RFID tag assisted GPS receiver system
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification assisted global positioning system (RAGPS) receiver comprising:
- a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to receive up-to-date location data;
a radio frequency identification (RFID) subsystem including an RFID tag reader and a RFID transmitter, the RFID tag reader to read location data stored in a RFID assistance tag in communication with the RAGPS receiver, the RFID transmitter to transmit up-to-date location data to the RFID assistance tag, wherein the RFID assistance tag is positioned in a location in which GPS signals are blocked; and
a controller in communication with the GPS receiver and the RFID subsystem, the controller to determine whether the RFID assistance tag stores location data that is more up-to-date than location data stored in the RAGPS receiver, the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag including a timestamp having both an update time and an expiration time;
wherein the controller is further configured to (i) cause the RFID transmitter to transmit location data to the RFID assistance tag if the location data stored in the RAGPS receiver is more up-to-date than the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag, and (ii) transfer the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag to the GPS receiver if the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag is more up-to-date than the location data stored in the RAGPS receiver.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for improving the speed of operation and accuracy of GPS receivers. The system comprises a RFID assisted GPS (RAGPS) receiver and geographically dispersed RFID assistance tags. The RAGPS receiver and the RFID assistance tags store location data comprising current location estimate, almanac, and ephemeris data. The location data is time stamped. The RFID assisted GPS (RAGPS) receiver comprises a GPS receiver, a RFID tag reader, a RFID transmitter and a controller. The controller comprises software that transfers the location data to and from the RAGPS receiver and a RFID assistance tag. The method discloses the RAGPS receivers reading up-to-date location data from a nearby RFID assistance tags and similarly if the RAGPS receivers have up-to-date location data already, the RAGPS receivers may write that location data to a nearby assistance tags that lacks up-to-date location data.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification assisted global positioning system (RAGPS) receiver comprising:
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a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to receive up-to-date location data; a radio frequency identification (RFID) subsystem including an RFID tag reader and a RFID transmitter, the RFID tag reader to read location data stored in a RFID assistance tag in communication with the RAGPS receiver, the RFID transmitter to transmit up-to-date location data to the RFID assistance tag, wherein the RFID assistance tag is positioned in a location in which GPS signals are blocked; and a controller in communication with the GPS receiver and the RFID subsystem, the controller to determine whether the RFID assistance tag stores location data that is more up-to-date than location data stored in the RAGPS receiver, the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag including a timestamp having both an update time and an expiration time; wherein the controller is further configured to (i) cause the RFID transmitter to transmit location data to the RFID assistance tag if the location data stored in the RAGPS receiver is more up-to-date than the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag, and (ii) transfer the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag to the GPS receiver if the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag is more up-to-date than the location data stored in the RAGPS receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for updating location data, the method being performed by a radio frequency identification assisted global positioning system (RAGPS) receiver that includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, the method comprising:
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determining whether a radio frequency identification (RFID) assistance tag is in range of the RAGPS receiver, the RFID assistance tag being positioned in a location in which GPS signals are blocked, the RFID assistance tag storing location data including a timestamp having both an update time and an expiration time; connecting to the RFID assistance tag if the RFID assistance tag is in range; determining an up-to-date status of the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag by comparing location data stored in the RAGPS receiver to the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag; transmitting location data to the RFID assistance tag if the location data stored in the RAGPS receiver is more up-to-date than the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag; and transferring the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag to the GPS receiver if the location data stored in the RFID assistance tag is more up-to-date than the location data stored in the RAGPS receiver. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification