JP6317638B2 - POSITION INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM AND POSITION INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a position information providing system that provides position information of a mobile device in response to a request from an external device, and a position information providing method using the position information providing system.

  In recent years, many applications that use location information of mobile devices have been provided as applications used in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet terminals. Such position information of the mobile device is acquired by detailed positioning such as GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning or approximate position positioning such as base station positioning. As such a technique, a system using SUPL (Secure User Plane Location) is known. In SUPL, an SLP (SUPL Location Platform) that performs control related to provision of location information controls communication with an external device that requests location information and a positioning target mobile device.

JP 2009-189019 A

  Since the communication between the SLP and the mobile device for providing the location information of the mobile device to the external device and between the SLP and the external device is enormous, generally, the processing related to the provision of the location information A configuration is adopted in which the load is distributed to a plurality of SLPs while the information is managed by one DB. Therefore, each SLP communicates with a mobile device and an external device while synchronizing by referring to a DB (Data Base).

  However, in a location information management system having such a system configuration, when a failure occurs in one SLP of a plurality of SLPs and connection to the DB becomes impossible, the entire system grasps the SLP in which the failure has occurred. Until the communication between the SLP and another device is restricted, it is conceivable that communication with a mobile device or an external device occurs even in the SLP where the failure has occurred. In this case, the SLP that is unable to connect to the DB cannot grasp the status of the signal transmitted from the mobile device or the external device, so the subsequent processing cannot be performed normally, and the position In some cases, information could not be provided.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a position information providing system and a position information providing method that can more reliably provide position information of a mobile device to an external device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a position information providing system according to an aspect of the present invention acquires position information of a mobile device based on a position information request from an external device and issues a position information request to the external device. A position information providing system for providing a plurality of position information control devices and information related to progress of processing related to provision of position information by a plurality of position information control devices connected to a plurality of position information control devices. A first position information control device of the plurality of position information control devices, a position information request receiving means for receiving a position information request from an external device, and position information The location information provision request in which the request source information that identifies the external device that transmitted the request and the source information that identifies the first location information control device that received the location information request is associated with the location information request is transferred. Positioning result information corresponding to the position information provision request including the position information provision request means to be transmitted to the device, the positioning result by the mobile device that has transmitted the position information provision request, the request source information, and the reception source information. Transfer information receiving means for receiving from a second position information control device different from the first position information control device, and positioning for transmitting the positioning result included in the positioning result information to the external device specified by the request source information And a second position information control device that receives positioning result information corresponding to the position information provision request from a mobile device to which the first position information control device has transmitted the position information provision request. By referring to the result information receiving means and the processing information holding device, the situation confirmation means for confirming the progress of the processing related to the positioning result information received by the positioning result information receiving means, and the situation confirmation means Transfer means for transferring the positioning result information to the first position information control device specified by the reception source information included in the positioning result information when the physical progress status cannot be confirmed. .

  Also, the position information providing method according to one aspect of the present invention provides position information provision for acquiring position information of a mobile device based on a position information request from an external apparatus and providing the position information request to the external apparatus. A position information providing method by a system, wherein the position information providing system is connected to a plurality of position information control devices and a plurality of position information control devices, and performs processing related to provision of position information by a plurality of position information control devices. A position information request from an external device in the position information request receiving means of the first position information control device of the plurality of position information control devices. In the position information request receiving step of receiving the position information request, and in the position information provision requesting means of the first position information control device, A location information provision request step for transmitting to the mobile device a location information provision request that associates the location information request with the source information identifying the first location information control device that has received the information request; In the transfer information receiving means of the information control device, the positioning result information corresponding to the position information provision request including the positioning result by the mobile station that has transmitted the position information provision request, the request source information, and the reception source information is received as the first result. In the transfer information receiving step received from the second position information control device different from the position information control device, and the positioning result transmission means of the first position information control device, the positioning result included in the positioning result information is obtained from the request source information. In the positioning result transmission step for transmitting to the specified external device and the positioning result information receiving means of the second location information control device, the first location information control device provides the location information. A positioning result information receiving step for receiving positioning result information corresponding to the position information provision request from the mobile device that has transmitted the request, and a processing information holding device in the status confirmation means of the second position information control device, In the situation confirmation step for confirming the progress of the process related to the positioning result information received by the result information receiving means, and the transfer means of the second position information control device, when the progress of the process cannot be confirmed by the situation confirmation means A transfer step of transferring the positioning result information to the first position information control device specified by the reception source information included in the positioning result information.

  According to the above-described position information providing system and position information providing method, when the second position information control device receives positioning result information from the mobile device, the processing result holding device refers to the positioning result information. When it is possible to confirm the progress of the process, the position information can be provided based on the progress of the process, while the process information holding device cannot be referred to for some reason, If the progress status of the second position information cannot be confirmed, the second position information can be obtained by transferring the positioning result information to the first position information control device specified by the reception source information included in the positioning result information. Even if the control device cannot refer to the processing information holding device due to some abnormality and the positioning result information from the mobile device cannot be processed normally, the receiving source information included in the positioning result information The positioning result information is transferred to the first position information control device using the first position information control device, and the first position information control device sends the positioning result to the external device based on the request source information of the transferred positioning result information. Since it can transmit, it becomes possible to provide the position information of the mobile device more reliably to the external device.

  Here, the transfer means of the second position information control apparatus adds the failure information indicating that the progress of the process related to the positioning result information cannot be confirmed by the status confirmation means of the own apparatus to the positioning result information. The positioning result transmission means of the first location information control apparatus transfers to the processing information holding apparatus when the transfer information reception means receives the positioning result information and the failure information. The failure information can be stored.

  As described above, the failure information of the second position information control device is transferred to the first position information control device together with the positioning result information, and the first position information control device sends the failure information to the processing information holding device. By storing, for example, it is possible to change the control so that the second position information control device is not used, and the position information of the mobile device can be provided due to the failure of the second position information control device. The possibility of disappearing can be further reduced.

  The third position information control device among the plurality of position information control devices includes information for specifying the third position information control device, and requests for positioning information for GPS positioning requesting the position information of the mobile device by GPS positioning. GPS positioning information provision requesting means for transmitting to the mobile device, GPS positioning result from the mobile device that transmitted the GPS positioning information provision request, and information for specifying the third position information control device Transfer GPS positioning result information receiving means for receiving GPS positioning result information corresponding to the information provision request from a fourth position information control device different from the third position information control device, and GPS positioning included in the GPS positioning result information GPS positioning result transmission means for transmitting the result to the external device specified by the request source information. The fourth position information control device is configured such that the third position information control device is G GPS positioning result information receiving means for receiving GPS positioning result information corresponding to the GPS positioning information providing request from the mobile device that has transmitted the S positioning information providing request, and a processing information holding device, and GPS positioning result information receiving means The GPS positioning status confirmation means for confirming the progress status of the processing related to the GPS positioning result information received in step S3, and the third status included in the GPS positioning result information when the progress status of the processing cannot be confirmed by the GPS positioning status confirmation means A GPS positioning result information transfer unit that transfers GPS positioning result information to the third position information control device based on information specifying the position information control device may be provided.

  As described above, in the fourth position information control device of the plurality of position information control devices, regarding the transmission and reception of information related to the GPS positioning result in the mobile device, when the progress status of the process cannot be confirmed by the GPS positioning status confirmation means, 4th positional information is provided with the structure which transfers a GPS positioning status confirmation means with respect to a 3rd positional information control apparatus based on the information which specifies the 3rd positional information control apparatus contained in GPS positioning result information. Even if the control device cannot refer to the processing information holding device due to some abnormality and the GPS positioning result information from the mobile device cannot be processed normally, the third position is obtained using the information included in the GPS positioning result information. By adopting a configuration in which the GPS positioning result information is transferred to the information control device, the position information of the mobile device can be more reliably provided to the external device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the positional information provision system and the positional information provision method which can provide the positional information on a moving apparatus more reliably with respect to an external device are provided.

It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the communication system containing the positional information provision system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram concerning each device which constitutes a communication system. It is a block diagram explaining the function of SLP (1st position information control apparatus) which comprises a position information provision system. It is a figure which shows the example of the information stored in the data storage part 45 of SLP. It is a block diagram explaining the function of SLP (2nd positional information control apparatus) which comprises a positional information provision system. It is a figure which shows the example of the information stored in SLP-DB. It is a sequence diagram explaining the conventional positional information provision method. It is a sequence diagram explaining the positional information provision method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the process of SLP40A in the positional information provision method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the process of SLP40B in the positional information provision method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram explaining the position information provision method concerning the conventional two-stage positioning. It is a sequence diagram explaining the positional information provision method which concerns on 2 step positioning which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram explaining the positional information provision method which concerns on 2 step positioning which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system including a position information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 1 includes an LCS (Location Service) client 10, a GMLC (Gateway Mobile Location Center) 20, an LB (Load Balancer) 30, an SLP (SUPL Location Platform) 40 (location information control device), and an SLP-DB 50 ( Processing information holding device), an SMS (Short Message Service) center 51, and a mobile device 60. In this communication system 1, in response to a request from the LCS client 10, the location information of the mobile device 60 is acquired from the mobile device 60 via the wireless communication network by the SLP 40, and the LCS client 10 that is an external device is transmitted from the SLP 40. Provided. As a wireless communication network, for example, a communication network (3G communication network) using a 3G system, which is a communication system standardized by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), or a communication network using a LTE (Long Term Evolution) system ( LTE communication network). In the communication system 1, the position information providing system includes a plurality of SLPs 40 and SLP-DBs 50 connected to the plurality of SLPs 40.

  The location information provided to the LCS client 10 may be approximate location information indicating the location of the cell in which the mobile device 60 is located, or obtained by detailed positioning using GPS (Global Positioning System). It may be detailed position information. In the case of two-stage positioning described later, both the approximate position information and the detailed position information are provided to the LCS client 10.

  In the case of detailed positioning using GPS, a so-called assist GPS positioning method is used. GPS positioning is a method of determining the position (specifically, latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the mobile device 60 based on position information of GPS satellites by receiving signals from three or more GPS satellites in the sky. However, in order to do this, it is necessary to capture GPS satellites by the mobile device 60, and this processing takes a certain time. For this reason, in the assist GPS positioning, information (assist data) such as the position of the GPS satellite and the approximate position (initial position) information of the mobile device 60 is transmitted to the mobile device 60, thereby Processing for acquisition and shortening of positioning time are attempted. The SUPL used in this embodiment is stipulated by OMA (Open Mobile Alliance), and is a communication bearer for transmitting assist data between the mobile device 60 and the communication network. This is an assist GPS positioning method using Plane (User Plane). The communication system 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration capable of providing detailed position information of the mobile device 60 to an external device through SUPL with the SLP 40 and the SLP-DB 50 as the center.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each device included in the communication system 1 includes a CPU 101, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, which are main storage devices, and a communication module 104 for performing communication. And a computer including hardware such as an auxiliary storage device 105 such as a hard disk. And the function of each apparatus is exhibited when these components operate.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the function of each device will be described. In the communication system 1, the LCS client 10 functions as a service providing apparatus that provides a location information service. The service provided by the LCS client 10 is, for example, a service provided to the user by obtaining the location information of the mobile device 60 when the user has released the mobile device, or the location information of the mobile device. For example, a service that provides information on a user's whereabouts to a third party. The LCS client 10 transmits a position information request based on a request from a service user.

  The GMLC 20 has a function of managing data related to position information in a wireless communication network, and a function of performing authentication and the like related to an external device such as the LCS client 10.

  The LB 30 is a device for reducing an access load on the SLP 40 when the GMLC 20 and the mobile device 60 communicate with the SLP 40, and selects an SLP to be a communication partner from a plurality of SLPs 40 in a round robin manner. It has a function.

The SLP 40 has a function of acquiring the location information of the mobile device 60 and providing the location information of the mobile device 60 to the LCS client 10 via the GMLC 20. SLP40 is composed of a plurality of _{SLP # 140 1 ~SLP # N40 N} . Then, the connection destination is changed every time one piece of information is transmitted / received between the mobile device 60 and the GMLC 20 by the LB 30, so that the load among the plurality of SLPs 40 is distributed. “One process”, which is a unit in which the connection destination is changed by the LB 30, is a process started when some information (processing request or acquired data, etc.) is transmitted from the GMLC 20 or the mobile device 60. Say. Note that the transmission source of some information (processing request or acquired data, etc.) may be different from that of the GMLC 20 or the mobile device 60 described above. Since load balancing is performed in a round robin fashion by lb30, in each of the plurality of _{SLP # 140 1 ~SLP # N40 N} , without holding the information about the details and progress of the process according to the location information providing mobile device 60, described later Are held together in the SLP-DB 50. Therefore, when communicating with the mobile device 60 and the GMLC 20, the SLP 40 is configured to perform processing based on information stored in the SLP-DB 50 with reference to the SLP-DB 50 each time.

  Here, the function of the SLP 40A, which is the SLP that receives and processes the position information request transmitted from the LCS client 10 via the GMLC 20, will be further described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the SLP 40A includes a location information request transmission / reception unit 41 (location information request reception unit, positioning result transmission unit), an SMS transmission unit 42 (location information provision request unit), a timer control unit 43, An SLP communication unit 44 (transfer information receiving means) and a data storage unit 45 are included.

  The position information request transmission / reception unit 41 has a function of performing communication with the GMLC 20. Specifically, it has a function of receiving a position information request from the LCS client 10 from the GMLC 20 and providing position information of the mobile device 60 to the GMLC 20. When receiving a position information request from the GMLC 20, information specifying the GMLC 20 that is the transmission source of the position information request is also received. Information for identifying the GMLC 20 is stored in the data storage unit 45 and used when communicating with other devices based on the position information request.

  The SMS transmission unit 42 has a function of instructing an SMS center 51 (described later) to transmit an SMS to the mobile device 60. In the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment, when requesting provision of location information to the mobile device 60 based on a request from the LCS client 10, an instruction configuration is made using SMS. Therefore, the SLP 40A does not directly send a location information provision request to the mobile device 60, but instructs the SMS center 51 to send an SMS related to the location information provision request to the mobile device 60. At this time, information specifying the GMLC 20 is also transmitted together with the SMS.

  The timer control unit 43 has a function of managing a processing time by starting a timer until a predetermined process is completed when a predetermined process is started based on a position information request transmitted from the GMLC 20. In this embodiment, a set of processing contents exchanged in the system is called a session, and the session is managed by a timer. The timer control unit 43 reports an error to the GMLC 20 when the process is not completed within a predetermined time. Whether or not the processing has been completed within a predetermined time is determined by whether or not a flag indicating that a series of processing has been completed is given by referring to information stored in the SLP-DB 50 periodically by the SLP communication unit 44 described later. It is judged by checking. Here, if the information in the SLP-DB 50 has not been updated after the predetermined time has passed (the processing completion flag has not been given), the processing has not been completed, and an error is detected with respect to the GMLC 20 that transmitted the position information request. Make a report. A configuration in which the timer control unit 43 holds the timer management regarding which process of which mobile device 60 is held by the timer control unit 43 can be adopted. That is, when the device itself receives a position information request, the timer control unit 43 starts one timer in response to the position information request and starts managing the processing time. When the process is completed (when it is confirmed that the information of the SLP-DB 50 has been updated), the started timer is terminated. In this way, the timer control unit 43 performs timer control of processing started by the own device.

  The SLP communication unit 44 pays out a session ID (information specifying processing related to one session started from the position information request) based on the position information request from the GMLC 20 and sends the information on the session to the SLP-DB 50. Has the function of writing. The SLP communication unit 44 transmits / receives information to / from other SLPs 40. In the subsequent communication between the SLP 40 and another device, it is configured to notify the session ID at the same time as the transmission of information, so that it is possible to determine which session-related information is transmitted in the device that has received the information. Can do. Here, when communicating with another SLP 40, when the other SLP 40 is responsible for communication related to the session in which the device has received the position information request, the other SLP 40 is in a normal process due to a failure or the like. This is a case where the error report is received from the failed SLP 40 and the process is performed in place of the failed SLP 40 when the process cannot be performed. In such a case, the subsequent processing is performed mainly by the SLP 40A that has issued the session ID. This point will be described later.

  The data storage unit 45 has a function of storing information that should be held by the SLP 40 such as information related to the GMLC 20. One piece of information stored in the data storage unit 45 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a table in which a GMLC device number that identifies the GMLC 20 is associated with information indicating a destination when information is transmitted to the GMLC 20. The information of the GMLC 20 stored in the data storage unit 45 is the GMLC 20 that has transmitted the position information request related to the session (process) for which the session ID is issued by the SLP 40A, that is, the GMLC 20 that is the transmission source of the position information request received by the SLP 40A. Information. In this way, in the SLP 40 that has received the location information request, by holding the information of the GMLC 20 that is the transmission source of the location information request, when another SLP 40 fails, communication with the GMLC 20 instead of the failed SLP 40 Can continue.

  Next, the function of the SLP 40 that performs processing by receiving some information from the mobile device 60 instead of the SLP 40 that has received the position information request from the GMLC 20 will be further described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the SLP 40B is configured to include a mobile communication unit 47 (positioning result information receiving unit, status confirmation unit) and a SLP communication unit 48 (transfer unit). The SLP 40B shown in FIG. 5 is selected as a connection destination by the LB 30 when, for example, the mobile device 60 receives the SMS and transmits the positioning result measured by the mobile device 60 to the SLP 40. The SLP 40 different from the original SLP 40A is applicable.

  The mobile communication unit 47 has a function of receiving information from the mobile device 60 when the connection destination is selected by the LB 30 as described above. When the SLP 40B functions correctly, when the mobile communication unit 47 receives some information (for example, location information) from the mobile device 60, by referring to the SLP-DB 50, information on the location information (for example, The information of the request source GMLC that requested the position information) is confirmed, and the position information of the mobile device 60 is appropriately processed.

  The SLP communication unit 48 has a function of transferring position information of the mobile device 60 to another SLP 40 (SLP 40A) via the LB 30 when the SLP 40B cannot communicate with the SLP-DB 50 due to a failure or the like. . That is, this is a part that functions when the SLP 40B cannot perform normal processing, and no special processing is executed when the SLP 40B performs normal processing.

Next, the SLP-DB 50 will be described. As described above, the SLP-DB 50 holds information regarding the details and progress of processing related to the provision of position information of the mobile device 60. An example of information held in the SLP-DB 50 is shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the SLP-DB 50 receives the time when the position information request is received, the SLP (for example, SLP # 1) that received the position information request, the positioning result reception time, and the positioning result in association with the session ID. Stored SLP (for example, SLP # 2), positioning result or error factor, and completion / incomplete of positioning result notification. Therefore, by referring to the information associated with the session ID, it is possible to confirm how far the communication related to the session has been performed / not yet performed. Each SLP 40 has a function of updating information stored in the SLP-DB 50 when communicating with the GMLC 20 or the mobile device 60 and exchanging information stored in the SLP-DB 50.
(Method for providing location information by communication system)

  Next, a position information providing method by the communication system 1 will be described. In the following description of the position information providing method, first, the conventional position information providing method will be described with reference to FIG. 7, and the problems in the conventional position information providing method will be described, and then with reference to FIGS. A location information providing method according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following location information providing method, a case will be described in which approximate location information indicating the location of a cell where the mobile device 60 is located is acquired from the mobile device 60 and provided as location information. Further, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the SLP 40A receives a position information request from the LCS client 10 and transmits a position information provision request to the mobile device 60, and the SLP 40B receives the positioning result from the mobile device 60. A case where the process is performed will be described.

  First, a conventional position information providing method will be described with reference to FIG. As a premise, it is assumed that a failure has occurred in the SLP 40B due to some circumstances (failure or the like), and the SLP-DB 50 cannot be connected (S100). Here, when a position information request is transmitted from the LCS client 10 to the GMLC 20 (S101), a position information request is transmitted from the GMLC 20 to the SLP 40 (S102). The location information request also includes information for identifying the mobile device 60 from which location information is to be acquired (for example, the telephone number of the mobile device 60). The position information request transmitted from the GMLC 20 is transmitted to the SLP 40A after the SLP 40A is selected as the connection destination by the LB 30 (this process is not shown in FIG. 7). In the SLP 40A, when the location information request transmission / reception unit 41 receives the location information request, the SLP communication unit 44 pays out a session ID for specifying processing based on the location information request. In addition, the timer control unit 43 activates a timer related to this session (S103). As a result, the timer control unit 43 operates the timer and monitors whether a series of processes from reception of the position information request is completed within the time limit (S104). In addition, the SLP communication unit 44 updates the information (session information) related to the location information request including the paid-out session ID by writing it in the table stored in the SLP-DB 50 (S105). As a result, the SLP-DB 50 starts holding information related to the session.

  Next, the SMS transmission unit 42 of the SLP 40 </ b> A transmits an SMS transmission request including information for specifying the mobile device 50 to the SMS center 51. The SMS center 51 transmits a response to the instruction from the SLP 40A (S106). Thereby, the SMS is transmitted from the SMS center 51 to the mobile device 60 (S107), and the acquisition (positioning) of position information by the mobile device 60 is instructed. Further, the SLP 40A transmits a response to the position information request (S102) to the GMLC 20 (S108).

  In the mobile device 60, when positioning is instructed by the SMS, positioning is performed (S109), and the result is transmitted to the SLP 40 (S110). At this time, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the SLP 40B receives the positioning result.

  Here, when the SLP 40B cannot access the SLP-DB 50 due to a device failure (S100) (S111), the SLP 40B indicates what kind of information the positioning result transmitted from the mobile device 60 is (which one) It is impossible to grasp whether the positioning result corresponds to the session or which GMLC 20 should be responded to. Therefore, an error is notified as a positioning result notification response to the mobile device 60 that has transmitted the positioning result (S112). For this reason, even if positioning is correctly performed in the mobile device 60, an error is returned to the mobile device 60.

  On the other hand, in the SLP 40A, while the timer is activated (S104), the SLP-DB 50 is periodically checked to check the progress of the session managed by this timer. Here, when the information related to the session in the SLP-DB 50 is not updated when the SLP-DB 50 is confirmed after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined in the SLP 40A that an error has occurred due to circumstances on the mobile device 60 side. (S113). This is based on the premise that the SLP 40A does not know that a device failure has occurred on the SLP 40B side and is operating normally, so that the session information in the SLP-DB 50 is not updated. This is because it is determined that there is no response from 60. Therefore, the SLP 40A notifies the GMLC 20 of an error due to no mobile device response as a location information notification (S114). Then, the GMLC 20 transmits an error notification due to no mobile station response as a positional information notification to the LCS client 10 (S115) and transmits a response to the positional information notification (S114) to the SLP 40A (S116). The SLP 40A ends the session by receiving the position information notification response from the GMLC 20.

  As described above, in the conventional communication system, when a device failure occurs in the SLP 40B, even if the positioning result is correctly transmitted from the mobile device 60 (S109), the positioning result cannot be notified to the GMLC 20. Furthermore, since there is no configuration for notifying other devices that a device failure has occurred in the SLP 40B, load balancing by the LB 30 is also performed on the assumption that the SLP 40B is operating normally. Therefore, since some information (location information request or positioning result) is transmitted from the GMLC 20 or the mobile device 60 to the SLP 40B in which the device failure has occurred, the subsequent processing cannot be performed normally and an error occurs. There is a possibility of becoming.

  On the other hand, in the position information providing method according to the present embodiment, the request source information that transmitted the position information request and the reception source information that received the position information request are attached to the information transmitted from the SLP 40A. Thus, when the SLP 40B cannot correctly process, the SLP 40A that is the reception source of the position information request can perform the process instead of the SLP 40B. Specific processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As in the conventional case, it is assumed that the SLP 40B has a fault due to some circumstances (failure or the like) and cannot be connected to the SLP-DB 50 (S200). Here, when a position information request is transmitted from the LCS client 10 to the GMLC 20 (S201), a position information request is transmitted from the GMLC 20 to the SLP 40 (S202: position information request receiving step). The location information request also includes information for identifying the mobile device 60 from which location information is to be acquired (for example, the telephone number of the mobile device 60). The position information request transmitted from the GMLC 20 includes information specifying the request source GMLC 20 as request source information. This position information request is transmitted to the SLP 40A after the SLP 40A is selected as the connection destination by the LB 30 (this process is not shown in FIG. 8). In the SLP 40A, when the location information request transmission / reception unit 41 receives the location information request, the SLP communication unit 44 pays out a session ID for specifying processing based on the location information request. Further, the timer control unit 43 activates a timer related to this session (S203). As a result, the timer control unit 43 operates the timer and monitors whether a series of processes from receiving the position information request is completed within the time limit (S204). In addition, the SLP communication unit 44 updates the information (session information) related to the location information request including the issued session ID in the table stored in the SLP-DB 50 (S205). As a result, the SLP-DB 50 starts holding information related to the session.

  Next, the SMS transmission unit 42 of the SLP 40 </ b> A transmits an SMS transmission request including information for specifying the mobile device 50 to the SMS center 51. In addition, the SMS center 51 transmits a response to the instruction from the SLP 40A (S206: location information provision request step). Thereby, SMS is transmitted from the SMS center 51 to the mobile device 60 (S207), and the acquisition (positioning) of position information by the mobile device 60 is instructed. In both the SMS transmission request (S206) to the SMS center 51 and the SMS (S207) from the SMS center 51 to the mobile device 60, request source information (information specifying the GMLC 20) and reception source information (information specifying the SLP 40A) And a session ID. Although the session ID is also included in the conventional SMS transmission request and SMS, the request source information and the reception source information are newly included in the location information providing method according to the present embodiment. The SLP 40A transmits a response to the position information request (S202) to the GMLC 20 (S208).

  In the mobile device 60, when positioning is instructed by the SMS, positioning is performed (S209), and the result is transmitted to the SLP 40 (S210: positioning result information receiving step). The positioning result information transmitted from the mobile device 60 includes request source information, reception source information, a positioning result, and a session ID. At this time, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the positioning result is transferred to the SLP 40B, and the positioning result is received by the mobile communication unit 47 of the SLP 40B (S210).

  Here, when the SLP 40B cannot access the SLP-DB 50 due to a device failure (S200) (S211: status check step), the conventional configuration notifies the mobile device 60 of an error. In the position information providing method according to the present embodiment, a destination to which the positioning result information is transferred is set based on the reception source information included in the positioning result information from the mobile device 60 (S212: transfer step). In the present embodiment, SLP 40A is set as the destination. Then, the positioning result notification response is transmitted to the LB 30 by the SLP communication unit 48 (S213: transfer step). This positioning result notification response includes error information in addition to the request source information, the reception source information, the positioning result, and the session ID included in the positioning result information. This error information is information indicating that a device failure has occurred in the SLP 40B. The LB 30 transmits a positioning result notification response to the SLP 40A based on the destination of the positioning result notification response set by the SLP 40B (S214: transfer information receiving step).

  When the SLP communication unit 44 of the SLP 40A receives the positioning result notification response from the SLP 40B via the LB 30, the session ID is confirmed with reference to the SLP-DB 50 (S215). If the session ID of the positioning result notification response is valid (information stored in the SLP-DB 50), a result (positioning result notification response result) for the positioning result notification response is transmitted to the SLP 40B ( S216). At this time, when the session ID is confirmed, the SLP-DB 50 may be updated together (writing that the SLP has acquired the positioning result). When a positioning result notification response is transmitted to the SLP 40B, the positioning result notification response is transmitted via the LB 30 in the same manner as when the positioning result notification response is transmitted (S213, S214). Thus, since the session ID is confirmed in the SLP 40A and the positioning result is correctly acquired in the SLP 40A, information indicating the successful positioning is transmitted to the SLP 40B as a positioning result notification response result. Thereafter, the positioning result is notified from the mobile communication unit 47 of the SLP 40B to the mobile device 60 (S217). In this case, information indicating successful positioning is transmitted as a notification of the positioning result.

  On the other hand, the position information is notified from the SLP 40A to the GMLC 20 that is the request source of the position information (S218: positioning result transmission step). The request source information indicating the request source of the position information is included in the positioning result notification response. Further, in the SLP 40A, the location information can be notified to the GMLC 20 by referring to the data storage unit 45 and specifying the destination of the GMLC 20. The GMLC 20 transmits a position information notification from the SLP 40A to the LCS client 10 (S219), and transmits a response to the position information notification (S218) to the SLP 40A (S220). In the SLP 40A, after receiving the position information notification response from the GMLC 20, the failure information (error information) received from the SLP 40B (via the LB 30) as a positioning result notification response is recorded in the SLP-DB 50 (S221). The failure information recorded in the SLP-DB 50 includes information for identifying the SLP in which the failure has occurred, the content of the failure, and the like. The timing of recording the error information is not particularly limited as long as the session ID is confirmed (S215). Through the above processing, the session is terminated.

  As described above, the flow of a series of processes related to providing location information is as shown in FIG. Next, in the series of processing shown in FIG. 8, the processing performed by the SLP 40A and the processing performed by the SLP 40B will be described separately.

  First, the processing performed in the SLP 40A, that is, the SLP that receives the position information request will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, a position information request is received from the request source GMLC 20 (S301). At this time, the session ID is paid out. Next, an SMS transmission request is transmitted to the SMS center 51, and a timer is started (S302). Note that the timer may be activated prior to the transmission of the SMS transmission request. Next, an SMS transmission request response is received from the SMS center 51 that has transmitted the SMS transmission request (S303). Thereafter, the SLP 40A confirms whether it is a timeout due to the activated timer (S304). If the timeout has already occurred (S304-YES), an error indicating the timeout is notified to the mobile device 60 (S305). In this case, when a timeout occurs, an error indicating a timeout is notified from the SLP 40A to the requesting GMLC 20.

  On the other hand, when the time-out has not occurred (S304-NO), it is checked whether a positioning result notification response has been received (S306). Here, in the SLP 40A, the positioning result notification response including the session ID, the request source information (information for identifying the GMLC 20), and the positioning result from the mobile device 60 to which the SMS is transmitted or other SLP (for example, SLP 40B). It is confirmed whether or not (positioning result information in the case of the mobile device 60) is received. The positioning result notification response is transmitted from another receiving source (SLP 40B) when an abnormality has occurred in the other receiving source (SLP 40B). Therefore, the positioning result notification response includes information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the SLP 40B. The positioning result information is transmitted from the mobile device 60 when the SLP 40A is selected as the SLP for processing the positioning result from the mobile device 60 by the LB 30. Here, when the positioning result notification response has not been received (S306-NO), the time-out monitoring (S304) is continuously performed using the activated timer.

  When the positioning result notification response (or positioning result information) is received (S306-YES), the SLP 40A first confirms whether the session ID included in the received positioning result notification response (or positioning result information) is valid. (S307). Here, when the session ID is not valid (S307-NO), the mobile device 60 is notified of an unauthorized user error (S308), and the process is notified. When the session ID is valid (S307-YES), the positioning result of the mobile device 60 is notified to the request source GMLC 20 (S309). At this time, a response indicating successful positioning is also transmitted to the mobile device 60.

  Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the positioning result of the mobile device 60 has been received from another receiving source (SLP) (S310). If the positioning result is transmitted from another SLP (for example, SLP40B) (S310-YES), the SLP is The fact that an abnormality has occurred is recorded in the SLP-DB 50 (S311). When the positioning result is transmitted from the mobile device 60 (S310-NO), the process is terminated as it is.

  Next, processing performed in the SLP 40B, that is, the SLP that is different from the SLP that receives the position information request and that receives the positioning result from the mobile device 60 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As a premise, it is assumed that a device failure has occurred in the SLP 40B for some reason and access to the SLP-DB 50 becomes impossible (S401). The SLP 40B receives a positioning result notification from the mobile device 60 (S402). The positioning result notification includes request source information, reception source information, a positioning result, and a session ID. Here, the SLP 40B determines whether access to the SLP-DB 50 is possible (S403). When access to the SLP-DB 50 is possible (S403-YES), it is determined whether the session ID included in the positioning result notification from the mobile device 60 is valid (S404), and when it is valid (S404). -YES), the positioning result is notified to the GMLC 20 specified by the request source information and the positioning success is notified to the mobile device 60 (S405). If the session ID is not valid (S404-NO), an error notification indicating that the user is illegal is sent to the mobile device 60 (S406).

  On the other hand, when the SLP 40B cannot access the SLP-DB 50 (S403-NO), the SLP of the receiving source specified by the receiving source information is set as the destination, and the fault information and positioning result of the own device are set via the LB 30. Then, a positioning result notification response including the session ID is transmitted (S407). Thereafter, after the session ID is confirmed in the destination SLP, the positioning result notification response result transmitted from the SLP is received (S408), and the mobile device 60 that has transmitted the positioning result to the SLP 40B is transmitted to the mobile device 60. Then, a positioning result notification response is transmitted (S409).

  As described above, in the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the SLP 40A receives a position information request for requesting provision of position information from an external device, the request source information of the position information request and the position information request are received. The information of the device itself (reception source information) is transmitted to the mobile device 60 in association with the position information request.

  In addition, the SLP 40B receives positioning result information (positioning result, request source information requesting this position information request, and position information) related to a session different from the session that received the position information request and processed by the own device. Information including the received source information) is received from the mobile device 60, and if the processing related to the positioning result cannot be executed by the own device, the positioning result information is sent to the SLP specified by the receiving source information. It has a configuration to transfer.

  Further, the SLP 40A to which the positioning result information is transferred from the SLP 40B has a configuration for notifying the positioning result included in the positioning result information to the external device (GMLC 20) specified by the request source information.

  As described above, in the position information providing method in the communication system 1, even when the SLP 40B cannot refer to the SLP-DB 50 due to a failure or the like and the subsequent processing cannot be normally performed, the SLP 40B is transferred to another SLP (SLP 40A). Thus, since the transferred SLP 40A can notify the positioning result to the GMLC 20 that is the request source based on the request source information included in the transferred positioning result information, the mobile device 60 is more capable of transmitting the positioning result to the GMLC 20. Position information can be provided more reliably.

  Further, by configuring the SLP 40A to record the failure information related to the SLP 40B in the SLP-DB 50, for example, by changing the control of the LB 30 based on the information stored in the SLP-DB 50, the LB 30 can be set as the connection destination. It is also possible to change the control so that the SLP 40B is not selected, and the possibility that the location information of the mobile device 60 cannot be provided to the GMLC 20 due to the failure of the SLP 40B can be further reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a location information providing method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the processing when one piece of location information of the mobile device 60 is provided to the GMLC 20 has been described. However, in the second embodiment, the authentication processing is performed as the first step for the mobile device 60 and then 2 A case of so-called two-stage positioning in which detailed positioning is performed as a stage will be described. A case will be described in which there are three SLPs related to two-step positioning instead of two.

  In the case of the two-stage positioning, the point of starting the timer in each of the first-stage authentication process and the second-stage positioning is different from the case of the first embodiment, but the connection destination is selected by the LB 30. Since the points are the same and the connected SLPs are different, each SLP 40 also checks the progress of processing while referring to the SLP-DB 50 in common with the first embodiment. Therefore, when the SLP 40 that receives information from the mobile device cannot refer to the SLP-DB 50 due to a problem, that is, the device failure, the information received from the mobile device cannot be processed and an error is notified. This is also common to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the conventional location information providing method according to the two-step positioning will be described with reference to FIG. 11, the problems in the conventional location information providing method will be described, and then the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. A location information providing method will be described. In the following description, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the SLP 40A receives a position information request from the LCS client 10 and transmits a position information provision request to the mobile device 60. After receiving the first stage process (authentication process), and instructing the mobile device 60 for detailed positioning (GPS positioning) from the SLP 40B as the second stage, the mobile device 60 performs GPS positioning. The case where SLP40C performs the process which concerns on a GPS positioning result is demonstrated.

  First, a conventional position information providing method will be described with reference to FIG. As a premise, it is assumed that a failure has occurred in the SLP 40C due to some circumstances (failure or the like), and the SLP-DB 50 cannot be connected (S500). When a location information request is transmitted from the LCS client 10 to the GMLC 20 (S501), a location information request is transmitted from the GMLC 20 to the SLP 40 (S502). The location information request also includes information for identifying the mobile device 60 from which location information is to be acquired (for example, the telephone number of the mobile device 60). The position information request transmitted from the GMLC 20 is transmitted to the SLP 40A after the SLP 40A is selected as a connection destination by the LB 30 (this process is not shown in FIG. 11). In the SLP 40A, when the location information request transmission / reception unit 41 receives the location information request, the SLP communication unit 44 pays out a session ID for specifying processing based on the location information request. Further, the timer control unit 43 activates a timer related to this session (S503). As a result, the timer control unit 43 operates the timer and monitors whether a series of processes from receiving the position information request is completed within the time limit (S504). Here, a series of processes refers to processes related to the first stage.

  In addition, the SLP communication unit 44 updates the information (session information) related to the location information request including the paid-out session ID by writing it in the table stored in the SLP-DB 50 (S505). As a result, the SLP-DB 50 starts holding information related to the session.

  Next, the SMS transmission unit 42 of the SLP 40 </ b> A transmits an SMS transmission request including information for specifying the mobile device 50 to the SMS center 51. The SMS center 51 transmits a response to the instruction from the SLP 40A (S506). Thereby, the SMS is transmitted from the SMS center 51 to the mobile device 60 (S507), and the acquisition (positioning) of position information by the mobile device 60 is instructed. The SLP 40A transmits a response to the position information request (S502) to the GMLC 20 (S508).

  In the mobile device 60, when positioning is instructed by the SMS, a response of approval regarding the positioning (approval result) is transmitted to the SLP 40 (S509). At this time, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the SLP 40B receives the positioning result.

  Here, the SLP 40B confirms the session ID with reference to the SLP-DB 50 (S510). If the session ID is confirmed to be valid, the SLP-B indicates that the approval result has been received from the mobile device 60. Write to the DB 50 (S511). Further, the GMLC 20 is requested to approve the positioning (S512), and the response is acquired (S513). The position positioning approval response from the GMLC 20 is an opportunity for starting the second stage positioning. When the SLP 40A refers to the SLP-DB 50 and confirms that the positioning result of the first stage is written within the timer time, the time management by the timer is terminated (S514).

  Next, in the SLP 40B, a timer related to positioning at the second stage is started (S515), and time management is started (S516). Further, the SLP 40B transmits a GPS positioning result provision request to the mobile device 60 as a response to the positioning result transmission (S509) (S517). Thereby, GPS positioning is implemented from the mobile device 60, and GPS positioning result information including the GPS positioning result is transmitted to the SLP (S518). At this time, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the SLP 40C receives the positioning result from the mobile device 60.

  Here, when the SLP 40C cannot access the SLP-DB 50 due to a device failure (S500) (S519), what kind of information is the GPS positioning result information transmitted from the mobile device 60 in the SLP 40C? It is impossible to grasp (such as which session corresponds to the result information). Therefore, an error is notified to the mobile device 60 as a GPS positioning result information response (S520). For this reason, in the mobile device 60, although the positioning is performed and the positioning result is transmitted to the SLP 40C, an error is notified.

  On the other hand, in the SLP 40B, while the timer is activated (S516), the SLP-DB 50 is periodically checked to check the progress of the session managed by this timer. Here, when the information related to the session in the SLP-DB 50 is not updated when the SLP-DB 50 is confirmed after a predetermined time has elapsed, the SLP 40B determines that an error has occurred due to circumstances on the mobile device 60 side, The SLP 40B notifies the GMLC 20 of an error due to no response from the mobile device as a positional information notification (S521). Then, the GMLC 20 transmits an error notification due to no mobile device response as a location information notification to the LCS client 10 (S522) and transmits a response to the location information notification (S521) to the SLP 40B (S523). The SLP 40B ends the session by receiving the position information notification response from the GMLC 20.

  As described above, in the conventional communication system, when a device failure occurs in the SLP 40C, even if the GPS positioning by the mobile device 60 is correctly performed and transmitted to the SLP (S518), the SLP 40C relates to the positioning result. Since the progress of the process cannot be confirmed, the subsequent process cannot be performed normally and an error may occur.

  On the other hand, in the location information providing method according to the second embodiment, the request source information that transmitted the location information request and the source information that received the location information request are attached to the information transmitted from the SLP 40B. As a result, when the SLP 40C cannot correctly process, the SLP 40B, which is the reception source of the position information request, can perform the process instead of the SLP 40C. Here, the SLP 40B functions as a third position information control device in the position information providing system, and has functions related to GPS positioning information provision requesting means, transfer GPS positioning result information receiving means, and GPS positioning result information transmitting means. In addition, the SLP 40C functions as a fourth position information control device in the position information providing system, and functions as a GPS positioning result information receiving unit, a GPS positioning status confirmation unit, and a GPS positioning result information transfer unit. Hereinafter, specific processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 12, the process which concerns on the 1st step of 2-step positioning is demonstrated. In the process shown in FIG. 12, the same information transmission / reception as the conventional first stage positioning (S500 to S513 in FIG. 11) is performed.

  As a premise, it is assumed that a failure has occurred in the SLP 40C due to some circumstances (failure or the like), and the SLP-DB 50 cannot be connected (S600). Here, the location information request is transmitted from the LCS client 10 to the GMLC 20 (S601), and the location information request is transmitted from the GMLC 20 to the SLP 40 (S602). The location information request includes information specifying the request source GMLC 20 as request source information. The position information request transmitted from the GMLC 20 is selected by the LB 30 as the connection destination of the SLP 40A and transmitted to the SLP 40A.

  In the SLP 40A, when the location information request transmission / reception unit 41 receives the location information request, the SLP communication unit 44 pays out a session ID for specifying processing based on the location information request. Further, the timer control unit 43 activates a timer related to this session (S603). As a result, the timer control unit 43 operates the timer and monitors whether a series of processes from reception of the position information request is completed within the time limit (S604). Further, the SLP communication unit 44 updates the information (session information) related to the location information request including the paid-out session ID by writing it in the table stored in the SLP-DB 50 (S605). As a result, the SLP-DB 50 starts holding information related to the session.

  Next, the SMS transmission unit 42 of the SLP 40 </ b> A transmits an SMS transmission request including information for specifying the mobile device 50 to the SMS center 51. The SMS center 51 transmits a response to the instruction from the SLP 40A (S606). Thereby, the SMS is transmitted from the SMS center 51 to the mobile device 60 (S607), and the acquisition (positioning) of position information by the mobile device 60 is instructed. In both the SMS transmission request (S606) to the SMS center 51 and the SMS (S607) from the SMS center 51 to the mobile device 60, the request source information (information specifying the GMLC 20) and the first receiver information (SLP 40A are specified). Information) and session ID. Further, the SLP 40A transmits a response to the position information request (S602) to the GMLC 20 (S608).

  After the positioning is instructed by the SMS, the mobile device 60 transmits an approval message as an authentication process for the instruction to the SMS (S609). The approval message transmitted from the mobile device 60 includes request source information, first reception source information, a positioning result, and a session ID. At this time, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the approval message is transferred to the SLP 40B, and the approval message is received by the mobile communication unit 47 of the SLP 40B.

  Here, the SLP 40B confirms the session ID with reference to the SLP-DB 50 (S610), and if it is confirmed that the session ID is valid, it indicates that the approval message from the mobile device 60 has been acquired. Write to DB50 (S611). Further, the GMLC 20 is requested to approve the positioning (S612), and the response is acquired (S613). The position positioning approval response from the GMLC 20 is an opportunity for starting the second stage positioning. When the SLP 40A refers to the SLP-DB 50 and confirms that the approval message for the first stage is written within the timer time, the time management by the timer is terminated (S614).

  In FIG. 12, as in the first embodiment, request source information and reception source information (first reception source information) are included in the location information provision request to the mobile device 60 including the SMS transmission request, and positioning is performed. Even when the result information is transmitted from the mobile device 60, the request source information and the reception source information (first reception source information) are included. Accordingly, when the SLP 40B cannot access the SLP-DB 50 for some reason, the SLP 40A can transfer the positioning result information from the SLP 40B to the SLP 40A with reference to the reception source information as in the first embodiment. Subsequent processing can be executed.

  Next, a process at the time of positioning at the second stage will be described with reference to FIG. In the SLP 40B, a timer for positioning in the second stage is activated (S701), and time management is started (S702). Further, the SLP 40B transmits a GPS positioning result provision request to the mobile device 60 as a response (positioning result response) to the positioning result transmission (S609) (S703). The request for providing the GPS positioning result includes request source information, information specifying the SLP 40B that is the transmission source (second reception source information), and a session ID.

  The mobile device 60 performs GPS positioning based on the GPS positioning result provision request as a positioning result response (S704). Thereafter, the GPS positioning result information is transmitted from the mobile device 60 to the SLP (S705). This GPS positioning result information includes request source information, second reception source information, session ID, and GPS positioning result. At this time, as a result of the connection destination selection by the LB 30, the SLP 40C receives the GPS positioning result information from the mobile device 60.

  Here, when the SLP 40C cannot access the SLP-DB 50 due to a device failure (S600) (S706), what kind of information is the GPS positioning result information transmitted from the mobile device 60 in the SLP 40C? It is not possible to grasp (such as information corresponding to which session). Therefore, in the SLP 40C, a destination to which the GPS positioning result information is transferred is set based on the second reception source information included in the GPS positioning result information from the mobile device 60 (S707). In this embodiment, SLP 40B is set as the destination. Then, the GPS positioning result information is transmitted to the LB 30 by the pair SLP communication unit 48 (S708). This GPS positioning result information includes error information in addition to the request source information, the second receiving source information, the session ID, and the positioning result. This error information is information indicating that a device failure has occurred in the SLP 40C. The LB 30 transfers the GPS positioning result information to the SLP 40B based on the destination set by the SLP 40C (S709).

  When the SLP 40B receives the GPS positioning result information from the SLP 40C via the LB 30, the SLP 40B confirms the session ID with reference to the SLP-DB 50 (S710). If the session ID is valid (information stored in the SLP-DB 50), a response to the GPS positioning result information (GPS positioning result information response) is transmitted to the SLP 40C via the LB 30 ( S711). The GPS positioning result information response includes a session ID. When the session ID is confirmed, the SLP-DB 50 may be updated together (writing that GPS positioning result information has been received from the mobile device).

  Thereafter, a GPS positioning result information response is transmitted from the SLP 40C to the mobile device 60 (S712), and when the mobile device 60 receives the response, the series of processes specified by the session ID in the mobile device 60 ends. Further, the SLP 40B writes the positioning result to the SLP-DB 50 instead of the SLP 40C (S713). As described above, the timing for writing the positioning result is not limited. The SLP 40B refers to the SLP-DB 50 and confirms the writing of the positioning result by the SLP 40A (S714), and then ends the timer.

The SLP 40B notifies the position information to the GMLC 20 that is the request source of the position information (S715). The GMLC 20 transmits a position information notification from the SLP 40A to the LCS client 10 (S716) and transmits a response to the position information notification (S715) to the SLP 40A (S717). Further, the SLP 40B records the error information of the SLP 40C in the SLP-DB 50 (S718). As a result, it is possible to control so that the processing related to the position information by the SLP 40C is not performed thereafter. Note that the timing of writing the error information (S718) is not limited to the timing of the present embodiment, and the error information may be appropriately implemented after the SLP 40B receives (S709).
The SLP 40B receives the position information notification response from the GMLC 20, and the series of processes specified by the session ID is completed.

  As described above, in the position information providing method according to the second embodiment that performs two-step positioning, information from the mobile device 60 may be transmitted to the SLP 40 different from the SLP 40 that has received the first request by the LB 30. . Therefore, when receiving the GPS positioning result information from the mobile device 60, it is configured to communicate with the mobile device 60 with information specifying the SLP (position information control device) processed in the previous stage. For example, when the SLP 40 cannot execute a desired process so that the SLP-DB 50 cannot be accessed like the SLP 40C, it becomes possible to transfer information from the mobile device 60 to the SLP processed in the previous stage. The transferred SLP can perform the processing instead.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the communication system 1 containing the positional information provision system which concerns on this invention can perform a various change.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the three SLPs 40A to SLP40C are included in the communication system 1 has been described. However, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to a position information providing system including at least two SLPs. That is, it is assumed that the first position information control device and the second position information control device in the present invention are different from each other, and that the third position information control device and the fourth position information control device are different from each other. However, it is not necessary for all the position information control devices to be different position information control devices.

  Further, the functions related to the SLP-DB 50 may be all included in one device, or may be configured such that each function is distributed to different devices.

  In the first embodiment described above, the case of performing base station positioning has been described, but it is naturally applicable to a communication system that performs GPS positioning in the case of positioning in only one stage.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... LCS client, 20 ... GMLC, 30 ... LB, 40, 40A-40C ... SLP, 50 ... SLP-DB, 51 ... SMS center, 60 ... Mobile station.

Claims (4)

A position information providing system that acquires position information of a mobile device based on a position information request from an external device and provides a position information request to the external device,
A plurality of position information control devices; and a processing information holding device connected to the plurality of position information control devices to hold information relating to progress of processing related to provision of position information by the plurality of position information control devices; Comprising
The first position information control device among the plurality of position information control devices is:
Position information request receiving means for receiving the position information request from the external device;
A position in which the request source information specifying the external device that has transmitted the position information request and the reception source information specifying the first position information control device that has received the position information request are associated with the position information request. Position information provision requesting means for transmitting an information provision request to the mobile device;
Positioning result information corresponding to the position information provision request including the positioning result by the mobile device that has transmitted the position information provision request, the request source information, and the reception source information is the first position information control device. Transfer information receiving means for receiving from a second position information control device different from
Positioning result transmitting means for transmitting the positioning result included in the positioning result information to the external device specified by the request source information;
With
The second position information control device includes:
Positioning result information receiving means for receiving the positioning result information corresponding to the position information provision request from the mobile device to which the first position information control device has transmitted the position information provision request;
With reference to the processing information holding device, status confirmation means for confirming the progress status of the processing related to the positioning result information received by the positioning result information receiving means,
Transfer that transfers the positioning result information to the first position information control device specified by the reception source information included in the positioning result information when the progress status of the processing cannot be confirmed by the status checking unit Means,
A position information providing system comprising: The transfer means of the second position information control device attaches failure information indicating that the progress status of the processing related to the positioning result information cannot be confirmed by the status confirmation means of the own device to the positioning result information. Transfer to the first position information control device,
The positioning result transmitting unit of the first position information control device stores the failure information in the processing information holding device when the transfer information receiving unit receives the positioning result information and the failure information. The position information providing system according to claim 1. A third position information control device among the plurality of position information control devices is:
GPS positioning information provision requesting means for transmitting a GPS positioning information provision request for requesting the positional information of the mobile device by GPS positioning to the mobile device, including information for specifying the third positional information control device;
GPS positioning result information corresponding to the GPS positioning information provision request, including a GPS positioning result from the mobile device that has transmitted the GPS positioning information provision request, and information specifying the third position information control device, Transfer GPS positioning result information receiving means for receiving from a fourth position information control device different from the third position information control device;
GPS positioning result information transmitting means for transmitting the GPS positioning result included in the GPS positioning result information to the external device specified by the request source information,
The fourth position information control device includes:
GPS positioning result information receiving means for receiving the GPS positioning result information corresponding to the GPS positioning information provision request from the mobile device to which the third position information control device has transmitted the GPS positioning information provision request;
With reference to the processing information holding device, GPS positioning status confirmation means for confirming the progress status of processing related to the GPS positioning result information received by the GPS positioning result information receiving means,
When the progress status of the process cannot be confirmed by the GPS positioning status confirmation means, the third location information control device is based on the information specifying the third location information control device included in the GPS positioning result information. GPS positioning result information transfer means for transferring the GPS positioning result information,
The position information providing system according to claim 1 or 2. A position information providing method by a position information providing system that acquires position information of a mobile device based on a position information request from an external device and provides a position information request to the external device,
The position information providing system is connected to a plurality of position information control devices and the plurality of position information control devices, and holds information related to progress of processing related to the provision of position information by the plurality of position information control devices. A processing information holding device that includes:
In the position information request receiving means of the first position information control device among the plurality of position information control devices, a position information request receiving step of receiving the position information request from the external device;
In the location information provision requesting means of the first location information control device, request source information for specifying the external device that has transmitted the location information request, and the first location information control device that has received the location information request. A location information provision request step for transmitting to the mobile device the location information provision request in which the receiving source information to be identified is associated with the location information request;
In the transfer information receiving means of the first location information control device, the location information provision request includes a positioning result by the mobile device that has transmitted the location information provision request, the request source information, and the reception source information. A transfer information receiving step for receiving positioning result information corresponding to the information from a second position information control device different from the first position information control device;
In the positioning result transmitting means of the first position information control device, a positioning result transmitting step for transmitting the positioning result included in the positioning result information to the external device specified by the request source information;
In the positioning result information receiving means of the second location information control device, the positioning result information corresponding to the location information provision request from the mobile device to which the first location information control device has transmitted the location information provision request. Positioning result information receiving step for receiving,
A status confirmation step of confirming a progress status of the processing related to the positioning result information received by the positioning result information receiving means with reference to the processing information holding device in the status checking means of the second position information control device; ,
In the transfer means of the second position information control device, the first position information specified by the reception source information included in the positioning result information when the progress of the process cannot be confirmed by the situation confirmation means. A transfer step of transferring the positioning result information to the control device;
A location information providing method comprising:

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