Satellite Radio Beacon Positioning System Transmitting Time-stamped Messages; E.g., Gps [global Positioning System], Glonass [global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] Or Galileo (ipc) Patents (Class 342/357.22)
  • Patent number: 11841986
    Abstract: A device in an automated environment can detect patterns in the user's interactions with accessories in the automated environment and can provide feedback to the user based on the patterns. Examples include: suggesting automation of particular actions based on the patterns; suggesting actions that conform to the pattern when the user performs part of the pattern; or suggesting changes to a pattern to conform to a preferred pattern. A state of the group of accessory devices can be changed together based on the pattern of accessory state changes for the group of accessory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas M. Marti, Ronald Keryuan Huang
  • Patent number: 11709277
    Abstract: A method for detecting time rollovers is disclosed. The method may include receiving time data including week data and second data and processing the time data to generate a first date. The method may include generating, based on the first date and an offset value, a second date and obtaining, when the second date is prior to a baseline date, a network date. The method may include assigning the network date as the baseline date and processing the network date and the first date to determine an updated offset value. The method may include storing the updated offset value as the offset value and determining, based on the network date, a system date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Peterson, Andrew Thomas Elliott, William Edwin Peterson, David Louis Rottier, Michael Aaron Caruthers
  • Patent number: 11662472
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrity monitoring of odometry measurements within a navigation system are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a system includes imaging sensors that generate image frames from optical inputs. The system also includes a GNSS receiver that provides pseudorange measurements; and computational devices that receive the image frames and the pseudorange measurements. Further, the computational devices compute odometry information from image frames acquired at different times; and calculate a full solution for the system based on the pseudorange measurements and the odometry information. Additionally, the computational devices calculate sub-solutions for the system based on subsets of the pseudorange measurements and the odometry information, wherein one of the sub-solutions is not based on the odometry information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vibhor L Bageshwar, Shrikant P. Rao, Vijay Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 11555930
    Abstract: A method comprises computing position information from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS); computing an altitude measurement based on retrieved information from a vertical position sensor; determining a vertical protection level (VPL) associated with the position information; splitting the VPL into an upward VPL component and a downward VPL component; determining a vertical alert limit (VAL) associated with the altitude measurement; and splitting the VAL into an upward VAL component and a downward VAL component. The method optimizes an integrity budget allocation between the upward and downward VPL components. The method then recomputes the upward and downward VPL components given the optimized integrity budget allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell Aerospace SAS
    Inventors: Lucas Almeida Cypriano, Jolana Kristufkova Dvorska, Jakub Skalicky, Martin Orejas
  • Patent number: 11304189
    Abstract: An approach for transmitting and receiving Link 16 messages for long ranges and includes a Link 16 terrestrial transmitter, a Link 16 satellite receiver including an antenna, and a controller. The approach aligns the antenna to the Link 16 terrestrial transmitter to determine a minimum distance to an area of interest of the Link 16 terrestrial transmitter, thereby estimating a range of a link from the Link 16 terrestrial transmitter to the Link 16 satellite receiver. From the range, calculating the message propagation time. Providing a second, shifted, time slot at the Link 16 satellite, shifted by the message propagation time. Processing the signal from the Link 16 terrestrial transmitter in the second, shifted, time slot to produce a message from the Link 16 terrestrial transmitter, and presenting the message to a host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: John H. Chongoushian
  • Patent number: 11209552
    Abstract: GNSS receiver which includes RF front end, connected to GNSS antenna, an ADC converting the satellite signals into digitized signals, a digital section, including a processor receiving the digitized signals, forming raw measurements with pseudoranges measured between the antenna and satellites, and estimating target parameters, including receiver position and receiver time offset by (i) extrapolating the target parameters from previous epoch to current epoch using a dynamic model; (ii) computing a quasi-measurement for each satellite based on extrapolated target parameters and GNSS satellite positions; (iii) detecting and rejecting raw measurements with anomalous errors by testing differences between the raw measurements and respective quasi-measurements against predefined thresholds; (iv) substituting quasi-measurements for rejected raw measurements; (v) estimating target parameters using unrejected raw measurements and substituted quasi-measurements; (vi) outputting estimated target parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Isaakovich Zhodzishsky, Viktor Abramovich Veitsel, Mikhail Arkadievich Mironov, Alexey Vasilievich Bashaev, Amir Salikhovich Bakeev, Vladimir Viktorovich Beloglazov, Sergey Vladislavovich Averin
  • Patent number: 11047987
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for analyzing a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. The method includes receiving electronic diagnostic information from the GNSS receiver, the diagnostic information including observations at different times of signal strength of one or more satellites at each point in a visible sky. The method includes building a flat map of the visible sky including a track of the one or more satellites. The method includes calculating, for each point in the visible sky of the flat map, an aggregated signal strength of the one or more satellites over a predetermined interval. The method includes generating a heat map over the flat map of the visible sky and displaying a visualization of a flat heat map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Finite State Machine Labs Inc.
    Inventor: Cort Dougan
  • Patent number: 10938860
    Abstract: Preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activity. Privacy zones are defined and associated with privacy standards. Privacy standards include frequency criteria governing the storage of datasets including information associated with networked media consumption activity collected from the privacy zone. Transaction requests are received over a network from a client device at a location by a networked privacy system. The privacy zone associated with the client device is identified. A dataset can be created including information associating the networked media consumption activity. The dataset is processed to comply with the privacy standards. The processed dataset can be stored in a database on a physical storage device at a storage location coupled to the networked privacy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Quantcast Corporation
    Inventor: Damian John Reeves
  • Patent number: 10598794
    Abstract: A positioning control method of a positioning device worn on a user's body includes switching a positioning mode to a swimming mode and executing a positioning operation for the swimming mode when the positioning mode is switched to the swimming mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akifumi Hayashi, Fumikazu Sano
  • Patent number: 10554551
    Abstract: A method implemented by a sending host implemented as a network element (NE) comprises receiving, by a receiver of the sending host, a set of locators from a distributed mapping system, each of the locators in the set of locators being an address associated with the receiving host, storing, in a memory of the sending host, the set of locators in an entry of a local identifier (ID)-to-locator database in association with an ID of the receiving host, transmitting, by a transmitter of the sending host, a plurality of packets to a plurality of endpoint routers (xTRs), each of the xTRs associated with each of the locators in the set of locators, and receiving, by the receiver of the sending host, a response from one of the xTRs in response to sending the plurality of packets to the plurality of xTRs, a locator associated with the one of the xTRs being an address of a current location of the receiving host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiran Makhijani, Renwei Li
  • Patent number: 10508970
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and a method for precisely measuring a structure are disclosed. A reference meter installed at a fixed location provides GPS reference information. A plurality of response meters, respectively installed at a plurality of positions of the structure, acquire acceleration information through acceleration sensors and measure a plurality of real-time kinematic (RTK) displacement data based on the GPS reference information, respectively. The response meters synchronize acceleration information with the plurality of RTK displacement data measured to generate into a packet to be transmitted. An operation processor receives the acceleration information and the plurality of RTK displacement data and calculates structure response information. With the GPS and accelerometers, the dynamic behaviors of structures including high-rise buildings, bridges, dams, and harbors can be precisely measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: POONGSAN FNS CORPORATION, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Nam-Yeol Kwon, Doo-Young Kang, Seung-Beom Park, Min-Jae Kim, Jae-Min Moon, Hyeon-Muk Lim, Jin-Seok Kang, Hoon Sohn, Ki-Young Kim, Gun-Hee Koo, Jae-Muk Choi, Jun-Yeon Chung
  • Patent number: 10440061
    Abstract: Preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activity. Source privacy zones are defined and associated with privacy standards Privacy standards include frequency criteria governing the storage of datasets including information associated with networked media consumption activity collected from the source privacy zone. Transaction requests including a networking protocol address are received over a network from a client device at a target location by a networked privacy system. The source privacy zone associated with the client device is identified. Using the networking protocol address to access characteristics having characteristic value(s), a dataset can be created including associating the networked media consumption activity with the characteristic and characteristic value(s). The dataset is pre-processed to comply with the privacy standards. The networking protocol address is discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Quantcast Corporation
    Inventor: Damian John Reeves
  • Patent number: 10309786
    Abstract: A navigation and location system is provided that can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) comprising an in a strap down configuration and a global positioning system (GPS), and a control section that determines orientation of a range sensor aligned with one axis of the IMU with respect to the Earth based on a sequence of system orientation and location measurements from said IMU/GPS along a displaced path from a starting point (SP) to an activation point (AP). Remote geo-location of the object can be determined based on determined range and bearing to the object determined by rotating axis of at least one reference frame from the strap down IMU axis with gravity and aligning another axis with a line of longitude through the displacement path to determine true north then determining a azimuth or bearing angle between true north and the range sensor output axis oriented on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John Hamilton, Steven Gunderson
  • Patent number: 10097671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating data to a control system of a vehicle are described. A system may include a server, which generates a set of coefficients using an approximation function and based on path-preview data indexed to future values of a road attribute with respect to a road traveled by the vehicle. The system may also include a client, which utilizes an evaluation of the approximation function to direct the control system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Anthony Mario D'Amato
  • Patent number: 9804266
    Abstract: A device management system is comprised of a server-side proxy component and at least one back-end computer. The server-side proxy component is configured to receive ephemeris and almanac data from a source and information from at least one client describing the geographic location of the client. The server-side proxy component is configured to send the ephemeris and almanac data and the information from the client to a back-end computer. Responsive to receiving this data and information, the computer compiles it into GPS data relevant to the location of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: James Timothy Sauerwein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9794296
    Abstract: Preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activity. Source privacy zones are defined and associated with privacy standards. Privacy standards include frequency criteria governing the storage of datasets including information associated with networked media consumption activity collected from the source privacy zone. Transaction requests including a networking protocol address are received over a network from a client device at a target location by a networked privacy system. The source privacy zone associated with the client device is identified. Using the networking protocol address to access characteristics having characteristic value(s), a dataset can be created including associating the networked media consumption activity with the characteristic and characteristic value(s). The dataset is pre-processed to comply with the privacy standards. The networking protocol address is discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Quantcast Corporation
    Inventor: Damian John Reeves
  • Patent number: 9694766
    Abstract: Disclosures teach providing data over a vehicle bus, data providing values for a road attribute indexed to points anticipated to be traversed by a vehicle. To compress the data, a server may fit a regression function to the data with coefficients applied to kernels in the function. The server may limit the number of coefficients to reflect a limitation on rate of change imposed on data by the road on which it reports. Similarly, the server may limit one or more numbers of bits encoding the coefficients in a message transmitted on the vehicle bus, reflective of a limited range of potential amplitudes for data imposed by the road. A client may maintain a copy of the kernels and retrieve the coefficients from the message. The client may estimate future values of the road attribute by evaluating the coefficients applied to the kernels, which may, in some examples, be Gaussian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Anthony Mario D'Amato
  • Patent number: 9477840
    Abstract: Preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activity. Source privacy zones are defined and associated with privacy standards. Privacy standards include frequency criteria governing the storage of datasets including information associated with networked media consumption activity collected from the source privacy zone. Transaction requests including a networking protocol address are received over a network from a client device at a target location by a networked privacy system. The source privacy zone associated with the client device is identified. Using the networking protocol address to access characteristics having characteristic value(s), a dataset can be created including associating the networked media consumption activity with the characteristic and characteristic value(s). The dataset is pre-processed to comply with the privacy standards. The networking protocol address is discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Quantcast Corporation
    Inventor: Damian John Reeves
  • Patent number: 9213103
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for cells to obtain timing and positioning by using satellite systems with high power signals for improved building penetration are disclosed herein. In particular, the present disclosure relates to providing timing synchronization and geolocation for small cells or macrocells in attenuated and/or indoor environments. In order to achieve timing synchronization and geolocation, the cells utilize high power signals, which contain timing information, in conjunction with related aiding information. Satellites, such as Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) Iridium satellites, are employed to transmit the high powered signals to the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Gregory M. Gutt
  • Patent number: 9158000
    Abstract: A device management system is comprised of a server-side proxy component and at least one back-end computer. The server-side proxy component is configured to receive ephemeris and almanac data from a source and information from at least one client describing the geographic location of the client. The server-side proxy component is configured to send the ephemeris and almanac data and the information from the client to a back-end computer. Responsive to receiving this data and information, the computer compiles it into GPS data relevant to the location of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: James Timothy Sauerwein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9137266
    Abstract: A method and system for preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activity including: Source privacy zones are defined and associated with privacy standards. Privacy standards include frequency criteria governing the storage of datasets including information associated with networked media consumption activity collected from the source privacy zone. Transaction requests including a networking protocol address are received over a network from a client device at a target location by a networked privacy system. The source privacy zone associated with the client device is identified. Using the networking protocol address to access characteristics having characteristic value(s), a dataset can be created including associating the networked media consumption activity with the characteristic and characteristic value(s). The dataset is pre-processed to comply with the privacy standards. The networking protocol address is discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Quantcast Corporation
    Inventor: Damian John Reeves
  • Publication number: 20150145719
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for selecting a sub-set of satellites from a set of N satellites is provided. The method includes recursively evaluating each sub-set of N?P satellites of a set of N satellites. If only one sub-set satisfies one or more first criterion, then the one sub-set that satisfies the one or more first criterions is selected. If, however, more than one sub-set satisfies the one or more first criterion, then the sub-sets that satisfy the one or more first criterion are evaluated with respect to one or more second criterion and the one sub-set that optimizes the one or more second criterion is selected. Once the selected set of N satellites is equal to the number of satellites from which a receiver is configured to calculate a navigation solution, then that selected set of N satellites is used to calculate a navigation solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jindrich Dunik, Martin Orejas, Zdenek Kana
  • Patent number: 9031497
    Abstract: A dual-satellite emergency locator beacon and method for programming and updating such emergency locator beacons over the air. The system uses a second commercial satellite as the carrier for the data back to the beacon together with the means of coupling these parts together. The system can be manually updated or can be part of a registration system that gets automatically updated. In a second embodiment a method and apparatus for implementing emergency locator beacon registration is provided. The system provides data concerning the user into a backend service which can be utilized to provide all necessary information needed to register the emergency beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hoffman, William Cox, Thomas J. Pack
  • Patent number: 9003554
    Abstract: An easier and less frustrating way of verifying that a user attempting to access content is a human user is provided. For example, data indicative of a request by a user to access content from a content server is received. An output of geographic data associated with a geographic region is generated. A task to be performed by the user to access the content is provided as a function of the generated output. The output and the task are transmitted to the content server for presentation to the user. Performance of the task by the user is substantially indicative of the user being a human user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Ken Prchal, Mark Slusar
  • Publication number: 20150054680
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for reducing memory and communication bandwidth requirements for digital signal samples in Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) receivers using an adaptive compression/decompression process are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary LENNEN
  • Publication number: 20150054681
    Abstract: This invention relates to a rotatable device having two arms rotatably connected about a hollow hub wherein the arms include a cable extending through a passageway and the hub so as to minimize bending of the cables about each other when the arms are in a compact position. In particular this invention relates to a foldable GPS compass and a method relating thereto to present a compact folded device that is easier to install with minimal bending of the cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce Kenneth Clifford, Mark Frischman, Michael Robb Main
  • Patent number: 8964510
    Abstract: This disclosure involves methods and systems for a GNSS receiver to ascertain its environmental context and subsequently adjust the signal processing and search algorithms to provide improved acquisition. A rapid pre-scan is performed to determine the presence of relatively strong signals. If no satellites are found in the initial pre-scan, successively more sensitive searches are conducted until at least one satellite is acquired. The information from these pre-scans is used to predict the environmental context of the receiver and correspondingly tailor the parameters for the remaining search operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Abdelmonaem Lakhzouri, Juha Tapani Rostrom
  • Patent number: 8958984
    Abstract: A route search device includes: map data; a derived route acquisition section that acquires a first derived route from an origin point to a destination; a route correction region acquisition section that acquires a route correction region; a place to be passed through setting section that sets a place to be passed through in the route correction region; a start point and end point setting section that sets a start point and an end point in the route correction region; a corrected route acquisition section that acquires a corrected route; and a route correction section that corrects the first derived route to a second derived route from the origin point to the destination, constituted by a route from the origin point to the start point, the corrected route, and a route from the end point to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mariko Okude, Tomoaki Hiruta, Jun Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140347214
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Malkos, Christopher Lane
  • Patent number: 8884755
    Abstract: A system and methods for communicating with a location system are disclosed. An electronic communication device is provided to a user that performs a communication through a device specific communication channel. A separate radio communication channel that is different from the device specific communication channel is provided. Location information is received at the electronic communication device from a location system through the separate radio communication channel. The location information is viewed on the electronic communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John R. Dworschak
  • Patent number: 8867531
    Abstract: A method and system for precise position determination of general Internet Protocol (IP) network-connected devices. A method enables use of remote intelligence located at strategic network points to distribute relevant assistance data to IP devices with embedded receivers. Assistance is tailored to provide physical timing, frequency and real time signal status data using general broadband communication protocols. Relevant assistance data enables several complementary forms of signal processing gain critical to acquire and measure weakened or distorted in-building Global Navigation Satellite Services (GNSS) signals and to ultimately extract corresponding pseudo-range time components. A method to assemble sets of GNSS measurements that are observed over long periods of time while using standard satellite navigation methods, and once compiled, convert using standard methods each pseudo-range into usable path distances used to calculate a precise geographic position to a known degree of accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: iPosi, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Lee, Richard Keegan
  • Publication number: 20140225770
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to positioning systems and location determination using measurement stitching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wyatt Thomas Riley, Douglas Neal Rowitch, Dominic Gerard Farmer
  • Patent number: 8762054
    Abstract: A protocol independent interface for processing, within a mobile device, protocol aiding data received at a call processor with a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) interface, where the protocol aiding data is produced according to a Geolocation Server Station protocol is disclosed. The protocol independent interface may include a means for receiving, at the GPS interface, the protocol aiding data received at the call processor, means for converting the received protocol aiding data to interface data that is transparent to the Geolocation Server Station protocol, and means for passing the interface data to a GPS module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Chang Chiayee, Ashutosh Pande, Lionel Jacques Garin, Gengsheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8743699
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving the speed of operation and accuracy of GPS receivers. The system comprises a RFID assisted GPS (RAGPS) receiver and geographically dispersed RFID assistance tags. The RAGPS receiver and the RFID assistance tags store location data comprising current location estimate, almanac, and ephemeris data. The location data is time stamped. The RFID assisted GPS (RAGPS) receiver comprises a GPS receiver, a RFID tag reader, a RFID transmitter and a controller. The controller comprises software that transfers the location data to and from the RAGPS receiver and a RFID assistance tag. The method discloses the RAGPS receivers reading up-to-date location data from a nearby RFID assistance tags and similarly if the RAGPS receivers have up-to-date location data already, the RAGPS receivers may write that location data to a nearby assistance tags that lacks up-to-date location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Keir Finlow-Bates, Joonas V. T. Viskari, Terry FK Ngo
  • Patent number: 8706399
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for triggering events based on user location with respect to zones of influence is described. One or more zones of influence each having a plurality of points of geolocational data are defined. One or more user events are associated with each of the zones of influence. A location of a wireless device is identified based on geolocational data obtained by the wireless device. The geolocational data of the wireless device is compared with the geolocational data for one or more of the zones of influence. The user events associated with one such zone of influence are triggered when the geolocational data of the wireless device correlates with at least one of the points of geolocational data for that zone of influence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Irish, Elias Alvord
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8682673
    Abstract: A computerized information and display apparatus useful for providing information to a user via a display. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and network interface and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a speech input from the user, and obtain information relating to the input. In one variant, at least a portion of the information is obtained via the network interface from a remote server, and the apparatus includes two components in wireless communication with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: West View Research, LLC
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8682729
    Abstract: A method of using a wireless patron unit within a venue, and within a vicinity of the venue, includes providing at least one patron with a wireless patron unit having a touch-screen display, which has stored therein at least one venue specific application program. The method also includes connecting the wireless patron unit to a server, entering patron-related into the wireless patron unit, and displaying patron-related information on the patron unit. The method further includes entering a patron order for at least one item or service provided by the venue, displaying the patron order and a location of the wireless patron unit, and providing a current status of the patron order on the touch-screen display of the wireless patron unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Julie M. Werbitt
  • Publication number: 20140077990
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver comprising one or more regular channel circuits and one or more sniff channel circuits may be operable, utilizing the sniff channel circuits, to monitor power levels of currently visible GNSS satellites which are not being utilized by the regular channel circuits. An alternative GNSS satellite from the currently monitored GNSS satellites may be selected by the GNSS receiver based on the monitored power levels. GNSS signals received from the selected alternative GNSS satellite may be processed by a regular channel circuit. The GNSS receiver may be operable to detect, for example, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) or carrier-to-noise density ratios (C/N0s) of the currently visible GNSS satellites utilizing the sniff channel circuits. The sniff channel circuits may not be utilized to generate GNSS measurements so that functionality of each of the sniff channel circuits may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Broadcom Corporation
  • Patent number: 8676587
    Abstract: Computerized apparatus and methods for obtaining and displaying information, such as for example directions to a desired entity or organization. In one embodiment, the computerized apparatus is configured to receive user speech input and enable local performance of various tasks, such as obtaining desired information relating to entities, maps or directions, or any number of other topics. The obtained data may also, in various variants, be displayed in various formats and relative to other entities nearby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: West View Research, LLC
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • 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: 8639416
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite sensor system (GNSS) and gyroscope control system for vehicle steering control comprising a GNSS receiver and antennas at a fixed spacing to determine a vehicle position, velocity and at least one of a heading angle, a pitch angle and a roll angle based on carrier phase position differences. The roll angle facilitates correction of the lateral motion induced position errors resultant from motion of the antennae as the vehicle moves based on an offset to ground and the roll angle. Alternative aspects include multiple-antenna GNSS guidance methods for high-dynamic roll compensation, real-time kinematic (RTK) using single-frequency (L1) receivers, fixed and moving baselines between antennas, multi-position GNSS tail guidance (“breadcrumb following”) for crosstrack error correction, guiding multiple vehicles and pieces of equipment relative to each other, and snow grooming equipment and method applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: Keith R. Jones, John A. McClure, Andrè C. Roberge, Walter J. Feller, Michael L. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 8633852
    Abstract: A first position of a satellite is calculated at a first time in dependence on received orbit data corresponding to an orbit path of the satellite. Anan orbit path of the satellite is modeled from the first position at the first time to a second time to determine a second position of the satellite at the second time. A third position of the satellite is then calculated at the second time in dependence on the received orbit data. The second position and third position are compared to determine a validity of the orbit data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Peter Bagnall
  • Patent number: 8630805
    Abstract: A method of mapping a space using a combination of radar scanning and optical imaging. The method includes steps of providing a measurement vehicle having a radar system and an image acquisition system attached thereto; aligning a field of view of the radar system with a field of view of the image acquisition system; obtaining at least one radar scan of a space using the radar scanning system; obtaining at least one image of the space using the image acquisition system; and combining the at least one radar scan with the at least one image to construct a map of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Becker, Oliver Schwindt
  • Patent number: 8600326
    Abstract: A GPS baseband architecture provides flexibility and power consumption and chip area usage advantages. The GPS baseband architecture includes a first stage having a preamplifier coupled to a low noise amplifier, which is coupled to a mixer. A PLL provides the mixer with a frequency to convert a signal to a higher intermediate (IF) frequency. The output of the mixer is fed to a poly-phase filter. The output of the poly-phase filter is fed to a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), whose output is fed to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to produce an output GPS signal. A saturation bit of the ADC is used to control the PGA through a digital amplifier gain control (AGC) circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo Dos Santos Reis, Carlos Azeredo Leme
  • Patent number: 8583326
    Abstract: A GNSS-based contour guidance path selection system for guiding a piece of equipment through an operation, such as navigating a guide path, includes a processor programmed for locking onto a particular aspect of the operation, such as deviating from a pre-planned or original guidance pattern and locking the guidance system onto a new route guide path, while ignoring other guidance paths. The system gives a vehicle operator control over a guidance route without the need to re-plan a pre-planned route. The device corrects conflicting signal issues arising when new swaths result in the guidance system receiving conflicting directions of guidance where the new swaths cross predefined swaths. An operator can either manually, or with an autosteer subsystem automatically, maintain a new contour guidance pattern, even while crossing predefined guidance paths that would otherwise divert the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: Dennis M. Collins, Michael D. Brown
  • Patent number: 8559491
    Abstract: A method for measuring certain parameters of the impulse response of a propagation channel involving emitters and reflectors that are fixed or mobile, and for detecting and determining the parameters regarding the position and kinematics of the emitters and reflectors, or for auto-locating the reception system implementing the invention, in a system comprising N sensors receiving signals from the emitters or from the reflection on the reflectors. The method determines an ambiguity function which couples the spatial analysis and the delay-distance/Doppler-kinematic analysis, and determines at least one sufficient statistic ?(l,m,K) corresponding to the correlation between the known signal s(kTe) corresponding to the complex envelope of the signal emitted and the output of a filter w(l,m) where l corresponds to a temporal assumption and m corresponds to a frequency assumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Pascal Chevalier, François Delaveau, François Pipon
  • Patent number: 8548492
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating a location of a subscriber station receiving a first signal from a first base station and receiving a second signal from a second base station where the first and second base stations are nodes in a WiMAX or LTE network. A message may be received from the subscriber station containing first and second information, and a range ring determined from the first base station using the first information. A location hyperbola may be determined using the second information wherein the location hyperbola has the first and second base stations as foci. A location of the subscriber station may be estimated using the range ring and the location hyperbola.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Andrew LLC
    Inventors: Tariqul Islam, John Carlson
  • Patent number: 8542147
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided for obtaining a precise absolute time using a satellite system. In one example, a method of transferring precise absolute time from a satellite to a device includes receiving data from a messaging channel, wherein the data has a frame structure. The method also includes using the data to identify the satellite and a position of the satellite, correcting for signal time of flight using the satellite identity and the position, and using the data as a time reference to align a receiver clock to the frame structure. The method also includes, with the receiver clock aligned to the frame structure, receiving a precision time signal from the satellite, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code. The method also includes determining a timing phase of the code and using the timing phase to determine a precise absolute time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Gregory M. Gutt
  • Patent number: 8543083
    Abstract: A locator system is disclosed. An E911-enabled wireless network including a switching center is configured receive a request to generate location information regarding a remote mobile station, and send said location information to a subscriber only after obtaining consent from the remote mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Bryan Holland, Timothy Brisson