Combined global positioning system receiver and radio

• US 7,142,900 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Straub, Henry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X.
• Application Number:
  US10/002,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/701, 455/219, 455/456, 455/702, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 340/988, 340/986, 342/352
• US Class Current: 455/701
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving

Abstract

A portable GPS/radio unit (10) communicates over a wireless radio network (12) with at least one other such unit. The unit (10) may transmit radio signals over the network (12) indicative of the unit'"'"'s location. The unit (10) includes a single, push-to-talk button (38) that may be pressed to both transmit a voice communication and to initiate transmission of location data. The unit (10) also includes a “polling” function that requests location data from other units, an auxiliary coding system that codes or encrypts all transmitted data, and an emergency message feature that facilities the transmission and receipt of emergency messages.

Claims

1. A portable radio capable of communicating with at least one other portable radio over a wireless radio network, the radio comprising:

a radio transceiver for transmitting voice communications to and receiving voice communications from the other radio; and

a continuous tone coded squelch system (CTCSS) coupled with the radio transceiver for controlling audio output of the transceiver so that a user of the radio only hears certain communications transmitted over the network, the CTCSS including a selector for selecting between a plurality of CTCSS tones that each, when selected, is transmitted by the radio transceiver and received by the other radio and used to enable audio output of the other radio only if the other radio has been set to the same CTCSS tone, the CTCSS further including an emergency CTCSS tone that, when selected and transmitted, enables the audio output of the other radio whether or not the other radio has been set to the same CTCSS tone as the radio.

2. The radio as set forth in claim 1, wherein the emergency CTCSS tone is selected from existing CTCSS tones.

3. The radio as set forth in claim 1, wherein the emergency CTCSS tone is a new tone added to the CTCSS.

4. The radio as set forth in claim 1, further including—

a GPS receiver for receiving satellite signals from a plurality of satellites; and

a processor coupled with the GPS receiver for calculating a location of the radio as a function of the satellite signals.

5. The radio as set forth in claim 4, wherein the voice communications and the location are transmitted simultaneously.

6. The radio as set forth in claim 4, wherein the location is transmitted so as to not interfere with transmission of the voice communications.

7. The radio as set forth in claim 4, wherein the location is encrypted according to a user definable encryption code.