Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-09-11
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C342S357490
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289279
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a positioning system, positioning method, and positioning device to measure the current position of the device.
2. Background of the Invention
Recently, it became possible to use artificial satellites for navigation, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) that makes navigation possible not only for ships but also for cars and people when suitable devices are carried with them has been offered. Economy, safety, and convenience, while travelling towards a destination, are improved by this navigation system.
In addition, in the GPS, positioning errors are corrected and positioning accuracy is improved by making use of a relative positioning method (differential GPS or DGPS). In general, in a differential GPS, positioning errors are corrected by sending out correction data to a GPS receiver from a transmitting station using FM-multiplex broadcasting.
However, a navigation system using FM-multiplex broadcasting with a differential GPS has the problem described below.
First of all, since FM-multiplex broadcasting uses a bandwidth around 80 MHz, it becomes necessary to lengthen the antenna, which is a disadvantage from the standpoint of portability.
Also, since one broadcasting station covers a very wide area, there is a limit to the correction of positioning errors.
In addition, GPS's reception sensitivity is not good underground or inside a building. In general, it cannot receive FM-multiplex data when located underground or inside a building.
When using FM-multiplex broadcasting, the electric power needed at the receiving terminal is large, which is a disadvantage from the standpoint of portability. For example, one had to have large capacity batteries, which was a problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-described situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a positioning system, a positioning method, and a positioning device that enable one to obtain information on the current position of the device even when the latter is located underground or inside a building, as well as to improve portability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a positioning system and a positioning method that enable one to reduce positioning errors.
A positioning system of the present invention has, in order to solve the abovenoted problems, a radio call base-station, a receiving means to receive data sent from the radio-call base-station, and a positioning device equipped with a positioning means to obtain position data indicating the current position of the device based on data sent from the radio-call base-station.
In a positioning system having such a composition, a positioning device obtains position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio-call base-station, using a positioning means.
By the positioning system, a positioning device can obtain position data as long as it can receive data from the radio-call base-station.
Also, the positioning method of the present invention enables one to obtain the position data showing the current position of the device based on data sent from the radio-call base-station in order to solve the above-noted problems.
The positioning method enables one to obtain position data as long as the data from the radio-call base-station can be received.
The positioning device of the present invention is equipped with a receiving means that receives data sent from the radio-call base-station and a positioning means that obtains position data showing the current position of the device based on data sent from the radio-call base-station in order to solve the above-discussed problems.
A positioning device having such a configuration obtains position data indicating the current position of the device based on data sent from the radio-call base-station by means of the positioning means.
By the positioning means means, the positioning device enables one to obtain position data as long as the data from the radio-call base-station can be received.
The positioning system of the present invention comprises, a radio-call base-station equipped with a position-correction-data-generating means that generates position-correction data to correct the position data that the positioning device obtained by measuring positions and a transmission means to send data to the positioning device. Also, the positioning system of the present invention has a positioning device equipped with a receiving means to receive data sent from the radio-call base-station, a positioning means that obtains position data by measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from an artificial satellite, and a position-data-correction means that corrects the position data based on the position-correction data received by the receiving means.
In the positioning system having such a configuration, the radio-call base-station sends out position-correction data generated by a position-correction-data-generating means to the positioning device, using the transmission means. At the positioning device, the position data obtained by measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites by the positioning means are corrected by the position-data-correction means using the position-correction data received by the receiving means.
By the positioning system, the positioning device corrects the position data using the position-correction data sent from a radio-call base-station that covers a relatively narrow service area, data generated at said radio-call base-station.
Also, according to the positioning method of the present invention, in order to solve the above-discussed problems, the position data obtained upon measuring the current position of the device based on signals sent from artificial satellites are corrected using the position-correction data sent from the radio-call base station.
According to the positioning method, the position data are corrected using the position-correction data sent from a radio-call base-station that services a relatively narrow service area, data generated at said radio-call base-station.
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Ito Takeshi
Kawai Eiji
Yoshimori Masaharu
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Gibson Eric M
Helfgott & Karas, PC
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
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