System and method for positioning a GPS device

• US 8,253,623 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konecranes Finland Oy (Konecranes Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Konecranes Finland Oy (Konecranes Oyj)
• Inventors: Rintanen, Kari
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US12/304,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.23, 342/357.25, 342/357.33
• US Class Current: 342/357.25
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/46 Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/50 whereby the position solution is constrained to lie upon a particular curve or surface, e.g. for locomotives on railway tracks

Abstract

A system and a method for determining the correct position for a GPS device from a predefined set of alternatives are provided. Based on the known positions of the visible GPS satellites and of the predefined alternative locations, the system determines theoretical distances between each satellite and each location and/or differences thereof. These distances are related to the distance measured between the GPS device antenna and each GPS satellite in order to choose the location from among the predefined location alternatives. Also disclosed are a system and a method for identification of predefined container slots on a freight yard.

Claims

1. A system for positioning a GPS device, comprising:

a GPS antenna (A);

a GPS device to which the GPS antenna (A) is connected, the GPS device comprising;

means for receiving signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

means for saving a plurality of previously known alternative locations;

means for selecting a correct location of the GPS antenna (A) from the plurality of previously known alternative locations;

for performing said selecting, means for determining theoretical ranges between the GPS satellites and the alternative locations on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the alternative locations; and

means for comparing the calculated theoretical ranges with ranges measured by the GPS device between the GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A).

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, which, for improved reliability, makes use of a second, stationarily mounted GPS antenna B and a second GPS device, wherein, in order to select the correct location of the antenna (A) connected to the GPS device, the GPS device determines theoretical ranges between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B) on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the second GPS antenna (B).

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein, in order to select the correct location of the antenna (A) connected to the GPS device, the GPS device compares the calculated theoretical ranges with ranges between GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A) connected to the GPS device and between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B).

4. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the GPS device determines theoretical ranges between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B) and differences between these ranges, on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the second GPS antenna (B).

5. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the GPS device compares the calculated theoretical ranges and differences between these ranges with ranges and differences between GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A) connected to the GPS device and between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B).

6. A service application for a system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the system is used for a correct identification of storage slots for containers or other general cargo.

7. A service application as set forth in claim 6, wherein the system is operated by mounting the GPS antenna (A), connected to the GPS device, on a vehicle carrying containers or other general cargo.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein performing said selecting comprises

means for determining theoretical ranges between the GPS satellites and the alternative locations and differences between these ranges, on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the alternative locations;

and

means for comparing the calculated theoretical ranges and differences between these ranges with ranges and differences measured by the GPS device between the GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A).

9. A method by which a correct location of a GPS antenna (A) connected to a GPS device is selected from a plurality of previously known alternative locations, the plurality of previously known alternative locations being saved in means for saving provided in the GPS device, wherein in order to select the correct location of the antenna (A) connected to the GPS device,

theoretical ranges between a plurality of GPS satellites and the saved alternative locations are determined on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the saved alternative locations, and

the calculated theoretical ranges are compared with measured by the GPS device between GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A).

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, comprising, for improved reliability, the use of also a second, fixed-location mounted GPS antenna (B) and a second GPS device, wherein, in order to select the correct location of the antenna (A) connected to the GPS device, the theoretical ranges between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B) are determined on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the second GPS antenna (B).

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein, in order to select the correct location of the antenna (A) connected to the GPS device, the calculated theoretical ranges are compared with ranges between GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A) connected to the GPS device and between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B).

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the method is used for a correct identification of storage slots for containers or other general cargo.

13. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the theoretical ranges between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B) and differences between these ranges are determined on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the second GPS antenna (B).

14. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the calculated theoretical ranges and differences between these ranges are compared with ranges and differences between GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A) connected to the GPS device and between GPS satellites and the second GPS antenna (B).

15. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the method is used for a correct identification of storage slots for containers or other general cargo.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the method is operated by mounting the GPS antenna (A), connected to the GPS device, on a vehicle carrying containers or other general cargo.

17. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the method is used for a correct identification of storage slots for containers or other general cargo.

18. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein

theoretical ranges between a plurality of GPS satellites and the saved alternative locations and differences between these ranges are determined on the basis of positional data of the GPS satellites as well as positional data of the saved alternative locations;

and

the calculated theoretical ranges and differences between these ranges are compared with ranges and differences measured by the GPS device between GPS satellites and the GPS antenna (A).