System and Method for Compressing GPS Data

• US 20150293232A1
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neoterra Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neoterra Systems Inc.
• Inventors: CRAWFORD, Ewan, BEHAN, Thomas, KELLY, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/640,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20150293232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/396 Determining accuracy or reliability of position or pseudorange measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station

Abstract

A system and method are provided for compressing global positioning system (GPS) data. The method includes determining a first GPS position and an associated first time; incorporating the first GPS position and the associated first time in a GPS update packet; determining a time interval for a set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position and specifying the time interval in the GPS update packet; and for each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position: computing a relative latitude value and a relative longitude value; compressing the relative latitude and longitude values by reducing precision; and storing compressed relative latitude and longitude values in the GPS update packet. There is also provided a system and method for decompressing such compressed global positioning system (GPS) data.

Claims

1. A method of compressing global positioning system (GPS) data, the method comprising:

determining a first GPS position and an associated first time;

incorporating the first GPS position and the associated first time in a GPS update packet;

determining a time interval for a set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position and specifying the time interval in the GPS update packet; and

for each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position;

computing a relative latitude value and a relative longitude value;

compressing the relative latitude and longitude values by reducing precision; and

storing compressed relative latitude and longitude values in the GPS update packet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing at least one of a current speed value and a current direction value in the GPS update packet.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a tag specifying that the subsequent data corresponding to the set of GPS positions has been compressed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a bit mask specifying whether or not one or more optional fields in the GPS update packet have been utilized.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the precision comprises shifting and truncating bits in each of the relative latitude and longitude values.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time interval is selected from one of a plurality of possible time intervals, the method further comprising incorporating a look-up value in the GPS update packet representative of the time interval.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS update packet is generated by a location tracking device associated with a moving object, and sent to a location tracking system over a network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS update packet is generated by a location tracking system or a third party location based service and sent to a location tracking device associated with a moving object.

9. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for compressing global positioning system (GPS) data, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

determining a first GPS position and an associated first time;

incorporating the first GPS position and the associated first time in a GPS update packet;

determining a time interval for a set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position and specifying the time interval in the GPS update packet; and

for each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position;

computing a relative latitude value and a relative longitude value;

compressing the relative latitude and longitude values by reducing precision; and

storing compressed relative latitude and longitude values in the GPS update packet.

10. A system for compressing global positioning system (GPS) data, the system comprising a processor and memory, the memory comprising computer executable instruction executable to:

determine a first GPS position and an associated first time;

incorporate the first GPS position and the associated first time in a GPS update packet;

determine a time interval for a set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position and specifying the time interval in the GPS update packet; and

for each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position;

compute a relative latitude value and a relative longitude value;

compress the relative latitude and longitude values by reducing precision; and

store compressed relative latitude and longitude values in the GPS update packet.

11. A method of decompressing compressed global positioning system (GPS) data, the method comprising:

receiving a GPS update packet, the GPS update packet comprising a first GPS position, an associated first time, a time interval, and a set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position, each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position comprising a relative latitude value and a relative longitude value, the relative latitude and longitude values having been compressed by reducing precision; and

for each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position;

computing a full GPS positions using the relative latitude and longitude values and a previous GPS position; and

associating a time with the full GPS positions according to the time interval.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the GPS update packet stores at least one of a current speed value and a current direction value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the GPS update packet incorporates a tag specifying that the subsequent data corresponding to the set of GPS positions has been compressed.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the GPS update packet incorporates a bit mask specifying whether or not one or more optional fields in the GPS update packet have been utilized.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein reducing the precision comprises shifting and truncating bits in each of the relative latitude and longitude values.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the time interval has been selected from one of a plurality of possible time intervals, the method further comprising referencing a look-up value in the GPS update packet to determine the time interval.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the GPS update packet has been generated by a location tracking device associated with a moving object, and received by a location tracking system over a network.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the GPS update packet has been generated by a location tracking system or a third party location based service and is received by a location tracking device associated with a moving object.

19. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for decompressing global positioning system (GPS) data, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a GPS update packet, the GPS update packet comprising a first GPS position, an associated first time, a time interval, and a set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position, each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position comprising a relative latitude value and a relative longitude value, the relative latitude and longitude values having been compressed by reducing precision; and

for each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position;

computing a full GPS positions using the relative latitude and longitude values and a previous GPS position; and

associating a time with the full GPS positions according to the time interval.

20. A system for decompressing global positioning system (GPS) data, the system comprising a processor and memory, the memory comprising computer executable instruction executable to:

receive a GPS update packet, the GPS update packet comprising a first GPS position, an associated first time, a time interval, and a set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position, each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position comprising a relative latitude value and a relative longitude value, the relative latitude and longitude values having been compressed by reducing precision; and

for each of the set of GPS positions subsequent to the first GPS position;

compute a full GPS positions using the relative latitude and longitude values and a previous GPS position; and

associate a time with the full GPS positions according to the time interval.