IP Library Patent Application 13302447
Patent Application
App. No. 13/302,447

Method and Apparatus to Determine Actionable Position and Speed in GNSS Applications

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/302,447
Abstract

A method, and an apparatus to perform the method, of tracking a mobile subject based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data, the method including detecting motion of the mobile subject independently of the GNSS data with a motion detector, receiving the GNSS data and determining an actionable position and speed of the mobile subject, with an actionable position and speed unit, according to GNSS position and speed, detection results of the motion detector, and at least one of, or any combination of, GNSS solution metrics, GNSS signal metrics, or a prior actionable position and speed, and evaluating, with a boundary test unit, the actionable position and speed of the mobile subject relative to a predetermined boundary.

Claims (36)

1 . An apparatus to track a mobile subject based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data, comprising:

a motion detector to detect motion of the mobile subject independently of the GNSS data;

an actionable position and speed determination unit to receive the GNSS data and determine an actionable position and speed of the mobile subject according to:

GNSS position and speed,

detection results of the motion detector, and

at least one of, or any combination of, GNSS solution metrics, GNSS signal metrics, or a prior actionable position and speed; and

a boundary test unit to evaluate the actionable position and speed of the mobile subject relative to a predetermined boundary.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the GNSS solution metrics include an horizontal dilution of precision, estimated horizontal position error, estimated speed error, the horizontal dilution of precision times the estimated horizontal position error, the horizontal dilution of precision times the estimated speed error, or any combination thereof.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the GNSS signal metrics include a quantity representative of the aggregate observable GNSS signal to noise ratio and/or a quantity representative of the aggregate eligible GNSS signal to noise ratio, observable indicating all GNSS signals used to determine the GNSS position and speed, and eligible indicating all decodable GNSS signals emanating from satellites above a predetermined elevation threshold.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said motion detector is a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said motion detector is an omnidirectional vibration sensor.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a predetermined location within a containment area is used as an initial start location of the mobile subject.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prior actionable position and speed are maintained in response to the motion detector detecting no motion of the mobile subject.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the GNSS data includes GNSS PVT (position, velocity, time) signals, pseudo-range error data, time assist data, ephemeris assist data, or any combination thereof.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile subject is a human or animal.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is attached to or worn by the mobile subject

11 . A method of tracking a mobile subject based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data, the method comprising:

detecting motion of the mobile subject independently of the GNSS data with a motion detector;

receiving the GNSS data and determining an actionable position and speed of the mobile subject, with an actionable position and speed unit, according to:

GNSS position and speed,

detection results of the motion detector, and

at least one of, or any combination of, GNSS solution metrics, GNSS signal metrics, or a prior actionable position and speed; and

evaluating, with a boundary test unit, the actionable position and speed of the mobile subject relative to a predetermined boundary.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the GNSS solution metrics include an horizontal dilution of precision, estimated horizontal position error, estimated speed error, the horizontal dilution of precision times the estimated horizontal position error, the horizontal dilution of precision times the estimated speed error, or any combination thereof.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the GNSS signal metrics include a quantity representative of the aggregate observable GNSS signal to noise ratio and/or a quantity representative of the aggregate eligible GNSS signal to noise ratio, observable indicating all GNSS signals used to determine the GNSS position and speed, and eligible indicating all decodable GNSS signals emanating from satellites above a predetermined elevation threshold.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a predetermined location within a containment area is used as an initial start location of the mobile subject.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the prior actionable position and speed are maintained in response to detecting no motion of the mobile subject.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the GNSS data includes GNSS PVT (position, velocity, time) signals, pseudo-range error data, time assist data, ephemeris assist data, or any combination thereof.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mobile subject is a human or animal.

18 . A computer readable storage medium having recorded thereon a program to cause a computer to perform a method of tracking a mobile subject to detect a boundary violation based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data, the method comprising:

detecting motion of the mobile subject independently of the GNSS data with a motion detector;

receiving the GNSS data and determining an actionable position and speed of the mobile subject, with an actionable position and speed unit, according to:

GNSS position and speed,

detection results of the motion detector, and

at least one of, or any combination of, GNSS solution metrics, GNSS signal metrics, or a prior actionable position and speed; and

evaluating, with a boundary test unit, the actionable position and speed of the mobile subject relative to a predetermined boundary.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 7814565 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037127 FRAME: 0491. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded May 2, 2016
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.; INNOTEK, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 038601/0757 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT PATENT APP. NO. 13/302,477 SHOULD BE 13/302,447 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 029382 FRAME: 0277. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 20, 2015
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037149/0146 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT WHICH INCORRECTLY IDENTIFIED PATENT APP. NO. 13/302,477 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 029308 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.; INNOTEK, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 037127/0491 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 13/302,477 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 029308 FRAME: 0434. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 8, 2015
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 036901/0601 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 29, 2012
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 029382/0277 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 16, 2012
From: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION; INNOTEK, INC.; INVISIBLE FENCE, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 029308/0434 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2011
From: MCFARLAND, SCOTT A.; GRIFFITH, KEITH; SELTZER, RICK
To: RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027269/0663 →