MXPA00007092A - Positioning system, positioning method and positioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A positioning system for obtaining information concerning a current position of a device even when one is in an underground center or inside a building includes a portable terminal which is equipped with a radio-call-reception part having a radio-call-reception function that is a receiving unit which receives data sent from the base station and a positioning function to obtain the primary position data indicating the current position of the device based on data sent from the base station, a GPS-reception part having a positioning function to obtain the secondary position data on measuring the current position of the device based on signals sent from GPS satellites, and a position-data-correction function to correct the secondary position data using the position-correction data sent from the base station, and an information-processing part having a function to perform information processing using position data obtained from the radio-call-reception part and the GPS-reception part.

Description

POSITIONING SYSTEM, POSITIONING METHOD AND POSITIONING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system, method and positioning device for measuring the current position of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently, it became possible to use artificial satellites for navigation, and also a GPS (Global Positioning System) has been offered that makes navigation possible not only for boats, but also for cars and people who carry with them suitable devices. Through this navigation system the economy, security and convenience are improved when traveling to a destination. In addition, in GPS, positioning errors are corrected and positioning accuracy is improved by the use of a relative positioning method (differential GPS or DGPS). In general, in a differential GPS, positioning errors are corrected by sending correction data to a GPS receiver from a transmission station using FM multicast.

However, a navigation system that uses FM multi-streaming with differential GPS presents the problem described below. First of all, since the FM multicast uses a bandwidth around 80 MHz, it becomes necessary to extend the antenna, which represents a disadvantage from the point of view of portable capacity. Also, since a transmission station covers a very large area, there is a limit to the correction of positioning errors. In addition, the reception sensitivity of GPS is not good in the subway or inside a building. In general, it can not receive multiple FM data when it is located underground or inside a building. When using the FM multicast, the electrical power needed in the receiving terminal is greater, which is a disadvantage from the point of view of portable capacity. For example, large capacity batteries should be available, which is a problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In view of the above situation, an object of this invention is to provide a positioning system, a positioning method and a positioning device that allow obtaining information in the current position of the device even when the latter is located in the subway or within a building, as well as to improve portable capacity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and a positioning method that allows to reduce positioning errors. A positioning system of the present invention has, for the purpose of solving the aforementioned problems, a base station for radio calling, a receiving means for receiving the data sent from the radio base station, and a device equipped with a positioning means for obtaining position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio call base station. In a positioning system having said composition, a positioning device obtains position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio base station, using a positioning means. By means of the positioning system, a positioning device can obtain position data, as long as it can receive data from the radio call base station. Likewise, the positioning method of the present invention allows to obtain the position data showing the current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio base station in order to solve the aforementioned problems. The positioning method allows to obtain position data, as long as the data of the radio 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 the data sent from the radio call base station to solve the problems mentioned above. A positioning device having said configuration obtains position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio base station by means of the positioning means. Through the positioning means, the positioning device allows position data to be obtained, as long as the data can be received from the radio call base station. The positioning system of the present invention comprises a radio call base station equipped with a position correction data generating means that generates correction-position data to correct the position data that the positioning device obtained through the measurement of positions, and a transmission means for sending data to the positioning device. Likewise, the positioning system of the present invention has a positioning device equipped with a receiving means for receiving data sent from the base radio call station, a positioning means that obtains position data through the measurement of the current position of the device based on the signals sent from an artificial satellite, and a position data correction means correcting the position data based on the correction-position data from the receiving means. In the positioning system having said configuration, the radio call base station sends position-correction data generated through a means of generating position correction data to the positioning device, using the transmission means. In the positioning device, the position data obtained by measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites through the positioning means are corrected by the position data correction means used by the position-correction data received through the reception means. Through the positioning system, the positioning device corrects the position data using the position-correction data sent from a radio call base station covering a relatively redundant serving area, data generated in said radio base station . Also, in accordance with the posidonamiento method of the present invention, in order to solve the aforementioned problems, the posidon data obtained by measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites are corrected using the posidón-corredón data sent from the radio call base station.

According to the positioning method, the position data is corrected using the position-correction data sent from a radio base station serving a relatively small service area, data generated in said radio call base station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a positioning system in the form in which the present invention is actually applied; Figure 2 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence that executes a portable terminal or device to obtain position data in a posidonning system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY A positioning system applied to a radio call system of the present invention will be explained in detail together with the accompanying drawings. A portable terminal, which is a posidonamiento device, carries out an application program based on the position data obtained through the posidonamiento system after measuring the positions. As shown in Figure 1, the positioning system includes a base station 2 that transmits data, a portable terminal 3 that rediscovers data from the base station 2, and GPS satellites (global positioning system) 4, 5, 6 and 7 that send signals to the base station 2 and the portable terminal 3 to measure positions. In the positioning system, the portable terminal 3 receives as information concerning the current position of the terminal, primary position data based on the data sent from the base station 2 and secondary posidon data obtained by the use of satellite signals. of the GPS satellites (global positioning system) 4, 5, 6 and 7 (hereinafter referred to as GPS signals). In the positioning system having that configuration, the base station 2 includes a standard GPS receiver 11 which is a means of generating position correction data that generates position-correction data to correct the secondary position data and a base station radio call 12 which sends data to the portable terminal 3. This terminal 3 is equipped with a radio call reception part 13 having a radio call reception function which is a reception function for receiving data sent from the base station 2 and a positioning function that obtains the primary position data showing the current position of the terminal based on the data sent from the base station 2, a GPS receiving part 14 having a posidonating function that obtains the secondary position data after measuring the current position of the terminal based on the signals coming from the terminals GPS locations 4, 5, 6 and 7, and a position data correction function that corrects the secondary position data using the position-corrected data sent from the base station 2, and an information processing part 15 having a function for carrying out information processing using the position data obtained by the radio reception part 13 and the reception part by GPS 14. The base station 2 is composed of a standard GPS receiver 11 and a base station of call by radio 12. The GPS standard receiver 11, by redirecting GPS signals from GPS satellites 4, 5, 6 and 7, obtains information about its own position and generates position-correction data. The standard GPS receiver 11 generates position-correction data by using, for example, a relative positioning method (GPS or differential DGPS). Next, the generation of position-correction data using a relative posidonamiento method will be explained. The standard GPS receiver 11, which is located at the reference point whose position is known exactly, measures the position based on GPS signals from GPS satellites 4, 5, 6 and 7, by using a GPS receiver . This position of the reference point and the position data measured by the GPS receiver are interleaved and compared in the standard GPS receiver 11. After this intercalation and comparison, the error component contained in the GPS signals caused by the SA (selective availability ), by the satellite system and by the transmission medium it is detected in the standard GPS receiver 11. This detected error component is called position-correcton data. This is achieved using the fact that, if a GPS receiver (portable terminal 3) is within a range of 100-200 km from the reference point (the standard GPS receiver 11), the error in the position measurement it is almost different from the error detected at the reference point. In specific terms, the portable terminal 3 obtains corrected position data by deducting this error component (the position-correction data) from the position data obtained by measuring its position. Also, it can be said that the positioning accuracy is improved, if the distance from the reference point is small, but the effect of the correction decreases when one moves away from the reference point. By using the relative positioning method already described, the positioning accuracy of a GPS receiver (portable terminal 3) can be improved. The position-correction data generated in the standard GPS receiver 11 is sent to a portable terminal 3 via the radio base station 12. The radio base station 12 is a data transmission station that sends data to the portable terminal 3, and is composed as a data transmission station in a radio call system. The base station 2 is created by having this radio call base station 12 equipped with a standard GPS receiver 11. This radio call base station 12 is formed in a manner that sends various types of information to receiving terminals of information, such as as "pocket" locators or locator receivers. In other words, the radio call base station 12, for example, is a data transmission station that sends to the information receiving terminals, such as a locator, data of the transmitters transmitted from a public telephone network by means of a station. central radio call. In addition, in recent years, the radio call system has been used to deliver various types of information, such as weather and information about user events. Also, the service area of this radio call base station 12 is relatively narrow and is supposed to be narrower than the transmission area of an FM multicast station, for example. The radio base station 12 sends area data conformed by the information showing its own location to the portable terminal 3. The base station 2, by virtue of having the standard GPS receiver 11 and the radio base station 12 as already described, sends position-correction data to correct the posidon data to the portable terminal 3, by means of the use of the radio call system. Regarding the transmission of position-correction data, in concrete terms, these are sent included with various types of information. In addition, several base stations 2 exist in a posidonning system, and each base station 2 sends position-correction data obtained in themselves., to the portable terminal 3 that is in the service area. The radio call reception part 13 of the portable terminal 3 is made as a receiving means for receiving data from the base station 2. The radio receiving part 13 receives the data sent by radio from the base station 2 using the antenna 16. The radio-receiving part 13 also receives position-correction data sent from the base station 2. The position-correction data received by the radio-receiving part 13 goes out to the In addition, the radio reception portion 13 is made, so that it can obtain the approximate current position of the portable terminal 3 based on the area data sent from the base station 2. The Radio Call Reception 13 measures the current position by itself using it, without using the GPS signals. For example, the radio call reception part 13 obtains its own approximate current position as primary position data from the area data showing the position of the base station 2 sent from the base station. In other words, in this case, the portable terminal 3 located in the service area recognizes as its own current position the location of the base station 2. The primary position data obtained by the radio reception part 13 is issued to the information processing part 15. The GPS reception part 14 measures the current position when the GPS signals sent from the GPS satellites 4, 5, 6 and 7 are received by the antenna 17, and obtain position data.

The GPS reception part 14 corrects the secondary position data when the radio call reception part 13 is receiving position-correction data sent from the base station 2 using this data. And the GPS reception part 14 outputs the secondary position data thus obtained to the information processing part 15. The radio call reception part 13 described above also has a function to automatically switch the reception frequency, using the secondary position data. Accordingly, the radio call reception part 13, when it has been moved to a service area with a different reception frequency, automatically changes the reception frequency, using the secondary position data. The information processing part 15 has a function for executing application programs. For example, there is software that allows you to display a map as an application program. This program allows you to display a map on a display medium, such as a liquid crystal monitor. The information processing part 15 executes this program using the position data obtained by the radio call reception part 13 and the GPS reception part 14 by the operation already described. In other words, for example, the information processing part 15 displays in images the current position of the device on the map based on the primary or secondary position data.

Furthermore, the position data, as already indicated, are the primary position data, data indicating the approximate current position of the device, which the radio receiving part 13 obtained from the data sent from the base station 2, or the secondary position data that the GPS reception part 14 obtained by the measurement of the position using the GPS signals from the GPS satellites 4, 5, 6 and 7. Therefore, the information processing part 15, for example, it usually prefers to use secondary data whose positioning accuracy is greater than the other data to execute programs. A portable terminal 3 having the composition described above executes a software program for displaying a map using data sent from the base station 2 or the position data obtained by the use of GPS signals from the GPS satellites 4, 5 , 6 and 7. Figure 2 shows a sequence of procedures executed by the portable terminal 3 to obtain position data. More specifically, it shows a sequence of procedures that start from a search for a desired GPS satellite. First, in step S1, a portable terminal 3 initiates the operation of measuring positions. In other words, the portable terminal 3 initiates a sequence of procedures for obtaining position data. In step S2, the portable terminal 3 discriminates whether it is possible to receive radio transmissions. For example, the portable terminal 3 performs this determination by detecting whether or not data has been received from the base station 2. If radio reception is possible, the portable terminal 3 proceeds to step S3; and if this is not possible, terminal 3 proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the portable terminal 3 determines whether GPS satellites have been found or not by searching for GPS satellites. If GPS satellites have been found, the portable terminal 3 continues to step S8, executes the positioning itself using the GPS signals, and obtains the secondary position data. On the other hand, when the GPS satellites have not been found, the portable terminal 3 proceeds to step S9, executes a positioning procedure impossible to execute, for example, an error procedure, and concludes this positioning procedure. In step S3, the portable terminal 3 attempts to obtain the area data of the base station 2. For example, obtains the secondary position data elaborated from the area data sent from the base station 2. Based on this area data, the portable terminal 3 searches for GPS satellites and determines, in step S4, whether the GPS satellites have been found . When the GPS satellites have been found, the portable terminal 3 proceeds to step S5, and when they have not been found, proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the portable terminal 3 obtains as a result of the position measurement the area data of the base station 2. In step S5, the portable terminal 3 determines whether there is DGPS data (data from a repository) from the base station for radio call 12. For example, portable terminal 3 determines whether the position-correction data is stored in the data sent from the base station 2. If DGPS data exists, portable terminal 3 obtains the position using that data DGPS, that is, the secondary position data corrected by the position-correction data. When there is no DGPS data, the portable terminal 3 proceeds to step S11, executes positioning by itself using the GPS signals, and obtains the secondary position data. Through a sequence of said procedures, as already described, the portable terminal 3 obtains position data. In other words, the portable terminal 3 obtains position data in the GPS signals from the GPS satellites in step S11, and in the case where the DGPS data has been retrieved from the base station 2, corrects the position data using these DGPS data in step S6. Also, when it is not possible to find GPS satellites, the portable terminal 3 obtains position data based on the area data of the base station 2 in step S10. When it is not possible to receive data from the base station 2, the portable terminal 3 obtains position data searching for GPS satellites and receiving GPS signals in step S8. The portable terminal 3 uses the position data it obtained through said procedures as data to execute application programs.

The positioning system is composed of the component parts, as already described. With the organization of the positioning system in that way, the following becomes possible: The portable device 3 can measure a position based on data sent from the base station 2 using a radio call system. Through this means, the portable terminal 3 can obtain information in its approximate current position based on the data sent from the base station 2, even if it is in a place where it can not directly receive radio waves from the GPS satellites, For example, in an underground center or inside a building, as long as you can use a radio call system. Also, when you have traveled a great distance without having measured a position using GPS satellites, for example, if you try to start the measurement of a position using GPS satellites, it is necessary to look for GPS satellites; however, since the portable terminal 3 can determine its approximate current position as the primary position data based on the data from the base station 2, the time needed to search for the GPS satellites can be reduced even in those cases. Also, when measuring a position using the GPS satellites, the portable terminal 3 corrects the error in the GPS signals sent from the satellites, using the position-correction data sent from the radio base station. Through this means, more accurate position data can be obtained.

Since the portable terminal 3 can automatically switch frequencies from the base station 2, which are different for each radio call area, resorting to the positions measured by the means of GPS satellites, it is possible to automatically select the radio call by area. For example, the portable terminal 3 can receive data from the base station, even if it has been moved to a neighboring service area without the user having made the manual adjustment. Also, since the radio base stations 12 (in other words, a base station made by installing a standard GPS receiver 11 in a radio base station 12) exist in relatively large amounts, in general, it results It is possible to offer a position-correction system whose accuracy is greater than that of a position-correction system that makes use of an FM multiple transmission. In other words, by making each base station 2 covering a relatively small service area generate position-correction data, the position data obtained in the portable terminal 3 using said position-correction data is converted into information indicating accurately the current position of the terminal. Also, since the base station 2 can be made with the single addition of a standard GPS receiver 11 to an existing radio call base station 12, an infrastructure that is simpler than the construction of a new network can be easily constructed.

Likewise, the positioning system is not limited to a structure made by the use of four GPS satellites, said system can be constructed using more than five GPS satellites. Although in the actual example described above it is explained that the position-correction data is generated through the installation of the GPS standard receiver 11 in each base station 2, it is possible, for example, to generate position-correction data at the central station. created to control data for the base stations 2. In this case, the position-correction data generated in the standard GPS receiver 11 installed in the central station are sent to each base station. And this position-correction data sent from the central station is subsequently corrected at each base station in consideration of the location of each base station and sent to the portable terminals 13. In addition, correction of position-correction data, in view of the difference in the location of each base station, can be performed at the central station in advance for each base station, and these corrected data can be sent to each base station. The positioning system of the present invention has a radio call base station that transmits data, and a positioning device that has a receiving means for receiving data sent from a radio call base station, and a positioning means to obtain position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from a radio base station. A positioning device can obtain, through the position medium, position data indicating the current location of the device based on the data sent from a radio base station. By means of the posidonamiento system, a positioning device can obtain position data, as long as it can receive data from a radio call base station. Also, in accordance with the positioning method of the present invention, with the gain of the position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio base station, the position data can be obtained. , as long as the data can be received from a radio call base station. Also, the positioning device of this invention, having a receiving means for receiving data sent from a radio call base station and with a positioning means to obtain position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from a radio call base station can obtain position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from a base radio call base through the positioning means. Through the positioning means, the positioning device can obtain position data, as long as it can receive data from a radio call base station.

The positioning system of this invention also includes a means of generating position correction data that generates position-correction data to correct the position data obtained by the positioning device when measuring a relevant position, and a base station of call by radio equipped with a transmission medium to send data to the positioning device. A positioning system of the present invention also has a positioning device equipped with a receiving means for receiving data sent from a radio call base station, a positioning means for obtaining position data when measuring the current position of the device with based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites, and a means of correcting position data to correct the position data based on the position-correction data received by a receiving means. In a positioning system having said configuration, the radio call base station can send position-correction data generated by the means of generating position correlation data to a positioning device using a transmission means, and the device Positioning can correct, through the position data correction means, the position data obtained by measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites thanks to the positioning means, by means of the use of the position-correction data received by the receiving means.

In the positioning system, since the positioning device can correct position data using position-correction data, the data generated in the radio call base station that is sent from the radio call base station covering an area of relatively small service, the accuracy of the position data can be improved. Also, in accordance with the positioning method of the present invention, with the correction of the position data obtained by the measurement of the current position of the device based on the signals sent from artificial satellites using the position-correction data. sent from a radio-based base station, the position data can be corrected using the position-correction data (data generated at the radio base station and sent from the radio base station covering a service area relatively small), which make it possible to improve the accuracy of the position data.

Claims (18)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A positioning system for obtaining information about a current position of a device, comprising: a radio base station that sends data; a positioning device that includes a receiving means that receives data sent from a radio base station, and a positioning means that obtains position data indicating a current position of the device based on the data sent from the base station of radio call.

2. The positioning system according to claim 1, further characterized in that said positioning means obtains position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data of the area, which shows a location of said base station of radio call, which are sent from the radio call base station.

3. The positioning system according to claim 1, further characterized in that said positioning device includes a secondary positioning means for obtaining secondary position data by measuring the current position of the device, based on the signals sent from artificial satellites; and said positioning device obtains position data through said positioning means when it is impossible to measure the position of the device using said secondary positioning means.

4. The positioning system according to claim 3, further characterized in that said radio call base station is equipped with a means of generating position correction data to generate position-correction data to correct said position data. secondary, and the secondary positioning means includes a position data corrector means for correcting said secondary position data using the position-correction data sent from said radio call base station.

5. The posidonning system according to claim 3, further characterized in that said positioning device is installed in a radio call reception terminal that receives data sent from the radio call base station, and said receiving terminal radio call includes a reception frequency switching means for switching a reception frequency based on the secondary position data.

6. A method of posidonamiento to obtain information about a current position of a device, comprising the steps of: sending data from a radio base station; receiving data from the radio base station in a positioning device; and obtaining position data indicating a current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio base station.

7. - The positioning method according to claim 6, further characterized in that the position data indicating the current position of the device is obtained based on the area data, which shows a location of said radio base station, sent from the base station by radio call.

8. The positioning method according to claim 6, further characterized in that said position data is obtained based on the data sent from the radio base station when it is impossible to measure the device's actual position based on the signals sent from artificial satellites.

9. The positioning method according to claim 8, further characterized in that the position data obtained by measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites are corrected using position-correction data generated in and sent from said base station by radio call.

10. A positioning device for obtaining information about a current position of the device comprising: a receiving means that receives data sent from a radio-based base station, and a positioning means that obtains position data indicating the current position of the device based on the data sent from the radio call base station.

11. - The positioning device according to claim 10, further characterized in that said positioning means obtains position data indicating the current position of the device based on the area data, which shows a location of said radio base station , sent from the base station by radio call.

12. The positioning device according to claim 10, further characterized in that it comprises a secondary positioning means for obtaining secondary position data when measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites, and that it obtains said position data through the positioning means when it is impossible to measure the position of the device using said secondary positioning means.

13. The positioning device according to claim 12, further characterized in that it comprises a means of correction of position data to correct said secondary position data using the position-correction data sent from the radio base station.

14. The positioning device according to claim 12, further characterized in that it is installed in a radio call reception terminal that redirects data sent from the radio call base station and said radio call reception terminal includes a receiving frequency switching means for switching the reception frequencies based on the secondary position data.

15. - A positioning system for obtaining information about a current position of a device, comprising: a radio call base station that includes a means of generation of position correction data that generates position-correction data that corrects data from position obtained by a positioning device when measuring a position of the device; and a transmission means that sends data to the positioning device; and said positioning device includes a receiving means that receives data sent from the radio base station, a positioning means that obtains position data by measuring the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites, and a position data correction means that corrects said position data based on the position-correction data received by means of reception.

16. The positioning system according to claim 15, further characterized in that said positioning device is installed in a radio call receiving terminal to receive data sent from the radio call base station, and that receiving terminal The radio call signal is equipped with a reception frequency switching means for switching reception frequencies based on the position data.

17. A positioning method to obtain information about a current position of a device where the position data obtained with the measurement of the current position of the device based on the signals sent from the artificial satellites are corrected using position data -correcdón sent from a base station by radio call.

18. The positioning method according to claim 17, further characterized in that a radio call reception terminal that receives data sent from said radio call base station switches reception frequencies based on the position data.