Abstract: A phased-array receiver that may be effectively implemented on a silicon substrate. A receiver includes multiple radio frequency (RF) front-ends, each configured to receive a signal with a given delay relative to the others such that the gain of the received signal is highest in a given direction. The receiver also includes a power combination network configured to accept an RF signal from each of the RF front-ends and to pass a combined RF signal to a down-conversion element, where the power distribution network includes a combination of active and passive components. Each RF front-end includes a phase shifter configured to delay the signal in accordance with the given direction and a variable amplifier configured to adjust the gain of the signal.

Abstract: A location and tracking system has wireless base stations, an input interface, and a processor. It receives initial physical environment inputs for an environment, with default signal attenuation values for wall and obstacle segments. An initial channel parameters fingerprint of projected signal strengths in the environment is generated according to the initial physical environment model. The processor simulates motion of the node along a hth trajectory to create a corresponding fitness function describing how similar the channel parameters estimated along the hth trajectory by the prediction model are to gathered channel parameters by the mobile node along its trajectory. The model and the fingerprint are subsequently modified in iterations as possible mobile node trajectories are determined to perform location error estimation which takes into account the re-calculated fingerprint and gathered channel parameters and the hth trajectory as a ground truth.

Abstract: A positioning device and a positioning method thereof are provided. The positioning device can cooperate with a first satellite group and a second satellite group, and it comprises a storage, a receiver and a processor. The receiver is configured to receive a first satellite group signal from the first satellite group and a second satellite group signal from the second satellite group. The processor is electrically connected to the storage and the receiver, and configured to calculate a positioning offset value according to one of the first satellite group signal and the second satellite group signal. In addition, the processor is configured to calculate a positioning result according to the second satellite group signal and the positioning offset, and store the positioning result in the storage.

Abstract: A ranging system includes a time of flight subsystem including circuitry incorporated in a mobile node and a base station for generating a TOF signal between the mobile node and the base station, measuring the time taken for transmission of the TOF signal, and generating a TOF distance signal based on the measured time. An accelerometer, mounted in the mobile node, generates an accelerometer signal. A distance filter generates the distance estimate. The filter is configured to (i) initialize the value of a distance estimate signal based on the TOF distance signal, (ii) detect a human step based on variances in the accelerometer signal, and (iii) change the value of the distance estimate signal by a predetermined quantum only upon detection of the human step, the change being positive or negative depending on a direction of the TOF distance signal relative to the distance estimate signal.

Abstract: Hybrid system (1) comprising an elementary hybrid system (2) comprising an extended processing module CALC (100) determining a first protection radius of the hybrid system RHG1, associated with a position quantity G, using a first extended variance/covariance matrix MHYPE1 as a function of a predetermined first false alarm probability PFA1, of a predetermined non-integrity level PNI and of a predetermined first probability PP1 of occurrence of an undetected hardware failure of a satellite positioning receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning device (PD) arranged to determine a position using an absolute positioning system and a relative positioning system. The positioning device is arranged to work in a first mode, in which the position is determined using the absolute positioning system and possibly the relative positioning system, and in a second mode, in which the position is determined using the relative positioning system and possibly the absolute positioning system. In the first mode the absolute positioning system being weighted more heavily than in the second mode and the positioning device is arranged to switch from the first to the second mode. The positioning device (PD) has access to a digital map database (DMD, 3DMD) and the switch from the first to the second mode is decided based on at least the determined position in combination with information stored in the digital map database (DMD, 3DMD).

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.

Abstract: A method for compensating for the failure of an element in a phased array antenna assembly is provided. After failure of an element of the assembly, a composite pattern is generated from signals received by respective elements in the antenna assembly. This generated pattern is then compared to a standard composite pattern which was generated prior to the failure. Thus the necessity for remedial action can be assessed. If necessary, initial values for parameters associated with each element are assumed and an optimization is performed on the parameters. Consequently, a composite pattern can be generated which approximates the standard composite pattern. Once optimization has been achieved, the optimized parameters are applied to base settings for the assembly and operation of the phased array antenna assembly can be continued.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of a GNSS signal from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained (4120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector at least comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals, each float ambiguity constituting a real number estimate associated with an integer number of wavelengths of the GNSS signal between a receiver of the GNSS signal and the GNSS satellite from which it is received, and the filter being for estimating a float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector (4140). A subset of float ambiguities of the state vector is selected (4150). Integer values are assigned to the estimated float values of the float ambiguities of the subset to define a plurality of integer ambiguity candidate sets (4160). A quality measure is determined for each of the candidate sets. A weighted average of the candidate sets is formed (4200).

Abstract: A combined GNSS and FM receiver receives FM signals comprising satellite navigation data from an AGNSS server. Associated navigation information such as a position fix is determined based on the received satellite navigation data. The received satellite navigation data are GNSS assistance data or LTO data. The AGNSS server generates the satellite navigation data by acquiring GNSS data from a satellite reference network. The acquired GNSS data comprise, for example, GPS data, GLONASS data and/or GALILEO data. The generated satellite navigation data are broadcasted as FM signals through RDS and/or RBDS to the combined GNSS and FM receiver. The combined GNSS and FM receiver receives updated satellite navigation data in subsequent FM signals, periodically or aperiodically, and updates associated navigation information, accordingly. The combined GNSS and FM receiver decodes the received FM radio signals for the updated satellite navigation data generated at the AGNSS server before being transmitted.

Abstract: The invention is a device for multi-band, multi-channel, wireless communications that automatically provides signal amplification when and where necessary, and that automatically avoids harmful interference to base stations and other parts of the communications infrastructure. The invention is a unique combination of an adjustable gain, bidirectional amplifier, a GPS receiver, a processor, and one or more removable, non-volatile, updatable memory devices. Alternatively, the memory can be an internal device accessible via an electronic port such as a USB. In either case, the memory stores comprehensive information that determines if, and how much, amplification is necessary at a particular location sensed by the GPS receiver. The device also includes a dedicated apparatus that permits a deactivation by remote control in the event of a malfunction.

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.

Abstract: A plurality of received signals are received at a first communication device, the plurality of received signals corresponding to at least one training signal having been transmitted by a second communication device a plurality of times via a plurality of antennas by the second communication device applying a respective antenna weight vector from a plurality of different antenna weight vectors each time the at least one training signal is transmitted. The first communication device generates a transmitter antenna weight vector based on a mathematical combination of at least i) the plurality of received signals, ii) the antenna weight vectors applied by the second communication device when transmitting the at least one training signal the plurality of times, and iii) the at least one training signal. The first communication device transmits the transmitter antenna weight vector to the second communication device.

Abstract: A technique for determining the position of a mobile device includes receiving messages from respective mobile reference devices. Each of the messages is broadcast beginning at one of several predetermined message start opportunity (MSO) times that have known timings relative to a reference time. Each of the messages contains a MSO value identifying the MSO time at which transmission of the message started. The MSO value is used to determine the time of transmission of each of the messages received at the mobile device, and the position of the mobile device is determined via multi-lateration. According to another approach, the mobile device receives a set of ADS-B messages from a respective set of mobile reference devices. The time of transmission of each of the ADS-B messages is supplied in the ADS-B message itself or in a subsequent message and used to determine the position of the mobile device.

Abstract: Power consumption can be reduced in a portable terminal device that is equipped with a location means to locate the current position. A portable terminal device carried by a user includes: A location means that locates the current position of the portable terminal device; and a microprocessor that intermittently acquires the result of location from the location means, in which the microprocessor calculates the traveling speed of the portable terminal device based on the result of location done by the location means, and switches the time intervals at which the microprocessor acquires the result of location from the location means in accordance with the traveling speed so that when the result of calculation indicates a small speed, the time intervals become longer than when the result of calculation indicates a large speed.

Abstract: An information processing terminal, including a request reception unit that receives a function request. A GPS signals reception unit that receives a GPS signal, and a current position measuring unit that determines the latitude and longitude of the current position of the information processing terminal based upon the GPS signal. A defining information recording unit in which defining information related to the functions that can be engaged at the information processing terminal is recorded. A function decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not a function can be engaged based upon the defining information and the latitude and longitude of the current position having been measured by the current position measuring unit and a data read/write unit that reads/writes data from/into a data area among a plurality of data areas based upon the results of the decision made by the function decision-making unit.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods of locating a network device based on the time latency between a request by a user device and the receipt of the request by a plurality of satellite servers provided at different locations. Preferably three or more satellites may be employed. The request may be for an item, which may have a known file size, and which may or may not exist. Triangulation techniques may be utilized to determine the location of the device relative to the satellite servers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positional information transmitter, a positional information receiver and a position measuring system capable of measuring a position under moving circumstances. The positional information transmitter transmits positional information for specifying the current position.

Abstract: A method and an integrated circuit to improve sensitivity of decoding time of a GNSS receiver are disclosed. A plurality of estimates of states of an encoder for one or more instances of a time counter is maintained. A signal comprising a plurality of data bits corresponding to an instance of the time counter is detected and at least one augmented state for each estimate of states of the encoder is determined. A corresponding augmented state for successive instances of the time counter is predicted and an augmented branch metric for each of the at least one augmented state is computed. A path metric for the each estimate is updated based on the augmented branch metric for each of the at least one augmented state and a time counter value is determined based on the path metric for the each estimate.

Abstract: A mobile communication device includes, in part, a first wireless receiver adapted to determine, as it travels along a path, a multitude of positions of the mobile communication device using signals received from a primary positioning source, a second wireless receiver adapted to receive signals from one or more ambient wireless sources as the mobile communication device travels along the path, and a positioning module. An internal or external memory stores estimated positions and corresponding time references of the signals of the one or more ambient sources. The positioning module uses the data stored in the database to estimate the position of the mobile communication device when no primary positioning source signal is available. The positioning module optionally uses the data stored in the database to improve estimates of the position of the mobile communication device when primary positioning signal is available.