Involving Aiding Data Received From A Cooperating Element; E.g., Assisted Gps (ipc) Patents (Class 342/357.64)
  • Patent number: 9363642
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for providing radio frequency interference (RFI) awareness assistance data to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers are described. In some embodiments, a first method includes receiving at a location server RFI situational information. The first method further includes maintaining at least one time and location dependent database of an RFI situation. The first method further includes sending at least one assistance data message to at least one receiver including the RFI situational information. In another embodiment, a second method includes receiving RFI awareness assistance data from a location server. The second method further includes adapting a position location measurement according to the received RFI awareness assistance data. The second method further includes calculating a location of the receiver based at least in part on the adapted position location measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sven Fischer, Stephen William Edge
  • Patent number: 9316741
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a position of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver are provided. A first satellite and a second satellite that have an unobstructed communication path to the GPS receiver are identified. For each of the first and second satellites, data received is used to determine a satellite position and a code phase for a transmitted satellite signal. A relative code phase is calculated between the transmitted satellite signals of the first satellite and the second satellite, where the relative code phase is a difference between the determined code phases. The position of the GPS receiver is determined based on the satellite positions of the first and second satellite and the relative code phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
    Inventors: Jian Cheng, Zhi Wang, Mohan Chen, Zhike Jia
  • Patent number: 9301156
    Abstract: A method and apparatus determines a physical location of a wireless infrastructure device. At least one coarse location data from an associated terminal device is determined. Additional coarse location data are stored and accumulated. The device location is considered accurate by determining that enough received coarse location data has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. DiFazio, Prabhakar R. Chitrapu, John M. McNally, Narayan P. Menon, James Nolan, Fred Schreider
  • Patent number: 9191913
    Abstract: A method for locating a terminal in a coverage area using a telecommunication network, the network including a multi-beam satellite, the area including various cells, each associated with a beam for linking to the satellite to which a frequency band is assigned, the method including: performing the uplink transmission of a message incorporated into a modulated signal to the satellite at a frequency shared by three different uplink beams such that the message is received by the satellite with three different amplitudes; performing the downlink transmission of three modulated signals incorporating the message, the first, second, and third signals each corresponding to a different beam from among the three beams; receiving the first, second, and third signals; determining the amplitudes of the message within the first, second and third signals; and determining the location of the terminal from the amplitudes of the message within the first, second, and third signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: EUTELSAT S A
    Inventors: Antonio Arcidiacono, Daniele Vito Finocchiaro, Alessandro Le Pera
  • Patent number: 9132562
    Abstract: An aesthetically pleasing small form factor desktop computer is described. The small form factor desktop computer can be formed of a single piece seamless housing that in the described embodiment is machined from a single billet of aluminum. The single piece seamless housing includes an aesthetically pleasing foot support having at least a portion formed of RF transparent material that provides easy user access to selected internal components as well as offers electromagnetic (EM) shielding. This simplicity of design can accrue many advantages to the small form factor desktop computer besides those related to aesthetic look and feel. Fewer components and less time and effort can be required for assembly of the small form factor desktop computer and the absence of seams in the single piece housing can provide good protection against environmental contamination of internal components as well as EM shielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chiew-Siang Goh, Houtan R. Farahani, Eric A. Knopf, Ricardo A. Mariano, Joseph B. Moak, Matthew S. Theobald
  • Patent number: 9111001
    Abstract: A system for receiving local point of interest data is presented. The local point of interest data for a local geographic area is received by a geographic location device via a supported protocol. The local point of interest data includes information regarding one or more local points of interest in the local geographic area. The received local point of interest data is cached with existing point of interest data and maps within a cache in the geographic location device. Then, it is determined whether any time-sensitive point of interest data in the cache has expired. In response to determining that time-sensitive point of interest data in the cache has expired, the expired time-sensitive point of interest data is removed from the cache to form current local point of interest data for the local geographic area. Then, the current local point of interest data is displayed in a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Bitonti, Andrew Dwight Dingsor, Dana Lea Price, Dana Rieger Thalheimer
  • Patent number: 9081077
    Abstract: The system comprises terminals that are mounted onto a predetermined number of feeder vessels, comprises means for detecting identification signals sent by surrounding ships, and moreover comprises means for recording identification information that include the detected identification signals and the current position of the feeder vessel. Said system also comprises a system for transmitting data via satellites, said data transmitting system making it possible to transmit data between the terminals and a monitoring center, said monitoring center including a means for generating requests intended for the terminals in order to ask said terminals to provide the recorded identification information. Said monitoring center also includes a means for analyzing the received identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Astrium SAS
    Inventor: Robert Laine
  • Patent number: 9000979
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for improving the performance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers are disclosed. In particular, the improvement of the ability to calculate a satellite position or a receiver position where a receiver has degraded ability to receive broadcast ephemeris data directly from a GNSS satellite is disclosed. Correction terms can be applied to an approximate long-term satellite position model such as the broadcast almanac.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Lionel Garin
  • Patent number: 8988282
    Abstract: Method and apparatuses involving satellite position signals are disclosed. Based on data indicating a usage environment, parameters, for example acquisition parameters or calculation parameters, are adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hammes, Andreas Schmid
  • Publication number: 20150061933
    Abstract: A method of predicting a location of a satellite is provided wherein the GPS device, based on previously received information about the position of a satellite, such as an ephemeris, generates a correction acceleration of the satellite that can be used to predict the position of the satellite outside of the time frame in which the previously received information was valid. The calculations can be performed entirely on the GPS device, and do not require assistance from a server. However, if assistance from a server is available to the GPS device, the assistance information can be used to increase the accuracy of the predicted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Derbez, Guylain Roy-Machabee, Dave Cayer
  • Patent number: 8971929
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a method and a system for transmitting location data. The method comprises at least one step of that: the location data is transmitted between a first terminal and a second terminal; the location data is transmitted between a first location server and a second location server; and the location data is transmitted between a third terminal and a third location server, wherein the location data comprises: assistance location data and/or position data. According to the technical solution provided by the disclosure, the location function between two terminals supporting Security User Plane Location (SUPL) can be realized, and some novel assistance location data can be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Hui Li, Liang Shan
  • Patent number: 8963773
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining integrity of long-term-orbit information used by a Global-Navigation-Satellite-System or other positioning receiver is described. The method comprises obtaining a predicted pseudorange from a first set of long-term-orbit information possessed by a positioning receiver; obtaining, at the positioning receiver from at least one satellite, a measured pseudorange; determining validity of the predicted pseudorange as a function of the predicted pseudorange and the measured pseudorange; and excluding from the long-term-orbit information at least a portion thereof when the validity of the predicted pseudorange is deemed invalid. Optionally, the method may comprise updating or otherwise supplementing the long-term-orbit information with other orbit information if the validity of the predicted pseudorange is deemed invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Global Locate, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Van Diggelen, Matthew Riben
  • Patent number: 8930137
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distribution and delivery of global positioning system (GPS) satellite telemetry data using a communication link between a central site and a mobile GPS receiver. The central site is coupled to a network of reference satellite receivers that send telemetry data from all satellites to the central site. The mobile GPS receiver uses the delivered telemetry data to aid its acquisition of the GPS satellite signal. The availability of the satellite telemetry data enhances the mobile receiver's signal reception sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Global Locate, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Van Diggelen
  • Patent number: 8917206
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing mobile-based positioning in a wireless communications system are presented. A position estimate is computed based on assistance data intended for a first position method. The mobile device ignores if a second positioning method is not specifically supported by a network and computes a position estimate using the second position method and a subset of assistance data intended for the first positioning method, which is supported by the network and is different from the second positioning method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen W. Edge, Parag Arun Agashe, Sven Fischer, Marc A. Ische, Nathan Edward Tenny
  • Patent number: 8912955
    Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting synchronization information from ambient signals, such as broadcast television signals, and using the synchronization information as a reference for correcting the local time base so that a GNSS positioning receiver system maintains relative time base accuracy with respect to a GNSS time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Ling, Anand Anandakumar
  • Patent number: 8884817
    Abstract: The present invention is related to location positioning systems, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing an update of ephemeris information. According to one aspect, GPS enabled devices in the signal unavailable area monitors the state of its ephemeris data and time information. When the ephemeris data and time information become out of date, the GPS enable device uses an ad hoc Bluetooth network to retrieve ephemeris data and time information from another GPS enabled device with more current data. According to further aspects, a map of a deep hole region in which GPS and other cellular signals are not available, is generated to enable power reduction and cost saving measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Technology Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Leslie Seymour
  • Patent number: 8878723
    Abstract: For supporting a satellite based positioning of a mobile arrangement (30, 40) with assistance data, a communication network converts parameters of a dedicated orbit model describing a movement of a satellite (50, 60), which dedicated orbit model is defined for a particular satellite based positioning system, into parameters of a common orbit model describing a movement of a satellite (50, 60). Alternatively or in addition, the network replaces a reference value that is based on a satellite based positioning system time in available parameters of an orbit model by a reference value that is based on a communication system time. After the parameter conversion and/or the reference value replacement, the parameters are provided as a part of assistance data for the satellite based positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Jari Syrjarinne
  • Publication number: 20140240173
    Abstract: An attenuated satellite positioning system (SPS) signal is acquired using long integration over multiple navigation data bits. To produce a stable internal clock signal to perform the long integration, an external clock signal is received from a highly stable source, such as a wireless communication base station or a nearby femtocell. An internal oscillator is driven at a desired frequency that is aligned with the scaled frequency of the external clock signal to produce the stable internal clock signal. The SPS signal is received and integrated for an extended period using the internal clock signal. Predicted SPS data may be received from an external source and used to perform coherent integration. Alternatively, non-coherent integration may be performed. Additionally, a motion sensor may be used to determine if there is motion relative to the external clock source or to compensate for Doppler errors in the external clock signal due to motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mayur N. Shah, Wyatt Thomas Riley, Dominic Gerard Farmer
  • Patent number: 8803734
    Abstract: Methods and devices may request and provide assistance data from an assistance server to a receiver in a global navigation satellite system. A request for assistance data may include a preference list of navigation models suitable for the requesting receiver. Multiple preference lists for different navigation model types (e.g., orbit model, clock model, almanac model) may be included in a single list and/or data structure, or as multiple lists and/or data structures. An assistance server may receive and process the preference list, for example, by parsing and traversing the ordered list(s) for different navigation model types, in order to provide satellite navigation data to the receiver in accordance with suitable navigation models that are available at both the receiver and the assistance server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Lauri Aarne Johannes Wirola, Ismo Kullervo Halivaara, Tommi Antero Laine
  • Patent number: 8797209
    Abstract: An implementation of a system, device and method for communicating location data of a mobile station, enhancing location data, optimally communicating Assistance Data, and/or reducing rebids of Measure Position Request messages in a wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Kirk Allan Burroughs, Yongjin Jiang, Liewei Tan, Thomas K. Rowland, Yuhua Hu
  • Patent number: 8798908
    Abstract: A method for supporting location services in a mobile radio communications system, in which method a mobile station receives from at least one network element involved in location services, for the implementation of a position measurement procedure, at least one information element indicating if the method type required for that position measurement procedure is a “Conventional GPS” method type where the mobile station behaves as a conventional satellite positioning system receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Stanislas Bourdeaut
  • Patent number: 8793068
    Abstract: A system comprises a delivery application executing on a processor of a delivery device. The application communicates a message indicating a problem associated with locating a destination site for a user. The system further comprises a vendor server communicatively coupled to the processor of the delivery device. The vendor server receives the message indicating the problem associated with the first location, determines that the first location is associated with a second location that is within a predetermined distance of the first location, approximates geocoordinates associated with the first location based at least in part upon geocoordinates associated with the second location, and communicates the approximated geocoordinates to the delivery application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven S. Armato
  • Patent number: 8788199
    Abstract: A system comprises a delivery application executing on a processor of a delivery device. The application communicates a message indicating a problem associated with locating a destination site for a user. The system further comprises a user application executing on a processor of a user device. The user application communicates a message confirming that the user device is located at the destination site, and communicates geocoordinates of the destination site. The system further comprises a vendor server communicatively coupled to the processor of the delivery device and the processor of the user device. The vendor server communicates with the user application to receive the geocoordinates of the destination site. The vendor server further communicates the geocoordinates of the destination site to the delivery application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven S. Armato
  • Patent number: 8779973
    Abstract: A satellite signal tracking method includes: detecting a situation of movement; calculating an error of the detection; and setting a loop bandwidth of a tracking filter, which is used to track a satellite signal received from a positioning satellite and of which the loop bandwidth can be changed, using the detection result and the calculated error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Anand Kumar
  • Patent number: 8760344
    Abstract: A method for processing radionavigation signals coming from satellites that broadcast the radionavigation signals on at least two distinct frequencies, comprises receiving the signals for each satellite, realizing, for each satellite, non-differentiated measurements of code and phase (10), determining the widelane ambiguities in a coherent manner on the group of satellites (12, 13, 14) by using the widelane biases associated with the satellites, received from a reference system, and global positioning of the receiver with the help of measurements of code and phase and the coherent widelane ambiguities (16, 18). The global positioning comprises, for each satellite, the determination (16) of a pseudo distance by means of an ionosphere-free combination of the measurements of code and of the difference of the phase measurements, compensated for the widelane ambiguity, this ionosphere-free combination being optimized in terms of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventors: Flavien Mercier, Denis Laurichesse
  • Patent number: 8737311
    Abstract: A system and method for mitigating the delay associated with using GPS technologies to determine the location of a mobile device. The system utilizes a two-stage location determination process. During the first stage, an estimated position of the mobile device is immediately provided based on the most accurate stored location information that is available to the system. If greater accuracy is still required, during the second stage a more accurate position of the mobile device is provided using GPS-based technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhengyi Jin, Magesh Annamalai
  • Patent number: 8730101
    Abstract: An attenuated satellite positioning system (SPS) signal is acquired using long integration over multiple navigation data bits. To produce a stable internal clock signal to perform the long integration, an external clock signal is received from a highly stable source, such as a wireless communication base station or a nearby femtocell. An internal oscillator is driven at a desired frequency that is aligned with the scaled frequency of the external clock signal to produce the stable internal clock signal. The SPS signal is received and integrated for an extended period using the internal clock signal. Predicted SPS data may be received from an external source and used to perform coherent integration. Alternatively, non-coherent integration may be performed. Additionally, a motion sensor may be used to determine if there is motion relative to the external clock source or to compensate for Doppler errors in the external clock signal due to motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mayur N. Shah, Wyatt Thomas Riley, Dominic Gerard Farmer
  • Patent number: 8717235
    Abstract: The invention relates to a network element comprising a controlling element for forming assistance data relating to two or more signals transmitted by a reference station of at least one navigation system; and a transmitter for transmitting the assistance data via a communications network to a device. The device comprises a positioning receiver for performing positioning on the basis of two or more signals transmitted by a reference station of the at least one satellite navigation system; a receiver for receiving the assistance data from the network element; and an examining element configured to examine the received assistance data to find out information relating to the status of the two or more signals. The information comprises indication on the reference station the signal relates to, and the status indicates the usability of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Kimmo Alanen, Jari Syrjarinne
  • Patent number: 8712360
    Abstract: A system includes a first clock module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a phase-locked loop (PLL) module, a cellular transceiver, and a baseband module. The first clock module generates a first clock reference. The GPS module operates in response to the first clock reference. The WLAN module operates in response to the first clock reference. The PLL module generates a second clock reference by performing automatic frequency correction (AFC) on the first clock reference in response to an AFC signal. The cellular transceiver receives radio frequency signals from a wireless medium and generates baseband signals in response to the received radio frequency signals. The baseband module receives the baseband signals, operates in response to a selected one of the first clock reference and the second clock reference, and generates the AFC signal in response to the baseband signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Uehara, Alexander Zaslavsky, Brian T. Brunn
  • Patent number: 8711036
    Abstract: Signal acquisition assistance data is obtained for receiving devices such as wireless position assisted location devices seeking signals from any source, such as satellite vehicles and base stations. The data may be obtained from previously acquired data, based upon evaluation of changes in parameters such as time and location that may jeopardize validity. In some cases the data may be adjusted for the changes in parameters. Refined data may be calculated by a receiver using partial measurements of signal sets, particularly if the acquisition assistance data provided by a remote entity includes more distinct parameters than have typically been provided. New data need not be obtained until the validity of previous data expires due to limitations upon temporal extrapolation using Doppler coefficients, unless mobile station movement that cannot be compensated is detected, and jeopardizes validity of the previous data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Gaal, Leonid Sheynblat, Christopher Patrick, Wyatt Thomas Riley
  • Publication number: 20140104103
    Abstract: A system and methods for location authentication are presented. An estimated server signal is estimated based on a generated known code signal, and a client received satellite signal is received from a client device. The client received satellite signal is compared to the estimated server signal to provide a comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Per K. Enge, David Lawrence, Michael L. O'Connor, Michael L. Eglington, Gregory M. Gutt, David A. Whelan
  • Patent number: 8700049
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for reducing an initial position uncertainty of a mobile station. In one example, although claimed subject matter is not so limited, a process to improve an initial position estimate comprises identifying the locations of a serving cell and at least one other landmark proximate to a receiver and determining an initial estimate of the location of the receiver based, at least in part, on the identified locations of the serving cell and the at least one other landmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Marc Ische, Lalitaprasad V. Daita, Thomas K. Rowland
  • Publication number: 20140085142
    Abstract: An system and method for assisting global positioning system (GPS) receivers in acquiring and tracking satellites. A method for assisting GPS receivers in acquiring and tracking satellites includes receiving satellite parameters of at least one satellite visible to at least one GPS receiver. The method further includes receiving a request for assistance from a requesting GPS receiver and assisting the requesting GPS receiver in acquisition and tracking using the received satellite parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Baruch, Ory Eger
  • Patent number: 8681044
    Abstract: Locating satellites (e.g., GPS) are culled into a preferred group having a longest dwell time based on a time passing through an ellipsoid arc path through a cone of space, and communicated to mobile devices within a particular region (e.g., serviced by a particular base station). The culled locating satellites may select those visible, or more preferably those locating satellites currently within a cone of space above the relevant base station are selected for communication by a mobile device within the service area of the base station. The inverted cone of space may be defined for each antenna structure for any given base station, and each has 360 degrees of coverage, or less than 360 degrees of coverage, with relevant locating satellites. Thus, cell sites may be specifically used as reference points for culling the ephemeris information used to expedite Assisted GPS location determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Telecommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Douglas Pitt, Leslie Johann Lamprecht, Jeffrey Thomas Martin
  • Publication number: 20140062770
    Abstract: A satellite signal receiver and a method for updating ephemeris information thereby are disclosed. The receiver includes an instruction module, a signal processing module, and an update module. The instruction module is configured to send an instruction for updating ephemeris information at a set time interval. The signal processing module is configured to obtain corresponding satellite data. The update module is configured to update the ephemeris information according to the obtained satellite data in response to the instruction for updating ephemeris information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventors: Ke GAO, Mao Liu
  • Publication number: 20140062781
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method using hybrid spectral compression and cross correlation signal processing of signals of opportunity, which may include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) as well as other wideband energy emissions in GNSS obstructed environments. Combining spectral compression with spread spectrum cross correlation provides unique advantages for positioning and navigation applications including carrier phase observable ambiguity resolution and direct, long-code spread spectrum signal acquisition. Alternatively, the present invention also provides unique advantages for establishing the validity of navigation signals in order to counter the possibilities of electronic attack using spoofing and/or denial methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Loctronix Corporation
    Inventors: Michael B. Mathews, Peter F. MacDoran
  • Patent number: 8648747
    Abstract: Ephemeris data is downloaded intelligently to a GPS-enabled wireless communications device based on user activity rather than at fixed predetermined intervals. Ephemeris data can be downloaded to enable both Aided GPS and Assisted GPS. The device can download ephemeris data based on the frequency of requests into an API communicating with a GPS driver, based on the detection of a new network, or a change in time zone of the network time. Intelligent, adaptive downloading of ephemeris optimizes the usage of bandwidth and the data charge to the user while ensuring that ephemeris data is cached to provide assistance for location-based services such as turn-based navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Piotr Konrad Tysowski
  • Patent number: 8635016
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for efficient communication between a server and a client in an assisted navigation system. In one or more embodiments, the server transmits a set of parameters for a satellite to the client, e.g., a GPS receiver, via a wireless or wired connection. The set of parameters includes a force parameter, initial condition parameters and time correction coefficients for the satellite. The receiver uses the received parameters in a numerical integration to compute the position of the satellite at a desired time. The set of parameters needed for the integration is small. To further reduce the amount of data transmitted, reference parameters may be subtracted from the original parameters before transmission from the server. The receiver is able to reconstruct the original parameters from the received parameters and the identically computed reference parameters. The parameters may be further compressed using data compression techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaowei Han, Wentao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8630805
    Abstract: A method of mapping a space using a combination of radar scanning and optical imaging. The method includes steps of providing a measurement vehicle having a radar system and an image acquisition system attached thereto; aligning a field of view of the radar system with a field of view of the image acquisition system; obtaining at least one radar scan of a space using the radar scanning system; obtaining at least one image of the space using the image acquisition system; and combining the at least one radar scan with the at least one image to construct a map of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Becker, Oliver Schwindt
  • Patent number: 8626435
    Abstract: A method for determining location such as vehicle location receives data at a predetermined frequency, validates the received data, stores the received data based on the validation and computes a location based on the stored data. The validation includes verifying a presence of particular data substrings within the received data, verifying a presence of a plurality of data fields within each data substring, computing a parameter based on information contained in two of the plurality of data fields and comparing the computer parameter with a pre-defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Group North America LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Gardea, James Gwynn, John Bate
  • Patent number: 8626199
    Abstract: A method for a PC to realize an A-GPS in a PC technology field is provided. The method includes: a. the PC controlling a wireless network module of the PC to connect with a network to initiate a GPS positioning session; b. a location server transmitting GPS auxiliary information to the PC; c. the PC acquiring information of a current satellite according to the GPS auxiliary information. The method enables the A-GPS function to be applicable for the PC to provide positioning and navigation services to the PC. A corresponding A-GPS server can be connected to acquire the information of the current satellite based on the GPS auxiliary information with the network function provided by the wireless network module of the PC to accelerate the speed for acquiring data of the current satellite, and then current position information of the PC can be accurately calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-zhe You, Jing-gao Zhou, Cong Li
  • Patent number: 8576119
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a circuit board, a dielectric extension extending outwardly from the circuit board, and wireless transceiver circuitry on the circuit board. The mobile wireless communications device may also include satellite positioning signal receiver circuitry on the circuit board, and an antenna on the dielectric extension and coupled to the satellite positioning signal receiver circuitry. A passive antenna beam pattern director is associated with the antenna and includes at least one electrically conductive director element in spaced apart relation from the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Yihong Qi, Ying Tong Man, Perry Jarmuszewski, Adrian Matthew Cooke
  • Publication number: 20130271318
    Abstract: A method is provided for estimating parameters useful to determine the position of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver or a change in the position thereof. The method includes the steps of: obtaining at least one GNSS signal received at the GNSS receiver from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites; obtaining, from at least one network node, precise satellite information on: (i) the orbit or position of at least one of the plurality of GNSS satellites, and (ii) a clock offset of at least one of the plurality of GNSS satellites; identifying, among the obtained GNSS signals, a subset of at least one GNSS signal possibly affected by a cycle slip, the identified subset being hereinafter referred to as cycle-slip affected subset; and estimating parameters useful to determine the position of the GNSS receiver or a change in the position of the GNSS receiver using at least some of the obtained GNSS signals which are not in the cycle-slip affected subset, and the precise satellite information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Donald Doucet, Herbert Landau
  • Patent number: 8532600
    Abstract: A system includes a first clock module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a phase-locked loop (PLL) module, a cellular transceiver, and a baseband module. The first clock module generates a first clock reference. The GPS module operates in response to the first clock reference. The WLAN module operates in response to the first clock reference. The PLL module generates a second clock reference by performing automatic frequency correction (AFC) on the first clock reference in response to an AFC signal. The cellular transceiver receives radio frequency signals from a wireless medium and generates baseband signals in response to the received radio frequency signals. The baseband module receives the baseband signals, operates in response to a selected one of the first clock reference and the second clock reference, and generates the AFC signal in response to the baseband signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Uehara, Alexander Zaslavsky, Brian Brunn
  • Patent number: 8519887
    Abstract: Signal acquisition assistance data is obtained for receiving devices such as wireless position assisted location devices seeking signals from any source, such as satellite vehicles and base stations. The data may be obtained from previously acquired data, based upon evaluation of changes in parameters such as time and location that may jeopardize validity. In some cases the data may be adjusted for the changes in parameters. Refined data may be calculated by a receiver using partial measurements of signal sets, particularly if the acquisition assistance data provided by a remote entity includes more distinct parameters than have typically been provided. New data need not be obtained until the validity of previous data expires due to limitations upon temporal extrapolation using Doppler coefficients, unless mobile station movement that cannot be compensated is detected, and jeopardizes validity of the previous data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Gaal, Leonid Sheynblat, Christopher Patrick, Wyatt Thomas Riley
  • Publication number: 20130194132
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for transmitting a satellite state to a satellite receiver to determine use or non-use of a satellite signal in positioning estimation. A satellite navigation system includes at least one satellite, a satellite control center for controlling the at least one satellite, and a server. The server transmits satellite state information about the at least one satellite identified through the satellite control center to the satellite receiver. The satellite receiver restricts the use of the satellite signal for positioning estimation when the satellite state is identified as erroneous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8493267
    Abstract: A method and system for assisting mobile stations to locate a satellite use an efficient messaging format. A server computes a correction between coarse orbit data of a satellite and precise orbit data of the satellite. A coordinate system is chosen such that variation of the correction is substantially smooth over time. The server further approximates the correction with mathematical functions to reduce the number of bits necessary for transmission to a mobile station. The mobile station, upon receiving the coefficients, evaluates the mathematical functions using the coefficients and a time of applicability (e.g., the current time), converts the evaluated result to a standard coordinate system, and applies the conversion result to the coarse orbit data to obtain the precise orbit data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael James Wengler, Leonid Sheynbiat, Mark Leo Moeglein, Zolton Blac, Arnold Jason Gum
  • Patent number: 8467433
    Abstract: A receiver includes a pre-correlation filter that forms an image of the average chip shape of a received signal over a specified period of time. The filter includes an array of complex accumulation registers that accumulate measurements that are associated with signal samples from specific ranges of locations, or code chip phase angles, along a spread-spectrum chip. Using the accumulated measurements, the receiver estimates the location of the chip transitions in a direct path signal component. The receiver may thereafter change the starting point, size and number of ranges, such that the accumulation registers accumulate more detail from the chip edges. The receiver in addition may compare the accumulated measurements with a reference pulse shape to determine if any interference is present in the received transmission that will distort ranging information calculated from the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: NovAtel Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick C. Fenton
  • Patent number: 8437227
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites includes: a satellite signal reception unit that receives satellite signal(s); a satellite capturing unit that executes a process of capturing at least one of the satellites within a capture time based on the satellite signal(s) received by the reception unit; a time adjustment information generating unit that acquires satellite information from the satellite signal(s) transmitted from the captured satellite(s), and generates time adjustment information based on the satellite information; a time information adjustment unit that adjusts internal time information based on the time adjustment information; and a time information display unit that displays the internal time information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8432312
    Abstract: Signal acquisition assistance data is obtained for receiving devices such as wireless position assisted location devices seeking signals from any source, such as satellite vehicles and base stations. The data may be obtained from previously acquired data, based upon evaluation of changes in parameters such as time and location that may jeopardize validity. In some cases the data may be adjusted for the changes in parameters. Refined data may be calculated by a receiver using partial measurements of signal sets, particularly if the acquisition assistance data provided by a remote entity includes more distinct parameters than have typically been provided. New data need not be obtained until the validity of previous data expires due to limitations upon temporal extrapolation using Doppler coefficients, unless mobile station movement that cannot be compensated is detected, and jeopardizes validity of the previous data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Gaal, Leonid Sheynblat, Christopher Patrick, Wyatt Thomas Riley