Integrated position and direction system with radio communication for updating data

• US 6,807,485 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Green, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/437,351
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/216, 701/300, 701/211, 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 342/357.14, 342/357.09, 340/995.12, 340/995.24, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

An integrated position and direction system is disclosed that includes a digital compass, a communication module, and a satellite positioning system having a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals. Signals that are received from satellites are used to determine position of the integrated position and direction system. A method for updating data is disclosed in which the integrated position and direction system communicates with a remote site and sends a determined position to the remote site. A response is generated and is transmitted to the integrated position and direction system that includes data relating to features located near the determined position. The received data is used to generate a display that indicates the position and the orientation of the features relative to the integrated position and direction system.

Claims

1. A position system comprising:

a) a satellite positioning system including a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals and a microprocessor for determining position;

b) an interface adapted to receive information related to the determined position;

c) a radio communication module coupled to said satellite positioning system and said interface, said radio communication module adapted to transmit the determined position and the information related to the determined position;

d) a display device; and

e) logic coupled to said display device and said interface and operable to cause said display device to display selectable icons representing nearby features relative to said position system.

2. The position system as recited in claim 1, wherein said logic is further operable to cause said display device to display user-selectable status related to said icons.

3. The position system as recited in claim 2, wherein said logic is further operable to transmit the determined position and the information related to the determined position at a time that is based on priority of a selected status of said user-selectable status related to said icons.

4. A position system comprising:

a) satellite positioning system including a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals and a microprocessor for determining position;

b) an interface adapted to receive information related to the determined position;

c) a radio communication module coupled to said satellite positioning system and said interface; and

d) logic coupled to said radio communication module to identify a feature to which the information related to the determined position relates; and

wherein;

said radio communication module is adapted to transmit the determined position, the information related to the determined position, and an identifier of said feature.

5. A position system comprising:

a) a satellite positioning system including a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals and a microprocessor for determining position;

b) an interface adapted to receive information related to the determined position;

c) a radio communication module coupled to said satellite positioning system and said interface, said radio communication module adapted to transmit the determined position and the information related to the determined position, and wherein said radio communication module is further adapted to receive data relating to features near the determined position.

6. The position system as recited in claim 5, wherein said microprocessor is further for determining heading, and wherein the position system further comprises:

d) a digital compass for determining direction; and

e) a display device coupled to said satellite positioning system and the digital compass for generating a display that indicates position and orientation of said features near the determined position, said display oriented using one of said direction and said heading.

7. A system for updating information comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

a satellite positioning system including a receiver adapted to receive position determining signals from satellites, said satellite positioning system adapted to determine position;

an interface adapted to receive user data; and

a mobile radio communication module coupled to said satellite positioning system and to said interface, said mobile radio communication module adapted to transmit said user data and said position; and

a remote computing device comprising;

a database for storing information associated with a plurality of positions;

a remote radio communication module coupled to said database, said remote radio communication module adapted to receive said user data and said position from said mobile device; and

logic coupled to said remote radio communication module and to said database and to update said database based on the position and the user data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

a display device; and

a controller coupled to said display device and operable to cause the display device to display icons representing nearby features relative to said mobile device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said remote radio communication module is further adapted to transmit to the mobile device data related to the nearby features.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to cause the display device to display user-selectable status related to said icons.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

logic coupled to the remote radio communication module operable to transmit the user data and the position at a time that is based on priority of a selected status of the user-selectable status related to said icons.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

logic coupled to the satellite positioning system and the interface operable to associate the position and the user input to determine a physical feature related to the position.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote radio communication module includes a cellular radio modem.

14. A method for updating data using a mobile position system that includes a satellite positioning system and a radio communication module, said method comprising:

a) determining position near the mobile position system using said satellite positioning system;

b) receiving, at the mobile position system, input related to said position;

c) transmitting said determined position and said input via said radio communication module;

d) receiving the transmitted input and the determined position at a remote computing device;

e) updating data at said remote computing device based on said input and the determined position received in said d);

f) receiving a response from said remote computing device, said response including data relating to features located near said determined position; and

g) generating a display on said mobile position system, said display indicating the position of said features relative to said mobile position system.

15. A method for updating data using a mobile position system that includes a satellite positioning system and a radio communication module, said method comprising:

a) determining position near the mobile position system using said satellite positioning system;

b) receiving, at the mobile position system, input related to said position;

c) transmitting said determined position and said input via said radio communication module;

d) receiving the transmitted input and the determined position at a remote computing device;

e) updating data at said remote computing device based on said input and the determined position received in said d);

f1) displaying icons on a display of said mobile position system, said icons representing features located near said mobile position system;

f2) receiving a selection of one of said icons; and

f3) receiving a selection of status relating to a feature represented by said selected icon.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising:

in response to said receiving status selection in said f3), said mobile position system automatically initiating communication with said remote computing device and automatically transmitting an indication of said selected status to said remote computing device.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

in response to said receiving a selection of one of said icons in said f2), displaying a pop-up menu that includes a plurality of status options.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

in response to said receiving a selection of a status in said f3);

i) determining a priority associated with the selected status; and

ii) initiating communication and transmitting an indication of said selected status option to said remote computing device based on said priority.