Mobile device comprising a GPS receiver

• US 6,992,584 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: U-Blox AG (u-blox Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Yule, Andrew T., Dooley, Saul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/055,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/995.1, 340/998, 455/25, 455/134, 455423-425, 701211-214, 701/216, 342/357.08, 342352-359
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/24 Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/254 relating to Doppler shift of satellite signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/26 involving a sensor measurement for aiding acquisition or tracking

Abstract

A mobile device (MS) is disclosed comprising a GPS receiver (14) and an audible alarm (13, 15) configured to sound, during operation of the GPS receiver, in response to either adverse performance of the GPS receiver or to an event which is adverse or likely to be adverse to the performance of the GPS receiver. The alarm may sound in response to the inability of the GPS receiver to either acquire or track a GPS signal, or obtain or maintain a position fix. Also, the alarm may sound in response to movement of the GPS receiver, including acceleration and higher order movement of the GPS receiver, in so far as that movement is adverse to the performance of the GPS receiver.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising a GPS receiver and an audible alarm configured to sound, during operation of the GPS receiver, in response to either adverse performance of the GPS receiver or to an event which is adverse or likely to be adverse to the performance of the GPS receiver, wherein the alarm is configured to sound in response to movement of the GPS receiver in so far as that movement is adverse to the performance of the GPS receiver.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the alarm is configured to sound in response to the inability of the GPS receiver to acquire or track a GPS signal.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the alarm is configured to sound in response to the inability of the GPS receiver to obtain or maintain a position fix.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the alarm is configured to sound in response to acceleration of the GPS receiver.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the GPS receiver further comprises an accelerometer to measure the acceleration of the GPS receiver whereby the alarm is configured to sound in response to an output from the accelerometer.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the audible alarm comprising pre-recorded verbal instructions to either reposition the mobile communications device, to refrain from moving the mobile communications device or to curb moving the mobile communications device.

7. A mobile device comprising a digital GPS receiver and an alarm configured to activate at a predetermined time prior to sampling received GPS signals.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the audible alarm comprising pre-recorded verbal instructions to either reposition the mobile communications device, to refrain from moving the mobile communications device or to curb moving the mobile communications device.

10. A device according to claim 7 further comprising a display wherein the alarm is a visual alarm displayed on the display.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the visual alarm comprises instructions to either reposition the mobile communications device, to refrain from moving the mobile communications device or to curb moving the mobile communications device.

12. A mobile communications device comprising a communications transmitter and receiver arranged for two-way communication with a base station, a GPS receiver and an alarm configured to activate in response to the device receiving a request transmitted from the base station for the device to return GPS pseudorange measurements or a position fix obtained using the GPS receiver.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the audible alarm comprising pre-recorded verbal instructions to either reposition the mobile communications device, to refrain from moving the mobile communications device or to curb moving the mobile communications device.

15. A device according to claim 12 further comprising a display wherein the alarm is a visual alarm displayed on the display.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the visual alarm comprises instructions to either reposition the mobile communications device, to refrain from moving the mobile communications device or to curb moving the mobile communications device.