Determining Position (ipc) Patents (Class 342/357.25)
  • Patent number: 9411051
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for a satellite navigational system receiver to select a subset of tracking satellites from the satellites in view are described. In one method, after selecting the satellite with a highest elevation, satellites are selected for the tracking subset by searching the sectors of an azimuth plane map in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Phanikrishna Sagiraju, Makarand Phatak
  • Patent number: 9412098
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for determining an optimized sequence of visits by a consumer to a plurality of merchant locations irrespective of travel distance. The system is configured to receive, from the consumer, errand data including start time and start and finish location and a plurality of merchant locations to visit. The system also generates one or more models for predicting visit durations the merchant locations as a function of time using transaction data and location data associated with a plurality of consumers that previously visited the merchant locations. Based on the generated models, and current and historical travel/traffic information and the errand data, the system generates an optimized sequence of visits for the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Zhao, Jeremy Pastore, Arun Elangovan
  • Patent number: 9366763
    Abstract: A method and system for a mobile station to determine its position (or velocity) and time using a hybrid combination of satellite orbit data. In one aspect, the mobile station combines predicted orbit data from one satellite and real-time orbit data from another satellite in the determination of a fix. The combination can be made to the satellites in the same or different satellite systems. The mobile station can use the real-time orbit data of a satellite at one time period and the predicted orbit data of the same satellite at another time period. In another aspect, the mobile station can use the real-time orbit data to correct the clock bias in the predicted orbit data. The correction to the clock bias can be made to the same satellite that provides the real-time orbit data, or to a different satellite in the same or in another satellite system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Zoltan F. Biacs, Leonid Sheynblat, Arnold Jason Gum
  • Patent number: 9297657
    Abstract: A location tagged data provision and display system. A personal communication device (PCD) with electromagnetic communication capability has a GPS receiver and a display. The 10 PCD requests maps and location tagged data from data providers and other for display on the PCD. The data providers respond to requests by using searching and sorting schemes to interrogate data bases and then automatically transmitting data responsive to the requests to the requesting PCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Obradovich, John Dinkel, Michael Kent
  • Patent number: 9301157
    Abstract: The eNB 1 and the UE 2 establish the first bearer 11 between the eNB 1 and the UE 2 at the RRC layer, and the eNB 1 and the MME 3 establish the second bearer 12 between the eNB 1 and the MME 3 at the S1-AP layer. The OAM 4 measures the time length (TTL) of packet transfer between the eNB 1 and the UE 2, based on the transmission state of packets transmitted on the first bearer 11, and also measures the time length of packet transfer between the eNB 1 and the MME 3, based on the transmission state of packets transmitted on the second bearer 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoya Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 9203506
    Abstract: A system includes a central controller to transmit a plurality of synchronization codes through a transmission medium and a plurality of satellite controllers, each satellite controller configured to recognize one or more synchronization codes of the plurality of synchronization codes, each satellite controller comprising a synchronous clock signal generator to generate a synchronous clock signal each time the satellite controller recognizes the one or more synchronization codes of the plurality of synchronization codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC
    Inventor: Mark Francis
  • Patent number: 9151843
    Abstract: Methods and systems for indoor global navigation satellite system detection utilizing low Earth orbit satellite signals may comprise receiving low Earth orbit (LEO) RF satellite signals utilizing a LEO satellite signal receiver path (LEO Rx) in a wireless communication device comprising the LEO satellite signal receiver path and a medium Earth orbit satellite signal receiver path (MEO Rx). A received signal strength indicator (RSSI) may be measured for the received LEO signals and an expected received MEO signal strength may be calculated. A power level of the MEO Rx may be configured based on the calculated MEO signal strength by powering down when the calculated expected MEO signal strength is below a threshold level for MEO positioning purposes and/or powered up when it increases above the threshold level. The RSSI may be measured at a plurality of points along the LEO Rx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Maxime Leclercq, Ioannis Spyropoulos, Nishant Kumar
  • Patent number: 9144054
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining locations of static devices are disclosed. The method includes identifying a plurality of static devices, obtaining location measurements by the plurality of static devices at different times, and determining locations of the plurality of static devices using the location measurements obtained at the different times. The method of determining locations of the plurality of static devices includes determining a group location of the plurality of static devices based on GNSS pseudo range measurements contributed by the one or more static devices, where the group location is near a centroid of the plurality of static devices weighted by the number of GNSS pseudo range measurements contributed by each of the plurality of static devices. The method of determining locations of the plurality of static devices further includes sharing a common time reference among the plurality of static devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen William Edge
  • Patent number: 9103916
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for positioning a wireless device. In one embodiment, a method for indoor positioning includes determining a reference location of a wireless device, based on satellite positioning, as the device passes between areas of satellite positioning signal reception and satellite positioning signal non-reception. While in the areas of non-reception, signals transmitted by wireless local area network (WLAN) access points (APs) and parameters of motion of the device are measured. Positions of the device are estimated while in the areas of non-reception based on the reference location and the parameters of motion. A positioning grid for positioning is generated based on the signals measured by the wireless device at the estimated positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Deric W. Waters, Jayawardan Janardhanan
  • Patent number: 9091554
    Abstract: A device, system and method for an update system for updating a digital map for a vehicle. The update data is sent from a control center via a satellite navigation system to the individual receivers. The update data is received by the receivers in parallel with the position data from the satellites. For this purpose, a subchannel is provided. This allows large portions of the worldwide population to be supplied with the update data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Karl-Thomas Neumann, Marc Menzel, Ulrich Stählin
  • Patent number: 9075140
    Abstract: A method for providing an extended propagation ephemeris model for a satellite in Earth orbit, the method includes obtaining a satellite's orbital position over a first period of time, applying a least square estimation filter to determine coefficients defining osculating Keplarian orbital elements and harmonic perturbation parameters associated with a coordinate system defining an extended propagation ephemeris model that can be used to estimate the satellite's position during the first period, wherein the osculating Keplarian orbital elements include semi-major axis of the satellite (a), eccentricity of the satellite (e), inclination of the satellite (i), right ascension of ascending node of the satellite (?), true anomaly (?*), and argument of periapsis (?), applying the least square estimation filter to determine a dominant frequency of the true anomaly, and applying a Fourier transform to determine dominant frequencies of the harmonic perturbation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: James Levi Garrison, Michael Allen Walker
  • Patent number: 9074892
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods and/or processes may determine a location of a remote object (e.g., a point and/or area of interest, landmark, structure that “looks interesting”, buoy, anchored boat, etc.). For example, the location of a remote object may be determined via a first bearing, at a first location, and a second bearing, at a second location, to the remote object. For instance, the first and second locations can be determined via a position device, such as a global positioning system device. In one or more embodiments, the location of the remote object may be based on the first location, the second location, the first bearing, and the second bearing. For example, the location of the remote object may be provided to a user via a map. For instance, turn-by-turn direction to the location of the remote object may be provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Ian Michael Fink
  • Patent number: 9052388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processing information generated by GNSS receivers received signals such as GPS, GLONASS, etc. GNSS receivers can determine their position in space. The receivers are capable of determining both coordinates and velocity of their spatial movement. When a receiver is used in any machine control systems, velocity vector heading (in other words, velocity vector orientation) should be determined along with velocity vector's absolute value. Angle, determining velocity vector orientation, is calculated based on velocity vector projections which are computed in navigation receivers. The accuracy of velocity vector orientation calculated based on velocity vector projections strongly enough depends on velocity vector's absolute value. To enhance the accuracy, a method of smoothing primary estimates of velocity vector orientation angles using a modified Kalman filter has been proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir V. Veitsel, Dmitry P. Nikitin, Andrey V. Plenkin, Andrey V. Veitsel, Mark I. Zhodzishsky, Victor A. Prasolov
  • Publication number: 20150138014
    Abstract: Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9030355
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a location of a receiver by using signals received by the receiver from a number of satellites, the apparatus being configured to, when the receiver has been unable to decode a time-of-transmission from the satellite signals, determine a location for the receiver by use of an algorithm that takes an estimate of the location of the receiver as an input, and, when an estimate of the location of the receiver is unavailable, determine an approximate location of the receiver in dependence on the satellite signals and input that approximate location into the algorithm as the estimate of the location of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventors: Murray Robert Jarvis, James Burgess Tidd, Anthony Richard Pratt
  • Patent number: 9013352
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, methods, and machines for tracking a fluid spill. The method includes obtaining real-time location data for a number of tracking devices from a positioning satellite data repository, integrating the location data of each of the tracking devices into a comprehensive spatial data repository, determining a deployment location for each of the tracking devices, identifying, responsive to the deployment locations, a fluid-spill subset of the tracking devices that were deployed in the fluid spill, determining a fluid spill location based on the geographic locations of the fluid-spill subset, and generating a geographic map depicting the fluid spill location. A new sensor-driven paradigm is used that combines practical data gathering methods with advanced enterprise information technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter R. O'Regan, Ali Amer Almohsen
  • Patent number: 9007261
    Abstract: A data model containing orbital parameters is stored in a mobile device. When a First Fix is required by a GNSS system within the mobile device, these stored orbital parameters are used to rapidly generate accurate satellite trajectory data model. The stored orbital parameters may be modified in part or in whole as required by changing coefficients of the stored parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Tang Weng, Wei Guan Yau
  • Patent number: 9003500
    Abstract: A user uploads content such as files containing audio, video, graphical, data, points of interest, and other information from a user device such as a personal computer to a central server over the internet. Upon determining that a trigger event has occurred, communication and processing circuitry in a vehicle device automatically download the previously uploaded content over the interne and a short-range wireless network and store the content for use by a device such as an audio/visual/navigation unit. Examples of a trigger event include proximity to a short-range wireless communication network coupled to the internet, presence within a geofence, turning off a vehicle's engine, or detecting an SMS wake-up message while the vehicle device's main processor, transceivers not used for SMS, and auxiliary circuitry are in sleep mode. The short-range wireless network can be a vehicle owner's home network, or a commercial wi-fi hot spot, or subscription wireless service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: HTI IP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Oglesbee, Dane Dickie, Charles M. Link, II
  • Patent number: 8994587
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for processing positioning signals to obtain navigation information by applying compressed sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Josephine A. Bolotski, Douglas Neal Rowitch, Mark Leo Moeglein
  • Publication number: 20150088012
    Abstract: A light assembly to be worn by a user. Typically the light assembly (10) would be worn on a user's arm. The assembly (10) includes a body (11) of a “U” shaped configuration so as to have a base (14) extending between a pair of generally co-extensive extensive arms (12). The body (11) is formed of resilient material so as to be retained in position when urged into engagement with an object, which is preferably a users arm or leg, by resilient deformation of the body. At least one light, which is preferably an LED module (15), is mounted in the body (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Chauncey Hammond
  • Patent number: 8983048
    Abstract: The number of messages required in networks where both location and presence services are deployed may be reduced, by retrieving presence data from messages otherwise intended to provide only location information. Thus, information determined in a location service scheme is utilized to provide a presence service as well. A location server requests mobile subscriber (MS) information from a Core Network (CN) Node (i.e. HLR, MSC, etc.) that can be used in determining the Location of the MS. A single message aggregates retrieval of information for two services, specifically, for both location and presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Hines, Mario G. Tapia, Will Cousins, Patrick Carey
  • Patent number: 8977493
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a positioning unit that determines a position of the information processing apparatus based on an external signal; a sensor unit that detects a change in position of the information processing apparatus; and a processing unit that measures, according to a change in position detected at the sensor unit, an amount of displacement of the information processing apparatus from a first time when the positioning unit starts to determine the position of the information processing apparatus to a second time when the positioning unit completes determining the position of the information processing apparatus; and identifies a position of the information processing apparatus at the first time by compensating the position of the information processing apparatus determined by the positioning unit at the second time with the amount of displacement of the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Adachi
  • Publication number: 20150035698
    Abstract: A satellite positioning subsystem includes a frequency converter that applies a downshift in frequency to a received signal that should contain a satellite signal that has been spread and modulated on a carrier signal. A non-crystal oscillator produces an output signal whose frequency acts as a controlling reference for the frequency converter. A crystal oscillator is coupled to a controller that develops a control signal for controlling the frequency of the output signal of the non-crystal oscillator. A processor intermittently corrects the crystal oscillator such that its output frequency experiences jumps. A filter filters the control signal to limit the rate of change of frequency that the control signal demands of the output signal of the non-crystal oscillator such that a phase rotation of ? cannot occur in the output signal of the non-crystal oscillator in the time that would be taken to despread a sample of the satellite signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: James Digby Yarlett Collier, Tim Newton, Per-Ludvig Normark, Thomas Renstrom
  • Patent number: 8938231
    Abstract: Methods and systems for femtocell positioning using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals may comprise receiving an initial position of a wireless communication device (WCD) as entered by as user, service provider, or manufacturer, wherein the WCD comprises a LEO satellite signal receiver path (Rx). The WCD may be operable to provide wireless communication services to other WCDs. LEO signals may be received for determining a position of the WCD, which may be compared to a threshold radius defined by the initial position. The communication services may be enabled when the measured position is within the threshold radius. The WCD may comprise a femtocell device, a WiFi access point, or may provide cellular telephone service to the other WCDs. The position of the WCD may be measured upon powering up of the WCD, on a periodic basis, and/or when one or more motion sensors in the WCD detect motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Maxlinear, inc.
    Inventors: Maxime Leclercq, Ioannis Spyropoulos, Nishant Kumar
  • Publication number: 20150009986
    Abstract: A method and system for precise position determination of general Internet Protocol (IP) network-connected devices. A method enables use of remote intelligence located at strategic network points to distribute relevant assistance data to IP devices with embedded receivers. Assistance is tailored to provide physical timing, frequency and real time signal status data using general broadband communication protocols. Relevant assistance data enables several complementary forms of signal processing gain critical to acquire and measure weakened or distorted in-building Global Navigation Satellite Services (GNSS) signals and to ultimately extract corresponding pseudo-range time components. A method to assemble sets of GNSS measurements that are observed over long periods of time while using standard satellite navigation methods, and once compiled, convert using standard methods each pseudo-range into usable path distances used to calculate a precise geographic position to a known degree of accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Richard M. Lee, Richard Keegan
  • Publication number: 20150009065
    Abstract: A method and a system for detecting cross correlation in a satellite navigation receiver (SNR) in real time are provided. The SNR parallelly receives navigation signals from multiple satellites via multiple input channels. The SNR extracts ephemeris data from sub-frames of navigation data of each of the navigation signals. The SNR compares the ephemeris data of each navigation signal with the ephemeris data of another navigation signal. The SNR detects cross correlation between the navigation signals when the ephemeris data comparison results in a match and discards the navigation signal with low signal strength. The SNR also retrieves a ranging code from the sub-frames of navigation data of each navigation signal. The SNR compares the ranging code with a pre-programmed satellite identity code of a corresponding satellite. The SNR detects cross correlation when the code comparison results in a mismatch and discards the navigation signal with the mismatched ranging code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Accord Software & Systems Pvt Ltd
    Inventor: Vyasaraj Guru Rao
  • Publication number: 20150012272
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless terminal, an information processing method and a recording medium. The wireless terminal according to the present invention comprises a checking section for checking whether the wireless terminal is positioned in a vehicle; a first converting section for converting text information received through one of N applications for transceiving text information into speech information, the applications being included in the wireless terminal, in the case that the wireless terminal is positioned in the vehicle, according to a result of the checking by the checking section; a processing section for outputting the converted speech information through a speaker of the wireless terminal; an input section for receiving speech information from a user of the wireless terminal; and a second converting section for converting the received speech information into text information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Jun ho Jang, Tae hyung Park, Jong cheol Hong
  • Patent number: 8922426
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are provided for position estimation in a geo-location system. For example, the method can include receiving a plurality of position measurements from a respective plurality of satellites in a global navigation satellite system. From the plurality of position measurements, a position measurement with a maximum pseudo-range residual value can be selected. A position uncertainty estimate can be determined based on the position measurement with the maximum pseudo-range residual value. Further, a position estimation algorithm can receive the position uncertainty estimate as an input, thereby improving position estimation of the geo-location system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Smith, Romain Clement
  • Publication number: 20140368379
    Abstract: A method, receiver, and mobile terminal for simultaneously receiving and processing signals of multiple satellites from a plurality of navigational satellite system constellations are described. In the method, satellite signals from a plurality of navigational satellite systems are translated into an intermediate frequency and converted from analog to digital together, but then are separated out according to each navigational satellite system in the digital domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary LENNEN
  • Publication number: 20140368380
    Abstract: Station for receiving satellite radio navigation signals having first wideband transmission means that are suited to receiving a specific signal transmitted by a transmitter/receiver and extracting therefrom at least one user radio navigation signal, first centralized signal processing means that are suited to determining a measurement of pseudo distance and centralized calculation means for calculating navigation information (PVT), the reception station having a first reference channel for receiving radio navigation signals having a directional antenna for forming a channel, second means for processing the radio navigation signal received by said directional antenna for forming a channel and a calculation unit that is suited to performing an improvement in reliability, an integrity check and authentication of said navigation information (PVT).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Marc Revol, Pierre Bouniol, David Pietin
  • Patent number: 8912900
    Abstract: An information acquisition device, includes: a positioning unit that measures a current position and acquires positional information thereof; an information acquisition unit that acquires information; a storage unit that stores information acquired by the information acquisition unit and positional information acquired by the positioning unit; and a control unit that causes the positioning unit to perform positioning, while the information acquisition unit is activated, at an interval shorter than while the information acquisition unit is stopped, and causes positional information acquired while the information acquisition unit is activated, outside a time period determined in advance with a time in which acquisition of information was performed by the information acquisition unit as a reference point, among positional information acquired in the positioning unit, to be thinned and stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Toda
  • Patent number: 8902059
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for tracking an item transported with the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a global positioning system (GPS) module for determining a location of the item based on GPS signals received from one or more GPS satellites. The apparatus further comprises a mobile communications controller for generating a message including the determined location of the item, wherein the mobile communications controller sends the generated message to at least one mobile device. The mobile communications controller may also send the generated message to a remote server maintaining location tracking information for one or more items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Umm Al-Qura University
    Inventor: Mohamed F. Mahmoud
  • Patent number: 8903643
    Abstract: Marking apparatus and methods to mark ground, pavement or other surfaces to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of an underground utility in a dig area. An example marking tool has a hand-held housing, a marking dispenser coupled to the housing to dispense one or more markers in the dig area, and a triggering system to trigger the marking dispenser so as to dispense the marker(s). An example marking tool also may include a logging system to receive data associated with a marking event initiated by the triggering system, time tag the data, and store the time-tagged data in data storage in the marking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 8872699
    Abstract: Performing power quality and synchrophasor analysis on a resampled signal. A first signal may be initially received which corresponds to a power system. The first signal may have a plurality of cycles and may have a frequency that varies over time. One or more parameters may be determined from the first signal. Based on the one or more parameters, the first signal may be resampled to produce an even angle signal. Various power quality measurements may be performed on the even angle signal. Similarly, further processing may be performed to perform synchrophasor measurements, e.g., to determine phasor, frequency, and/or rate of frequency change for the first signal. In some embodiments, the resampling processing elements (e.g., circuitry, programmable hardware elements, processors and memories, etc.) may be shared between the two analyses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Qiao Guo, Chen Zhang, Yijun Shi
  • Patent number: 8872698
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring spatial movements of plant structures, such as pipes, due for example to movement of the ground in presence of landslide phenomena, subsidence, collapse, or differential settling. The measuring apparatus includes at least one ground station that communicates with at least one corresponding signal-sending satellite station, the ground station being connected in a movable manner to a support constrainable in a fixed manner to the plant structure, the ground structure having an initial azimuthal orientation and an initial azimuthal height. The ground station is moved with respect to the support via a mechanism for adjusting the orientation and height of the same to compensate for an instantaneous orientation and height that are different from the initial orientation and height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianpietro De Lorenzo, Giuseppe Giunta
  • Patent number: 8866669
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera-phone or a GPS-enabled digital camera, determines whether ephemeris data needs to be obtained for geotagging digital photos taken with the device. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera, the device can begin pre-acquisition of a GPS position fix by obtaining needed ephemeris data before the photograph is actually taken. This GPS pre-acquisition improves the likelihood that a position fix (GPS lock) is achieved by the time the photo is taken (to enable immediate geotagging). Alternatively, the photo can be geotagged retroactively by appending the current location to the metadata tag associated with the digital photo. An optional acquisition status indicator can be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position fix is being obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Piotr Konrad Tysowksi, Ngoc Bich Ngo, David Noel Vanden Heuvel
  • Patent number: 8855922
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying a location of a mobile computing device. A first location estimate of a mobile computing device and an accuracy of the first location estimate is determined at a mobile computing device based on wireless signals received from one or more beacons. A time period based on the accuracy of the first location estimate is determined. One or more subsequent location estimates of the mobile computing device and respective accuracies are determined. The determination of the subsequent location estimates is stopped at an end of the time period. A preferred location estimate from the determined location estimates is determined at the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Starenky, Alex Kennberg
  • Patent number: 8854259
    Abstract: A GNSS receiver in a wake up state during a standby mode may acquire ephemeris from received GNSS signals such as GPS signals and/or GLONASS signals. When subsequently transitioning from the standby mode to a normal mode operating at a high frequency clock, the acquired ephemeris may be utilized to generate a navigation solution for the GNSS receiver. The GNSS receiver in the wake up state during the standby mode may be switched to operate at the high frequency clock in order to receive GNSS signals. The GNSS receiver may extract complete ephemeris from the received GNSS signals, and may subsequently transition from the wake up state to a sleep state during the standby mode to save power. Radio frequency front-end components of the GNSS receiver may only be turned on to receive the GNSS signals. The GNSS receiver may transition between the standby mode and the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Frank van Diggelen, Charles Abraham
  • Patent number: 8840033
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc.
    Inventor: John Douglas Steinberg
  • Patent number: 8842717
    Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver that is configured to rapidly acquire GPS signals in space applications and a method for rapidly acquiring GPS signals in space applications is disclosed. In an embodiment, the GPS receiver includes, but is not limited to, a GPS signal acquisition component. The GPS signal acquisition component is adapted to acquire a GPS signal by receiving data from the GPS signal and processing the data to detect the GPS signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Publication number: 20140266874
    Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are provided. Each of a first GNSS signal received by a GNSS receiver and a second GNSS signal received by the GNSS receiver is accessed. The second GNSS signal can have temporal fluctuations weaker than temporal fluctuations in the first GNSS signal. A delay between a sequence in the first GNSS signal and a corresponding sequence signal in the second GNSS signal is estimated and compared to a threshold. Upon determining that the delay exceeds the threshold, a location is estimated using both the first GNSS signal and the second GNSS signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Duong Anh Hoang, Emilija Milorad SIMIC, Timothy Paul PALS
  • Patent number: 8830122
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for resolving phase ambiguities in phase rate of change (PROC) measurements of a long baseline interferometer (LBI). The system includes an LBI having a first antenna and a second antenna positioned on a vehicle to receive the RF signal transmitted by the RF emitter, and a processor positioned on the vehicle. The processor is configured to determine a first phase rate of change (PROC) of the RF signal received by the LBI over a short time interval to produce a short time interval range estimate of the RF emitter, determine a second PROC of the RF signal received by the LBI over a long time interval which is greater than the short time interval, to produce a plurality of ambiguous long time interval range estimates of the RF emitter, and c) select one of the plurality of long time interval range estimates based on the short time interval range estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Nicholas Menegozzi, Suzanne Elaine Holden, Edward F. Van Alstine, Robert G. Palazzo, Martin James Apa
  • Patent number: 8816883
    Abstract: A system and method for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment are described. The system includes a central application that has a dynamic roadmap definition module adapted to at least allow a user to arbitrarily define features in a geographical information systems database and import overhead imaging data corresponding to a geographical area in which said features are defined. The central application includes a remote position and attitude reception module adapted to at least receive data concerning the position of at least one remote vehicle, a transceiver module adapted for exchanging data with at least one remote vehicle; and a logging and tracking module adapted for at least logging said position of at least one remote vehicle over time. The system also has a remote application; and a communications link adapted for exchanging data between the central application and the remote application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andree Röttig, Mario Leonel Rearte, Paulo Rogério Andrade
  • Patent number: 8818043
    Abstract: A system and method provides maps identifying the 3D location of traffic lights. The position, location, and orientation of a traffic light may be automatically extrapolated from two or more images. The maps may then be used to assist robotic vehicles or human drivers to identify the location and status of a traffic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Christopher Paul Urmson
  • Publication number: 20140232592
    Abstract: A navigation system includes a navigation radio and a sensor onboard a vehicle. The navigation radio receives and processes low earth orbit RF signals to derive range observables for a corresponding LEO satellite. A sensor is operable to generate at least one of vehicle speed data, acceleration data, angular rate data and rotational angle data under high vehicle dynamics. The navigation radio includes a navigation code operable to obtain a position, velocity and time solution (a “navigation solution”) based on the one or more range observables, ephemerides for the corresponding LEO satellite, a heading pseudomeasurement, a navigation radio altitude pseudomeasurement; one or more vehicle velocity pseudomeasurements orthogonal to the altitude pseudomeasurements; and the generated at least one of vehicle speed data, acceleration data, angular rate data and rotational angle data. The navigation radio uses the navigation solution to acquire a GPS signal during interference with a coarse acquisition GPS signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Coherent Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lockwood Psiaki, Isaac Thomas Miller, Brent Michael Ledvina
  • Patent number: 8779980
    Abstract: A method of determining an indication of the position of an electronic device. The method includes: obtaining (100) information relating to a radio signal received by the device. The received radio signal are transmissions from one or more satellites of a satellite-positioning system from which information an inference can be made about the true position of the device at the time the signal was received. The method also involves obtaining (110) a plurality of hypotheses about the true position of the device; and evaluating (120, 130, 140) the plurality of hypotheses by assessing a degree of consistency between the information relating to the radio signal and the hypotheses. Using the outcome of the evaluations, the method also includes selecting (150) one or more of the hypotheses; and outputting (160) an indication of the selected one or more hypotheses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: U-Blox A.G.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Yule, Christopher Brian Marshall
  • Patent number: 8775076
    Abstract: A position calculating method comprising: receiving a positioning signal; and performing a position calculating operation using the received positioning signal, the position calculating operation being a operation based on a given probability distribution model having at least a variation in previous operation result as a random variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsubasa Shirai
  • Patent number: 8773303
    Abstract: The present application relates to tracking a position of a device, e.g. for detecting slow and rapid earth deformation, by making use of a recursive filter having the filter characteristic adapted to a detected type of motion. If the motion of the position tracking device is rapid, the filter characteristic is set such that the rapid motion can be tracked with the necessary speed. On the other hand, if the motion is slow, e.g. during times of a normal tectonic drift, the filter characteristic is set such that the motion is slowly tracked with the advantage of efficient noise reduction, i.e. noise in the input signal is effectively barred and does not pass through the filter to the output signal. Thus, in times of rapid motion the convergence speed of the filter output signal to the input signal is set high for fast convergence and in times of slow motion the convergence speed of the filter output signal to the input signal is set low for a slow convergence. The filter may be a Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Ken Doucet, Ulrich Vollath
  • Patent number: 8762052
    Abstract: A method and a terminal for providing a route in a navigation system using a satellite image are provided. The terminal includes a route calculation unit for calculating a route from a current location to a destination when a user inputs the destination, a satellite image requesting unit for requesting a satellite image server for satellite images corresponding to locations on the route and for downloading the requested satellite images, a satellite image storage unit for storing the downloaded satellite images, and a controller for retrieving a satellite image corresponding to the current location from the satellite image storage unit and for displaying the retrieved satellite image simultaneously while downloading the satellite images corresponding to the locations on the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Suk Min, Hee Jung, Kwang-Soo Kim, Jin-Won Kim
  • Publication number: 20140159951
    Abstract: A shoe body light-emitting device includes: a waterproof enclosure embedded on a shoe body and having a cavity; a control circuit embedded in the cavity and comprising circuit board and a motion actuated switch. The positive electrode of the circuit board is electrically coupled to the positive electrodes of light-emitting bodies and a power supply. The motion actuated switch is electrically connected with the circuit board for triggering the control circuit in response to motion of the shoe body, so that light-emitting bodies light in a predetermined way. A micro-current battery on the circuit board is used for supplying the light-emitting device with power. The light-emitting bodies may first flash N times simultaneously, then respectively flash twice sequentially, then respectively flash twice reversely, then respectively flash twice sequentially, and finally flash N times simultaneously (N is a natural number larger than or equal to 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: TERRY ELECTRONCS (S.Z) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John Gou, Benrui Xu