Abstract: A positioning apparatus includes: a first measuring section to directly measuring its own present position; a second measuring section to measure an azimuth and a movement of a user; a movement method judging section to judge a movement method of the user based on the measurement result by the second measuring section; an azimuth specifying section to specify a movement azimuth of the user based on the measurement result by the second measuring section; a movement speed calculating section to calculate an average movement speed in a period where the movement method of the user is judged to be a movement state by car; and a position calculating section to obtain a movement position by integrating a movement distance into the specified movement azimuth at the average movement speed to reference position information obtained by the first measuring section when the user is in the movement state by car.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to use a vehicle back-up camera as a cost-effective dead-reckoning sensor in satellite-based vehicle navigation systems. Since the back-up camera may already use a display of the navigation system for display, the data from the back-up camera may be easily obtained and integrated into the navigation system. The data from the camera is received by a navigation receiver wirelessly or through a wired connection. The image is processed to determine the speed, heading, turn-rate of the vehicle to aid the satellite-based navigation system if the satellite signals are inadequate. Thus, enhanced vehicle navigation- performance can be obtained without adding new sensors and/or connecting to a vehicle data bus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a path using a limited memory size are provided. An approximate path is generated based on a reduced grid map generated by reducing an original grid map. Then, an approximate path is mapped onto the original grid map, and the mapped path is enlarged and divided into a plurality of sections based on an available memory size used for path calculation. Based on a start point and a destination point set in each of the divided sections, a detailed path in each of the sections is generated.

Abstract: Described are a system, method and apparatus for computing a navigation solution. In a particular implementation, a direction of travel (DOT) indicator or vector may be applied to augment computation of the navigation solution. The DOT indicator or vector may be selectively applied in the computation of the navigation solution based, at least in part, on an assessment of reliability of the DOT indicator or vector.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and devices for generating one or more harsh or diminished radiofrequency environments relative to a planned route of a mobile device user. In one example, a mobile device user a be routed through a harsh or diminished radiofrequency environment based, at least in part, on a sensor suite of a mobile device and/or based on a user's preferences. Prior to entry into such an environment, various sensors may be activated in a manner that permits position estimation in an absence of SPS based positioning signals and/or TPS based positioning signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for constraining growth in position uncertainty of a mobile device are based on determination that the mobile device is in a pedestrian mode. Determination of the pedestrian mode is based on detection of steps by a pedometer, speed of motion of the mobile device, turn rate determination by a gyroscope, charging condition of the mobile device, availability of satellite signals, etc. Step counts and/or turn rate information are used to ascertain the distance that a pedestrian user may have traversed from a last known position, based on which growth of position uncertainty is controlled.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining an Estimated Horizontal Position Error (EHPE) with respect to a navigation system onboard a telematics-equipped vehicle by utilizing a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation system in combination with a dead reckoning (DR) navigation system. The method includes: receiving GNSS positioning information from the GNSS navigation system; receiving DR positioning information from the DR navigation system; applying, by a telematics unit, a Kalman filter to the GNSS positioning information and the DR positioning information; calculating, by the telematics unit, the EHPE corresponding to the navigation system onboard the telematics-equipped vehicle based on the GNSS positioning information, the DR positioning information, and the Kalman filter.

Abstract: A method for determining protection limits at a future moment associated with navigation states of a bearer by estimating the navigation states of the bearer at the present moment, developing a statistic model of the estimation errors of navigation states of the bearer at the present moment in the form of a covariance matrix, extrapolating, for a future moment, the statistical model of the estimation errors, calculating protection limits at the future moment from the extrapolated statistical model, the extrapolation of the statistical model of the estimation errors implements the application of a constant and positive transition matrix to a standard deviation vector constructed from the square root of the elements of the diagonal of the covariance matrix, to propagate, up to the future moment, the standard deviations developed at the present moment. The invention also relates to a navigation system configured to implement the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a specific asset using navigation technology or specific signaling capabilities. This system improves a driver's productivity by providing location information or signals to a driver to assist him in locating a specific trailer. An embodiment includes a system for navigating/routing drivers to their assigned trailer, using GPS, and Navigation technology. Another embodiment includes an audio and/or visual signal from a specific trailer activated by a driver seeking the location of the specific trailer.

Abstract: Track information generating devices, methods, and programs acquire a self-contained navigation track of a vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of self-contained navigation information, and acquire a GPS track of the vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of GPS information. The devices, methods, and programs compare the self-contained navigation track with the GPS track to correct the self-contained navigation information so as to reduce a difference between the self-contained navigation track and the GPS track.

Abstract: A wireless location/position computation system, device, and method are directed to multiple aid-data sources each providing location-related aid information, a wireless device configured to communicate with the aid-data sources, and a location computation module either integrated with or external to the wireless device. The wireless device may include a transceiver to communicate wireless, data and other signals. The wireless device may receive a position request to compute a position of the wireless device, and in response, initiate a compute-position session. In the compute-position session, the wireless device sends aid requests to and retrieves the location-related aid information from the aid-data sources and processes the location-related aid information from the aid-data sources to generate integrated location information.

Abstract: A mobile communication apparatus may receive a first direction from a reference target to an external apparatus and a first distance from the reference target to a position of the external apparatus. A direction acquiring unit acquires a second direction from the reference target to the position, and a distance acquiring unit acquires a second distance between the reference target and the position. A computing unit computes a direction and a distance from the position to the external apparatus based on the first direction, the first distance, the second direction and the second distance, in order to output a computation result from an output unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for calibrating past position estimates from a positioning system that provides real-time position estimates of a mobile object. The method first stores the real-time position estimates, which as time goes by become past position estimates and naturally form a first past trajectory depicting the past movement of the mobile object. Subsequently, a calibrated past trajectory is determined, which includes calibrated past position estimates that correspond to the same time instances as the past positions in the first past trajectory. When real-time positions have low qualities, this method calibrates them at a later time by using (higher-quality) real-time positions both before and after them. Errors in the past positions are then corrected based on the calibrated past trajectory. When used with event detectors that indicate inventory transactions, this method can correct position errors associated with inventory events so as to improve the performance of inventory tracking.

Abstract: A method/system for estimating a state of a device and at least one target in an environment. The process involves computing a state vector using an error state form of the position of the device in a local coordinate reference frame.

Abstract: A projectile and associated method are provided for seeking a target that has been laser designated even though the projectile does not include a laser receiver. A projectile includes an aerodynamic body and a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS signals indicative of a location of the aerodynamic body. The projectile also includes a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from an offboard laser receiver that provide information relating to a location of the target based upon laser designation of the target. Further, the projectile includes a processor configured to direct flight of the aerodynamic body toward the target based upon the location of the aerodynamic body as determined from the GPS signals and the location of the target based upon the information provided by the offboard laser receiver.

Abstract: Step detection and step length estimation techniques include detecting salient points in sensor data of one or more sensors. A step frequency is estimated based on a time interval between the detected salient points. A step length of the step may then be computed based on a nonlinear combination of the estimated step frequency and a function of the sensor data, and/or a step model. Alternatively, the step length of the step may be computed based on a combination of a nonlinear function of the estimated step frequency and a (linear or nonlinear) function of the sensor data, and/or a step model.

Abstract: A navigation and location system including an inertial navigation unit, a global positioning system, a control system, and a machine readable recording medium storing a plurality of non-transitory machine readable instructions adapted to determine a desired orientation of a sensor at a desired point with respect to the Earth based on determination of orientation of a reference axis of a sensor with respect to locations of multiple points and relationships between the multiple points with a significant degree of accuracy using non-magnetic directional sensing, orientation sensing comprising position determinations via the GPS, orientation data acquired from said inertial navigation unit, and a sequence of measurements along a displaced path including said position determinations and said orientation data. An additional embodiment can include a remote sensing system for remote sensing of an object of interest.

Abstract: A quasi tightly coupled (QTC) aided INS (AINS) process has an inertial navigator system with a loosely-coupled AINS Kalman filter that constructs INS-GNSS position measurements, a GNSS position engine that computes a position fix from observables and an externally provided a priori position and position VCV matrix. An INS position seeding process in which the externally provided a priori position to the GNSS position engine is an antenna position computed from the INS position and attitude solution. An observable subspace constraint (OSC) process computes an OCS matrix that suppress the components of the GNSS position error due to a poor geometry in the GNSS position solution in the IG position measurement constructed by the AINS Kalman filter and that multiplies the OSC matrix and the IG position measurement and measurement model matrix to suppress uncorrected component of the GNSS position error in the IG position measurement and measurement model.

Abstract: In an example implementation, an autonomous vehicle is configured to detect closures and lane shifts in a lane of travel. The vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode and determine a presence of an obstacle substantially positioned in a lane of travel of the vehicle using a sensor. The lane of travel has a first side, a second side, and a center, and the obstacle is substantially positioned on the first side. The autonomous vehicle includes a computer system. The computer system determines a lateral distance between the obstacle and the center, compares the lateral distance to a pre-determined threshold, and provides instructions to control the autonomous vehicle based on the comparison.

Abstract: Guiding a leading vehicle according to a desired trailing vehicle path includes generating one or more proceeding paths for one or more intermediate locations along an implement train between a trailing vehicle first location and a leading vehicle second location. The proceeding paths generated with a propagation and transformation algorithm that propagates a preceding path of one of the first location, such as the desired trailing vehicle path, or one of one or more intermediate locations to an immediately proceeding location, and transforms the preceding path according to dimensional characteristics of the implement train. A second guiding path is generated for the leading vehicle second location with the algorithm based on the immediately preceding path of the intermediate location closest to the second location. The method facilitates guidance of the trailing vehicle along the desired trailing vehicle path without navigation markers on the implement train except for the leading vehicle.

Abstract: An asset's TCU, or a mobile device coupled thereto, receives and stores geographical boundary definitions to a memory. A processor uses the boundary definition to determine an initial-location boundary based on the definition and the current location of the TCU at the time it received the boundary request message. As the TCU's GPS unit generates location information, the processor retrieves the initial-location boundary definition from the memory and compares the current location from the GPS receiver to it according to an algorithm. If the processor determines that the current location of the vehicle has crossed the boundary, the processor generates an alert message, which may be an e-mail, SMS, telephonic, internet, IM, or other electronic message indicating that an asset crossed the boundary, and sends it wirelessly using a transceiver to a central computer for further processing, or directly to another device, according to a notification destination identifier.

Abstract: A method for transmitting useful data from a data source to a data sink, the data source being connected to a locating unit, the useful data in the data source being assigned supplementary data derived from information of the locating unit connected to the data source, which are transmitted to the data sink together with the useful data, wherein the received useful data in the data sink are assigned additional supplementary data, which are derived from additional information of a locating unit connected to the data sink.

Abstract: This aircraft navigation assistance system comprises an inertial navigation module adapted for providing first positional information from accelerometric and gyrometric measurements, and a module adapted for determining second positional information from satellite positioning data. The system is characterized in that it comprises means for estimating a first localization of the aircraft at a time of estimation on the basis of first positional information determined from accelerometric and gyrometric measurements at said time of estimation and second positional information determined from positioning data received prior to said time of estimation, said first localization being determined independently from any positioning data received in a time interval preceding said time of estimation, advantageously equal to a time to alert.

Abstract: A method for supporting location services in a mobile radio communications system, in which method a mobile station receives from at least one network element involved in location services, for the implementation of a position measurement procedure, at least one information element indicating if the method type required for that position measurement procedure is a “Conventional GPS” method type where the mobile station behaves as a conventional satellite positioning system receiver.

Abstract: An enhanced control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle adds constraints to the process of choosing a flight path in the event of an in-flight contingency, such as engine out or an encounter with jamming, which forces a diversion or unplanned landing. The constraints are: (1) ensure communications are available when needed during contingency operations; and (2) ensure signals from a global positioning system (or other navigation system) are available when needed during contingency operations.

Abstract: To suggest a technique of more accurately calculating a position using both measurement results of a satellite positioning unit and an inertial positioning unit. In a position calculating device (1), a first operational process of calculating at least a position of a moving object using the measurement result of an inertial positioning unit (2) disposed in the moving object is performed by a first operation processing unit (5). A second operational process of calculating the position of the moving object using the result of the first operational process and the measurement result of a satellite positioning unit (3) disposed in the moving object is performed by a second operation processing unit (7). An operational coefficient of the first operational process is adjusted using the result of the first operational process and the result of the second operational process by an operational coefficient adjusting unit (9).

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a location of a mobile device using an estimated trajectory of motion of the mobile device, and in particular, using a comparison of the estimated trajectory with one or more predetermined candidate trajectories.

Abstract: Track information generating devices, methods, and programs acquire a self-contained navigation track of a vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of self-contained navigation information, acquire a matching track of the vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of information determined through a map matching process is determined as a road the vehicle is traveling, and acquire a degree of reliability of the matching track. The devices, methods, and programs acquire a GPS track that is a track of the vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of GPS information, acquire a degree of reliability of the GPS track, and set the one of the GPS track and the matching track having a higher degree of reliability as a correction target track to correct the self-contained navigation information so as to reduce a difference between the self-contained navigation track and the correction target track.

Abstract: A method and service-related nodes for providing a deferred distance notification for at least two user devices. A Location-based gateway receives a request for a deferred distance notification for user devices, and sends a request to a Location enabler for the location of the user devices. The gateway receives location data from the Location enabler, and monitors the fulfillment of user device distance-related event criteria. When a user device distance-related event criterion is fulfilled, the gateway triggers the deferred distance notification, and sends the notification of the user device distance event to an application node. The application node sends a location request after which the Application node receives the notification. Distance notification can thus be provided to a user requesting a location-deferred service, such that the location of entire groups of users can be revealed to the requesting party.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining a spatial alignment of an inertial measurement unit (IMU). By way of example, a method is described in which a first vehicle-based direction is identified, and the first vehicle-based direction is associated with a first direction that is transformable to an earth-based coordinate frame. A spatial alignment of the IMU is determined based at least partially on the first direction.

Abstract: A guidance and vehicle control system for automatically steering a vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle or a tractor, through a field. The system includes a GNSS receiver and antenna for determining the vehicle's instantaneous position, a guidance CPU, and an automatic steering subsystem integrated with the vehicle's electrical power system. The automatic steering subsystem can be interfaced with the steering column of the vehicle, and mechanically activates the steering column, thereby steering the vehicle according to instructions received from the CPU based upon the vehicle's position and a predetermined path. An interrupt element, such as a wheel movement sensor or a slip gear, may be interfaced with the automatic steering subsystem to allow for manual steering override of the automatic steering control.

Abstract: Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (110) capable of persistent station-keeping having one or more electromagnetic (IR/Visual/RF) sensor elements or suites (112, 337) for purposes of survey and/or signal gathering. Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (110) capable of persistent station-keeping having a directable laser (331). Embodiments include a group of four or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (611-614) configured as GPS repeaters.

Abstract: A position calculating method comprising: receiving a positioning signal; and performing a position calculating operation using the received positioning signal, the position calculating operation being a operation based on a given probability distribution model having at least a variation in previous operation result as a random variable.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods, apparatuses, devices, articles, and means for updating radio models. For certain example implementations, a method for one or more server devices may comprise receiving at one or more communication interfaces at least one measurement that corresponds to a position of a first mobile device within an indoor environment. At least one radio model that is stored in one or more memories may be updated based, at least in part, on the at least one measurement to produce at least one updated radio model. The at least one radio model and the at least one updated radio model may correspond to the indoor environment. The at least one updated radio model may be transmitted to enable a second mobile device to use the at least one updated radio model for positioning within the indoor environment. Other example implementations are described herein.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to aiding a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) receiver of a platform with a data interface to the platform data. The platform, for example, could be a vehicle, ship, aircraft, or a pedestrian. The SPS receiver would be used to track the location of the platform. The data interface would facilitate access by the SPS receiver to the data of the platform, and the SPS receiver in turn could provide SPS data (such as position, speed, and heading) to the platform. A further aspect of the invention includes hardware or software used by the data interface and the SPS receiver to provide, format, time-stamp, synchronize, and match platform data or SPS receiver data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a location of a mobile device using a multi-modal Kalman filter are described. According to an example method, a mobile device may maintain multiple approximations of a location of a mobile device. Each approximation includes an estimated geographic location of the mobile device that is determined by filtering a respective subset of location estimates received by the mobile device using a respective Kalman filter, and one of the multiple approximations is designated as an active approximation. The method also involves receiving data indicating an estimate of a geographic location of the mobile device and, based on a distance between the estimate of the geographic location and a given approximation of the multiple approximations, updating the given approximation using the estimate of the geographic location. Additionally, the method involves providing for display a visual indication of an estimated geographic location associated with the active approximation.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating position of a machine is disclosed. The method may include receiving, from a perception sensor, scene data describing an environment in a vicinity of the machine and estimating a first position of the machine based on the scene data. The method may include determining whether a first signal indicative of a location of the machine is received by the machine and estimating a second position of the machine when it is determined that the first signal is received. The method may include comparing the second position with the first position and estimating a third position of the machine using at least one of the first position and the second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for a robust and configurable mobile computer architecture with navigation computational capabilities. The present invention further provides a bus network which allows for an efficient and durable Input/Output (I/O) management system. The I/O management system has configurable connections to allow for modular addition, expansion, or replacement of navigation, crash detection, and communication line replacement units (LRUs). Additional I/O device connections allow several modes of input into the computational system. The present invention is a single, self-contained unit and provides an accessible user interface to the computer system.

Abstract: A mobile application on a mobile device communicates with a head-unit of a navigation system. The mobile application may retrieve data such as map data, user input data, and other data and communicate the updates to the head unit. By retrieving map data through the mobile application, the head unit may be updated much easier than systems of the prior art. The data may be retrieved through cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks, or other networks which accessible to a user and compatible with the mobile device. Updates may be stored in the mobile device and automatically uploaded to the navigation system head unit when the user is in the vicinity of the head unit. The mobile application may establish a logical connection with one or more head units. The logical connection bounds the mobile application to the head unit and allows for data sharing and synchronization.

Abstract: An exemplary information-processing device includes: a terminal position-acquiring unit configured to acquire a position of a portable terminal used by a user; a specified position-acquiring unit configured to acquire a position specified by the user; an event-generating unit configured to generate an event at a generation position, the position acquired by the specified position-acquiring unit being regarded as the generation position; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit information relating to the event to the portable terminal when the position acquired by the terminal position-acquiring unit and the generation position come to be in a predetermined positional relationship.

Abstract: A navigation module and method for providing an INS/GNSS navigation solution for a moving platform is provided, comprising a receiver for receiving absolute navigational information from an external source (e.g., such as a satellite), means for obtaining speed or velocity information and an assembly of self-contained sensors capable of obtaining readings (e.g., such as relative or non-reference based navigational information) about the moving platform, and further comprising at least one processor, coupled to receive the output information from the receiver, sensor assembly and means for obtaining speed or velocity information, and operative to integrate the output information to produce a navigation solution. The at least one processor may operate to provide a navigation solution by using the speed or velocity information to decouple the actual motion of the platform from the readings of the sensor assembly.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods to supplement, combine, replace, verify and calibrate in-vehicle and in-device sensors and GNSS systems are presented. A mobile device and a vehicle navigation system share sensor and GNSS information to arrive at an improved navigation solution. For example, a navigation solution computed by a vehicle may rely on a sensor signal from a mobile device. Similarly, a navigation solution computed by a mobile device may use a sensor signal or a GNSS signal from a vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for recognizing features for location correction in Simultaneous Localization And Mapping operations, thus facilitating longer duration navigation, is provided. The system may detect features from magnetic, inertial, GPS, light sensors, and/or other sensors that can be associated with a location and recognized when revisited. Feature detection may be implemented on a generally portable tracking system, which may facilitate the use of higher sample rate data for more precise localization of features, improved tracking when network communications are unavailable, and improved ability of the tracking system to act as a smart standalone positioning system to provide rich input to higher level navigation algorithms/systems. The system may detect a transition from structured (such as indoors, in caves, etc.) to unstructured (such as outdoor) environments and from pedestrian motion to travel in a vehicle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing a network element in a satellite navigation data distribution system is described. In one example, a network element includes a processor for processing satellite navigation data. For example, a network element may be a reference station, a hub, or a server in the satellite navigation data distribution system. The network element includes a memory for maintaining status variables associated with the processing of the satellite navigation data. The status variables may relate to the integrity of the satellite navigation data. The network element further includes a management agent for monitoring states of the status variables and communicating with a network management system to exchange information related to the states of the status variables. In one example, the management agent is configured to communicate using a simple network management protocol (SNMP).

Abstract: A trajectory display device includes: a display element; a current position detector; a memory for storing the current position successively; and a position determination unit for determining a plurality of certain actual distance trajectory points and a plurality of direction change points based on position data stored in the memory. The certain actual distance trajectory points are arranged at every actual distance defined by a scale of a map. The moving body changes a moving direction at each direction change point. The display element displays the trajectory including the certain actual distance trajectory points and the direction change points, which is overlapped over the map.

Abstract: A system and method improve guidance system performance. An accuracy improvement module (AIM) can be configured to compare observed and expected inclination compensation factors (ICFs) at a plurality of inclination angles to detect an inaccuracy in antenna height. In response to detecting an inaccuracy, an AIM can determine a revised antenna height that more accurately represents the height of an antenna above ground. A proposed antenna height can be determined using an observed ICF. A fixed vehicle body height can be subtracted from the proposed antenna height to provide a proposed tire radius. The proposed tire radius can be compared to a table of standard tire radii to determine a tire radius value, which can then be added to the fixed vehicle body height to provide a revised antenna height. The revised antenna height can improve the accuracy or calculated ground positions, thereby improving guidance system performance.

Abstract: In an information processing device, when a positional information acquiring unit acquires positional information calculated from GPS signals and the like, a movement area setting unit sets a movement area with a size corresponding to a distance between a current location and a destination. When the positional information acquiring unit acquires positional information indicating a current location after setting this movement area, a judgment unit judges whether the positional information is within the movement area. Then, as a result of this judgment, in a case of being within the movement area, a display control unit executes display control of a display unit so as to display on a map the positional information, and in a case of being outside of the movement area, so as not to display on the map the positional information.

Abstract: A method for ensuring continuity of service of a portable navigation device (10) in the event of insufficient reception of GNSS satellite signals, wherein the user provides the portable navigation device (10) with first data relating to the current position of the device (10) through data input (115), and wherein the personal navigation device (10), in order to calculate its own position, uses the first data entered by the user and second data coming from localization tools (105,110,127,170,180,190) associated with the portable navigation device (10) and not using GNSS satellite signals.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel unit containing RF communication circuitry. The wheel units communicate with fixed nodes of a monitoring system. In some embodiments, the wheel units are placed on shopping carts and are used to track the shopping carts in a vicinity of a store. The system may implement a variety of tracking-relating features, including detecting unauthorized store exit events, estimating the number of shopping carts that are clustered together, and inhibiting shopping cart theft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and method for road guidance using a mobile terminal. The method for road guidance using a mobile terminal includes receiving a map image created by a users input, setting at least one user-designated location to the map image according to the users input, setting location information of the user-designated location to the user-designated location, comparing the location information of the user-designated location with current location information of the mobile terminal; and notifying of arrival at the user-designated location. A user may arrive at a desired destination according to the present invention without using map data provided by a map data service provider.