Positioning systems utilizing mobile telephone system for correction signals

Abstract

A positioning system where receiving stations such as multipurpose mobile communications devices ( 25 ) can thereby calculate their position; the system further including base stations ( 28 ) adapted to receive position information from the receiving stations ( 25 ) over a communications path ( 22 ) of a mobile telephone system. The system allows the receiving stations to receive a correction signal ( 13 ) from a correction station ( 14 ) over the communications path ( 22 ) on a special signaling layer ( 24 ) whereby the receiving stations can calculate a corrected position. The system can be used in conjunction with many forms of mobile telephone system.

1 . A system for tracking the location of vehicles and the like, said system comprising local positioning information supply means which corrects positioning information received from satellites so as to produce a local positioning information signal; said system further comprising a mobile telephone system which transmits said local positioning information signal to said vehicles and the like. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said mobile telephone system additionally contributes information to said system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said local positioning information signal is transmitted as part of a control layer signal or messaging signal on said mobile telephone system for reception by a mobile telephone receiver which further includes differential global positioning means whereby a physical location in three dimensions of said receiver is obtained. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said positioning information together with identity information is transmitted from said mobile telephone receiver back over said special signalling layer to database means whereby position, identity and other derived information for a plurality of like mobile receivers can be monitored at a remote location. 
     
     
         5 . A mobile telephone system transmitter/receiver including global position calculating means. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said global position calculating means is adapted to utilise a differential GPS correction signal whereby relatively accurate position information can be derived by said global position calculating means. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said differential GPS correction signal is transmitted on a special signalling layer of a communications path provided by a mobile telephone system of which said mobile telephone system transmitter/receiver forms a part. 
     
     
         8 . A global positioning system wherein receiving stations are adapted to receive raw positioning information and thereby calculate a position for said receiving stations; said system further including base stations adapted to receive data comprising said position and wherein said data is transmitted over a communications path of a mobile telephone system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said communications path includes at least a signal layer and a control layer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said data is transmitted over a special signalling layer of said communications path. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said special signalling layer is interleaved across said signal layer and said control layer. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said mobile telephone system comprises a cellular network. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said mobile telephone system comprises a trunked radio system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said mobile telephone system comprises a personal communications system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein additional data is supplied over said communications path to said receiving stations, said additional data comprising local positioning information; said local positioning information allowing said receiving stations to calculate a corrected position based on said local positioning information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said receiving stations, on request from said base stations, calculate and transmit only said position to said base stations. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein, on request from said base stations, said receiving stations, calculate and transmit said corrected position. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said data additionally includes satellite identification data comprising the identity of satellites from which said receiving stations have received said raw positioning information. 
     
     
         19 . A system for tracking the location of vehicles and the like, said system comprising local positioning information supply means which corrects positioning information received from satellites so as to produce a local positioning information signal; said system further comprising a mobile telephone system which transmits said local positioning information signal to said vehicles and the like; and wherein said local positioning information signal is transmitted as part of a control layer signal or messaging signal on said mobile telephone system for reception by a mobile telephone receiver which further includes differential global positioning means whereby a physical location in three dimensions of said receiver is obtained. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said mobile telephone system additionally contributes information to said system. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said positioning information together with identity information is transmitted from said mobile telephone receiver back over said special signalling layer to database means whereby position, identity and other derived information for a plurality of like mobile receivers can be monitored at a remote location. 
     
     
         22 . A mobile telephone system transmitter/receiver including global position calculating means; wherein said global position calculating means is adapted to utilise a differential GPS correction signal whereby relatively accurate position information can be derived by said global position calculating means, and wherein said differential GPS correction signal is transmitted on a special signalling layer of a communications path provided by a mobile telephone system of which said mobile telephone system transmitter/receiver forms a part. 
     
     
         23 . A global positioning system wherein receiving stations are adapted to receive raw positioning information and thereby calculate a position for said receiving stations; said system further including base stations adapted to receive data comprising said position and wherein said data is transmitted over a communications path of a mobile telephone system; wherein said communications path includes at least a signal layer and a control layer, and wherein said data is transmitted over a special signalling layer of said communications path. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said special signalling layer is interleaved across said signal layer and said control layer. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said mobile telephone system comprises a cellular network. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said mobile telephone system comprises a trunked radio system. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said mobile telephone system comprises a personal communications system. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23  wherein additional data is supplied over said communications path to said receiving stations, said additional data comprising local positioning information; said local positioning information allowing said receiving stations to calculate a corrected position based on said local positioning information. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein said receiving stations, on request from said base stations, calculate and transmit only said position to said base stations. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein, on request from said base stations, said receiving stations, calculate and transmit said corrected position. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28  wherein said data additionally includes satellite identification data comprising the identity of satellites from which said receiving stations have received said raw positioning information.