RADIO COMMUNICATION AND GPS NAVIGATION DEVICE

• US 20090033552A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infinity Gear LLC, Kirmuss & Associates
• Original Assignee: Infinity Gear LLC, Kirmuss & Associates
• Inventors: Kirmuss, Charles Bruno, Kirmuss, Philip Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.750
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A navigation device configured to connect to any type of communication device, such as a two-way radio or a cellular phone. The navigation device includes a LCD display and a user input device. The navigation device displays on the LCD the relative distance and direction of other navigation devices relative to the navigation device, as well as the speed, distance traveled, current location, altitude, temperature of the other navigation devices. Also, the user interface allows the user to scroll through different menu options and display options of the LCD. The navigation device is additionally configured to send text messages to other navigation devices. The navigation device transmits three NMEA sentences allowing text messages, waypoint names and locations, speed, course, direction and altitude to be sent between navigation devices.

Claims

1. A mobile navigation and communication device comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a positional signal from a satellite and determines position information of the navigation device;

a microprocessor in communication with the GPS receiver, the microprocessor configured to receive the position information from the GPS receiver;

the microprocessor further configured to receive voice signals and position information from a plurality of other mobile navigation and communication devices;

the microprocessor further configured to determine a location of the plurality of other navigation devices based upon the received position information from other devices, and;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) in communication with the microprocessor, the LCD providing a display of the location of the plurality of navigation devices relative to the navigation device.

2. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

a connection port in communication with the microprocessor, the connection port couples the navigation device to a communication device, wherein the connection port sends output signals to the communication device, the output signals include at least one of a user voice signal and one of the position information;

a communication device coupled with the connection port, the communication device receiving input signals and providing the inputs signals to the connection port, the input signals include at least one of voice and position information transmitted to the communication device from the plurality of other navigation devices.

3. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 2 wherein the communication device is a two-way radio.

4. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 2 wherein the communication device is a cellular phone.

5. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 2 further comprising:

a speaker, the speaker in communication with the microprocessor, wherein the speaker translates the voice input signal into audio sounds;

a microphone, the microphone in communication with the microprocessor, wherein the microphone translates an audio sound into the user voice signal output.

6. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 5 further comprising a push-to-talk (PTT) input, the PTT input in communication with the microprocessor, wherein the PTT input controls when the connection port sends and receives signals from the communication device.

7. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 2 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to determine the coordinates of a waypoint.

8. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 7 wherein the output signals further include the waypoint coordinates and waypoint information.

9. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 8 wherein the waypoint information comprises at least one of a waypoint name, a waypoint graphic and waypoint altitude.

10. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 1 further comprising a thermometer, wherein the thermometer is in communication with the microprocessor.

11. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 1 wherein the position information includes at least one of latitude, longitude and altitude.

12. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 1 further comprising a compass, wherein the compass is in communication with the microprocessor.

13. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 2 further comprising a lithium ion battery, wherein the lithium ion battery is in communication with the microprocessor.

14. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 2 wherein the input signals further comprise a power signal, wherein the power signal supplies power to the mobile navigation and communication device.

15. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 2 wherein:

the output signals further comprise a text message signal; and

the input signals further comprise a text message signal.

16. A mobile navigation and communication device comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives positional signals from a satellite and determines the position coordinates of the navigation device;

a microprocessor in communication with the GPS receiver, the microprocessor configured to receive the position information from the GPS receiver,

the microprocessor further configured to receive voice signals and position information from a plurality of other mobile navigation and communication devices;

the microprocessor further configured to determine a location of the plurality of other navigation devices based upon the received position information from other devices;

the microprocessor further configured to determine the speed and total distance traveled of the plurality of other navigation devices based upon the received position information from other devices;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) in communication with the microprocessor, the LCD providing a display of the location of the plurality of navigation devices relative to the navigation devices and a display of the speed and total distance traveled by each of the plurality of navigation devices; and

a user interface in communication with the microprocessor, the user interface providing a mechanism to selectively display the voice signals, position information, speed and total distance traveled of the navigation device and the plurality of navigation devices on the LCD.

17. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 16 further comprising:

a connection port in communication with the microprocessor, the connection port couples the navigation device to a communication device, wherein the connection port sends output signals to the communication device, the output signals include at least one of a user voice signal and one of the position information;

a communication device coupled with the connection port, the communication device receiving input signals and providing the inputs signals to the connection port, the input signals include at least one of voice and position information transmitted to the communication device from the plurality of other navigation devices.

18. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 17 wherein the communication device is one of a two-way radio and a cellular phone.

19. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 17 further comprising:

a speaker, the speaker in communication with the microprocessor, wherein the speaker translates the voice input signal into audio sounds;

a microphone, the microphone in communication with the microprocessor, wherein the microphone translates an audio sound into the user voice signal output;

a push-to-talk (PTT) input, the PTT input in communization with the microprocessor, wherein the PTT input controls when the connection port sends and receives signals from the communication device; and

wherein the user interface is a joystick.

20. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 17 wherein:

the microprocessor is further configured to determine the coordinates of a waypoint;

the output signals further include the waypoint coordinates and waypoint information; and

the waypoint information comprises at least one of a waypoint name, a waypoint graphic and a waypoint altitude.

21. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 16 further comprising a thermometer, wherein the thermometer is in communication with the microprocessor.

22. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 16 wherein the position information includes at least one of latitude, longitude and altitude.

23. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 16 further comprising a compass, wherein the compass is in communication with the microprocessor.

24. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 17 further comprising:

a lithium ion battery, wherein the lithium ion battery is in communication with the microprocessor; and

a power signal, wherein the power signal supplies power to the mobile navigation and communication device.

25. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 17 wherein:

the output signals further comprise a text message signal;

the input signals further comprise a text message signal; and

the microprocessor is further configured to provide a text message output.

26. The mobile navigation and communication device of claim 16 wherein:

the microprocessor is further configured to determine the estimated time of travel from position coordinates of the mobile navigation and communication device to at least one of the plurality of other navigation devices;

the microprocessor is further configured to receive a group identification signal and an individual identification signal;

the LCD is further configured to display the estimated time of travel to the other navigation devices;

the user interface selectively displays the speed, total distance traveled, location, estimated time of travel for a group of navigation devices or an individual navigation device.

27. A method of communicating between a plurality of navigation devices comprising:

obtaining positional information for a first navigation device by assessing a plurality of global positioning satellite signals;

generating a data signal for transmission to a plurality of other devices, the data signal including a latitude value obtained from the positional information for the first navigation device, a longitude value obtained from the positional information for the first navigation device, and an identification of the first navigation device;

transmitting the data signal to a plurality of other navigation devices such that each of the plurality of navigation devices can identify and display a geographic position of the first navigation device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the data signal further comprises a text message.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the data signal further comprises:

a course bearing;

an altitude value;

a speed value; and

a waypoint name.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the data signal is a National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) signal, the NMEA signal includes 82 characters, wherein:

character 1 is a dollar sign,

characters 2 through 6 is a transmission type,

characters 7 through 8 is a latitude degree,

character 9 is a period,

characters 10 through 14 is latitude minutes,

character 15 is a latitude direction,

characters 16 through 18 is a longitude degree,

character 19 is a period,

characters 20 through 24 are longitude minutes,

characters 25 is a latitude direction,

characters 26 through 35 are a waypoint name,

characters 36 through 37 is an ICON index value,

characters 38 through 40 is an altitude measurement,

characters 41 through 46 is a SCODE value,

characters 47 through 48 is a group identification,

characters 49 through 54 is a date,

characters 55 through 60 is a time reading,

character 61 is an asterisk, and

characters 62 through 82 are a checksum and sentence delimiter.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the data signal is a National Marine Electronics (NMEA) signal, the NMEA signal includes 82 characters, wherein:

character 1 is a dollar sign,

characters 2 through 6 is a transmission type,

characters 7 through 46 is a text message,

characters 47 through 56 is a name identification,

characters 57 through 62 is a SCODE value,

characters 63 through 64 is group identification,

characters 65 through 66 is a status value,

characters 67 through 68 is a ICON value;

character 69 is an asterisk, and

characters 69 through 82 are a checksum and sentence delimiter.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the data signal is a National Marine Electronics (NMEA) signal, the NMEA signal includes 82 characters, wherein:

character 1 is a dollar sign,

characters 2 through 6 is a transmission type,

character 7 is a fix status,

characters 8 through 9 is a latitude degree,

character 10 is a period,

characters 11 through 15 is latitude minutes,

character 16 is a latitude direction,

characters 17 through 19 is a longitude degree,

character 20 is a period,

characters 21 through 25 are longitude minutes,

characters 26 is a latitude direction,

characters 27 through 29 is an altitude value,

characters 30 through 32 is a course bearing value,

characters 33 through 34 is a speed value,

characters 35 through 44 is a name identification,

characters 45 through 50 is a SCODE value,

characters 51 through 52 is a group identification,

characters 53 through 54 is a status value,

characters 55 through 56 is a ICON value,

characters 57 through 62 is a date value,

characters 63 through 68 is a time value,

character 69 is an asterisk, and

characters 69 through 82 are a checksum and sentence delimiter.