Method and apparatus for generating, managing, and sharing moving path

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for generating, managing, and sharing moving-path related information. A first mobile communication device, among the plurality of mobile communication devices, generates moving-path related information regarding a moving path generated by movement of the first mobile communication device. The moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device is transmitted to a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected. The moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device transmitted to the central server is provided to at least one other mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices connected to the central server.

1 . A method of generating moving-path related information to be shared among a plurality of mobile communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating, by a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices, moving-path related information regarding a moving path generated by movement of the first mobile communication device; and   transmitting the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device to a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected,   wherein the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device transmitted to the central server is provided to at least one other mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices connected to the central server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving-path related information comprises at least one of waypoint information, route information, and additional information, which are related to the moving path. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the waypoint information related to the moving path indicates at least one arbitrary geographical point selected from the moving path. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the route information related to the moving path is defined by at least one of geographical coordinates of consecutive points in a particular interval of the moving path, a time related to the particular interval, and the particular interval. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the additional information related to the moving path comprises at least one of text data, voice data, and video data having at least one of an administrative address, a common name, a neighboring principal place in regard to the moving path of the first mobile communication device, an image captured by a camera device of the first mobile communication device, a reference point of a public transport related to the moving path of the first mobile communication device, a coverage of a relay station of the plurality of mobile communication devices, position description, and information about traffic conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the additional information related to the moving path is updated by input of a user of the first mobile communication device or data shared through the web. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 updating, by the first mobile communication device, the additional information related to the moving path at a point in time when a second mobile communication device connected to the central server receives the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device; and   transmitting, by the first mobile communication device, the updated additional information to the central server,   wherein the updated additional information is transmitted to the second mobile communication device via the central server.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device is provided to the at least one other mobile communication device at a request of the at least one other mobile communication device connected to the central server. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first mobile communication device, the moving-path related information directly to the at least one other mobile communication device connected to the central server.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mobile communication devices are authenticated with respect to and registered in the central server. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing the generated moving-path related information in a database; and   registering the moving path of the generated moving-path related information in a moving-path history.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein registering in the moving-path history comprises, if the first mobile communication device generates first moving-path related information regarding a first moving path, determining whether a second moving path included in a similar range to a first moving path of the first moving-path related information has been registered among existing moving paths registered in the moving-path history. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein registering in the moving-path history further comprises:
 if the second moving path has not been registered as a result of the determination, newly registering the first moving path in the moving-path history; and   generating statistical data regarding the first moving path.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 if the second moving path has been registered as a result of the determination, updating accumulated data of statistical data of the second moving path based on the first moving path; and   updating and determining statistical values based on the accumulated data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 comparing the first moving path with the second moving path in real time to determine whether the first moving path runs along the second moving path.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 if the first moving path does not deviate from the second moving path as a result of the real-time comparison and determination, updating statistical data of the second moving path based on currently updated data of the first moving path.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 if the first moving path deviates from the second moving path as a result of the real-time comparison and determination, performing a moving-path deviation indicating operation indicating moving-path deviation of the first mobile communication device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the real-time comparison and determination comprises comparing waypoint information and route information of second moving-path related information of the second moving path with at least one of waypoint information and route information of the first moving-path related information of the first moving path. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the real-time comparison and determination comprises determining whether at least one of a path, coordinates, and speed corresponding to at least one of the waypoint information and the route information of the first moving-path related information of the first moving path deviates from normal distributions of the waypoint information and the route information of the second moving-path related information of the second moving path. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein performing the moving-path deviation indicating operation comprises updating the accumulated data of the statistical data of the second moving path based on the first moving path, if the first moving path is changed with normal moving-path related information by input of the user of the first mobile communication device. 
     
     
         21 . A method of sharing a moving path among a plurality of mobile communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, by a second mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices, moving-path related information regarding a moving path generated by movement of a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices from a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected; and   performing, by the second mobile communication device, moving-path guidance based on the received moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the moving-path related information comprises at least one of waypoint information, route information, and additional information, which are related to the moving path. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving the moving-path related information comprises:
 requesting, by the second mobile communication device, the central server to provide the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device; and   receiving, by the second mobile communication device, the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device in real time through the central server.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving the moving-path related information comprises:
 requesting, by the second mobile communication device, the first mobile communication device to provide the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device; and   receiving, by the second mobile communication device, the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device in real time from the first mobile communication device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein performing moving-path guidance comprises performing a moving-path deviation indicating operation if a moving path of the second mobile communication device deviates from the received moving path of the first mobile communication device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein performing moving-path guidance comprises suggesting, by the second mobile communication device, at least one of a shortest-distance path, a way to move by public transportation, a shortest-time path based on traffic conditions, and a principal local place, based on additional information of the received moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein performing moving-path guidance comprises suggesting, by the second mobile communication device, at least one of a shortest-distance path, a way to move by public transportation, a shortest-time path based on traffic conditions, and a principal local place, based on additional information of moving-path related information of the plurality of mobile communication devices connected to the central server. 
     
     
         28 . A method of managing moving paths of a plurality of mobile communication devices by a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving geographical information regarding a moving path from a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices;   generating moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device, which comprises the received geographical information and additional information related to a moving path of the first mobile communication device; and   transmitting the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device to a second mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 authenticating the plurality of mobile communication devices and registering the plurality of mobile communication devices as mobile communication devices capable of sharing moving-path related information.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the geographical information comprises waypoint information and route information which are related to the moving path, and wherein the moving-path related information comprises the waypoint information, the route information, and additional information which are related to the moving path. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein generating the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device comprises receiving the additional information related to the moving path of the first mobile communication device from the first mobile communication device and generating the moving-path related information comprising the received waypoint information, route information, and additional information. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein generating the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device comprises:
 receiving a request for generating the additional information related to the moving path of the first mobile communication device from the first mobile communication device;   based on the waypoint information and the route information, generating the additional information comprising at least one of text data, voice data, and video data which have at least one of an administrative address, a common name, a neighboring principal place in regard to the moving path of the first mobile communication device, an image captured by a camera device of the first mobile communication device, a reference point of a public transport related to the moving path of the first mobile communication device, a coverage of a relay station of the plurality of mobile communication devices, position description, and information about traffic conditions; and   generating the moving-path related information comprising the generated additional information and the waypoint information and the route information.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein generating the additional information comprises:
 searching for reference point information of the public transport, relay station coverage information of the plurality of mobile communication devices, the position description, the traffic conditions, the text data, the voice data, the image data, and the video data through the web,   wherein the additional information further comprises tag information regarding found information.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein transmitting the moving-path related information comprises:
 receiving a request for providing the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device from the second mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices; and   transmitting the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device generated by the central server to the second mobile communication device on a real time basis.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 storing the generated moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device in a database for each mobile communication device.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 registering the moving path of the generated moving-path related information in a moving-path history.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein registering the moving path comprises:
 when first moving-path related information regarding a first moving path is received from a third mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices,   determining whether a second moving path included in a similar range to the first moving path of the first moving-path related information has been registered among existing moving paths registered in the moving-path history.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein registering the moving path comprises:
 when the second moving path has not been registered in the moving-path history as a result of the determination, newly registering the first moving path in the moving-path history; and   generating statistical data of the first moving path.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 when the second moving path has been registered in the moving-path history as a result of the determination, updating accumulated data of statistical data of the second moving path based on the first moving path; and   updating and determining statistical values based on the accumulated data.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 comparing the first moving path with the second moving path in real time to determine whether the first moving path runs along the second moving path.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 if the first moving path does not deviate from the second moving path as a result of the real-time comparison and determination, updating statistical data of the second moving path based on currently updated data of the first moving path.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 if the first moving path deviates from the second moving path as a result of the real-time comparison and determination, transmitting moving-path deviation indicating information to the third mobile communication device.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the real-time comparison and determination comprises comparing waypoint information and route information of second moving-path related information of the second moving path with at least one of waypoint information and route information of the first moving-path related information of the first moving path. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the real-time comparison and determination comprises determining whether at least one of a path, coordinates, and speed corresponding to at least one of the waypoint information and the route information of the first moving-path related information of the first moving path deviates from normal distributions of the waypoint information and the route information of the second moving-path related information of the second moving path. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein transmitting the moving-path deviation indicating information comprises updating the accumulated data of the statistical data of the second moving path based on the first moving path, when the first moving path is changed with normal moving-path related information by input of the user of the third mobile communication device. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving moving-path related information regarding a moving path in a similar range to a third moving path from at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices;   generating statistical data of the third moving path based on the moving-path related information of the moving path in the similar range received from the plurality of mobile communication devices; and   suggesting at least one of a shortest-distance path, a way to use a public transport, a shortest-time path based on the traffic conditions, and a local principal place which are to be recommended to the second mobile communication device, in regard to the third moving path.   
     
     
         47 . A mobile communication device which generates moving-path information among a plurality of mobile communication devices, the mobile communication device comprising:
 a moving-path related information generating unit generating moving-path related information regarding a moving path of a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices;   a moving-path related information storing unit storing the moving-path related information in a database and registering the moving path of the moving-path related information in a moving-path history; and   a moving-path related information transmitting unit transmitting the generated moving-path related information to a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected,   wherein the moving-path related information transmitted to the central server is provided to at least one other mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices connected to the central server.   
     
     
         48 . A mobile communication device capable of performing geographical information guidance for sharing a moving path among a plurality of mobile communication devices, the mobile communication device comprising:
 a moving-path related information receiving unit receiving moving-path related information regarding a moving path generated by movement of a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices from a central server to which the plurality of communication devices are connected; and   a moving-path guiding unit performing moving-path guidance based on the received moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device.   
     
     
         49 . A central server which manages moving paths of a plurality of mobile communication devices connected to the central server, the central server comprising:
 a receiving unit receiving geographical information related to a moving path from a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices;   a server moving-path information generating unit generating moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device, which comprises the received geographical information and additional information related to the moving path of the first mobile communication device; and   a server moving-path information transmitting unit transmitting the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device to at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices.   
     
     
         50 . A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method of generating moving-path related information to be shared among a plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the method comprising the steps of:
 generating, by a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices, moving-path related information regarding a moving path generated by movement of the first mobile communication device; and   transmitting the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device to a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected,   wherein the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device transmitted to the central server is provided to at least one other mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices connected to the central server.   
     
     
         51 . A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method of sharing a moving path among a plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 receiving, by a second mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices, moving-path related information regarding a moving path generated by movement of a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices from a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected; and   performing, by the second mobile communication device, moving-path guidance based on the received moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device.   
     
     
         52 . A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method of managing moving paths of a plurality of mobile communication devices by a central server to which the plurality of mobile communication devices are connected, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 receiving geographical information regarding a moving path from a first mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices;   generating moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device, which comprises the received geographical information and additional information related to a moving path of the first mobile communication device; and   transmitting the moving-path related information of the first mobile communication device to a second mobile communication device among the plurality of mobile communication devices.