Combined GPS positioning system and communications system utilizing shared circuitry
First Claim
1. A method for performing Global Positioning System (GPS) functions and cellular communication functions in an integrated communication system, said method comprising:
- converting radio frequency (RF) GPS signals and RF cellular communication signals in a shared RF to intermediate frequency (IF) converter, wherein said shared RF to IF converter converts said RF GPS signals from a first frequency to a second frequency which is lower than said first frequency and said shared RF to IF converter converts said RF cellular communication signals from a third frequency to a fourth frequency which is lower than said third frequency, and wherein said shared RF to IF converter comprises a shared frequency mixer which converts said RF GPS signals to said second frequency and which converts said RF cellular communication signals to said fourth frequency.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combined GPS and communication system having shared circuitry. The combined system includes an antenna for receiving data representative of GPS signals, a frequency converter coupled to the antenna, a frequency synthesizer coupled to the frequency converter, an analog to digital converter coupled to the frequency converter and a processor coupled to the frequency converter. The processor processes the data representative of GPS signals to determine a pseudorange based on the data representative of GPS signals. The integrated communication receiver includes a shared component which is at least one of the antenna, the frequency converter, the frequency synthesizer and the analog to digital converter. Typically, in certain embodiments the processor also demodulates communication signals received as well as controls the modulation of data to be transmitted as a communication signal through a communication link.
251 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for performing Global Positioning System (GPS) functions and cellular communication functions in an integrated communication system, said method comprising:
converting radio frequency (RF) GPS signals and RF cellular communication signals in a shared RF to intermediate frequency (IF) converter, wherein said shared RF to IF converter converts said RF GPS signals from a first frequency to a second frequency which is lower than said first frequency and said shared RF to IF converter converts said RF cellular communication signals from a third frequency to a fourth frequency which is lower than said third frequency, and wherein said shared RF to IF converter comprises a shared frequency mixer which converts said RF GPS signals to said second frequency and which converts said RF cellular communication signals to said fourth frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
9. An integrated communication system having a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver which is coupled to a cellular communication system, said integrated communication system comprising:
a shared radio frequency (RF) to intermediate frequency (IF) converter which is coupled to receive RF GPS signals and is coupled to receive RF cellular communication signals, said shared RF to IF converter having a shared frequency mixer which converts said RF GPS signals from a first frequency to a second frequency which is lower than said second frequency, and said shared frequency mixer converting said RF cellular communication signals from a third frequency to a fourth frequency which is lower than said third frequency. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
15. An integrated communication system having a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver which is coupled to a cellular communication system, said integrated communication system comprising:
a shared analog to digital (A/D) converter coupled to receive GPS signals and to receive cellular communication signals, said shared A/D converter converting said GPS signals to digitized GPS signals for processing in said GPS receiver and converting said cellular communication signals to digitized cellular communication signals for processing in said communication system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
18. A method for performing Global Positioning System (GPS) functions and cellular communication functions in an integrated communication system, said method comprising:
processing GPS signals and cellular communication signals in a shared circuitry, said processing in said shared circuitry being after a final frequency conversion of said GPS signals and after a final frequency conversion of said cellular communication signals and prior to digitization of said GPS signals and prior to digitization of said cellular communication signals, said processing being performed in order to determine the message content of said GPS signals and said cellular communication signals.
Specification