IP Library Granted Patent US 10,459,087
Granted Patent B2
US 10,459,087 · App. 15/138,935 · Granted Oct 29, 2019

Road registration differential GPS

Inventor: Brett Browning (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
G01S19/41G01S19/48
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,459,087
App. No.
15/138,935
Granted
Oct 29, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of calibrating satellite signals broadcast by one or more satellites of a satellite positioning system. The system receives sensor data from one or more sensors provided on a vehicle. The system further detects satellite signals from the one or more satellites, and determines timing offsets associated with the satellite signals from each of the one or more satellites based at least in part on the sensor data. For example, the one or more sensors may include at least one of a camera or a rangefinder, and the sensor data may correspond to a three-dimensional sensor image that may be used to determine a location of the vehicle.

Claims (43)

1. A method of calibrating satellite signals broadcast by one or more satellites of a satellite positioning system, the method comprising:

receiving sensor data from one or more sensors provided on a vehicle;

detecting satellite signals from the one or more satellites; and

determining timing offsets of the satellite signals from each of the one or more satellites based at least in part on the sensor data, wherein determining the timing offsets of the satellite signals comprises determining a location of the vehicle by:

comparing the sensor data to a map of registered locations; and

determining a relative proximity of the vehicle to one or more of the registered locations based on comparing the sensor data to the map of registered location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the map of registered locations is generated based at least in part on previously-acquired sensor data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the timing offsets of the satellite signals further comprises:

calculating respective distances to each of the one or more satellites based at least in part on the location of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining timing offsets of the satellite signals further comprises:

determining propagation times of the satellite signals from each of the one or more satellites;

calculating expected propagation times for the satellite signals based at least in part on the respective distances to each of the one or more satellites; and

comparing the propagation times with the expected propagation times to determine the timing offsets.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of a camera or a rangefinder.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data corresponds to a three-dimensional (3D) sensor image.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating the timing offsets based at least in part on movements of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating the timing offsets to one or more satellite receivers within a threshold proximity of the vehicle.

9. A satellite signal calibration system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

receive sensor data from one or more sensors provided on a vehicle;

detect satellite signals from one or more satellites of a satellite positioning system; and

determine timing offsets of the satellite signals from each of the one or more satellites based at least in part on the sensor data, wherein execution of the instructions to determine the timing offsets of the satellite signals comprises determining a location of the vehicle by:

comparing the sensor data to a map of registered locations; and

determining a relative proximity of the vehicle to one or more of the registered locations based on comparing the sensor data to the map of registered locations.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the map of registered locations is generated based at least in part on previously-acquired sensor data.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions to determine the timing offsets further causes the system to:

calculate respective distances to each of the one or more satellites based at least in part on the location of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein execution of the instructions to determine the timing offsets further causes the system to:

determine propagation times of the satellite signals from each of the one or more satellites;

calculate expected propagation times for the satellite signals based at least in part on the respective distances to each of the one or more satellites; and

compare the propagation times with the expected propagation times to determine the timing offsets.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of a camera or a rangefinder.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor data corresponds to a three-dimensional (3D) sensor image.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the system to:

update the timing offsets based at least in part on movements of the vehicle.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a satellite signal calibration system, causes the system to:

receive sensor data from one or more sensors provided on a vehicle;

detect satellite signals from one or more satellites of a satellite positioning system; and

determine timing offsets of the satellite signals from each of the one or more satellites based at least in part on the sensor data;

wherein execution of the instructions to determine the timing offsets causes the system to (i) determine a location of the vehicle based at least in part on the sensor data, (ii) calculate respective distances to each of the one or more satellites based at least in part on the location of the vehicle, (iii) determine propagation times of the satellite signals from each of the one or more satellites, (iv) calculate expected propagation times for the satellite signals based at least in part on the respective distances to each of the one or more satellites, and (v) compare the propagation times with the expected propagation times to determine the timing offsets.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2024
From: UATC, LLC
To: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067733/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050912 FRAME: 0757. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 10, 2020
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 052133/0436 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 050912 FRAME 0757. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA/ASSIGNEE SHOULD BE UATC, LLC. Recorded Mar 3, 2020
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 052084/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UTAC, LLC
Reel/Frame 050912/0757 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2016
From: APPARATE INTERNATIONAL C.V.
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040543/0985 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2016
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: APPARATE INTERNATIONAL C.V.
Reel/Frame 040541/0940 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2016
From: BROWNING, BRETT
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 038687/0159 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170307763A1 · Oct 26, 2017