Global positioning system (GPS) accessories, hosts and methods that use radio frequency transmission of raw GPS data

• US 20060214845A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Jendbro, Magnus, Westholm, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/087,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.640
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

GPS accessories for host devices include a GPS Radio Frequency (RF) receiver that receives GPS signals over a GPS radio frequency and obtains raw GPS data from the GPS signals. A wireless RF transmitter wirelessly transmits the raw GPS data to a host device over a non-GPS radio frequency. The wireless RF transmitter may include an ad hoc short range wireless network transmitter, such as a Bluetooth transmitter.

Claims

1. A Global Positioning System (GPS) accessory for a host device comprising:

a GPS Radio Frequency (RF) receiver that is configured to receive GPS signals over a GPS radio frequency and to obtain raw GPS data therefrom; and

a wireless RF transmitter that is responsive to the GPS RF receiver and is configured to wirelessly transmit the raw GPS data to a host device over a non-GPS radio frequency.

2. A GPS accessory according to claim 1 wherein the GPS RF receiver is configured to downconvert the GPS signals to baseband signals.

3. A GPS accessory according to claim 1 wherein the wireless RF transmitter comprises an ad hoc short range wireless network transmitter.

4. A GPS accessory according to claim 3 wherein the ad hoc short range wireless network transmitter comprises a Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 and/or IEEE 802.IQ transmitter.

5. A GPS accessory according to claim 1 wherein the GPS RF receiver comprises a GPS RF chip and wherein the wireless RF transmitter comprises a Bluetooth chip.

6. A Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled host device comprising:

a wireless Radio Frequency (RF) receiver that is configured to receive raw GPS data over a non-GPS radio frequency;

a GPS processor that is configured to compute position data from the raw GPS data; and

an interface processor that is configured to utilize the position data to perform host device functions.

7. A GPS enabled host device according to claim 6 wherein the wireless RF receiver comprises an ad hoc short range wireless network receiver.

8. A GPS enabled host device according to claim 6 further comprising a digital signal processor, wherein the GPS processor is included in the digital signal processor.

9. A GPS enabled host device according to claim 6 wherein the interface processor includes a display that is configured to display the position data.

10. A GPS enabled host device according to claim 7 wherein the ad hoc short range wireless network receiver comprises a Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 and/or IEEE 802.IQ receiver.

11. A GPS enabled host device according to claim 6 wherein the GPS enabled host device is a wireless terminal, such as a mobile phone.

12. A Global Positioning System (GPS) signal processing method comprising:

receiving GPS signals over a GPS radio frequency and obtaining raw GPS data therefrom; and

wirelessly transmitting the raw GPS data to a host device over a non-GPS radio frequency.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein wirelessly transmitting the raw GPS data to a host device comprises wirelessly transmitting the raw GPS data to a host device over an ad hoc short range wireless network.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the ad hoc short range wireless network comprises a Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 and/or IEEE 802.IQ network.

15. A Global Positioning System (GPS) signal processing method comprising:

receiving raw GPS data over a non-GPS radio frequency;

computing position data from the raw GPS data; and

utilizing the position data to perform host device functions.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein receiving raw GPS data over a non-GPS radio frequency comprises receiving raw GPS data over an ad hoc short range wireless network.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein computing position data from the raw GPS data is performed by executing GPS software in a digital signal processor.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein utilizing the position data to perform host device functions comprises displaying the position data.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the ad hoc short range wireless network comprises a Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 and/or IEEE 802.IQ network.

20. A method according to claim 15 wherein the GPS signal processing method is performed in a wireless terminal, such as a mobile phone.