Abstract:
A personal radio service (PRS) device configured to engage in private, short-range two-way voice communications with another PRS device in range of the PRS device. The PRS device can include a GPS receiver disposed in the PRS device; and, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The RF transceiver can be configured both to modulate and transmit voice communications and positioning data received from the GPS receiver, and also to demodulate voice communications and positioning data received from other PRS devices in range of the PRS device. The PRS device can include any private, short-range, two-way communications device, for example a Citizens Band (CB) radio services device, a General Mobile Radio Services (GMRS) device, and a Family Radio Services (FRS) device, each configured to engage in private, short-range two-way voice communications with another corresponding device in range thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Statement of the Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to private Personal Radio Services (PRS) for short distance two-way voice communications and more particularly to a location-based PRS device and apparatus.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Personal Radio Services (PRS) include those short-distance two-way radio frequency voice communications services which can be used by individuals to communicate with others while in close proximity to one another. Historically, PRS included the Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service and the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). While both are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), only the use of GMRS requires an operator license. With the CB Radio Service, users can expect a communications range of one to five miles. By comparison, with the GMRS, users can expect a range of five to twenty-five miles.  
           [0005]    Recently, the FCC has authorized the use of the Family Radio Service (FRS). The FRS is a citizens band radio service which includes fourteen channels which can be used by individuals on a “take turns” basis. No FRS channel is assigned to any specific individual or organization. Rather, FRS is intended for use by civilians who can communicate among themselves within neighborhoods and while on group outings. Additionally, while it is not permissible to link an FRS device to the public switched telephone network, civilians may use an FRS device to conduct business-related communications. Presently, the FCC regulates the use of the frequency spectrum allocated to FRS devices and has published four rules pertaining to the operation of FRS devices in the United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Telecommunications, Part 80 to End.  
           [0006]    Unlike FRS, Global Positioning System (GPS) devices have been publically available for nearly a decade. In fact, though GPS initially had been designed for and operated by the U.S. military, today there are many thousands of civilian users of GPS worldwide. In operation, GPS provides specially coded satellite signals that can be processed in a GPS receiver, enabling the receiver to compute position, velocity and time. Four GPS satellite signals are used to compute positions in three dimensions and the time offset in the receiver clock. GPS devices first became popular during the Persian Gulf War, as they were used extensively by servicemen to find their location.  
           [0007]    Since the late 1990s, cellular phone manufacturers have incorporated location based services into long-range radio frequency communications devices such as cellular telephones. In particular, the combination of GPS and cellular services has ben viewed in the vehicle security industry as a sensible combination in view of the worldwide range of a cellular telephone and the corresponding uncertainty of one&#39;s absolute geographic position at any one time. Exemplary uses of a combined cellular telephone/GPS system include the ubiquitous OnStar® system deployed in automobiles by automobile manufacturers such as General Motors and Ford Motor Company.  
           [0008]    Unlike the combination of cellular telephone and GPS technologies, a similar combination of short-range radio communications and GPS technologies heretofore has not been developed because the limited physical range of a short-range radio communications system has not resulted in the same difficulties of locating one&#39;s absolute geographic position. Rather, typically users of short-range communications systems are aware of their general geographic position, particularly given the purpose of the FRS—to enable communications between individuals in a neighborhood or at a group outing. Furthermore, given the typical market for short-range communications systems by comparison to the more expensive GPS systems, it has not been economically feasible to combine both systems.  
           [0009]    Nevertheless, it would be desirable to be able to ascertain one&#39;s position relative to a companion party in a private, short distance two-way voice communications session. Importantly, it is not usually realistic to reference the location of a companion party in a private, long range two-way communications session such as a cellular telephone call inasmuch as the range of the cellular telephone at an extreme permits intercontinental conversations. In contrast, in short-range voice communications systems, conversing parties typically must be within short range of one another, at most a few miles. Hence, it would be useful to be able to ascertain the location of a companion party to a private, two-way voice communications session.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system and method able to ascertain the location of a companion party to a private, two-way voice communications session. Specifically, the present invention is a personal radio services (PRS) apparatus uniquely combined with a GPS system so as to provide location based data both to the user of the PRS apparatus and to a companion party communicatively linked to the PRS apparatus in a two-way voice communications session.  
           [0011]    In one aspect of the invention, a PRS device can be provided which has been configured to engage in private, short-range two-way voice communications with another PRS device in range of the PRS device. The PRS device can include a GPS receiver disposed in the PRS device; and, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The RF transceiver can be configured both to modulate and transmit voice communications and positioning data received from the GPS receiver, and also to demodulate voice communications and positioning data received from other PRS devices in range of the PRS device.  
           [0012]    The PRS device also can include a positioning information processor for processing positioning data received from said GPS receiver. An encoder/decoder circuit also can be provided which can encode positioning data for transmission by the RF transceiver. Finally, the PRS device can include an identification tone generator for generating identification tones. In that case, the encoder can encode the positioning data in the generated identification tones for transmission by the RF transceiver.  
           [0013]    Notably, the PRS apparatus can include both a mapping processor for processing the positioning data relative to an absolute location in a map, and also a visual display for displaying both the map and the processed positioning data overlain on the map. The PRS apparatus also can include a visual display for displaying position information based upon the positioning data. In that case the displayed position information can include a bearing and range of another PRS device with which the PRS device is engaged in private, short-range, two-way voice communications.  
           [0014]    The PRS device can include any private, short-range, two-way communications device. One example of a suitable PRS device can include a Citizens Band (CB) radio services device configured to engage in private, short-range two-way voice communications with another CB Radio Services device in range of the CB Radio Services device. Another example of a suitable PRS device can include a General Mobile Radio Services (GMRS) device configured to engage in private, short-range two-way voice communications with another GMRS device in range of the GMRS device. Yet another example of a suitable PRS device can include a Family Radio Services (FRS) device configured to engage in private, short-range two-way voice communications with another FRS device in range of the FRS device.  
           [0015]    The present invention also can include a PRS communications method. A PRS communications method in accordance with the inventive arrangements can include the steps of establishing a private, two-way, short-range voice communications link with another PRS device, establishing a data link with a positioning data transmitter and receiving positioning data from the positioning data transmitter. The positioning data can be processed to determine location-based information associated with the PRS device. Once processed, the location-based information can be displayed in the PRS device. Importantly, the positioning data can be encoded using a privacy code prior to transmission. In particular, the privacy code can restrict access to the positioning data by other PRS devices.  
           [0016]    In one aspect of the invention, the method further can include the steps of modulating the positioning data onto a carrier signal which can be transmitted over the private, two-way, short-range voice communications link, and transmitting the modulated positioning data to another PRS device. Conversely, modulated positioning data can be received from another PRS device over the private, two-way short-range voice communications link, and the received modulated positioning data can be demodulated. The demodulated positioning data can be processed to determine further location-based information associated with the another PRS device, and  
           [0017]    the further location-based information can be displayed in the PRS device.  
           [0018]    Importantly, the modulating step can include the steps of encoding the positioning data in an identification tone; modulating the identification tone onto a carrier signal which can be transmitted over the private, two-way, short-range voice communications link; and,  
           [0019]    transmitting the modulated positioning data to another PRS device. Conversely, the demodulating step can include the steps of: receiving a modulated identification tone in a carrier signal from the another PRS device over the private, two-way short-range voice communications link; demodulating the received modulated identification tone; and, decoding positioning data in the identification tone.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    There are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of two personal radio service (PRS) devices communicatively linked in a private, two-way voice communications session; and,  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a PRS device which has been configured in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration a visual display of positioning data in the display of the PRS device of FIG. 2.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    The present invention is a personal radio service (PRS) device which has been configured with a GPS receiver so that location based information can be shared with another PRS device communicatively linked to the PRS device in a private, two-way voice communications session. Specifically, the location based information can be received from the GPS receiver and modulated into a carrier signal to be transmitted over a private, two-way voice communications link to another PRS device. In one aspect of the present invention, the location based information can be encoded in identification tones which can be transmitted between PRS devices.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of two personal radio service (PRS) devices  150 A,  150 B communicatively linked in a private, two-way voice communications session. Each PRS device can include an audio transducer  152 A,  152 B through which analog speech input can be converted into an electrical waveform to be transmitted via radio frequency (RF) transmitter to another PRS device. An example of such an audio transducer can include a conventional microphone element. Conversely, an audio transducer can be provided (not additionally shown) which can convert an electrical waveform into an audible signal. An example of such an audio transducer is a conventional speaker element.  
         [0026]    Each PRS device  150 A,  150 B can include a push-to-talk button, which when depressed can signal the PRS device  150 A,  150 B to permit the RF transmission of audio speech provided through the audio transducer  152 A,  152 B. Additionally, as in the case of a conventional wireless communications device, the PRS device  150 A,  150 B can include one or more antennae  158 A,  158 B which can be used not only to transmit and receive RF transmissions to and from the PRS device  150 A,  150 B, but also the antennae  158 A,  158 B can be used to receive GPS positioning data transmissions from a constellation of GPS satellites  100 . Finally, the PRS device  150 A,  150 B can include a visual display  154 A,  154 B through which positioning data can be presented to an end-user.  
         [0027]    In accordance with the inventive arrangements, each PRS device  150 A,  150 B can receive positioning data from the GPS satellite constellation  100 . In particular, in one aspect of the invention the PRS device  150 A,  150 B can receive the GPS positioning data continuously. The invention is not limited in this regard, however, and in an alternative aspect of the invention, the GPS positioning data can be received from the satellite constellation  100  only during those times when the PRS device  150 A,  150 B is engaged in a private, two-way voice communications session with another PRS device.  
         [0028]    In any case, the GPS positioning data can be received and processed in each PRS device  150 A,  150 B. In one aspect of the invention, the GPS positioning data, either raw or interpreted, can be displayed in the visual display  154 A,  154 B. More importantly, however, the GPS positioning data can be transmitted to another PRS device so that other PRS devices can ascertain the position of the transmitting PRS device  150 A,  150 B. In one aspect of the invention, a graphical representation of the GPS positioning data can be presented in the visual display  156 A,  156 B which explicitly includes a visual representation of the position of another PRS device with which the PRS device  150 A,  150 B is communicating. For instance, the position of the another PRS device can be overlain on a map.  
         [0029]    Notably, though the invention contemplates the use of two or more PRS devices  150 A,  150 B as substantially described herein in a two-way voice communications session, the invention is not so limited and the PRS devices  150 A,  150 B equally can communicate with other PRS devices which have not been configured in accordance with the inventive arrangements. In particular, as positioning data can be transmitted via low frequency tones, a PRS device  150 A,  150 B which has been configured accordingly still can communicate with a PRS device which has not been equipped in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a PRS device  150 A,  150 B which has been configured in accordance with the inventive arrangements. As shown in FIG. 2, the PRS device  150 A,  150 B can include componentry typically found in a conventional wireless RF communications device. Such componentry can include an antenna  230 , an RF transmitter/receiver  220 , a microphone  280  and a speaker  290 . In the present invention, the PRS device  150 A,  150 B also can include an identification tone generator  260  for generating identification tones, and an encoder/decoder for encoding the identification tones into a signal which can be RF transmitted to recipient PRS devices.  
         [0031]    Importantly, the PRS device  150 A,  150 B shown in FIG. 2 also can include a GPS receiver  210 , a positioning information processor  240  and a display  270 . The GPS receiver  210  can receive positioning data from a constellation of GPS satellites (typically four satellites). The GPS positioning data which has been received can be processed in the positioning information processor  240 . Specifically, the positioning information processor can determine from the raw GPS positioning data the present position of the PRS device  150 A,  150 B. The positioning information processor  240  further can determine additional positioning data based upon the raw GPS positioning data, for example the range and bearing of another PRS device relative to the PRS device  150 A,  150 B. Finally, the positioning data can be displayed in the visual display  270 .  
         [0032]    Aside from processing positioning data received through the GPS receiver  210 , the PRS device  150 A,  150 B also can process positioning data received through a GPS receiver of another PRS device with which the PRS device  150 A,  150 B is engaged in a private, two-way voice communications session. In particular, the encoder/decoder  250  can extract from a received RF signal positioning data embedded therein. The encoder/decoder  250  can pass the decoded positioning data to the positioning information processor  240  to be processed in a similar manner to that of the positioning data received by the GPS receiver  210 .  
         [0033]    Conversely, GPS positioning data received in the GPS receiver  210  can be encoded into a signal suitable for transmission to another PRS device with which the PRS device  150 A,  150 B is engaged in a private, two-way voice communications session. In one aspect of the invention, the positioning data can be encoded in the identification tones generated by the identification tone generator  260 . In this way, two communicating PRS devices can ascertain the position of the other, including range and bearing where desired.  
         [0034]    In a second, particular aspect of the present invention, privacy codes can be utilized to control the transmission of positioning data to other PRS devices  150 A,  150 B. Specifically, as is well known in the art, privacy codes can be used to limit the ability of PRS devices to engage in a two-way voice communications session. For example, some PRS devices use privacy codes to de-scramble scrambled voice communications. In any case, in the second, particular aspect of the present invention, privacy codes can be used to restrict access to positioning data transmitted between communicating PRS devices.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the PRS device  150 A,  150 B of FIG. 2 which particularly depicts the visual display of positioning data in the display  270  of the PRS device  150 A,  150 B. In particular, first the PRS device  150 A,  150 B can determine an absolute geographic position for the PRS device  150 A,  150 B. Once determined, the absolute geographic position can be associated with a particular position on a map  300 . The map  300  can be displayed in display  270  and the associated position  310  can be displayed thereon. As positioning data is decoded from received radio transmissions from companion PRS devices, the received positioning data can be associated with a particular position on the map  300 . Subsequently, the decoded positioning data  320  can be displayed on the map. Notably, as shown in FIG. 3, decoded positioning data  320  for each PRS device in communications with the PRS device  150 A,  150 B can have a separate indicator, for instance the letters “A”, “B”, “C”, and so on. In consequence, during a PRS radio communications session, each participant in the conversation can ascertain the location of other participants to the conversation.  
         [0036]    The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Computer software which can be included as part of the present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system, or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein, is suited.  
         [0037]    A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose embedded computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. Computer program or application in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.  
         [0038]    Significantly, this invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.