Mobile object position detecting method

• US 7,996,150 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishida, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US12/392,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701207-208, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/463, 340/922, 340/988, 340/989, 455/99
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/396 Determining accuracy or reliability of position or pseudorange measurements

Abstract

A control unit 10 detects the presence/absence of receiving position information based on the position data provided from a GPS receiver 14. While the GPS receiver 14 is supplying no position data, the control unit 10 computes the travel distance of a vehicle according to a vehicle speed pulse signal input from a vehicle speed pulse input unit 18. When the obtained travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment. The predetermined distance is set in advance based on a reception disability area, etc. When the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment, it turns on an orange indicator. Thus, the person in the vehicle can recognize the abnormal reception due to faulty equipment.

Claims

1. A mobile object position detecting method which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

a reception status detecting step of detecting a presence and an absence of receiving position information;

a traveling time obtaining step of obtaining a traveling time of a mobile object throughout a period of time during which position information is not received by the mobile object;

a determining step of determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said traveling time exceeds a predetermined time; and

a warning step of warning of abnormal reception when said determining step determines abnormal reception.

2. The mobile object position detecting method according to claim 1, further comprising

a mobile object speed detecting step of detecting a speed of a mobile object, wherein

a traveling time of said mobile object is a real traveling time in which a speed of the mobile object is detected as greater than 0 km/h.

3. A mobile object position detecting method which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

a reception status detecting step of detecting a presence and an absence of receiving position information;

a travel distance obtaining step of obtaining a travel distance of a mobile object throughout a period of time during which position information is not received by the mobile object;

a determining step of determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance; and

a warning step of warning of abnormal reception when said determining step determines abnormal reception.

4. The mobile object position detecting method according to claim 3, wherein

said mobile object is a vehicle, and said travel distance obtaining step obtains a travel distance based on a turn of wheels.

5. The mobile object position detecting method according to claim 3, wherein

said determining step releases a determination abnormality when position information is first received after determining abnormal reception.