Position source selection

• US 8,214,139 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Yonker, Jason B., Hsieh, Mei-Lin, Weisshaar, Bernhard P., Huang, Haitao, Smith, Merlin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FADOK, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US12/146,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 701/215, 701/207, 701/214, 701/216
• US Class Current: 701/215
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/45 by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Techniques are described for position source selection. In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to select between a plurality of position sources to determine position based upon a variety of selection criteria. In an implementation, a last known position may be stored when position is being determined through the plurality of position sources. The last known position may be used as an alternative to determining position via the position sources when one or more of the position sources are unavailable. In another implementation, the last known position may be employed to automatically select one of the plurality of position sources to be used by the electronic device for determining position.

Claims

1. A navigation device, comprising:

a memory operable to store an application;

a satellite navigation receiver operable to receive signals from a first position source;

a communications module operable to receive signals from a second position source; and

a position subsystem in communication with the memory, satellite navigation receiver, and the communications module, the position subsystem operable to;

identify movement of the navigation device;

select one of the position sources based upon the identified movement;

determine position using the selected one of the position sources; and

communicate the determined position to an application stored in memory to perform a position dependent function.

2. A navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position subsystem is further configured to:

store a last known position through interaction with the position sources;

determine validity of the last known position to perform the position dependent function; and

when the last known position is valid, communicate the last known position to the application instead of determining position through one of the position sources.

3. A navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position subsystem is further configured to:

update a last known position stored on the navigation device when using the selected one of the position sources to determine position; and

select the last known position as the determined position when one or more of the position sources are not available.

4. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the identified movement of the navigation device is a speed of the navigation device.

5. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the navigation device includes an inertial sensor; and

the position subsystem is operable to identify the movement of the navigation device using the inertial sensor.

6. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position subsystem is operable to identify movement of the navigation device using at least one of the position sources.

7. The navigation device as recited in claim 6, wherein the position subsystem is operable to identify movement of the navigation device based on a communication infrastructure element associated with at least one of the position sources.

8. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position subsystem is operable to identify movement of the navigation device based on an identification of a cellular tower associated with a cellular network.

9. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first position source is a plurality of navigation satellites to communicate the signals received by the satellite navigation receiver; and

the second position source is a provider configured to communicate the signals received by the communication module over at least one of a cellular network and the Internet.

10. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein the one of the position sources is selected to preserve the battery.

11. The navigation device as recited in claim 10, wherein the frequency of determining position is adjusted to preserve the power source.

12. The navigation device as recited in claim 9, wherein the position subsystem is further operable to determine a distance travelled by the navigation device and select one of the position sources based upon a movement threshold,

wherein the provider configured to communicate over at least one of a cellular network and the Internet is selected if the identified movement is below the movement threshold, and

wherein a plurality of navigation satellites are selected if the identified movement is above the movement threshold.

13. The navigation device as recited in claim 12, wherein the satellite navigation receiver is deactivated and the communication module is active when the provider configured to communicate over at least one of a cellular network and the Internet is selected.

14. The navigation device as recited in claim 12, wherein the communications module is deactivated and the satellite navigation receiver is active when the plurality of navigation satellites are selected.

15. The navigation device as recited in claim 13, wherein the position subsystem is further operable to determine if the navigation device is in proximity to a point of interest based on a last known position of the navigation device, wherein the communications module is selected if the last known position is associated with one of a home location or work location stored in memory.

16. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position dependent function is one of indicating geographic position on a map, internet search, or providing navigation instructions and the memory includes a priority ranking for the position sources, wherein the position subsystem is further operable to select one of the position sources based upon the priority ranking.

17. The navigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein a last known position is provided to the application instead of the determined position.