GPS Solutions
Geographical Positioning System solutions are an electronic components market standard nowadays, and although GPS is not the only system available, it is by far the most common due to its robust network and years of private and public use. Systems such as Galileo will also become common in the following years.
One interesting remark is that GPS systems are closely integrated with map-based navigation applications, such as Google maps, Locations, Latitude and more, that allow graphical feedback on coordinates. This opens possibilities in terms of personal and commercial applications.
GPS + 3G solutions
GPS Systems allow the users to accurately know their location on the globe based on the processing of the signals received; however it’s potential can be dramatically improved by providing a two channel communication instead of one—this means the GPS device will not only know its location but actively transmit it to a sever for a given purpose, or combine it with further information to generate diagrams, such as maps or tracks.
Tracking solutions
When the information is not displayed on the GPS device itself, with the inclusion of an Internet connection it can also be seen on a terminal PC or a server; this is the basic principle of GPS tracking.
Most of the tracking solutions require high definition modules, several of these are based on SiRF modules (being the Prima their top of the line), and with Atheros also providing excellent services.
Global Sat offers an interesting range of products as well, although these are commonly used for Geotaging.
Tracking solutions can be combined with sensors in order to provide complete information of the location and status of a vehicle, a package, computer, smart phone, or any item being tracked. Update rate can be adjusted to achieve greater resolution in expense of higher bandwidth
GPS + WiFi solutions
3G services are costly since most are charged based on the usage of the network. When it comes to data transmission, documents such as images or videos require a considerable amount of streams to be transferred; in these kind of situations a combination between GPS and WiFi is preferred.
Atheros’ GPS+WiFi and GPS+3G modules are the best possible solution based on the latest models put on market. Atheros will most likely be the most expensive solution, but it assures the best performance based on the wide range of commercial products already retailing with these modules.
Geotaging
One of the concepts that is being widely used nowadays is Geotaging, which simply consists of having a geographical location stamp on documents such as pictures. When a camera equipped with a GPS module takes a picture, it also records the coordinates, allowing the user to recall the specific location where the photograph was taken.
Geolocation - advertisement
Services such as Google Latitude allow users to share their location online, and by authorizing other users, these can have a real time update on each others’ current whereabouts.
Based on this principle, Geolocation advertisement systems can be deployed; if a person is browsing the web through his smartphone and approaches a restaurant, it can be filtered due to the time and location for an advertisement to pop up offering the lunch services for the day.
Titoma’s proposal
Titoma can provide the base 3G modules to a degree of configuration you can define; either if it’s a simple GPS device meant to record positions on a given number of samples per minute, to more elaborated systems with 3G and/or GPS for full connectivity and interaction.
GPS modules can go all the way to embedded modules with LCDs for maximum interaction, all the way to the navigation devices widely available in the market. Most of the 3G modules available allow minimum firmware (FW) programming which leads to simple and low cost GPS modules, and provide a great tool for communication with an embedded processor for higher end devices.
We have experience integrating Sierra Wireless, Atheros, GlobalSat, and SiRF modules, which can be directly PCB mounted or on PCIe, miniPCIE and half miniPCIe cards that allow fast serviceability and open the door for a modular design.
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