Host based satellite positioning systems

• US 7,043,363 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIRF Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Clifford, Nonis, Sebastian, Bulatovic, Nikola, Pande, Ashutosh, Witanis, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/269,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/216, 701/218, 701/214, 701/202, 701/209, 701/207, 701/222, 702/85, 702/107, 705/1, 455/456, 455/456.1, 455/456.8, 455/552.1, 455/550.1, 455/296, 340/539, 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/604, 340/995, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/352, 342/357.01, 342/357.02, 342/357.15, 342/357.12
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/37 Hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a host based positioning system. The host based positioning system includes a tracker hardware interface that connects to a dedicated hardware space vehicle tracker. The tracker hardware interface receives positioning information from the space vehicle tracker. The host based positioning system also includes a memory that includes a GPS library having a user interface, a tracker interface, and an operating system interface. A processor runs functions provided by the interfaces.

Claims

1. A system for processing positioning signals, the system comprising:

a tracker hardware interface for receiving positioning information;

a memory comprising a GPS library comprising a user interface, a tracker interface, and an operating system interface, the tracker interface comprising at least one tracker interface function for communicating over the tracker hardware interface; and

a processor for running the tracker interface function.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises a positioning engine for determining a position from the positioning information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracker hardware interface comprises a serial interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises at least one positioning control function and at least one positioning engine communication function.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the positioning control function comprises a positioning engine start function.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the positioning control function comprises a positioning engine stop function.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the positioning engine communication function is a command delivery function.

8. A method in a positioning system comprising a tracker hardware interface, the method comprising the steps of

calling a tracker interface function to receive positioning information from a tracker hardware interface;

determining a position from the positioning information using a positioning engine; and

calling a user interface message delivery function to communicate the position to a user application.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user interface message delivery function is provided by the user application.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the positioning system further comprises a user interface, and further comprising the step of receiving a positioning engine start message from the user interface.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the positioning system further comprises a user interface, and further comprising the step of receiving a user command for the positioning engine from the user interface.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the positioning system further comprises a user interface, and further comprising the step of receiving a positioning engine stop message from the user interface.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of initiating execution of a Navigation thread for generating navigation data received from the tracker hardware interface.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of initiating execution of a Periodic navigation processing thread.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the Periodic processing thread is a lower priority thread than the Navigation thread.

16. A computer-readable medium containing instructions that cause a positioning system having a tracker hardware interface to perform a method comprising the steps of:

calling a tracker interface function to receive positioning information from a tracker hardware interface;

determining a position from the positioning information using a positioning engine; and

calling a user interface message delivery function to communicate the position to a user application.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the user interface message delivery function is provided by the user application.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the positioning system further comprises a user interface, and further comprising the step of receiving a positioning engine start message from the user interface.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the positioning system further comprises a user interface, and further comprising the step of receiving a user command for the positioning engine from the user interface.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the positioning system further comprises a user interface, and further comprising the step of receiving a positioning engine stop message from the user interface.