JP2000298630A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect the privacy of a holder and also to quickly perform emergency notification when an accident or the like takes place. SOLUTION: This device 1 detects the current position of a self-machine in a GPS positioning part 3 and stores information showing the current position in a position information storing part 4. Also, when a request to download the information showing the current position of the self-machine stored in the part 4 is sent from the opposite station connected through a network, the information is allowed to be downloaded. Then, it is possible to easily let the opposite station connected through the network know the current position of the self-machine. Even though the owner of the information processor is not known about where the owner is now, consequently, emergency notification can quickly be performed when an accident etc., take place because the place (position information stored in the part 4) where the self is located can be downloaded to the opposite station.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for communicating with a device connected via a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information processing apparatus (such as a personal computer) is connected to a network (such as the Internet). Is selectively extracted. Recently, a portable information processing device (so-called PDA: Personal D) which can be connected to a network such as the Internet.
Various digital assistants have begun to be proposed. A portable information processing apparatus is carried on a drive or a trip, and is connected to a network at a destination, so that information on the place (sightseeing information, information on accommodation facilities such as hotels, etc.) can be easily obtained. Therefore, it is convenient for driving and traveling. In the event of an accident or the like, a portable information processing device can be connected to a network to make an emergency report to a fire department or police station.

[0003]

However, when making an emergency call, it is difficult to know where one is currently located.
It may take a lot of time to confirm the location, and there is a problem that it is not possible to respond promptly even though it is an emergency call.

On the other hand, a function (G
An information processing apparatus having a PS function has already been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-319300). However, the information processing apparatus described in this publication transmits the current position of the self apparatus detected using the GPS to a server apparatus connected via a network, and the server apparatus is disclosed on various networks. By selecting information appropriate for the current location sent from a diverse and large amount of information,
The information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus. In other words, rather than having the idea of making an emergency notification prompt, it is necessary to easily obtain information appropriate for the current location from a large amount of information published on the network. It was intended for. For this reason, the current position of the own device (that is, the place where the owner of the information processing device is present) is always transmitted to the server device connected via the network, and the privacy of the owner of the information processing device is protected. There was no problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of sufficiently protecting the privacy of the owner and promptly reporting an emergency in the event of an accident or the like.

Further, the present invention can effectively prevent the main body from being stolen by providing a function of transmitting position information indicating the current position to a specific address by e-mail when connected to a network. It is an object to provide an information processing device.

[0007]

(1) An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has communication means for communicating with a device connected via a network, and position information for acquiring position information indicating a current position of the apparatus. Acquisition means, and position information storage means for storing the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means, and the position stored in the position information storage means at a partner station connected via a network. It has a server function that permits reading of information (claim 1).

In this configuration, the position information indicating the current position of the own device is acquired by the position information acquiring means, and the information indicating the current position acquired by the position information acquiring means is read by an apparatus connected via a network. To give permission.
That is, for devices connected via a network,
If it is necessary to know the current position of the owner of the information processing device, the position information may be downloaded. For this reason, even when making an emergency report in the event of an accident or the like, it is not necessary to confirm the location of the owner of the information processing apparatus and the report can be made promptly.

Further, since the device connected via the network does not download the position information unless it is necessary to know the current position of the information processing device owner, the privacy of the information processing device owner can be protected. it can.

(2) The server function permits reading of the position information stored in the position information storage means when a specific code is transmitted from a device connected via a network. (Claim 2).

In this configuration, when a specific code is transmitted from a partner station connected via a network,
Since the download of the current location is permitted, the location information (the location where the owner is currently located) is not downloaded in communication with the partner station that does not know the specific code. Therefore, the privacy of the owner of the information processing device can be more reliably protected.

(3) There is provided a specific code transmission designating means for designating whether or not to transmit the specific code to a device connected via a network (claim 3).

With this configuration, it is possible to specify whether or not to transmit the specific code to a device connected via a network. Therefore, when making an emergency report in the event of an accident, etc., if a specific code is specified to be transmitted to a device connected via a network, the location information can be securely downloaded to the connected device. Can be done. On the other hand, when the owner communicates with a party who does not want to know his / her location, if the user specifies that a specific code is not transmitted to a device connected via a network, the location information can be obtained from the connected device. It is not possible to download, and it is possible to promptly make an emergency report while more surely protecting the privacy of the owner of the information processing device.

(4) Communication means for communicating with a device connected via a network, position information obtaining means for obtaining position information indicating the current position of the own device, And position information transmitting means for transmitting the position information acquired by the position information acquiring means to a specific address by e-mail (claim 4).

In this configuration, when connected to the network, the position information obtained by the position information obtaining means is transmitted by e-mail to a specific address. Here, if the specific address is set to the mail address of the owner of the information processing apparatus main body, the current position of the information processing apparatus is transmitted to its own mail address when the information processing apparatus is connected to the network. Therefore, even if the information processing device is stolen, it is possible to easily identify a person who has stolen the information processing device body when the stolen information processing device is used (when the information processing device is connected to a network). it can. Therefore, the act of stealing the information processing device can be suppressed, which is effective in preventing theft of the main body.

(5) Further, the position information obtaining means includes:
A means for acquiring the position information indicating the current position of the own device based on information received from a plurality of satellites.
In this configuration, the so-called GPS (Global Po) is used to acquire the current position based on information received from a plurality of satellites.
Since the current position is acquired by using a positioning system, the current position can be acquired with high accuracy.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an information processing apparatus main body. Information processing device 1
Is a control unit 2 for controlling the operation of the main body, and a plurality of satellites (GP
A GPS positioning unit 3 for receiving position information indicating the current position of the own device by receiving a radio wave from the S satellite), a position information storage unit 4 for storing position information measured by the GPS positioning unit 3, a network (Internet, etc.) A communication unit 5 for controlling communication with a device (hereinafter, referred to as a partner station) connected via the communication unit 5, an operation unit 6 for performing an input operation in the main body of the information processing device 1, and information to be input / output. The display unit 7 is provided.

The information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment acquires (downloads) necessary information from a large amount of various kinds of information published on a network by a device connected to a network such as the Internet. It is a portable terminal device that can perform an emergency report (report to a fire station or police station) in the event of an accident or the like via a network. In addition, GPS (Global Position)
Ning System) is simply a multiple GP
This is a technology capable of detecting the current position of the own device with high accuracy from a radio wave received from the S satellite, and is a known technology already applied to a car navigation system and the like.
Further, the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a GPS positioning unit 3
The server has a server function of storing the current position of the own device measured in the above in the position information storage unit 4 and permitting a partner station connected via a network to download the position information stored in the position information storage unit 4. . Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment also has a mail transmission function of transmitting the current position of its own device stored in the position information storage unit 4 to a preset address by e-mail when connected to a network. Have. The address for transmitting the position information is configured so that the owner of the information processing apparatus 1 can freely set the address. However, it is necessary to input a password when changing the setting (the details will be described later). .).

Hereinafter, the operation of the information processing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a communication process of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. The information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can be connected to a network by a well-known dial-up IP connection. As is well known, an IP address is assigned when connected to a network through a dial-up IP connection. When the information processing device 1 is connected to the network (n1), the GPS positioning unit 3 detects the current position of the own device (n2) and stores this in the position information storage unit 4 (n).
3). Further, the current position of the own device stored in the position information storage unit 4 is transmitted by e-mail to a preset address at n3 (n4). Here, the address set as the destination of the e-mail is the mail address of the owner of the information processing apparatus 1. That is, the information processing device 1 transmits the current position to the owner by e-mail. Therefore, the location where the owner of the information processing apparatus 1 is currently located is not known to others, and the privacy of the owner is sufficiently protected.

When the processing of n4 is completed, the information processing apparatus 1 accepts an input of an address of a partner station (such as a server apparatus) connected via a network (n5). here,
The owner inputs the address of the partner station to be connected on the operation unit 6. When receiving the input of the address of the partner station to be connected in n5, the information processing apparatus 1 connects to the partner station identified by the input address, and stores the current position stored in the position information storage unit 4 in the partner station. The read code used when reading (downloading) is transmitted (n6,
n7).

Thereafter, the information processing device 1 starts communication with the connected partner station (n8). At this time, the information processing device 1 displays the information downloaded from the partner station on the display unit 7.
, And the information input by the owner of the information processing apparatus on the operation unit 6 is transmitted to the partner station. When the information processing apparatus 1 requests downloading of the current position stored in the position information storage unit 4 from the partner station (n9), the read code transmitted from the partner station at this time is appropriate. It is determined whether or not (n10),
If it is appropriate, the other station is permitted to download the current position (n11). On the other hand, if it is determined that the read code transmitted in n10 is not appropriate, an error message is transmitted to the partner station in n14. At this time, the information processing device 1 does not permit the partner station to download the current position.

As described above, in the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the read code is transmitted to the partner station at n7, so that the partner station requests the proper read code when downloading the current position. Can be sent.

For example, if the owner of the information processing device is in an accident or the like and is making an emergency call to a fire station or police station, the connected partner station needs to confirm the location of the owner. There is. Then, the partner station that needs to confirm the location of the owner of the information processing device 1 requests the information processing device 1 to download the current location.
The location of the owner can be confirmed. Therefore, even if the owner of the information processing apparatus does not check the location of the user, the partner station can store the location (the location information storage unit 4).
Can be confirmed quickly, so that an emergency report can be promptly made in the event of an accident or the like.

Then, the information processing apparatus 1 repeats the processing after n8 until the completion of communication with the partner station connected via the network is instructed (n12). Is performed and the present process is terminated (n13).

As described above, in the information processing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the GPS positioning unit 3 detects the current position of the own device, and the position indicating the current position of the own device to the partner station connected via the network. The provision of the server function for permitting the download of information enables quick notification of an emergency in the event of an accident or the like. Further, if there is no request for downloading the current position of the own device from the partner station connected via the network, the current position of the own device is not notified to the partner station, so that the privacy of the owner of the information processing apparatus 1 is also sufficient Can be protected.

In the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when connected to the network, information indicating the current position detected by the GPS positioning unit 3 is transmitted to the mail address of the owner of the information processing apparatus 1. . Therefore, even if the main body of the information processing device 1 is stolen,
When is used (connected to the network), its location is notified to the owner via email. That is, the owner can easily specify the person who has stolen the information processing apparatus 1. Therefore, the act of stealing the main body of the information processing apparatus 1 can be suppressed, which is effective in preventing the main body from being stolen.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment when changing the mail address at which the current position of its own device is transmitted by e-mail in n4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for changing the mail address. The owner of the information processing apparatus 1 instructs the operation unit 6 to change the mail address for transmitting the current position of the own apparatus when connected to the network.

When there is an instruction to change the mail address (n21), the information processing apparatus 1 accepts the input of the password (n22). If the input password is correct (n23), the input of the e-mail address to be changed is accepted (n24), and the e-mail address for transmitting the current position of the own device by e-mail when connected to the network is set to n24. This is changed to the accepted e-mail address, and this processing ends (n25). On the other hand, if it is determined in step n23 that the entered password is not appropriate, the message "The entered password is incorrect." Enter the correct password. Is displayed (n
26) Return to n22.

As described above, in the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the owner of the information processing apparatus 1 can freely change the mail address for transmitting the current position of the own apparatus by e-mail when connected to the network. Can be. Therefore, even when the owner of the information processing apparatus 1 changes his / her mail address, the current position of the information processing apparatus 1 can always be transmitted to himself / herself by e-mail when the information processing apparatus 1 is connected to the network. it can. Also, when changing the e-mail address, the input of the password is required as described above, so that a person who has stolen the information processing apparatus 1 cannot change the e-mail address without permission.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the read code used for reading the current position of the own device in n4 is transmitted to the partner station connected via the network, but the read code is transmitted via the network. The owner may be able to specify whether or not to transmit to the connected remote station. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a communication process of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. FIG.
What differs from the processing shown is that before transmitting the read code at n4, it is determined at n30 whether or not the transmission of the read code is specified. If the transmission is specified, the read code is transmitted at n4, and the transmission is performed. If the instruction is not given, the step jumps from step n4 to step n5 (the read code is not transmitted).

In this way, when communicating with a partner who does not want to know his / her current location, simply specify not to transmit the readout code to the partner station, and only communicate with the partner connected via the network. Since the station cannot download the position information, the privacy of the owner of the information processing device 1 can be more reliably protected.
Also, when making an emergency call in an accident, etc., simply specify that the readout code be transmitted to the partner station,
Since the location information can be downloaded to the partner station connected via the network, an emergency call can be made promptly.

Note that the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can also be used for shopping at a cyber mall open on the Internet, and the input operation at that time can be performed easily. The cyber mall is a well-known mail-order system using the Internet, and the owner of the information processing device 1 must input his / her address (destination of the product) when purchasing the product. However, with the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, the current position of the own apparatus can be downloaded. Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 1 is operated at home (destination for goods) to purchase a product, an address or the like is required. Need not be entered. Therefore, an operation for purchasing a product in a cyber mall or the like can be easily performed.

In addition to the information on the current position of the own device measured by the GPS positioning unit 3, information such as the address and name of the owner of the information processing apparatus 1 is stored, and this information is also downloaded. Permission may be granted. In this way, the owner of the information processing apparatus 1 can easily purchase a product using a cyber mall or the like even when going out. In this case, it is only necessary to permit the partner station connected via the network to download not the current position of the information processing apparatus 1 but the information such as the address of the owner stored separately.

Further, in the above embodiment, the current position of the own device is detected by using the GPS. However, another method (for example, a method of obtaining the current position from the base station position of the mobile communication system) is used. Alternatively, the current position of the own device may be detected.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the downloading of the location information indicating the current location of the own device detected by the partner station connected via the network is permitted. It is possible to promptly report an emergency or the like when it occurs. Further, even if the other station is connected via a network, if the download of the current position of the own device is not requested, the current position of the own device is not notified (because it is not downloaded). Privacy can also be protected.

Further, when a specific code is not transmitted from the partner station, downloading of the position information indicating the current position of the own device is not permitted, so that the privacy of the owner of the information processing apparatus is further protected. Can be enhanced.

Further, since it is possible to specify whether or not to transmit the above-mentioned specific code to the partner station upon connection, the privacy of the owner can be more reliably protected.

When connected to a network,
Since the information indicating the current position of the own device is transmitted to a specific address by e-mail, the act of stealing the information processing device from another person can be suppressed, and the possibility of theft can be reduced.

Further, since the position of the own device is detected based on information received from a plurality of satellites, the position of the own device can be detected with high accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of communication of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of changing an electronic mail transmission destination address of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of communication of an information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-information processing device 2-control unit 3-GPS positioning unit 4-position information storage unit 5-communication unit 6-operation unit 7-display unit

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Claims (5)

[Claims] A communication unit configured to communicate with a device connected via a network; a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire position information indicating a current position of the own device; and the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit. And a server function for permitting a partner station connected via a network to read the position information stored in the position information storage means. 2. The server function is a function for permitting reading of the position information stored in the position information storage means when a specific code is transmitted from a device connected via a network. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a specific code transmission designating unit for designating whether to transmit the specific code to a device connected via a network. 4. A communication means for communicating with a device connected via a network, a position information obtaining means for obtaining position information indicating a current position of the own device, and a specific address when connected to the network. And a position information transmitting means for transmitting the position information acquired by the position information acquiring means by e-mail. 5. The position information obtaining means according to claim 1, wherein said position information obtaining means obtains said position information indicating a current position of its own device based on information received from a plurality of satellites. Information processing device.