Assistance with a satellite positioning function

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assisting a vehicle's satellite positioning function. A request is transmitted (205; 207) from a device comprising a first interface for communicating with a cellular network base station and a second interface for communicating with a local access point of a local network connected to the internet. The request is transmitted via the first radio interface or via the second radio interface to a platform that receives (206; 209) the request via a first network access point capable of communicating with the cellular network or via a second network access point connected to the internet. Following the transmission (211) of the request to a third-party server storing satellite positions, the platform receives (213) from the third-party server a response comprising the satellite position data and transmits (215) the response to the vehicle's device. FIG. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Assistance to a satellite positioning function

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of obtaining satellite positions from a satellite positioning system, in particular to assist the implementation of a positioning function in a vehicle.

[0002] The term “vehicle” means any type of vehicle such as a private, utility or heavy goods vehicle.

[0003] The vehicles incorporate on-board navigation systems using satellite signals from a satellite positioning system, such as the GPS system, for "Global Positioning System" in English, or the Galileo system for example, in order to position the vehicle in space.

[0004] Satellite signals are received via a GPS antenna installed on the roof of the vehicle, in an area called the roof. The GPS antenna detects at least three signals from three different satellites to position the vehicle in two dimensions, or four signals from four different satellites for three-dimensional positioning of the vehicle, including the vehicle's altitude.

[0005] When a positioning function is started by the vehicle's on-board system, the GPS antenna radiates and sweeps in all directions of space in order to detect signals from the satellites.

[0006] Scanning all positions in space increases the time to acquire the positions of the satellites, also called TTFF for "Time To First Fix" in English, which corresponds to the time required for a first localization of the vehicle when launching the vehicle positioning function.

[0007] A known solution for reducing TTFF time is called AGNSS, for "Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System". AGNSS is a connected service that improves TTFF, and therefore the performance of the vehicle's positioning function, by storing real-time or regularly updated positions of the satellites of the satellite positioning system on a third-party server dedicated to the connected service.

[0008] For such an update, the service incorporates an active antenna that detects the position of the satellites in the sky in real time by capturing their signals. By inverse calculation, and based on the position of the active antenna, the server dedicated to the AGNSS service calculates the positions of the satellites in the sky.

[0009] The last position in the sky thus obtained, and an extrapolation of the future positions of the satellites in the sky, are stored continuously and made available to the server dedicated to the AGNSS service.

[0010] The third-party server dedicated to the AGNSS service is accessible via a URL address, for Uniform Resource Locator » » in English, to all vehicles that can access a cellular network such as a 5G cellular network for example.

[0011] Vehicles can thus integrate a function called GPS satellite positioning assistance, allowing the positions of the satellites to be requested from the third-party server dedicated to the AGNSS service. The vehicle connects for this purpose to the 5G cellular network, and requests access to the URL of the server dedicated to the AGNSS service, in order to know the current positions of the satellites as well as possibly their positions at future times.

[0012] From the current positions of the satellites, and possibly future positions, the GPS antenna can target a subset of positions in the sky to detect the position of the satellites, and deduce the positioning of the vehicle, thus reducing the TTFF, compared to the solution without the AGNSS service.

[0013] However, although the TTFF is reduced, access to the AGNSS service requires a connection to a cellular network. Depending on the vehicle's location, the quality of the radio link with the cellular network can vary: the AGNSS service may not be accessible to vehicles located in areas with poor cellular network coverage. This can result in the unavailability or interruption of the AGNSS service, thus more generally degrading the vehicle's positioning function.

[0014] There is therefore a need to improve the robustness associated with access to a satellite positioning service to assist a vehicle positioning function.

[0015] The present invention improves the situation.

[0016] To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for assisting a satellite positioning function of a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - transmission of a request from a device in a vehicle comprising a first radio interface capable of communicating with a base station of a cellular network and a second radio interface capable of communicating with a local access point of a local wireless network connected to an internet network, the device being capable of implementing the satellite positioning function of the vehicle, the request being transmitted via the first radio interface and / or via the second radio interface and being intended for a platform assisting the satellite positioning function; - reception of the request by a first network access point of the platform capable of communicating with the cellular network, and / or by a second network access point of the platform connected to the internet network; - transmission, by the platform, of the request to a third-party server storing satellite position data; - obtaining, by the platform, from the third-party server, a response including satellite position data; - transmission, via the platform, of the response to the vehicle's device.

[0017] Thus, the invention allows the vehicle's device to access the platform via two separate and independent radio interfaces. The unavailability of one does not affect the availability of the other, and the robustness associated with satellite positioning assistance is improved.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the response can be transmitted to the device by the network access point that received the request from the device.

[0019] Thus, the transmission of the response is more likely to reach the device, which further improves the robustness associated with satellite positioning assistance.

[0020] According to embodiments, the method may further include a selection by the device of at least one radio interface from among the first radio interface and the second radio interface, according to at least one predetermined rule, the request being transmitted to the at least one selected radio interface.

[0021] Thus, the device can select one, the other or both interfaces, depending on the constraints that apply to the device, which enhances the robustness as well as the speed associated with satellite positioning assistance.

[0022] In addition, the method may further include a determination by the device of a first availability of the first radio interface and a second availability of the second radio interface, and at least one radio interface may be selected according to at least one predetermined rule, the first availability and the second availability.

[0023] Thus, the robustness and speed associated with satellite positioning assistance are improved.

[0024] According to embodiments, the method may further include filtering by a third network access point of the platform capable of communicating with the third server via the internet network, of the request transmitted to the third server and of the response received from the third server.

[0025] The satellite positioning assistance service is thus secured by the platform, which thereby forms a trusted network with the vehicle. The platform could, for example, be a platform belonging to the vehicle manufacturer.

[0026] According to embodiments, following the reception of the response, the device can direct an antenna according to the satellite position data in the response, to receive signals from satellites.

[0027] Thus, the TTFF time is reduced, ensuring greater robustness of the service satellite positioning assistance.

[0028] A second aspect of the invention relates to a system for assisting a vehicle's satellite positioning function, the system comprising: - at least one base station of a cellular network; - at least one local access point of a local wireless network capable of accessing an internet network; - a vehicle device, capable of implementing the vehicle's satellite positioning function, comprising a first radio interface capable of communicating with said at least one base station, and a second radio interface capable of communicating with said at least one local access point; - a platform comprising an intermediate server, a first network access point capable of communicating with the cellular network, a second network access point capable of communicating with the internet network, and a third network access point capable of communicating with a third-party server via the internet network, the third-party server storing satellite position data from a satellite positioning system; in which, upon receipt of a request from the device, via the first network interface and / or via the second network interface,

[0029] According to some embodiments, the third network access point can be a demilitarized zone.

[0030] The satellite positioning assistance service is thus secured by the platform, which thereby forms a network of trust with the vehicle.

[0031] According to some embodiments, the system may further include the third-party server, said third-party server being capable of storing and keeping up-to-date satellite position data.

[0032] Thus, the system integrates the third-party server which can be an AGNSS server directly connected to the active antenna described above.

[0033] In addition, satellite position data may include current satellite positions and predicted positions of satellites at future times.

[0034] Thus, the accuracy associated with the positioning of the satellites is improved, which facilitates the search for satellite signals by the device, and therefore reduces the TTFF time.

[0035] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0036] [Fig.1] illustrates a system for assisting a satellite positioning function of a vehicle, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0037] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the steps of a process according to methods of implementation implementation of the invention.

[0038] Fig. 1 illustrates a system 10 for obtaining satellite positions, to assist the implementation of a satellite positioning function in a vehicle 100, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0039] The vehicle 100 includes a device 110 capable of implementing a satellite positioning function for the vehicle 100.

[0040] The device 110 may be a telematics unit arranged on the roof of the vehicle, in an area called the roof. The telematics unit 110 may include a control unit 111, which forms an on-board vehicle positioning system, a first radio interface for accessing a cellular network 120, a second radio interface for accessing a wireless local area network associated with a local access point 130, and a GPS antenna 114, capable of receiving satellite signals.

[0041] The first radio interface 112 and the second radio interface 113 can be integrated into the same connection manager module, also called "connection manager" in English.

[0042] According to the invention, the telematics box 110 can require the GPS assistance service to obtain the positions of the satellites, via two interfaces based on distinct technologies, formed by the first access unit 112 and the second access unit 113.

[0043] The first radio interface 112 can be an access interface to a cellular network 120 of type 3G, 4G or 5G for example.

[0044] The 120 cellular network can thus be a 3G, 4G, or 5G type network comprising a set of base stations, each with a coverage area. The coverage areas of the base stations constitute the coverage of the 120 cellular network.

[0045] The second radio interface 113 can be a Wi-Fi interface, based on the protocol standardized in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Thus, the local access point 130 is a Wi-Fi access point defining a local network for accessing the internet network 140. The local access network is formed around the local access point 130, over a distance of several meters, generally several tens of meters and potentially up to more than a hundred meters in open areas.

[0046] No restrictions are attached to the local Wifi access network, which may be a public Wifi network, accessible in the street or inside a building, for example in a parking lot, or which may be a private Wifi network, for example the Wifi network associated with the Wifi terminal of the owner of vehicle 100.

[0047] The system 10 according to the invention further comprises a platform 150 dedicated to obtaining satellite positions for the implementation of a vehicle positioning function 100. The platform 150 allows, in particular, querying a third-party server 160 dedicated to a GPS positioning assistance service or AGNSS service. The third-party server 160 can, in particular, store or access, in real time, current positions of satellites of a satellite positioning system, thus that optionally predict positions for future times.

[0048] The platform 150 can in particular be a platform of the manufacturer of the vehicle 100.

[0049] Platform 150 comprises, according to the invention: - an intermediate server or proxy 153; - a first access interface 151, forming an interface between the proxy server 153 and the cellular network 120. The proxy server 153 can thus receive a request from the device 110 via the cellular network 120. The first access interface 151 thus forms a private network access point, or private APN, for "Access Point Name", of the proxy server 153, and; - a second access interface 152, forming an interface between the proxy server 153 and the internet network 140. The proxy server 153 can thus receive a request from the device 110 via the Wifi access point 130 and the internet network 140. The second access interface 152 thus forms a public network access point, or public APN, of the proxy server 153.

[0050] The platform 154 further includes a third access interface 154, or third network access point, between the proxy server 153 and the internet network 140, for accessing the third server 160 implementing the AGNSS service.

[0051] The third access interface 154 may advantageously be a demilitarized zone, or DMZ, which serves as a buffer between the internet network 140 and the proxy server 153. The DMZ may include a security gateway, such as a firewall, capable of filtering traffic between the internet network 140, in particular the third-party server 160, and the proxy server 153.

[0052] The platform 150 according to the invention thus makes it possible to provide secure access for the vehicle 100, and dual-stream access, to the third-party server 160 providing the AGNSS service.

[0053] Thus, according to the invention, the device 110 can access the proxy server 153, and therefore the AGNSS service of the third-party server 160, via two separate access interfaces, allowing the transmission of requests for the AGNSS service either by a Wifi radio communication via the local access point 130, or via the cellular network 120, by a cellular radio communication of the 5G type for example.

[0054] Thus, in the event of unavailability of the cellular network 120, either due to a technical problem on the base station 121 closest to the vehicle 100, or because the vehicle 100 is outside the coverage area of ​​the cellular network 120, the device 110 can access the proxy server 153 via Wifi, through the local access point 130 and the second network access point 152 of the platform 150.

[0055] Similarly, if the local Wi-Fi network via the local access point 130 is unavailable, either due to a technical problem or because the vehicle 100 is outside the coverage area of ​​the local access point 130, the device 110 can access the proxy server 153 by cellular radio communication via cellular network 120 and the first network access point 151 of platform 150.

[0056] Thus, the robustness associated with access to the AGNSS service is improved compared to prior art solutions.

[0057] The platform 150 may further include a private or public DNS server 155, for "Domain Name System", capable of storing correspondences between URL-type web addresses and IP addresses.

[0058] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the steps of a method for assisting a vehicle positioning function, for obtaining satellite position data, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0059] The process is implemented in the system 10 described with reference to [Fig. 1].

[0060] At a step 200, the third-party server 160 keeps the position data of its tellites, including current positions of satellites in the satellite positioning system, and optionally positions predicted at future times.

[0061] At a step 201, the device 110 initiates the satellite positioning function of the vehicle 100. As explained previously, such an initiation requires identifying the position of the satellites of the satellite positioning system in the sky, in order to obtain their signals and deduce a first position of the vehicle 100.

[0062] At a step 202, the device 110 generates a request from a support service to a GPS function, for obtaining satellite positions, a request referred to as an AGNSS request in what follows.

[0063] At a step 203, the device 110 determines a first reachability of the cellular network 120 and a second reachability of the local access point 130. The first reachability can be binary information, such as "reachable" or "not reachable," or it can be descriptive information about the quality of the radio link between the first radio interface 112 of the device 110 and the base station 121, for example, a signal-to-noise ratio. Similarly, the second reachability can be binary information, such as "reachable" or "not reachable," or it can be descriptive information about the quality of the radio link between the second radio interface 113 of the device 110 and the local access point 130.

[0064] Depending on the first accessibility and the second accessibility, the device 110 selects, at a step 204, at least one radio interface for the transmission of the AGNSS request, from among the first radio interface 112 and the second radio interface 113. The selection at step 204 can be based on the application of at least one selection rule.

[0065] By way of illustration, at least one selection rule may include one or more of the following rules: - if the first accessibility is superior to the second accessibility, then the Device 110 selects the first radio interface 112. Thus, device 110 favors the access unit with the best accessibility; - if the second accessibility is superior to the first accessibility, then device 110 selects the second radio interface 113. Thus, device 110 favors the access unit with the best accessibility; - In the case where the first accessibility and the second accessibility are equal, or close, for example with a difference less than a given threshold, the device 110 selects the first radio interface 112 by default. Alternatively, in the case where the first accessibility and the second accessibility are equal, or close, for example with a difference less than a given threshold, the device 110 selects the second radio interface 113 by default; - if the first accessibility and the second accessibility are greater than a threshold, then the first radio interface 112 and the second radio interface 113 are both selected; - if the first accessibility is greater than a given threshold, then the first radio interface 112 is selected by device 110. Device 110 thus selects the first radio interface 112 when the quality of the radio link with the cellular network 120 is good, regardless of the accessibility of the local access point 130 in Wifi; - if the second accessibility is greater than a given threshold, then the second radio interface 113 is selected by device 110. Device 110 thus selects the second radio interface 113 when the quality of the radio link with the local access point 130 is good, regardless of the accessibility of the cellular network 120.

[0066] Other rules, for example more complex rules, may be provided for and implemented by device 110 during step 204, taking into account in particular the speed or stability of each type of communication among cellular communication and local wireless communication of the Wifi type.

[0067] If the first radio interface 112 is selected, the device 110 transmits, at a step 205, via the first radio interface 112, the AGNSS request to the base station 121, the AGNSS request being addressed to the intermediate server 153. At a step 206, the base station 121 transmits the AGNSS request to the first network access point 151, which in turn transmits it to the intermediate server 153.

[0068] If the second radio interface 113 is selected, the device 110 transmits, at a step 207, via the second radio interface 113, the AGNSS request to the local access point 130, the AGNSS request being addressed to the intermediate server 153. At a step 208, the local access point 130 transmits the AGNSS request into the internet network 140. At a step 209, the second network access point 152 receives the AGNSS request from the internet network 140.

[0069] At a step 210, following step 206 and / or step 209, the intermediate server 153 determines the recipient of the AGNSS query via the DNS server 155, and thus obtains the IP address of the third-party server 160.

[0070] At a step 211, the AGNSS request is filtered by the demilitarized zone 154, then transmitted to the third-party server 160, via the internet network 140.

[0071] At a step 212, the third-party server 160 prepares a response to the AGNSS query, the response including the current positions of the satellites of the satellite positioning system, and optionally the positions predicted at future times.

[0072] At a step 213, the response is transmitted by the third server 160 to the platform 150. The response can be filtered by the third network access point 154 during this same step 213.

[0073] At a step 214, the proxy server 153 determines the network access point for transmitting the response, from among the first network access point 151 and the second network access point 152. For example, the selected network access point may be the same as the one through which the AGNSS request was received at step 206 or 209. When two AGNSS requests have been received at steps 206 and 209 from the same device 110, the proxy server 153 may select a default network access point, for example the first network access point 151 forming an interface with the cellular network 120.

[0074] At a step 215, the platform 150 transmits the response to the device 110 via the network access point selected at step 214. Alternatively, when two requests are received at steps 206 and 209 from the same device 110, two responses can be sent to the device 110 at step 215, via the first network access point 151 on the one hand, and via the second network access point 152 on the other hand.

[0075] At a step 216, upon receiving the response, the device 110 directs the GPS antenna 114 towards the positions of the satellites indicated in the response, to determine the first position of the vehicle 100.

[0076] The proxy server 153 may include a processing unit, for example a processor configured to communicate unidirectionally or bidirectionally, via one or more buses or via a direct wired connection, with a memory of the proxy server 153 such as Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), or any other type of memory (Flash, EEPROM, etc.). Alternatively, the memory of the proxy server 153 includes several memories of the aforementioned types. The memory is capable of storing, permanently or temporarily, at least some of the data used and / or resulting from the implementation of steps 210 and 214 of the process described above. The processor of the proxy server 153 is capable of executing instructions, stored in its memory, for the implementation of steps 210 and 214 of the process according to the invention, described in reference to [Fig.2]. Alternatively, the processor is a microcontroller designed and configured to perform steps 210 and 214 of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig.2].

[0077] The control unit 111 may be a processor configured to communicate unidirectionally or bidirectionally, via one or more buses or via a direct wired connection, with a memory of the device 110, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Order Memory (ROM), or any other type of memory (Flash, EEPROM, etc.). Alternatively, the memory of the device 110 comprises several memories of the aforementioned types. The memory is capable of storing, permanently or temporarily, at least some of the data used and / or generated by the implementation of steps 201 to 204 and 216 of the process described above. The control unit 111 is capable of executing instructions, stored in its memory, for the implementation of steps 201 to 204 and 216 of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2].Alternatively, the control unit is a microcontroller designed and configured to perform steps 201 to 204 and 216 of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig.2].

[0078] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for assisting a satellite positioning function of a vehicle (100), the method comprising the following steps: - transmission (205; 207) of a request from a device (110) of a vehicle comprising a first radio interface (112) capable of communicating with a base station (121) of a cellular network (120) and a second radio interface (113) capable of communicating with a local access point (130) of a local wireless network connected to an internet network (140), the device being capable of implementing the satellite positioning function of the vehicle, the request being transmitted via the first radio interface and / or via the second radio interface and being intended for a platform (150) assisting the satellite positioning function; - reception (206;209) of the request by a first network access point (151) of the platform capable of communicating with the cellular network, and / or by a second network access point (152) of the platform connected to the internet network; - transmission (211), by the platform, of the request to a third-party server (160) storing satellite position data; - reception (213), by the platform, from the third-party server, of a response including the satellite position data; - transmission (215), by the platform, of the response to the vehicle device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the response is transmitted (215) to the device by the network access point (151; 152) which received the request from the device.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a selection (203) by the device (110) of at least one radio interface from among the first radio interface (112) and the second radio interface (113), according to at least one predetermined rule, the request being transmitted (205; 207) to the at least one selected radio interface.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising a determination (202) by the device (110) of a first availability of the first radio interface (112) and a second availability of the second radio interface (113), wherein at least one radio interface is selected (203) according to at least one predetermined rule, the first availability and the second availability.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising filtering (211; 213) by a third network access point (154) of the platform (150) capable of communicating with the third server via the internet network, of the request transmitted to the third server (160) and of the response received from the third server.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, following the reception (215) of the response, the device directs (216) an antenna (114) according to the satellite position data in the response, to receive satellite signals.

7. System to assist a satellite positioning function of a vehicle (100), the system (10) comprising: - at least one base station (121) of a cellular network (120); - at least one local access point (130) of a local wireless network capable of accessing an internet network (140); - a device (110) for vehicle, capable of implementing the satellite positioning function of the vehicle, comprising a first radio interface (112) capable of communicating with said at least one base station, and a second radio interface (113) capable of communicating with said at least one local access point;- a platform (150) comprising an intermediate server (153), a first network access point (151) capable of communicating with the cellular network, a second network access point (152) capable of communicating with the internet network, and a third network access point (154) capable of communicating with a third server (160) via the internet network, the third server storing satellite position data from a satellite positioning system; wherein, upon receipt of a request from the device, via the first network interface and / or via the second network interface,;

8. System according to claim 6, wherein the third network access point (154) is a demilitarized zone.

9. System according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising the third-party server (160), said third-party server being capable of storing and maintaining up-to-date satellite position data.

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the satellite position data include current satellite positions and predicted positions of satellites at future times.

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