Positioning system and method

A personnel location and tracking system for use in a work-place environment, said system comprising:

• a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;
• a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;
• a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;
• at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the work-place environment, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;
• a receiver device carried by an individual moving within the work-place environment, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the work-place environment to be received by said receiver device;
• and
• computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the work-place environment to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise position of the individual carrying said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal.

An inventory location and tracking system for use in a warehouse storage facility, said system comprising:

• a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;
• a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;
• a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;
• at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the warehouse storage facility, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;
• a receiver device attached to a respective item of inventory in warehouse storage facility, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the warehouse storage facility to be received by said receiver device;
• and
• computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the warehouse storage facility to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise position of the respective item of inventory having said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal.

A personal communications and location system for use in an indoor environment, said system comprising:

• a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;
• a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;
• a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;
• at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the indoor environment, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;
• a receiver device in combination with a cellular phone carried by an individual moving within the indoor environment, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the indoor environment to be received by said receiver device;
• and
• computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the indoor environment to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise position of the individual carrying said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal, said cellular phone providing a personal communication link with an operator of said computer means.

A combined positioning system for locating an object moving between a shielded environment and unobstructed open space, said system comprising:

• plurality of global positioning satellites in orbit around the Earth, each of said global positioning satellites broadcasting a standard GPS signal;
• a first GPS receiver for receiving the standard GPS signals and transmitting navigational data;
• a clock recovery unit for receiving said navigational data and reconstructing an accurate clock signal;
• a computer processing unit for receiving said accurate clock signal and said navigational data;
• at least four pseudosatellites positioned within the shielded environment, one of said at least four pseudosatellites being non-coplanar relative to the others, wherein said computer processing unit generates a respective GPS-type signal corresponding to each of said at least four pseudosatellites, said respective GPS-type signal containing new orbital parameters for each corresponding pseudosatellite;
• a receiver device attached to the moving object, said receiver device capable of transmitting a location signal, said GPS-type signals being transmitted into the shielded environment to be received by said receiver device;
• computer means having a location receiver associated therewith, said location receiver being positioned within the shielded environment to receive said location signal from said receiver device so that a precise indoor position of the moving object having said location receiver may be determined by said computer means by processing said location signal when the object is within the shielded environment;
• and
• a second GPS receiver attached to the moving object, said second GPS receiver for receiving the standard GPS signals when the object is in the unobstructed open space so that a precise outdoor position of the moving object having said second GPS receiver may be obtained.

A method for providing an interior positioning system comprising the steps:

• receiving GPS signals;
• reconstructing an accurate clock signal from the GPS signals;
• calculating orbital parameters for at least four pseudosatellites;
• and
• transmitting pseudosatellite data signals using the reconstructed clock signal and orbital parameters for at least four pseudosatellites.