Terminal with position-measuring functions

• US 7,152,015 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Manzen, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Toan M.
• Application Number:
  US10/872,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 701/207, 701/213, 701/214, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/40 Correcting position, velocity or attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/017 Detecting state or type of motion
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0221 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence

Abstract

A terminal with position-measuring functions is provided which is capable of improving position-measuring accuracy. The terminal with position-measuring functions includes a position-measuring section, a statistical processing section, and a position-information application section. The statistical processing section, in first position-measuring calculation, outputs a measured result obtained from the first position-measuring operation as it is, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed at least two times and at most (m−1) times (“m” is a natural number being 3 or more), the statistical processing section outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed at least two times and at most (m−1) times, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed “m” times or more, the statistical processing section outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed (n−m+1)-th to n-th time (“n” is a natural number being “m” or more).

Claims

1. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring unit to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal when said terminal is moving and when said terminal is stationary;

a statistical processing unit to perform statistical processing on said position-measured result including position-measured result when said terminal is moving and position-measured result when said terminal is stationary, in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application unit to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein, in first position-measuring calculation, said statistical processing unit outputs a measured result obtained from the first position-measuring operation as it is, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times (“

m”

is a natural number being 3 or more), said statistical processing unit outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed “

m”

times or more, said statistical processing unit outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed (n−

m+1)-th to n-th time (“

n”

is a natural number being “

m”

or more).

2. The terminal with position-measuring functions according to claim 1, wherein, when a failure occurs in position-measurement, an average value of position-measured results from which failed position-measured results are excluded is output.

3. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring unit to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal;

a statistical processing unit to perform statistical processing on said position-measured result in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application unit to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein, in first position-measuring calculation, said statistical processing unit outputs a measured result obtained from the first position-measuring operation as it is, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times (“

m”

is a natural number being 3 or more), said statistical processing unit outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed “

m”

times or more, said statistical processing unit outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed (n−

m+1)-th to n- th time (“

n”

is a natural number being “

m”

or more); and

wherein said statistical processing unit, when detecting that a specified speed is exceeded due to movement of said terminal, automatically stops pre-determined processing and outputs a measured result as it is.

4. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring unit to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal;

a statistical processing unit to perform statistical processing on said position-measured result in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application unit to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein said statistical processing unit outputs an average value of all position- measured results obtained in a past; and

wherein said statistical processing unit, when detecting that a specified speed is exceeded due to movement of said terminal, automatically stops pre-determined processing and outputs a measured result as it is.

5. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring unit to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal when said terminal is moving and when said terminal is stationary;

a statistical processing unit to perform statistical processing on said position-measured result including position-measured result when said terminal is moving and position-measured result when said terminal is stationary, in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application unit to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein, in first position-measuring calculation, said statistical processing unit outputs a measured result obtained from the first position-measuring operation as it is, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times (“

m”

is a natural number being 3 or more), said statistical processing unit outputs a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed “

m”

times or more, said statistical processing unit outputs a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed (n−

m+1)-th to n-th time (“

n”

is a natural number being “

m”

or more).

6. The terminal with position-measuring functions according to claim 5, wherein, when a failure occurs in position-measurement, a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of position-measured results from which failed position-measured results are excluded is output.

7. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring unit to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal;

a statistical processing unit to perform statistical processing on said position-measured in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application unit to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein, in first position-measuring calculation, said statistical processing unit outputs a measured result obtained from the first position-measuring operation as it is, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times (“

m”

is a natural number being 3 or more), said statistical processing unit outputs a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed “

m”

times or more, said statistical processing unit outputs a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed (n−

m+1)-th to n-th time (“

n”

is a natural number being “

m”

or more); and

wherein said statistical processing unit, when detecting that a specified speed is exceeded due to movement of said terminal, automatically stops pre-detennined processing and outputs a measured result as it is.

8. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring unit to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal;

a statistical processing unit to perform statistical processing on said position-measured result in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application unit to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein said statistical processing unit outputs a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of all position-measured results obtained in a past; and

wherein said statistical processing unit, when detecting that a specified speed is exceeded due to movement of said terminal, automatically stops pre-determined processing and outputs a measured result as it is.

9. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring means to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal when said terminal is moving and when said terminal is stationary;

a statistical processing means to perform statistical processing on said position-measured result including position-measured result when said terminal is moving and position-measured result when said terminal is stationary, in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application means to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein, in first position-measuring calculation, said statistical processing means outputs a measured result obtained from the first position-measuring operation as it is, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times (“

m”

is a natural number being 3 or more), said statistical processing means outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed “

m”

times or more, said statistical processing means outputs an average value of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed (n−

m+1)-th to n- th time (“

n”

is a natural number being “

m”

or more).

10. A terminal with position-measuring functions comprising:

a position-measuring means to output a position-measured result, which is obtained using arbitrary position-measuring technology, corresponding to a present position of said terminal when said terminal is moving and when said terminal is stationary;

a statistical processing means to perform statistical processing on said position-measured result including position-measured result when said terminal is moving and position-measured result when said terminal is stationary, in accordance with a preset statistical processing procedure, and to output position information obtained as a result of said statistical processing; and

a position application means to output said position information obtained as said result of said statistical processing in a manner to correspond to a preset application,

wherein, in first position-measuring calculation, said statistical processing means outputs a measured result obtained from the first position-measuring operation as it is, and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times (“

m”

is a natural number being 3 or more), said statistical processing means outputs a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed at least two times and at most (m−

1) times , and, when position-measuring calculations have been performed “

m”

times or more, said statistical processing means outputs a position-measured result having a minimum position-measured error out of measured results obtained from position-measuring operations performed (n−

m+1)-th to n-th time (“

n”

is a natural number being “

m”

or more).