Method and system for logging position data

• US 8,223,068 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: France, Peter G., Allan, Robert M., Idle, Julian, Rogers, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US12/545,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 34235723-35728, 342/357.31, 34235741-35744, 342/357.62, 342/357.64, 342/357.66, 34235775-35777, 342/357.47, 342450-452, 342/375.58, 701213-215
• US Class Current: 342/357.23
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/396 Determining accuracy or reliability of position or pseudorange measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/43 using carrier phase measurements, e.g. kinematic positioning; using long or short baseline interferometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station

Abstract

According to embodiments, a method of logging position data is provided. An indication of a desired accuracy value for determining a geographic position is received. A geographic position is then received. A predicted post-processed accuracy value for the received geographic position is then calculated. The desired accuracy value is then compared with the predicted post-processed accuracy value for the received geographic position. When the predicted post-processed accuracy value for the received geographic position is at least as precise as the desired accuracy value, the geographic position is logged.

Claims

1. A method of logging position data, the method comprising:

receiving, via a user interface of a hardware device, an indication of a desired accuracy value for determining a geographic position, said hardware device including a post-processing accuracy calculator;

receiving, at said hardware device, a geographic position based on GNSS observables received at a GNSS receiver;

calculating, with a post-processing accuracy calculator, a predicted post-processed accuracy value for said geographic position, said post-processing accuracy calculator using input variables supplied by said GNSS receiver to execute a function which looks up said predicted post-processed accuracy value from a predefined table;

comparing, with said hardware device, said desired accuracy value with said predicted post-processed accuracy value for said received geographic position; and

logging said received geographic position into a storage when said predicted post-processed accuracy value for said geographic position is at least as precise as said desired accuracy value.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

calculating said predicted post-processed accuracy value for said received geographic position as a vertical accuracy.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at said hardware device, a plurality of received geographic positions, each of said plurality of received geographic positions based on GNSS observables received at said GNSS receiver;

calculating, with said post-processing accuracy calculator, respective predicted post-processed accuracy values for said plurality of received geographic positions, said post-processing accuracy calculator using input variables supplied by said GNSS receiver to execute said function which looks up said respective predicted post-processed accuracy values from said predefined table;

comparing, with said hardware device, said desired accuracy value with said respective predicted post-processed accuracy values; and

logging one of said plurality of received geographic positions into said storage when said predicted post-processed accuracy for said one of said plurality of received geographic positions is at least as precise as said desired accuracy.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

calculating an average of a plurality of said logged received geographic positions; and

calculating position data for a point feature based at least in part from said calculated average.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising:

calculating position data for a line feature at least partly from a plurality of said logged received geographic positions.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at said hardware device, an indication of a selection between said predicted post-processed accuracy value and real-time accuracy value.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

calculating, with said post-processing accuracy calculator, said a post-processed accuracy value in response to the selection of said predicted post-processed accuracy value.

8. A computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computing device to perform a method for implementing method of logging position data, said method comprising:

receiving an indication of a desired accuracy value for determining a geographic position;

receiving a geographic position based on GNSS observables received at a GNSS receiver;

calculating a predicted accuracy value for said received geographic position by using input variables supplied by said GNSS receiver to execute a function which looks up said predicted post-processed accuracy value from a predefined table;

comparing the desired accuracy value with said predicted accuracy value; and

logging said received geographic position if the predicted accuracy is at least as precise as said desired accuracy.

9. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:

calculating said predicted accuracy value as a vertical accuracy value if a measure of the vertical accuracy of said received geographic position has been selected.

10. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a plurality of geographic positions, each of said plurality of received geographic positions based on GNSS observables received at said GNSS receiver;

calculating a respective predicted accuracy value for each of said plurality of received geographic positions by using input variables supplied by said GNSS receiver to execute said function which looks up said respective predicted post-processed accuracy values from said predefined table;

comparing each of said respective predicted accuracy values with said desired accuracy values; and

logging at least one of said plurality of received geographic positions if said respective predicted accuracy value of said at least one of said plurality of geographic positions is at least as precise as said desired accuracy.

11. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said method further comprises:

calculating an average of a plurality of said logged received geographic positions; and

calculating position data for a point feature based at least in part from said calculated average.

12. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

calculating position data for a line feature at least partly from a plurality of said logged received geographic positions.

13. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:

receiving an indication of a selection from the group consisting of a predicted post-processed accuracy value and a predicted real-time accuracy value.

14. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 13 wherein said method further comprises:

calculating said post-processed accuracy value in response to the selection of said predicted post-processed accuracy value.

15. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 13 wherein said method further comprises:

calculating said predicted accuracy value as a real-time processed accuracy value in response to the selection of said predicted real-time accuracy value.

16. A system for implementing the logging of position data, said system comprising:

a post-processed accuracy value calculator configured to generate a predicted post-processed accuracy value for determining a received geographic position, said received geographic position based on GNSS observables received at a GNSS receiver, said post-processing accuracy value calculator using input variables supplied by said GNSS receiver to execute a function which looks up said predicted post-processed accuracy value from a predefined table; and

a comparator coupled with said post-processed accuracy value calculator and configured to compare said predicted post-processed accuracy value with a received indication of a desired accuracy value for determining a geographic position and for generating a signal indicating that logging of said received geographic position can be performed.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a geographic position determining component communicatively coupled with said post-processed accuracy value calculator and configured to provide said received geographic position.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said post-processed accuracy value calculator is further configured to calculate said post-processed accuracy value in response to the selection of said predicted post-processed accuracy value and to calculate a real-time processed accuracy value in response to the selection of said predicted real-time accuracy value.