Vehicle location method and system
First Claim
1. A target vehicle location method for locating a target vehicle, comprising:
- dividing a predetermined area into grid segments having predetermined dimensions in latitude and longitude;
assigning a reference waypoint to each grid segment at a predetermined location within the grid segment;
generating a synthetic latitude function, time mapped onto each grid segment in accordance with a predetermined time period and sequence;
generating a synthetic longitude function, time mapped onto each grid segment in accordance with a predetermined time period and sequence, the synthetic latitude and longitude functions together defining a plurality of time slots for each grid segment;
providing the target vehicle with global position information indicating a position of the target vehicle ill latitude and longitude coordinates;
converting the global position information to relative position with respect to the reference waypoint of the grid segment in which the target vehicle is located;
assigning a time slot from the plurality of time slots for the target vehicle based upon the target vehicle'"'"'s relative position within the grid segment in which it is located; and
transmitting, during the assigned time slot, a data message containing information indicative of the target vehicle'"'"'s position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle location system and method whereby the position coordinates of a vehicle are made available to other vehicles or to fixed locations by transmission of a data message containing position coordinates of the vehicle. The time slot in which the data message is transmitted is uniquely assigned to each transmitting vehicle as a function of its position in a grid segment with respect to a reference waypoint assigned to that grid segment. Position information in latitude and longitude is provided to each receiving vehicle, together with a precise timing signal, by the Global Positioning System (GPS), or by the Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System (GLONASS), or by both systems. A synthetic latitude function and a synthetic longitude function provide a periodic mapping of a specific time period onto areas represented by grid segments charted on the global surface. These synthetic functions are initiated and controlled by the precise timing signal from the GPS or GLONASS systems. Each grid segment is assigned a reference waypoint at the northernmost and westernmost point of the grid segment. The vehicle'"'"'s position in a grid segment with respect to the reference waypoint of that grid segment is determined mathematically. The vehicle'"'"'s relative position in the grid segment is then correlated to the time mapping of the grid segment provided by the synthetic functions. The vehicle transmits its data message during the mapped time slot corresponding to its position within a grid segment.
412 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A target vehicle location method for locating a target vehicle, comprising:
-
dividing a predetermined area into grid segments having predetermined dimensions in latitude and longitude; assigning a reference waypoint to each grid segment at a predetermined location within the grid segment; generating a synthetic latitude function, time mapped onto each grid segment in accordance with a predetermined time period and sequence; generating a synthetic longitude function, time mapped onto each grid segment in accordance with a predetermined time period and sequence, the synthetic latitude and longitude functions together defining a plurality of time slots for each grid segment; providing the target vehicle with global position information indicating a position of the target vehicle ill latitude and longitude coordinates; converting the global position information to relative position with respect to the reference waypoint of the grid segment in which the target vehicle is located; assigning a time slot from the plurality of time slots for the target vehicle based upon the target vehicle'"'"'s relative position within the grid segment in which it is located; and transmitting, during the assigned time slot, a data message containing information indicative of the target vehicle'"'"'s position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. (Amended) A vehicle location method for locating a target vehicle, comprising:
-
providing global position information indicative of a position of the target vehicle in latitude and longitude coordinates; converting the global position information to a relative position with respect to a reference waypoint; assigning the target vehicle a time slot based on the target vehicle'"'"'s relative position; and transmitting the target vehicle'"'"'s global position information beginning at a predetermined time within the target vehicle'"'"'s assigned time slot. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A vehicle location system for locating a target vehicle, comprising:
-
a receiver aboard the target vehicle that receives global position information indicative of a position of the target vehicle in latitude and longitude coordinates; means for dividing a predetermined area into a plurality of grid segments having predetermined dimensions in latitude and longitude, each grid segment having a reference waypoint, the target vehicle being positioned in one of the grid segments; means for converting the global position information to a relative position with respect to the reference waypoint of the grid segment in which the target vehicle is located; means for assigning the target vehicle a time slot based on the target vehicle'"'"'s relative position; and a transmitter that transmits the target vehicle'"'"'s global position information during the target vehicle'"'"'s assigned time slot. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A vehicle location system whereby position data regarding a target aircraft located on an airport surface are made available to other aircraft and to an airport traffic control tower by transmitting a data message containing position coordinates of the aircraft, during a uniquely defined time slot, comprising:
-
means for dividing the airport surface into grid segments having predetermined dimensions in latitude and longitude; means for assigning a reference waypoint to each grid segment at a predetermined location within the grid segment; means aboard the target aircraft for generating a synthetic latitude function time mapped onto the grid segment within which the target aircraft is located in accordance with a predetermined time period and sequence; means aboard the target aircraft for generating a synthetic longitude function time mapped onto the grid segment within which the target aircraft is located in accordance with a predetermined time period and sequence, the synthetic latitude and longitude functions together defining a plurality of time slots; means for assigning the target aircraft a time slot based on the relative position of the aircraft with respect to the reference waypoint for the grid segment in which the target aircraft is located; and a transmitter aboard the target aircraft, the transmitter being adapted to transmit the data message during the assigned time slot. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
-
-
37. A vehicle location method of locating a target vehicle, comprising:
-
receiving at the target vehicle from a fixed ground station uncorrected position coordinates of the ground station, the uncorrected position coordinates being determined by the fixed ground station based on GPS signals received from a plurality of GPS satellites visible from the fixed ground station; calculating a ground station pseudo-range for each of the plurality of GPS satellites visible from a fixed ground station using the uncorrected position coordinates, each ground station pseudo-range being indicative of a distance from the fixed ground station to a different one of the visible GPS satellites; calculating a ground station actual range for each of the plurality of visible GPS satellites, each ground station actual range being indicative of a difference between surveyed coordinates of the ground station and an ephemeris of a different one of the GPS satellites; determining a GPS correction factor for each of the visible GPS satellites based on a difference between the ground station pseudo-range and the ground station actual range for the GPS satellite; calculating a vehicle pseudo-range from the target vehicle to a selected one of the GPS satellites; adjusting the vehicle pseudo-range by the GPS correction factor for the selected GPS satellite, thereby obtaining an actual vehicle range; and determining the position of the target vehicle in latitude and longitude coordinates based on the actual vehicle range.
-
Specification