LOCATION METHOD AND SYSTEM AND LOCATABLE PORTABLE DEVICE
First Claim
1. A location method for locating a portable device from a server configured to communicate with said portable device through a wireless communications network, in which said portable device comprises a transmission/receiving module, an A-GPS positioning module and a microprocessor configured to manage said modules, in which the method comprises the steps of:
- sending GPS assistance information from the server to the portable device through said wireless communications network;
obtaining in the A-GPS positioning module of the portable device a GPS signal from a satellite system;
calculating in said portable device a location of the device itself from said GPS signal and from the GPS assistance information sent by the server;
sending said location to the server from the transmission/receiving module through said wireless communications network;
characterized by the steps of;
when the portable device is stopped, hibernating the A-GPS positioning module and the microprocessor, maintaining the transmission/receiving module turned on; and
when the portable device is in an area in which it is receiving service from said wireless communications network from a cell recognized by said device and stored in a memory thereof, turning off the A-GPS positioning module, such that the server can provide position information associated to said area without having to interrogate the device, thus saving the battery and increasing the autonomy of the portable device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Location method for locating a portable device (1) from a server (2) configured to communicate with said portable device (1) through a wireless communications network (3), in which said portable device (1) comprises a transmission/receiving module (12), an A-GPS positioning module (11) and a microprocessor (15) configured to manage said modules (11, 12), in which the method comprises the steps of: sending GPS assistance information from the server (2) to the portable device (1) through said wireless communications network (3); obtaining in an A-GPS positioning module (11) of the portable device (1) a GPS signal (4) from a satellite system (8); calculating in said portable device (1) a location of the device (1) itself from said GPS signal (4) and from the GPS assistance information sent by the server (2); sending said location to the server (2) from the transmission/receiving module (12) through said wireless communications network (3). It also comprises the steps of: when the portable device is stopped, hibernating the A-GPS positioning module and the microprocessor, maintaining the transmission/receiving module turned on; and when the portable device is in an area in which it is receiving service from said wireless communications network from a cell recognized by said device and stored in a memory thereof, turning off the A-GPS positioning module, such that the server can provide position information associated to said area without having to interrogate the device, thus saving the battery and increasing the autonomy of the portable device.
78 Citations
49 Claims
-
1. A location method for locating a portable device from a server configured to communicate with said portable device through a wireless communications network, in which said portable device comprises a transmission/receiving module, an A-GPS positioning module and a microprocessor configured to manage said modules, in which the method comprises the steps of:
-
sending GPS assistance information from the server to the portable device through said wireless communications network; obtaining in the A-GPS positioning module of the portable device a GPS signal from a satellite system; calculating in said portable device a location of the device itself from said GPS signal and from the GPS assistance information sent by the server; sending said location to the server from the transmission/receiving module through said wireless communications network; characterized by the steps of; when the portable device is stopped, hibernating the A-GPS positioning module and the microprocessor, maintaining the transmission/receiving module turned on; and when the portable device is in an area in which it is receiving service from said wireless communications network from a cell recognized by said device and stored in a memory thereof, turning off the A-GPS positioning module, such that the server can provide position information associated to said area without having to interrogate the device, thus saving the battery and increasing the autonomy of the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 49)
-
-
39. A portable device comprising:
-
A-GPS global positioning means configured to receive a GPS signal from a network of GPS satellites; transmission/receiving means configured to connect with a wireless communications network and to receive therethrough, from a server, at least GPS assistance information and location requests; a microprocessor which can control said A-GPS positioning means and said transmission/receiving means and comprising an internal storage memory; in which said portable device can calculate its position from said GPS assistance information and from said GPS signal and to send said position to said server; characterized in that the portable device comprises motion sensor means which can capture information that can be used for hibernating or interrupting the hibernation of said A-GPS positioning module, according to the absence or presence of motion of the portable device and which can capture a measurement of the gravity. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification