Jeffrey S Rubin

US Patent:

53551400, Oct 11, 1994

Filed:

Sep 15, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/945265

Inventors:

Michael W. Slavin - Palo Alto CA
James M. Janky - Los Altos CA
Jeffrey S. Rubin - Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Trimble Navigation Limited - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G01S 108
G01S 502

US Classification:

342386

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for reporting of an emergency event experienced by a marine vessel, an airborne vessel or by an occupant of the vessel. The present vessel position, accurate to within a few tens of meters, and (optionally) the vessel velocity and local air quality, is determined at an ordered sequence of times, using a position-determining Global Positioning System, such as the Navstar system or the GLONASS system. If an emergency occurs on the vessel, the approximate present position and time of occurrence of this event is broadcast on one or more of the mobile communication or emergency radiowave bands. Optionally, the type of emergency event that has occurred, drawn from a predetermined list of such types, is also broadcast by a vessel in distress, for receipt by an emergency response facility or by another vessel that can respond to a call for assistance. Optionally, vessel velocity heading and/or vessel position quality of fix information is also broadcast by a vessel in distress.