Determining A Navigation Solution Using Signals Transmitted By A Satellite Radio Beacon Positioning System Patents (Class 342/357.21)
  • Patent number: 12025712
    Abstract: Satellite relaying for geolocation and mitigation of GNSS denial are provided, where a method comprises: receiving, by a processing device from a communication satellite along a communication path, a message initiated at a transmission time by a transmitting device, the communication path having a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite; determining, by the device, a reception time upon receiving the message; determining, by the device, a time of travel of the message associated with only traversal of a portion of the communication that is path between the communication satellite and the target device based on a difference between the transmission time and the reception time; calculating, by the device, a distance between the communication satellite and the target device based on the time of travel; and performing, by the device, one or more actions based on the distance between the communication satellite and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke, David Alexander Reuss
  • Patent number: 11770714
    Abstract: Satellite echoing for geolocation and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denial are provided herein, where an example method comprises: transmitting an initiated message to a communication satellite along a communication path that has a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite; receiving a returned message from the communication satellite over the communication path in response to the initiated message; determining a local time difference between the transmission time and the reception time; calculating a distance between the communication satellite and the target device, the distance calculated based on a portion of the determined time difference associated with only a single traversal of a portion of the communication path that is between the communication satellite and the target device; and performing one or more actions based on the distance between the communication satellite and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke, David Alexander Reuss
  • Patent number: 11409002
    Abstract: A test metric for satellite sent GNSS code signals is proposed, wherein a signal sent by each satellite i is received at different GNSS receivers, and bias-removed, averaged over the receivers and normalized measurement values are derived out of autocorrelation function values. A correlation matrix Ri,n is built from a matrix Xi,n containing the measurement values in the form of measurement value vectors {right arrow over (X)}i,k from the present time epoch tn and from previous time epochs tk with k=1, . . . , n?1, wherein a principal component analysis is done of matrix Ri,n, wherein a transformed vector {right arrow over (T)}i,n=PCi,nT·{right arrow over (X)}i,nT is calculated, with PCi,n containing at least two eigenvectors having the largest eigenvalues of all eigenpairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: THALES MANAGEMENT & SERVICES DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Sébastien Bomart, André Schüttpelz, Arberita Kusari, Frieder Beck, Ulrich Kälberer
  • Patent number: 10698073
    Abstract: Collocated access point (AP) harvest data is combined with accurate location-tagged harvest data to improve access point location estimates and to estimate the location of access points that could not be previously estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Stephen Smith, Robert Mayor, Ronald K. Huang, Lukas M. Marti
  • Patent number: 10650687
    Abstract: In one implementation, a pair of messages are received from one or more space-based receivers that each received the pair of messages. The pair of messages comprise encoded position information of a transmitter, and a plurality of candidate locations for the transmitter is determined therefrom. A location of the transmitter is determined by eliminating candidate locations until only one remains. In particular, each candidate location that is not within a coverage area of each of the space-based receivers is eliminated, and each candidate location that is not within a predetermined distance of at least one previous candidate location is eliminated. In addition, it is determined that the remaining candidate location is within the coverage area of each of the space-based receivers as well as within the predetermined distance of at least one previous candidate location. Upon determining the location of the transmitter, it is transmitted to a subscriber system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Aireon LLC
    Inventors: John Dolan, Andrew Hoag, Michael A. Garcia
  • Patent number: 10375659
    Abstract: A WBAN system for real-time telemonitoring health of a subject, involving a wearable biosignal sensors, each sensor of the sensors configured to measure a plurality of biosignals, ultra-low-power radios correspondingly coupled with the sensors; and a processor operable with at least one of the sensors and the radios, each radio of the radios configured to receive the biosignals from each corresponding sensor and to transmit the biosignals to a processor via a WBAN, and the processor configured to: receive the biosignals from the radios, process the biosignals via a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a nontransitory memory device, the set of executable instructions comprising an instruction for synchronizing time of the biosignals by using the broadcasted R peak reference, whereby real-time health data is providable, and transmit the real-time health data to a healthcare provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Rohan Y. Ramlall
  • Patent number: 10371824
    Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL IP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ran Harel, Tomer Dahan, Ron Rotstein
  • Patent number: 10352708
    Abstract: A method and system of localizing a mobile device having a processor and a memory. The method comprises monitoring, using the processor and the memory, mobile device barometric data along a sequence of positions describing a route being traversed, accessing, using the processor, a repository of barometric fingerprint data associated with respective positions along the route, and using the processor, localizing the mobile device based at least in part on matching a mobile device barometric pattern segment with a correlating pattern segment of the barometric fingerprint data of the repository, the mobile device barometric pattern segment derived at least partly based on ambient barometric pressure measurements associated with at least a pair of contiguous positions in the sequence of positions describing the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MAPSTED CORP.
    Inventors: Sean Huberman, Naiyu Chen
  • Patent number: 10278028
    Abstract: A method of identifying mobile computing devices includes sending a request from a first mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device for the location of the second mobile computing device, and receiving the location of the second mobile computing device at the first mobile computing device. The method further includes providing a notification to one of the first and second mobile computing devices based upon the location of the second mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: William K. Stewart
  • Patent number: 10156639
    Abstract: Method, arrangement and system for improving a combined use of a plurality of different satellite navigation systems, in which each of the plurality of different satellite navigation systems includes a constellation of at least one satellite. The method includes broadcasting from each satellite of the constellation of a first satellite navigation system the clock models for all satellites of the constellation of a second satellite navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ASTRIUM GMBH
    Inventor: Hans L. Trautenberg
  • Patent number: 9935704
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and computer program product for improved data link performance over reliable transport media in a satellite-based global telecommunications network (e.g., Short Burst Data (SBD) transaction network) to reduce downlink latency includes sending a message over reliable transport media in the satellite-based global telecommunications network, polling for a response to the sent message and receiving the response to the sent message. In an aspect of the embodiment, the method can further include polling when a message alert notification is not received. In another aspect of the embodiment, the method can further include polling a single time. In yet another aspect of the embodiment, the method can include polling when a message alert timeout counter elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Avionica, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Segredo, Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers, Anthony Rios
  • Patent number: 9918245
    Abstract: A wireless terminal device performs a communication via the wireless LAN and also performs a communication via a wireless communication network different from the wireless LAN. The wireless terminal device is provided with a determiner for determining whether the device is moving or not, and a measurement controller for measuring a communication power of a communication radio wave transmitted from an access point of the wireless LAN in the position of the determination and for transmitting the information for allowing the operation administrator to specify the measured value of the communication power and the measurement position to the predetermined destination via the above described wireless communication network, triggered by a fact that the determiner determines that the wireless terminal device is not moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tsukamoto, Kenji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9787391
    Abstract: Vessel communications systems and methods are described. According to one aspect, a vessel communications method includes receiving a first communication including first positional data which indicates a location of a first vessel, receiving a second communication including second positional data which indicates a location of a second vessel, using the first and second positional data, identifying a wireless communications range of the first vessel overlapping with a wireless communications range of the second vessel at a moment in time, as a result of the identifying, controlling only one of the first and second vessels to output wireless communications which include both of the first and second positional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Boatracs Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Yu, J. Joel Faul
  • Patent number: 9766341
    Abstract: The system includes a reconfigurable GNSS antenna subsystem that dynamically reconfigures one or more antenna parameters to change one or more operating characteristics of an antenna based on environmental conditions and/or the presence of interfering signals to improve the quality of GNSS satellite signal reception. The system analyzes the received signals to determine if the GNSS satellite signals are sufficiently above received noise, if interfering signals are present, and/or if multipath signals are adversely impacting position calculations. Based on the analysis, the reconfigurable antenna subsystem selectively and dynamically reconfigures one or more parameters to change one or more operating characteristics of the antenna. As the conditions change, the reconfigurable antenna subsystem may dynamically reconfigure one or more of the antenna parameters accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: NovAtel Inc.
    Inventor: Ahmad Chamseddine
  • Patent number: 9743374
    Abstract: Systems and methods for requesting and providing assistance data for a satellite positioning system are described herein. A method as described herein includes receiving, at a base station over a wireless communication link, a first message from a mobile station, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a requested format of the requested assistance data, and wherein the requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the requested format; and transmitting a second message from the base station to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the second message includes the requested assistance data in the requested format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sven Fischer, Ie-Hong Lin, Kirk Allan Burroughs, Grant Alexander Marshall, Stephen William Edge
  • Patent number: 9664792
    Abstract: A navigation receiver operating in a differential navigation mode can change from one solution type to another. At each epoch, primary estimates of coordinates and the solution type are received. Each solution type has a corresponding accuracy. To improve the positioning quality when the solution type changes, smoothed estimates of coordinates are generated according to a two-branch algorithm. Two conditions are evaluated. If both conditions are satisfied, the current-epoch smoothed estimates of coordinates are set equal to the current-epoch extended estimates of coordinates calculated from the sum of the previous smoothed estimates of coordinates and coordinate increments calculated from carrier phases. If at least one of the conditions is not satisfied, updated smoothed estimates of coordinates are generated based on the sum of the current-epoch extended estimates of coordinates and a correction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Viktorovich Veitsel, Mark Isaakovich Zhodzishsky, Viktor Abramovich Veitsel, Andrey Vladimirovich Veitsel, Dmitry Pavlovich Nikitin, Andrey Valeryevich Plenkin
  • Patent number: 9632184
    Abstract: Various arrangements are presented for managing coexistence of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver with a radio access technology (RAT) transceiver. A coexistence manager may receive an indication of a characteristic of a RAT transceiver for a scheduled operating event. Based on the characteristic of the RAT transceiver for the operating event, the coexistence manager may select a space vehicle of a GNSS to use for a location determination by the GNSS receiver. The GNSS receiver may then receive a signal from the space vehicle of the GNSS during the operating event of the RAT transceiver. Location determination using the signal received from the space vehicle received during the operating event of the RAT transceiver may then occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Dominic Wietfeldt, George Chrisikos
  • Patent number: 9625573
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an estimate of a location of a user receiver device. The method and system involve emitting from at least one vehicle at least one spot beam on Earth, and receiving with the user receiver device a signal from at least one spot beam. In one or more embodiments, at least one vehicle may be a satellite and/or a pseudolite. The method and system further involve calculating with the user receiver device the estimate of the location of the user receiver device according to the user receiver device's location within at least one spot beam. In some embodiments, when the user receiver device receives signals from at least two spot beams, the user receiver device calculates the estimate of the location of the user receiver device to be located in the center of the intersection of at least two spot beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Gregory M. Gutt, Robert W. Brumley, Michael L. Eglington, Christopher J. Martens, Anne T. Haddad, Rachel Rané Schmalzried
  • Patent number: 9618351
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for power saving during sensor-assisted Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation using a mobile device are presented. The methods may include receiving location improvement data for a geographic location, the location improvement data including a value corresponding to improvement in accuracy for location data for the geographic location. The mobile device may utilize the location improvement data to determine whether to utilize inertial sensors in the mobile device to improve the accuracy of the position fix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Abinash Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 9557419
    Abstract: Accuracy information for an ionosphere model is generated. Phase residual information of a parameter estimation procedure is obtained and coordinates of pierce points are computed on a sphere around the earth. The coordinates indicate where signals pierce the sphere. Phase residual information is mapped for each pierce point. A grid of equidistant points is put on the sphere and the pierce points are identified. For each selected grid point, vertical accuracy information is computed based on vertical residual information, and a scale factor is computed based on the vertical accuracy information. The accuracy information for the ionosphere model is generated based on the vertical accuracy information computed for the selected grid points and an overall scale factor computed based on computed scale factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Ralf Drescher, Xiaoming Chen
  • Patent number: 9488729
    Abstract: A scintillation caused by ionospheric irregularities during Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements is detected. A first input GNSS measurement corresponding to a navigation satellite and corresponding to a first carrier frequency and a second GNSS measurement corresponding to the navigation satellite and corresponding to a second carrier frequency, in which the second carrier frequency is different from the first carrier frequency, are received. A geometry-free combination (GFC) parameter based at least in part on the first input GNSS measurement, the second input GNSS measurement, the first carrier frequency, and the second carrier frequency is calculated. The occurrence of a scintillation caused by an ionospheric irregularity is determined based at least in part on the GFC parameter. In an embodiment of the invention, the dispersion of the GFC parameter over a specified time interval is determined. A scintillation is detected if the dispersion exceeds a specified threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Vladislavovich Averin, Roman Anatolyevich Nevzorov, Andrey Valeryevich Plenkin
  • Patent number: 9482758
    Abstract: A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal and forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal is configured to measure both code phase and data phase of a GPS satellite signal. The code phase and data phase information enables the processor to reduce the number of candidate points to be considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Brosius, III
  • Patent number: 9453921
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating geographic position are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data representative of geographic position from an external source such as a global positioning system (“GPS”); receives navigation data representative of measurements of angular and linear motions from an internal source of navigation data such as an inertial measurement unit (“IMU”); and determines and generates navigation data representative of geographic position responsive to such determination. The generation of navigation data could be based upon internal source navigation data and an estimate of error of geographic position, where the estimate of error is based upon a delay of the external-sourced navigation data and a delayed output from one of the internal sources (e.g., delayed output of an IMU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Bell, James H. Doty
  • Patent number: 9448307
    Abstract: The invention, in some embodiments, relates to the field of global navigation satellite systems, and more particularly to the field of methods and devices for improving accuracy of position determination by receivers of global navigation satellite systems. Some embodiments of the invention relate to methods for generating a three-dimensional (3-D) representation of an urban area by a receiver of a global navigation satellite system using blocked lines of sight to satellites of the system. Additional embodiments of the invention relate to methods for transmitting a three-dimensional (3-D) representation of an urban area by a receiver of a global navigation satellite system for improving calculation of location by the global navigation satellite system receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ariel-University Research and Development Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Boaz Ben-Moshe, Harel Levi
  • Patent number: 9423501
    Abstract: Station for receiving satellite radio navigation signals having first wideband transceiver for receiving a specific signal transmitted by a transmitter/receiver and extracting therefrom at least one user radio navigation signal, a first centralized configured for determining a measurement of pseudo distance and a centralized calculator for calculating navigation information (PVT), the reception station having a first reference channel for receiving radio navigation signals having a directional antenna for forming a channel, a second processor for processing the radio navigation signal received by the directional antenna for forming a channel and a calculation unit that is suited to performing an improvement in reliability, an integrity check and authentication of the navigation information (PVT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Marc Revol, Pierre Bouniol, David Pietin
  • Patent number: 9423508
    Abstract: A system and method for determining transmission delay in a communications system. In some embodiments, satellite positioning information may be received for a mobile device and enhanced cell identification (E-CID) positioning information received for the mobile device. A location of the mobile device may be determined as a function of the received satellite positioning information, and transmission delay between a node serving the mobile device and an antenna serving the mobile device determined as a function of the received E-CID positioning information and the determined location of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ariful Hannan, Khalid W Al-Mufti, Tariqul Islam
  • Patent number: 9397745
    Abstract: A hybrid satellite-mesh network including a ground segment, a mobile segment and a satellite segment provides high bandwidth communication between mobile platforms and the Internet. The satellite segment is used only when mesh network communication links between mobile segment nodes and ground segment nodes are unavailable. Mobile segment nodes can function in either an access terminal mode or an access point mode to communicate with other mobile segment nodes according to a routing algorithm in a mesh portion of the network. Mobile segment nodes employ adaptive frequency reuse, link level date rate adaptation, link level power control and adaptive beam forming antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ahmad Jalali, Ranganathan Krishnan, Bin Tian
  • Patent number: 9354324
    Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may, for example, be implemented to compute one or more inferences from signals generated by one or more inertial sensors or environmental sensors, detect an erroneous condition responsive to a comparison of the computed inference(s) with an initial position or a position fix, and, in response to the detection of the erroneous condition, affect at least one process at the mobile device that is used, at least in part, to obtain a position fix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jie Wu, Wyatt T. Riley, William J. Morrison
  • Patent number: 9316740
    Abstract: A method of determining a geographic position of a user terminal including a receiver of signals of a global navigation satellite system, the method including the user terminal: performing pseudo-range measurements related to a plurality of signals received from transmitters of the global navigation satellite system; calculating a first estimated position thereof by a weighted least square method; calculating post-fit residuals for the first estimated position; comparing the calculated post-fit residuals to a first threshold and: in case the first threshold is exceeded, calculating a second estimated position using a Monte-Carlo method, otherwise retaining the first estimated position as the geographic position of the mobile communications terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: TELECOM ITALIA S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Ghinamo
  • Patent number: 9304209
    Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are provided. Each of a first GNSS signal received by a GNSS receiver and a second GNSS signal received by the GNSS receiver is accessed. The second GNSS signal can have temporal fluctuations weaker than temporal fluctuations in the first GNSS signal. A delay between a sequence in the first GNSS signal and a corresponding sequence signal in the second GNSS signal is estimated and compared to a threshold. Upon determining that the delay exceeds the threshold, a location is estimated using both the first GNSS signal and the second GNSS signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Duong Anh Hoang, Emilija Milorad Simic, Timothy Paul Pals
  • Patent number: 9146319
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a set of satellites having carriers observed at a rover antenna, wherein the GNSS signal data includes a carrier observation and a code observation of each carrier of each satellite, comprising: obtaining for each satellite clock corrections comprising at least two of: (i) a code-leveled satellite clock, (ii) a phase-leveled satellite clock, and (iii) a satellite clock bias representing a difference between a code-leveled satellite clock and a phase-leveled satellite clock, running a first filter which uses at least the GNSS signal data and the clock corrections to estimate values for parameters comprising at least one carrier ambiguity for each satellite, and a covariance matrix of the carrier ambiguities, determining from each carrier ambiguity an integer-nature carrier ambiguity comprising one of: an integer value, and a combination of integer candidates, inserting the integer-nature carrier ambiguities as
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Rodrigo Leandro
  • Patent number: 9134424
    Abstract: A GNSS enabled handset receives signals from different resources comprising GNSS satellites and/or from a wireless network. The GNSS enabled handset acquires location information comprising various positioning resource data comprising GPS data and/or WiFi data from the received signals. The GNSS enabled handset calculates a plurality of possible position fixes based on the acquired location information using various positioning approaches. A current position fix associated with the GNSS enabled handset is determined based on the plurality of calculated possible position fixes via running a location-based service (LBS) client on the GNSS enabled handset. The LBS client determines the plurality of possible position fixes using various positioning approaches in a particular or determined order. Confidence levels for each of the calculated plurality of possible positions are determined and used to refine the current position fix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei Kosolobov, David Albert Lundgren, Steven Malkos
  • Patent number: 9063215
    Abstract: A method for determining a time difference between a first and a second time of arrival of the signal is described, the method including: receiving a first representation of the signal at the first time of arrival; receiving a second representation of the signal at the second time of arrival; correlating at least a first time-domain representation of the signal and a second time-domain representation of the signal to obtain a first time difference information; evaluating a phase difference relation between a first frequency-domain representation of the signal and a second frequency-domain representation of the signal to obtain a second time difference information; and determining the time difference between the first and the second time of arrival of the signal based on the first and the second time difference information, or based on a time difference information derived from the first time difference information and the second time difference information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Innovationszentrum fuer Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT
    Inventors: Rainer Perthold, Dieter Weninger
  • Patent number: 9052374
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a geolocation of an object includes collecting a positioning signal including a predetermined message data segment. A time of arrival of the predetermined message data segment may be determined in the positioning signal. Information based on the time of arrival may be provided for determination of a geolocation of an object. The time of arrival of the predetermined message data segment may be determined based on a time search for the predetermined message data segment in the positioning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Fast Location.Net, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick G. Bromley, Louis H. M. Jandrell, Michael D. Wise
  • Patent number: 9037340
    Abstract: A driver performance mapping system for a vehicle system is disclosed. The system may include a GPS receiver generating GPS data indicative of a current location of the vehicle. In addition, the system may also have a radar device generating current gap data indicative of a current gap distance from the vehicle to a lead vehicle. Further, the system may include an electronic controller configured to generate learned gap data based on the current gap data and stored gap data, and then assign the learned gap data with the GPS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane S. Elwart, Aaron L. Mills, John Shutko, Thomas Edward Pilutti, John Ottavio Michelini
  • Publication number: 20150097722
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a navigation signal receives a plurality of navigation signals having different available frequency bandwidths, selects a navigation signal in a band in which signal disturbance does not occur among the plurality of navigation signals, and calculates a navigation solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Cheon Sig SIN, Sang Uk LEE, Jae Hoon KIM
  • Patent number: 8972103
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle mapping system is disclosed. The mapping system includes an on-vehicle electronic storage device, a GPS receiver, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to receive GPS data from the GPS receiver indicative of a current location of the vehicle. The electronic controller is also configured to store the GPS data on the electronic storage device if the location of the vehicle is outside of a location envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane S. Elwart, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20140368379
    Abstract: A method, receiver, and mobile terminal for simultaneously receiving and processing signals of multiple satellites from a plurality of navigational satellite system constellations are described. In the method, satellite signals from a plurality of navigational satellite systems are translated into an intermediate frequency and converted from analog to digital together, but then are separated out according to each navigational satellite system in the digital domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary LENNEN
  • Patent number: 8912900
    Abstract: An information acquisition device, includes: a positioning unit that measures a current position and acquires positional information thereof; an information acquisition unit that acquires information; a storage unit that stores information acquired by the information acquisition unit and positional information acquired by the positioning unit; and a control unit that causes the positioning unit to perform positioning, while the information acquisition unit is activated, at an interval shorter than while the information acquisition unit is stopped, and causes positional information acquired while the information acquisition unit is activated, outside a time period determined in advance with a time in which acquisition of information was performed by the information acquisition unit as a reference point, among positional information acquired in the positioning unit, to be thinned and stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Toda
  • Patent number: 8825396
    Abstract: A quasi tightly coupled (QTC) aided INS (AINS) process has an inertial navigator system with a loosely-coupled AINS Kalman filter that constructs INS-GNSS position measurements, a GNSS position engine that computes a position fix from observables and an externally provided a priori position and position VCV matrix. An INS position seeding process in which the externally provided a priori position to the GNSS position engine is an antenna position computed from the INS position and attitude solution. An observable subspace constraint (OSC) process computes an OCS matrix that suppress the components of the GNSS position error due to a poor geometry in the GNSS position solution in the IG position measurement constructed by the AINS Kalman filter and that multiplies the OSC matrix and the IG position measurement and measurement model matrix to suppress uncorrected component of the GNSS position error in the IG position measurement and measurement model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Applanix Corporation
    Inventor: Bruno M. Scherzinger
  • Publication number: 20140203962
    Abstract: Method and system for navigation are disclosed. One or more signals are received. One or more navigation systems are determined. The one or more signals are directed to navigation and sent from the one or more navigation systems. Navigation information associated with the determined one or more navigation systems is obtained based on the one or more signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: O2Micro Inc.
  • Patent number: 8768617
    Abstract: The invention described herein relates to aiding a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) receiver of a platform with a data interface to the platform data. The platform, for example, could be a vehicle, ship, aircraft, or a pedestrian. The SPS receiver would be used to track the location of the platform. The data interface would facilitate access by the SPS receiver to the data of the platform, and the SPS receiver in turn could provide SPS data (such as position, speed, and heading) to the platform. A further aspect of the invention includes hardware or software used by the data interface and the SPS receiver to provide, format, time-stamp, synchronize, and match platform data or SPS receiver data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime B. Colley, Lars Boeryd
  • Patent number: 8754807
    Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods and tangible computer-readable media comprise: a measurement module adapted to generate measurements of a wireless television signal received by the apparatus and measurements of a wireless satellite positioning signal received by the apparatus; a location module adapted to determine a location of the apparatus based on the measurements of the wireless television signal and the measurements of the wireless satellite positioning signal; and a time module adapted to provide a clock control signal for the apparatus based on at least one of the measurements of the wireless television signal, and the measurements of the wireless satellite positioning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: TruePosition, Inc.
    Inventors: Ju-Yong Do, Guttorm Opshaug, James J. Spilker, Jr., Matthew Rabinowitz
  • Patent number: 8744518
    Abstract: A single radio wireless communications device is contemplated in which the user equipment (UE) operates according to more than one radio access technology. The UE may operate preferentially according to a first radio access technology, and may switch to a different radio access technology at predetermined intervals to check for incoming calls. An error unit within the UE may provide frequency error estimates to a GPS unit during operation according to the first radio access technology based upon signals received in the first radio access technology, unless any time spent in the different radio access technology is longer that a predetermined duration. In response to the predetermined duration being met, the error unit may provide the frequency error estimation to the GPS unit based upon signals received in the different radio access technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jianxiong Shi, Robert W. Mayor, Li Su, Zhu Ji, Thanigaivelu Elangovan
  • Patent number: 8717231
    Abstract: A privacy enhancement device for electronic device such as a cellular telephone. The privacy enhancement device may include a jammer which may produces false information, e.g. false information indicative of pseudo ranges. In addition, the navigation information used on the position detecting device may be locally stored versions of dynamically changing information. The navigation operation may be carried out using a Web service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Platt Technology Investments LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Harris
  • Patent number: 8706163
    Abstract: The subject innovation relates to a chip card to be inserted in terminals. An exemplary embodiment of the chip card includes a clock unit to provide a time reference and an internal power source to at least run the clock unit in case of absence of an external power source. The exemplary chip card also includes a signal receiver to receive a satellite navigation signal comprising a satellite time signal, the signal receiver being connected to the clock unit in order to synchronize the clock unit with the satellite time signal to enable the clock unit to provide the time reference as a trusted absolute time reference independently from a position of the chip card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Hoeksel, Najib Koraichi, Patrick H. Waters
  • Publication number: 20140070987
    Abstract: GNSS receivers and methods of determining a current receiver state of a GNSS receiver are provided. The method includes receiving positioning signals from a plurality of satellites; generating a plurality of correlation grids from the received positioning signals, where each correlation grid is associated with a respective one of the plurality of satellites; estimating a probability distribution of the current receiver state from the plurality of correlation grids; and determining a maximum likelihood estimate of the current receiver state from the estimated probability distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventors: Murray Robert Jarvis, James Burgess Tidd
  • Patent number: 8655578
    Abstract: An electronic device 1 receives ephemeris information from a GPS satellite at intermittent timings TE1, TE2, and TE3 and stores the received information in its memory. In addition, the electronic device 1 receives time information at intermittent timings TC1, TC2, TC3, and TC4, and corrects a clocked time based on the received time information. Then, at positioning timing T1, the electronic device 1 captures a transmission signal from the GPS satellite while synchronizing timing with the GPS satellite based on the clocked time, and performs positioning based on the captured transmission signal and the ephemeris information stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Masao Sambongi
  • Patent number: 8570217
    Abstract: In a method for reducing the adverse effect of clock frequency jumps on a user-position determination device in a global navigation system, a plurality of space vehicles each having a clock, transmit position determination information to the position determining device. If a sufficient number of such navigation signals from a first group of space vehicles having clocks in which no jump occurs are available for this purpose, and if a calculated integrity risk is acceptable, position determination is performed using those navigation signals. If not, however, the position determination device receives navigation signals from space vehicles of a second group with clocks in which jumps can occur. The latter signals are combined with signals from the first group in a manner which takes into account possible jumps, and the process is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Astrium GmbH
    Inventor: Veit Oehler
  • Patent number: 8560157
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for automated control of a moving vehicle. An alarm condition is detected, and in response to the alarm condition, the current radius of curvature of the vehicle is maintained. The radius of curvature may be calculated by using data received from sensors. The alarm condition may be a result of the vehicle becoming unstable or the automated navigation system malfunctioning. In response to operator control input, the vehicle is placed into a manual control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Vernon Joseph Brabec