Universal serial bus dongle device with gps receiver and system for use therewith

Abstract

A universal serial bus (USB) dongle device includes a GPS receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS data in response thereto. A USB plug is connectable to a host device. A USB controller circuit formats the GPS data in the USB format for communication to the host device. A millimeter wave interface includes a first millimeter wave transceiver coupled to the wireless transceiver and a second millimeter wave transceiver coupled to the USB controller circuit that wirelessly communicates the GPS data between the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit via signaling in a millimeter wave frequency band.

1 . A universal serial bus (USB) dongle device comprising:
 a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS data based on the GPS signal;   a USB plug for connecting to a host device;   a USB controller circuit coupled to format the inbound data in the USB format for communication to the host device and to recover the outbound data from outbound data received in the USB format from the host device; and   a millimeter wave interface, coupled to the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit, including a first millimeter wave transceiver coupled to the wireless telephony transceiver and a second millimeter wave transceiver coupled to the USB controller circuit;   wherein the GPS receiver, the millimeter wave interface and the USB circuit are included in an integrated circuit package; and   wherein the millimeter wave interface wirelessly communicates the GPS data between the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit via signaling in a millimeter wave frequency band.   
     
     
         2 . The USB dongle device of  claim 1  wherein the USB controller circuit formats the GPS position data in the USB format for communication to the host device. 
     
     
         3 . The USB dongle device of  claim 1  wherein the GPS receiver, the millimeter wave interface and the USB controller circuit are powered by a current received from the host device via the USB plug. 
     
     
         4 . The USB dongle device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a housing coupled to support the GPS receiver, the USB plug and the USB controller circuit, wherein the housing conforms to a USB flash drive form factor.   
     
     
         5 . The USB dongle device of  claim 4  wherein the USB dongle further comprises:
 a cap that is couplable with the housing in a first position to cover the USB plug when not in use.   
     
     
         6 . The USB dongle device of  claim 5  wherein the cap is couplable with the housing in a second position to store the cap and to leave the USB plug uncovered. 
     
     
         7 . The USB dongle device of  claim 5  wherein the cap includes an opening for accepting a key ring. 
     
     
         8 . A universal serial bus (USB) dongle device comprising:
 a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS data based on the GPS signal;   a USB interface that, when coupled to a host device, communicates the inbound data to the host device and receives the outbound data from the host device, wherein the USB interface includes:
 a USB connector for connecting to the host device; and 
 a USB controller circuit coupled to format the inbound data in the USB format for communication to the host device and to recover the outbound data from outbound data received in the USB format from the host device; and 
   a millimeter wave interface, coupled to the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit, including a first millimeter wave transceiver coupled to the GPS receiver and a second millimeter wave transceiver coupled to the USB controller circuit that wirelessly communicates the GPS data between the GPS receiver and the USB controller circuit via intra-chip signaling in a millimeter wave frequency band.   
     
     
         9 . The USB dongle device of  claim 8  wherein the USB controller circuit formats the GPS position data in the USB format for communication to the host device. 
     
     
         10 . The USB dongle device of  claim 8  wherein the GPS receiver shares a receiver section with a wireless telephony transceiver that operates in accordance with a wireless telephony protocol. 
     
     
         11 . The USB dongle of  claim 8  wherein the GPS receiver and the USB interface are powered by a current received from the host device via the USB interface. 
     
     
         12 . The USB dongle device of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a housing coupled to support the GPS receiver and the USB interface, wherein the housing conforms to a USB flash drive form factor.   
     
     
         13 . The USB dongle device of  claim 12  wherein the USB interface includes a USB plug and wherein the USB dongle further comprises:
 a cap that is couplable with the housing in a first position to cover the USB plug when not in use.   
     
     
         14 . The USB dongle device of  claim 13  wherein the cap is couplable with the housing in a second position to store the cap and to leave the USB plug uncovered. 
     
     
         15 . The USB dongle device of  claim 13  wherein the cap includes an opening for accepting a key ring.