agent server comprising:
storing means for storing types of services to be provided to the
terminal and attribute information of information collecting
instruments with establishing correspondence between them;
transmission request receiving means for receiving the transmission
request including a type of service from the terminal; and
transmitting means for extracting, from the storing means,
attribute information corresponding to the type of service included
in the transmission request, and for transmitting the attribute
information to the control server, and the control server
comprising: collected information storing means for storing the
attribute information of the information collecting instruments and
collected information transmitted from the information collecting
instruments with establishing correspondence with locations of the
information collecting instruments; and search means for retrieving
the collected information corresponding to the received attribute
information by searching the collected information storing
means.
[0049] Thus, the service agent server stores the types of services
to be provided to the terminal and the attribute information of the
information collecting instruments with establishing correspondence
between them; receives the transmission request including the type
of service from the terminal; and extracts, from the storing means,
the attribute information corresponding to the type of service
included in the transmission request, and transmits the attribute
information to the control server, and the control server stores
the attribute information of the information collecting instruments
and collected information transmitted from the information
collecting instruments with establishing correspondence with
locations of the information collecting instruments; and retrieves
the collected information corresponding to the received attribute
information. Therefore it can search for the information by
designating the type of the service to be acquired even if a user
does not know the entity ID.
[0050] Here, it can further comprise gateways for mediating
communication between the information collecting instruments and
the control server, and the collected information storing means can
store locations of the gateways as the locations of the information
collecting instruments.
[0051] Thus, it further comprises the gateways for mediating
communication between the information collecting instruments and
the control server, and stores the locations of the gateways as the
locations of the information collecting instruments. Therefore it
can identify the location of the communications device which is not
registered in the network by the IDs of the gateways.
[0052] In addition, the search request receiving means can further
receive information about a geographical area from the terminal;
the transmitting means can further transmit the information about
the geographical area; and the search means can acquire information
collected by the information collecting instruments included in the
geographical area received.
[0053] Thus, it further receives information about the geographical
area from the terminal; further transmits the information about the
geographical area; and acquires the information collected by the
information collecting instruments included in the geographical
area received. Therefore, it can narrow the search processing down
to the specified geographical area, and reduce the load imposed on
the network by the search processing.
[0054] Besides, the search request receiving means can further
receive information about a designated time from the terminal; and
the search means can acquire collected information at the
designated time.
[0055] Thus, it further receives information about the designated
time from the terminal; and collected information is acquired at
the designated time. Therefore it can retrieve the information at
any desired future point.
[0056] In addition, the control server can further comprise
notification means for notifying the service agent server of the
collected information acquired by the search means; and the service
agent server can further comprise processing means for processing
the collected information sent from the notification means into
offering information to be provided to the terminal.
[0057] Thus the control server notifies the service agent server of
the collected information acquired by the search means; and the
service agent server processes the collected information into
offering information to be provided to the terminal. Therefore it
can edit the collected information in accordance with the interface
of the terminal.
[0058] Here, the storing means can store the collected information
and the offering information with establishing correspondence
between them; and the processing means can retrieve from the
storing means the offering information corresponding to the
collected information sent by the notification means.
[0059] Thus, it stores the collected information and the offering
information with establishing correspondence between them; and
retrieves from the storing means the offering information
corresponding to the collected information. Therefore when it
collects numerical information, it can provide the texts and images
corresponding thereto to the terminal.
[0060] Here, the control server can further comprise notification
means for sending a notification to the service agent server when
the collected information retrieved by the search means meets a
prescribed condition.
[0061] Thus, the control server sends the notification to the
service agent server when the collected information retrieved meets
a prescribed condition. Therefore when the communications device
enters into a predetermined condition, it can notify the user.
[0062] In addition, the information search system can further
comprise setting means for setting operating conditions of the
information collecting instruments corresponding to the search
request.
[0063] Thus, it sets the operating conditions of the information
collecting instruments corresponding to the search request.
Therefore it can execute upgrade or the like of the software
installed in the communications device.
[0064] Besides, the search means can retrieve a plurality of
collected information items transmitted from one of the information
collecting instruments in the past; and further comprise estimating
means for estimating, from the plurality of collected information
items, the collected information to be transmitted from one of the
information collecting instruments at a designated time.
[0065] Thus, it retrieves the plurality of collected information
items transmitted from one of the information collecting
instruments in the past; and estimates, from the plurality of
collected information items, the collected information to be
transmitted from one of the information collecting instruments at
the designated time. Therefore, even if the user does not know the
entity ID, the user can estimate the information by designating the
type of the service he or she wants to receive.
[0066] According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, an
information search method in accordance with the present invention
is an information search method in an information search system
having a service agent server for receiving a transmission request
of information from a terminal, and a control server for managing
information to be provided to the terminal, the service agent
server having storing means for storing types of services to be
provided to the terminal and attribute information of information
collecting instruments with establishing correspondence between
them, the control server having collected information storing means
for storing identification information of the information
collecting instruments and the collected information transmitted
from the information collecting instruments with establishing
correspondence with locations of the information collecting
instruments, the information search method comprising: a step of
receiving, in the service agent server, the transmission request
including a type of service from the terminal; a step of
extracting, in the service agent server, the attribute information
corresponding to the type of service included in the transmission
request from the storing means, and of transmitting the attribute
information to the control server; and a step of retrieving, in the
control server, collected information of the information collecting
instruments corresponding to the received attribute information by
searching the collected information storing means.
[0067] Thus, it receives, in the service agent server, the
transmission request including a type of service from the terminal;
extracts, in the service agent server, the attribute information
corresponding to the type of service included in the transmission
request from the storing means, and transmits the attribute
information to the control server; and retrieves, in the control
server, collected information of the information collecting
instruments corresponding to the received attribute information.
Therefore, even if the user does not know the entity ID, the user
can conduct a search for the information by designating the type of
the service he or she wants to receive.
[0068] According to the present invention, it is possible to carry
out the search for the articles and the like with designating the
time. Accordingly, the load imposed on the network can be reduced
in the search processing. Besides, it is possible to track the
search target article along the passage of time.
[0069] In addition, an increase in the range of observable targets
enables the search of a greater number of targets. Besides, when
requesting users of mobile phones to search for the article to
which the IC tag is attached, giving a reward to the user who finds
the search target will increase the incentive to search.
[0070] Furthermore, even if the user cannot specify the
identification information of the search target, the user can
conduct the search with designating the type and attribute of the
search target.
[0071] Besides, it is possible for the network to select optimum
information items or to combine selected information items at
providing services.
[0072] Moreover, it is possible to search for the record of past
locations of a communications device, or to process information
such as mapping a route of the communications device on a map for
providing to the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0073] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of
a search system in accordance with the present invention;
[0074] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration
of a computer system used for a service agent server and entity
management server in accordance with the present invention;
[0075] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an exemplifying hardware
configuration of a gateway in accordance with the present
invention;
[0076] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration
of the entity management server and gateway of one embodiment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0077] FIG. 5 illustrates information stored in the entity
management server of one embodiment in accordance with the present
invention;
[0078] FIG. 6 is a communication sequence chart showing a procedure
of a search method of the communications device of one embodiment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0079] FIG. 7 is a communication sequence chart showing a procedure
of a search method of the communications device of one embodiment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates information stored in the service agent
server of one embodiment in accordance with the present
invention;
[0081] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of information stored in the
entity management server of one embodiment in accordance with the
present invention;
[0082] FIG. 10 is a communication sequence chart showing a
procedure of a search method of the communications device of one
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0083] FIG. 11 is a communication sequence chart showing a
procedure of a search method of the communications device of one
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0084] FIG. 12 shows a configuration of a local area network in the
search system of one embodiment in accordance with the present
invention;
[0085] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a functional
configuration of the entity management server and gateway of an
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0086] FIG. 14 is a communication sequence chart showing a
procedure of a search method of the communications device of one
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0087] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional
configuration of the service agent server, entity management server
and measuring instrument of one embodiment in accordance with the
present invention;
[0088] FIG. 16 illustrates information to be stored in the service
agent server of one embodiment in accordance with the present
invention;
[0089] FIG. 17 is a communication sequence chart showing a
procedure of an information search method in the search system of
one embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0090] FIG. 18 is a communication sequence chart showing a
procedure of an information search method in the search system of
one embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0091] FIG. 19 illustrates exemplary information stored in the
entity management server of one embodiment in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0092] FIG. 20 shows relationships between addresses and
communications protocols on a network side and communications
protocols and IDs on a real world side according to classification
of entities.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0093] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described below with reference to the drawings.
[0094] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of
a search system in accordance with the present invention. The
search system comprises a wide-area network 100 managed by a
carrier, and local area networks 114a and 114b (sometimes shortened
to "network 114" from now on) that are connected to the wide-area
network 100. The wide-area network 100 includes a mobile terminal
102, service agent server 104, entity management server 106, mobile
network 116, gateways (GWs) 112a and 112b (sometimes shortened to
"gateway 112" from now on).
[0095] The mobile terminal 102 is implemented by installing
software that achieves the access function to the Internet and
browsing of the Web information in a mobile terminal such as a
mobile phone, PHS and PDA of a subscriber or customer of a mobile
communication network 116. Alternatively, the mobile terminal 102
can be a terminal with an E-mail function.
[0096] The service agent server 104 is a computer acting as an
agent of the service corresponding to the service ID received from
the mobile terminal 102. The actual service is offered by the
entity management server 106, gateway 112 or the like. The service
agent server 104 also carries out edition and analysis of the
information received from the entity management server 106 or
gateway 112.
[0097] The mobile network 116 includes an entity management server
106 and nodes 110a, 110b and 110c connected to the entity
management server 106.
[0098] The nodes 110a, 110b and 110c are each identified by a
routing address.
[0099] The entity management server 106 is a computer that stores
the location information about the mobile terminal and gateway
registered in the mobile network 116. The entity management server
106, which can manage the identification information of the
gateways 112a and 112b and of the communications device connected
to the gateways, is communicably connected to the service agent
server 104. The identification information of the communications
device is called "entity ID" from now on.
[0100] The gateway 112a carries out communication with the
communications device connected to the network 114a. In addition,
the gateway 112b carries out communication with the communications
device connected to the network 114b.
[0101] FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of a computer system
used for the service agent server and entity management server in
accordance with the present invention. The computer system 300
comprises at least one processor 302, system memory 304,
communication interface (I/F) 306, input/output interface (I/O)
308, and storage device 310, which are connected to a system bus
312.
[0102] The processor 302 has a microprocessor configuration
including a CPU, timer and CPU peripheral circuit.
[0103] The system memory 304 can be a volatile memory such as a
RAM, a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM and flash memory, or a
combination of these two memories. The system memory 304 can
usually include an operating system, application programs and
program data. As the storage device 310 which is a nonvolatile
storage medium that stores the operating system, application
programs and program data, it is possible to use an optical storage
medium such as a CD-ROM and DVD or a magnetic storage medium such
as a magnetic disk, or other mediums usable for storing desired
information and accessible by the computer system 300. The system
memory 304 and storage device 310 constitute the computer storage
medium of the computer system 300.
[0104] The I/O 308 carries out communication with input devices
such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device and touch input
device, and output devices such as a display, speaker and
printer.
[0105] In addition, the computer system 300 includes a
communication interface 306 for enabling the computer system to
carry out communication with other computer systems via a network
or the like. The communication medium for carrying out the
communication includes a wire medium such as a wire network or
direct wire connection, or a wireless medium such as an acoustic
medium, RF medium and infrared medium.
[0106] The functions of the service agent server 104 and entity
management server 106 are implemented by the processor 302 that
reads the programs stored in the computer storage medium and
executes them. The service agent server 104 and entity management
server 106 can be installed in a single computer system as shown in
FIG. 2, or in a distributed computing environment consisting of a
plurality of computer systems.
[0107] FIG. 3 shows an exemplifying hardware configuration of the
gateway 112. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example using a mobile
phone with short-range wireless communication functions as the
gateway 112. The gateway 112 includes a memory 502, wireless
communication section 504, control section 506, short-range
wireless communication section 508, voice input/output section 510,
input section 512 and display section 514.
[0108] The control section 506 has a microprocessor configuration
including a CPU, timer and CPU peripheral circuit. The CPU
establishes connections with the foregoing components via a bus,
and carries out overall control of the gateway 112 by executing the
programs stored in a program storing memory not shown. In addition,
the CPU executes and controls the individual functions of the
gateway 112 in response to the signal input from the input section
512.
[0109] The memory 502 is composed of a temporary memory such as a
DRAM and high-speed RAM, and can read application programs and
communication programs timely from an external medium. The
functions of the gateway 112, which will be described later, are
achieved by the execution of these programs.
[0110] The input section 512, which is an input means for a user to
input instructions for executing the search processing of the
communications device and other instructions necessary, includes
input keys or buttons, and keys for moving a cursor and for
providing instructions.
[0111] The wireless communication section 504 carries out
transmission and reception of the wireless signals with the mobile
network through an antenna. On the other hand, the short-range
wireless communication section 508 is configured in such a manner
that it can carry out transmission and reception of the wireless
signals with the communications device in the local area network
114.
[0112] The display section 514 displays an image stored in a
display memory not shown. The voice input/output section 510
converts the received wireless signal to a voice signal to be
output, or converts the voice input by a user to an electric
signal.
[0113] Incidentally, the gateway may be a device fixedly connected
to a wire/wireless channel rather than a mobile device. For
example, the gateway can be placed in fixed point observation
equipment of nature/environment, road and railway, or at a door,
fare adjustment/entrance gate of a building or transportation
transfer point.
Embodiment 1
[0114] Next, an embodiment will be described which searches for a
communications device by designating time.
[0115] FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration of an entity
management server and gateway of the present embodiment.
[0116] The entity management server 106 includes a communication
section 203, storage section 206, search section 208 and storage
control section 218.
[0117] The communication section 203 is provided for carrying out
communication with the service agent server 104 and gateway 112.
The communication section 203 includes a search request receiving
section 202 for receiving a search request from the service agent
server 104, and a notification section 216 for notifying of the
location of the gateway to which the search target communications
device is connected.
[0118] The search section 208 searches for the entity ID at the
designated time stored in the storage section 206 in response to
the reception of the search request, and acquires the location
information about the gateway to which the communications device
corresponding to the search request is connected. In addition, the
search section 208 includes a notification request section 204. The
notification request section 204 requests the gateway 112 to
provide notification of the entity ID at the designated time when
the search request includes the present or future time as the
designated time. Receiving the entity ID from the gateway 112, the
search section 208 matches the entity ID with the entity ID in the
search request.
[0119] The storage control section 218 associates the entity ID of
the communications device sent from the gateway 112 with the
location information about the gateway 112 that sends the entity
ID, and stores them in the storage section 206 at every
notification time.
[0120] The gateway 112 includes a storage control section 210,
storage device 212 and notification section 214.
[0121] The storage control section 210 stores the entity ID
transmitted from the communications device into the storage device
212.
[0122] The storage device 212 stores the entity ID of the
communications device connected to the gateway 112.
[0123] The communications device can include electronic appliances
such as a printer connected to a local area network, or an IC tag
attached to an article and capable of communicating with the
gateway.
[0124] The notification section 214 notifies the entity management
server 106 of the entity ID stored in the storage device 212 when
it receives the notification request of the entity ID from the
entity management server 106.
[0125] FIG. 5 shows an example of the information stored in the
entity management server 106. The storage section 206 of the entity
management server 106 includes a table 502 and table 504. The table
502 stores a plurality of identification information items (IDg1,
IDg2, . . . ) and location information items (a11, a12, . . . ) of
the gateways with establishing correspondence between them. The
location information items can be grouped in terms of specified
geographical areas. In the following description, the
identification information item of the gateway is referred to as a
gateway ID.
[0126] The table 504 stores the notification time (T1, T2, . . . ),
that is, the time at which the gateway 112 sends the entity IDs,
the entity IDs of the communications device sent at the time, and
the gateway IDs used for identifying the gateways that send the
entity IDs, with establishing correspondence between them.
[0127] Next, a procedure of the search method of the communications
device of the present embodiment will be described with reference
to the communication sequence chart of FIG. 6. The present
embodiment will be described by way of example of a processing in
which a mobile terminal user requests the search system to search
for an article. Here, an IC tag is attached to each article, and
each IC tag is identified by the entity ID. The gateway 112 group
has a function of reading the entity ID stored in the IC tag.
[0128] The gateway 112 group reads the entity IDs from the IC tags
(step S302) at regular intervals, and notifies the entity
management server 106 of them along with the gateway IDs (step
S304). The entity management server 106 stores the notified entity
IDs in the storage section 206 with establishing correspondence
between them and the notification time and gateway IDs (step
S306).
[0129] Here, the notification of the entity IDs from the gateway
112 group can be carried out irregularly such as at a time when the
connection is established with new communications device.
[0130] The actual search processing starts from step S308. At step
S308, the mobile terminal 102 transmits the search request of the
communications device to the service agent server 104. The search
request includes the service ID, entity ID of the IC tag to be
searched for, and information about the past designated time. The
service ID is the information for identifying the service the
mobile terminal 102 requests to be offered.
[0131] At step S310, the service agent server 104 makes a decision
from the service ID that the information transmitted from the
mobile terminal 102 is a search request of an article.
Subsequently, the service agent server 104 transmits the
information about the entity ID, geographical area and designated
time contained in the search request to the entity management
server 106. Thus, the entity management server 106 receives the
entity ID and designated time transmitted from the terminal via the
service agent server 104.
[0132] At step S312, the entity management server 106 searches for
the entity ID stored in the table 504 of the storage section 206 at
the designated time. When it finds the entity ID contained in the
search request, it acquires the gateway ID associated with the
entity ID. In addition, referring to the table 502, the entity
management server 106 acquires the location information
corresponding to the gateway ID. In this way, the entity management
server 106 acquires the location information about the gateway to
which the communications device corresponding to the search request
is connected.
[0133] Subsequently, the entity management server 106 extracts the
location information about the gateway to which the located IC tag
is connected, and notifies the service agent server 104 of it (step
S314).
[0134] Here, the gateway ID can be notified instead of the location
information about the gateway.
[0135] At step S316, the service agent server 104 processes the
received information about the gateway 112, and produces screen
data that can be displayed on the mobile terminal. The screen data
produced are sent to the mobile terminal 102.
[0136] At step S318, the mobile terminal 102 displays an image on
the display section in response to the received screen data.
[0137] Incidentally, the search request may include the present
time or future time as the designated time. In addition, the search
can be carried out according to the present time when the search
request is made without designating the time.
[0138] In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the notification request
section 204 of the entity management server 106 requests the
gateway 112 group to send the notification of the entity ID at the
designated time at step S320. The gateway reads the entity ID from
the IC tag (step S322), and notifies the entity management server
106 of it (step S324). The entity management server 106 matches the
entity ID sent from the gateway 112 group with the entity ID
contained in the search request (step S328). Subsequently, the
entity management server 106 acquires the location information
about the gateway 112 to which the located IC tag is connected, and
notifies the service agent server 104 of it (step S314).
[0139] Here, the search request can include the information about
the geographical area in which the search is to be carried out. In
this case, the notification request section 204 identifies from the
table 502 of FIG. 5 the gateway 112 group whose notification is to
be requested, in terms of the geographical area, and requests the
notification of the entity ID from the identified gateway 112
group. Thus limiting the geographical area in which the search is
to be carried out makes it possible to reduce the information
amount to be communicated, and to reduce the load of the
network.
[0140] In addition, the entity management server 106 can carry out
the matching at step S328 for the regular notification from the
gateway 112 group without making the notification request at step
S320.
[0141] Furthermore, the matching at step S328 by the entity
management server 106 can be carried out by the gateway 112 group.
In this case, at step S320, the entity management server 106
transmits the entity ID associated with the search to the gateway
112 group to request the notification of the entity ID. The gateway
112 group holding the corresponding entity ID makes a reply to the
notification request.
[0142] Moreover, although the service agent server 104 processes
the data in the foregoing example, the entity management server 106
can carry out the processing. In this case, the entity management
server 106 can transmit the processed data to the mobile terminal
102 directly.
Embodiment 2
[0143] It is also possible to estimate the location at a specific
time or at a later time by extracting a traveling speed or
traveling inclination from the past traveling record of the
communications device.
[0144] In a simple example of estimating the location of the
communications device, the speed of the communications device,
which is obtained from the location information about a plurality
of gateways 112 within a certain time range, is obtained as a
function v(t) of the time t. In this case, the x-coordinate
x(t.sub.f) of the location of the communications device at time
t.sub.f can be obtained from the following expression using the
position x.sub.0 of the communications device at time t.sub.0 in
the x-coordinate direction.
x(t.sub.f)=x.sub.0+.intg..sub.t.sub.0.sup.t.sup.fv(t)dt
[0145] In addition, it is also possible to analyze the traveling
whether it is a walk or car or rail travel by superposing roads and
railways on a map, or to estimate, when it is identified that the
traveling is done using a public transportation system, the
traveling with reference to a timetable thereof. Furthermore, when
the gateway is installed in fixed-point observation equipment or a
ticket gate of a road or railway, or in a transportation relay
point, the traveling means can be identified easily without
superposing the map information.
[0146] It is also possible to estimate the location of the same
communications device by learning from extracting past rules from
tracks of the target communications device a year ago, or from its
tracks on the same day of the week.
Embodiment 3
[0147] Next, an embodiment will be described which can carry out
the search with designating an attribute of the search target even
when the user cannot identify the entity ID of the search
target.
[0148] As for the entity management server 106 and gateway 112
group of the present embodiment, those as shown in FIG. 4 and
having the functions described in the embodiment 1 can be used. In
addition, the entity management server 106 stores the information
as shown in FIG. 5.
[0149] FIG. 8 shows an example of the information stored in the
service agent server 104 of the present embodiment. The service
agent server 104 stores the service ID and attribute information of
the communications device.
[0150] The attribute information can be information indicating the
name of the communications device itself.
[0151] In addition, when the communications device is an object
attached to an article (teddy bear) such as an IC tag, the
attribute information about the communications device can be
information indicating the attribute of that article.
[0152] Furthermore, the service agent server 104 can store a more
detailed attribute such as distinguishing the attribute in
accordance with the performance and quality of the communications
device.
[0153] Moreover, instead of providing attributes such as a
thermometer, hygrometer and rainfall meter, a single attribute can
be provided for these articles such as a measuring instrument.
[0154] In addition, one entity ID can be provided with a plurality
of attribute information items.
[0155] FIG. 9 shows an example of the information stored in the
entity management server 106 of the present embodiment. The storage
section 206 of the entity management server 106 can store, besides
the information shown in FIG. 5, the entity ID and the attribute
information of the communications device with establishing
correspondence between them.
[0156] Next, referring to the communication sequence chart of FIG.
10, a procedure of the search method of the present embodiment will
be described. The present embodiment will be described by way of
example of processing in which the user of the mobile terminal
requests the search system to search for output equipment nearby to
output a file such as printing with a printer.
[0157] The gateway 112 group reads the entity IDs from the
communications device at regular intervals (step S1202), and
notifies the entity management server 106 of them along with the
gateway IDs (step S1204). The entity management server 106 stores
the notified entity IDs in the storage section 206 with
establishing correspondence between them and the notification time
and gateway IDs (step S1206).
[0158] Here, the notification of the entity IDs from the gateway
112 group can be carried out irregularly such as at a time when a
communication device is newly connected.
[0159] The actual search processing starts from step S1208. At step
S1208, the mobile terminal 102 transmits an output request of a
file to the service agent server 104. The output request includes
the service ID, and information about the past designated time at
which the search is to be made. The service ID is the information
for identifying the service the mobile terminal 102 requests to be
offered. In the present embodiment, the service ID indicating the
"search request of output equipment" can be associated with entity
IDs of a printing machine such as a printer, an image output device
such as a display, and a voice output device such as a speaker.
[0160] At step S1209, the service agent server 104 makes a decision
from the service ID that the information transmitted from the
mobile terminal 102 is a search request of the output equipment.
Then, referring to the information as shown in FIG. 8, the service
agent server 104 identifies the attribute of the communications
device corresponding to the service ID.
[0161] At step S1210, the service agent server 104 transmits the
identified attribute and information about the designated time to
the entity management server 106.
[0162] At step S1212, referring to the information as shown in FIG.
9, the entity management server 106, which received the attribute
and designated time, identifies the entity ID associated with the
attribute.
[0163] At step S1214, the entity management server 106 searches for
the entity ID stored in the table 504 of the storage section 206 at
the designated time. When the entity ID contained in the search
request is found, the entity management server 106 acquires the
gateway ID associated with the entity ID. In addition, referring to
the table 502, the entity management server 106 acquires the
location information corresponding to the gateway ID.
[0164] In this way, the location information is obtained about the
gateway 112 to which the communications device corresponding to the
search request is connected. The location information about the
gateway 112 is sent to the service agent server 104 (step
S1216).
[0165] Here, it is also possible to make the notification of the
gateway ID instead of the location information about the gateway
112.
[0166] At step S1218, the service agent server 104 processes the
received location information about the gateway 112 to produce the
screen data that can be displayed on the mobile terminal. The
screen data produced is sent to the mobile terminal 102.
[0167] At step S1220, according to the received screen data, the
mobile terminal 102 displays the image on the display section.
[0168] Incidentally, the search request can include the present
time or future time as in the designated time. In addition, the
search can be carried out according to the present time when the
search request is made without designating the time.
[0169] In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, at step S1222, the
notification request section 204 of the entity management server
106 requests the gateway 112 group to send the entity ID at the
designated time. The gateway reads the entity ID from the IC tag
(step S1224), and notifies the entity management server 106 of the
entity ID (step S1226). The entity management server 106 matches
the entity ID sent from the gateway 112 group with the entity ID
contained in the search request (S1228). Subsequently, the entity
management server 106 acquires the location information about the
gateway 112 to which the IC tag found is connected, and sends it to
the service agent server 104 (step S1218).
[0170] Here, the search request can include information about the
geographical area in which the search is to be made. In this case,
the notification request section 204 identifies the gateway 112
group whose notification is to be sent, using the table 502 of FIG.
5 according to the geographical area, and requests the identified
gateway 112 group to send the entity ID. Thus limiting the
geographical area in which the search is to be made enables
reduction in the information amount of the communication and in the
load of the network.
[0171] In addition, it is possible to perform matching at step
S1228 for the regular notification from the gateway 112 group
without making the notification request at step S1222.
[0172] Furthermore, the gateway 112 group can perform the matching
the entity management server 106 carries out at step S1228. In this
case, the entity management server 106 transmits the entity ID
associated with the search to the gateway 112 group at step S1222,
and requests the notification of the entity ID. The gateway 112
holding the corresponding entity ID makes a reply to the
notification request.
[0173] It is also possible to register attributes of events or
moving objects, which suit user's taste, as the attribute
information of the present embodiment, and to provide a service of
searching them. For example, as the attributes of the
communications device, it can employ taxis, buses, traveling sales
vehicles such as those of stalls/flowers, maintenance services,
traveling services, stages for traveling events and the like. In
addition, the attributes can be patrolling attendants, traveling
sales persons, security guards and the like in theme parks, event
halls and sports stadiums.
[0174] In addition, when there are a plurality of candidates of
objects having attributes of the candidates, such a configuration
is also possible which notifies the mobile terminal 102 of the
plurality of candidates, causes the mobile terminal 102 to display
the search results notified, and enables the user to select the
optimum object from the candidates. Such a configuration is
effective when the mobile terminal 102 transmits desired data to
the communications device (such as selecting the nearest printer
from the plurality of printers searched, and requesting printing by
transmitting image data).
Embodiment 4
[0175] Next, an embodiment will be described which can increase an
observable target area.
[0176] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a local area
network in the search system of the present embodiment. The local
area network 114 comprises a gateway 112 and reader/writers (R/Ws)
708a and 708b (shortened to "reader/writer 708" from now on) of IC
tags, and IC tags 702 and 704 attached to articles. The gateway 112
and R/Ws 708a and 708b conduct communication via a
telecommunications line 706. The communication between the R/Ws
708a and 708b and the IC tags 702 and 704 is implemented via a
wireless line not shown.
[0177] FIG. 13 shows a functional configuration of the search
system of the present embodiment.
[0178] The entity management server 106 includes a communication
section 1302 and storage section 1311. The communication section
1302, which is provided for carrying out communication with the
service agent server 104 and gateway 112, includes a search request
receiving section 1306, search request transmitting section 1308,
and notification section 1310.
[0179] The search request receiving section 1306 receives a search
request containing information about the entity ID and geographical
area from the mobile terminal 102 via the service agent server
104.
[0180] The search request transmitting section 1308 transmits the
received entity ID to the gateway 112 installed in the geographical
area.
[0181] The notification section 1310 sends the notification about
the location of the gateway 112 to which the search target
communications device is connected.
[0182] The storage section 1311 stores the gateway IDs and location
information items with establishing correspondence between them as
shown in the table 502 of FIG. 5.
[0183] The gateway 112 includes an entity ID receiving section
1312, inquiry section 1314, result receiving section 1316, and
notification section 1318.
[0184] The entity ID receiving section 1312 receives an entity ID
from the search request transmitting section 1308.
[0185] The inquiry section 1314 requests the reader/writers 708 to
search for the IC tag that stores the received entity ID.
[0186] The result receiving section 1316 receives the result of the
inquiry from the reader/writers 708.
[0187] The notification section 1318 notifies the entity management
server 106 of the result of the inquiry by the inquiry section
1314.
[0188] Next, referring to the communication sequence chart of FIG.
14, a procedure of the search method of the communications device
of the present embodiment will be described. The present embodiment
assumes that the user of the mobile terminal requests the search
system to search for the article to which the IC tag is attached.
The search system sends the search request to a plurality of mobile
phones capable of communicating with the IC tag. In the present
embodiment, the mobile phones function as first communications
devices, and the IC tags attached to the articles function as
second communications devices.
[0189] At step S802, the mobile terminal 102 transmits a search
request to the service agent server 104. The search request
includes the service ID, entity ID, and information about the
geographical area in which the search is to be carried out.
[0190] At step S804, the service agent server 104 recognizes that
the information transmitted from the mobile terminal 102 is the
search request of the article from the service ID. Subsequently,
the service agent server 104 transmits to the entity management
server 106 the information about the entity ID, geographical area
and designated time contained in the search request. Thus, the
entity management server 106 receives the entity ID, geographical
area and designated time transmitted from the terminal via the
service agent server 104.
[0191] At step S806, referring to the corresponding table as shown
in the table 502, the entity management server 106 identifies the
location of the gateway 112 group contained in the received
geographical area. Then, it transmits the entity ID to the
identified gateway 112 group (step S808).
[0192] At step S810, the gateway 112 group requests the mobile
phone to search for the IC tag storing the received entity ID. The
request can be made by E-mail. In response to the received search
request, the user of the mobile phone searches for the nearby
entity ID with the IC tag using the short-range wireless
communication functions of the mobile phone (step S812), and sends
the result back to the gateway 112 group (step S814).
[0193] Incidentally, the search of the entity ID with the IC tag
can be automatically performed by the mobile phone receiving the
search request from the gateway 112 group.
[0194] At step S814, the gateway 112 group transmits to the entity
management server 106 the search result received from the mobile
phone.
[0195] The entity management server 106 decides from the received
search result the gateway connected to the mobile phone that
located the IC tag. Subsequently, the entity management server 106
extracts the location information about the gateway 112 group found
to which the located communications device is connected, and sends
the location information to the service agent server 104 (step
S818).
[0196] Here, instead of the location information about the gateway
112 group, the gateway ID can be notified.
[0197] In addition, it is also possible for the entity management
server 106 to send the information about the mobile phone to the
service agent server 104. For example, when the entity management
server 106 functions as the home location register (HLR), the
entity management server 106 can identify the location information
about the mobile phone from the information received from the
mobile phone, and notify the service agent server 104 of the
identified information. Alternatively, the mobile phone can notify
the entity management server 106 of the location of the mobile
phone itself.
[0198] At step S820, the service agent server 104 processes the
received location information about the gateway 112 group, and
produces the screen data that can be displayed on the mobile
terminal. The screen data produced is sent to the mobile terminal
102.
[0199] At step S822, the mobile terminal 102 displays the image on
the display section in response to the received screen data.
[0200] Although the service agent server 104 processes the data in
the foregoing example, the entity management server 106 can carry
out the processing. In this case, the entity management server 106
can transmit the processed data directly to the mobile terminal
102.
[0201] In addition, as in the embodiment 3, it is possible to carry
out the search with designating an attribute. In this case, the
service agent server 104 stores the information as shown in FIG. 8,
and the entity management server 106 stores the information as
shown in FIG. 9. Then, when the mobile terminal 102 transmits the
search request including the service ID, the service agent server
104 identifies the attribute corresponding to the service ID. The
entity management server 106 identifies the entity ID corresponding
to the attribute, and notifies the gateway 112 group of the entity
ID.
[0202] Furthermore, it is also possible to give a reward to the
user who located the target object of the search when requesting
the users of the mobile phones to search for the article to which
the IC tag is attached. It will provide an incentive for the
search.
Embodiment 5
[0203] Next, an embodiment will be described which carries out a
search with designating the type of a search target by using the
search system of FIG. 1 as the information search system.
[0204] FIG. 15 shows a functional configuration of an information
collecting instrument connected to the service agent server, entity
management server and local area network of the present
embodiment.
[0205] The service agent server 104 has a communication section
903, storage section 906 and data processing section 908. The
communication section 903 includes a transmission request receiving
section 902 and transmitting section 904.
[0206] The storage section 906 stores the types of services to be
offered to the mobile terminal 102 and the attribute information
about the information collecting instruments with establishing
correspondence between them.
[0207] The transmission request receiving section 902 receives from
the mobile terminal 102 a transmission request of the information
including a desired type of the services.
[0208] The transmitting section 904 extracts from the storage
section 906 the attribute information corresponding to the type of
the service contained in the transmission request, and transmits it
to the entity management server 106.
[0209] The data processing section 908 processes the information
received from the entity management server 106 to produce the image
data that can be displayed on the mobile terminal.
[0210] The entity management server 106 includes a collected
information receiving section 910, storage section 911, search
section 914, notification section 916 and search request receiving
section 918.
[0211] The storage section 911 stores the correspondence between
the identification information and location information about the
gateway 112 group as shown in the table 502 of FIG. 5, and the
correspondence between the entity IDs and attribute information as
shown in FIG. 9.
[0212] Furthermore, the storage section 911 includes a collected
information storage section 912 for storing the entity IDs of
measuring instruments 1102 and the collected information
transmitted from the measuring instruments 1102 with establishing
correspondence between them.
[0213] The collected information receiving section 910 receives the
collected information from the measuring instruments 1102.
[0214] The search section 914 searches the information stored in
the collected information storage section 912 to obtain the
collected information about the measuring instrument 1102
corresponding to the received entity ID.
[0215] The notification section 916 notifies the service agent
server 104 of the search result by the search section 914. The
search request receiving section 918 is provided for receiving from
the mobile terminal 102 the information for requesting the search
of the communications device. The information includes the
identification information, geographical area of the communications
device and designated time.
[0216] The measuring instrument 1102, which is an example of the
information collecting instrument, includes a measuring section 918
for collecting prescribed measured values, and a communication
section 920 for transmitting the measured values and for receiving
information. As the measuring instruments 1102, there are such
sensors as a thermometer for measuring temperature, a hygrometer
for measuring humidity, and a rainfall meter for measuring an
amount of rainfall.
[0217] FIG. 16 shows an example of the information stored in the
service agent server 104 of the present embodiment. As shown in
FIG. 16, the storage section 906 of the service agent server 104
stores the service IDs indicating the types of the services, names
of information items (necessary information) required for offering
the services and attribute information with establishing
correspondence between them. The types of the services include
weather information service, traffic information service, home
condition monitoring, telemetry services and the like. The
attribute information represents the names of the measuring
instruments such as a thermometer, hygrometer and rainfall meter,
or the properties inherent in the measuring instruments such as a
color, shape, size, obtainable information contents and operation
parameters of the measuring instruments.
[0218] Here, it is not always necessary that the necessary
information and the attribute information have a one-to-one
correspondence. For example, it is possible to associate the
necessary information "tide level" with a "tide gauge" for
measuring a tide level and a "camera" for conducting a fixed-point
observation as the attribute information.
[0219] Next, referring to the communication sequence of FIG. 17,
the procedure of the information search method of the present
embodiment will be described. The present embodiment assumes the
case where the user requests a weather information service using
the mobile terminal.
[0220] The entity management server 106 stores the collected
information delivered from the measuring instruments 1102 via the
gateway 112 group (steps S1114 and S1118). The collected
information delivered in the present embodiment includes the
temperature measured by the thermometer, the humidity measured by
the hygrometer, the amount of rainfall measured by the rainfall
meter, an air contamination level measured by an air sensor, the
tide level measured by the tide gauge and the magnitude measured by
a seismometer. The measuring instruments 1102 can transmit the
collected information at regular intervals, or at a time when the
measuring instruments 1102 detect a change in the collected
information. Through the processing, the entity management server
106 stores the collected information from the information
collecting instruments installed in a plurality of geographical
areas.
[0221] At step S1102, the mobile terminal 102 transmits a request
for a weather information service to the service agent server 104.
The request includes information about the service ID, geographical
area in which the search is to be carried out, and the designated
time of the search.
[0222] At step S1104, referring to the cross-reference table as
shown in FIG. 16 which is stored in the storage section 906, the
service agent server 104 identifies the necessary information from
the received service ID, and extracts the attribute information of
the measuring instrument that can acquire the information.
Subsequently, the service agent server 104 transmits to the entity
management server 106 the attribute information extracted, and the
information about the geographical area and designated time
contained in the request for weather information service.
[0223] At step S106, the entity management server 106 identifies
the measuring instrument having the received attribute information
from the correspondence between the attribute information and
entity IDs stored in the storage section 911. Then, it further
identifies the measuring instrument in the designated geographical
area from the correspondence between the identification information
and locations of the gateway 112 group stored in the storage
section 911. Thus, it retrieves from the collected information
storage section 912 the collected information fed from the
identified measuring instrument at the designated time (step
S1107).
[0224] At step S1108, the collected information retrieved as a
result of the search is transmitted to the service agent server
104.
[0225] At step S110, the service agent server 104 processes the
collected information received from the entity management server
106, and produces the screen data that can be displayed on the
mobile terminal. The produced screen data are delivered to the
mobile terminal 102.
[0226] The processing of the collected information by the service
agent server 104 includes averaging and accumulating the collected
information from the measuring instrument, or converting the
information to be offered to the user, which can be displayed on
the mobile terminal 102. For example, the storage section 906 of
the service agent server 104 stores, as to the collected
information from the measuring instrument, the ranges of the
measured values by the rainfall meter (0 millimeter, 1-m
millimeters, m+1-n millimeters, . . . ) and the information to be
offered to the user (fine, light rain, rain, . . . ) with
establishing correspondence between them. At step S1110, the
service agent server 104 acquires the information to be offered to
the user, which corresponds to the measured values of the rainfall
meter received from the entity management server 106, and produces
the screen data that can be displayed on the mobile terminal 102
from the information acquired.
[0227] The analysis of the collected information carried out during
the collected information processing is not limited to that carried
out according to the ranges of the measured values, but includes
the analysis using equations, or inclination analysis obtained from
the time series variations in the collected information. Those
skilled in the art will understand that when the information
collecting instrument is an image pickup device such as a camera
rather than the measuring instrument, the present invention
includes the case of grasping changes in an image by analyzing
pixels in received data.
[0228] At step S1112, the mobile terminal 102 displays an image on
the display section according to the received screen data.
[0229] Incidentally, when the designated time in the search request
transmitted at step S1104 is the present time or future time, the
entity management server 106 requests the measuring instruments
1102 at the designated time to transmit the collected information
at step S1107. In this case, the entity management server 106
delivers the collected information received from the measuring
instruments 1102 to the service agent server 104.
[0230] Although the service agent server 104 carries out the data
processing in the foregoing example, the entity management server
106 can perform the processing. In this case, the entity management
server 106 can transmit the processed data directly to the mobile
terminal 102.
[0231] As the services capable of offering the information with the
same configuration as the present embodiment, the following
services are possible: private health information
(sphygmomanometers, thermometers, pedometers and the like can be
used as the attributes of the information collecting instruments);
traffic information (speed sensors and GPS's mounted on a plurality
of vehicles can be used as the attributes of the information
collecting instruments); telemetering (measuring instruments such
as gas meters, water meters and electricity meters can be used as
the attributes of the information collecting instruments); and
services offering video images and/or pictures of desired spots
(image pickup devices such as video cameras and cameras can be used
as the attributes of the information collecting instruments).
Embodiment 6
[0232] It is also possible to have the entity management server 106
manage the collected information, and notify the user when the
collected information of the communications device corresponding to
the attribute information changes to indicate a predetermined
condition.
[0233] In this case, when requesting to provide the service, the
mobile terminal 102 can also transmit to the entity management
server 106 the condition for sending the collected information. For
example, in the foregoing example, the mobile terminal 102
transmits to the entity management server 106, together with the
home condition monitoring service (service ID: IDd3) request, the
instruction to send notification when any value of the measuring
instruments indicates abnormality. The entity management server 106
notifies the mobile terminal 102 of the abnormality via the service
agent server 104 if any one of the information items collected from
the attribute information (electric equipment, an electricity
meter, gas meter, door sensor and surveillance camera)
corresponding to the service ID=IDd3 becomes abnormal (unlocked,
window open, a gas leak is detected while locked or the like).
[0234] Such processing makes it possible to notify the user when a
locking sensor of doors or windows indicates changes during user's
absence.
[0235] In addition, such services are also possible as notifying
the user if any other condition changes (notifying the mobile
terminal 102 if unlocked, interphone rings, window opens, a gas
leak is detected while locked or the like).
[0236] If the measuring instrument has a failure, the collected
information can be error information. In this case, sending the
error information from the entity management server 106 to the
mobile terminal 102 enables the mobile terminal 102 to keep track
of the conditions of the information collecting instrument.
[0237] It is also possible for the example of the telemetry service
to notify the user of the inventory of a vending machine.
Furthermore, an electrical appliance supplier can collect operation
conditions of its own articles purchased and distributed to
individual homes, thereby enabling maintenance monitoring or
obtaining statistical operation information for later
development.
[0238] As for the notification service of the condition changes of
the collected information, it goes without saying that in addition
to the search using the attributes, the entity ID of a user's own
possession or that of a monitoring target can be designated
directly.
[0239] Moreover, it is also possible to provide as a matching
function of an entity search server a function of computing the
distance between communications devices (entity IDs), or the
distance between the "entity ID" and the "mobile phone (which sends
the location information to the network side)"; to set in advance
the distance between an object with a particular attribute/entity
ID and the user (mobile phone); and to notify when they approach to
(or separate from) each other by a certain distance, or to display
the actual position of the communications device. As for the
notification of the user's location in this case, it can be
implemented by the location registration/location information
notification service of the mobile phone, or by the user who
becomes the gateway (that notifies the location).
Embodiment 7
[0240] Another service can be implemented which predicts the future
according to the past conditions obtained from the necessary
information collected from the measuring instruments 1102, and
provides to the mobile terminal 102. The processing will now be
described with reference to FIG. 18.
[0241] For example, at step S1102, the mobile terminal 102
transmits a traffic information service request (service ID=IDd2)
to the service agent server 104. The request includes a service ID,
geographical area in which the prediction is made, and information
about future time for the prediction.
[0242] At step S1104, referring to the cross-reference table stored
in the storage section 906 and shown in FIG. 16, the service agent
server 104 extracts information necessary for the service according
to the service ID, and extracts the attribute information about the
measuring instrument 1102 capable of acquiring the information.
Subsequently, the service agent server 104 transmits to the entity
management server 106 the attribute information extracted and the
information about the geographical area and designated time
contained in the traffic information service request.
[0243] At step S1106, the entity management server 106 identifies
the measuring instrument having the received attribute information
from the correspondence between the attribute information and
entity IDs stored in the storage section 911. Then, according to
the correspondence between the measuring instruments and locations
stored in the storage section 911, or to the correspondence between
the identification information and locations of the gateway 112
group, the entity management server 106 further identifies the
measuring instruments within the designated geographical area.
Subsequently, as for each of the measuring instruments, the entity
management server 106 acquires from the collected information
storage section 912 the collected information from the measuring
instruments at a plurality of past times. Incidentally, when the
measuring instrument or gateway moves in/across the geographical
area at the time, the entity management server 106 identifies the
measuring instruments or gateways within the geographical area at
every past time, and acquires the collected information at that
time (step S1107). Subsequently, the entity management server 106
obtains a relational expression between the plurality of past times
and collected information values. From the relational expression
thus obtained, the entity management server 106 estimates the
collected information at the future designated time (step
S1810).
[0244] When the value of the speed sensor is assumed to be a
function v(t) of the time in the simplest example of estimating the
collected information of the information collecting instrument, the
acceleration a(t) of a car can be obtained by the expression
a(t)=dv(t)/dt. The speed v(t.sub.f) of the speed sensor at future
time t.sub.f can be obtained by the following expression using the
measured value v.sub.0 of the speed sensor at time t.sub.0.
v(t.sub.f)=v.sub.0+.intg..sub.t.sub.0.sup.t.sup.fa(t)dt
[0245] Furthermore, the output values of the speed sensor can also
be predicted by learning from extracting past rules such as using
the locus of the speed sensor of interest at the same time on the
day preceding the day, or the locus of the same day of the
week.
[0246] Besides, the collected information can be a past designated
time rather than a future designated time. Accordingly, it is also
possible to estimate the value at the past time at which the
measuring instrument did not collect the information actually.
[0247] The predicted values of the collected information are
transmitted to the service agent server 104 (step S1812).
[0248] At step S1814, the service agent server 104 processes the
information received from the entity management server 106 and
produces the screen data that can be displayed on the mobile
terminal. The screen data produced are sent to the mobile terminal
102.
[0249] At step S1816, the mobile terminal 102 displays the image on
the display section on the basis of the received screen data.
Embodiment 8
[0250] As one of the services provided to the mobile terminal 102,
settings of the operation to the communications device can be
included. According to the services of the present embodiment, it
is possible to make a request of the communications device to
execute a command, or to update a computer program installed in the
communications device.
[0251] For example, after sending a home service request and
identifying various appliances of the user's home, the mobile
terminal 102 can request the home electric equipment to execute an
operation command via a gateway. As another example, it can request
the program update of a consumer electrical appliance. When the
entity management server 106 identifies the consumer electrical
appliance corresponding to the request information, it can request
the consumer electrical appliance to update the computer program
via the gateway 112 group.
[0252] The update of the computer program can be carried out by
storing an update program in the entity management server 106, and
by transmitting it to the consumer electrical appliance.
[0253] Alternatively, it is also possible to store the update
program in the gateway 112 group, and to instruct the gateway 112
group to update the communications device. In this case, the
gateway 112 group that receives the instruction transmits the
update program of the communications device.
[0254] Receiving the operation command, or the update instruction
in another example, the communications device carries out its
device operation in accordance with the operation command, or
updates the installed program by executing the received update
program in the another example.
[0255] As for the entity IDs or operation commands which are tried
out in the network, and the local entity IDs and operation commands
which are used in a local environment between communications
devices subjected to the gateway, they can conceal or make common
the ID management or a variety of protocol types in the local
environment in the network side by providing the gateway with an ID
conversion function or a protocol (operation command) conversion
function.
Embodiment 9
[0256] In the example of FIG. 5, the entity management server 106
manages only the present location of the gateway group.
Accordingly, when the gateway 112 is movable such as a mobile
phone, the past location of the gateway 112 is unknown. In other
words, the past position of the communications device cannot be
known.
[0257] In view of this, as a variation of the table 504 in the
entity management server 106 shown in FIG. 5, the present
embodiment causes the information from the gateway 112 group to
include the location of the gateway at the notification time as
well, as illustrated in FIG. 19. The entity management server 106
manages the location of the gateway 112 group.
[0258] The location information of the gateway 112 group can be
acquired in a variety of methods as described below.
[0259] For example, when the gateway 112 has a GPS function, the
gateway 112 can send the location information identified by the GPS
to the entity management server 106.
[0260] Alternatively, each gateway 112 can read tag IDs of radio
tags distributed fixedly at a plurality of locations, and notify
the entity management server 106 of the tag IDs. In this case, the
entity management server 106 stores the location of each of the
radio tags and the tag IDs with establishing correspondence between
them so that it can identify the location of the radio tag
corresponding to the tag ID notified. As a result, the location of
the gateway 112 group can be identified. Compared with the
longitude and latitude information of the GPS, the position
identification according to the radio tags is able to provide
value-added information such as difference of altitude of the
floors in the same building, and presence information (what is a
person doing, which passage does the person pass through, what is
placed nearby) according to detailed locations such as a lounge,
desks in the office, a dining room, particular gates and the
like.
[0261] When the mobile phone and the gateway 112 are incorporated,
or when the mobile phone is connected to the gateway 112, the
location registration information of the mobile phone can be used.
For example, when the entity management server 106 functions as the
home location server (HLR), it can identify the location
information of the mobile phone from the information received from
the mobile phone.
[0262] As for the acquisition of the location information, it is
applicable to any cases of the response to the request from the
gateway 112 group, the regular notification from the gateway 112
group, and the notification at state changes in the gateway 112
group.
[0263] In the present embodiment, the information notification from
the gateway 112 group to the entity management server 106, which is
described in each embodiment, includes the location information at
that time. This makes it possible to identify the past location of
the gateway, which is obtained as a result of search in the case
where the time is designated at the search request. Referring the
information, the entity management server 106 in the foregoing
embodiments can identify the past location of the communications
device even when the gateway 112 group is traveling.
[0264] Making use of this ability, the mobile terminal 102 can
transmit the entity ID or service ID with designating a past time
range, and the entity management server 106 can acquire a plurality
of location information items on the corresponding entity ID in the
time range, for example. This enables tracking the "location locus"
of the gateway 112 or the entity ID belonging to the gateway 112 at
a certain past time range. Thus, the record of the past locations
can be searched.
[0265] In addition, storing a map image in the service agent server
104 in advance makes it possible to draw on the map image the
plurality of location information items obtained from the entity
management server 106. In this case, it is also possible to add
some processing such as mapping a course passing through a
plurality of locations on the map.
[0266] Furthermore, it is also possible to estimate the location at
a particular time in the time range from the course drawn as
described above. At estimating the location, it is also possible to
calculate it from the learning from the course information or past
course such as roads and railways on the map.
Embodiment 10
[0267] When the entity management server 106 carries out matching
in response to the notification request of the entity ID from the
mobile terminal 102, and even if it cannot find the communications
device matching the entity ID associated with the search at that
time, it can store the entity ID continuously. In this case, the
entity management server 106 can carry out further matching after
updating the information about the entity ID, or after a
predetermined time has elapsed. Thus, it can send the notification
to the entity control server 106 or service agent server 104 at the
point of finding.
[0268] Thus storing the entity ID enables finding the
communications device at a time when the gateway 112 passes nearby,
even if the target communications device cannot be found at the
point of the notification request. In addition, the probability of
finding the target communications device can be increased when the
gateway 112 stores the entity ID associated with the search
instruction and searches for the entity ID on a regular basis, or
when the gateway 112 registers the entity ID in the entity
management server 106.
Other Embodiment
[0269] The home location server (HLR) can take charge of part of
the functions of the entity management server.
[0270] In addition, as the identification information of the entity
ID or gateway 112 group, it is possible to use IPv6 address or IPv6
address plus any desired numerical symbol.
[0271] Besides, the search request can include a plurality of
designated times. For example, the search request can include the
start time and end time of the search, which enables the search for
the entity ID or information within a certain period.
[0272] The service agent server 104 or entity management server 106
can have an interconversion function between a variety of location
information items and address information and map information at a
time when narrowing down geographical locations or displaying the
results. For example, by mapping addresses and the cell IDs of the
GPS's, location registration areas of the mobile communication and
base stations, it is possible to convert the location information
to the address information and map information, and to offer the
conversion results to the mobile terminal 102.
[0273] Furthermore, the gateway 112 group can be provided with a
protocol conversion function. For example, in the example as shown
in FIG. 1, the communication between the gateway 112 group and the
node 110c is carried out using the normal IP protocol. However,
when the gateway 112 is a home gateway, protocols can be used of
the industry or consumer electrical appliance suppliers such as
ECHONET and HAVi as a communications protocol. Likewise, when the
gateway 112 is an RF tag reader, an electromagnetic induction or
microwave communication scheme can be employed, and when the
gateway 112 is a sensor host, a wired or wireless local
communication scheme can be used. The gateway 112 can have a
conversion function between the IP protocol on a wide-area network
side and a communications protocol on a local (real world) side.
FIG. 20 shows relationships between addresses and communications
protocols on the network side and communications protocols and IDs
on the real world side according to the classification of
entities.
[0274] Besides, as for the information notification from the
gateway 112 or information notification due to a state change or
regular information notification in response to the request from
the entity management server 106, packet communications charges can
be made free. As a means for realizing it, for making the packet
free, it is possible to include a particular identifier in a packet
sent from the gateway 112, or to make a decision to charge
depending on whether the destination address of a packet is the
entity management server or not. Usually, the edge node of the
network side (corresponding to the node 110c of FIG. 1) makes the
charge decision of the packet. The charge decision is possible by
checking the address or identifier of the node.
[0275] It is also possible to pay a reward for the information
notification useful for the reply to the service request. For
example, consider the case that provides the user with the traffic
information in the example as shown in FIG. 17. In this case, at
step S1112, a message for causing the user to reply as to whether
the traffic information provided is useful or not is displayed on
the mobile terminal 102. The mobile terminal 102 sends back a reply
to the message to the entity management server 106 via the service
agent server 104. When the reply received indicates "useful", the
entity management server 106 identifies the speed sensor that
provided the speed information. Thus, the manager of the
communications network can pay a reward to the owner of the
identified speed sensor.
[0276] The reward can also be offered on condition that the
matching is achieved as a result of the search using the entity ID.
Alternatively, when the gateway 112 makes the matching, the reward
can be paid to the owner of the gateway 112 under the condition
that the report of the matching result includes a "matched"
result.
[0277] A variety of variations other than those described above are
possible. However, as long as they are based on the technical
conception described in the claims, the variations fall within the
scope of the present invention.
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