Method of receiving GPS signal in a mobile terminal

• US 7,012,565 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Hyung-Weon, Kim, Seung-Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H.
• Application Number:
  US10/912,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.12, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 342/357.63
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/24 Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end

Abstract

A GPS signal receiving method in a mobile terminal having a first reception path and a second reception path is provided. Upon request for GPS signal reception while receiving a CDMA signal in the first reception path, the received strength of a GPS signal is measured. If the GPS signal strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the GPS signal is received in the first reception path. If the GPS signal strength is less than the predetermined threshold, the GPS signal is received in the second reception path.

Claims

1. A GPS (Global Positioning System) signal receiving method in a mobile terminal having a first reception path and a second reception path, comprising:

(1) measuring, upon request for GPS signal reception while receiving a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) signal in the first reception path, the received strength of a GPS signal;

(2) receiving the GPS signal in the first reception path, if the GPS signal strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold; and

(3) receiving the GPS signal in the second reception path, if the GPS signal strength is less than the predetermined threshold.

2. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 1, wherein the first reception path is set to receive low-rate data.

3. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 1, wherein the second reception path is set to receive high-rate data.

4. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 1, wherein step (2) further comprises:

counting a time for which the GPS signal is received in the first reception path;

determining whether the counted GPS reception time in the first reception path exceeds a first predetermined time T₁; and

comparing the GPS signal strength with the predetermined threshold if the GPS reception time in the first reception path exceeds the first predetermined time T₁.

5. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 4, wherein step (2) further comprises changing the reception path of the GPS signal to the second reception path if the GPS signal strength is less than the predetermined threshold.

6. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 1, wherein step (3) further comprises determining whether a state where the GPS signal strength is less than the predetermined threshold lasts for a second predetermined time T₂.

7. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 1, wherein step (3) further comprises:

counting a time for which the GPS signal is received in the second reception path;

determining whether the counted GPS reception time in the second reception path exceeds a third predetermined time T₃; and

comparing the GPS signal strength with the predetermined threshold if the GPS reception time in the second reception path exceeds the third predetermined time T₃.

8. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 7, wherein step (3) further comprises changing the reception path of the GPS signal to the first reception path if the GPS signal strength is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

9. The GPS signal receiving method of claim 8, wherein step (3) further comprises determining whether the state where the GPS signal strength is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold lasts for a fourth predetermined time T₄.