Terminal apparatus, control method of terminal apparatus, control program for terminal apparatus, and computer readable recording medium for storing control program for terminal apparatus

• US 20070018889A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kurata, Tomoyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/485,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.310
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled

Abstract

A terminal apparatus for positioning based on satellite signals from positioning satellites includes: satellite signal receiving means for receiving the satellite signals; positioning position information generating means for generating positioning position information which indicates a position of the terminal apparatus based on the satellite signals; moving vector information generating means for generating moving vector information which indicates moving vectors constituted by a moving direction and a moving distance of the terminal apparatus at predetermined time intervals by controlling movement history measuring means constituted by a rotational speed sensor, an acceleration sensor and a magnetic sensor; estimated position information generating means for generating estimated position information which indicates an estimated position of the terminal apparatus at the current time based on the positioning position information and the moving vector information; and estimated position information outputting means for outputting the estimated position information.

Claims

1. A terminal apparatus for positioning based on satellite signals from positioning satellites, comprising:

satellite signal receiving means for receiving the satellite signals;

positioning position information generating means for generating positioning position information which indicates a position of the terminal apparatus based on the satellite signals;

moving vector information generating means for generating moving vector information which indicates moving vectors constituted by a moving direction and a moving distance of the terminal apparatus at predetermined time intervals by controlling movement history measuring means constituted by a rotational speed sensor, an acceleration sensor and a magnetic sensor;

estimated position information generating means for generating estimated position information which indicates an estimated position of the terminal apparatus at the current time based on the positioning position information and the moving vector information; and

estimated position information outputting means for outputting the estimated position information.

2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time intervals are shorter than time intervals at which the positioning position information generating means generates the positioning position information.

3. The terminal apparatus according to any of claim 1 and 2, wherein the estimated position information generating means generates the estimated position information by adding each of the moving vectors assuming that the position of the terminal apparatus indicated in the positioning position information is a base point.

4. A control method of a terminal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

receiving satellite signals by means of a terminal apparatus for positioning based on the satellite signals from positioning satellites;

generating positioning position information which indicates a position of the terminal apparatus based on the satellite signals by means of the terminal apparatus;

generating moving vector information which indicates moving vectors constituted by a moving direction and a moving distance of the terminal apparatus at predetermined time intervals by controlling movement history measuring means constituted by a rotational speed sensor, an acceleration sensor and a magnetic sensor by means of the terminal apparatus;

generating estimated position information which indicates an estimated position of the terminal apparatus at the current time based on the positioning position information and the moving vector information by means of the terminal apparatus; and

outputting the estimated position information by means of the terminal apparatus.

5. A control program for a terminal apparatus, instructing a computer to perform the steps of:

receiving satellite signals by means of a terminal apparatus for positioning based on the satellite signals from positioning satellites;

generating positioning position information which indicates a position of the terminal apparatus based on the satellite signals by means of the terminal apparatus;

generating moving vector information which indicates moving vectors constituted by a moving direction and a moving distance of the terminal apparatus at predetermined time intervals by controlling movement history measuring means constituted by a rotational speed sensor, an acceleration sensor and a magnetic sensor by means of the terminal apparatus;

generating estimated position information which indicates an estimated position of the terminal apparatus at the current time based on the positioning position information and the moving vector information by means of the terminal apparatus; and

outputting the estimated position information by means of the terminal apparatus.

6. A computer readable recording medium for storing a control program for a terminal apparatus, instructing a computer to perform the steps of:

receiving satellite signals by means of a terminal apparatus for positioning based on the satellite signals from positioning satellites;

generating positioning position information which indicates a position of the terminal apparatus based on the satellite signals by means of the terminal apparatus;

generating moving vector information which indicates moving vectors constituted by a moving direction and a moving distance of the terminal apparatus at predetermined time intervals by controlling movement history measuring means constituted by a rotational speed sensor, an acceleration sensor and a magnetic sensor by means of the terminal apparatus;

generating estimated position information which indicates an estimated position of the terminal apparatus at the current time based on the positioning position information and the moving vector information by means of the terminal apparatus; and

outputting the estimated position information by means of the terminal apparatus.