E-GPS Offers More Accurate Handset Locating

Posted By: Ryan Thursday, February 3, 2005 10:44:25 AM

CPS (Cambridge Positioning Systems Ltd) today announced the launch of their new E-GPS (Enhanced Global Positioning System) technology – harnessing their Matrix technology to improve satellite-based location performance indoors and in busy city centres.

E-GPS brings together GPS technology, which relies on a location fix from satellites, with CPS’ software-only Matrix solution that uses synchronisation signals from cellular base stations.

E-GPS Offers More Accurate Handset LocatingThis means that the location provided by E-GPS is always based on the best quality signals, from either satellites or base stations in that particular area, resulting in accurate and consistent sub-100 metre performance across all environments.

E-GPS effectively resolves issues that have constantly plagued satellite-based technologies – lack of coverage in indoor and dense urban areas, time delays in returning a location, and cost.

In poor satellite coverage areas E-GPS provides an immediate high accuracy location. This contrasts with current solutions whereby there is a significant delay before GPS fails and a Cell-ID location is returned which can be several km’s in error.

Fundamentally, E-GPS will improve GPS performance in GSM and WCDMA networks, which cover over 80 per cent of the global wireless market. Both these network technologies are unsynchronised which to date has made provision of quality assistance information difficult, resulting in limited coverage and delays in returning a location. Rigorous testing and live trials – and operator and end user feedback - have highlighted the issues that A-GPS solutions face when operating in such networks. CPS is already in active discussions with partners to bring E-GPS to market.

CPS CEO Chris Wade said: “E-GPS is a powerful new addition to our Matrix portfolio. We have been working for two years to bring this to market, working with and listening to operators, end users and manufacturers. The cornerstone of E-GPS is Matrix technology, and its ability to combine with the best attributes of GPS is a ringing endorsement of our vision of ‘Matrix Everywhere’. We look forward to developing E-GPS products with our partners, and finally providing a cost-effective and thoroughly reliable satellite location solution to the market”.

“Matrix remains the best low-cost option for GSM and WCDMA. But we recognize that there is a market for GPS-based products where, in open-sky environments, satellite solutions generally offer precision tracking for navigation. E-GPS offers tremendous opportunities to the wireless world to develop and deliver new services that work everywhere, and particularly in those indoor and city centre locations where people make most use of mobile data.”

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OK ...

RhinoSteve @ 2/3/2005 2:06:33 PM # Q
So who is this good for? I don't want ads popping up on my Palm when I walk by a resturant that has a daily special.
RE: OK ...
Frenchie @ 2/3/2005 3:39:35 PM # Q
I think this is good for Palm GPS products such as the Garmin Ique. If i am not mistaken wasn't accurate GPS technology restricted because of the US defense department's fears that terrorists would use a GPS enabled device to guide missles?

The world will end in 2006. Just as it was predicted in the bible along with the release of Microsoft Longhorn.... :p
RE: OK ...
grahamnind @ 2/3/2005 5:27:17 PM # Q
Quote Frenchie "If i am not mistaken wasn't accurate GPS technology restricted because of the US defense department's fears that terrorists would use a GPS enabled device to guide missles?"

My understanding is that in the early days GPS wasn't accurate for the reason you state, but this was later changed, except around sesitive sites. e.g. military sites

RE: OK ...
T. @ 2/3/2005 5:57:37 PM # Q
It is called "Selective Availability". It is still under US control which is one of the reasons Europe is talking of their own system.

There are 24 sats (I think) in orbit. Although they could control specific satellites to control accuracy or availability in specific regions, it would be difficult to do it just around specific sites.

Related to accuracy, a company in Europe (Reelektronika) and the US (Megapulse) are using the old Loran-C infastructure (yes it is still running) o transmit GPS correction data from surveyed Reference Stations to their specialized receivers and are acheiving 2.5 meter accuracy. The receiver can also use calibrated Loran which pentetrates the "Urban Canyons" better than GPS (since it is low frequency, 100 Khz I think) for determining positions.

I know it is working at some of the stations in Europe and either is working or soon will be in Saudi Arabia.

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Forget LORAN/GPS, use mobile phone providers

Tamog @ 2/6/2005 6:58:36 AM # Q
Hi,
did you know about the triangle ping system already? The mobile phone provider has three sending devices ping your mobile phone and calculates the time that the ping took.
Then, from these ping times the position can easily be calculated by drawing distance circles around the towers. Where the three towers hit->position.
Best regards
Tam Hanna

Find out more about the Palm OS in my blog:
http://tamspalm.blogspot.com
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