GPS-microphone for communication system

• US 20050037777A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry Liou
• Original Assignee: Henry Liou
• Inventors: Liou, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A GPS-microphone, which is adapted for incorporating a communication system, includes a speaker-microphone set, a radio frequency transmitter communicatively networked with the communication system through radio frequency signals, and a GPS controller electrically connected with the radio frequency transmitter to encode positioning data into one or more RF positioning signals in form of audio signals wherein when the GPS controller is triggered, the radio frequency transmitter is activated to transmit RF positioning signals to the communication system.

Claims

1. A GPS communication apparatus for transmitting a positioning data to a communication system, comprising:

a communication unit, comprising a microphone, a speaker and a triggering circuitry arranged in such a manner that when said triggering circuitry is triggered to activate said microphone in a transmit mode, said microphone is capable of receiving and encoding a voice message into an audio signal,

a transmitter communicatively networking with said communication system through communication signals, and

a GPS controller electrically connected with said transmitter to encode positioning data into one or more positioning signals in form of audio signals, wherein when said GPS controller is triggered, said transmitter is activated for transmitting said positioning signal to said communication system, wherein said GPS controller is activated when said triggering circuitry is triggered in such a manner that said audio signal from said communication unit and said positioning signals from said GPS controller are combined to form an information signal for transmitting to said communication system.

2. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said GPS controller is preset to be activated for receiving said positioning data for a predetermined period of time.

3. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said GPS controller is activated when said transmitter receives a request from said communication system.

4. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of an audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter, said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals for transmitting to said communication system.

5. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of an audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter, said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals for transmitting to said communication system.

6. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein said transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of an audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter, said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals for transmitting to said communication system.

7. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication system comprises a control center which comprises a signal receiver communicatively networking with said GPS-microphone for receiving said information signal form said GPS-microphone, means for decoding said information signal from said receiving means, and a processor center converting said positioning signals back to said positioning data.

8. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 5, wherein said communication system comprises a control center which comprises a signal receiver communicatively networking with said GPS-microphone for receiving said information signal form said GPS-microphone, means for decoding said information signal from said receiving means, and a processor center converting said positioning signals back to said positioning data.

9. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 6, wherein said communication system comprises a control center which comprises a signal receiver communicatively networking with said GPS-microphone through said communication signals for receiving said information signal form said GPS-microphone, means for decoding said information signal from said receiving means, and a processor center converting said positioning signals back to said positioning data.

10. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set, said triggering circuitry is a PTT (Push-To-Talk) and said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter, wherein communication signals are frequency signals and said positioning signals are RF positioning signals.

11. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set, said triggering circuitry is a PTT (Push-To-Talk) and said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter, wherein communication signals are frequency signals and said positioning signals are RF positioning signals.

12. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set, said triggering circuitry is a PTT (Push-To-Talk) and said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter, wherein communication signals are frequency signals and said positioning signals are RF positioning signals.

13. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set, said triggering circuitry is a PTT (Push-To-Talk) and said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter, wherein communication signals are frequency signals and said positioning signals are RF positioning signals.

14. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 5, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set, said triggering circuitry is a PTT (Push-To-Talk) and said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter, wherein communication signals are frequency signals and said positioning signals are RF positioning signals.

15. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 6, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set, said triggering circuitry is a PTT (Push-To-Talk) and said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter, wherein communication signals are frequency signals and said positioning signals are RF positioning signals.

16. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set, said triggering circuitry is a PTT (Push-To-Talk) and said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter, wherein communication signals are frequency signals and said positioning signals are RF positioning signals.

17. A process of transmitting a positioning data to a communication system from a communication apparatus which comprises a communication unit, a transmitter and a GPS controller, wherein the process comprises the steps of:

(a) communicatively networking said radio frequency transmitter to said communication system through communication signals;

(b) encoding positioning data, by said GPS controller, into one or more positioning signals in form of audio signals and combining said positioning signals with an audio signal from said communication unit before said positioning signal are sent to said communication system; and

(c) activating said transmitter to transmit said positioning signals to said communication system.

18. The process, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a step of decoding said RF positioning signals to a readable positioning data at said communication system.

19. The process, as recited in claim 17, wherein said communication unit is a speaker-microphone set which comprises a PTT circuitry arranged to activate said speaker-microphone set, wherein said GPS controller is activated when said PTT circuitry is triggered.

20. The process, as recited in claim 17, wherein, in the step (b), said GPS controller is preset to be activated for receiving said positioning data for a period of time.

21. The process, as recited in claim 18, wherein, in the step (b), said GPS controller is preset to be activated for receiving said positioning data for a period of time.

22. The process, as recited in claim 19, wherein, in the step (b), said GPS controller is preset to be activated for receiving said positioning data for a period of time.

23. The process, as recited in claim 17, wherein, in the step (b), said GSP controller is activated when said radio frequency transmitter receives a request from said communication system.

24. The process, as recited in claim 18, wherein, in the step (b), said GSP controller is activated when said radio frequency transmitter receives a request from said communication system.

25. The process, as recited in claim 19, wherein, in the step (b), said GSP controller is activated when said radio frequency transmitter receives a request from said communication system.

26. The process, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

27. The process, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

28. The process, as recited in claim 18, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

29. The process, as recited in claim 19, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said speaker-microphone set, wherein said positioning signals are RF positioning signals and said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

30. The process, as recited in claim 20, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

31. The process, as recited in claim 21, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

32. The process, as recited in claim 22, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said speaker-microphone set, wherein said positioning signals are RF positioning signals and said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

33. The process, as recited in claim 23, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

34. The process, as recited in claim 24, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said communication unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

35. The process, as recited in claim 25, wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said speaker-microphone set, wherein said positioning signals are RF positioning signals and said identification signal is combined with said positioning signals to transmit to said communication system when said positioning signals are transmitted from said transmitter.

36. A GPS-microphone for a hand-held microphone unit of a two-way radio system to receive one or more microphone input baseband signals, comprising:

a radio frequency transmitter, which is adapted for communicatively networking with said two-way radio system, comprising means for receiving a position information; and

a GPS controller which comprises a data packet modem implementing a modulation scheme to impose said position information from said position receiving means onto an output baseband audio signal, and a baseband signal processor electrically connected with said data packet modem for mixing said microphone input baseband signals with a data modem signal and for sending said microphone input baseband signals with said data modem signal to said two-way radio system through radio frequency.

37. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 36, wherein said position receiving means is a GPS antenna and receiver unit adapted for receiving said position information from a GPS satellite.

38. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 36, wherein said radio frequency transmitter is a radio transmitting device adapted to send and receive said radio frequency, wherein said radio frequency transmitter functions as a wireless communication link for connecting between said GPS controller and said two-way radio system.

39. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 37, wherein said radio frequency transmitter is a radio transmitting device adapted to send and receive said radio frequency, wherein said radio frequency transmitter functions as a wireless communication link for connecting between said GPS controller and said two-way radio system.

40. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 36, wherein said position receiving means is preset to be activated for receiving said position information for a predetermined period of time.

41. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 39, wherein said position receiving means is preset to be activated for receiving said position information for a predetermined period of time.

42. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 36, wherein said radio frequency transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said hand-held microphone unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said output baseband audio signal for transmitting to said two-way radio system.

43. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 39, wherein said radio frequency transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said hand-held microphone unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said output baseband audio signal for transmitting to said two-way radio system.

44. The GPS-microphone, as recited in claim 41, wherein said radio frequency transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said hand-held microphone unit, wherein said identification signal is combined with said output baseband audio signal for transmitting to said two-way radio system.

45. A method of controlling GPS acquisition to a communication system from a GPS-microphone which comprises a radio frequency transmitter and a GPS controller, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) communicatively networking said frequency transmitter of said GPS-microphone with said communication system through radio frequency signals;

(b) sending a GPS acquisition configuration command from said communication system to said GPS-microphone through said radio frequency signals;

(c) receiving a GPS position data by said GPS controller of said GPS-microphone; and

(d) sending said GPS position data as an audio signal from said GPS-microphone to said communication system through said radio frequency signals.

46. The method, as recited in claim 45, wherein the step (d) further comprises a step of generating an identification signal, which is in form of audio signal, with respect to said GPS-microphone, wherein said identification signal is combined with said GPS position data to transmit to said communication system.

47. The method, as recited in claim 45, wherein, in the step (d), said GPS-microphone is preset to be activated for sending said GPS position date for a period of time.

48. The method, as recited in claim 46, wherein, in the step (d), said GPS-microphone is preset to be activated for sending said GPS position date for a period of time.

49. The method, as recited in claim 45, wherein, in the step (c), said GSP controller is activated when said radio frequency transmitter receives a request from said communication.

50. The method, as recited in claim 47, wherein, in the step (c), said GSP controller is activated when said radio frequency transmitter receives a request from said communication.

51. A GPS communication apparatus for transmitting a positioning data to a communication system, comprising a GPS-microphone which comprises:

a speaker-microphone set,

a radio frequency transmitter communicatively networking with said communication system through radio frequency signals, and

a GPS controller electrically connected with said radio frequency transmitter to encode positioning data into one or more RF positioning signals in form of audio signals, wherein when said GPS controller is triggered, said radio frequency transmitter is activated for transmitting said RF positioning signal to said communication system.

52. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 51, wherein said speaker-microphone set comprises a microphone, a speaker, and a PTT (Push-To-Talk) circuitry arranged in such a manner that when said PTT circuitry is triggered to activate said microphone in a transmit mode, said microphone is capable of receiving and encoding a voice message into an audio signal.

53. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 51, wherein said GPS controller is preset to be activated for receiving said positioning data for a predetermined period of time.

54. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 52, wherein said GPS controller is preset to be activated for receiving said positioning data for a predetermined period of time.

55. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 51, wherein said GPS controller is activated when said radio frequency transmitter receives a request from said communication system.

56. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 52, wherein said GPS controller is activated when said radio frequency transmitter receives a request from said communication system.

57. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 51, wherein said radio frequency transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of an audio signal, with respect to said speaker-microphone set, wherein when said RF positioning signals are transmitted from said radio frequency transmitter, said identification signal is combined with said RF positioning signals for transmitting to said communication system.

58. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio frequency transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of an audio signal, with respect to said speaker-microphone set, wherein when said RF positioning signals are transmitted from said radio frequency transmitter, said identification signal is combined with said RF positioning signals for transmitting to said communication system.

59. The GPS communication apparatus, as recited in claim 57, wherein said radio frequency transmitter further generates an identification signal, which is in form of an audio signal, with respect to said speaker-microphone set, wherein when said RF positioning signals are transmitted from said radio frequency transmitter, said identification signal is combined with said RF positioning signals for transmitting to said communication system.