Title of Invention: PERSONAL GPS CONTROL SYSTEM, AND POSITION TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING THE

SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a personal GPS control system, and a position tracking system and a method using the same, and more particularly, to a technique of tracking the position of a GPS terminal through a public map application by using a personal computer without using a central control server by causing a server application, installed in the personal computer, to process GPS information, received from the GPS terminal, passing to the pubic map application, and causing the public map application to display a position of the GPS terminal according to the GPS information. Background Art

[2] The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a technique for tracking the position of a

GPS receiver by using GPS satellites and the GPS receiver on the basis of position vectors of the Earth. The GPS was developed for military use and has been in widespread use for various purposes including mobile communications terminals, car navigation systems, and location tracking devices.

[3] A position tracking system according to the related art requires a central control server, which needs to build a large-scale map database in order to provide position tracking services, entailing high costs.

[4] Besides, a user needs to sign up for position tracking services being provided by a central control server in order to gain access to those position tracking services. To this end, however, a complicated sign-up procedure including subscriber authentication takes precedence. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[5] An aspect of the present invention provides a personal GPS control system, and a position tracking system and a method using the same that can track a GPS terminal through a public map application by using a personal computer without using a central control server by causing a server application, installed in the personal computer, GPS information, received from the GPS terminal, passing to the public map application, and causing the public map application to display a position of the GPS terminal according to the GPS information. Solution to Problem

[6] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal GPS control system including: a server application receiving GPS information from a GPS terminal, whose position is tracked, and processing the received GPS information according to a public map application used to display a position of the GPS terminal; and a public map application displaying the position of the GPS terminal according to the processed GPS information being transmitted from the server application.

[7] The server application may include: a GPS information receiving module receiving the GPS information from the GPS terminal; a GPS information processing module receiving the GPS information from the GPS information receiving module and processing the received GPS information according to the public map application; and a map application interface module interoperating with the public map application and transmitting the GPS information, processed by the GPS information processing module, to the public map application.

[8] The server application may further include a DBMS (database management system) processing module receiving the GPS information from the GPS information receiving module, storing the GPS information in a database, and managing the GPS information, stored in the database, and the GPS information processing module may receive the GPS information, stored in the DBMS processing module, and process the GPS information according to the public map application.

[9] The personal GPS control system may further include a communication module receiving the GPS information from the GPS information receiving module or the DBMS processing module and transmitting the GPS information to a mobile terminal.

[10] The server application may control an operation of a GPS receiver, embedded in the

GPS terminal, remotely.

[11] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position tracking system including: a GPS terminal acquiring GPS information thereof by using a GPS receiver embedded therein and transmitting the acquired GPS information to a personal GPS control system; and a personal GPS control system receiving the GPS information from the GPS terminal and displaying a position of the GPS terminal through a public map application.

[12] The personal GPS control system may include: a server application receiving the

GPS information from the GPS terminal, whose position is tracked, and processing the received GPS information according to the public map application used to display the position of the GPS terminal; and the public map application displaying the position of the GPS terminal according to the processed GPS information being transmitted from the server application. [13] The server application may include: a GPS information receiving module receiving the GPS information from the GPS terminal; a GPS information processing module receiving the GPS information from the GPS information receiving module and processing the GPS information according to the public map application; and a map application interface module interoperating with the public map application and transmitting the GPS information, processed by the GPS information processing module, to the public map application.

[14] The server application may further include a DBMS (database management system) processing module receiving the GPS information from the GPS information receiving module, storing the GPS information in a database, and managing the GPS information, stored in the database, and the GPS information processing module may receive the GPS information, stored in the DBMS processing module, and process the GPS information according to the public map application.

[15] The server application further comprise a communication module receiving the GPS information from the GPS information receiving module or the DBMS processing module and transmitting the GPS information to a mobile terminal.

[16] The server application may further include a terminal control module controlling an operation of a GPS receiver, embedded in the GPS terminal, remotely.

[17] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position tracking method using a personal GPS control system including a server application and a public map application to track a position of a GPS terminal, the position tracking method including: transmitting, by the server application, an IP address and a port number to the GPS terminal; transmitting, by the server application, a GPS information report command to the GPS terminal in order to request the GPS terminal transmits the GPS information at each predetermined period or each period, set by a user, when a connection, made by the GPS terminal, is detected; processing, by the server application, the GPS information, received from the GPS terminal, according to the public map application; and displaying, by the public map application, the position of the GPS terminal according to the GPS information processed by the server application.

[18] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position tracking method using a personal GPS control system including a server application and a public map application and a mobile communications terminal connected to the personal GPS control system to track a position of a GPS terminal, the position tracking method including: establishing, by the server application, a connection to the GPS terminal through a mobile communications terminal; processing, by the server application, the GPS information, received from the GPS terminal through the mobile communications terminal, according to the public map application; displaying, by the public map application, the position of the GPS terminal according to the GPS information, processed by the server application; and releasing, by the server application, a connection with the mobile communications terminal.

[19] The position tracking method may further include storing, by the mobile communications terminal, the received GPS information when the mobile communications terminal receives the GPS information from the GPS terminal after the connection between the server application and the mobile communications terminal is released.

[20] The position tracking method may further include transmitting, by the server application, a control command to the GPS terminal through the mobile communications terminal in order to control a GPS receiver embedded in the GPS terminal, when the connection between the mobile communications terminal and the server application is established.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[21] According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, as a position of a GPS terminal can be checked through a public map application by using a personal computer without using a central GPS control server, the central GPS control server and a separate map database are not required. Therefore, costs and efforts required to provide position tracking services can be greatly reduced. [22] Furthermore, a user can readily use position tracking services by using a personal computer having a server application installed therein and a GPS terminal mounted with a GPS receiver with no need to go through a separate, complicated registration process in order to gain access to position tracking services.

Brief Description of Drawings [23] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a position tracking system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [24] FIG. 2 is a detailed view illustrating the configuration of a personal GPS control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [25] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating various kinds of applications displaying GPS information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [26] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a position tracking procedure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [27] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a position tracking procedure according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [28]

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention [29] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like components.

[30] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected with" another element, it can be directly connected with the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected with" another element, there are no intervening elements present. In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising," will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

[31] The term 'module' means a single unit for processing a particular function or operation and may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[32] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a position tracking system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[33] As shown in FIG. 1, a position tracking system according to this embodiment includes a GPS terminal 100 and a personal GPS control system 200. The position tracking system may further include a mobile communications terminal 300 that is connected to the personal GPS control system 200.

[34] The GPS terminal 100, whose position is tracked, includes a GPS receiver and a communication function. For example, the GPS terminal 100 may be realized as a mobile communications terminal embedded with a GPS receiver or a mobile terminal having a GPS receiver and providing a communication function.

[35] The GPS terminal 100 is embedded with a GPS receiver receiving signals transmitted from a satellite 1 to thereby acquire its position (hereinafter, referred to as "GPS information") in the form of position vectors of the Earth.

[36] The GPS terminal 100 periodically transmits the acquired GPS information to the personal GPS control system 200. Specifically, the GPS terminal 100 may transmit the GPS information to the personal GPS control system 200 by using a TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet Protocol) through a mobile communications network and an Internet network. Alternatively, the GPS terminal 100 may transmit the GPS information to the mobile communications terminal 300, connected to the personal GPS control system 200, by using an SMS (Short message service) message through the mobile communications network, and the mobile communications terminal 300 may transmit the GPS information to the personal GPS control system 200. [37] The GPS terminal 100 may set a period in which the GPS information is transmitted, and may turn the GPS receiver embedded therein on or off according to control commands being transmitted from the personal GPS control system 200.

[38] The personal GPS control system 200 receives the GPS information from the GPS terminal 100 and displays the position of the GPS terminal 100 through a public map application to thereby provide position tracking services. The personal GPS control system 200 can be easily realized by installing software for a server application 210 to be described below in a personal computer.

[39] The personal GPS control system 200 includes the server application 210 and a public map application 220. The server application 210 receives the GPS information from the GPS terminal 100, stores the received GPS information, and processes the received or stored GPS information according to the requirements of the public map application. The public map application 220 displays the position of the GPS terminal 100 according to the processed GPS information that is transmitted from the server application 210. The configuration of the personal GPS control system 200 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[40] FIG. 2 is a detailed view illustrating a personal GPS control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[41] As shown in FIG. 2, the personal GPS control system 200 is configured to have the server application 210 and a public map application 220.

[42] The server application 210 includes a GPS information receiving module 211, a

DBMS (database management system) processing module 212, a GPS information processing module 213, and a map application interface module 214.

[43] The GPS information receiving module 211 periodically receives the GPS information from the GPS terminal 100. For example, the GPS information receiving module 211 may receive the GPS information by using a TCP/IP through the mobile communications network and the Internet or receive the GPS information being transmitted using an SMS message from the mobile communications terminal 300 that is connected to the personal GPS control system 200.

[44] The DBMS processing module 212 receives the GPS information of the GPS terminal 100 from the GPS information receiving module 211 and stores the GPS information in a database or reads the GPS information stored in the database as the need arises. As such, the DBMS processing module 212 manages the database storing the GPS information.

[45] The GPS information processing module 213 receives the GPS information from the

GPS information receiving module 211 or the DBMS processing module 212 and processes the GPS information according to the requirements of the public map application 220, which is used to display the position of the GPS terminal 100. [46] The map application interface module 214 interoperates with the public map application 220 so as to transmit the GPS information, processed by the GPS information processing module 213, to the public map application 220, so that the public map application 220 may display the position of the GPS terminal 100 according to the processed GPS information.

[47] The server application 210 may further include a communication module 215 and a terminal control module 216.

[48] The communication module 215 receives the GPS information from the GPS information receiving module 211 or the DBMS processing module 212 and transmits the GPS information to another terminal (not shown), so that the position of the GPS terminal 100 can be checked with another terminal. The system utilization thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIG 3.

[49] The terminal control module 216 is provided to control the operation of the GPS receiver, embedded in the GPS terminal 100, remotely. A user can control the operation of the GPS receiver by transmitting control commands, such as turning the GPS receiver on and off and setting a period in which GPS information is transmitted, through the terminal control module 216, to the GPS terminal 100.

[50] The public map application 220 displays the position of the GPS terminal 100 according to the processed GPS information that is transmitted from the server application 210. As for the public map application 220, a general-purpose public map application, such as Google Earth, Google Map, Naver Map, or Daum Map, which can be downloaded and used by everyone, may be used. Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no need to build a separate map database, and only an interface needs to be provided so as to interoperate with the existing public map application.

[51] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating various kinds of applications that can display GPS information according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[52] As described above in detail with reference to FIG. 2, when the personal GPS control system 200 further includes the communication module 215, the personal GPS control system 200 may transmit the GPS information, which is transmitted from the GPS information receiving module 211 or the DBMS processing module 212, to other terminals 410, 420, and 430 through the communication module 215. Therefore, the position of the GPS terminal 100 can be checked with other terminals 410, 420, and 430.

[53] In this case, each of the terminals 410, 420, and 430 only may include the public map application 220 and the DBMS processing module 212, the GPS information processing module 213, the map application interface module 214, and the communication module 215, included in the server application 210, from the detailed configuration of the personal GPS control system. [54] According to the above-described embodiment of the invention, even when the terminals 410, 420, and 430 do not store an enormous amount of map data, they may receive only the GPS information from the personal GPS control system 200 and display the position of the GPS terminal 100 through the public map application. As a result, it is possible to use position tracking services more readily, reduce the size of each of the terminals 410, 420, and 430, and greatly reduce the amounts of data being transmitted and received between the personal GPS control system 200 and each of the terminals 410, 420, and 430.

[55] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a position tracking procedure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Specifically, in FIG. 4, the transmission of GPS information between the GPS terminal 100 and the personal GPS control system 200 is performed through a TCP/IP.

[56] First, when the personal GPS control system 200 is driven, the server application 210 transmits an IP address and a port number to the GPS terminal 100, whose position is tracked, in order to perform communications using the TCP/IP in operation SlO.

[57] Then, when the GPS terminal 100 is connected to the server application 210 through the TCP/IP in operation S20, the server application 210 transmits to the GPS terminal 100, a GPS information report command requesting that the GPS terminal 100 transmits the GPS information at each predetermined period or each period determined by the user in operation S30.

[58] Correspondingly, the GPS terminal 100 periodically transmits the GPS information to the server application 210 in operation S40.

[59] The server application 210 processes the received GPS information according to the requirements of the public map application 220 and transmits the processed GPS information to the public map application 220 in operation S50, so that the public map application 220 may display the position of the GPS terminal 100 according to the processed GPS information.

[60] Then, when the position tracking services are completed, the server application 210 releases the connection to the GPS terminal 100 in operation S60, and the GPS terminal 100 terminates the transmission of the GPS information.

[61] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a position tracking procedure according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. Specifically, in FIG. 5, the transmission of GPS information between the GPS terminal 100 and the personal GPS control system 200 is performed using an SMS message.

[62] When the personal GPS control system 200 is driven, the server application 210 establishes a communication connection with the mobile communications terminal 300, which is connected to the personal GPS control system 200, in order to establish a connection to the GPS terminal 100 in operation SI lO, and establishes a connection with the GPS terminal 100 through the mobile communications terminal 300 in operation S 120.

[63] Then, the GPS terminal 100 periodically transmits the GPS information to the mobile communications terminal 300 by carrying the GPS information in an SMS message, the mobile communications terminal 300 transmits the received GPS information to the server application 210, and the server application 210 processes the received GPS information according to the requirements of the public map application 220 so as to transmit the processed GPS information to the public map application 220 in operation S 130. As a result, the public map application 220 may display the position of the GPS terminal 100 according to the processed GPS information.

[64] Then, when position tracking services are completed, the server application 210 releases the connection to the mobile communications terminal 300 in operation S 140.

[65] Meanwhile, even when the connection between the server application 210 and the mobile communications terminal 300 is released, the GPS terminal 100 can transmit the GPS information to the mobile communications terminal 300. Here, the mobile communications terminal 300 may first store the received GPS information and transmit the stored GPS information to the server application 210 later when a connection to the server application 210 is established again.

[66] Furthermore, though not shown in FIG. 5, before the connection is released between the mobile communications terminal 300 and the server application 210 connecting to each other, the server application 210 can transmit a control command to the GPS terminal 100 through the mobile communications terminal 300 at any time in order to control the GPS receiver embedded in the GPS terminal 100.

[67] While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.