LOCATION MESSAGING SYSTEM USING GPS

• US 20010014597A1
• Filed: 10/27/1998
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: TAKIGUCHI, KIYOAKI, NAKAMURA, TAKAAKI
• Granted Patent: US 6,662,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

A GPS receiver communicates with a management center through a portable telephone terminal. The management center is connected to a telephone unit and a facsimile unit in a house through a telephone line. When the user presses a predetermined button with the telephone unit, a request for location information of the receiver is transmitted to the management center. The management center transmits the location information request as a DTMF signal to the receiver. The receiver measures the location thereof. The measured result and time information of a navigation message thereof are transmitted as a DTMF signal. When the management center determines that the message is old corresponding to the time information, the management center compensates the measured result. The management center transmits the location information to the telephone unit. The management center transmits image data with map information to the facsimile unit.

Claims

1. A GPS receiver for receiving navigation messages from a plurality of satellites and measuring the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the received navigation messages, comprising:

signal processing means for receiving signals from the satellites, extracting navigation messages from the signals, and measuring the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the extracted navigation messages; and

transmitting means for adding time information at which each of the navigation messages was extracted to the relevant navigation message and transmitting the resultant data to the outside of the GPS receiver.

2. The GPS receiver as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising:

receiving means for receiving a control signal from the outside of the GPS receiver,

wherein said signal processing means and said transmitting means are controlled corresponding to the control signal received by said receiving means.

3. The GPS receiver as set forth in

claim 1

,

wherein said transmitting means converts the navigation messages and the time information into audio signals and transmits the audio signals.

4. The GPS receiver as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising:

power controlling means for controlling a power supply of the GPS receiver corresponding to the control signal received from the outside of the GPS receiver or an internal control signal of the GPS receiver.

5. The GPS receiver as set forth in

claim 2

,

wherein said transmitting means transmits a signal through a portable telephone terminal, and

wherein said receiving means receives a signal through a portable telephone terminal.

6. The GPS receiver as set forth in

claim 1

,

wherein the location of the GPS receiver is intermittently measured.

7. The GPS receiver as set forth in

claim 2

,

wherein a signal is polled so that said receiving means automatically receives the signal.

8. The GPS receiver as set forth in

claim 1

,

wherein if the measured result of the location of the GPS receiver exceeds a designated area, data that represents the situation is transmitted to the outside of the GPS receiver.

9. A GPS management station for managing a GPS receiver that receives navigation messages from a plurality of satellites and measures the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the navigation messages and for downloading the navigation messages received from the satellites, comprising:

means for transmitting a control signal to the GPS receiver so as to control the GPS receiver; and

means for receiving navigation messages with time information at which the navigation messages were extracted from the GPS receiver.

10. The GPS management station as set forth in

claim 9

,

wherein the control signal is converted into an audio signal and then transmitted.

11. The GPS management station as set forth in

claim 9

,

wherein the control signal causes the GPS receiver to measure the location thereof.

12. The GPS management station as set forth in

claim 9

,

wherein the GPS receiver is set with the control signal.

13. The GPS management station as set forth in

claim 9

,

wherein location information corresponding to the received navigation messages is transmitted to an external information unit.

14. The GPS management station as set forth in

claim 13

,

wherein the location information is correlated with map information and then transmitted.

15. The GPS management station as set forth in

claim 13

,

wherein the information unit is a subscriber telephone unit.

16. The GPS management station as set forth in

claim 13

,

wherein the information unit is an image communication unit.

17. A location messaging system, comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving navigation messages from a plurality of satellites and measuring the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the received navigation messages, said GPS receiver having

signal processing means for receiving signals from the satellites, extracting navigation messages from the signals, and measuring the location of said GPS receiver corresponding to the extracted navigation messages, and

transmitting means for adding time information at which each of the navigation messages was extracted to the relevant navigation message and transmitting the resultant data to the outside of said GPS receiver; and

a GPS management station having;

means for transmitting a control signal to said GPS receiver so as to control the GPS receiver, and

means for receiving navigation messages with time information at which the navigation messages were extracted from said GPS receiver.

18. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

,

wherein the control signal is converted into an audio signal and then transmitted.

19. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

,

wherein said GPS management station transmits a control signal to said GPS receiver, the control signal causing said GPS receiver to measure the location thereof, and

wherein said GPS receiver receives the control signal and measures the location thereof corresponding to the control signal.

20. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

,

wherein said GPS management station transmits a control signal to said GPS receiver so as to control a power supply of said GPS receiver, and

wherein said GPS receiver receives the control signal and controls the power supply of said GPS receiver corresponding to the received control signal.

21. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

,

wherein said GPS management station transmits a control signal to said GPS receiver so as to set said GPS receiver.

22. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

, further comprising:

navigation message storing means for storing the navigation messages received by said receiving means,

wherein when the location of said GPS station is measured, the date of a navigation message stored in said navigation message storing means is compared with the current data, and

wherein if the difference between the date of the navigation message and the current date exceeds a predetermined period, the navigation message stored in said navigation message storing means is updated corresponding to a navigation message downloaded to said GPS management station.

23. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

,

wherein said GPS management station and said GPS receiver are communicated through a portable telephone terminal.

24. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

,

wherein said GPS receiver intermittently measures the location thereof.

25. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 17

,

wherein said GPS receiver polls a signal so as to automatically receive the signal.

26. A location messaging system, comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving navigation messages from a plurality of satellites and measuring the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the received navigation messages, said GPS receiver having

signal processing means for receiving signals from the satellites, extracting navigation messages from the signals, and measuring the location of said GPS receiver corresponding to the extracted navigation messages, and

transmitting means for adding time information at which each of the navigation messages was extracted to the relevant navigation message and transmitting the resultant data to the outside of said GPS receiver;

a GPS management station having;

means for transmitting a control signal to said GPS receiver so as to control the GPS receiver, and

means for receiving navigation messages with time information at which the navigation messages were extracted from said GPS receiver; and

an information unit for communicating with said GPS management station.

27. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein the control signal is converted into an audio signal and then transmitted.

28. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said GPS management station receives a command from said information unit and transmits a control signal to said GPS receiver so as to measure the location thereof,

wherein said GPS receiver receives the control signal, measures the location of said GPS receiver corresponding to the control signal, correlates location information as the measured result with map information, and transmits the resultant information to said information unit.

29. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said GPS management station transmits a control signal to said GPS receiver so as to control a power supply thereof, and

wherein said GPS receiver receives the control signal and controls the power supply thereof corresponding to the received control signal.

30. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said GPS management station receives a signal from said information unit and transmits a control signal to said GPS receiver so as to set said GPS receiver.

31. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

, further comprising:

navigation message storing means for storing the navigation messages received by said receiving means,

wherein when the location of said GPS station is measured, the date of a navigation message stored in said navigation message storing means is compared with the current data, and

wherein if the difference between the date of the navigation message and the current date exceeds a predetermined period, the navigation message stored in said navigation message storing means is updated corresponding to a navigation message downloaded to said GPS management station.

32. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said information unit is a subscriber telephone unit.

33. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said information unit is an image communication unit.

34. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said GPS management station and said GPS receiver are communicated through a portable telephone terminal.

35. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said GPS receiver intermittently measures the location thereof.

36. The location messaging system as set forth in

claim 26

,

wherein said GPS receiver polls a signal so as to automatically receive the signal.

37. A GPS management method for managing a GPS receiver that receives navigation messages from a plurality of satellites and measures the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the navigation messages and for downloading the navigation messages received from the satellites, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a control signal to the GPS receiver so as to control the GPS receiver; and

receiving navigation messages with time information at which the navigation messages were extracted from the GPS receiver.

38. A location messaging method of a system having:

a GPS receiver for receiving navigation messages from a plurality of satellites and measuring the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the received navigation messages, and

a GPS management station, the location messaging method comprising the steps of;

causing the GPS receiver to receive signals from the satellites, extract navigation messages from the signals, and measure the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the extracted navigation messages;

causing the GPS receiver to add time information at which each of the navigation messages was extracted to the relevant navigation message and transmit the resultant data to the outside of the GPS receiver;

causing the GPS management station to transmit a control signal to the GPS receiver so as to control the GPS receiver; and

causing the GPS management station to receive navigation messages with time information at which the navigation messages were extracted from the GPS receiver.

39. A location messaging method of a system having:

a GPS receiver for receiving navigation messages from a plurality of satellites and measuring the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the received navigation messages,

a GPS management station, and

an information unit, the location managing method comprising the steps of;

causing the GPS receiver to receive signals from the satellites, extract navigation messages from the signals, and measure the location of the GPS receiver corresponding to the extracted navigation messages;

causing the GPS receiver to add time information at which each of the navigation messages was extracted to the relevant navigation message and transmit the resultant data to the outside of the GPS receiver;

causing the GPS management station to transmit a control signal to the GPS receiver so as to control the GPS receiver;

causing the GPS management station to receive navigation messages with time information at which the navigation messages were extracted from the GPS receiver; and

causing the GPS management station to transmit the location information of the GPS receiver corresponding to the navigation messages to the information unit.