GPS ODOMETER

• US 20130196688A1
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Lai, Ying-Lin, Lu, Ping-Han
• Application Number:
  US13/877,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20130196688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/42 where power is generated by conversion of mechanical movement to electricity, e.g. by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/46 Global positioning system [GPS] sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/48 with transmitting devices, e.g. GSM or Wi-Fi®
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7242 using integration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system is provided that is configured to be transported, carried or worn by a user, such as a portable personal training device or sports watch. The system comprises means for determining the location of the user at a plurality of times during a journey from a first location to a second location, such as a GPS receiver. The system further comprises means for determining a motion state of the user at a plurality of times during the journey. The means can include an accelerometer, and can also utilise data obtained from a GPS receiver. The system further comprises means for determining the distance travelled by the user during at least a portion of the journey using the plurality of determined locations and the plurality of determined motion states, such that the system functions as an odometer.

Claims

1. A system configured to be transported, carried or worn by a user, comprising:

a location determining device for determining the location of the user at a plurality of times during a journey from a first location to a second location;

at least one motion sensor for determining a motion state of the user at a plurality of times during the journey; and

a processor coupled to the location determining device and the at least one motion sensor, said processor being arranged to determine the distance travelled by the user during at least a portion of the journey using the plurality of determined locations and the plurality of determined motion states.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the location determining device comprises a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor is arranged to determine whether the user is in one or more of a plurality of predefined motion states.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the predefined motion states are each indicative of at least one of a speed and type of directional movement of the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the user is determined at a first frequency and the motion state of the user is determined at a second frequency, said first frequency being greater than said second frequency.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to determine the distance travelled by the user by sampling determined locations of the user at a sampling rate based on the determined motion state of the user at said locations.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one motion sensor is arranged to determine whether the user is in one or more of a plurality of predefined motion states, each motion state having an associated sampling rate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the location determining device comprises a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and the processor is arranged to determine the distance travelled by the user by sampling determined locations of the user at a sampling rate based on the determined motion state of the user and at least one of an accuracy and reliability property of the GNSS receiver at said locations.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

apply a smoothing function to the sampled locations to generate a smooth curve associated with the sampled locations; and

sample the smooth curve to determine a plurality of adjusted locations.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the smooth curve is sampled at a rate selected by the user.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is arranged to determine the distance travelled by the user by summing the distances between the plurality of adjusted locations.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a speed determining device for determining the speed of the user at a plurality of times during the journey, and wherein the processor is arranged to determine the distance travelled by the user during at least a portion of the journey using the plurality of determined speeds.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one motion sensor is arranged to determine whether the user is in one or more of a plurality of predefined motion states, each combination of motion states having an associated sampling rate.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the smooth curve is sampled at a rate based on the determined motion state of the user.

14. A system configured to be transported, carried or worn by a user, comprising:

a location determining device for determining the location of the user at a plurality of times during a journey from a first location to a second location;

a speed determining device for determining the speed of the user at a plurality of times during the journey;

at least one motion sensor for determining a motion state of the user at a plurality of times during the journey; and

a processor coupled to the location determining device, the speed determining device and the at least one motion sensor, said processor being arranged to determine the distance travelled by the user during at least a portion of the journey by selectively using the plurality of determined locations or the plurality of determined speeds based on the determined motion state of the user.

15. The system of claim 14, comprising a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, the GNSS receiver being the location determining device and the speed determining device.

16. (canceled)

17. A method of determining the distance travelled by a user during at least a portion of a journey from a first location to a second location using a system configured to be transported, carried or worn by a user, the method comprising:

determining the location of the user at a plurality of times during the journey;

determining a motion state of the user at a plurality of times during the journey; and

using the plurality of determined locations and the plurality of determined motions states to determine the distance travelled by the user.

18. A method of determining the distance travelled by a user during at least a portion of a journey from a first location to a second location using a system configured to be transported, carried or worn by a user, the method comprising:

determining a motion state of the user at a plurality of times during the journey; and

selectively using one of;

(i) a plurality of locations of the user during the journey; and

(ii) a plurality of speeds of the device during the journey, to determine the distance travelled by the user based on the determined motion states of the user.