UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS DONGLE DEVICE WITH GLOBAL POSITIONING AND SYSTEM FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20090006699A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US11/770,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006699A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/304
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A universal serial bus (USB) dongle device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal. A USB interface communicates the GPS position data to a host device, when coupled to the host device.

Claims

1. A universal serial bus (USB) dongle 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 USB plug for connecting to a host device;

a USB controller circuit, coupled to format the GPS position data in a USB format for communication to the host device; and

a millimeter wave interface, coupled to the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit, including a millimeter wave transmitter that transmits the GPS position data from the GPS receiver, and a millimeter wave receiver that receives the GPS position data at the USB controller circuit.

2. The USB dongle device of claim 1 wherein the GPS receiver and the USB interface are powered by a current received from the host device via the USB plug.

3. The USB dongle device of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing coupled to support the global positioning system (GPS) receiver and the USB interface, wherein the housing conforms to a USB flash drive form factor.

4. The USB dongle device of claim 3 wherein the USB dongle further comprises:

a cap that is couplable with the housing in a first position to cover the USB plug when not in use.

5. The USB dongle device of claim 4 wherein the cap is couplable with the housing in a second position to store the cap and to leave the USB plug uncovered.

6. The USB dongle device of claim 4 wherein the cap includes an opening for accepting a key ring.

7. A system comprising:

a universal serial bus (USB) dongle device that includes;

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

a first USB interface coupled to format the GPS position data in a USB format;

a host device that includes;

a second USB interface coupled to receive the GPS position data in the USB format when connected to the first USB interface; and

a processor coupled to execute an application based on the GPS position data received by the second USB interface.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first USB interface includes:

a USB plug; and

a USB controller circuit coupled to coupled to format the GPS position data in the USB format for communication to the host device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the USB dongle device further includes:

a millimeter wave interface, coupled to the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit, including a millimeter wave transmitter that transmits the GPS position data from the GPS receiver, and a millimeter wave receiver that receives the GPS position data at the USB controller circuit.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the second USB interface includes:

a USB jack that is couplable to the USB plug.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the host device further includes:

a power source coupled to generate a voltage to the second USB interface;

wherein the USB dongle device is powered by the voltage.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the USB dongle device is an on-the-go USB device.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the host device is one of:

a portable computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless phone, and an automobile

14. The system of claim 7 wherein the application is one of:

a navigational application, a location-based service application.

15. The system of claim 7 wherein the application is a communication application that includes at least one communication parameter that is adjusted based on the GPS position data.

16. A universal serial bus (USB) dongle device comprising:

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

a USB interface coupled to communicate the GPS position data to a host device, when coupled to the host device.

17. The USB dongle device of claim 16 wherein the USB interface includes:

a USB connector for connecting to the host device; and

a USB controller circuit, coupled to format the GPS position data in a USB format for communication to the host device.

18. The USB dongle device of claim 17 further comprising:

a millimeter wave interface, coupled to the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit, including a millimeter wave transmitter that transmits the GPS position data from the GPS receiver, and a millimeter wave receiver that receives the GPS position data at the USB controller circuit.

19. The USB dongle device of claim 16 wherein the GPS receiver and the USB interface are powered by a current received from the host device via the USB interface.

20. The USB dongle device of claim 16 further comprising:

a housing coupled to support the global positioning system (GPS) receiver and the USB interface, wherein the housing conforms to a USB flash drive form factor.

21. The USB dongle device of claim 20 wherein the USB interface includes a USB plug and wherein the USB dongle further comprises:

a cap that is couplable with the housing in a first position to cover the USB plug when not in use.

22. The USB dongle device of claim 21 wherein the cap is couplable with the housing in a second position to store the cap and to leave the USB plug uncovered.

23. The USB dongle device of claim 21 wherein the cap includes an opening for accepting a key ring.