Using anchors to correct GPS data in a network of moving things

• US 9,596,570 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2016
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veniam Inc.
• Original Assignee: Veniam Inc.
• Inventors: Cardoso de Moura, Daniel, Coutinho, Nuno Alexandre Tavares, Russell, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US15/244,394
• Time in Patent Office: 203 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/073 involving a network of fixed stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1004 Server selection for load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that use anchors to correct satellite-based geographic positioning data in a network of moving things. A plurality of anchor nodes using low-cost, non-differential GPS capable receiver may be used to correct positioning information of a plurality of other nodes of a network of moving things. Nodes in the network may share correction information produced by the anchor nodes with neighboring nodes, enabling other nodes of the network to correct positioning information produced by their own receivers of satellite-based geo-positioning information.

Claims

1. A system using a plurality of anchor nodes to correct positioning information of a plurality of other nodes of a network of moving things, the system comprising:

a first node of the other nodes, the first node comprising

a receiver that produces information representative of a geographic location of the first node using signals received from a first set of satellites selected from a constellation of satellites,

an interface for wirelessly communicating with the plurality of anchor nodes and at least a second of the other nodes, wherein each of the anchor nodes provides to the other nodes, via the network, respective correction information identifying a second set of satellites from the constellation and corresponding information representative of error in determining a geographic location of the respective anchor node when using signals from the second set of satellites, and

at least one processor operably coupled to the receiver and the interface, the at least one processor operable to, at least;

store correction information received from the plurality of anchor nodes to form a collection of correction information;

choose from the collection, correction information having a second set of satellites that matches the first set of satellites; and

produce corrected information representative of the geographic location of the first node by applying, to the information representative of the geographic location of the first node, the information representative of error in determining the geographic location of the anchor node corresponding to the chosen second set of satellites.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first node receives the correction information from the corresponding anchor node via a second node of the plurality of other nodes.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second node is attached to a moving vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the correction information comprises information identifying the corresponding anchor node.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the correction information comprises information representative of a time, an error in latitude, and an error in longitude.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information representative of error in determining the geographic location of the anchor node is calculated based on a geographic location of the anchor node computed as an average of multiple satellite-based geographic location measurements.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of other nodes comprises mobile access points and fixed access points.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the anchor nodes provide the correction information to the first node in response to a request from the first node.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to wirelessly communicate using two or more radio frequency communication standards, and wherein the anchor nodes and the other nodes support multiple communication methodologies comprising a communication methodology that employs only a specific radio frequency communication standard of the two or more radio frequency communication standards and a communication methodology that employs any of the two or more radio frequency communication standards.

10. A method of using a plurality of anchor nodes to correct positioning information of a plurality of other nodes of a network of moving things, the method comprising:

producing information representative of a geographic location of a first node of the other nodes using signals received from a first set of satellites selected from a constellation of satellites;

wirelessly communicating with the plurality of anchor nodes and at least a second of the other nodes, wherein each of the anchor nodes provides to the other nodes, via the network, respective correction information identifying a second set of satellites from the constellation and corresponding information representative of error in determining a geographic location of the respective anchor node when using signals from the second set of satellites;

storing correction information received from the plurality of anchor nodes to form a collection of correction information;

choosing from the collection, correction information having a second set of satellites that matches the first set of satellites; and

producing corrected information representative of the geographic location of the first node by applying, to the information representative of the geographic location of the first node, the information representative of error in determining the geographic location of the anchor node corresponding to the chosen second set of satellites.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first node receives the correction information from the corresponding anchor node via a second node of the plurality of other nodes.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second node is attached to a moving vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the correction information comprises information identifying the corresponding anchor node.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the correction information comprises information representative of a time, an error in latitude, and an error in longitude.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the information representative of error in determining the geographic location of the anchor node is calculated based on a geographic location of the anchor node computed as an average of multiple satellite-based geographic location measurements.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of other nodes comprises mobile access points and fixed access points.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the anchor nodes provide the correction information to the first node in response to a request from the first node.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first node is configured to wirelessly communicate using two or more radio frequency communication standards, and wherein the anchor nodes and the other nodes support multiple communication methodologies comprising a communication methodology that employs only a specific radio frequency communication standard of the two or more radio frequency communication standards and a communication methodology that employs any of the two or more radio frequency communication standards.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section, the at least one code section being executable by a computer system for causing the computer system to perform operations to use a plurality of anchor nodes to correct positioning information of a plurality of other nodes of a network of moving things, the operations comprising:

producing information representative of a geographic location of a first node of the other nodes using signals received from a first set of satellites selected from a constellation of satellites;

wirelessly communicating with the plurality of anchor nodes and at least a second of the other nodes, wherein each of the anchor nodes provides to the other nodes, via the network, respective correction information identifying a second set of satellites from the constellation and corresponding information representative of error in determining a geographic location of the respective anchor node when using signals from the second set of satellites;

storing correction information received from the plurality of anchor nodes to form a collection of correction information;

choosing from the collection, correction information having a second set of satellites that matches the first set of satellites; and

producing corrected information representative of the geographic location of the first node by applying, to the information representative of the geographic location of the first node, the information representative of error in determining the geographic location of the anchor node corresponding to the chosen second set of satellites.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the first node receives the correction information from the corresponding anchor node via a second node of the plurality of other nodes.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the second node is attached to a moving vehicle.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the correction information comprises information identifying the corresponding anchor node.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the correction information comprises information representative of a time, an error in latitude, and an error in longitude.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the information representative of error in determining the geographic location of the anchor node is calculated based on a geographic location of the anchor node computed as an average of multiple satellite-based geographic location measurements.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of other nodes comprises mobile access points and fixed access points.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein the anchor nodes provide the correction information to the first node in response to a request from the first node.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the first node is configured to wirelessly communicate using two or more radio frequency communication standards, and wherein the anchor nodes and the other nodes support multiple communication methodologies comprising a communication methodology that employs only a specific radio frequency communication standard of the two or more radio frequency communication standards and a communication methodology that employs any of the two or more radio frequency communication standards.