Positioning system using packet radio to determine position and to obtain information relative to a position

A method of determining a position of a mobile positioning system and obtaining information about the position comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving positioning transmissions in a packet radio format from a positioning station having a known position;
• b. determining a position of the mobile positioning system based on the positioning transmissions received from the positioning station and the known position;
• and
• c. communicating with a reference station using a packet radio format to obtain non-mapping information related to the position from the reference station.

A system for determining a position of a mobile positioning system and obtaining information about that position comprising:

• a. a plurality of reference stations each having a known position and including a first communications circuit for sending and receiving communications in a packet radio format, wherein the communications include positioning transmissions having a known amplitude and known signal strength;
• and
• b. a mobile positioning system including:
• i. a second communications circuit for communicating with the first communications circuit in the packet radio format and receiving the positioning transmissions, which when received have a received amplitude and a received signal strength;
• ii. a position determining circuit for determining the position of the mobile positioning system based on the difference between the known amplitude and signal strength and the received amplitude and signal strength of the positioning transmissions received from each of the plurality of reference stations and the known position of each of the plurality of reference stations;
• and
• iii. an interface coupled to the second communications circuit for interfacing with a user and allowing the user to obtain non-mapping information related to the position from one or more of the reference stations and to provide information to one or more of the reference stations.

A system for determining and monitoring a position of a mobile positioning system comprising:

• a. a mobile positioning system including:
• i. a first communications circuit for sending and receiving communications in a packet radio format including receiving positioning transmissions having a received amplitude and a received signal strength and automatically and periodically transmitting a position of the positioning system in a packet radio format;
• and
• ii. a determining circuit coupled to the first communications circuit for determining the position of the positioning system based on the received amplitude and signal strength of the positioning transmissions;
• and
• b. a plurality of reference stations each including:
• i. a second communications circuit for communicating with the first communications circuit in the packet radio format, receiving the position and transmitting the positioning transmissions at a known amplitude and known signal strength from a known position;
• ii. a monitoring circuit coupled to the second communications circuit for monitoring and tracking the position;
• and
• iii. an alerting device coupled to the monitoring device for sending an alert if the position of the positioning system is equal to a predetermined position.