Method and system for correcting gps-based position information using local correction information in a network of moving things

A system that uses local correction information to adjust satellite-based location information for mobile nodes of a wireless network of moving things comprising a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

• a mobile first node of the plurality of nodes, the first node comprising
• a receiver that produces information representative of a geographic location of the first node using signals received from a first set of satellites selected from a constellation of satellites,
• at least one interface for wirelessly communicating with other nodes of the plurality of nodes, and
• at least one processor operably coupled to the receiver and to the at least one interface, the at least one processor operable to, at least:
• receive, from one or more of the other nodes via the at least one interface, correction information comprising information representative of error in determining a geographic location of a respective anchor node of the plurality of nodes and information identifying a corresponding second set of satellites from the constellation, signals from which were used to produce the information representative of error, wherein the correction information is maintained in a collection of correction information;
• choose, from the collection, correction information having a corresponding second set of satellites that matches the first set of satellites;
• produce first corrected information representative of a first geographic location of the first node, by applying to the information representative of the geographic location of the first node, the information representative of error from the chosen correction information corresponding to the second set of satellites;
• detect predominance of local radio propagation conditions over satellite positions by comparing a geographic location of a known physical feature within a service area of the wireless network nearest to the first geographic location, to the first geographic location;
• and
• create second corrected information representative of a second geographic location of the first node, based upon the comparison and the first corrected information.

A method of using local correction information to adjust satellite-based location information for mobile nodes of a wireless network of moving things comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• wirelessly receiving, by a first node of the plurality of nodes from one or more other nodes of the plurality of nodes, correction information comprising information representative of error in determining a geographic location of a respective anchor node of the plurality of nodes and information identifying a corresponding second set of satellites from the constellation, signals from which were used to produce the information representative of error, wherein the correction information is maintained in a collection of correction information;
• choosing, from the collection, correction information having a corresponding second set of satellites that matches the first set of satellites;
• producing first corrected information representative of a first geographic location of the first node, by applying to the information representative of the geographic location of the first node, the information representative of error from the chosen correction information corresponding to the second set of satellites;
• detecting predominance of local radio propagation conditions over satellite positions by comparing a geographic location of a known physical feature within a service area of the wireless network nearest to the first geographic location, to the first geographic location;
• and
• creating second corrected information representative of a second geographic location of the first node, based upon the comparison and the first corrected information.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section, the at least one code section being executable by at least one processor for causing the at least one processor to perform operations using local correction information to adjust satellite-based location information for mobile nodes of a wireless network of moving things comprising a plurality of nodes, the operations comprising:

• wirelessly receiving, by a first node of the plurality of nodes from one or more other nodes of the plurality of nodes, correction information comprising information representative of error in determining a geographic location of a respective anchor node of the plurality of nodes and information identifying a corresponding second set of satellites from the constellation, signals from which were used to produce the information representative of error, wherein the correction information is maintained in a collection of correction information;
• choosing, from the collection, correction information having a corresponding second set of satellites that matches the first set of satellites;
• producing first corrected information representative of a first geographic location of the first node, by applying to the information representative of the geographic location of the first node, the information representative of error from the chosen correction information corresponding to the second set of satellites;
• detecting predominance of local radio propagation conditions over satellite positions by comparing a geographic location of a known physical feature within a service area of the wireless network nearest to the first geographic location, to the first geographic location;
• and
• creating second corrected information representative of a second geographic location of the first node, based upon the comparison and the first corrected information.