초록 ▼

A cooperative location system for use with a Global Positioning System ("GPS"). The system includes a beacon that receives GPS signals and transmits GPS data representing the location of the beacon to a remote locator. The locator receives the beacon's GPS data from the beacon. Based on the beacon's

A cooperative location system for use with a Global Positioning System ("GPS"). The system includes a beacon that receives GPS signals and transmits GPS data representing the location of the beacon to a remote locator. The locator receives the beacon's GPS data from the beacon. Based on the beacon's GPS data, a reference direction provided by a compass, and the locator's own GPS data, the locator calculates range and direction information to the beacon.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A cooperative location system for use with a Global Positioning System (GPS), which comprises:a beacon positioned at a first point on the earth and includinga first receiver capable of receiving GPS signals and providing a first set of GPS data representing said first poi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A cooperative location system for use with a Global Positioning System (GPS), which comprises:a beacon positioned at a first point on the earth and includinga first receiver capable of receiving GPS signals and providing a first set of GPS data representing said first point on the earth, wherein said first set of GPS data includes a first set of GPS satellite identification information, wherein said beacon is operable to extract coordinate data from said first set of GPS data to form a first set of GPS coordinate data, and to truncate said first set of GPS coordinate data to form a first set of truncated GPS coordinate data by retraining the least significant digits of said first set of GPS coordinate data that are lower in order than the most significant digit of a specified maximum range of operation around said beacon,a transmitter operable to transmit said first set of truncated GPS coordinate data and said first set of GPS satellite identification information;a locator positioned at a second point on the earth and includinga second receiver capable of receiving GPS signals and providing a second set of GPS data representing said second point on the earth, wherein said second set of GPS data includes a second set of GPS satellite identification information,a third receiver capable of receiving said first set of GPS data representing said first point on the earth from said transmitter,a compass operable to provide a reference direction, anda processor operatively coupled to said second and third receivers, capable of calculating range and direction information of said beacon from said first set of truncated GPS coordinate data, said second set of GPS data, and said reference direction,wherein said locator is operable to determine whether said locator and said beacon derive said first and second sets of GPS data from an identical set of GPS satellites using said first and second sets of GPS satellite identification information.