Self-locating radio system that automatically configures to the radio regulations for the location

• US 5,678,182 A
• Filed: 06/19/1995
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Frances W., Bird, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US08/491,628
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33.1-33.4, 455/54.1, 455/53.1, 455/12.1, 455/69, 455/127, 455/32.1, 342/419, 342/420, 342/457, 342/463
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A radio system that determines its location and configures itself according to the radio communication regulations of the location. The radio system includes a reference station and a rover station. The reference station includes a GPS receiver for determining a reference geographical location, a map converter for storing information for the parameter values for the radio regulations in one or more geographical regions and for converting the reference geographical location to the parameter values for the geographical region that encloses the location, and a reference radio for transmitting a radio message signal according to the parameter values. The rover station includes a GPS receiver locator for determining a rover geographical location, a map converter for storing information for the parameter values for the radio regulations in the geographical regions and for converting the rover geographical location to the parameter values for the geographical region that encloses the location, and a rover radio for receiving the radio message signal according to the parameter values.

Claims

1. A radio system for automatically configuring to a radio regulation for a geographical region where the system is located, the system comprising:

a reference locator for determining a reference geographical location;

a reference map converter, coupled to the reference locator, for selecting a radio regulation for a geographical region enclosing said geographical location;

a reference radio, coupled to the reference map converter, for receiving an input signal having a message and for configuring according to said selected radio regulation for transmitting said message in an airwave radio message signal having a form that conforms to said selected radio regulation;

a rover locator, located in said geographical region, for determining a rover geographical location;

a rover map converter, coupled to the rover locator, for selecting said radio regulation based upon said rover geographical location; and

a rover radio, coupled to said rover map converter, for configuring according to said selected radio regulation to receive said airwave radio message signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the reference locator includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving a GPS signal including location determination information from one or more GPS satellites and for determining said reference geographical location from said location determination information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said radio regulation includes at least one of (i) a transmit frequency for said radio message signal, (ii) a transmit power for said radio message signal, (iii) a bandwidth for said radio message signal, (iv) a modulation type for said radio message signal, (v) a baud rate for said radio message signal, and (vi) a protocol for said radio message signal.

4. The system of claim 1, further including:

a differential reference GPS receiver located at a known location for receiving a GPS signal including location determination information from several GPS satellites, for determining a differential GPS (DGPS) correction based upon a comparison of information representing said known location and said location determination information, and for issuing said DGPS correction in said message in said input signal.

5. The system of claim 1, further including:

a real time kinematic reference GPS receiver for receiving a GPS signal including location determination information from several GPS satellites, for determining real time kinematic GPS reference information based upon said location determination information, and for issuing said real time kinematic reference information in said message in said input signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said rover locator includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving a GPS signal having location determination information from one or more GPS satellites and for determining said rover geographical location from said location determination information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said radio regulation includes a plurality of alternative radio regulations;

the rover map converter is further for selecting at least two said alternative radio regulations; and

the rover radio is further for configuring to receive an airwave signal energy according to said selected alterative radio regulations.

8. A radio apparatus for automatically configuring to a radio regulation for a geographical region where the system is located, the system comprising:

a locator for determining a geographical location;

a map converter for converting said geographical location into at least two alternative radio regulations, each of said alternative regulations corresponding to said location;

and

a radio including a scanning radio receiver for configuring according to said alterative radio regulations to receive an airwave signal energy conforming to said alternative radio regulations, for detecting an energy level corresponding to each of said alternative radio regulations, and for configuring the radio to a one of said alternative radio regulations corresponding to a lowest energy level for transmitting an airwave radio message signal.

9. A method in a radio system for automatically configuring to a radio regulation for a geographical region where the system is located, including the steps of:

determining a geographical region enclosing a reference geographical location of a reference radio;

converting said geographical region to a radio regulation;

configuring said reference radio according to said radio regulation for transmitting an airwave radio message signal, including a message, in a form the conforms to said radio regulation;

determining a rover geographical location of a rover radio;

determining said geographical region enclosing said rover geographical location;

converting said rover geographical region to said radio regulation; and

configuring said rover radio according to said radio regulation to receive said airwave radio message signal in a form that conforms to said radio regulation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining said reference geographical location further includes steps of:

receiving a GPS signal having location determination information from one or more GPS satellites with a GPS receiver; and

determining said reference geographical location from said location determination information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

said radio regulation includes at least one of (i) a transmit frequency for said radio message signal, (ii) a transmit power for said radio message signal, (iii) a bandwidth for said radio message signal, (iv) a modulation type for said radio message signal, (v) a baud rate for said radio message signal, and (vi) a protocol for said radio message signal.

12. The method of claim 9, further including steps of:

providing a differential reference GPS receiver connected to said reference station;

locating said differential reference GPS receiver at a known location;

receiving a GPS signal having location determination information from several GPS satellites with said differential reference GPS receiver;

determining a differential GPS correction from information for said known location and said location determination information; and

issuing said differential GPS correction in said message.

13. The method of claim 9, further including steps of:

providing a real time kinematic reference GPS receiver connected to said reference station;

locating said real time kinematic reference GPS receiver at a first end of a survey line;

receiving a GPS signal from several GPS satellites with said real time kinematic reference GPS receiver;

determining real time kinematic GPS reference information from said GPS signal; and

issuing said real time kinematic GPS reference information in said message.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein determining said rover geographical location further includes steps of:

receiving a GPS signal having location determination information from one or more GPS satellites with a GPS receiver in said rover station; and

determining said rover geographical location from said location determination information.

15. The method of claim 9, further including steps of:

configuring said rover radio according to at least two alternatives of said radio regulations;

receiving said airwave signal energy according to said alternatives; and

selecting one of said alternatives for receiving said airwave radio message signal.

16. A method in a radio system for automatically configuring to a radio regulation for a geographical region where the system is located, including the steps of:

determining a geographical region enclosing a radio including a scanning receiver;

converting said geographical region to a plurality of alternative radio regulations;

configuring a scanning radio receiver according to at least two of said alternative radio regulations;

receiving airwave signal energy according to said alternatives;

detecting an energy level corresponding to each of said alternatives;

selecting, based upon said energy level, one of said alternatives; and

configuring said radio according to said selected alternative to transmit said airwave radio message signal.