Positioning system using packet radio to determine position and to obtain information relative to a position

• US 20010041535A1
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Karmel, Clayton R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/071 DGPS corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location

Abstract

A positioning system includes the ability to receive GPS signals and to receive and transmit packet radio signals. The positioning system receives GPS transmissions to determine its pseudo position. The positioning system also receives differential corrections relative to its pseudo position using packet radio. By combining the GPS transmissions and the differential corrections, the positioning system calculates its actual position. A user has the ability to obtain information relevant to their actual position by transmitting a request to a reference station, using packet radio. The reference station maintains an information system and will transmit the requested information back to the user. The information system includes a data storage memory and retrieval system and a direct link to the internet. The user is able to provide information for storage within the information system or on the internet in order to compile the information available from the reference station. The positioning system also includes the ability to automatically transmit its position periodically allowing the reference station to track and monitor its actual position. Information relative to its location, signals and alerts are transmitted to predetermined locations based on the position of the positioning system relative to a predetermined location or another positioning system. Alternatively, the positioning system determines its position using only packet radio. Reference stations at known locations transmit signals having predetermined amplitudes and signal strengths. A positioning system determines its position relative to the reference stations based on the amplitude and strength of the signals received from the reference stations.

Claims

1. A positioning system for determining a position and obtaining information about that position comprising:

a. means for communicating with a reference station, using a packet radio format, for receiving positioning transmissions and obtaining information about the position from the reference station; and

b. means for determining a position coupled to the means for communicating for determining the position of the positioning system based on the positioning transmissions.

2. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 1

further comprising a user interface coupled to the means for communicating for allowing a user to communicate through the positioning system to the reference station.

3. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 2

wherein the reference station includes an information system having a data storage memory and retrieval system.

4. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 3

wherein the reference station further includes a direct internet connection allowing the user to access the internet through the positioning system.

5. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 4

wherein the packet radio format is CDPD.

6. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the positioning transmissions are transmitted from the reference station having a known amplitude and known signal strength and are received by the means for communicating having a received amplitude and received signal strength and further wherein the means for determining determines the position based on the difference between the known and received amplitudes and the known and received signal strengths.

7. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 1

further comprising means for automatically and periodically providing the position to the reference station.

8. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 7

wherein the reference station includes means for tracking and monitoring the position of the positioning system.

9. The positioning system as claimed in

claim 8

wherein the reference station further includes means for sending an alert coupled to the means for tracking and monitoring for sending an alert to a predetermined location if the position of the positioning system is equal to a predetermined alert position.

10. A method of determining a position and obtaining information about the position comprising the steps of:

a. receiving positioning transmissions in a packet radio format;

b. determining a position of the positioning system based on the positioning transmissions; and

c. communicating with a reference station using a packet radio format to obtain information about the position from the reference station.

11. The method as claimed in

claim 10

wherein the positioning transmissions are received from a plurality of reference stations, each reference station sending position transmissions having a known amplitude and known signal strength.

12. The method as claimed in

claim 11

wherein the position is determined based on the difference between the known amplitude and a received amplitude of each positioning transmission received from each respective reference station and the difference between the known signal strength and a received signal strength of each positioning transmission received from each respective reference station.

13. The method as claimed in

claim 10

further comprising the step of providing an interface to a user thereby allowing the user to communicate with the reference station.

14. The method as claimed in

claim 13

further comprising the step of automatically and periodically providing the position to the reference station.

15. The method as claimed in

claim 14

further comprising the step of monitoring the position.

16. The method as claimed in

claim 15

further comprising the step of providing an alert if the position is equal to a predetermined position.

17. A system for determining a position and obtaining information about that position comprising:

a. a plurality of reference stations each including a first communications circuit for sending and receiving communications in a packet radio format, wherein the communications include positioning transmissions having a known amplitude and known signal strength; and

b. a positioning system including;

i. a second communications circuit for communicating with the first communications circuit in the packet radio format and receiving the positioning transmissions, which when received have a received amplitude and a received signal strength; and

ii. a position determining circuit for determining the position of the positioning system based on the difference between the known amplitude and signal strength and the received amplitude and signal strength of the positioning transmissions received from each of the plurality of reference stations.

18. The system as claimed in

claim 17

wherein the positioning system further includes an interface coupled to the second communications circuit for interfacing with a user and allowing the user to obtain information from the reference station and to provide information to the reference station.

19. The system as claimed in

claim 18

wherein each reference station further includes an information system for storing and retrieving information.

20. The system as claimed in

claim 19

wherein the information system includes a data storage memory and retrieval system.

21. The system as claimed in

claim 20

wherein the information system includes a direct internet connection allowing the user to have direct access to information on the internet.

22. The system as claimed in

claim 21

wherein the packet radio format is a CDPD format.

23. The system as claimed in

claim 17

wherein the second communications circuit automatically and periodically provides the position to the reference station.

24. The system as claimed in

claim 23

wherein the reference station further includes a monitoring device coupled to the first communications circuit for monitoring the position of the positioning system.

25. The system as claimed in

claim 24

wherein the reference station further includes an alerting device coupled to the monitoring device for sending an alert to a predetermined location if the position of the positioning system is equal to a predetermined position.

26. A system for determining and monitoring a position of a positioning system comprising:

a. a positioning system including;

i. a first communications circuit for sending and receiving communications in a packet radio format including receiving positioning transmissions having a received amplitude and a received signal strength and automatically and periodically transmitting a position of the positioning system in a packet radio format; and

ii. a determining circuit coupled to the first communications circuit for determining the position of the positioning system based on the received amplitude and signal strength of the positioning transmissions; and

b. a plurality of reference stations each including;

i. a second communications circuit for communicating with the first communications circuit in the packet radio format, receiving the position and transmitting the positioning transmissions at a known amplitude and known signal strength; and

ii. a monitoring circuit coupled to the second communications circuit for monitoring and racking the position.

27. The system as claimed in

claim 26

wherein each of the reference stations further include an alerting device coupled to the monitoring device for sending an alert if the position of the positioning system is equal to a predetermined position.