Enhanced Network-based Localization Services

Summary:

University researchers have developed a new highly efficient method of delivering location based services over mobile networks with Differential GPS.

Traditional consumer grade GPS systems can provide accurate user location information to within 10’s of meters. This is sufficient for road travel and driving directions, but when used in crowded public spaces or within covered or multi-story structures, DGPS can be insufficient to find a friend in a crowd, navigate an autonomous vehicle/robot or have targeted advertising pushed to the proper targets near a business or point-of-interest.

Using new software tools, traditional GPS systems contained within cell-phones, PDA’s, etc. are enhanced such that professional survey grade GPS location information (10’s of centimeters) is now possible with low cost consumer grade equipment and supplemental data over the Internet. Instead of requiring a second antenna for error correction within the GPS unit, thus adding cost and form factor, wireless web provided location information is used to supplement and correct for GPS errors where signal strength is weak or highly accurate positioning is desired (such as finding a buddy in a crowed venue).

One example of this new system is the “enhanced network localization service (ENLS)” which converts RTK data to DGPS for network augmentation of devices that can only receive GPS location correction data. This conversion is a powerful supplement anywhere a RTK NTRIP service exists.

The invention is realized in working software code and is also patent pending with US and international licensing rights available. Inquiries and demonstrations are welcome.

Case Number: SD2008-150

Inquiries to: invent@ucsd.edu