Wireless communications device with global positioning based on received motion data and method data and method for use therewith

• US 20080274713A1
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Granted Patent: US 7,671,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/334
• 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 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/017 Detecting state or type of motion

Abstract

A circuit includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal. A wireless receiver converts an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream. A processing module converts the inbound symbol stream into inbound data that includes a motion parameter and generates position information based on at least one of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

a wireless receiver section coupled to convert an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream; and

a processing module coupled to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data that includes a motion parameter; and

generate position information based on at least one of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

2. The circuit of claim of claim 1 wherein the inbound RF signal is received from a vehicle.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the motion parameter includes a motion vector generated based on a speed of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the GPS receiver operates in accordance with a receiver parameter, and wherein the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver parameter based on the motion parameter.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the receiver parameter includes a receiver sensitivity and the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a first value when the motion parameter compares favorably to a motion threshold and adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a second value when the motion parameter compares unfavorably to the motion threshold.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the GPS receiver generates a GPS data quality and wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data when the GPS data quality compares unfavorably to a quality threshold.

7. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data during a start-up condition of the GPS receiver.

8. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless transmitter coupled to convert outbound data into an outbound symbol stream and to generate an outbound RF signal from the outbound symbol stream; and

wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter when the wireless transmitter is generating the outbound RF signal.

9. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on a weighted combination of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

10. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver operates in accordance with at least one of a wireless personal area network protocol, a wireless local area network protocol and a wireless wide area protocol.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a GPS signal;

generating GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

converting an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream;

converting the inbound symbol stream into inbound data that includes a motion parameter; and

generating position information based on at least one of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the inbound RF signal is received from a vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the motion parameter includes a motion vector generated based on a speed of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of receiving the GPS signal operates in accordance with a receiver parameter, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

adjusting the receiver parameter based on the motion parameter.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the receiver parameter includes a receiver sensitivity and the step of adjusting the receiver parameter adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a first value when the motion parameter compares favorably to a motion threshold and adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a second value when the motion parameter compares unfavorably to the motion threshold.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a GPS data quality;

wherein the step of generating the position information generates position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data when the GPS data quality compares unfavorably to a quality threshold.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of generating the position information generates the position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data during a start-up condition of the GPS receiver.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

converting outbound data into an outbound symbol stream; and

generating an outbound RF signal from the outbound symbol stream;

wherein the step of generating the position information generates the position information based on the motion parameter when generating the outbound RF signal.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of generating the position information generates the position information based on a weighted combination of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of receiving operates in accordance with at least one of a wireless personal area network protocol, a wireless local area network protocol and a wireless wide area protocol.

21. A communication device comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

a wireless personal area network (WPAN) transceiver coupled to convert a first inbound RF signal into first inbound data that includes a motion parameter and to generate a first outbound RF signal based on first outbound data; and

a wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver coupled to convert a second inbound RF signal into second inbound data and to generate a second outbound RF signal based on second outbound data;

a processing module coupled to generate position information based on at least one of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

22. The circuit of claim of claim 21 wherein the first inbound RF signal is received from a vehicle.

23. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the motion parameter includes a motion vector generated based on a speed of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle.

24. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the GPS receiver operates in accordance with a receiver parameter, and wherein the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver parameter based on the motion parameter.

25. The circuit of claim 24 wherein the receiver parameter includes a receiver sensitivity and the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a first value when the motion parameter compares favorably to a motion threshold and adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a second value when the motion parameter compares unfavorably to the motion threshold.

26. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the GPS receiver generates a GPS data quality and wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data when the GPS data quality compares unfavorably to a quality threshold.

27. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data during a start-up condition of the GPS receiver.

28. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter when the WPAN transmitter is generating the first outbound RF signal.

29. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter when the WWAN transmitter is generating the second outbound RF signal.

30. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on a weighted combination of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.