Wireless CPU GPS application

• US 7,463,188 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Furuno Electric Co, Ltd
• Original Assignee: eRide, Inc. (Furuno Electric Co, Ltd)
• Inventors: McBurney, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull; Fred H
• Application Number:
  US11/732,386
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.04, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 342/357.43
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/235 Calibration of receiver components
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/252 Employing an initial estimate of location in generating assistance data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view

Abstract

A wireless handheld GPS-enabled device and supporting system comprises a wireless CPU that functions as a host processor, a GPS chipset to provide GPS measurements, and a GPS application hosted by the wireless CPU. Other applications are also hosted by the wireless CPU and are provided with position solutions from the GPS application. The GPS application calls for GPS aiding information from an Internet server via a TCP/IP socket provided by a GPRS link supported by the wireless CPU. Location area identifier (LAI) and “breadcrumb” information are provided to the GPS application so it can skip having to make a z-count determination during initialization.

Claims

1. A wireless handset (102), comprising:

a wireless-CPU (120, 122, 124) that functions as a host processor and provides access to a satellite model server (114) through a local wireless cell base station (106) whose location has been previously logged into a breadcrumb database (226);

a GPS chipset (132) connected to provide pseudorange measurements (134) to the wireless-CPU; and

a GPS application (154) hosted by the wireless-CPU and for providing more rapid initial position solutions derived from said pseudorange measurements by requesting and receiving from said breadcrumb database (226) location information associated with a particular location area identifier (LAI) corresponding to said local wireless cell base station (106);

wherein, the GPS application (154) adopts a particular z-count previously associated with the LAI for its cold start initialization and assumes a not-to-exceed (NTE) operational distance separation limitation between the wireless-CPU (120, 122, 124) and said wireless cell base station (106) is not being exceeded.

2. The wireless handset of claim 1, further comprising:

a real time clock (RTC) included in the wireless-CPU and providing for time estimates to the GPS application that help speed initial position solution production by reducing time uncertainties that occur during initialization.

3. The wireless handset of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor included in the wireless-CPU and providing for software error correction estimates of the drift of a reference oscillator to the GPS application that help speed initial position solution production by reducing frequency uncertainties that occur during initialization.

4. The wireless handset of claim 1, further comprising:

a serial interface between the GPS chipset and the wireless-CPU over which said GPS measurements are provided; and

a GSM radio frequency (RF) and baseband device included in the wireless-CPU and providing for an Internet connection in which to access said GPS-aiding information server.

5. A method for providing GPS position solutions in a wireless handset, comprising:

using a wireless-CPU (120, 122, 124) to function as a host processor that can access a satellite model server (114) through a local wireless cell base station (106) whose location has been previously logged into a breadcrumb database (226);

connecting a GPS chipset (132) connected to provide pseudorange measurements (134) to the wireless-CPU; and

hosting a GPS application (154) with the wireless-CPU to provide more rapid initial position solutions derived from said pseudorange measurements by requesting and receiving from said breadcrumb database (226) location information associated with a particular location area identifier (LAI) corresponding to said local wireless cell base station (106);

wherein, the GPS application (154) adopts a particular z-count previously associated with the LAI for its cold start initialization and assuming a not-to-exceed (NTE) operational distance separation limitation between the wireless-CPU (120, 122, 124) and said wireless cell base station (106) is not being exceeded.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

including a real time clock (RTC) in the wireless-CPU to provide for time estimates to the GPS application that help speed initial position solution production.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

reading a temperature sensor included in the wireless-CPU to make software error correction estimates of the drift of a reference oscillator to the GPS application that help speed initial position solution production.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

using a serial interface between the GPS chipset and the wireless-CPU to communicate said GPS measurements; and

using a GSM radio frequency (RF) and baseband device included in the wireless-CPU to provide for an Internet connection in which to access said GPS-aiding information server.