Navigation receiver with functional extensibility

• US 20070027627A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novariant Incorporated (Kubota Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novariant Incorporated (Kubota Corporation)
• Inventors: Lawrence, David, O'Connor, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain

Abstract

A global navigation satellite system receiver manufacturer provides functional extensibility to a global navigation satellite system receiver. An application programming interface to the receiver is provided. The interface is public, such as using pubically available software or pubically distributed instructions, for loading on applications or other extensions to the core functionality of the GPS receiver. Other programmers than the manufacturer may add applications to the GPS receiver, avoiding separate devices in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for a satellite navigation system receiver manufacturer to provide functional extensibility to a satellite navigation system receiver, the method comprising:

providing on the receiver a proprietary receiver firmware component operable to implement a core navigation feature;

providing on the receiver a software interface to the receiver firmware with extensibility hooks; and

providing a dynamic loader operable to add functional extensions that adhere to the software interface to run on a processor in the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the functional extensions have access to navigation metrics derived form the core navigation feature.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver is operable to perform the core navigation feature without the functional extensions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the functional extensions are implemented as separate processes by the receiver.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the functional extensions are implemented as dynamically loaded modules into a same process.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein sources for the functional extensions are proprietary to different companies.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver firmware operable to implement the core navigation feature and the functional extensions both run on the processor in the receiver.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the functional extensions have direct or indirect access to one or more receiver output interfaces.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing the core navigation functionality with;

multi-frequency capability;

local differential global positioning capability;

an integrated local differential data link;

network-based global positioning capability;

multi-antenna capability;

or

combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein implementing the core navigation functionality comprises implementing with:

the local differential global positioning capability; and

the integrated local differential data link.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein implementing the core navigation functionality comprises implementing with the multi-frequency and multi-antenna capabilities.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein implementing the core navigation functionality comprises implementing with multi-frequency capability.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein implementing the core navigation functionality comprises implementing with the multi-antenna capability.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein implementing the core navigation functionality comprises implementing with the network-based global positioning capability.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing the core navigation functionality with;

multi-frequency capability;

environmental robustness; and

decimeter or better differential global navigation satellite system capability.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the receiver with the firmware and with a specified environmental robustness.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

loading a program with the dynamic loader; and

checking a consistency of the program.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

loading a program with the dynamic loader; and

checking a security feature of the program.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

interfacing a database for operation of at least one of the functional extensions.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a recovery mechanism operable without opening an enclosure of the receiver.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the core navigation feature comprises measuring a carrier phase, measuring a code phase, tracking a satellite, satellite acquisition searching, or combinations thereof.

22. A method for a satellite navigation system receiver manufacturer to provide functional extensibility to a satellite navigation system receiver, the method comprising:

providing a software interface with extensibility hooks to the satellite navigation system receiver;

providing a partial firmware image with undefined functions to be linked with one or more additional modules to successfully execute;

providing first public tools, first directions or both first public tools and first directions to compile a function extension module from source code;

providing second public tools, second directions or both second public tools and second directions to link one or more function extension modules with the partial firmware image, a complete firmware image resulting from linking the one or more function extension modules with the partial firmware image; and

providing third public tools, third directions or both third public tools and third directions to load the complete firmware image into the satellite navigation system receiver.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the partial firmware image is inoperable without linking to the one or more additional modules.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the partial firmware image includes a core navigation component.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the extensibility hooks comprise access to navigation metrics derived from a core navigation output.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising performing a core navigation feature with the satellite navigation system receiver regardless of any linking of undefined functions with the one or more additional modules.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein sources for the function extension modules are proprietary to different companies.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising implementing the complete firmware image on a processor in the satellite navigation system receiver.

29. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

generating navigation data with the complete firmware image, the navigation data associated with;

multi-frequency navigation information;

local differential global positioning navigation information;

network-based global positioning navigation information;

multi-antenna navigation information;

or

combinations thereof.

30. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

providing the satellite navigation system receiver with a specified environmental robustness.

31. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

loading the complete firmware image into the satellite navigation system receiver;

checking a consistency of the complete firmware image; and

checking a security feature of the complete firmware image.

32. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

interfacing a database for operation of the function extension module.

33. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

providing a recovery mechanism operable without opening an enclosure of the satellite navigation system receiver.

34. A method for a satellite navigation system receiver manufacturer to provide functional extensibility to a satellite navigation system receiver, the method comprising:

providing a proprietary receiver firmware component operable to implement a core navigation feature on the receiver;

providing a software interface with extensibility hooks, the extensibility hooks comprising access to navigation metrics derived from an output of the core navigation feature; and

allowing, with the software interface, different functions supported by the receiver to be subsequently added to the receiver independently of the receiver manufacturer.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein allowing the different functions comprises allowing the different functions at different times.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein providing the software interface comprises providing for operation of third party software with the different finctions.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein providing the software interface comprises providing a pubically available interface for operation of third party software on the satellite navigation system receiver.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising performing a core navigation feature with the satellite navigation system receiver regardless of any different functions.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein source codes for the different functions are proprietary and not accessible by the receiver manufacturer.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein allowing comprises implementing the receiver firmware component and the different functions on a processor in the satellite navigation system receiver.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

implementing the core navigation feature with;

multi-frequency capability;

local differential global positioning capability;

network-based global positioning capability;

multi-antenna capability;

or

combinations thereof.

42. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

providing the satellite navigation system receiver with a specified environmental robustness.

43. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

loading the different functions into the satellite navigation system receiver;

checking a consistency of the different functions; and

checking a security feature of the different functions.

44. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

interfacing a database for operation of the different functions.

45. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

providing a recovery mechanism operable without opening an enclosure of the satellite navigation system receiver.

46. A method for a satellite navigation system receiver manufacturer to provide another with functional extensibility to a satellite navigation system receiver, the method comprising:

providing on the receiver a proprietary receiver firmware component operable to implement a core navigation feature;

providing on the receiver a public software interface with extensibility hooks, the extensibility hooks comprising (a) access to navigation metrics derived from an output of the core navigation feature and (b) access to one or more receiver output interfaces.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein providing the public software interface comprises providing at least one of the extensibility hooks for direct access to at least one of the receiver output interfaces.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein providing the public software interface comprises providing at least one of the extensibility hooks for indirect access via an interface proxy to at least one of the receiver output interfaces.

49. The method of claim 46 further comprising:

making details of the public software interface public, the details including documentation for how to receive and interpret navigation software output.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein navigation software output comprise carrier phase, code phase, ephemeris, position, velocity, acceleration, attitude, attitude rate, attitude acceleration, or combinations thereof.

51. The method of claim 46 further comprising:

making details of the public software interface public, the details including tools, directions or tools and directions for loading function extension software.

52. The method of claim 46 further comprising providing tools, directions or tools and directions for compiling software extensions on the receiver.

53. The method of claim 46 wherein the public software interface supports a plurality of extensions.

54. In a satellite navigation system receiver, an improvement comprising a computer readable storage media with instructions for a programmed processor to implement:

an integrated compiler.

55. The improvement of claim 54 wherein the integrated compiler is operable to compile function extension software for operation on the receiver.

56. The improvement of claim 54 wherein the integrated compiler is operable in response to source code loaded into the receiver after use of the receiver for determining a position.

57. The improvement of claim 54 wherein the integrated compiler is operable to convert source code into compiled software executable by the receiver.

58. The improvement of claim 57 further comprising a software interface operable to communicate between navigation functions of the receiver and the compiled software.

59. The improvement of claim 54 further comprising:

a processor operable to implement a core navigation function; and

a plurality of satellite antenna connectors on the receiver.

60. The improvement of claim 59 further comprising:

a local differential data link connected with the processor.

61. The improvement of claim 59 wherein the processor is operable to run software compiled by the integrated compiler and core navigation functions, the core navigation functions different than the software compiled by the integrated compiler.

62. The improvement of claim 54 further comprising a public firmware image with undefined functions, the integrated compiler operable to compile a function extension module linking to the public firmware image.

63. The improvement of claim 54 further comprising:

proprietary receiver firmware operable to implement a core navigation function; and

a software interface with extensibility hooks to access a navigation metric derived from the core navigation function by software compiled by the integrated compiler.

64. The improvement of claim 54 further comprising:

a receiver output interface responsive to navigation code and to software compiled by the integrated compiler.

77. The receiver of claim 54 further comprising:

proprietary receiver firmware operable to implement a core navigation function; and

a software interface with extensibility hooks to access a navigation metric derived from the core navigation function, the extensibility hooks accessible by the source.

78. The improvement of claim 54 further comprising:

a receiver output interface responsive to navigation code and to the source as interpreted by the source interpreter.

65. A satellite navigation system receiver comprising computer readable media with instructions for:

a source interpreter for executing source; and

a source loader for loading source.

66. The receiver of claim 65 wherein the source interpreter is operable to read the source without compiling.

67. The receiver of claim 65 wherein the source interpreter is operable to run the source without compiling.

68. The receiver of claim 65 wherein the source interpreter is a Java interpreter.

69. The receiver of claim 65 wherein the receiver has integrated debugging facilities to debug the source.

70. The receiver of claim 65 wherein the receiver comprises a computer readable media operable to store instructions for implementing the source interpreter and the source loader.

71. The receiver of claim 65 wherein the source interpreter is operable in response to the source being loaded into the receiver after use of the receiver for navigation.

72. The receiver of claim 65 further comprising a software interface operable to communicate between navigation functions of the receiver and the source.

73. The receiver of claim 65 further comprising:

a processor operable to implement a core navigation function, the processor operable to implement the source interpreter; and

a plurality of satellite antenna connectors on the receiver.

74. The receiver of claim 73 further comprising:

a local differential data link connected with the processor.

75. The receiver of claim 73 wherein the processor is operable to run software interpreted by the source interpreter and core navigation functions, the core navigation functions different than the interpreted software.

76. The receiver of claim 65 further comprising a public firmware image with undefined functions, the source interpreter operable to link the source to the public firmware image.

79. A global position satellite receiver comprising:

a first satellite antenna connector;

a data input;

a processor connected with the antenna connector and the data input, the processor operable to run satellite signal tracking code as a finction of signals from the first satellite antenna connector and operable to run a public application programming interface for software provided by the data input.

80. The receiver of claim 79 wherein the satellite signal tracking code is proprietary.

81. The receiver of claim 79 further comprising a display connected with the processor, the processor operable to provide navigation information responsive to the satellite signal tracking code and to provide other information responsive to the software.

82. The receiver of claim 79 further comprising a user input, the processor operable to load the software in response to input on the user input.

83. The receiver of claim 79 further comprising:

a power input connected with the processor and connectable with a vehicle.

84. The receiver of claim 79 wherein the software comprises a third party application.

85. The receiver of claim 79 wherein the data input comprises a removable media device, a network connector, a bus connector or combinations thereof.

86. The receiver of claim 79 wherein the processor is operable to manage resource contentions for the software.

87. The receiver of claim 79 wherein the processor is operable to check for COCOMM limits, the check being separated from the public application programming interface.

88. The receiver of claim 79 further comprising:

a second satellite antenna connector;

wherein the processor is operable to run the satellite signal tracking code as a function of signals from the first and second satellite antenna connectors for signal tracking.

89. The receiver of claim 79 further comprising:

a modem;

wherein the processor is operable to perform differential corrections as a function of signals from the modem.

90. The receiver of claim 79 wherein the public application programming interface is operable to access a vehicle control system.

91. The receiver of claim 79 further comprising:

a housing having specified temperature, shock and vibration values provided with the receiver, the processor, data input and satellite antenna connector being on or within the housing.

92. The receiver of claim 79 further comprising:

a housing operable to be bolted with vibration minimization to a vehicle, the processor, data input and satellite antenna connector being on or within the housing.