Abstract: Agricultural rate adjustments performed by autopilots or farm information displays help eliminate guesswork and improve farm efficiency.

Abstract: A method of determining the position of a GNSS receiver antenna includes steps of acquiring input data which includes observations at the GNSS receiver antenna of signals of at least clock and position information of GNSS satellites, for each of a plurality of epochs. Float parameters of a state vector from the input data of each epoch are then estimated. The float parameters include receiver antenna position, receiver clock, and at least one ambiguity per satellite. A jump in the at least one ambiguity of at least one satellite from one epoch to another epoch is detected. Then bridge parameters from the input data of at least one epoch and from the estimated float parameters are estimated. The bridge parameters include values sufficient to update the float parameters to compensate for the jump, and the bridge parameters are then used to update the float parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for placing RFID tags on objects are shown and described. The method includes scanning an object and analyzing one or more reflected signals from the to determine a suggested location for placement of an RFID tag. The scan can be accomplished using a scanning device having an antenna that operates in the near field of the object to measure at least one RF property of the reflected signal from the object.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for tracking assets, such as high-value tools, customer equipment, testing equipment, technicians, and/or the like. Some of these tools and techniques can be used to track assets in a mobile environment (such as in a delivery truck, installation van, and/or the like).

Abstract: A system for implementing a method of coordinating activities associated with paving a roadway with a paver which receives batches of paving material transported to it by transport trucks from a paving material plant where the batches of paving material are prepared, includes computer systems on the paver, on one or more transport trucks, at the paving material plant, and a server having communication links to the computer system on the paver, the computer system on one or more transport trucks, and the computer system at the paving material plant. The server communicates with the computer systems on the paver, on one or more trucks, and at the plant over communication links to provide coordinated operation of the paver, trucks and plant so that the paving material produced by the plant is delivered to the roadway and applied in a manner by the paver that is efficient.

Abstract: A method for providing user interactive actual time networked surveying is disclosed. In one embodiment, a network connection is established between a survey instrument and a central computing device. In addition, a user session is established with the central computing device. Survey measurement data obtained with the survey instrument is transmitted to the central computing device. In addition, correction data from a virtual reference station (VRS) is received at the central computing device. The user session is allowed to direct the processing of the received survey measurement data including one or more real time kinematic calculations at the central computing device. The output of the processing of the received survey measurement data is provided to one or more authorized devices having a connection to the central computing device, the output provided in a concrete and tangible format.

Abstract: Layout equipment for locating a plurality of positions at a construction site, and a method of using the layout equipment, contemplate a laser target rod having an elongated rod body and including retroreflective material on the rod body. The retroreflective material extends substantially the entire length of the rod body, and has scale markings visible thereon. A self-leveling laser transmitter at a known position projects a beam of laser light horizontally, and receives laser light reflected from the laser target rod. A remote control device signals the user of the layout equipment when the rod has been placed at a selected one of the plurality of positions. The layout equipment may also be used to determine relative locations in a previously built structure.

Abstract: An inclinometer using a forward speed, a yaw angle rate, a forward acceleration and external altitude information in order to calculate an inclination angle. The inclinometer performs an automatic calibration of an accelerometer bias. The inclinometer may also perform an automatic calibration of an accelerometer position offset. The external altitude information is not required to be continuous.

Abstract: A method for displaying image data from a plurality of images on a display monitor, where at least some of the images are acquired from different locations, includes displaying the image data from the images on the display monitor. The image data may be displayed from a perspective center associated with the different locations from which the images are acquired. A primary image is determined based on a portion of the image data from the primary image that is displayed on the display monitor compared to portions of the image data from other images that are displayed on the display monitor. Thereafter, the image data on the display monitor is displayed from a perspective center of the primary image. A stacking order of the plurality of images is arranged so that the primary image is on top.

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.

Abstract: A method for displaying arrays of digital image data on a display monitor as a continuous image includes determining nonlinear corrections for each of the arrays of digital image data. Each nonlinear correction may be based in part on a location of the imaging device used to capture the array of digital image data relative to a location of the perspective center from which the array of digital image data will be displayed on the display monitor. The method also includes transforming each array of digital image data using the corresponding nonlinear correction. The method also includes displaying the arrays of corrected image data on the display monitor to produce a continuous display of the scene captured by the imaging device, where relative sizes and positions of objects in the scene are substantially reproduced in the display of the scene.

Abstract: A method for identifying one or more pixels of image data associated with a point in an image includes receiving an indication of a portion of the image as displayed on the display monitor that surrounds the point. The pixels of image data as displayed on the display monitor are identified that are located approximately at edges of the portion of the image. One or more inverse transformations are performed to transform the pixels of image data as displayed on the display monitor to pixels of image data as captured by an image sensor. A portion of image data as captured by the image sensor is identified that corresponds to a portion of the image that surrounds the point. The portion of the image data as captured by the image sensor is displayed on the display monitor without data transformation.

Abstract: A method for locating a point of interest in a plurality of images is provided where the plurality of images capture different views of a scene. At least portions of each of the views are displayed in separate windows on a display monitor. The method includes identifying the point of interest in a first view of the scene and identifying pixels of image data that correspond to the selected point on the display monitor. A line in each of the views is determined that extends along a ray that passes through the point of interest in the scene to pixels of an image sensor corresponding to the pixels of image data in the first view of the scene. The line is displayed in each of the views in which the line is visible.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers. A geometry filter uses a geometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associated statistical information. Ionosphere filters use a two-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain an array of ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the two-frequency ionospheric combinations and associated statistical information. Each two-frequency ionospheric combination comprises a geometry-free two-frequency ionospheric residual carrier-phase combination of observations of a first frequency and observations of a second frequency.

Abstract: In a method for assuring compliance with a mandated requirement, a control component resident in said mobile electronic device is implemented in response to receiving an indication to limit the operation of the mobile electronic device in a moving vehicle. A position determining component disposed within the mobile electronic device is used to determine the speed of the mobile electronic device. The speed of the mobile electronic device is determined to exceed a speed threshold and the functionality of the mobile electronic device is restricted based upon the determination that the speed threshold has been exceeded.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for performing a trip management function are disclosed. A client computer accesses a server networked therewith to retrieve and store data, such as Web documents, relating to the trip. A wireless device interface allows a portable device, wirelessly coupled with a cellular telephone system with the network, to download the Web document. The portable device has cellular telephone functionality, geo-locating functionality, such as GPS capability, for determining its geo-location, and a processor for processing the Web document to help manage the trip. The Web document can include a set of map tiles, which encompass a particular geo-location area, and which form a dynamic map display. As the geo-location of the device changes, the next sequential map tile is downloaded and processed for displayed thereon.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for managing a cargo transaction are disclosed. By transmitting and integrating consignment data and real-time cargo status data including data collected from a GPS-enabled monitoring device to a visual cargo server, a visual cargo data is produced. The visual cargo data is contextualized by integrating with contextual data obtained from one or more contextual servers.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling power dissipation in a base station of a navigation satellite system (NSS) is disclosed. One method utilizes a sensor to monitor one or more components of the base station. Then, based on information from the sensor, a transmission bit rate is increased from a pre-defined bit rate to an increased transmission bit rate for an NSS message transmitted from the base station without reducing transmission power level of the base station. The method also periodically provides a bit rate update signal at the pre-defined bit rate, the bit rate update signal informing a rover utilizing the base station of the increased transmission bit rate for the NSS message transmitted from the base station.

Abstract: An area-based open pit mine designer is disclosed. One example includes an economic shell receiver module to receive an economic shell. In addition, a user input module receives a user parametric input denoting an open pit mine shape based on the economic shell. The open pit mine designer module automatically develops an open pit mine design based on the user parametric input.

Abstract: An open pit mine designer is disclosed. One example includes a metric receiver receives an economic shell metric including ore information and an open pit mine metric. In addition, a user input is provided to receive user modifiable criteria. The open pit mine designer combines the open pit mine metrics, the user modifiable criteria and a waste reduction criteria to develop an open pit mine design, wherein user modifiable information may be used to adjust the open pit mine design during the life of the open pit mine.