SATELLITE POSITIONING SYSTEM RECEIVERS AND METHODS

• US 20070247355A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: George Geier, Mark Heng, Robert Harbour, Thomas King
• Inventors: Heng, Mark, Harbour, Robert, King, Thomas, Geier, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,336,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.640
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption

Abstract

A satellite positioning system receiver having a battery, wherein the receiver is programmed to determine (310) whether the receiver is connected to a power supply other than its battery, to begin continuous reception (320) of satellite positioning system navigation data when the receiver is connected to a power supply other than its battery, and to store (330) the navigation data received in memory of the receiver.

Claims

1. A method in a satellite positioning system receiver having a battery, the method comprising:

determining whether the receiver is connected to a power supply other than its battery;

beginning reception of satellite positioning system navigation data directly from a satellite only when the receiver is connected to a power supply other than its battery;

storing the navigation data received in memory of the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, discontinuing reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data directly from a satellite if the receiver is disconnected from the power supply other than its battery.

3. The method of claim 1, continuing reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data until reception of the navigation data is complete if the receiver is disconnected from the power supply other than its battery during reception of the navigation data.

4. The method of claim 3, continuing reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data if the receiver is disconnected from its power supply other than its battery only if a predetermined portion of the navigation data has already been received.

5. The method of claim 1, receiving satellite positioning system navigation data includes receiving almanac information directly from a satellite.

6. The method of claim 1, receiving satellite positioning system navigation data includes receiving ephemeris information directly from a satellite.

7. A satellite positioning system receiver having a battery, comprising:

a power supply port capable of connecting the receiver to a power supply other than the battery;

the receiver programmed to determine whether the receiver is connected to a power supply other than its battery;

the receiver programmed to begin reception of satellite positioning system navigation data directly from a satellite when the receiver is connected to a power supply other than its battery,

the receiver programmed to discontinue reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data directly from a satellite if the receiver is disconnected from the power supply other than its battery.

9. The receiver of claim 7, the receiver programmed to continue reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data until reception of the navigation data is complete, before discontinuing reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data, if the receiver is disconnected from the power supply other than its battery during reception of the navigation data.

10. The receiver of claim 9, the receiver programmed to continue reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data, before of discontinuing reception of the satellite positioning system navigation data, if the receiver is disconnected from its power supply other than its battery only if a predetermined portion of the navigation data has already been received.

11. The receiver of claim 7, the receiver programmed to receive satellite positioning system navigation data including almanac information directly from a satellite.

12. The receiver of claim 7, receiving satellite positioning system navigation data includes receiving ephemeris information directly from a satellite.

8. (canceled)