DSP & GPS Combination for Mobile Communication Platforms

Peter Anderson, Gerald Whitworth, Vincent Ashe and Tom Carter

Abstract:	The paper presents a new DSP and GPS combination targeted at GPS enabled mobile communication platforms, specifically for the indoor environment. The paper reviews several architectures for efficiently using the different processors within a system, in combination with hardware support for GPS. Within a mobile communication platform an important issue is the ease of implementation of the GPS system within the platform. Several different architectures will be discussed which vary the ease of implementation versus the complexity and size of a final system. The performance required from Mobile Communication Platforms (e.g. Cellular phones and PDA’s) is advancing rapidly from the original requirements of handling a communication call. With 3G networks, the availability of applications such as video or audio streaming, gaming, playing MP3’s, digital cameras etc are advancing rapidly. In addition enhanced functions such as enabling GPS for E911 or Location based Services for outdoor or indoor location are also required. To match the additional applications required, mobile communication platforms (e.g. Cellular phones and PDA’s) are rapidly increasing the computing power available. Current generation mobile communication platform include several processors, typically a host processor (such as an ARM processor) and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) such as a Ceva TeakLite DSP or Teak DSP. Next generation DSPs from Ceva such as the CEVA-X1620 have significantly enhanced computing capabilities suitable for user applications. The current state of the art GPS receivers must be able to acquire and track under challenging conditions. Applications can be divided into two categories; GPS fix on demand or GPS continuous tracking or navigation. In the former, a DSP based architecture is particularly attractive for mobile phone applications, as it is desirable to leverage the existing processor for multiple applications that are not required to run concurrently. A GPS receiver can be implemented in a variety of architectures ranging from full custom ASIC to software radio. Ceva's approach is to maximise cost/benefit by targeting a mixed ASIC/software architecture that is portable across a DSP family. This solution can benefit from improvements in the DSP processor family, and opens a roadmap a to full software radio solution.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2004) September 21 - 24, 2004 Long Beach Convention Center Long Beach, CA
Pages:	1006 - 1012
Cite this article:	Anderson, Peter, Whitworth, Gerald, Ashe, Vincent, Carter, Tom, "DSP & GPS Combination for Mobile Communication Platforms," Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2004), Long Beach, CA, September 2004, pp. 1006-1012.
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