Driftline navigation system
First Claim
1. A navigation aid allowing a user to predict the drift of a vessel, comprising:
- a. providing a position determining device capable of accurately determining said vessel'"'"'s position;
b. providing a graphical display capable of displaying said vessel'"'"'s position to said user and further capable of displaying graphical elements;
c. providing a computing device having an associated memory;
d. determining a first position of said vessel at a first time;
e. determining a second position of said vessel at a second time which is later than said first time;
f. computing an actual drift vector starting at said first position and a first heading representing said change between said first position and said second position;
g. computing a projected drift vector having a start point lying on said first position and a second heading computed by subtracting 180 degrees from said first heading;
h. saving said projected drift vector in said memory;
i. at some point specifying a target; and
j. displaying said projected drift vector on said graphical display by placing said projected drift vector start point on said target and extending a drift line away from said target along said second heading.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the drift vector in a watercraft and then graphically projecting an anticipated drift line for a specified target point. The inventive method is preferably carried out by modifying existing GPS plotters. The user initiates a drift vector determination. A memory device receiving positional data then records the starting position of the watercraft and an ending position of the watercraft a suitable amount of time later. The starting and ending points are then used to calculate a drift vector, which includes at least the orientation of the drift and preferably also information abut the speed of the drift. This information is stored in a memory device. A graphical display is used. At some point the user defines a target point, which is shown within the graphical display. The drift vector information is retrieved from memory and a drift line is projected from the target point in a direction which is 180 degrees away from the direction of the drift vector. The user can then maneuver onto the projected drift line, with the knowledge that if the watercraft is allowed to drift at that point, it will drift over the target point.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A navigation aid allowing a user to predict the drift of a vessel, comprising:
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a. providing a position determining device capable of accurately determining said vessel'"'"'s position; b. providing a graphical display capable of displaying said vessel'"'"'s position to said user and further capable of displaying graphical elements; c. providing a computing device having an associated memory; d. determining a first position of said vessel at a first time; e. determining a second position of said vessel at a second time which is later than said first time; f. computing an actual drift vector starting at said first position and a first heading representing said change between said first position and said second position; g. computing a projected drift vector having a start point lying on said first position and a second heading computed by subtracting 180 degrees from said first heading; h. saving said projected drift vector in said memory; i. at some point specifying a target; and j. displaying said projected drift vector on said graphical display by placing said projected drift vector start point on said target and extending a drift line away from said target along said second heading. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 25, 26)
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10. A navigation aid allowing a user to predict the drift of a vessel, comprising:
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a. providing a GPS plotter capable of accurately determining said vessel'"'"'s position; b. providing a graphical display within said GPS plotter capable of displaying said vessel'"'"'s position to said user and further capable of displaying graphical elements; c. providing a computing device in said GPS plotter; d. providing a memory within said GPS plotter; e. providing user input devices within said GPS plotter; f. upon receiving an input from said user to initiate a drift determination, determining a first position of said vessel at a first time; g. determining a second position of said vessel at a second time which is later than said first time; h. computing an actual drift vector starting at said first position and a first heading representing said change between said first position and said second position; i. computing a projected drift vector having a start point lying on said first position and a second heading computed by subtracting 180 degrees from said first heading; j. saving said projected drift vector in said memory; and k. upon receiving an input from said user specifying a target, displaying said projected drift vector on said graphical display by placing said projected drift vector start point on said target and extending a drift line away from said target along said second heading. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A navigation aid allowing a user to predict the drift of a vessel, comprising:
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a. determining a first position of said vessel at a first time; b. determining a second position of said vessel at a second time which is later than said first time; c. computing an actual drift vector starting at said first position and a first heading representing said change between said first position and said second position; d. computing a projected drift vector having a start point lying on said first position and a second heading computed by subtracting 180 degrees from said first heading; e. saving said projected drift vector in a memory; f. at some point specifying a target; and g. displaying said projected drift vector by placing said projected drift vector start point on said target and extending said projected drift vector away from said target along said second heading. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 27, 28)
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22. A navigation aid allowing a user to predict the drift of a vessel, comprising:
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a. determining a series of positions for said vessel over time; b. computing an actual drift vector based on at least a portion of said series of positions, wherein said actual drift vector has a starting position and a first heading; c. computing a projected drift vector having a start point and a second heading computed by subtracting 180 degrees from said first heading; d. saving said projected drift vector in a memory; e. at some point specifying a target; and f. displaying said projected drift vector by placing said projected drift vector start point on said target and extending a drift line away from said target along said second heading. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification