Patent Application
20130219437
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application Serial No. 10-2012-0016493 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 17, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a multimedia service system that can be used to determine one's location within a structure such as a building or shopping mall, and a method for operating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The trend in most metropolitan areas is to increase the height of buildings as vertical expansion. However, since information about the buildings is provided only through signposts, users have difficulty in finding their location or other locations within the buildings. For example, in most cases, users waste time trying to find out where a certain store is located in a building.
Due to the development of the electronic communication industry, portable terminals, such as mobile phones (cellular phones), electronic organizers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc., are becoming necessities of modern society. Such devices are quickly becoming an important means for information transmission, and the type of transmission and different types of information being transmitted is rapidly changing. However, information locations with buildings are not provided through the portable terminals. Therefore, there is a need for a system that provides information about locations in buildings through portable terminals in order to increase the convenience of users.
An exemplary object of the present invention is to substantially solve at least some of the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages below. Accordingly, an exemplary object of the present invention is to provide a multimedia service system for providing information about a building and its locations therein through a portable terminal, and a method for operating the same.
Another exemplary object of the present invention is to provide a system for providing a floor-by-floor multimedia service for a building to a portable terminal, and a method for operating the same.
Another exemplary object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal for acquiring from a server floor information of a building, calculating an altitude of the portable terminal, detecting/determining a floor corresponding to the calculated altitude from the floor information, receiving a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server, and outputting the same.
Another exemplary object of the present invention is to provide a server for that outputs altitude-by-altitude floor information of a building and a floor-by-floor multimedia service to the portable terminal.
According to still another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a multimedia service system preferably includes: a portable terminal for acquiring, when located at a building, floor information of the building from a server, calculating an altitude of the portable terminal, detecting from the floor information a floor corresponding to the calculated altitude, receiving from the server a multimedia service for the detected floor, and outputting the received multimedia service; and when the server provides altitude-by-altitude floor information of the building and a floor-by-floor multimedia service to the portable terminal.
According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a multimedia service system preferably includes: a server for providing altitude-by-altitude floor information of a building and a floor-by-floor multimedia service; a portable terminal that acquires floor information of the building from a server when participating in an open network of a server included in the building, calculates an altitude, detects a floor corresponding to the calculated altitude from the floor information, receives a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server, and outputting the received multimedia service.
According to still another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a multimedia service system preferably includes: detecting, by a portable terminal, a location at a building and requesting floor information of the building from a server; transmitting, by the server, the requested floor information of the building to the portable terminal; receiving, by the portable terminal, the floor information of the building from the server, and storing the received floor information, measuring an altitude of the portable terminal, detecting a floor corresponding to the measured altitude from the floor information and requesting a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server, and transmitting, by the server, the multimedia service for the floor to the portable terminal; and receiving, by the portable terminal, the multimedia service for the floor from the server and outputting the received multimedia service.
According to even another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a multimedia service system preferably includes: participating, by a portable terminal, in an open network of a server included in a building and requesting floor information of the building from the server; transmitting, by the server, the floor information of the building to the portable terminal; receiving, by the portable terminal, the floor information of the building from the server, storing the received floor information, the portable measuring its altitude, detecting a floor corresponding to the measured altitude of the portable terminal from the floor information and requesting a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server, and transmitting, by the server, the multimedia service for the floor to the portable terminal; and receiving, by the portable terminal, the multimedia service for the floor from the server and outputting the received multimedia service.
According to even another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for operating in a portable terminal preferably comprises detecting, by a portable terminal, a location at a building and requesting floor information of the building from a server, receiving, by the portable terminal, the floor information of the building from the server, storing the received floor information, the portable terminal measuring its altitude, detecting a floor corresponding to the measured altitude from the floor information and requesting a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server; and receiving, by the portable terminal, the multimedia service for the floor from the server and outputting the received multimedia service.
According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a portable terminal preferably comprises participating, by a portable terminal, in an open network of a server included in a building and requesting from the server a floor information of the building, receiving, by the portable terminal from the server, the requested floor information of the building, storing the floor information, the portable terminal measuring a present altitude, detecting a floor corresponding to the measured altitude from the floor information and requesting from the server a multimedia service for the detected floor, and receiving, by the portable terminal, the multimedia service for the floor from the server and outputting the received multimedia service.
According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, an electronic device comprises one or more control units, a storage unit with non-transitory storage, and one or more programs stored in the storage unit and configuring the one or more control units to cause, when executed by the one or more control units, the electronic device to perform, detecting a location at a building and requesting floor information of the building from a server, receiving the requested floor information of the building from the server, storing the floor information received from the server, measuring an altitude of the electronic device and detecting a floor corresponding to the measured altitude from the floor information and requesting a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server, and receiving the multimedia service for the floor from the server and outputting the received multimedia service.
According to still another exemplary aspect of the present invention, an electronic device comprises one or more control units, a storage unit having non-transitory storage, one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the storage unit and configure the one or more control units, of the electronic device to perform, participating in an open network of a server included in a building and requesting floor information of the building from the server; receiving the floor information of the building from the server, storing the received floor information, measuring an altitude, detecting a floor corresponding to the measured altitude from the floor information and requesting a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server, and receiving the multimedia service for the floor from the server and outputting the received multimedia service.
The above and other exemplary objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations may be omitted when they include unnecessarily obscure appreciation of the subject matter of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Also, the terms used herein are defined according to the functions of the present invention. Thus, the terms may vary depending on users' or operators' intentions or practices. Therefore, the terms used herein should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the descriptions made herein, and not by mere dictionary meaning.
As used in the specification, “multimedia service” is understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to refer to a communication service that provides an exchange of information. The exchange of information may include characters, numerical data, images, moving images, and voices, and may be performed in, for example, building structures, facilities, maps, and store-by-store sales events. In general, such a multimedia service may also be referred to as an “indoor service”. The present invention provides a multimedia service system for providing via portable terminal information about a building, and a method for operating the same. A multimedia service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a floor-by-floor multimedia service for a building through a portable terminal. In particular, a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention acquires from a server the floor information of a building, calculates an altitude of a present location of the portable terminal, detects a floor corresponding to the calculated altitude based on the floor information, receives a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server, and outputs the same. A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the server provides to the portable terminal an altitude-by-altitude floor information of a building and a floor-by-floor multimedia service.
Referring now to
The multimedia service may refer to a communication service providing exchange of information including characters, numerical data, images, moving images, and voices, and may be, for example, building structures, facilities, maps, and store-by-store sales events. In general, such a multimedia service may also be referred to as an indoor service. When the portable terminal outputs the multimedia service received from the server 300, the portable terminal displays images of the multimedia service, and/or outputs sounds of the multimedia service.
In particular, in the case where the portable terminal 100 includes an altimeter and provides measurement of an accurate altitude, the portable terminal 100 may accordingly detect an accurate floor from the floor information acquired from the server 200. The server 200 may periodically update and store altitude-by-altitude floor information of respective buildings 201 and 203 and a floor-by-floor multimedia service, as this information is subject to change.
The portable terminal 100 and the server 200 are communication-connected through any one of cellular communication and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) communication protocols.
The multimedia service according to an embodiment of the present invention, may refer to a communication service providing exchange of information including characters, numerical data, images, moving images, and voices, and may be, for example, building structures, facilities, maps, and store-by-store sales events. In general, such a multimedia service may also be referred to as an indoor service.
Referring now to
In addition, when the portable terminal 100 is located within a communication radius 204 of the second server, that is, when the portable terminal 100 is located at the second building 203, the portable terminal 100 may participate in the second open network and receive floor information of the second building 203 and a floor-by-floor multimedia service of the second building. Although the term “communication radius 204” is being used, an artisan understands and appreciates that a range of communication is not necessarily circular range.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The portable terminal 100 may preferably include a communication interface unit 101, an input unit 103, a display unit 105, an altitude measuring unit 107, a global positioning system (GPS) receiving unit 109, a camera unit 111, a video codec unit 113, an audio codec unit 115, a speaker 117, a microphone 119, a storage unit 121, and a control unit 123. The altitude measuring unit 107 may be incorporated in the control unit 123. Also, The altitude measuring unit 107 may be referred to as another control unit.
The communication interface unit 101 (see
The input unit 103 may receive a user input and provide to the control unit 123 an input signal corresponding to the user input to the control unit 123. The display unit 105 may output images under the control of the control unit 123. The control unit may comprise hardware such as a processor or microprocessor that is configured with, for example, machine executable code. The display unit 105 may output video data demodulated through the video codec unit 113. The altitude measuring unit 107 may preferably include an altimeter, calculates an altitude, and notifies the control unit 123 of the calculated altitude. The GPS receiving unit 109 may detect a position on the earth's surface using a GPS satellite, and notify the control unit 123 of the detected position.
With continued reference to
The video codec unit 113 may modulate video data received from the camera unit 111, and provide the result to the control unit 123. Also, the video codec unit 113 may demodulate video data received from the control unit 123, and provide the result to the display unit 105. The display unit 105 may constitute a touch screen.
The audio codec unit 115 is configured to modulate audio data received from the microphone 119, and provide the result to the control unit 123. Also, the audio codec unit 115 may demodulate audio data received from the control unit 123, and provide the result to the speaker 117. Audio data could also be received by the communication interface unit.
The storage unit 121, which preferably comprises a non-transitory machine readable medium, stores machine executable code for controlling an overall operation of the portable terminal 100. Various data are input/output when a control operation of the portable terminal 100 is performed. In particular, the storage unit 121 may store floor information of a building and an altitude-by-altitude multimedia service for the building received from the server 200.
The control unit 123, which is preferably comprised of a processor or microprocessor, performs processes and controls for video communication, voice communication, and data communication. In particular, the control unit 123 requests floor information of a building detected from the GPS receiving unit 109 from the server 200, detects a floor corresponding to an altitude measured by the altitude measuring unit 107 from the floor information, and request a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server 200. The control unit 123 is configured to control the storage of floor information of a building received from the server 200, for example, by storing same in storage unit 212, and controls and output a multimedia service received from the server 200 to the display unit 105 and the speaker 117.
With continued reference to
The communication interface unit 201 may have a hardware/software configuration that enables communication with the portable terminal 100.
The floor information providing unit 203 may store altitude-by-altitude floor information of each building in a respective area, and provide the same to the portable terminal 100. Alternatively, the server could receive this information from an additional or alternative source, for example, an online database that is retrieved by the server for a certain location and provided to the portable terminal.
The multimedia service providing unit 205 may store a floor-by-floor multimedia service for each building, and provide the same to the portable terminal 100.
As described with reference to
Referring now to
At step (303), the portable terminal 100 requests floor information of the building from the server 200, and at step (305) the server 200 transmits the requested floor information of the building to the portable terminal 100.
At step (307) The portable terminal 100 receives the floor information of the building from the server 200 and stores the same.
At step (309), the portable terminal 100 calculates an altitude and detects a floor where it is determined that the portable terminal 100 itself is located, that corresponds to the calculated altitude from the floor information.
At step (311), the portable terminal 100 requests a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server 200, and at step (313) the server 200 transmits the multimedia service to the portable terminal 100.
At step (315), the portable terminal 100 receives the multimedia service from the server 200 and outputs the same.
Referring now to
At step (403), the portable terminal 100 requests floor information of the building from the server 300 utilizing the open network, and at step (405) the server 300 transmits the floor information of the building to the portable terminal 100.
At step (407), the portable terminal 100 receives the floor information of the building from the server 300 and stores the same.
At step (409), the portable terminal 100 calculates an altitude and detects a floor corresponding to the calculated altitude from the floor.
At step (411), the portable terminal 100 requests a multimedia service for the detected floor from the server 300, and at step (413) the server 300 transmits the multimedia service to the portable terminal 100.
At step (415), the portable terminal 100 receives the multimedia service from the server 300 and outputs the same.
The multimedia service may refer to a communication service providing exchange of information including characters, numerical data, images, moving images, and voices, and may be, for example, building structures, facilities, maps, and store-by-store sales events. In general, such a multimedia service may also be referred to as an indoor service. When the portable terminal outputs the multimedia service received from the server 300, the portable terminal displays images of the multimedia service, and/or outputs sounds of the multimedia service.
Consequently, the multimedia service system and the method for operating the multimedia service system according to the present invention provides information about buildings to users, thus improving the convenience of the users.
It will be appreciated that exemplary embodiments of the present invention according to the claims and description in the specification can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software, all of which are statutory subject matter on which the claims are based.
Any such software is stored as machine executable code in a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium stores one or more programs (software modules), the one or more programs comprising instructions, which are loaded into and executed by one or more processors in an electronic device, causing the electronic device to perform a method of the present invention.
The above-described methods according to the present invention can be implemented in hardware, firmware or as software or computer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM, an RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk or computer code downloaded over a network originally stored on a remote recording medium or a non-transitory machine readable medium and to be stored on a local recording medium, so that the methods described herein can be loaded into hardware such as a general purpose computer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the computer, the processor, microprocessor controller or the programmable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardware implement the processing methods described herein. In addition, it would be recognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code for implementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the code transforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computer for executing the processing shown herein. In addition, an artisan understands and appreciates that a “processor” or “microprocessor” constitute hardware that may be loaded with executable code in the claimed invention.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope of the claimed invention will be construed as being included in the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2012-0016493 | Feb 2012 | KR | national |
