Locating System and Method

Abstract

A method and system in which a mobile controller can show on a display a bearing line to a rover. It is done using a radio positioning system such as GPS or other satellite positioning system to find the relative position of the controller and the rover plus means such as a compass or successive radio positioning fixes to find the heading of the rover. Then, using the relative position of the rover to the controller and the heading of the controller the bearing from the controller to the heading is calculated in a specially programmed computer.

1 . A system for locating and tracking at least one rover unit from a mobile controller unit comprising; 
 a mobile controller unit comprising; 
 a radio position receiver/processor module for receiving and processing radio position information from a radio positioning source and being equipped with a means to obtain heading information of the mobile controller unit;  
 a display;  
   a rover unit comprising; 
 a radio position receiver/processor module for receiving and processing radio position information from a radio positioning source; and  
   a specially programmed computer that is enabled to obtain and use radio positioning information for the rover unit and the mobile controller unit from their respective radio position receiver/processors and heading information for the mobile controller unit and by using said radio positioning information of the mobile controller and the rover and heading information of the mobile controller unit to calculate the bearing of the rover from the mobile controller unit relative to the mobile controller unit's heading and to allow upon selection by user, display on display of the mobile controller unit, a bearing line from the mobile controller unit to the rover unit relative to the mobile controller unit's heading and position.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the radio positioning source is the GPS.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the radio positioning information of the mobile controller unit and of the rover is obtained from a satellite positioning system.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further wherein the distance from the mobile controller unit to the rover unit is calculated and the distance is enabled to be displayed on the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further wherein in the specially programmed computer the speed of movement of the rover unit is calculated and is enabled to be displayed on the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further wherein in a specially programmed computer the height of the rover unit relative to the mobile controller unit is calculated and is enabled to be displayed on the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further wherein an audible announcement of the rover unit's bearing direction and distance from the mobile controller unit is provided.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the radio position information is GPS pseudorange information.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the mobile controller unit and the rover unit also include a wireless communication module that is part of a radio communication system.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further wherein the specially programmed computer is programmed to enable display on a map of the position of either or both the mobile controller unit and/or the rover unit.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the rover unit and the mobile controller unit use the most common suite of GPS satellites available.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the mobile controller unit is additionally enabled to obtain its heading information from either or both the GPS and/or a compass which is installed in the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  in which the radio communication system is a cellular communication system.  
     
     
         14 . A method for locating a rover unit from a mobile controller unit comprising; 
 the mobile controller unit obtaining its radio position information from a radio positioning source and its heading;    the rover unit obtaining its radio position information from the radio positioning source.    using the radio position information of the rover unit and the mobile controller unit and the heading of the mobile controller unit calculating with a specially programmed computer the bearing of the rover unit relative to the heading and position of the mobile controller unit; and    displaying a bearing line from the mobile controller unit to the rover unit relative to the heading and position of the mobile controller unit.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further wherein the radio positioning source is the GPS.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising obtaining the radio positioning information of the mobile controller unit and of the rover from a satellite positioning system.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising calculating the distance from the mobile controller unit to the rover unit and enabling display of the distance on a display on the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising calculating the speed of movement of the rover unit and enabling its display on the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising calculating the height of the rover unit relative to the mobile controller unit and enabling its display on the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising providing an audible announcement of the rover unit's bearing direction and distance from the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising providing a wireless communication module that is part of a radio communication system.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the GPS radio position information of the rover unit and the controller unit is obtained from a most common suite of GPS satellites.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the radio position information is GPS pseudorange information.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the heading of the controller is obtained by using either or both GPS signals and/or a compass which is installed in the mobile controller unit.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  in which the radio communication system is a cellular communication system.