Radiolocalization receiver

• US 8,463,545 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Torten, Ron, Boore, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US11/960,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 701/210
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal

Abstract

A navigation system, device and method for assisting a mobile user in navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a processing unit configured to execute a navigation program, output peripherals, to provide navigation instructions to the mobile user, the device having access to a satellite radiolocalization module, arranged to acquire the current location, to a map database, containing cartographic information, and to a sensor peripheral; the navigation program being further arranged to generate navigation instructions according to a computed route based on the acquired current location, the cartographic information and a desired destination; the device having a normal operation mode and at least one low-power mode, wherein the navigation device is configured to change mode according to the one or more of the following data: the current location; the computed route; data provided from the sensor peripheral; and by the corresponding method.

Claims

1. A navigation system, comprising:

a processor, configured to execute a navigation program stored in a machine-readable medium;

at least one output peripheral configured to provide navigation instructions to a mobile user; and

a satellite radiolocalization module, configured to acquire data representative of a current location,

wherein the navigation system has at least one normal operation mode and at least one low-power mode, and wherein the system is configured to change mode based on one or more of the following;

a current location, a computed route, or data provided from a sensor peripheral,

wherein the navigation system is configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode based on the data provided from the sensor peripheral,

wherein the sensor peripheral is one of;

a pressure sensor or a gyroscope.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the navigation system is configured to enter into a low-power mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are farther than a set value.

3. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the navigation system is arranged to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are nearer than a set value.

4. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the navigation system is arranged to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when the current location and a next instruction point in the computed route are farther than a set value.

5. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein communication between the processor and the radiolocalization module occurs at least in part wirelessly.

6. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to access a cartographic system.

7. The navigation system of claim 6, wherein the cartographic system is included in the navigation system;

and the processor is configured to calculate a route and provide cue information.

8. The navigation system of claim 1, in which the output peripherals comprise a display and a loudspeaker, and in which the output peripherals are at least partially disabled during a low-power mode.

9. A method of navigation, comprising:

executing a navigation program stored in a machine-readable medium;

providing navigation instructions to a mobile user;

acquiring data representative of a current location; and

changing a mode based on one or more of the following;

a current location, a computed route, or data provided from a sensor peripheral, wherein the mode comprises at least one normal operation mode and at least one low-power mode,

the changing the mode comprising switching from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode based on the data provided from the sensor peripheral,

wherein the sensor peripheral is one of;

a pressure sensor or a gyroscope.

10. The method of claim 9, the changing the mode further comprising entering into a low-power mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are farther than a set value.

11. The method of claim 9, the changing the mode further comprising switching from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are nearer than a set value.

12. The method of claim 9, the changing the mode further comprising switching from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when the current location and a next instruction point in the computed route are farther than a set value.

13. An apparatus for navigation, comprising:

means for executing a navigation program stored in a machine-readable medium;

means for providing navigation instructions to a mobile user;

means for acquiring data representative of a current location; and

means for changing a mode based on one or more of the following;

a current location, a computed route, or data provided from a sensor peripheral, wherein the mode comprises at least one normal operation mode and at least one low-power mode,

the means for changing the mode configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode based on the data provided from the sensor peripheral,

wherein the sensor peripheral is one of;

a pressure sensor or a gyroscope.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, the means for changing the mode further configured to enter into a low-power mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are farther than a set value.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, the means for changing the mode further configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are nearer than a set value.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, the means for changing the mode further configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when the current location and a next instruction point in the computed route are farther than a set value.

17. An apparatus for navigation, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

execute a navigation program stored in a machine-readable medium;

provide navigation instructions to a mobile user;

acquire data representative of a current location; and

change a mode based on one or more of the following;

a current location, a computed route, or data provided from a sensor peripheral, wherein the mode comprises at least one normal operation mode and at least one low-power mode,

the processing system configured to change the mode configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode based on the data provided from the sensor peripheral,

wherein the sensor peripheral is one of;

a pressure sensor or a gyroscope.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, the processing system configured to change the mode further configured to enter into a low-power mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are farther than a set value.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, the processing system configured to change the mode further configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are nearer than a set value.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, the processing system configured to change the mode further configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when the current location and a next instruction point in the computed route are farther than a set value.

21. A computer program product for navigation, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for;

executing a navigation program stored in the computer-readable medium;

providing navigation instructions to a mobile user;

acquiring data representative of a current location; and

changing a mode based on one or more of the following;

a current location, a computed route, or data provided from a sensor peripheral, wherein the mode comprises at least one normal operation mode and at least one low-power mode,

the code for changing the mode configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode based on the data provided from the sensor peripheral,

wherein the sensor peripheral is one of;

a pressure sensor or a gyroscope.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, the code for changing the mode further configured to enter into a low-power mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are farther than a set value.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, the code for changing the mode further configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when a next instruction point in the computed route and the current location are nearer than a set value.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, the code for changing the mode further configured to switch from a low-power mode to a normal operation mode when the current location and a next instruction point in the computed route are farther than a set value.