METHOD FOR PROVIDING RELIABILITY OF RECKONING LOCATION AND MOBILE TERMINAL THEREFOR

• US 20120176270A1
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: SHIN, Gye Joong
• Application Number:
  US13/083,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176270A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/40 Correcting position, velocity or attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled

Abstract

Disclosed are method and apparatus for evaluating reliability of reckoning location information and providing reliability information. A mobile terminal implementing the method provides a user with a handheld device to provide accurate location information. The method for providing reliability of a reckoning location preferably includes: reckoning a location using speed and direction information input from a sensor unit when satellite signal intensity of GPS satellite information is less than a first threshold value; calculating a moving distance using the reckoning location for a reckoned time of the location; evaluating the reliability of the reckoning location according to the moving distance; and providing the reckoning location and the reliability to a location information utility unit such that the location information utility unit determines presence of utility of the reckoning location according to the reliability.

Claims

1. A method for providing reliability of a reckoning location, the method comprising:

reckoning by a controller a location using speed and direction information input from a sensor unit when a satellite signal intensity of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite information received by a GPS receiving unit is less than a first threshold value;

calculating by the controller a moving distance using the reckoning location for a time of the reckoning location;

evaluating by the controller a reliability of the reckoning location according to the moving distance; and

providing by the controller the reckoning location and the reliability to a location information utility unit, and determining by the location information utility unit whether to utilize the reckoning location according to the evaluated reliability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating the reliability of the reckoning location comprises:

a first reduction step of reducing a satellite signal intensity of the GPS satellite information stored in a storage unit when the moving distance is equal to or greater than a second threshold value; and

updating the reduced satellite signal intensity in the storage unit,

wherein the evaluated reliability comprises the updated reduced satellite signal intensity of the GPS satellite information stored in a storage unit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein evaluating the reliability of the reckoning location further comprises:

a second reduction step of reducing the satellite signal intensity of the GPS satellite information stored in the storage unit when the time of the reckoning location is equal to or greater than a third threshold value; and

a step of updating the satellite signal intensity reduced at the second reduction step in the storage unit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second and third threshold values are set to different values according to speed information inputted from the sensor unit.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising calculating by the controller speed using GPS satellite information inputted from the GPS receiving unit, wherein the second and third threshold values are set to different values according to the calculated speed.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein calculating a moving distance by the controller comprises calculating the moving distance with the reckoning location using map information stored in the storage unit or altitude information inputted from the sensor unit.

7. A method for providing reliability of a reckoning location, the method comprising:

reckoning a location by a controller using speed and direction information input from a sensor unit when satellite signal intensity of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite information received by a GPS receiving unit is less than a first threshold value;

calculating a displacement for a time of the reckoning location;

evaluating by the controller a reliability of the reckoning location according to the calculated displacement; and

providing the reckoning location and the reliability to a location information utility unit, and determining by the location information utility unit whether to utilize the reckoning location according to the evaluated reliability.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein evaluating the reliability of the reckoning location comprises:

comparing the calculated displacement with a threshold value for displacement and controlling a satellite signal intensity of GPS satellite information stored a storage unit; and

updating a value of the controlled satellite signal intensity that is stored in the storage unit,

wherein the evaluated reliability comprises the satellite signal intensity of the GPS satellite information stored in the storage unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling a satellite signal intensity of GPS satellite information comprises:

reducing the value of the satellite signal intensity of the GPS satellite information stored in a storage unit when the displacement is greater than the threshold value for displacement; and

increasing the satellite signal intensity when the displacement is less than the threshold value for displacement to update the increase satellite signal intensity in the storage unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold value for displacement is set according to speed information input from the sensor unit.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising calculating speed using GPS satellite information input from the GPS receiving unit, wherein the threshold value for displacement is set according to the calculated speed.

12. A mobile terminal comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiving unit for receiving a GPS satellite signal;

a sensor unit measuring speed and a direction of a mobile terminal;

a location calculating unit for reckoning a location using the speed and direction information measured by the sensor unit when an intensity of the GPS satellite signal received from the GPS receiving unit is less than a first threshold value;

a reliability evaluator for evaluating reliability of the location reckoned by the location calculating unit; and

an information providing unit for providing the reckoning location and the reliability to a location information utility unit in which the location information utility unit determines whether or not to utilize the reckoning location according to the evaluated reliability of the location reckoned by the location calculating unit.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the location calculating unit stores in a storage unit the GPS satellite information output by the GPS receiving unit, and the reliability evaluator comprises:

a moving distance calculator for calculating a moving distance using the reckoning location input from the location calculator; and

a signal intensity controller for reducing a value of the GPS satellite signal intensity stored in the storage unit when the moving distance is equal to or greater than a second threshold value, and for updating the reduced satellite signal intensity in the storage unit, wherein the reliability includes the satellite signal intensity stored in the storage unit.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the signal intensity controller reduces the value of the GPS satellite signal intensity stored in the storage unit when the reckoned time of a location is equal to or greater than a third threshold value.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the second and third threshold values are set to different values according to speed information input from the sensor unit.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the location calculator calculates speed using GPS satellite information received by the GPS receiving unit, and the second and third threshold values are set to different value according to the calculated speed.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the moving distance calculator calculates a moving distance calculates the moving distance with the reckoning location using map information stored in the storage unit or altitude information input from the sensor unit.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the location calculator stores the GPS satellite information input received by the GPS receiving unit, and the reliability evaluator comprises:

a displacement calculator for calculating a displacement for the reckoned timed of a location; and

a signal intensity controller for comparing the displacement with a fourth threshold value to control satellite signal intensity of the GPS satellite information stored in the storage unit, and updating the controlled satellite signal intensity in the storage unit, wherein the evaluated reliability includes the satellite signal intensity stored in the storage unit.