Determining desired pseudolite locations based on predicted GPS coverage
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJames J. Kalafut, William E. Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site. The method and apparatus includes predicting an area of coverage of the site by at least one GPS satellite, determining a condition of reduced coverage as a function of the predicted area of coverage, displaying the area having reduced coverage on a terrain map, and placing a pseudolite at a location at the site to provide coverage in the area having reduced coverage.
Claims22
A method for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site, including the steps of:
- predicting an area of coverage of the site by at least one GPS satellite;
- determining a condition of reduced coverage as a function of the predicted area of coverage;
- displaying the area having reduced coverage on a terrain map;
- and
- placing a pseudolite at a location at the site to provide coverage in the area having reduced coverage.
A method for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site, including the steps of:
- predicting an area of coverage of the site by a plurality of GPS satellites;
- determining a condition of reduced coverage as a function of the predicted area of coverage;
- displaying the area having reduced coverage on a terrain map;
- placing a pseudolite model on the terrain map at a desired location;
- displaying an area of coverage of the pseudolite model on the terrain map;
- and
- displaying a change in coverage of the area having reduced coverage as a function of the area of coverage of the pseudolite model.
A computer-based method for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site, including the steps of:
- predicting areas of coverage of the site by a plurality of GPS satellites;
- determining a condition of at least one area at the site having reduced coverage as a function of the predicted areas of coverage;
- displaying the predicted areas of coverage on a terrain map, the displayed areas indicating a level of coverage;
- determining an optimal location of at least one pseudolite model as a function of reduced coverage of the at least one area;
- displaying the at least one pseudolite model at the optimal location on the terrain map;
- and
- updating the terrain map display to indicate revised coverage in the areas as a function of the coverage of the GPS satellites and the at least one pseudolite model.
An apparatus for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site, comprising:
- at least one mobile machine located at the site;
- a GPS receiver located on the mobile machine for receiving signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;
- a display for indicating a terrain map of the site;
- and
- a processor for:
- predicting a future area of coverage of the site by the plurality of GPS satellites;
- determining a condition of predicted reduced coverage in at least one area of the site;
- and
- providing information to the display to indicate the at least one area having reduced coverage, the area having reduced coverage being indicative of a desired position of a pseudolite at the site.
An apparatus for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site, comprising:
- a remote site;
- a display located at the remote for indicating a terrain map of the site;
- a processor located at the remote site for:
- predicting a future area of coverage of the site by the plurality of GPS satellites;
- determining a condition of predicted reduced coverage in at least one area of the site;
- and
- providing information to the display to indicate the at least one area having reduced coverage, the area having reduced coverage being indicative of a desired position of a pseudolite at the site;
- and
- means for delivering the provided information from the remote site to the site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.