Network-connected device management system

Claim 2

A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected, said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a radio base station, said method comprising: a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations located at different places and transmits the amplitude of received signal to said managing apparatus; and a step in which said managing apparatus computes a position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and positions of said radio base stations and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

Claim 3

The network managing method of claim 1 wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives and transmits signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores said position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly.

Claim 4

A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected, said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a communication satellite, said method comprising: a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from at least four different communication satellites and transmits the data to said managing apparatus; and a step in which said managing apparatus computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database, wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 5

A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected, said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a communication satellite, said method comprising: a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from at least four different communication satellites and transmits the data to said managing apparatus; and a step in which said managing apparatus computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database, wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 6

A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected, said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a mobile station, said mobile station having a communication unit for receiving signals transmitted by a radio base station, said method comprising: a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said mobile station is brought close to said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said mobile station receives signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations located at different places and transmits the amplitude of the signals to said network-connected apparatus using said communicating unit; a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives the amplitudes from said mobile station and transmits them to said managing apparatus; a step in which said managing apparatus computes position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and positions of said radio base stations and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

Claim 7

A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected, said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a mobile station, said mobile station having a communication unit for receiving signals transmitted by a radio base station, said method comprising: a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said mobile station is brought close to said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said mobile station receives signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations located at different places and transmits the amplitude of the signals to said network-connected apparatus using said communicating unit; a step in which said network-connected apparatus receives the amplitudes from said mobile station and transmits them to said managing apparatus; a step in which said managing apparatus computes position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and positions of said radio base stations and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

Claim 8

The network managing method of claim 4 wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives and transmits the amplitudes from said mobile station and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly.

Claim 9

A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected, said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a portable terminal, said portable terminal having a communication unit for receiving signals transmitted by a communication satellite, said method comprising: a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said portable terminal receives signals transmitted from at least four different communication satellites and transmits the data to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit; a step in which the network-connected apparatus receives the data from said portable terminal and transmits it to said managing apparatus; and a step in which said managing apparatus computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database, wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives data and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 10

A network managing method for management of a network to which at least one network-connected apparatus and a managing apparatus are connected, said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from a portable terminal, said portable terminal having a communication unit for receiving signals transmitted by a communication satellite, said method comprising: a step in which said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus; a step in which said portable terminal receives signals transmitted from at least four different communication satellites and transmits the data to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit; a step in which the network-connected apparatus receives the data from said portable terminal and transmits it to said managing apparatus; and a step in which said managing apparatus computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database, wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives data and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 11

A network management facility comprising: at least three radio base stations located at different positions and each transmitting a particular data; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said radio base stations; and wherein said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from said radio base stations and transmits the amplitude of the signals to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and position of said radio base stations, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

Claim 12

A network management facility comprising: at least three radio base stations located at different positions and each transmitting a particular data; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said radio base stations; and wherein said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from said radio base stations and transmits the amplitude of the signals to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and position of said radio base stations, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database.

Claim 13

A network management facility as claimed in claim 7 wherein said network-connected apparatus repeatedly receives and transmits said signals transmitted from said radio base stations and said managing apparatus repeatedly computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus.

Claim 14

A network management facility comprising: at least four communication satellites each transmitting a particular data; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said communication satellites; and wherein said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from said communication satellites and transmits the data to said managing apparatus; and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said databases, wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 15

A network management facility comprising: at least four communication satellites each transmitting a particular data; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said communication satellites; and wherein said network-connected apparatus receives signals transmitted from said communication satellites and transmits the data to said managing apparatus; and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said databases, wherein said step in which said network-connected apparatus receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 16

A network managing facility comprising: at least three radio base stations located at different positions and each transmitting a particular data; a mobile station having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said radio base stations; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus capable of transacting a data between the mobile station using a communication unit; and wherein said mobile station receives signals transmitted from said radio base stations when said mobile station is brought closer to said network-connected apparatus and transmits the amplitude of received signals to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit; said network-connected apparatus receives the amplitudes from said mobile station and transmit them to said managing apparatus; and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and position of said radio base stations, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said data base.

Claim 17

A network managing facility comprising: at least three radio base stations located at different positions and each transmitting a particular data; a mobile station having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said radio base stations; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus capable of transacting a data between the mobile station using a communication unit; and wherein said mobile station receives signals transmitted from said radio base stations when said mobile station is brought closer to said network-connected apparatus and transmits the amplitude of received signals to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit; said network-connected apparatus receives the amplitudes from said mobile station and transmit them to said managing apparatus; and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus, computes the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes received from said network-connected apparatus and position of said radio base stations, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said data base.

Claim 18

A network managing facility as claimed in claim 10 wherein said network-connected apparatus repeatedly receives and transmits the amplitudes from said mobile station and said managing apparatus repeatedly computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus.

Claim 19

A network management facility comprising: at least four communication satellites each transmitting a particular data; a portable terminal having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said communication satellites; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus capable transacting data between said portable terminal using a communication unit; and wherein said portable terminal receives signals from said communication satellites when said mobile terminal is brought close to the network-connected apparatus and transmits the data to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit; said network-connected apparatus transmits the data received from the portable terminal to said managing apparatus; and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus and computes the positions of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database, wherein said step in which said portable terminal receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 20

A network management facility comprising: at least four communication satellites each transmitting a particular data; a portable terminal having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said communication satellites; at least one network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via the network; said network-connected apparatus capable transacting data between said portable terminal using a communication unit; and wherein said portable terminal receives signals from said communication satellites when said mobile terminal is brought close to the network-connected apparatus and transmits the data to said network-connected apparatus using said communication unit; said network-connected apparatus transmits the data received from the portable terminal to said managing apparatus; and said managing apparatus constructs a database for said network-connected apparatus and computes the positions of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said network-connected apparatus, and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus in said database, wherein said step in which said portable terminal receives signals and said step in which said managing apparatus computes and stores the position of said network-connected apparatus is executed repeatedly so that said database is updated continuously.

Claim 21

A network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a network, comprising: a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations, said base stations located at different places and each transmitting a particular data; wherein the amplitude of signals received by said receiver is transmitted to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus determines the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes and position of said radio base stations.

Claim 22

A network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a network, comprising: a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from at least three radio base stations, said base stations located at different places and each transmitting a particular data; wherein the amplitude of signals received by said receiver is transmitted to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus determines the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the amplitudes and position of said radio base stations.

Claim 23

A network-connected apparatus as claimed in claim 13 said receiver repeatedly receives said signals transmitted from the radio base stations said amplitude of signals received by said receiver is repeatedly transmitted to said managing apparatus.

Claim 24

A network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a network, comprising: a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from at least four communication satellites, each of said communication satellite transmits a particular data; wherein the data of the signals received by said receiver is transmitted to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus determines the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said receiver, and wherein further said position is determined repeatedly.

Claim 25

A network-connected apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a network, comprising: a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from at least four communication satellites, each of said communication satellite transmits a particular data; wherein the data of the signals received by said receiver is transmitted to said managing apparatus, and said managing apparatus determines the position of said network-connected apparatus based on the data received from said receiver, and wherein further said position is determined repeatedly.