Inline GPS Receiver Module

• US 20110068974A1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reese, Kevin J., Turner, Marty, Jones, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US12/566,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068974A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to a mountable, inline global navigation satellite system receiver module with a standard interface to mobile computing devices and a connection to external antennae. In addition to allowing for data transfer from the receiver module to the mobile computing device, the standard interface is a conduit to power the receiver module and, in some embodiments, the external antennae. Further, a system is disclosed that determines the position coordinates of a mobile computing device via a mountable, inline global navigation satellite system receiver module in communication with the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. An inline global navigation satellite system receiving module comprising:

a housing;

a global navigation satellite system receiver chip within the housing;

an input for a global navigation satellite system antenna coupled to the housing and in communication with the global navigation satellite system receiver chip; and

a data port coupled to the housing and in communication with the global navigation satellite system receiver chip,

wherein the data port also serves as a power source for the global navigation satellite system receiver chip.

2. The inline global navigation satellite system receiving module of claim 1 wherein the receiving module is mounted via screw holes attached to the surface of the housing.

3. The inline global navigation satellite system receiving module of claim 1 wherein the data port supports a USB connection.

4. The inline global navigation satellite system receiving module of claim 1 wherein the global navigation satellite system is GPS.

5. The inline global navigation satellite system receiving module of claim 1 wherein the global navigation satellite receiving chip communicates using NMEA-0183 data protocol.

6. A system determining a position of a mobile computing device comprising:

an external antenna receiving a plurality of orbital and time data from a plurality of satellites;

an inline global navigation satellite system receiving module in communication with the antenna; and

a data connection between the global navigation satellite system receiving module and the mobile computing device,

wherein the inline receiving module is powered via the data connection;

the global navigation satellite system receiving module calculates the mobile computing device position from the received orbital and time data; and

the global navigation satellite system receiving module communicates the position of the mobile computing device via the data connection.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the data connection is a USB connection with associated drivers on the mobile computing device.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the global navigation satellite system is GPS.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the receiving module communicates with the mobile computing device using the NMEA-0183 data protocol.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the receiving module is mounted via screw holes.

11. A method of delivering position information to a mobile computing device using an inline global navigation satellite system receiving module comprising:

calculating the position of the mobile computing device from received orbital and time data; and

sending the position of the mobile computing device via the data connection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sending further comprises using NMEA-0183 data protocol.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising mounting the inline global navigation satellite system receiving module to the inside of a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising mounting the inline global navigation satellite receiving module to the framework of a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising powering the inline global navigation satellite receiving module via the data connection.