Granted Patent B2

US 7,006,037 · App. 10/750,000 · Granted Feb 28, 2006

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A method for providing location information in a Global Positioning System (GPS) server, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving coordinates of current location of a mobile communication terminal having a GPS receiver and a request for location information, where the location information includes coordinates of geographical features adjacent to the mobile communication terminal from the mobile communication terminal;

b) setting up the received coordinates of current location of the mobile communication terminal as an origin;

c) generating location information having coordinates of the geographical features adjacent to the mobile communication terminal by calculating difference values between the origin and the coordinates of geographical features; and

d) transmitting the location information and map information to the mobile communication terminal, wherein the map information transmitted to the mobile communication terminal is gradationally changed in response to a user's request.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the geographical features include roads and buildings.

3. A method for providing location information in a Global Positioning System (GPS) server, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving coordinates of current location of a mobile communication terminal having a GPS receiver from the mobile communication terminal;

b) setting up the received coordinates of current location of the mobile communication terminal as an origin;

c) generating basic location information, where the basic location information includes coordinates of main geographical features adjacent to a mobile communication terminal in response to a request for basic location information from the mobile communication terminal by calculating difference values between the origin and the coordinates of geographical features;

d) transmitting the basic location information to the mobile communication terminal;

e) generating additional location information, where the additional location information includes coordinates of detailed geographical features adjacent to the mobile communication terminal in response to a request for additional location information from the mobile communication terminal by calculating difference values between the origin and the coordinates of detailed geographical features; and

f) transmitting the additional location information and map information to the mobile communication terminal, wherein the map information transmitted to the mobile communication terminal is gradationally changed in response to a user's request.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the main geographical features include location of main buildings, figure of main buildings, location of main roads and figure of main roads.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the detailed geographical features include location of buildings, figure of buildings, location of roads and figure of roads.

6. A method for providing location information in a Global Positioning System (GPS) terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) requesting location information, where the location information includes coordinates of geographical features adjacent to a mobile communication terminal having a GPS receiver by transmitting coordinates of current location to a GPS server;

b) receiving difference values between the coordinates of current location of the mobile communication terminal and the coordinates of the geographical features adjacent to the mobile communication terminal as the location information; and

c) generating graphical location information based on the location information and map information, wherein the map information transmitted to the mobile communication terminal is gradationally changed in response to a user's request.

7. A method for providing location information in a Global Positioning System (GPS) terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) requesting basic location information, where the basic location information includes coordinates of main geographical features adjacent to a mobile communication terminal having a GPS receiver and transmitting coordinates of current location to a GPS server;

b) receiving difference values between the coordinates of current location of the GPS terminal and the coordinates of main geographical features adjacent to the mobile communication terminal as the basic location information from the GPS server;

c) outputting graphical basic location information on a display unit;

d) requesting additional location information, where the additional location information includes coordinates of detailed geographical features adjacent to the mobile communication terminal;

e) receiving map information, difference values between the coordinates of current location of the mobile communication terminal and the coordinates of detailed geographical features adjacent to the mobile communication terminal as the additional location information from the GPS server, wherein the map information transmitted to the mobile communication terminal is gradationally changed in response to a user's request; and

f) outputting the additional location information to the display unit.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the main geographical features include location of main roads, figure of main roads, location of main buildings and figure of main buildings.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the detailed geographical feature include location of roads, figure of road, location of buildings and figure of buildings.

10. A mobile communication system for providing location information, comprising:

a GPS server for receiving the coordinates of current location of a mobile terminal having a GPS receiver, generating location information, where the location information includes coordinates of geographical features adjacent to the mobile terminal through retrieval of map data base by setting up the received coordinates of current location of the mobile terminal as an origin and calculating difference values between the origin and the coordinates of geographical features, and transmitting the location information and map information to the mobile terminal, wherein the map information transmitted to the mobile terminal is gradationally changed in response to a user's request; and

at least one mobile terminal for transmitting coordinates of its current location, requesting the location information from the GPS server, receiving difference values between the coordinates of current location of the mobile terminal and the coordinates of geographical features adjacent to the mobile terminal as the location information from the GPS server, generating graphical location information based on the location information, and displaying the graphical location information.

11. The mobile communication system recited in claim 10 , wherein the geographical features include roads and buildings.

12. A GPS server for providing location information, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a location information request message and coordinates of a current location of a mobile terminal having a GPS receiver from a mobile terminal;

a map database for storing map information;

a transmitter for transmitting map information and location information of geographical features adjacent to the mobile terminal, wherein the map information transmitted to the mobile terminal is gradationally changed in response to a user's request; and

a processor for setting up the received coordinates of current location of the mobile terminal as an origin, generating the location information by calculating difference values between the origin and the coordinates of geographical features stored in the map database.

13. The GPS terminal recited claim 12 , wherein the geographical features include roads and buildings.

14. A GPS terminal for providing location information, comprising:

a GPS server for receiving a GPS signal from GPS satellites;

a GPS processor for calculating coordinates of the current location of a mobile terminal using the GPS signal;

a transmitter for transmitting a location information request message, map information and coordinates of the current location of the mobile terminal, wherein the map information transmitted to the mobile terminal is gradationally changed in response to a user's request;

a receiver for receiving the map information, difference values between the coordinates of current location of the mobile terminal and the coordinates of the geographical features adjacent to the mobile terminal as location information; and

a location information processor for generating graphical location information based on the received difference values and displaying the graphical location information.

15. The GPS terminal recited in claim 14 , wherein the geographical features include roads and buildings.

Assignments (9)