JP2003279636A - Device for gps positioning and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a GPS positioning device reduced in the influence of a noise from a bus line for connecting a mobile terminal to a GPS module to restrain sensitivity from being worsened, and a program therefor. <P>SOLUTION: The GPS module 3 is provided with a GPS core module 4 for computing positioning information of a receiving spot based on a GPS satellite signal received from a GPS satellite, a GPS positioning condition determining part 5 for determining whether positioning processing by the GPS core module 4 is finished or not, and a data communication part 6 for conducting data communication with the mobile terminal 2. A positioning condition reply transmission signal for indicating a determined result by the GPS positioning condition determining part 5 is transmitted from the data communication part 6, based on requirement from the mobile terminal, and a data length of the positioning condition reply transmission signal is set to a data length shorter than that of a positioning information signal for transmitting the positioning information found by the GPS core module 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a GPS positioning device and its program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a GPS positioning device of this type, a portable information terminal (PD) for displaying data of input position information is used.
A: A mobile terminal such as a Personal Digital Assistants) or a laptop computer is detachably connected to an expansion slot of the mobile terminal, and a plurality of GPS (Global Positioning Syste
m) A card-type GPS module that receives GPS satellite signals transmitted from satellites with an antenna, calculates position information (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the point received from the GPS satellite signals, and outputs it to a mobile terminal. What has been done is provided conventionally.

[0003]

In the GPS positioning device having the above configuration, the portable terminal transmits a positioning state request signal for confirming the current positioning state and a position information request signal for requesting position information to the GPS module. , When the GPS module receives these request signals, the GPS module returns a signal indicating the positioning state and position information to the mobile terminal.
When data communication is performed between the GPS module and the mobile terminal, noise is radiated from the bus line connecting the mobile terminal and the GPS module to the outside, so that the GPS module receives GPS satellite signals from GPS satellites. However, there is a problem in that positioning sensitivity and positioning time deteriorate rapidly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the influence of radiation noise from a bus line connecting between a mobile terminal and a GPS module to reduce reception. GPS with reduced sensitivity
To provide a positioning device and its program.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of claim 1, a portable terminal for displaying data of inputted position information and a GPS received from a GPS satellite.
The mobile terminal is provided with a positioning calculation means for calculating position information of a point received based on a satellite signal and a communication means for performing data communication with the mobile terminal, which is detachably connected to an external interface of the mobile terminal. In a GPS positioning device configured with a GPS module that performs data communication between the GPS module and the mobile terminal, the GPS module includes a positioning state determination unit that determines whether or not the positioning calculation process by the positioning calculation unit is completed. The positioning state return signal indicating the determination result of the positioning state determination means is transmitted from the communication means based on the request of the position information signal data for transmitting the position information obtained by the positioning calculation means from the GPS module to the mobile terminal. The data length of the positioning state return signal is shorter than the length.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, when the GPS module receives a positioning state request signal requesting transmission of a positioning state return signal from the portable terminal,
The positioning state return signal is transmitted from the communication means, and the data length of the positioning state request signal is shorter than the data length of the position information signal.

In the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, the GPS module has a storage means for storing transmission interval data indicating a transmission interval of the positioning state return signal transmitted from the mobile terminal, and the GPS module transmits The positioning means return signal is transmitted from the communication means every time the transmission interval indicated by the interval data elapses.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 1, the GPS module has a storage means for storing a positioning timeout value indicating a maximum value of the time required for the positioning calculation processing, and the positioning calculation means performs the positioning calculation. At the time when the positioning timeout value has elapsed since the processing was started, the positioning state determination means determines whether or not the positioning calculation processing is completed,
When the positioning state determination means determines that the positioning calculation processing is not completed, the communication means transmits a positioning failure notification signal indicating that the positioning calculation has failed.

According to the invention of claim 5, in the invention of claim 4, the GPS satellite signal from the GPS satellite is received and the G
The mobile terminal is provided with means for acquiring satellite data such as ephemeris used for positioning calculation from a PS satellite signal and performing data communication with a positioning server that provides the acquired satellite data to the outside through a communication network. In the GPS module, when the positioning state determination unit determines that the positioning calculation process is not completed when the positioning timeout value has elapsed after the positioning calculation unit starts the positioning calculation process,
The satellite data request signal for requesting the transmission of the satellite data is transmitted from the communication means to the mobile terminal, and when the mobile terminal receives the satellite data request signal, the mobile terminal accesses the positioning server via the communication network and sends the satellite data from the positioning server. It is characterized by acquiring and transmitting the acquired satellite data to the GPS module.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to fifth aspects, when the positioning state determination means determines that the GPS module has completed the positioning operation processing, the positioning operation means It is characterized in that a function of transmitting the calculation result of (3) from the communication unit to the mobile terminal is added.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal having a positioning calculation means for calculating position information of a point received based on a GPS satellite signal received from a GPS satellite and displaying data of the input position information. Means for determining whether or not the positioning calculation processing by the positioning calculation means is completed by a computer of a GPS module that is detachably connected to the external interface and performs data communication with the portable terminal. On the basis of the request, it is made to function as a means for causing the mobile terminal to transmit a positioning state return signal having a shorter data length than the position information signal for transmitting the position information and indicating the result of the determination. .

[0012]

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the GPS positioning device 1, and this GPS positioning device 1
PDA2 that displays the input position information data, and P
It is composed of a card type GPS module 3 which is detachably connected to the expansion slot of the DA 2. In the present embodiment, the PDA 2 will be described as an example of the mobile terminal, but the mobile terminal is not limited to the PDA, and any mobile terminal having an expansion slot to which the GPS module 3 can be detachably connected may be used. A portable terminal such as a notebook personal computer or a mobile phone may be used.

The GPS module 3 receives a GPS satellite signal transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites by an antenna (not shown) and calculates position information (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the point received from the GPS satellite signal. 4 (positioning calculation means) and the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 that determines whether or not the positioning calculation processing is completed based on the position information of the plurality of GPS satellites acquired from the GPS core module 4.
(Positioning status determination means) is connected to the expansion slot of the PDA2 via a bus line, data communication is performed with the PDA2, and when the signal transmitted from the PDA2 is received, the received signal is output to the GPS message control unit 7 described later. The data communication unit 6 (communication means), the positioning information signal indicating the positioning result of the GPS core module 4, and the positioning state return signal indicating the determination result of the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 are signals in a predetermined format (this signal is a GPS signal). It is provided with a GPS message control unit 7 which is converted into a message) and transmitted from the data communication unit 6. Here, the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 and the GPS message control unit 7 may be configured by an electronic circuit formed so as to perform the above-described processing, or may be realized by a calculation function of a computer. in this case,
A program for causing the computer to function as the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 and the GPS message control unit 7 is incorporated in the computer, and the program is recorded in a recording medium such as a flexible disk and is transported to another computer. Can be ported to.

FIG. 2 shows a data format of a GPS message exchanged between the GPS module 3 and the PDA 2, which includes a header section D1 and a message type (for example, G
A message requesting or returning the positioning state of the PS core module 4, a message requesting or returning position information, G
GPS for setting various parameters in PS module 3
Message type data D2 indicating a setting registration message, a GPS data section D3 indicating the contents of messages (positioning status message, position information message, GPS setting registration message) corresponding to each type, and a transmission error are detected. For the checksum data D4 and the message end data part D5 indicating the end of the message.
It constitutes the S message. In the positioning status message, the PDA 2 requests the GPS module 3 to request the judgment result of the GPS positioning status determination unit 5, and the positioning returned from the GPS module 3 to the PDA 2 in response to the positioning status request signal. There is a status return signal, and the position information message includes a position information request signal for requesting the positioning result of the GPS core module 4 from the PDA 2 and a GP in response to the position information request signal.
There is a position information return signal returned from the S module 3 to the PDA 2.

Next, the operation of this apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. PDA2 to GPS module 3
When the power is supplied to (S1), the GPS core module 4 starts the positioning calculation process for obtaining the position information of the received point based on the GPS satellite signal received by the antenna (not shown) (S2).

The GPS message control unit 7 periodically determines whether the data communication unit 6 has received the GPS message from the PDA 2 (S3), and the data communication unit 6 must receive the GPS message. If so, the process returns to S2 to continue the positioning calculation process.

On the other hand, if the GPS message is received, the GPS message control unit 7 analyzes the type of the received GPS message (S4), and the GPS message is a positioning state request signal requesting transmission of positioning state data. If so, the determination result of the positioning state is read from the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 (S5), a positioning state response message is created based on the determination result (S6), and the data communication unit 6 transmits it to the PDA 2. After that (S9), the process returns to S2 and the above process is repeated.

As a result of analyzing the type of the GPS message in S4, if the GPS message is a position information request signal requesting transmission of position information data, the calculation result of the position information is read from the GPS core module 4 (S
7) Then, a position information message is created based on the calculation result (S8), the data communication unit 6 transmits it to the PDA 2 (S9), and then the process returns to S2 to repeat the above-described processing.

By the way, the PDA 2 is the GPS module 3
The positioning status request signal for confirming the positioning status is transmitted to the GP periodically or at an arbitrary timing.
When the S module 3 receives the positioning status request signal, it sends a positioning status response message to the P module according to the above-mentioned flowchart.
Return to DA2. In the mobile terminal 2, when the positioning state response message indicating that the positioning calculation process is completed is returned from the GPS module 3, the position information request signal for requesting the position information is continuously transmitted to the GPS module 3, The GPS module 3 that has received the position information request signal returns a position information response message to the PDA 2 according to the above-mentioned flowchart, so that the PDA 2 can acquire the position information of the current location.

Here, of the GPS messages sent and received between the PDA 2 and the GPS module 3, the data length of the positioning status request signal for requesting the positioning status from the PDA 2 and the positioning status return signal for returning the positioning status to the PDA 2 are shown. , P
Since the data length is set shorter than the data length of the position information request signal for requesting position information from DA2 and the position information return signal for returning position information to PDA2, the positioning status message (positioning status request signal, positioning status return signal) is set. The transmission time of the signal) can be made shorter than the transmission time of the position information message (position information request signal, position information return signal), and as a result, radiation noise generated from the bus line when confirming the positioning state from the PDA 2 It can be made smaller than the radiation noise generated from the bus line when acquiring information. P
When confirming the positioning state from DA2, it is possible that the GPS module 3 is receiving the GPS satellite signal from the GPS satellite during positioning, and if a large radiation noise occurs during this time, the GPS satellite signal is received. Although it becomes difficult, the positioning sensitivity and the positioning time deteriorate rapidly, but in the present embodiment, by reducing the data length of the positioning status request signal and the positioning status return signal transmitted and received when confirming the positioning status, radiation noise is reduced. As a result, the deterioration of positioning sensitivity and positioning time can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
And FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 4 shows the GPS positioning device 1.
2 is a block diagram of the PDA 2 for displaying the data of the input position information, and the card type GPS module 3 detachably connected to the expansion slot of the PDA 2. Since the basic configuration of the GPS positioning device 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, common components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the GPS module 3 is provided with an R
Built in memory such as AM or ROM, P
A database 8 (storage means) for storing transmission interval data indicating a transmission interval to be transmitted to the DA2 and a positioning timeout value indicating a maximum value of time required for positioning calculation processing is provided, and GPS setting is performed from the PDA 2 to the GPS module 3. By transmitting the registration message, the transmission interval data and the positioning timeout value are registered in the database 8 in advance.

The PDA 2 is a GPS from a GPS satellite.
The satellite signal is received, satellite data such as ephemeris used for positioning calculation is acquired from the GPS satellite signal, and data communication is performed with the positioning server 10 that provides the acquired satellite data to the outside via the communication network NT. It has a communication means 2a for performing, accesses the positioning server 10 via the communication network NT, acquires satellite data, and has a function of transmitting the acquired satellite data to the GPS module 3. In the GPS module 3, the data communication unit 6 is P
When the satellite data sent from DA2 is received, GPS
The message control unit 7 is transmitting the satellite data received by the data communication unit 6 to the GPS core module 4,
The S core module 4 uses this satellite data for positioning calculation processing. Ephemeris is obtained by a ground-based monitoring station that tracks GPS satellites, and each monitoring satellite uplinks to each satellite every few hours. Each GPS satellite uses the uplinked ephemeris as a navigation message. I am sending. It takes several minutes to receive one ephemeris, so GPS
When the ephemeris is directly received by the module 3, the power consumption increases and the time required for positioning increases, but since the satellite data is acquired from the positioning server 10, the satellite data is acquired in a relatively short time. The power consumption can be reduced.

Now, the operation of this apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Upon activation, the PDA 2 supplies power to the GPS module 3 (S11), and G for setting the transmission interval data and the positioning timeout value.
Send a PS setting registration message. In the GPS module 3, the data communication unit 6 receives the GPS setting registration message from the PDA 2 and outputs the received GPS setting registration message to the GPS message control unit 7. GPS
When the message control unit 7 analyzes the input message and determines that the message is a GPS setting registration message, it registers parameters such as transmission interval data and positioning timeout value in the database 8 based on this GPS setting registration message. (S12). In addition, the data of the monitoring time interval indicating the time interval for monitoring the positioning state is registered in the database 8 in advance. The GPS positioning state determination unit 5 includes a positioning state monitoring timer that limits the time interval for monitoring the positioning state, a transmission timer that limits the transmission interval for transmitting the positioning state to the PDA 2, and a positioning that limits the positioning timeout value of the positioning calculation process. A timer is provided internally, and the monitoring time interval, transmission interval and positioning timeout value are read from the database 8 and set in each timer.

After the parameters are registered, the GPS core module 4 receives the GPS signal received by the antenna (not shown).
Based on the satellite signal, the positioning calculation process for obtaining the position information of the received point is started (S13).

When the GPS core module 4 starts the positioning calculation process, each timer of the GPS positioning state determination section 5 starts counting operation, and the GPS positioning state determination section 5 determines whether or not each timer has timed out ( S14 ~ S
16). G if each timer has not timed out
In the PS message control unit 7, the data communication unit 6 uses the PDA 2
It is determined whether or not the GPS message from the
17) If the GPS message is received, the content is analyzed (S18).

As a result of analyzing the contents of the GPS message,
If the message is a message including the positioning status request signal, the GPS message control unit 7 reads the positioning status determination result from the GPS positioning status determination unit 5 (S19),
A GPS message including a signal for returning the determination result of the positioning state (positioning state return signal) is created (S20), and the created GPS message is sent from the data communication unit 6 to the PDA2.
(S23), the process returns to S13 and repeats the above process.

If the GPS message is a message including the position information request signal, the GPS message control unit 7 acquires the position information from the GPS core module 4 (S
21), signal for returning position information (position information return signal)
After creating a GPS message including (S22) and transmitting the created GPS message from the data communication unit 6 to the PDA 2 (S23), the process returns to S13 and repeats the above-described processing. If the GPS message is a GPS setting registration message for registering parameters in the database 8, GP
The S message control unit 7 extracts the parameter from the received message, registers it in the database 8, and then
Returning to step 3, the above processing is repeated. If the GPS message is a message for registering satellite data acquired from the positioning server 10, the GPS message control unit 7
GPS data is extracted from the received message by satellite data.
After setting to the core module 4 (S25), it returns to S13 and repeats the above-mentioned processing.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S14, if the positioning state monitoring timer has timed out, the GPS message control unit 7 reads the positioning state of the GPS core module 4 (S30) and determines whether or not the positioning state is completed. Is determined (S31). If the positioning state has been completed, the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 determines whether the transmission interval timer has timed out (S32). If the transmission interval timer has timed out, it means that the positioning state has been completed. The indicated signal is output to the GPS message control unit 7. When a signal indicating that the positioning state is completed is input from the GPS positioning state determination unit 5, the GPS message control unit 7 creates a GPS positioning state response message based on this signal (S2
0) After transmitting the created GPS message from the data communication unit 6 to the PDA 2 (S23), the process returns to S13 and the above-described processing is repeated. If the positioning state is not completed in S31 or if the transmission interval timer has not timed out in S32, the process returns to S13 to continue the positioning calculation process.

If the transmission interval timer or the positioning timer has timed out as a result of the determination in S15 and S16, the GPS message control unit 7 reads the determination result of the positioning state from the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 (S40), It is determined whether or not the positioning state is completed (S41). If the positioning state is not completed here, a positioning failure notification message for notifying the failure of the positioning calculation processing is created (S4).
2) The created message is sent from the data communication unit 6 to the PDA.
After sending to S2 (S23), it returns to S13 and repeats the above process. In addition, if the positioning state is completed, GP
After the S message control unit 7 creates a GPS message including position information (S22) and transmits the created GPS message from the data communication unit 6 to the PDA 2 (S23),
It returns to S13 and repeats the above-mentioned processing.

The GPS module 3 operates as described above, and the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 periodically acquires the state information of each GPS satellite from the GPS core module 4 to determine the positioning state. Therefore, according to the transmission interval registered in the database 8, the determination result of the positioning state is transmitted from the data communication unit 6 to the PDA 2. Therefore, the PDA 2 sends a signal requesting the transmission of the positioning state return signal to the GPS module 3. Compared to the case of transmitting, the amount of data exchanged between the PDA 2 and the GPS module 3 when confirming the positioning state can be reduced, so that the noise radiated from the expansion slot can be further reduced, and the positioning sensitivity and positioning can be improved. Time deterioration can be reduced. When the positioning calculation process is completed, the calculation result (position information) of the GPS core module 4 is transferred from the GPS module 3 to the PDA according to the transmission interval registered in the database 8.
Since it is automatically transmitted to PDA2, GPS from PDA2
Compared to the case of transmitting a signal requesting the transmission of the position information return signal to the module 3, the PD is used when acquiring the position information.
Since the amount of data exchanged between the A2 and the GPS module 3 can be reduced, the noise radiated from the expansion slot can be further reduced, and the deterioration of positioning sensitivity and positioning time can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the state where the positioning at the current position has failed continues for the positioning timeout value or more, the GPS positioning state determination unit 5 outputs a signal indicating that the positioning has failed to the GPS message control unit 7. GPS message control unit 7
Creates a GPS message indicating that positioning has failed, based on the signal input from the GPS positioning state determination unit 5, and sends the created GPS message from the data communication unit 6 to P
Send to DA2. Here, when a GPS message indicating that positioning has failed is transmitted from the GPS module 3 to the PDA 2, the PDA 2 accesses the positioning server 10 via the communication network NT, and the positioning server 10 transmits satellites such as ephemeris and GPS time. Get the data. Then, the PDA 2 outputs the acquired satellite data to the GPS module 3, and the GPS module 3 outputs G
The PS message control unit 7 registers the satellite data received by the data communication unit 6 in the GPS core module 4.

Incidentally, also in the GPS positioning device of the present embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, among the GPS messages exchanged between the PDA 2 and the GPS module 3, the positioning status message (positioning status request signal, positioning status return) is sent. Since the data length of the signal) is shorter than the data length of the position information message (position information request signal, position information return signal), the positioning status message transmission time can be shorter than the position information message transmission time. As a result, PDA2
The radiation noise generated from the bus line when confirming the positioning state can be made smaller than the radiation noise generated from the bus line when acquiring the position information. When confirming the positioning state from the PDA 2, it is possible that the GPS module 3 is receiving the GPS satellite signal from the GPS satellite during positioning, and if a large radiation noise occurs during this time, G
Although it becomes difficult to receive the PS satellite signal and the positioning sensitivity and the positioning time rapidly deteriorate, in the present embodiment, the data length of the positioning state request signal and the positioning state return signal exchanged when confirming the positioning state is short. By doing so, since radiation noise is reduced, deterioration of positioning sensitivity and positioning time can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the result of the determination in S41 is that the positioning calculation is completed, the GPS message including the position information is automatically transmitted from the GPS module 3 to the PDA 2. The PDA2 sends a GPS message indicating that the positioning calculation has been completed.
And send this GPS message to PDA2
May request the GPS module 3 to transmit positioning information. As in the present embodiment, if the GPS message including the position information is automatically transmitted to the PDA 2 when it is determined that the positioning calculation is completed on the GPS module 3 side, the PDA 2 transmits the GPS core module 4 to the GPS core module 4. There is no need to send a signal requesting positioning results,
Since the amount of data exchanged between the PDA 2 and the GPS module 3 can be reduced, there is an advantage that the noise radiated from the expansion slot can be further reduced and the deterioration of positioning sensitivity and positioning time can be reduced.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the portable terminal for displaying the data of the inputted position information and the GPS.
It is equipped with a positioning calculation means for calculating position information of a point received based on a GPS satellite signal received from a satellite and a communication means for performing data communication with a mobile terminal, and is detachably connected to an external interface of the mobile terminal. In the GPS positioning device including a GPS module that performs data communication with the mobile terminal, the GPS module includes a positioning state determination unit that determines whether or not the positioning calculation process by the positioning calculation unit is completed. Based on a request from the mobile terminal, the communication means transmits a positioning state return signal indicating the determination result of the positioning state determination means, and the GPS module transmits the position information obtained by the positioning calculation means to the mobile terminal. The data length of the positioning status return signal is shorter than the data length of the position information signal. Position information signal that the transmission time of the data in which shorter than the data length of a can be shortened, as a result, G
There is an effect that the radiation noise generated from the external interface when confirming the positioning state of the PS module can be made smaller than the radiation noise generated when acquiring the position information. When confirming the positioning state of the GPS module from the mobile terminal, it is possible that the GPS module is performing positioning and is receiving GPS satellite signals from GPS satellites.
If a large radiation noise occurs during this period, it becomes difficult to receive GPS satellite signals and the positioning sensitivity and positioning time deteriorate rapidly, but as described above, the data of the positioning status return signal to be transmitted when confirming the positioning status. Since the radiation noise is reduced by shortening the length, there is an effect that deterioration of positioning sensitivity and positioning time can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the GPS module transmits the positioning state return signal from the communication means when receiving the positioning state request signal requesting the transmission of the positioning state return signal from the portable terminal. The data length of the positioning state request signal is set shorter than the data length of the position information signal.
There is an effect that the radiation noise generated from the external interface when confirming the positioning state of the S module can be made smaller than the radiation noise generated when acquiring the position information.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the GPS module has a storage means for storing transmission interval data indicating a transmission interval of the positioning status return signal transmitted from the portable terminal, and the GPS module transmits the transmission signal. A positioning state return signal is transmitted from the communication means every time the transmission interval indicated by the interval data elapses, and positioning is performed from the GPS module to the mobile terminal according to the transmission interval indicated by the transmission interval data stored in the storage means. Since the determination result of the state is automatically transmitted, the mobile terminal and the GPS can be used to confirm the positioning state as compared with the case where the mobile terminal side transmits a signal requesting the transmission of the positioning state return signal to the GPS module. Since the amount of data exchanged with the module can be reduced, the noise radiated from the external interface can be further reduced to improve positioning sensitivity and measurement. There is an effect that can reduce the time of deterioration.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the GPS module has a storage means for storing a positioning timeout value indicating the maximum value of the time required for the positioning calculation processing, and the positioning calculation means performs the positioning calculation. When the positioning timeout value has elapsed since the processing was started, the positioning state determination means determines whether or not the positioning calculation processing is completed. When the determination is made, the communication means transmits a positioning failure notification signal indicating that the positioning calculation has failed, and the portable terminal side can confirm that the positioning calculation has failed by the positioning failure notification signal.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the GPS satellite signal from the GPS satellite is received, and the GP signal is received.
The mobile terminal is provided with means for acquiring satellite data such as ephemeris used for positioning calculation from the S satellite signal and performing data communication with a positioning server that provides the acquired satellite data to the outside through a communication network. The GPS module requests the transmission of the satellite data when the positioning state determination unit determines that the positioning calculation process is not completed when the positioning timeout value has elapsed since the positioning calculation unit started the positioning calculation process. When the satellite terminal receives the satellite data request signal, the portable terminal accesses the positioning server via the communication network, acquires the satellite data from the positioning server, and acquires the satellite data. It is characterized by transmitting data to the GPS module, and in the GPS module, the influence of external noise etc. When the GPS satellite signal cannot be received due to failure in demodulating the GPS satellite signal or because the ephemeris is old, the positioning calculation processing is not completed even if the positioning timeout value elapses. By determining from the results that positioning has failed, and sending the satellite data request signal to the mobile terminal, the latest ephemeris can be acquired from the positioning server via the mobile terminal, and the latest ephemeris can be used for a short time. There is an effect that the positioning calculation can be performed by. In addition, the mobile terminal acquires satellite data such as ephemeris from the positioning server,
Since the acquired satellite data is transmitted to the GPS module, compared to the case where satellite data such as ephemeris is directly extracted from the GPS satellite signal on the GPS module side,
There is also an effect that the time required to acquire satellite data can be shortened.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, when the positioning state determination means determines that the GPS module has completed the positioning operation processing, the positioning operation means The function of transmitting the calculation result of the
Since the module transmits the calculation result of the positioning calculation means to the mobile terminal when the positioning calculation process is successful, there is no need to transmit a signal requesting the calculation result of the positioning calculation means from the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal Since it is possible to reduce the amount of data exchanged between the GPS module and the GPS module, it is possible to further reduce noise radiated from the external interface and reduce deterioration of positioning sensitivity and positioning time.

The invention according to claim 7 has a positioning calculation means for calculating the position information of the point received based on the GPS satellite signal received from the GPS satellite, and displays the data of the input position information. Means for determining whether or not the positioning calculation processing by the positioning calculation means is completed by a computer of a GPS module that is detachably connected to the external interface and performs data communication with the portable terminal. On the basis of the request, a signal having a shorter data length than the position information signal for transmitting the position information, and a positioning state return signal indicating the result of the above determination is transmitted to the mobile terminal as a means for functioning, The data transmission time can be shortened by making the data length of the positioning status return signal shorter than the data length of the position information signal. As a result, the GPS
It is possible to provide a program capable of suppressing the radiation noise generated from the external interface when confirming the positioning state of the module than the radiation noise generated when acquiring the position information. Furthermore, when confirming the positioning status of the GPS module from the mobile terminal, it is possible that the GPS module is receiving positioning and GPS satellite signals from GPS satellites. If large radiation noise occurs during this time, GP
Although it becomes difficult to receive S satellite signals and the positioning sensitivity and positioning time deteriorate rapidly, radiation noise is reduced by shortening the data length of the positioning status return signal transmitted when checking the positioning status as described above. Therefore, it is possible to provide a program capable of suppressing deterioration of positioning sensitivity and positioning time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a GPS positioning device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data format of GPS data exchanged between the PDA and the GPS module of the above.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a GPS positioning device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 mobile terminals 3 GPS module 4 GPS core module 5 GPS positioning state determination unit 6 Data communication section

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takashi Saeki             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Sadae Satake             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Junichi Suzuki             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Matsumoto             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Kazunari Maeda             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Koichi Masuda             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Kawamoto             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company F term (reference) 5J062 AA01 AA09 CC07 DD24 FF01                       HH07

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal for displaying input positional information data, a positioning calculation means for calculating positional information of a point received based on a GPS satellite signal received from a GPS satellite, and a portable terminal. A GPS positioning device comprising: a communication module for performing data communication; detachably connected to an external interface of a mobile terminal to perform data communication with the mobile terminal; A positioning state determination means for determining whether or not the positioning calculation processing by the calculation means is completed,
Position information for transmitting the positioning state return signal indicating the determination result of the positioning state determination means from the communication means based on the request from the mobile terminal, and transmitting the position information obtained by the positioning calculation means from the GPS module to the mobile terminal. A GPS positioning device characterized in that the data length of the positioning status return signal is shorter than the data length of the signal. 2. The GPS module causes the communication means to transmit the positioning status return signal when receiving the positioning status request signal requesting the transmission of the positioning status return signal from the mobile terminal, and the data length of the positioning status request signal is set. 2. The G according to claim 1, wherein the data length is shorter than the data length of the position information signal.
PS positioning device. 3. The GPS module has storage means for storing transmission interval data indicating a transmission interval of the positioning status return signal transmitted from the portable terminal, and each time the transmission interval indicated by the transmission interval data elapses. The GPS according to claim 1, wherein the positioning state return signal is transmitted from the communication means.
Positioning device. 4. The GPS module has a storage means for storing a positioning timeout value indicating the maximum value of the time required for the positioning calculation processing, and the positioning timeout value has elapsed since the positioning calculation means started the positioning calculation processing. At this point, the positioning state determination means determines whether or not the positioning calculation processing is completed. If the positioning state determination means determines that the positioning calculation processing is not completed, the positioning calculation fails from the communication means. The GPS positioning device according to claim 1, wherein a positioning failure notification signal indicating that is transmitted. 5. A GPS satellite signal from a GPS satellite is received, satellite data such as ephemeris used for positioning calculation is acquired from the GPS satellite signal, and the acquired satellite data is provided to a positioning server provided outside. The mobile terminal is provided with means for performing data communication via a communication network,
The PS module requests the transmission of the satellite data when the positioning state determination unit determines that the positioning calculation process is not completed when the positioning timeout value has elapsed after the positioning calculation unit started the positioning calculation process. When the satellite terminal receives the satellite data request signal, the portable terminal accesses the positioning server via the communication network, acquires the satellite data from the positioning server, and acquires the satellite data. The GPS according to claim 4, wherein the data is transmitted to a GPS module.
Positioning device. 6. The GPS module is provided with a function of transmitting the calculation result of the positioning calculation means to the mobile terminal when the positioning state determination means determines that the positioning calculation processing is completed. The GPS positioning device according to any one of Items 1 to 5. 7. A portable terminal having a positioning calculation means for calculating position information of a point received based on a GPS satellite signal received from a GPS satellite and being attached to or detached from an external interface of a portable terminal for displaying data of the input position information. A means for determining whether or not the positioning calculation processing by the positioning calculation means is completed for the computer of the GPS module that is freely connected and performs data communication with the mobile terminal, based on a request from the mobile terminal, A program for causing a portable terminal to function as a means for transmitting a positioning state return signal, which is a signal having a shorter data length than a position information signal for transmitting position information and which shows the result of the above determination.