u-blox Introduces Innovative Cellular Positioning Architecture
New CellLocate™ feature of LEON GSM module supports indoor positioning and eliminates "no-fix" scenarios
ORLANDO, Fla., March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CTIA Wireless Booth 1673 – u-blox, a leading fabless semiconductor provider of embedded positioning and wireless communication solutions for the consumer, industrial and automotive markets, today announced it has added a new cellular positioning technology CellLocate™ to its LEON GSM/GPRS module family to provide positioning in poor GPS signal conditions, or even without a GPS system present. This revolutionary embedded technology complements ublox GPS by adding a parallel and complementary technique for determining position.
"GPS positioning works fine in open sky conditions, but falls short when deep inside buildings, airports, tunnels, underground parking and other shielded environments," said Nikolaos Papadopoulos, President, u-blox America. "The CellLocate feature of our LEON GSM module supports a new positioning architecture that can provide an approximate position in the absence of a GPS receiver, or augment GPS positioning in areas where satellite view is blocked."
LEON with CellLocate provides benefits in several use cases:
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Enhanced stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) CellLocate enhances SVT by enabling approximate vehicle positioning in relation to GSM base station locations, a feature that is useful especially in the presence of GPS jammers, or if a vehicle is hidden inside a metallic trailer. |
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Tracking of valuable goods or containers when inside buildings and tunnels Based on the extension of u-blox' AssistNow Online GPS assistance service, u-blox' proprietary CellLocate architecture leverages mobile network parameters to support indoor positioning based on GSM base station attributes. This is useful when tracking valuable assets and containers when they are inside warehouses, airports, or tunnels where GPS satellites are blocked, eliminating "no-fix" scenarios. |
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Personal tracking The technology can be used as a back-up positioning system for tracking people who spend significant time within buildings where GPS does not work: GPS is used when outdoors, CellLocate when inside. |
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The CellLocate of LEON provides a single API regardless of the available positioning technology. LEON selects the optimal positioning solution based on user-defined configuration settings.
The above scenarios use cell and/or GPS positioning techniques to deliver better results than either technology could accomplish alone. The technology eliminates "no-fix" scenarios by providing at least an approximate fix wherever cell phone coverage is available, while overcoming GPS jamming scenarios to improve antitheft system performance.
u-blox' CellLocate cellular positioning technology is a feature implemented in u-blox' LEON 2.5G wireless modem families. Samples available end of April 2011, followed by mass production in June.
About u-blox' LEON GSM/GPRS module
The LEON 2.5G wireless module series from u-blox is a cost efficient embedded communications solution bringing full feature quad-band GSM/GPRS data and voice transmission technology in a compact form factor. With low power consumption and GSM/GPRS class 10 data transmission and voice capability, the LEON series combines baseband, RF transceiver, power management unit, and power amplifier in a single, easy-to-integrate solution. LEON is available in standard and automotive quality grades. An evaluation kit, EVK-G26H, is available at www.u-blox.com/en/online-shop.html.
About u-blox
u-blox is a leading fabless semiconductor provider of embedded positioning and wireless communication solutions for the consumer, industrial and automotive markets. Our solutions enable people, devices, vehicles and machines to locate their exact position and wirelessly communicate via voice, text or video. With a broad portfolio of GPS modules, chips, and software solutions together with wireless modules and solutions, u-blox is uniquely positioned to enable OEMs to develop innovative solutions quickly and cost-effectively. Headquartered in Switzerland, u-blox was founded in 1997 and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. (www.u-blox.com)
SOURCE u-blox
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