Method and apparatus for providing GPS data using network

1. A network global positioning system (GPS) terminal comprising:

a GPS receiver receiving GPS data;

a GPS processor processing the received GPS data to a predetermined form;

a network communication part communicating with an external apparatus through a network in order to receive a request for the GPS data from the external apparatus, and transmit the processed GPS data to the external apparatus in response to the request;

a security access controller authenticating the external apparatus; and

a network management part managing connection information and security information of the external apparatus, the network communication part simultaneously communicating with at least one external apparatus using a TCP/IP protocol.

2. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the GPS receiver comprises a GPS antenna receiving a satellite GPS signal.

3. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the GPS receiver comprises a mobile communication antenna receiving a signal of a mobile communication network including GPS data.

4. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the GPS processor processes the GPS data into a form usable by the external apparatus requesting the GPS data.

5. The terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a memory including GPS data, and connection information and security information of an external apparatus.

6. The terminal of claim 5 , wherein the GPS data in the memory comprises information on current time, velocity, longitude, latitude, and a location angle.

7. The terminal of claim 5 , wherein the connection information of the external apparatus in the memory comprises information on an apparatus recognition number, an authentication key, an authentication method, registration time of the authentication key, and a validity term of the authentication key.

8. The terminal of claim 5 , wherein the security information of the external apparatus in the memory comprises information on an apparatus recognition number, a machine address code (MAC), an authentication method, and a registration time.

9. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the security access controller restricts or allows access of the external apparatus.

10. A method of providing GPS data using a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving GPS data;

(b) processing the received GPS data into a predetermined form;

(c) coupling with an external apparatus through a network;

(d) receiving a request for the GPS data from the external apparatus coupled through the network;

(e) authenticating the external apparatus; and

(f) transmitting the processed GPS data to the authenticated external apparatus through the network, communication with the external apparatus being performed using a TCP/IP protocol.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein step (a) comprises the steps of:

initializing a GPS receiver;

periodically confirming whether the initialized GPS receiver receives a signal including GPS data;

extracting GPS data from the signal including the GPS data; and

storing the extracted GPS data in a memory,

wherein when the extracted GPS data is unnecessary, the received data is discarded.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein step (b) comprises the step of converting the received GPS data into a packet form usable by a TCP/IP protocol.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of storing the connection information of the external apparatus coupled through the network in an external apparatus connection information database.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein step (e) comprises the steps of:

confirming whether an authentication key of the external apparatus exists in a memory or not;

confirming whether a response key corresponding to the authentication key of the memory is received from the external apparatus or not; and

confirming whether a validity term of the authentication key is expired or not.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for changing management information from the authenticated external apparatus; and

analyzing the change request to thereby change at least one of external apparatus information, an external apparatus connection management program, and an external apparatus connection setup.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for changing connection information from the authenticated external apparatus; and

analyzing the change request to thereby change at least one of external apparatus security information, an external apparatus connection status, and external apparatus connection information.

17. A global positioning system (GPS) terminal comprising:

a GPS means for receiving GPS data and processing the received GPS data to a predetermined form;

a network communication means for communicating with an external apparatus through a network in order to receive a request for the GPS data from the external apparatus, and transmit the processed GPS data to the external apparatus in response to the request;

a security access means for authenticating the external apparatus; and

a network management means for managing connection information and security information of the external apparatus, the network communication means communicating with at the external apparatus using a TCP/IP protocol.

18. The GPS terminal of claim 17 , further comprising a memory means for storing GPS data, and connection information and security information of the external apparatus.

19. The GPS terminal of claim 18 , wherein the connection information of the external apparatus in the memory means comprises information on an apparatus recognition number, an authentication key, an authentication method, registration time of the authentication key, and a validity term of the authentication key.

20. The GPS terminal of claim 18 , wherein the security information of the external apparatus in the memory means comprises information on an apparatus recognition number, a machine address code (MAC), an authentication method, and a registration time.