SnapTrack Inc., a wireless location solution provider, was awarded a key patent that is part of the foundation of its Wireless Assisted GPS system.
SnapTrack’s system uses information from both the wireless network and the global positioning system of satellites to determine a wireless caller’s location more quickly than traditional GPS receivers are able to. The system is designed to meet the Federal Communications Commission’s enhanced 911 mandate, which requires wireless carriers to locate callers to within 410 feet. The system also is targeted for use in commercial location applications.
The new patent covers efficient extraction of precise timing information from wireless networks and links in order to do such things as increase GPS receiver sensitivity to provide a rapid and accurate position fix. Ellen Kirk, vice president of marketing and strategic planning at SnapTrack, said the patent is key to its system.
Kirk said the patent award means other vendors that have developed or have plans to develop a similar system will have to license SnapTrack’s intellectual property or technology, which is something the company has been eager to do.
“It has been our strategy all along to broadly license this technology,” said Kirk. “We’re happy to license it.”
SnapTrack holds a total of 10 patents for its system, including patents for extracting and using data such as frequency and approximate locations of callers from wireless networks to assist in GPS signal processing. The company has 30 additional patents pending.
