HOST BASED SATELLITE POSITIONING SYSTEMS

• US 20110029240A1
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIRF Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Clifford, Nonis, Sebastian, Bulatovic, Nikola, Pande, Ashutosh, Witanis, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/37 Hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a host based positioning system. The host based positioning system includes a tracker hardware interface that connects to a dedicated hardware space vehicle tracker. The tracker hardware interface receives positioning information from the space vehicle tracker. The host based positioning system also includes a memory that includes a GPS library having a user interface, a tracker interface, and an operating system interface. A processor runs functions provided by the interfaces.

Claims

1. A system for processing positioning signals, the system comprising:

a mobile phone including;

a tracker hardware interface for receiving positioning information from a tracker hardware internal or external to the mobile phone;

a memory including a GPS library having a user interface, a tracker interface, and an operating system interface, the tracker interface including at least one tracker interface function for communicating with the tracker hardware over the tracker hardware interface; and

a processor for running the tracker interface function,

wherein the processor, using the GPS library, computes a location of the mobile phone based on the positioning information obtained by the tracker interface function, and is configured to communicate the location of the mobile phone to a plurality of respectively different user programs running on the mobile phone in response to requests from the respective programs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracker hardware interface comprises a serial interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises at least one positioning control function and at least one positioning engine communication function.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the positioning control function comprises a positioning engine start function.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the positioning control function comprises a positioning engine stop function.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the positioning engine communication function is a command delivery function.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user programs includes at least one of:

a mapping program displaying the location of the mobile phone, a course charter program displaying a path traveled by the mobile phone and a location aid program displaying location information of the mobile phone.