Electrical, mechanical, and logical interface for a user terminal GPS accessory module

• US 6,480,149 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelshiker, Amala, Huber, Rolf, Sutherland, Mark, Twitchell, Robert, Sabat, Sami, Hammon, Bruce, Topoleanu, John, Rauhala, Kristian
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US09/473,485
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.07
• US Class Current: 342/357.52
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

An accessory module for a user terminal is disclosed that utilizes information broadcast from the GPS system to determine the user terminal'"'"'s position on the earth. An improved electrical interface between the GPS accessory module and the user terminal is utilized that takes advantage of pre-existing electrical interfaces within the user terminal. The accessory module also includes a method and apparatus for managing its power consumption. A set of mechanical interfaces among the components of the GPS accessory module are disclosed for minimizing electrical path lengths, noise and crosstalk in the accessory module, and for providing for mechanical mounting of the components. A mechanical interface between the user terminal and the accessory module is also disclosed for coupling to an existing user terminal in place of that user terminal'"'"'s removable battery pack. The invention further includes a method and apparatus for improving the accessory module'"'"'s accuracy by providing position assistance data from a position reference server. The assistance data is provided to the accessory module by way of a transmission channel communication between the user terminal and the position reference server.

Claims

1. A position determining accessory module for use with a user terminal, comprising:

an antenna for receiving broadcast position information;

position calculation circuitry coupled to said antenna for computing location data from said position information;

a battery;

a first connector coupled to said battery, said connector comprising a power bus for conveying power from said battery to said accessory module circuitry and to said user terminal, a first signal for identifying said position determining accessory module to said user terminal, and a second signal operating to cause a power up condition in said accessory control module, and further operating to indicate a temperature of said battery to said user terminal; and

a second connector comprising a first digital data bus for conveying at least control signals between said user terminal and said position determining accessory module, said second connector further comprising an analog signal bus for conveying location data to said user terminal from said position calculation circuitry.

2. The position determining accessory module of claim 1, wherein said analog signal bus is coupled to an in-band modem of said position determining accessory module.

3. The position determining accessory module of claim 1, wherein said analog signal bus provides position assistance data from an external server.

4. The position determining accessory module of claim 1, wherein said second connector comprises a second digital data bus for conveying location data to an external computing device.

5. The position determining accessory module of claim 1, wherein said antenna is a patch antenna.

6. The accessory module of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure enclosing said battery, said first connector, said second connector, said position calculation circuitry, and said antenna, said enclosure being form and fit compatible with a user terminal battery pack.

7. A Global Positioning System (GPS) accessory for coupling to a radiotelephone, said (GPS) accessory being housed in a detachable battery compartment of said radiotelephone, said GPS accessory comprising a data processor for executing position calculations based on received GPS signals, said data processor being coupled to a battery-related output signal from said battery compartment for being placed in a predetermined state by a radiotelephone circuit that drives the battery-related output signal, wherein said battery-related output signal is comprised of a battery temperature signal.