Position measuring apparatus, position measuring method, navigation apparatus, navigation method, information service method, automotive vehicle, and audio information transmitting and receiving method

• US 5,999,126 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ito, Seigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/897,651
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/357.1, 342/386, 342/464, 455/456
• US Class Current: 342/357.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network

Abstract

A position measuring apparatus includes a first position measuring device for position measuring a first position by receiving a first radio wave, a second position measuring device for position measuring a second position by receiving a second radio wave, an evaluating unit for evaluating uncertainty of data derived from the first position measuring device and/or the second position measuring device, and a selecting element for selecting data from the first position measuring device or the second position measuring device based on an output signal of the evaluating unit.

Claims

1. A position measuring apparatus comprising:

first position measuring means for measuring a first position using a received first radio wave from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite;

second position measuring means for measuring a second position using a received second radio wave from a base station of a mobile telephone network;

evaluating means for evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring means and/or said second position measuring means; and

selecting means for selecting data from said first position measuring means or said second position measuring means based on an output signal from said evaluating means,

wherein said second position measuring device includes a data processing unit, data receiving means, and a received packet processing unit,

said data receiving means for receiving a transmitted data signal and extracting control data therefrom, said control data being fed to said data processing unit for extracting an identification signal of a base station and service signals therefrom, and further wherein packet data received from the base station is fed by the data processing unit to said received packet processing unit for producing an audio output signal therefrom.

2. A position measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second position measuring means respectively receive said first and second radio waves without transmitting a data request signal.

3. A position measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said evaluating means evaluates said uncertainty in said data using a geometrical dilution of precision (GDOP) signal from a GPS satellite.

4. A position measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said evaluation means evaluates said uncertainty in said data using a position signal from said base station of said mobile telephone network.

5. A position measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second position measuring means determines said second position using at least one radio wave.

6. A position measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second position measuring means determines said second position using a decoded signal and a signal strength of said second received radio wave.

7. A position measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first position measuring means is utilized only when said second radio wave received by said second position measuring means is not satisfactory.

8. A position measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second position measuring means comprises sound processing means for processing an audio signal corresponding to a voice signal for enabling voice communication, and transmitting means for transmitting an RF signal modulated by an output signal from said sound signal processing means.

9. A navigation apparatus comprising:

first position measuring means for measuring a first position using a radio wave received from a GPS satellite;

second position measuring means for measuring a second position using a radio wave received from a base station of a cellular telephone system without transmitting a request signal for measuring position to said base station;

evaluating means for evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring means and/or said second position measuring means;

selecting means for selecting data from said first position measuring means or said second position measuring means based on an output signal from said evaluating means;

data storage means for storing map data;

display signal generating means for generating a display signal of an output signal from said selecting means combined with output data from said data storage means; and

display means for displaying said display signal, wherein

said second position measuring means includes a data processing unit, data receiving means, and a received packet processing unit,

said data receiving means for receiving a transmitted data signal and extracting control data therefrom, said control data being fed to said data processing unit for extracting an identification signal of a base station and service signals therefrom, and further wherein packet data received from the base station is fed by the data processing unit to said received packet processing unit for producing an audio output signal therefrom.

10. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second position measuring means determines said second position using a decoded signal and a signal strength of said received radio wave.

11. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second position measuring means comprises transmitting means for transmitting an RF signal modulated by an output signal from said data processing unit.

12. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmitted data includes traffic data and said output signal includes traffic information corresponding to said traffic data.

13. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmitted data includes weather data and said output signal includes weather information corresponding to said weather data.

14. A navigation apparatus claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmitted data includes new data and said output signal includes news information corresponding to said news data.

15. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmitted data includes advertisement data and signal includes advertisement information, corresponding to said advertisement data.

16. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein an image of said output signal displayed on said display means is superimposed with an image of a map.

17. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein an image of said output signal displayed on said display means is displayed at a region different from a region displaying an image of a map.

18. A navigation apparatus comprising:

first position measuring means for measuring a first position using a radio wave received from a GPS satellite;

second position measuring means for measuring a second position using a radio wave received from a base station of a cellular telephone system without transmitting a request signal for measuring position to said base station;

evaluating means for evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring means and/or said second position measuring means;

selecting means for selecting data from said first position measuring means or said second position measuring means based on an output signal from said evaluating means;

data storage means for storing map data;

display signal generating means for generating a display signal of an output signal from said selecting means combined with output data from said data storage means;

display means for displaying said display signal;

input means for entering a request from a user;

service request signal transmitting means for transmitting a service request signal to request a predetermined service based on an output signal from said input means, said predetermined service not including measuring position;

service signal receiving means for receiving service information transmitted corresponding to said service request signal; and

output means for generating an output signal based on a signal from said service signal receiving means.

19. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said service request signal is a route searching request signal, and said output means outputs to said display means a route superimposed on a map.

20. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said predetermined service is a music-related service, and said output means generates an audio signal.

21. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein character information is simultaneously displayed on said display means when said audio signal is generated.

22. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said predetermined service is a connecting service to a computer network.

23. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said output means generates information after a predetermined time has passed even if a transferred information is insufficient.

24. A navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said output means generates information having a priority level.

25. A method for measuring position, comprising steps of:

measuring a first position using a received first radio wave from a GPS satellite;

measuring a second position using a received second radio wave from a base station of a mobile telephone network;

evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring step and/or said second position measuring step; and

selecting data from said first position measuring step or said second position measuring step based on an output signal generated in said evaluating step, wherein said step of measuring a second position using a received second radio wave includes the further steps of

receiving a transmitted data signal,

extracting control data from the received data signal,

feeding the extracted control data to a data processing unit and extracting an identification signal of the base station and service signals therefrom, and

causing the data processing unit to feed packet data received from the base station to a received packet processing unit and producing an audio output therefrom.

26. A method for measuring position as claimed in claim 25, wherein said first and second position measuring steps include receiving a respective one of said first and second radio waves without transmitting a data request signal.

27. A method for measuring position as claimed in claim 26, wherein in said first position measuring step said first radio wave is received from a satellite, and in said second position measuring step said second radio wave is not received from a satellite.

28. A navigation method comprising steps of:

measuring a first position using a radio wave received from a GPS satellite;

measuring a second position using a radio wave received from a base station of a cellular telephone system without transmitting a request signal for measuring position to said base station;

evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring step and/or said second position measuring step;

a selecting data from said first position measuring step or said second position measuring step based on an output signal generated in said evaluating step; and

displaying a signal of an output signal generated in said selecting step combined with map data,

wherein said step of measuring a second position using a received second radio wave includes the further steps of

receiving a transmitted data signal,

extracting control data from the received data signal,

feeding the extracted control data to a data processing unit and extracting an identification signal of the base station and service signals therefrom, and

causing the data processing unit to feed packet data received from the base station to a received packet processing unit and producing an audio output therefrom.

29. A navigation method as claimed in claim 28, wherein in said second position measuring step said second position is determined using a decoded signal and a signal strength of said received radio wave.

30. A navigation method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising steps of:

processing an audio signal corresponding to a voice signal in order to enable voice communication; and

transmitting an RF signal modulated by an output signal generated in said audio signal processing step.

31. A navigation method comprising:

a first position measuring step for measuring a first position using a radio wave received from a GPS satellite;

a second position measuring step for measuring a second position using a radio wave received from a base station of a cellular telephone system without transmitting a request signal for measuring position to said base station;

an evaluating step for evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring step and/or said second positioning step;

a selecting step for selecting data from said first position measuring step or said second position measuring step based on an output signal generating in said evaluating step;

a display signal generating step for generating a display signal of an output signal generated in said selecting step combined with output map data from data storage means;

a display step for displaying said display signal;

an input step for receiving an entered request from a user;

a service request signal transmitting step for transmitting a service request signal to request a predetermined service based on an output signal generated in said input step, said predetermined service not including measuring position;

a service signal receiving step for receiving service information transmitted corresponding to said service request signal; and

an output step for generated an output signal based on a signal generated in said service signal receiving step.

32. A navigation method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said predetermined service information is music-related information, and said output step generates an audio signal.

33. A navigation method as claimed in claim 32, wherein in said output step information is generated when a predetermined time has passed even if transferred information is insufficient.

34. A car apparatus comprising:

first position measuring means for measuring a first position using a radio wave received from a GPS satellite;

second position measuring means for measuring a second position using a radio wave received from a base station of a cellular telephone system without transmitting a request signal for measuring to said base station;

evaluating means for evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring means and/or said second position measuring means;

selecting means for selecting data from said first position measuring means or said second position measuring means based on an output signal from said evaluating means;

data storage means for storing map data;

display signal generating means for generating a display signal of an output signal from said selecting means combined with output data from said data storage means; and

display means for displaying said display signal,

wherein said second position measuring means includes a data processing unit, data receiving means, and a received packet processing unit,

said data receiving means for receiving a transmitted data signal and extracting control data therefrom, said control data being fed to said data processing unit for extracting an identification signal of a base station and service signals therefrom, and further wherein packet data received from the base station is fed by the data processing unit to said received packet processing unit for producing an audio output signal therefrom.

35. A car apparatus comprising:

first position measuring means for measuring a first position using a radio wave received from a GPS satellite;

second position measuring means for measuring a second position using a radio wave received from a base station of a cellular telephone system without transmitting a request signal for measuring position measuring to said base station;

evaluating means for evaluating an uncertainty in data derived from said first position measuring means and/or said second position measuring means;

selecting means for selecting data from said first position measuring means or said second position measuring means based on an output signal from said evaluating means;

data storage means for storing map data;

display signal generating means for generating a display signal an output signal from said selecting means combined with output data from said data storage means;

display means for displaying said display signal;

input means for entering a request from a user;

service request signal transmitting means for transmitting a service request signal to request a predetermined service based on an output signal from said input means, said predetermined service not including measuring position;

service signal receiving means for receiving service information transmitted corresponding to said service request signal; and

output means for generating an output signal based on a signal from said service signal receiving means.