Positioning system and method

• US 5,815,114 A
• Filed: 04/05/1996
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Discovision Associates (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Discovision Associates (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Speasl, Jerry A., Schupak, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Oen, William L.
• Application Number:
  US08/628,360
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 364/449, 342/50, 342/51, 342/357, 340/539, 340/572, 340/825.34, 340/825.49, 379/38, 379/59
• US Class Current: 342/357.395
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters

Abstract

A positioning system for locating objects in places where standard Global Position System signals do not penetrate. A first embodiment uses a GPS receiver and a clock recovery unit. A computer receives the positional information and accurate time information. The computer calculates new orbital data for at least four pseudosatellites. The pseudosatellites are antennas positioned in an interior or shielded space and function to send pseudosatellite data to a receiver. In a second embodiment, the positions of the pseudosatallites are provided to the computer without the use of a GPS receiver. An accurate clock signal is also provided. The computer calculates orbital data for each pseudosatellite and transmits the time signal and ephemeris data for each pseudosatellite. The time signal is delayed for each pseudosatellite to account for propagation delays due to different connecting cable lengths.

Claims

1. A location positioning system for use in a shielded environment, said system comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals having navigational data encoded therein;

a clock recovery unit that constructs a clock signal using said navigational data, wherein said clock signal accurately represents a local time;

a computer processing unit for receiving said clock signal and said navigational data; and

at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the shielded environment, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite.

2. The location positioning system according to claim 1 wherein said GPS-type signals are transmitted into the shielded environment to be received by a receiver device located therein, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal.

3. The location positioning system according to claim 2 further including computer means and a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within said shielded environment to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise position of said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal.

4. The location positioning system according to claim 2 wherein said location device includes a cellular phone.

5. The location positioning system according to claim 2 wherein said location device includes a badge capable of being attached to a person moving within the shielded environment.

6. A personnel location and tracking system for use in a work-place environment, said system comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;

a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;

a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;

at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the work-place environment, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;

a receiver device carried by an individual moving within the work-place environment, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the work-place environment to be received by said receiver device; and

computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the work-place environment to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise position of the individual carrying said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal.

16. The method for providing an interior positioning system of claim 6 further comprising the step of delaying the reconstructed clock signal to account for different propagation time to each of the pseudosatellites.

7. An inventory location and tracking system for use in a warehouse storage facility, said system comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;

a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;

a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;

at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the warehouse storage facility, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;

a receiver device attached to a respective item of inventory in warehouse storage facility, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the warehouse storage facility to be received by said receiver device; and

computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the warehouse storage facility to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise position of the respective item of inventory having said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal.

8. A personal communications and location system for use in an indoor environment, said system comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;

a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;

a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;

at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the indoor environment, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;

a receiver device in combination with a cellular phone carried by an individual moving within the indoor environment, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the indoor environment to be received by said receiver device; and

computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the indoor environment to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise position of the individual carrying said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal, said cellular phone providing a personal communication link with an operator of said computer means.

9. A combined positioning system for locating an object moving between a shielded environment and unobstructed open space, said system comprising:

plurality of global positioning satellites in orbit around the Earth, each of said global positioning satellites broadcasting a standard GPS signal;

a first GPS receiver for receiving the standard GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;

a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;

a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;

at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the shielded environment, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;

a receiver device attached to the moving object, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the shielded environment to be received by said receiver device;

computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the shielded environment to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise indoor position of the moving object having said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal when the object is within the shielded environment; and

a second GPS receiver attached to the moving object, said second GPS receiver for receiving the standard GPS signals when the object is in the unobstructed open space so that a precise outdoor position of the moving object having said second GPS receiver may be obtained.

10. An interior positioning system comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and transmitting NAVDAT data;

a clock recovery unit for receiving NAVDAT data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;

a computer for receiving the accurate clock signal and the NAVDAT data, said computer capable of calculating pseudosatellite data for at least four pseudosatellites, and the pseudosatellites capable of transmitting pseudosatellite data signals from the pseudosatellite data, wherein the pseudosatellite data signals are used for determining interior position.

11. The interior positioning system of claim 10 further comprising a second GPS receiver for receiving the pseudosatellite data signals, said second GPS receiver being capable of using the pseudosatellite data signals to determine the interior position of the second GPS receiver.

12. The interior positioning system of claim 11 further comprising means for communication between the second GPS receiver and the computer.

13. The interior positioning system of claim 12 wherein said means for communication is a duplex system capable of relaying the position of the second GPS receiver to the computer and capable of relaying information from the computer to the second GPS receiver.

14. A method for providing an interior positioning system comprising the steps:

receiving GPS signals;

reconstructing an accurate clock signal from the GPS signals;

calculating orbital parameters for at least four pseudosatellites; and

transmitting pseudosatellite data signals using the reconstructed clock signal and orbital parameters for at least four pseudosatellites.

15. The method for providing an interior positioning system of claim 14 further comprising the steps:

generating NAVDAT information from the received GPS signals;

using the NAVDAT information for calculating the orbital parameters for the pseudosatellites; and

adding offsets to the NAVDAT information when calculating the orbital parameters.