A location reporting paging communication system comprising space satellites, ground stations and a remote receiving unit adapted to resolve a global position from signals transmitted from a communication transmitter. The subscriber in possession of the remote receiving unit updates the paging network with global positioning information. A caller paging a subscriber in possession of the remote receiving unit may request the global location of the remote receiving unit. The paging network could divulge or block such information from a caller depending on the requirements of the subscriber.

Location reporting satellite paging system with optional blocking of location reporting

A system for communicating with a medical device (10) implanted in an ambulatory patient and for locating the patient in order to selectively monitor device function, alter device operating parameters and modes and provide emergency assistance to and communications with a patient (10). The implanted device (10) includes a telemetry transceiver for communicating data and operating instructions between the implanted device and an external patient communications control device (20) that is either worn by or located in proximity of the patient within the implanted device transceiving range. The control device preferably includes a communication link with a remote medical support network (50), a global positioning satellite (80) receiver for receiving positioning data identifying the global position of the control device, and a patient activated link for permitting patient initiated personal communication with the medical support network (50). A system controller (24) in the control device (20) controls data and voice communications for selectively transmitting patient initiated personal communications and global positioning data to the medical support network (50), and for receiving and initiating re-programming of the implanted device operating modes and parameters in response to instructions received from the medical support network (50). The communications link between the medical support network and the patient communications control device may comprise a worldwide satellite network, hard-wired telephone network, a cellular telephone network (82) or other personal communications system.

Worldwide patient location and data telemetry system for implantable medical devices

A cellular telephone system includes a plurality of cell sites and a mobile telephone switching office. Call management, including selection of a cell site most appropriate for a call associated with a mobile unit, are made based on the geographic location of the mobile unit as opposed to the strength of the signal associated with the call. The geographic location of the mobile unit is precisely determined using a NAVSTAR global positioning system, or its equivalent. Each mobile unit includes a GPS receiver that receives information from a geostationary satellite to determine the precise location of the mobile unit. This position information is relayed to the cell site initially managing the mobile unit, and the mobile unit is handed off to a cell site that is most appropriate for the call. Initial selection of an entrance cell site is made based on signal strength, but further call management decisions are made based on location of the mobile unit.

Cellular telephone system that uses position of a mobile unit to make call management decisions

A precision carrier frequency signal for calibrating a local oscillator of a GPS receiver which is used to acquire GPS signals. The precision carrier frequency signal is used to calibrate the local oscillator such that the output of the local oscillator, which is used to acquire GPS signals, is modified by a reference signal generated from the precision carrier frequency signal. The GPS receiver locks to this precision carrier frequency signal and generates the reference signal. In another aspect of the invention, satellite almanac data is transmitted to a remote GPS receiver unit from a basestation via a communication link. The remote GPS receiver unit uses this satellite almanac data to determine approximate Doppler data for satellites in view of the remote GPS receiver unit.

GPS receiver utilizing a communication link

A requesting terminal includes an interface that allows a user to select whether data downloaded from a network (such as the Internet) is transmitted to the requesting terminal via a high-speed link, such as a satellite link, or a lower speed link, such as a terrestrial link. Preferably, the terrestrial link (which may comprise a conventional dial-up Internet connection) is a two-way link, wherein the requesting terminal transmits data requests to the network via the terrestrial link. The data requests generated by the requesting terminal are modified to designate whether the requested data should be downloaded from the network via the terrestrial link or the satellite link. The terrestrial link may also be automatically selected for certain applications.

Method and apparatus for selectively retrieving information from a source computer using a terrestrial or satellite interface

A GPS receiver having a normal mode to receive GPS satellite signals and to provide location information, and a low power standby mode. A microprocessor system in the GPS receiver causes the GPS receiver to alternate between the normal mode and the low power standby mode in order to reduce the average power consumption in the GPS receiver. In the normal mode a GPS antenna receives GPS satellite signals, the GPS frequency downconverter converts the frequency of the GPS satellite signals to an intermediate frequency, a digital signal processing system processes the intermediate frequency to provide GPS satellite signal correlation information. The microprocessor system processes the correlation information and provides location information to a user. In the standby mode, the operating power is inhibited in the GPS antenna and the GPS frequency downconverter, the system clock is inhibited in the digital processing system, and the microprocessor clock is inhibited in the microprocessor system.

GPS receiver having a low power standby mode

A GPS receiver having a rapid acquisition of a GPS satellite signal when a normal operational mode is entered after a low power standby mode. The GPS receiver includes an RF section for receiving the GPS satellite signal and providing an GPS IF signal, a correlator section for providing a correlation signal for the correlation between the GPS IF signal and an internally generated replica signal, and a microprocessor section for receiving the correlation signal and calculating a geographical location of the GPS receiver. The replica signal is based upon a reference frequency from a reference oscillator and a reference time of arrival (TOA) from a timer. In order to increase acquisition speed, the microprocessor section provides the correlator section with an initial frequency adjustment and an initial TOA adjustment to correct for drift in the reference frequency during the standby mode. The initial adjustments are based upon a learned corrections to the initial adjustments that result in acquisition of the GPS satellite signal after alternating one or more times between the standby mode and the normal mode or from stored temperature relationships and measured temperatures of the reference oscillator.

GPS receiver having an initial adjustment for correcting for drift in reference frequency

A GPS receiver having a rapid acquisition of a GPS satellite signal when a normal operational mode is entered after a low power standby mode. The GPS receiver includes an RF section for receiving the GPS satellite signal and providing an GPS IF signal, a correlator section for providing a correlation signal for the correlation between the GPS IF signal and a GPS replica signal, and a microprocessor section for receiving the correlation signal and calculating a geographical location of the GPS receiver. The GPS replica signal is based upon a reference frequency from a reference oscillator and a reference time from a timer. In the standby mode, the operation of the RF section, correlator section, and microprocessor section is inhibited while the reference oscillator and time continue to operate. In order to increase acquisition speed upon entering the normal mode, the microprocessor section provides the correlator section with an initial frequency adjustment to correct for drift in the reference frequency during the standby mode. The microprocessor section provides the initial frequency adjustment based upon a learned frequency correction that is based upon the frequency adjustment that results in acquisition of the GPS satellite signal after alternating one or more times between the standby mode and the normal mode. Alternately, the initial frequency adjustment is calculated from a stored frequency/temperature relationship and a temperature for the reference oscillator measured by a temperature sensor.

Eric B. Rodal

Papers

GPS receiver having a low power standby mode

GPS receiver having an initial adjustment for correcting for drift in reference frequency

GPS receiver having a rapid acquisition of GPS satellite signals