GPS tracking server

Abstract: A message is provided to a tracking server system in response to a client system referencing a predetermined resource locator that corresponds to a resource external to the tracking server system. The tracking server system indirectly provides for the client system to have an informational element selectable by the client system, where the informational element is graphically identified on the client system with informational content obtainable from a content server system through use of a content resource locator. The informational element includes a tracking resource locator, referencing the tracking server system, and data identifying the informational element. The selection of the informational element causes the client system to use the tracking resource locator to provide the data to the tracking server system and to use the content resource locator to obtain the informational content from the content server system.

Abstract: Many emerging smartphone applications require position information to provide location-based or context-aware services. In these applications, GPS is often preferred over its alternatives such as GSM/WiFi based positioning systems because it is known to be more accurate. However, GPS is extremely power hungry. Hence a common approach is to periodically duty-cycle GPS. However, GPS duty-cycling trades-off positioning accuracy for lower energy. A key requirement for such applications, then, is a positioning system that provides accurate position information while spending minimal energy.In this paper, we present RAPS, rate-adaptive positioning system for smartphone applications. It is based on the observation that GPS is generally less accurate in urban areas, so it suffices to turn on GPS only as often as necessary to achieve this accuracy. RAPS uses a collection of techniques to cleverly determine when to turn on GPS. It uses the location-time history of the user to estimate user velocity and adaptively turn on GPS only if the estimated uncertainty in position exceeds the accuracy threshold. It also efficiently estimates user movement using a duty-cycled accelerometer, and utilizes Bluetooth communication to reduce position uncertainty among neighboring devices. Finally, it employs celltower-RSS blacklisting to detect GPS unavailability (e.g., indoors) and avoid turning on GPS in these cases. We evaluate RAPS through real-world experiments using a prototype implementation on a modern smartphone and show that it can increase phone lifetimes by more than a factor of 3.8 over an approach where GPS is always on.

Abstract: A tracking system employing global positioning system (GPS) satellites provides extremely accurate position, velocity, and time information for vehicles or any other animate or inanimate object within any mobile radio communication system or information system, including those operating in high rise urban areas. The tracking system includes a sensor mounted on each object, a communication link, a workstation, and a GPS reference receiver. The sensor operates autonomously following initialization by an external network management facility to sequence through the visible GPS satellites, making pseudo range and delta range or time difference and frequency difference measurements. No navigation functions are performed by the sensor, thereby permitting significant reductions in the cost thereof. The raw satellite measurements, with relevant timing and status information, are provided to the communication link to be relayed periodically back to the workstation. Differential corrections may also be provided at the workstation to increase the accuracy of the object location determination. In normal operation, three satellite measurements are required to compute the location of the object, but for a short time period a minimum of two satellite measurements are acceptable with time, altitude, and map aiding information being provided by the workstation.

Abstract: A method for distributing locating-relevant information includes providing a GPS position of a client to a server on a data network, and returning location-relevant information by the server based on the specified GPS position. Such location-relevant information include travel or tourist information (e.g., locations of tourist attractions, hotels, or restaurants). Commercial information such as discount coupons or advertising selected based on the Client's GPS position can also be provided. Financial or business transactions can be conducted using the GPS position for authentication or identification.