Land Vehicle Location (e.g., Bus, Police Car Patents (Class 342/457)
  • Publication number: 20110145063
    Abstract: Collecting application execution data by a push service and targeting application programs with advertisements based on the collected data. Statistics such as activity, popularity, and frequency of execution for each of the application programs are generated based on the collected data. The statistics are matched to advertising campaigns to select application programs relevant to the advertising campaigns. Advertisers are charged for delivering the advertisements based on the selected application programs. For example, advertisements delivered to frequently executed application programs are more expensive than advertisements delivered to application programs that are rarely executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rashid Qureshi, Ashwini Varma, Vinay Gupta, Scott Michael Bragg, Francis X. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 7962156
    Abstract: A probabilistic prediction is made of the location of a wireless-enabled mobile station in a wireless local area network. The prediction includes calculating a vector representing movement of the mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of the network are located, and determining a region surrounding the vector in which the mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Ian Robertson, Tom Nagy
  • Patent number: 7961081
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for detecting unauthorized movement of a moveable object where the system includes a GPS receiver, cellular modulator, processor, pager modem, sensor and two-way pager. When the system is coupled to a moveable object and is armed via the pager, the sensor is monitored by the processor to determine when a possible theft of the moveable object may be occurring. In an embodiment, the sensor is a multiple axis accelerometer. In one embodiment the accelerometer is a two axes accelerometer where the sensor detects small movements of the object is two axes. When the sensor is triggered, the processor pages the two-way pager. The processor also determines the system's location via the GPS receiver. The processor generates a message including the system's location and unique system identifier. The processor transmits the message to a monitoring center via a cellular network (and the cellular modulator).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: John Tomlienovic, Lee Knight
  • Patent number: 7952524
    Abstract: A method and system for positioning mobile units using angle measurements taken by neighboring mobile units is disclosed. A selected mobile unit and mobile units in the vicinity of the selected mobile unit are selectively instructed to measure and report information related to the position of the selected mobile unit. The reported information is used to compute a position of the selected mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Marinier
  • Patent number: 7949349
    Abstract: An object is to provide a cell phone capable of achieving improvement in efficiency of communication and improvement in user's operability on the occasion of providing location information. A cell phone 10 has a data transmitter 101 for transmitting user data to a content delivery server 30, using a user channel, a location request part 102 for transmitting request information to request calculation of location information about the cell phone 10, to a GPS server 40 in accordance with the transmission of the user data, using a control channel, a location acquiring part 103 for acquiring the location information calculated based on the request information by the GPS server 40, using the control channel, and a location transmitter 105 for transmitting the location information to the content delivery server 30, using the control channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Menjo, Manabu Fujita, Aki Kariya, Katsutoshi Murata
  • Patent number: 7945626
    Abstract: A method that determines a physical location of an unknown position device (UPD) in a communication network including a plurality of known position devices (KDPs), in which a message transmitted by the UPD is received by plural KDPs. The method includes measuring a signal quality of each received message received by the plural KDPs from the UPD, and computing the likely physical location of the UPD based on the physical location of the plural KPDs receiving the message from the UPD and the respective signal quality measured at each KPD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: M&FC Holding, LLC
    Inventors: H. Britton Sanderford, Jr., Gregg A. Larson
  • Patent number: 7941302
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for channel simulation is disclosed. The claimed invention provides method and apparatus 1200 to simulate a propagation channel, particularly a multiple-input-multiple-input (MIMO) channel. The claimed invention further provides a method and apparatus for efficient optimization of antenna by the enhanced channel simulation. The claimed invention takes both antenna characteristics and channel characteristics as inputs, and output time-varying channel realizations to generate the system metrics as the optimization target for antenna under optimization. The claimed invention advantageous provides enhanced channel simulation to meet the accuracy requirement of antenna evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueyuan Zhao, Chun Kit Lee, Zhengang Pan, Chih-Lin I, Kin Nang Lau, Roger Shu Kwan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7917157
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of providing location information in a mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for a current location of a mobile station; determining a time at which a last known location of the mobile station was determined; comparing the time to a threshold time limit; and providing, as the current location, the last known location if the time is within the threshold time limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy
    Inventor: Janne Muhonen
  • Patent number: 7904244
    Abstract: A location may be determined by accepting location information from at least two sources using at least two location technologies, for each set of location information from each source, adjusting the location information using at least one of (A) confidence in the source, (B) error range of the source, (C) an error model for the source, and (D) application-specific context information, and combining adjusted locations to generate a final location these location technologies assume a degree of cooperation. The location technologies may include a combination of a “tag” that is placed on the object to be tracked, and one or more receivers/transmitters that work in concert with the tag to locate the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sarimo Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Binay Sugla
  • Patent number: 7903029
    Abstract: A system for wirelessly locating mobile station/units (MS) and using resulting location determinations for providing a product or service is disclosed. The system is useful for routing an MS user to a plurality of desired locations, alerting an MS user to a nearby desired product or service based on satisfaction of user criteria, and providing enhanced security and 911 response. In one embodiment, the system responds to MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location processing sites. A plurality of locating technologies including those based on: (1) TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) timing advance; (5) GPS and network assisted GPS, (6) angle of arrival, (7) super resolution enhancements, and (8) supplemental information from low cost base stations can be activated, in various combinations, by system embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: TracBeam LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Jay Dupray
  • Patent number: 7904081
    Abstract: A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ARINC Incorporated
    Inventors: Debra J. Graves, Rolf Stefani, William Brian Pemberton, Alan Martin Williard, Ernest Joseph Siegrist
  • Patent number: 7904082
    Abstract: A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ARINC Incorporated
    Inventors: Debra J. Graves, Rolf Stefani, William Brian Pemberton, Alan Martin Williard, Ernest Joseph Siegrist
  • Patent number: 7899598
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a surface-modifying machine, wherein information on the desired condition and on the actual condition of ground to be prepared is provided and is used to derive control statements for the machine based on a comparison of the desired and the actual condition. The information on the actual condition is represented by a point cloud as a spatial distribution of discrete surface points. In order to derive control statements, at least two surface points each from the point cloud are used for every horizontal position so that non-differentiated information can be derived that for example also allow to identify various planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Clement Woon, Peter A. Stegmaier, Klaus Schneider, Martin Nix
  • Patent number: 7890060
    Abstract: A method, apparatus or tangible computer medium (which stores computer executable code or program code) performs or facilitates obtaining information concerning one or more characteristics of one or more monitored wireless signals or links, such as radio frequency (RF) signals, transmitted across a geographic area; and detecting a presence of an object in the geographic area according to a variation of a characteristic of one or more of the RF signals reflecting interference of the RF signal(s) by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Joni Lehtinen
  • Publication number: 20110025556
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a service establishes individual Internet connections to numerous electric resources intermittently connected to the power grid, such as electric vehicles. The Internet connection may be made over the same wire that connects the resource to the power grid. The service optimizes power flows to suit the needs of each resource and each resource owner, while aggregating flows across numerous resources to suit the needs of the power grid. The service can bring vast numbers of electric vehicle batteries online as a new, dynamically aggregated power resource for the power grid. Electric vehicle owners can participate in an electricity trading economy regardless of where they plug into the power grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth W. Bridges, Seth B. Pollack, David L. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 7877208
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing a low-power local-area network for use with a mobile terminal satellite modem. This low-power local-area network enables sensors on an asset to transmit sensor data to a mobile terminal affixed on the asset. The mobile terminal reports the sensor data along with asset position information to a centralized facility via a communications satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Battista
  • Patent number: 7864057
    Abstract: A pet location system having a pet locator with GPS capabilities in communication with a wireless network such that a user interface accessible on a common computer network or by telephone is provided. The pet location system includes access to the user interface via a computer on the common computer network or via a telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Perfectech, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford D. Milnes, Demitrius Nelon, George W. Mills, Harold E. Asbridge, John M. LaTronico, Keni D. LaTronico, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7859462
    Abstract: The system comprises a positioning-unit device (PUD) that receives, from other PUDs and other signal sources, one or more positioning signals, which each have carrier, code and data componcuts. In response to the received positioning signals and using their known locations, the PUD generates a unique positioning signal, which similarly has carrier, code and data components, all of which are respectively chronologically synchronized to the counterpart components of the received positioning signals. Once synchronized, other PUDs entering the network use the unique positioning signal as a reference, providing a time-coherent network of positioning signals that propagate a reference timebase over a geographical area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Locata Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David Small
  • Patent number: 7853250
    Abstract: A wireless access device in a wireless network, whether a known or unknown entity, can be located using a geolocation system. A signal strength is determined by a wireless intrusion detection system (WIDS) node in a wireless network for each wireless access device that it detects. Based on the signal strength, an approximate distance from the node is determined, which, in one embodiment corresponds to a radius of a circle around the node. To account for error, an approximation band of the circle is calculated that will allow a user to determine the approximate location of the device within the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Network Security Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Elaine Harvey, Matthew Walnock
  • Publication number: 20100309051
    Abstract: Some embodiments use scanning devices to characterize radio signals received at a number of locations within a geographical area of interest. The signal characteristics along with the location information associated with the characteristics are stored in a centralized reference database. A mobile device characterizes signals it receives at a certain location and compares the characteristics with the signal characteristics stored in the reference database to obtain accurate location information of the certain location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 7835856
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a telematics device within a mobile vehicle communication system to provide a current telematics device geographic location. The method includes receiving odometer information including velocity information for a specified time period, and receiving positional information including velocity information for a specified time period. The method further includes determining a first distance traveled value based on the received odometer information and determining a second distance traveled value based on the received positional information. The method additionally includes selecting one of the first and second distance traveled values as a primary distance traveled value based on predetermined criteria, and determining a current telematics device geographic location based on the primary distance traveled value. The odometer information may include velocity information from a power-train sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Curtis L. Hay, Brian W. Fillwock
  • Patent number: 7831388
    Abstract: An accurate positioning system installed in a vehicle is disclosed to include a GPS, a Gyro sensor, a vehicle speedometer, and a controller. When the GPS outputs a next GPS coordinates, the controller calculates a next reference coordinates subject to the azimuth signal outputted from the Gyro sensor and the vehicle speed signal outputted from the vehicle speedometer and calculates the distance between the next GPS coordinates and the next reference coordinates, and then assigns the GPS coordinates to be the next accurate coordinates for output when the distance between the next GPS coordinates and the next reference coordinates surpasses a reference distance, or assigns the next reference coordinates to be the next accurate coordinates for output when the distance between the next GPS coordinates and the next reference coordinates is smaller than or equal to the reference distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sin Etke Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Rong Chen, Chun-Chung Lee, Ming-Wen Yang
  • Patent number: 7825780
    Abstract: A cellular alarm notification signal is received wirelessly from an alarming vehicle, and a position of a cellular transceiver of the alarming vehicle is requested and provided to police, security, emergency personnel, and/or surveillance cameras. A vehicle alarm notification is sent directly to the owner of a particular vehicle immediately upon alarm, or to the police, or to building security to dispatch an investigative team, or to a building surveillance company to activate or monitor a relevant security camera. In addition to the alarming status of the vehicle, the cellular alarm notification cellular call may provide a position of the alarming vehicle to the notified party, obtained through appropriate location services provided in a wireless system to satisfy requirements for responding in a personal emergency to a requesting public safety access point (PSAP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Lance Douglas Pitt
  • Patent number: 7821424
    Abstract: An asset is located in a facility via triangulation. When the user enters the facility with the asset, the user receives a base and code from a base/code booth. The code may be stored on a removable card. The user secures the asset by entering the code. While the user is away from the facility, the base is monitored for movement detected by the motion sensor. When the user returns to the facility, a locator panel displays the location of the asset determined by triangulation using the locators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Randolph Michael Forlenza, John Paul Kaemmerer, Raghuraman Kalyanaraman
  • Patent number: 7812766
    Abstract: A location system is disclosed for wireless telecommunication infrastructures. The system is an end-to-end solution having one or more location systems for outputting requested locations of hand sets or mobile stations (MS) based on, e.g., AMPS, NAMPS, CDMA or TDMA communication standards, for processing both local mobile station location requests and more global mobile station location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location systems. The system uses a plurality of mobile station locating technologies including those based on: (1) two-way TOA and TDOA; (2) home base stations and (3) distributed antenna provisioning. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. The system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: TracBeam LLC
    Inventors: Frederick W. Leblanc, Dennis J. Dupray, Charles L. Karr
  • Patent number: 7801677
    Abstract: A real-time path-directed controller for navigating an object along a desired path is disclosed. The controller comprises: a position sensor which contributes to the production of a conditioned object position signal to a controller summer; a heading conditioning module which contributes to the production of a conditioned heading signal to the controller summer; a control apparatus sensor which contributes to the production of a conditioned control apparatus signal to the controller summer; and a control apparatus null position conditioning module which contributes to the production of a conditioned null position signal to the controller summer. The controller summer sums the signals to produce a controller summer signal to a controller summer conditioning module so as to produce a control apparatus control signal to a control apparatus controller so as to direct the control apparatus and thereby direct the object by feedback control along the desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventors: John H. Harrison, Jr., J. Howard Harrison
  • Patent number: 7791502
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for locating an asset in a facility. An example of an asset is a vehicle and an example of a facility is a parking facility. When the user enters the facility with the asset, the user receives a base and code from a base/code booth. The code may be stored on a removable card. The user secures the asset by entering the code. While the user is away from the facility, the present invention monitors the base for movement detected by the motion sensor. When the user returns to the facility, a locator panel displays the location of the asset. The present invention determines the location of the asset by triangulation using the locators. The user then returns to the asset, deactivates the motion sensor, returns the base and code to a base/code booth, pays for the storage services, and exits the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Randolph Michael Forlenza, John Paul Kaemmerer, Raghuraman Kalyanaraman
  • Patent number: 7783302
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a current position of a mobile device in an environment in which at least one transmitter is disposed includes a means for providing a cartographic map of the environment, the cartographic map including field strength reference values at reference points, a means for determining a field strength value, a means for deriving a reference point within reach that can be reached starting from a previous position of the mobile device by movement of the mobile device in the environment within a predetermined time interval, from the cartographic map of the environment, and a comparator for comparing the field strength value with a field strength reference value at the reference point within reach in order to determine the current position. By including the cartographic map of the environment, the position determination is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jürgen Hupp, Steffen Meyer, Marcus Bliesze, Melanie Sippl
  • Patent number: 7783287
    Abstract: A satellite radiotelephone system includes a space-based component and an ancillary terrestrial component that are configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones. The radiotelephones are configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies. The radiotelephone outputs are gated to cease transmissions periodically over a period of time. Related systems, methods, components and devices are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: ATC Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Peter D. Karabinis
  • Patent number: 7778794
    Abstract: A system and method are provided in which an element of a structure may be reliably identified. For example, a system may include a part selection element configured to interact with at least one positional marker having a predefined location. The part selection element is also configured to select at least a portion of a structure, with the structure being positioned at a predetermined location and orientation. The part selection element may also be configured to identify a depth within the structure. The system also includes a computing device configured to identify an element of the structure based upon the position and orientation of the part selection element and the portion of the structure selected by the part selection element. In instances in which a depth is identified, the computing device may also be configured to identify the element of the structure at the depth identified within the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul Robert Davies, Anthony E. Majoros
  • Patent number: 7768393
    Abstract: A system and method for asset tracking utilizing a wireless device. An asset such as a vehicle can be equipped with a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor and an accelerometer in association with a remote control hardware component capable of responding to SMS (Short Message Service) command transmitted from the wireless device. As soon as the theft of the asset is detected, a “Theft in progress” SMS data can be transmitted from the wireless device to the remote device attached to the asset. The device then queries the geomagnetic sensor and the accelerometer at a pre-defined rate and transmits the X-Y-Z coordinates and acceleration values to the cell phone/computer via SMS at regular intervals. The device can also log the route of vehicle in a non-volatile memory which can be queried utilizing a “Request History” command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Amit Nigam
  • Patent number: 7764231
    Abstract: A hybrid wireless location system and method is disclosed for locating mobile stations (MSs). Multiple wireless location techniques (FOMs) are provided for MS location. One or more FOMs can be activated in various combinations (serially or parallelly) for outputting one or more MS location estimates with signal protocols, e.g., CDMA, TDMA, or GSM. Resulting location estimates may be for, e.g.: 911 emergency calls, tracking, navigation, people and animal location, andJor applications for confinement to andlor exclusion from geographical areas. System components may be distributed on a network (e.g., the Internet). FOMs may be based on one or more of: TOA, TDOA, AOA, signal pattern recognitionlfingerprinting, statistical analysis, base station coverage, GPS signals received at the MS, andlor input from mobile stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: TracBeam LLC
    Inventors: Charles L. Karr, Dennis J. Dupray
  • Patent number: 7760704
    Abstract: A network architecture uses an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server which allows paging and call routing across different types of wireless and wireline access networks. The ASAA server provides connectivity between an external voice or data network and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The external voice or data network may be a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a public data network (PDN), so that the connectivity between the external network and the WTRU is provided through the access networks using data from the ASAA server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Narayan Parappil Menon, Alan Gerald Carlton
  • Patent number: 7742754
    Abstract: Mobile terminals 201 to 203 measure strength of the received signal from plurality of base station antennas 101 to 105 and transmits it to network system 300. Network system 300 determines proximity state between plurality of base station antennas 101 to 105 based on the strength of the received signal from plurality of base station antennas 101 to 105 transmitted from mobile terminals 201 to 203. From that determination, the base station antennas proximity state matching a position or features of an antenna of the mobile terminal can be recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Yahagi
  • Publication number: 20100152972
    Abstract: A parallel parking assist system and a method for evaluating an area for use as a parking space for a host vehicle, the parallel park assist system comprises a ultra wideband radar sensor disposed in the host vehicle, wherein the radar sensor obtains a measurement data relating to a potential parking space and transmits a data signal representing the measurement data, a processor adapted to receive the transmitted data signal from the sensor, analyze the data signal, and transmit an alert signal in response to the analysis of the data signal, and a user interface adapted to receive the alert signal and provide an alert to the driver of the host vehicle in response to the alert signal, wherein the alert signal represents the suitability of the potential parking space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Joe Charles Attard, Jeffrey Allen Bochenek, Stanley Lawrence Seely
  • Publication number: 20100149019
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to track aircraft or other vehicles using techniques including multilateration and elliptical surveillance. Unlike conventional approaches that use time difference of arrival for multilateration at a fixed set of reception points, this technique allows targets to be tracked from a number of dynamic or moving reception points. This allows for triangulation/multilateration and elliptical surveillance of targets from combinations of fixed, fixed and moving or only moving ground-based receivers, sea-based receivers, airborne receivers and space-based receivers. Additionally this technique allows for ADS-B validation through data derived from only two receivers to assess the validity and integrity of the aircraft self-reported position by comparing the time of arrival of the emitted message at the second receiver to the predicted time of message arrival at the second receiver based on the self-reported position of the aircraft and the time of arrival at the first receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander E. Smith, Russell Hulstrom, Carl A. Evers, Thomas J. Breen
  • Patent number: 7738881
    Abstract: The present invention leverages changes in the sensed strength of radio signals at different locations to determine a device's location. In one instance of the present invention, inference procedures are used to process ambient commercial radio signals, to estimate a location or a probability distribution over the locations of a device. In another instance of the present invention, a system utilizes learning and inference methods that are applied to rank vector of signal strength vectors. Moving to such rank orderings leads to systems that bypass consideration of absolute signal strengths in location calculations. The present invention facilitates approximations for locating a device by providing a system that does not require a substantial number of available ambient signal strengths while still providing useful location inferences in determining locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Krumm, Gerald F. Cermak, Eric J. Horvitz, Edward C. Miller, Adel Amin AbdelAzim Youssef
  • Patent number: 7737830
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for providing tracking information. The system includes a base unit that receives a request from a first mobile unit and provides a response to the first mobile unit. The base unit obtains a current position of a second mobile unit. The response from the base unit to the mobile unit indicates the current position of the second mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: NAVTEQ North America, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Behr, Randoll B. Jones
  • Patent number: 7714778
    Abstract: A system for wirelessly locating mobile station/units (MS) and using resulting location determinations for providing a product or service is disclosed. The system is useful for routing an MS user to a plurality of desired locations, alerting an MS user to a nearby desired product or service based on satisfaction of user criteria, and providing enhanced security and 911 response. In one embodiment, the system responds to MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location processing sites. A plurality of locating technologies including those based on: (1) TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) timing advance; (5) GPS and network assisted GPS, (6) angle of arrival, (7) super resolution enhancements, and (8) supplemental information from low cost base stations can be activated, in various combinations, by system embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: TracBeam LLC
    Inventor: Dennis J. Dupray
  • Patent number: 7711375
    Abstract: Method and system of determining a location of a wireless transmitting device, such as a cellular phone, a wireless PDA or a radio tag, and guiding the searching personnel to physically reach the wireless transmitting device are disclosed that employ a “Movable Detection Station” and a “Guiding and Reference Device”, and optionally a “searching robot”. The movable detection station is carried on board of a moving platform, such as a police car, an ambulance or a fire truck, or carried by searching personnel. The guiding and reference device is a handheld device including a display device that displays position and guiding information to a user, and a reference wireless transmitter that works with a movable detection station. A searching robot is a robot with a reference transmitter installed on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Hang Liu
  • Publication number: 20100106602
    Abstract: A shopping cart that can be geographically located, methods for locating such carts, and a selection system for enabling a user to create a list of items on a portable computing device, to communicate with external devices to locate each of the items available on the list within a geographically limited area, to provide users with visual or aural cues as to the location of items on the list, to progress through the list of items as each item is selected or rejected, and providing discounts toward, information about, or alternatives to the available items on the list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: APERTURE INVESTMENTS, LLC
    Inventors: Jacquelyn Fuzell-Casey, Timothy Daniel Casey
  • Publication number: 20100082484
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that features a transport vehicle in which a responsive object is present, such as a truck in which a cellphone is present, in which the object is equipped to provide location or other state information when queried. The transport vehicle is outfitted with a proxy that represents the responsive object. The proxy is configured such that it is better able than the responsive object to estimate the responsive object's location or state. The vehicle is also outfitted with i) sensors that detect the responsive object and ii) sensors that detect state information of the vehicle. The object sensors are able to query the object in the same way as the querying device would query that object in the prior art. Using information from the sensors, the proxy then responds to the query on behalf of the responsive object, and an authentication device processes the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: AVAYA INC.
    Inventors: George William Erhart, Valentine C. Matula, David Joseph Skiba
  • Patent number: 7689240
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the performance of augmented services associated with a wireless communications system through the dynamic exploitation of current measurements and operational configuration parameters to accurately and effectively control the signal power and duration transmitted by the mobile unit of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: TruePosition, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20100076622
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a system for determining the location of a wireless device with respect to a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a plurality of antennas positioned about the vehicle for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from the wireless device. The RF signal corresponds to at least one of a command and status related to a predetermined vehicle operation. The system further comprises a controller operably coupled to each antenna. The controller is configured to generate a location signal indicative of the location of the wireless device based on the arrival time of the RF signal at one or more antennas of the plurality of antennas and to control the operation of the predetermined vehicle operation based on the location signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Greg Dickerhoof, Gary Boothroyd
  • Patent number: 7684905
    Abstract: A system for verifying the integrity of a train having a predetermined length including: a device for communicating and synchronising with a detector of a circuit, detecting the presence/absence of a train, an odometer providing an odometric reference at the start of occupation of the circuit and when the circuit is left by the train, a first processor calculating the distance travelled by the train on the basis of the difference between the two odometric references, a second processor calculating a minimum estimate of the length of the train that is equal to the calculated distance travelled less the algebraic length of the detection circuit, information mechanism indicating that the train is integral when the calculated length of the train is greater than the predetermined length of the train less the length of a wagon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Belgium S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Franckart, Eric Lechevin
  • Patent number: 7684927
    Abstract: A system and method for performing distributed sequential node localization in active sensor deployment is presented. An equilateral orthogonal reference frame is defined. The reference frame includes s+1 anchor nodes that is placed in s-dimensional physical space. New nodes are sequentially placed in a natural sequential ordering within the s-dimensional physical space to form a sequentially well-connected network. For each of the new nodes, location estimates are obtained for the new node from at least s+1 of the anchor nodes previously placed in the s-dimensional physical space. A location is determined for the new node based on the location estimates. The new node are placed in the s-dimensional physical space as a new anchor node proximate to at least one of the s+1 previously-placed anchor nodes upon satisfactory location determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Ying Zhang, Qingfeng Huang, Julia Liu
  • Patent number: 7680092
    Abstract: A method of selecting linked metric measurements from at least one of open loop and closed loop measurements is disclosed. The method includes sending by a first node a first radio communication and receiving by a second node the first radio communication over a communication link. The method also includes estimating by a second node dynamics of the communication channel using at least one of the variance and mean deviation of linked metric measurements. The link metric measurements are at least one of symbol error rate (SER), packet error rate (PER), frame error rate (FER), bit error rate (BER), signal to noise ration (SNR), and received signal strength (RSS). The method also includes the use of the above link metric measurements by the second node as Open Loop metrics and the sending back of these metrics to the first node for use a Closed Loop metrics by the first node. The method also includes categorizing the dynamics of the communications channel into one of at least two groups based on the estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. VanLaningham, Jeffrey A. Barton, James A. Stevens, C. David Young
  • Patent number: 7671796
    Abstract: A method for searching satellites is disclosed. In the method of the present invention, the satellites are selected to consist of a group, and searching is conducted in this group. The group size is predetermined for each stage so as to be the most appropriate for various searching conditions. The member number of the group (i.e. group size) and the members of the group are updated as the searching results are continually obtained. The updates are done according to scanning times of the group, satellite hit number, searching time for the group and satellite priorities and the like, for example. The group size can be reduced or expanded. By using the method, satellites required to fix a position can be rapidly found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Kun-tso Chen, Kung-shuan Huang, Jan-shin Ho
  • Patent number: 7667648
    Abstract: Communications facilitate locating a mobile station (22) using the radio frequency spectrum typically used for cellular communications. A first locating signal is communicated between a base station transceiver (30, 32) and a mobile station (22) and includes information regarding the location of the signal source. A plurality of second locating signals are communicated between a corresponding plurality of ranging beacon devices (40, 42, 44) and a mobile station (22) and each includes information regarding the location of the ranging beacon devices (40, 42, 44). The first and second signals allow for determining the location of the mobile station (22). In a disclosed example, the first and second signals are simultaneously transmitted by the base station (30, 32) and the plurality of ranging beacon devices (40, 42, 44), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Laurence E. Mailaender
  • Patent number: RE42285
    Abstract: An Applications Processor (14) including a centralized database system is used in a wireless location system (WLS). The APs 14 may be used to manage resources in the WLS, including signal collection systems (SCSs 10) and TDOA location processors (TLPs 12). Each AP 14 contains a database containing triggers for the WLS. The WLS can be programmed to locate only certain pre-determined types of transmissions. When a transmission of a pre-determined type occurs, then the WLS is triggered to begin location processing. Each AP 14 also contains applications interfaces that permit a variety of applications to securely access the WLS. These applications may access location records in real time or non-real time, create or delete certain types of triggers, or cause the WLS to take other actions. Each AP 14 is also capable of certain post-processing functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: TruePosition, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Anderson, Michael John Kovach, Jr., Anthony Richard Brigidi, John Solley, Edwin E. McCook, Vineet Sachdev, Thomas Ginter, Joseph W. Sheehan, Louis A. Stilp