GPS Technology Trims PND Start-Up Time

SiRFInstantFixII, an autonomous version of the company's SiRFInstantFix technology, promises to significantly improve the start-up times of portable navigation devices (PNDs) and other mobile devices without network connectivity for assistance or updates. Available for SiRFstarIII GPS receivers plus SiRFatlas and SiRFtitan multi-function SoC navigation processors, the technology achieves GPS start-ups in as little as five seconds. It reduces warm starts, the typical PND start-up mode, from over half a minute to as little as five seconds, and in urban canyons the difference may be even more significant. To deliver reliable positional accuracy, patent-pending algorithms enable the PND to model the behavior of visible GPS satellites during the day and predict their position in the sky for up to three days in the future. The technology continuously refines its calculations based on the latest data from tracked satellites every time the PND is in use. For pricing, call SIRF TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS INC., San Jose, CA. (408) 467-0410.