Positioning system and method

• US 5,952,958 A
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• 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:
  US09/086,900
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/442, 342/446, 342/451, 342/457, 340/870.31, 324/207, 324/208, 364/300, 364/449, 343/459, 343/463, 343/464, 343/450, 343/451
• 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 pseudosatellites 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. An interior positioning system comprising:

positional data regarding the physical position of at least four pseudosatellites;

a clock unit for providing an accurate clock signal;

a computer for calculating pseudosatellite data derived from the positional data and the clock signal; and

a transmitter in communication to the computer for transmitting a pseudosatellite data signals derived from the pseudosatellite data.

2. The interior positioning system of claim 1 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 its interior position.

3. The interior positioning system of claim 2 further comprising means for communication between said second GPS receiver and said computer.

4. The interior positioning system of claim 3 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.

5. A method for providing an interior positioning system comprising:

providing positional information regarding at least four pseudosatellites;

providing an accurate time signal;

calculating pseudosatellite data for each pseudosatellite by using the position information;

transmitting the pseudosatellite data and the accurate time signal, said transmitting of the accurate time signal being delayed for each pseudosatellite to account for propagation delay.