Wireless communications device with global positioning based on received motion data and method for use therewith

• US 7,671,795 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing; Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US11/799,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20080274713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.14, 455/441
• US Class Current: 342/357.32
• 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 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/017 Detecting state or type of motion

Abstract

A circuit includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal. A wireless receiver converts an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream. A processing module converts the inbound symbol stream into inbound data that includes a motion parameter and generates position information based on at least one of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal and generates a GPS data quality;

a wireless receiver section coupled to convert an inbound RF signal that includes inbound data into an inbound symbol stream wherein the inbound data is generated by a remote device and wherein the inbound data includes a motion parameter that is related to the motion of the circuit;

a processing module coupled to convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data to recover the motion parameter;

a comparator that compares the GPS data quality to a quality threshold and that generates a selection signal when the GPS data quality compares unfavorably to the quality threshold;

an integrator that generates an estimated position data based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data; and

a selector, coupled to the comparator, the GPS receiver and the integrator, that generates the position information based on the estimated position data in response to the selection signal.

2. The circuit of claim of claim 1 wherein the inbound RF signal is received from a vehicle in which the circuit is travelling.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the motion parameter includes a motion vector generated based on a speed of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the GPS receiver operates in accordance with a receiver parameter, and wherein the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver parameter based on the motion parameter.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the receiver parameter includes a receiver sensitivity and the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a first value when the motion parameter compares favorably to a motion threshold and adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a second value when the motion parameter compares unfavorably to the motion threshold.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data during a start-up condition of the GPS receiver.

7. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless transmitter coupled to convert outbound data into an outbound symbol stream and to generate an outbound RF signal from the outbound symbol stream; and

wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter when the wireless transmitter is generating the outbound RF signal.

8. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on a weighted combination of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.

9. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver operates in accordance with at least one of a wireless personal area network protocol, a wireless local area network protocol and a wireless wide area protocol.

10. A communication device comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal and further generates a GPS data quality;

a wireless personal area network (WPAN) transceiver coupled to convert a first inbound RF signal into first inbound data and to generate a first outbound RF signal based on first outbound data, wherein the inbound data is generated by a remote device and wherein the inbound data includes a motion parameter that is related to the motion of the communication device;

a wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver coupled to convert a second inbound RF signal into second inbound data and to generate a second outbound RF signal based on second outbound data; and

a comparator that compares the GPS data quality to a quality threshold and that generates a selection signal when the GPS data quality compares unfavorably to the quality threshold;

an integrator that generates an estimated position data based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data; and

a selector, coupled to the comparator, the GPS receiver and the integrator, that generates the position information based on the estimated position data in response to the selection signal.

11. The communication device of claim of claim 10 wherein the first inbound RF signal is received from a vehicle in which the communication device is travelling.

12. The communication device of claim 11 wherein the motion parameter includes a motion vector generated based on a speed of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle.

13. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the GPS receiver operates in accordance with a receiver parameter, and wherein the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver parameter based on the motion parameter.

14. The communication device of claim 13 wherein the receiver parameter includes a receiver sensitivity and the GPS receiver adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a first value when the motion parameter compares favorably to a motion threshold and adjusts the receiver sensitivity to a second value when the motion parameter compares unfavorably to the motion threshold.

15. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter and prior GPS position data during a start-up condition of the GPS receiver.

16. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter when the WPAN transmitter is generating the first outbound RF signal.

17. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on the motion parameter when the WWAN transmitter is generating the second outbound RF signal.

18. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the processing module generates the position information based on a weighted combination of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.