Real-time positioning internet protocol method and apparatus
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsTimothy James Iverson, Kai Cheung Kwong, Ken J. Ju, Pak Chiu Leung, Son Hoanh Phuoc Le
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Internet nodes having global positioning receivers or the like are configured for communicating position information over the Internet, using an Internet protocol (IP). Preferably, information packets according to the protocol include some or all of a source identifier, a time stamp and/or an indicator of the type or format of the position information. Preferably, end-users may provide for encryption, passwords or other features for controlling the entities which can receive or use the position information.
Claims50
Apparatus for real-time positioning comprising:
- a global positioning receiver which outputs first information indicative of position;
- and
- an Internet node coupled to said global positioning receiver, which outputs, to the Internet, a plurality of information packets according to an Internet protocol (IP), wherein an overhead portion of at least some packets includes a position information field, the position information field including position-indicative information, based on the said first information, wherein the position-indicative information indicates a position of the Internet node;
- wherein said Internet node is configured to control which entities receive said at least some packets;
- and
- wherein said Internet node is configured to control which of said entities receiving said at least some packets can access said position-indicative information comprised in said at least some packets.
A method for real-time positioning comprising:
- receiving, at a first global positioning receiver, coupled to an Internet node, global positioning signals;
- outputting, from said global positioning receiver to said Internet node, first information indicative of a position;
- outputting, from said Internet node to the Internet, a plurality of information packets according to an Internet protocol (IP), wherein an overhead portion of at least some packets includes a position information field, the position information field including position-indicative information, based on the said first information, wherein the position-indicative information indicates a position of the Internet node;
- and
- controlling which entities receive said at least some packets;
- and
- controlling which of said entities receiving said at least some packets can access said position-indicative information comprised in said at least some packets.
Apparatus for real-time positioning comprising:
- an Internet node;
- means in said Internet node for formatting a plurality of information packets according to an Internet protocol (IP), wherein an overhead portion of at least some packets includes a position information field, the position information field including position-indicative information, based on first information indicative of a position, wherein the position-indicative information indicates a position of the Internet node;
- means for outputting, from said Internet node to the Internet, the said plurality of packets;
- and
- means for controlling which entities receive said at least some packets;
- and
- means for controlling which of said entities receiving said at least some packets can access said position-indicative information comprised in said at least some packets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.