By Combining Measurements Of Signals From The Satellite Radio Beacon Positioning System With A Supplementary Measurement (ipc) Patents (Class 342/357.28)
  • Publication number: 20140062773
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide assistance data for satellite navigation in a wireless communication device are disclosed. Processing circuitry in the wireless communication device determines whether to obtain assistance data for navigation based on a set of criteria. The set of criteria include one or more of a property of a geographic region in which the wireless communication device operates, a satellite signal quality estimate measured by the wireless communication device, and a user setting of the wireless communication device. When the set of criteria indicates that assistance data for navigation is beneficial for satellite navigation in the wireless communication device, the processing circuitry obtains one or more sets of assistance data. The processing circuitry configures operation of the wireless communication device for navigation based at least in part on the one or more sets of assistance data obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn D. MacGougan, Yefim Grosman, Ronald Keryuan Huang, Robert W. Mayor
  • Patent number: 8665156
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to providing assistance information to a mobile station for performing position estimation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Marc A. Ische, Dominic Gerard Farmer, Mark L. Moeglein, Zoltan F. Biacs, Jignesh U. Doshi
  • Patent number: 8614641
    Abstract: A method of calculating two position fixes, using satellite positioning. The method comprises: using an RF front-end (12), receiving satellite positioning signals; using an analogue-to-digital converter (18), sampling the received signals to generate signal samples; using a processor (20), processing a first set of the samples as they are generated, to calculate a first position fix; storing information associated with the calculation in a memory (22); storing a second set of the samples, or ranging measurements derived from the second set of samples, in the memory (22) for later processing to calculate a second position fix; and later, processing the second set of samples to calculate the second position fix, wherein the calculation of the second position fix is assisted by the information associated with the calculation of the first position fix. Also disclosed are other related methods and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: U-Blox A.G.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Yule, Ian Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 8571762
    Abstract: Knowing the global pose of mining excavators provides a range of benefits for managing and automating mining operations. A method for globally locating the pose of an electric mining shovel is described. The system takes measurements from an arbitrary number of RTK-GPS antennas mounted on the machine house and a resolver fitted to the machines' swing axis. A Kalman filter is used to produce estimates of the global locations pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ezymine Pty Limited
    Inventors: Peter Ross McAree, Anthony Walton Reid
  • Patent number: 8552909
    Abstract: A location calculating method includes acquiring measurement information by receiving satellite signals from positioning satellites and storing the acquired measurement information in a storage unit in association with acquisition time, calculating movement information that includes a movement direction and a movement distance by using a detection result of a sensor unit that at least includes an acceleration sensor and storing the calculated movement information in the storage unit in association with calculation time, and calculating a location at desired time by using at least the measurement information of which the acquisition time satisfies a predetermined proximity time condition and the movement information of which the calculation time is between the acquisition time of the measurement information and the given desired time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naganobu Aoki
  • Publication number: 20130257649
    Abstract: A positioning method for real navigation includes steps of receiving a satellite positioning signal; calculating a satellite positioning coordinate according to the satellite positioning signal; capturing a real scene image of a driving path; recognizing whether an indicator exists in the real scene image; if the indicator exists in the real scene image, calculating an auxiliary positioning coordinate according to the indicator; and calculating a current coordinate corresponding to the driving path according to the satellite positioning coordinate and the auxiliary positioning coordinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Chih-Sung Chang
  • Patent number: 8547276
    Abstract: A positioning method whereby inertial positioning data is calculated based upon measurements of an Inertial Navigation System. Virtual satellite ranging data is then generated based upon the inertial positioning data. The virtual satellite ranging data is then combined with received satellite ranging data from one or more satellites forming part of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). A GNSS positioning solution is then calculated based upon the combined received satellite ranging data and the virtual satellite ranging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Anthony Cole, William James Kellar
  • Patent number: 8521179
    Abstract: A mobile unit's position measurement apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an observation data selection portion that calculates a plurality of estimated error values that correspond respectively to the plurality of pieces of observation data obtained by observing the signals received by the reception portion, that generates groups each of which includes estimated error values corresponding to at least a predetermined number of satellites, and then extracts, from the estimated error value groups generated, in which a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the estimated error values included is less than a predetermined value, and that consequently selects pieces of observation data provided by the signals from the satellites that correspond to the estimated error values that are included in an estimated error value group whose standard deviation of the estimated error values is smallest among the estimated error value groups extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8504077
    Abstract: A computer-implemented mobile device locating method is provided. The method includes monitoring a location indication of a mobile device and an indication of precision or accuracy of the location indication. A change in the precision or accuracy of the location indication is identified, and a position of the mobile device is estimated based on the location indication as monitored prior to the identified change. A mobile device configured for implementing a mobile device locating method is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: WaveMarket, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Hodges
  • Publication number: 20130176169
    Abstract: A method for mobile navigation by using a smart phone is provided. The smart phone comprises: a GNSS navigation processor, a motion detector, a correlation processor, a triangulation processor, and a verified location display. The method of the present technology comprises: (A) obtaining a set of GNSS processor position fixes by using the GNSS navigation processor; (B) obtaining a set of motion-related data of the smart phone by using the motion detector; and (C) correlating the set of GNSS processor position fixes associated with the smart phone and the set of motion-related data associated with the smart phone and obtaining a set of GNSS correlation data. If the set of GNSS processor position fixes based on the set of GNSS correlation data is verified, the GNSS navigation processor is used for navigation; whereas if the set of GNSS processor position fixes based on the set of GNSS correlation data is not verified, the motion detector aided by triangulation processor is used for navigation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD.
    Inventor: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD.
  • Patent number: 8462045
    Abstract: At least one set of values of parameters is determined, each set of values defining a respective troposphere model. The at least one determined set of parameter values is then assembled for transmission via a wireless communication network to a wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Jani Käppi
  • Patent number: 8442765
    Abstract: A method for collaborative navigation comprises initializing a conditionally independent filter on a local platform, propagating the conditionally independent filter forward in time, and when a local measurement has been made, updating the conditionally independent filter with the local measurement. When a common measurement has been made, the conditionally independent filter is updated with the common measurement, and a determination is made whether a remote conditioning node has arrived from a remote platform. If a remote conditioning node has arrived, a determination is made whether the remote conditioning node needs to be fused with a local conditioning node of the conditionally independent filter. If the remote conditioning node needs to be fused, a node-to-node fusion is performed in the conditionally independent filter to merge the remote conditioning node with the local conditioning node to produce a merged conditioning node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Ingvalson
  • Publication number: 20130099962
    Abstract: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as the US GPS, the European GALILEO and the Russian GLONASS are very limited indoors, due to very low power levels and significant multipath. So, though hundreds of millions of people around the world use GPS receivers, particularly embedded in mobile devices, they cannot use these devices indoors, where they stay most of the time. Present art methods for augmenting or assisting GPS indoors, are mainly based on cellular or WLAN networks, and embedded sensors such as accelerometers and compasses, yet no integrated solution was launched. The present invention discloses a method that may contribute to GNSS indoors navigation, enabling a GNSS receiver to measure its elevation above sea level, indoors, to a floor resolution. The disclosed method is based on terrestrial infrastructure, yet possibly only one beacon per building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel A. Katz
  • Publication number: 20130082873
    Abstract: A moving information determination apparatus includes an ECA (Earth Center Assistant) information acquisition module, an altitude information and position information storage module and a moving information calculation module. The altitude information and position information storage module provides initial position information of the moving information determination apparatus and altitude information of the moving information determination apparatus. The ECA acquisition module obtains a radius of the Earth at the current position of the moving information determination apparatus. The moving information calculation module calculates the current position and/or velocity of the moving information determination apparatus based on the radius of the Earth and a plurality of signals from a plurality of satellites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: O2MICRO, INC.
    Inventors: Deyu Tang, Xiaoyong He, Jinghua Zou, Juan Gou
  • Patent number: 8390512
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a location of a mobile device using more than one location-determining technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Marc A. Ische, Ahmad Hatami, Ardalan Heshmati, Zoltan F. Biacs, Douglas Neal Rowitch, Dominic Gerard Farmer, SriGouri Kamarsu, Jie Wu
  • Patent number: 8339311
    Abstract: A multi-standard single chip integrated within a multi-standard mobile device concurrently receives multi-standard radio frequency signals by corresponding two or more integrated radios. The multi-standard single chip generates full GNSS measurement comprising pseudo-range information using the received radio frequency signals. The multi-standard single chip comprises a GNSS radio and multiple non-GNSS radios such as Bluetooth. The full GNSS measurement is generated using GNSS radio frequency signals received by the integrated GNSS radio and communicated over, for example, Bluetooth radio. GNSS satellite reference information embedded in radio frequency signals received by the integrated non-GNSS radios is extracted to assist the full GNSS measurement. A full GNSS navigation solution for the multi-standard mobile device is generated internally to and/or externally to the multi-standard single chip depending on the location of a navigation engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: John Walley, Charles Abraham, Evan McCarthy, Kambiz Shoarinejad
  • Publication number: 20120319897
    Abstract: Method and system for determining, via sensor network, position of GNSS receiver arranged in a motor vehicle intentionally is impaired in a targeted manner by interference source. Sensor network includes traffic route points having at least one sensor to detect a presence of interference source. Method includes detecting, as motor vehicle passes one of traffic route points, an interference signal emitted by interference source and/or a received signal of GNSS receiver impaired by interference source by the at least one sensor of the one traffic route point; processing the detected signals to establish whether interference source is present in passing motor vehicle; and when the presence of interference source established, generating information that signals at least a location of the one traffic route point and the interference source in the motor vehicle. A position of the motor vehicle is determined from the location of the traffic route point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: ASTRIUM GMBH
    Inventors: Jan WENDEL, Wolfgang KOGLER
  • Publication number: 20120299936
    Abstract: A graphics-aided geodesic device is provided. The device includes an antenna for receiving position data from a plurality of satellites and a receiver coupled to the antenna. The device further includes orientation circuitry for obtaining orientation data. The orientation data represents an orientation of the apparatus with respect to a plane parallel with a horizon. The device further includes positioning circuitry for determining the position of the point of interest based at least on the position data and the orientation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: JAVAD GNSS, Inc.
    Inventors: Javad Ashjaee, Mikhail Gribkov, Lev B. Rapoport
  • Publication number: 20120268320
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing satellite signals from a first satellite navigation system and a second satellite navigation system is described. In one example, at least one first pseudorange between a satellite signal receiver and at least one satellite of the first satellite navigation system is measured. At least one second pseudorange between the satellite signal receiver and at least one satellite of the second satellite navigation system is measured. A difference between a first time reference frame of the first satellite navigation system and a second time reference frame of the second satellite navigation system, is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Global Locate, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank van DIGGELEN
  • Publication number: 20120262334
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a device in a reference coordinate system. The method including: receiving, at the device, less than all of GPS signals necessary to determine the position of the device in the reference coordinate system; transmitting a signal from a? illuminating source defined in the reference coordinate system; receiving the signal at a cavity waveguide disposed on the device; and determining the position of the device in the reference coordinate system based on the GPS signals and the signal received in the cavity waveguide. The signal received in the cavity waveguide can also be used to confirm a position determined by the GPS signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Omnitek Partners LLC
    Inventor: Jahangir S. Rastegar
  • Publication number: 20120242540
    Abstract: A heading determination system using signals from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) includes a rotator mechanism for rotating an array of GNSS antennas. The antenna array rotational orientation relative to a structure, such as a vehicle, can be determined by an angular sensor. By rotating the antennas, multipath error can be nullified. Greater GNSS guidance accuracy and heading determination can be achieved by reducing or eliminating multipath error. The system is also adapted for providing output corresponding to the tilt and roll angles for a mobile structure on which it is mounted using two antennas, with the rotation angle being at least 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Walter J. Feller
  • Publication number: 20120218142
    Abstract: A GNSS receiver includes a radio frequency module and an antenna for acquiring and tracking signals from various satellites and demodulating them to an intermediate frequency or a baseband signal. The receiver also includes a processing unit for processing the demodulated signals to obtain a first position, velocity, and time (PVT fix) data and displays the data to a user. The receiver may include a memory unit for storing the obtained PVT fix. The receiver may further include one or more sensors for detecting a motion of the receiver and provide an index to the processing unit that determines a next position of the receiver based on the index during a coverage gap. The one or more sensors may include an accelerometer, a compass, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Maxlinear, Inc.
    Inventor: Maxime Leclercq
  • Publication number: 20120176270
    Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for evaluating reliability of reckoning location information and providing reliability information. A mobile terminal implementing the method provides a user with a handheld device to provide accurate location information. The method for providing reliability of a reckoning location preferably includes: reckoning a location using speed and direction information input from a sensor unit when satellite signal intensity of GPS satellite information is less than a first threshold value; calculating a moving distance using the reckoning location for a reckoned time of the location; evaluating the reliability of the reckoning location according to the moving distance; and providing the reckoning location and the reliability to a location information utility unit such that the location information utility unit determines presence of utility of the reckoning location according to the reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gye Joong SHIN
  • Publication number: 20120127030
    Abstract: A method of determining the position of a user in 3D space is disclosed. In one example, the method comprises utilizing range measurements from one or more GPS satellite vehicles, angular information of a camera located at the user position, and a camera image associated with one or more known markers. The method further comprises determining the angular information of the camera by determining a direction cosine matrix between a camera frame of reference and an earth frame of reference, and designating unit vectors that individually extend from a position within the camera image associated with one of the known markers through the camera focal point to the respective known marker The method also includes integrating into an ordinary least squares matrix, the GPS range measurements, the angular information of the camera, and the unit vectors, and calculating the user position by solving the ordinary least squares matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Ohio University
    Inventors: Thomas D. Arthur, Zhen Zhu, Sumit Bhattacharya, Maarten Uijt de Haag, Kim Michael Scheff
  • Patent number: 8170082
    Abstract: Embodiments related to cross-talk mitigation are described and depicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Andreas Schmid
  • Publication number: 20120098700
    Abstract: A Global navigation satellite-based systems (GNSS) enabled device, handling at least two of a plurality of sensors, collects GNSS measurements and navigation related non-GNSS sensor data. The collected navigation related non-GNSS sensor data is automatically formatted into a data format that is compatible with a format of the GNSS measurements. The formatted navigation related non-GNSS sensor data and the GNSS measurements are utilized by a single function to compute navigation information for the GNSS enabled device regardless of sensor configurations such as a cellular radio and/or a motion sensor. Measurement errors in the collected navigation related non-GNSS sensor data is estimated to determine measurement accuracy. The collected navigation related non-GNSS sensor data is selectively adopted, combined with the GNSS measurements, to compute navigation information by the single function based on the determined measurement accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Frank van Diggelen
  • Patent number: 8164514
    Abstract: A system and associated methods for mutual-aiding and mutual-calibrating positioning and navigation that fuse self-contained and referenced displacement measurements to provide position, velocity, and attitude estimates. In one embodiment the system includes a dead-reckoning device, a radio signal receiver, and a computational device that performs integration with mutual aiding and mutual calibration, leading to a position, velocity, and attitude solution. In another embodiment the system further includes auxiliary sensors. In one embodiment the method that performs fusion of dead-reckoning and radio signal measurements includes dead-reckoning mechanization, estimation of radio signal parameters including signal strength, code phase, and carrier phase, coarse initialization of navigation states with code phase and signal strength measurements, refinement of navigation estimation using temporal carrier phase differences, and estimation of dead-reckoning and radio measurement error terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventors: Chun Yang, Andrey Soloviev
  • Patent number: 8094066
    Abstract: A method for calculating a position of a moving vehicle using a first unit that performs a correlation process on a satellite signal received from a satellite to capture the satellite signal and calculate the position and velocity of the moving vehicle and a second unit capable of detecting at least the velocity of the moving vehicle includes: calculating a determination velocity which is the velocity determined using the results of the calculation by the first unit and the results of the detection by the second unit; determining a correlation integration period used when the first unit performs the correlation process using the error in the determination velocity; and calculating the position of the moving vehicle using the results of the calculation by the first unit and the results of the detection by the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunichi Mizuochi
  • Publication number: 20110300875
    Abstract: A method is provided for managing a location sensing operation for location-based applications, including activating a first sensor disposed in the portable device so as to provide a location sensing operation requested by at least one location-based application. The method further includes periodically monitoring movement of the portable device by a second sensor disposed in the portable device, and suppressing the location sensing operation of the first sensor in accordance with the movement of the portable device detected by the second sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kyu-Han KIM, Zhenyun ZHUANG, Jatinder Pal SINGH
  • Patent number: 8050691
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement in a mobile telecommunication network for detection of a UE transmitted signal. The arrangement comprises means for detecting the signal during the time ttot, wherein said means comprises a correlator adapted for combined coherent and non-coherent correlation, wherein the length of the coherent correlation interval is L signal samples, the number of coherent correlation intervals is M and the coherent correlation results in a coherent correlation result for each of the coherent detection intervals M, and means for adding the coherent correlation results non-coherently. Further, the arrangement comprises means for selecting one of the length L of coherent detection interval and the total detection interval ttot based on at least one of the parameters cell size, UE speed and acceleration, number of participating Location Measurements Units and a desired total false alarm rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Ari Kangas
  • Publication number: 20110254978
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures an image; a recording unit that records the image on a recording medium; a first position estimating unit that estimates a position of the imaging apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and calculates a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information; a second position estimating unit that estimates the position of the imaging apparatus using a second position estimation technique different from the first position estimation technique to generate second position information, and calculates a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information; a position-information obtaining unit that select, from the first and second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and an application executing unit that performs data processing using the selected posit
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidenori YAMAJI
  • Patent number: 8035553
    Abstract: A system and method for site calibration of a controller is provided. In one embodiment, a method may include determining coordinates of a point in a first coordinate system based on at least one measurement by a surveying device, determining coordinates of the point in a second coordinate system based on data provided by a global positioning device, and calculating a transformation of the first coordinate system relative to the second coordinate system based on the coordinates determined for the point. The method may further include calibrating the controller based, at least in part, on the transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Mario Cerniar
  • Publication number: 20110238307
    Abstract: A navigation system includes a navigation radio and a sensor onboard a vehicle. The navigation radio receives and processes low earth orbit RF signals to derive range observables for a corresponding LEO satellite. A sensor is operable to generate at least one of vehicle speed data, acceleration data, angular rate data and rotational angle data under high vehicle dynamics. The navigation radio includes a navigation code operable to obtain a position, velocity and time solution (a “navigation solution”) based on the one or more range observables, ephemerides for the corresponding LEO satellite, a heading pseudomeasurement, a navigation radio altitude pseudomeasurement; one or more vehicle velocity pseudomeasurements orthogonal to the altitude pseudomeasurements; and the generated at least one of vehicle speed data, acceleration data, angular rate data and rotational angle data. The navigation radio uses the navigation solution to acquire a GPS signal during interference with a coarse acquisition GPS signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Lockwood Psiaki, Isaac Thomas Miller, Brent Michael Ledvina
  • Publication number: 20110227787
    Abstract: Spoofing of a satellite positioning system is detected by receiving position location data from multiple sources. The received data is compared and inconsistent data is marked. A position location is estimated based on the received position location data, while accounting for the marked inconsistent data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Arnold J. Gum, Douglas Neal Rowitch
  • Publication number: 20110227788
    Abstract: A mobile device may determine its initial absolute location; may track using a plurality of sensors, its movements relative to the initial absolute location; and may generate location related data for a location based on that tracking. Tracking movement of the mobile device may comprise generating data corresponding to three-dimensional (3D) linear and/or rotational changes in position and/or location of the mobile device. The initial absolute location may be determined directly by the mobile device, based on GNSS signals and/or assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) data received from one or more location servers; and/or it may be estimated based on a location of a communication device that is communicatively coupled to the mobile device. The generated location related data may propagated by the mobile device to other mobile and/or communication devices, and/or to the location servers, where a reference database for supporting location related services (LBS) may be updated accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: David Lundgren, Charles Abraham, Mark Buer, David Garrett, Jeyhan Karaoguz, David Murray
  • Patent number: 8004460
    Abstract: A positioning method using global positioning system (GPS) signal and digital broadcasting system (DBS) signal. The method includes detecting a presence status of the GPS signal through a signal detector in a receiver, detecting a presence status of the DBS signal through the signal detector, determining the signal strength of the GPS signal if the GPS signal is detected, determining the signal strength of the DBS signal if the DBS signal is detected, choosing one positioning mode among a plurality of positioning modes in a signal processing unit in the receiver based on signal presence status and the signal strength of a detected signal, and determining a location of the receiver based on the chosen positioning mode. The plurality of positioning modes includes standalone GPS mode, assisted GPS (AGPS) mode, assisted GPS positioning with DBS assist mode, DBS positioning with GPS assist mode, standalone DBS mode, and assist DBS mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: O2Micro International, Ltd.
    Inventors: You-Yuh Jack Shyr, Mingqiang Cheng, Cuichai Ji
  • Publication number: 20110199259
    Abstract: A GNSS enabled mobile device moves from a first area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is above a threshold to a second area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is below the threshold. The GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area determines its own location utilizing previous GNSS measurements in the first area. GNSS signals are received to calculate GNSS measurements whenever the GNSS enabled mobile device is in the first area. The calculated GNSS measurements are utilized to determine a location of the GNSS enabled mobile device within the first area. The GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area utilizes the most current GNSS measurements in the first area to determine its own location. Sensors such as an image sensor, a light sensor, an audio sensor and/or a location sensor are used to refine the location of the GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, Charles Abraham, Mark Buer, David Garrett, David Albert Lundgren, David Murray
  • Patent number: 7994970
    Abstract: In a positioning system comprising a position information transmitter that transmits a position information signal containing position information indicative of a position as a signal compatible with a satellite positioning signal transmitted from an artificial satellite and a communication terminal that when receiving the satellite positioning signal, finds a current position of the communication terminal by finding a position of the artificial satellite and that when receiving the position information signal, finds a current position of the communication terminal based on the position information, the position information transmitter transmits the position information signal containing a boundary flag that determines which of the satellite positioning signal or the position information signal each of correlators of the communication terminal is to receive, and the communication terminal sets which of the satellite positioning signal or the position information signal each of the correlators is to receive ba
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Kawaguchi, Tomoichi Ebata, Yutaka Shimogaki, Hitoshi Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 7961146
    Abstract: A positioning method in a positioning device that calculates a location of the positioning device by executing Kalman filtering includes, acquiring a satellite signal from a positioning satellite; predicting a state vector including a velocity component of the positioning device, and error covariance of the state vector; correcting the velocity component using a difference between a measured value and a predicted value of the reception signal frequency from the positioning satellite; determining accuracy of the corrected velocity component based on the error covariance; setting a velocity condition based on the determined accuracy; judging a moving state of the positioning device by comparing the corrected velocity component and the velocity condition; and calculating the location by executing the Kalman filtering with a filter characteristic changed according to the judged moving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Muraguchi
  • Patent number: 7962286
    Abstract: When a CPU 11 controls a drawing control and storage unit 14 according to an operation performed on an operation unit 3 not to perform any navigation display on a monitoring unit 2, the CPU controls a switch SW1 to an off state during a time period during which the CPU does not perform this navigation display, and stops the supply of electric power to a secondary storage unit 13 to stop the operation of this secondary storage unit 13, thereby reducing the consumption of the secondary storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7940211
    Abstract: A method and system obtains precise survey-grade position data of target points in zones where precise GPS data cannot be obtained, due to natural or man-made objects such as foliage and buildings. The system comprises position measurement components such as a GPS receiver, together with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an electronic distance meter (EDM) or an image capture device all mounted on a survey pole. The system and method obtains GPS data when outside the zone and uses the other position measurement systems, such as the IMU, inside the zone to traverse to a target point. The EDM or the image capture device may be used within or without the zone to obtain data to reduce accumulated position errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Bruno Scherzinger
  • Publication number: 20110102255
    Abstract: A method and system obtains precise survey-grade position data of target points in zones where precise GPS data cannot be obtained, due to natural or man-made objects such as foliage and buildings. The system comprises position measurement components such as a GPS receiver, together with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an electronic distance meter (EDM) or an image capture device all mounted on a survey pole. The system and method obtains GPS data when outside the zone and uses the other position measurement systems, such as the IMU, inside the zone to traverse to a target point. The EDM or the image capture device may be used within or without the zone to obtain data to reduce accumulated position errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Bruno Scherzinger
  • Patent number: 7911379
    Abstract: In a method for construction equipment component location tracking, a wireless mesh network communication is initiated between a component monitor and a component information unit which is mechanically coupled with the component. An identity of the component is received at the component monitor via the wireless mesh network communication. A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver of the component monitor is utilized to ascertain a location of the component at a completion of an inventory action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: John F. Cameron
  • Patent number: 7907087
    Abstract: At least one set of values of parameters is determined, each set of values defining a respective troposphere model. The at least one determined set of parameter values is then assembled for transmission via a wireless communication network to a wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Jani Käppi
  • Patent number: 7904243
    Abstract: Data from GPS satellites within the field of view of a ground station are retransmitted to LEO satellites, such as Iridium satellites, and cross-linked if necessary before being transmitted to a user. The user is then able to combine the fed-forward data with data received directly from GPS satellites in order to resolve errors due to interference or jamming. Iridium and data aiding thus provides a means for extending GPS performance under a variety of data-impaired conditions because it can provide certain aiding information over its data link in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Clark Cohen, Bart Ferrell, Greg Gutt, David Whelan
  • Patent number: 7898471
    Abstract: A power-saving position tracking device includes a central processing unit; a short-distance wireless communication unit, for establishing a wireless connection with a short-distance wireless transceiver to perform a position tracking; a GPS receiving unit, for receiving a satellite signal for performing a position tracking and outputting position information; a mobile communication unit, for transmitting the position information to a remote control center. If a signal intensity of a wireless connection between the power-saving position tracking device and the short-distance wireless transceiver is greater than a threshold, the GPS receiving unit and the mobile communication unit will enter into a power saving mode; on the other hand, if the wireless connection signal intensity is smaller than the threshold, the short-distance wireless communication unit will enter into the power saving mode to achieve the power-saving effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: GTA Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pao-Lin Guo
  • Publication number: 20110018761
    Abstract: A multi-standard single chip integrated within a multi-standard mobile device concurrently receives multi-standard radio frequency signals by corresponding two or more integrated radios. The multi-standard single chip generates full GNSS measurement comprising pseudo-range information using the received radio frequency signals. The multi-standard single chip comprises a GNSS radio and multiple non-GNSS radios such as Bluetooth. The full GNSS measurement is generated using GNSS radio frequency signals received by the integrated GNSS radio and communicated over, for example, Bluetooth radio. GNSS satellite reference information embedded in radio frequency signals received by the integrated non-GNSS radios is extracted to assist the full GNSS measurement. A full GNSS navigation solution for the multi-standard mobile device is generated internally to and/or externally to the multi-standard single chip depending on the location of a navigation engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: John Walley, Charles Abraham, Evan McCarthy, Kambiz Shoarinejad
  • Publication number: 20110012784
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter generally relates to hybrid positioning systems and methods, more specifically, systems and methods of integrating a wireless local area network (WLAN) based positioning system (WLAN-PS) and a satellite positioning system (SPS) to improve accuracy of location estimates by selecting the best set of measurements from both systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: SKYHOOK WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventor: Farshid ALIZADEH-SHABDIZ
  • Publication number: 20100315287
    Abstract: A device and method for independent altitude measurement in a satellite positioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventor: Yuri Karpitski
  • Patent number: 7852262
    Abstract: This invention is a wireless mobile indoor/outdoor tracking system. It is designed to track the absolute position of all nodes in a network indoors and outdoors. The system uses GPS positioning when a signal is available and RF ranging when it is unavailable. When indoors, a minimum of three network nodes must receive a GPS signal to determine absolute position. A mesh network is used to make the system mobile and to create an avenue for data to be transmitted to a remote base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Pavan K. Namineni, Trevor Davey, Gary Siebert, Charles J. Jacobus