Monitoring, recording and testing of navigation systems

• US 8,423,284 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abalta Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Abalta Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Shea, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAUCHAINE, MARK J
• Application Number:
  US12/761,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 73/10.1, 73/17.8, 731/78.R, 738/659, 700/90, 700/302, 700/304, 700/306, 702/108, 702/113, 702/115, 702/116, 703/19, 346/7, 346/20, 346/33.TP
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38

Abstract

A testing system is described. The testing system is adapted to evaluate navigation systems. The testing system includes: a recording system adapted to collect and record signals received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation; a time-synchronized database adapted to receive and store data representing the signals collected and recorded by the recording system: wherein the stored data is able to be used to test operation of one or more navigation systems under test. A method of testing navigation systems includes: gathering data that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation, wherein the gathered data includes data associated with received radio signals; storing gathered data in a time-synchronized database; and using the stored data to test the operation of one or more navigation systems. A system adapted to test navigation systems includes: a recording system; a playback system; and a simulation system.

Claims

1. A testing system adapted to evaluate navigation systems, the testing system comprising:

a recording system adapted to collect and record signals received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation;

a time-synchronized database adapted to receive and store data representing the signals collected and recorded by the recording system;

wherein the stored data is able to be used to test operation of one or more navigation systems under test.

2. The testing system of claim 1, wherein the recording system comprises an environmental signal recording subsystem adapted to gather environmental signals that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation, and store the environmental signals in the time-synchronized database.

3. The testing system of claim 2, wherein the environmental signals include radio frequency signals, comprising output signals from reference radio receivers.

4. The testing system of claim 2, wherein the recording system further comprises:

a motion signal recording subsystem adapted to gather signals related to motion that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation, and store the signals related to motion in the time-synchronized database;

a video recording subsystem adapted to capture one or more video images of the field environment during testing, and store the captured video images in the time-synchronized database; and

a recording time and control subsystem adapted to communicate with an external operator console.

5. The testing system of claim 4, wherein the signals related to motion include inertia signals.

6. The testing system of claim 1, further comprising a playback system adapted to use the stored data from the time-synchronized database to recreate field operation conditions for the one or more navigation systems under test.

7. The testing system of claim 6, wherein the playback system comprises an environmental signal playback subsystem adapted to provide stored environmental signals from the time-synchronized database to the one or more navigation systems under test.

8. The testing system of claim 7, wherein the stored environmental signals include radio frequency signals, comprising output signals from reference radio receivers.

9. The testing system of claim 7, wherein the playback system further comprises:

a motion signal playback subsystem adapted to provide stored signals related to motion from the time-synchronized database to the one or more navigation systems under test;

a video playback subsystem adapted to play back stored video data from the time-synchronized database to the one or more navigation systems under test;

a playback timing and control subsystem adapted to communicate with an external operator console.

10. The testing system of claim 9, wherein the signals related to motion include inertia signals.

11. The testing system of claim 6, further comprising a simulation system adapted to produce and provide simulated field operation conditions to the one or more navigation systems under test.

12. The testing system of claim 11, wherein stored simulation signals include environmental signals that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation.

13. The testing system of claim 12, wherein the environmental signals include radio frequency signals, comprising output signals from reference radio receivers.

14. The testing system of claim 12, wherein the stored simulation signals further include signals related to motion that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation.

15. The testing system of claim 14, wherein the signals related to motion include inertia signals.

16. A method of testing navigation systems, the method comprising:

gathering data that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation, wherein the gathered data includes data associated with received radio signals;

storing gathered data in a time-synchronized database; and

using the stored data to test the operation of one or more navigation systems.

17. A system adapted to test navigation systems, the system comprising:

a recording system adapted to gather radio frequency signals and motion signals in the field that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation, and store the signals in a time-synchronized database;

a playback system adapted to provide the stored signals to a navigation system under test to recreate conditions experienced by a navigation system during field operation; and

a simulation system adapted to provide simulated signals to the navigation system under test, wherein the simulated signals are signals that a navigation system would receive and interpret during field operation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the recording system is further adapted to record output signals from reference radio receivers.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the recording system further comprises:

an environmental signal recording subsystem adapted to gather environmental signals that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation; and

a motion signal recording subsystem adapted to gather motion signals that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the motion signals include inertia signals.