EGPS moves a step closer
27 May 2008
Four companies are joining forces in the EGPS (enhanced global positioning system), an open industry forum.
Agilent Technologies and Spirent Communications have joined CSR and Motorola to work together in the EGPS Forum. The forum was created by CSR and Motorola in January this year to evaluate and foster EGPS technologies. Already building blocks have been creates for the single system that can simulate both GPS and cellular signals to provide a development and test platform.
The forum is made up of handset manufacturers, location technology companies, network infrastructure providers and mobile network carriers. Initially the forum is focused on evaluating hybrid technologies, i.e. cellular and satellite, with timing measurements taken from cellular networks and establish an interoperable infrastructure.
EGPS augments GPS to provide timely and accurate position information in demanding environments. As EGPS operates globally it can provide more accurate position information than conventional cellular-based technologies. It also allows carriers to support GPS performance in difficult environments without the expense of over-hauling unsynchronised GSM or WCDMA network infrastructure. The forum believes the way to do this is by improving location technologies in mobile devices. Another goal is to meet consumer and regulatory needs for precise and consistent levels of local information.
Both test and measurement companies will contribute test equipment expertise. Spirent manufactures test equipment for satellite navigation and has provided its GPS Satellite Simulation and Cellular Multipath Fader systems to develop a hybrid EGPS. The company has already collaborated with CSR and Agilent for A-GPS (Assisted GPS).
Agilent is contributing expertise in RF and data analysis, using its 8960 wireless communications test set, to design 2G, 2.5G and 3G devices using EGPS. Niels Fache, VP and general manager of the company’s mobile broadband division believes “the combination of accurate cellular and satellite positioning in EGPS has the potential to revolutionise location technologies”.
CSR has already demonstrated its eGPS silicon, using patented techniques to augment traditional GPS or A-GPS with cellular network measurements. The silicon makes location information available and is claimed to increase responsiveness and reduce power consumption compared to GPS technologies. The last is a particular issue in handsets.
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