Navigation system enabled wireless headset

• US 8,108,143 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Blox AG (u-blox Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: U-Blox AG (u-blox Holding AG)
• Inventors: Tester, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, ISAM A
• Application Number:
  US11/960,842
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 340/539.15, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/538.11, 340/538.15, 4554561-4563
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method of enabling navigation from a headset is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a first signal transmitted by a device to the headset through a wireless personal area network, the first signal carrying assist data transmitted by an Assisted Global Positioning System server, (B) receiving a plurality of navigation signals transmitted by a navigation system to the headset and (C) calculating a current position of the headset at a first time using the assist data to lock onto the navigation signals.

Claims

1. A method of enabling navigation from a headset, comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving a first signal transmitted by a device to said headset through a wireless personal area network, said first signal carrying assist data transmitted by an Assisted Global Positioning System server;

(B) receiving a plurality of navigation signals transmitted by a navigation system to said headset; and

(C) calculating a current position of said headset at a first time using said assist data to lock onto said navigation signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a second signal carrying said current position from said headset through said personal area network to said device; and

utilizing said current position in a location-based service operating in said device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving a request signal transmitted by said device through said personal area network to said headset at a second time; and

extrapolating said current position at said second time in said headset.

4. The method according of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

repeatedly calculating said current position of said headset based on said navigation signals; and

reducing a tracking power consumption of a tracking operation in said headset between said calculations, wherein said tracking operation locks onto said navigation signals while normally powered.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

maintaining a position power consumption of a position operation in said headset while reducing said tracking power consumption, wherein said position operation (i) calculates said current position based on a plurality of pseudoranges received from said tracking operation when available and (ii) estimates said current position while said tracking power consumption is reduced.

6. A headset comprising:

a network circuit configured to receive a first signal transmitted by a device through a wireless personal area network, said first signal carrying assist data transmitted by an Assisted Global Positioning System server; and

a navigation circuit configured to (i) receive a plurality of navigation signals transmitted by a navigation system and (ii) calculate a current position of said headset at a first time using said assist data to lock onto said navigation signals.

7. The headset according to claim 6, wherein (i) said network circuit is further configured to receive a request signal transmitted by said device through said personal area network at a second time and (ii) said navigation circuit is further configured to extrapolate said current position at said second time.

8. The headset according to claim 6, wherein said navigation circuit comprises:

a tracking module configured to repeatedly calculate a plurality of pseudoranges based on said navigation signals; and

a power module configured to power down said tracking module between said calculations.

9. The headset according to claim 6, wherein said network circuit and said receiver navigation circuit share at least one of (i) an antenna, (ii) a low noise amplifier, (iii) a frequency synthesizer, (iv) a processor, (v) a memory, (vi) a mixer and (vii) an intermediate frequency signal path.

10. The headset according to claim 6, wherein (i) said navigation system comprises a Global Positioning System, (ii) said personal area network comprises a Bluetooth network, (iii) said device comprises a cellular telephone and (iv) said headset comprises a two-way audio headset.

11. A method of enabling navigation in a headset, comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving a first signal carrying assist data transmitted by an Assisted Global Positioning System server through a cellular network to a device;

(B) transmitting a second signal carrying said assist data from said device to said headset through a personal area network;

(C) receiving a third signal carrying a current position transmitted by said headset through said personal area network to said device; and

(D) utilizing said current position in a location-based service operating in said device.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of navigation signals transmitted by a navigation system to said headset; and

calculating said current position of said headset using said assist data to lock onto said navigation signals.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a request signal at a particular time from said device through said personal area network to said headset in response to a location-based service operating in said device depending upon said current position.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

determining a coarse position of said device by utilizing said cellular network;

determining a current time at said device by utilizing said cellular network; and

incorporating both said coarse position and said current time into said assist data transmitted to said headset.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said assist data received by said device comprises (i) ephemeris data of a satellite navigation system and (ii) almanac data of said satellite navigation system.

16. A system comprising:

a receiver module in a device configured to receive a first signal carrying assist data transmitted by an Assisted Global Positioning System server through a cellular network to said device;

a network module in said device configured to transmit a second signal carrying said assist data from said device to a headset through a personal area network and (ii) receive a third signal carrying a current position transmitted by said headset through said personal area network to said device; and

a service module in said device configured to utilize said current position in a location-based service operating in said device.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising said headset configured to (i) receive a plurality of navigation signals transmitted by a navigation system and (ii) calculate said current position using said assist data to lock onto said navigation signals.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said headset comprises an antenna (i) suitable to receive said navigation signals and (ii) positioned to have at least a quarter-sphere field of view while being worn by a user.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said headset is configured to track said navigation signals while said device is powered down.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein (i) said navigation system comprises a Global Positioning System, (ii) said personal area network comprises a Bluetooth network, (iii) said device comprises a cellular telephone and (iv) said headset comprises a two-way audio headset.