MyPosition

The GPS Interface for the PC or PDA
Version 1.2.9

"MyPosition" is a software tool which can be used in a stand-alone application mode to continually display the information from the data stream delivered by a GPS receiver, like e.g. the current position, speed, elevation etc. (important especially for receiver types without display) and also can record these data attributes permanently in log files. The log files are suitable for later analysis or cartographic visualization by various methods. MyPosition log files have much lower disk space or memory requirements as compared to the file sizes a complete logging of the NMEA data stream would generate.

Moreover, the second mode of usage of MyPosition is to serve as an interface tool, continually providing current GPS data for use in other applications, e.g. enabling applications to visualize the current position in a map, or for various other purposes. Applications based on the MapInfo MapX® software can also be easily combined with "MyPosition". The data communication with the GPS device, i.e. the processing and interpretation of the complex and variably structured NMEA data is done internally within the MyPosition program module, which in turn conveys the current position data together with some additional attributes to the client application in user-definable time intervals. The development of your own custom applications and programs with GPS integration will be much easier and faster through the use of MyPosition.

MyPosition can be used with any GPS receiver that can deliver GPS data according to the common "NMEA-0183-2" standard via a suitable interface. The program evaluates the NMEA "sentences" of the types GGA, RMC, VTG, GLL, GSA, GSV, GST, ZDA, and possibly PGRME. However, not all of these message types must be available and may even have partially identical information contents.
PC VERSION ONLY: Alternatively, here the software may be used with Garmin® GPS receivers, which provide position data through the USB interface using the Garmin data exchange protocol, with the restriction that the satellite view is not available in conjunction with certain device types.

Additionally, the GPS receiver must provide a serial interface, which either sends NMEA data via a serial cable to the COM port of the (Pocket) PC, or uses "Bluetooth" for a wireless transmission to the (Pocket) PC, where the Bluetooth driver software channels the data into a "virtual" COM port. If the receiver is a Garmin USB device and the Garmin USB driver software has been installed (as yet only applicable with PCs!), such a device can be utilized by use of the Garmin data exchange protocol; all other GPS devices with USB interfaces, however, can only be used together with a driver software, which processes the NMEA data received via USB and passes these on to a (virtual) COM port. The MyPosition software can connect to the COM ports 1 - 12.

The data communication between the MyPosition program and a client application is quite simple and robust, since it is only based on the exchange of Windows messages of the "WM_COPYDATA" type, conveying specific data packets. The mechanisms of this inter-process communication outside of the participating applications are provided by the operating system, so that on the application level only a simple Windows message handling is required – with only a few additional, special rules.

The data are saved in a special, compact file format. A direct, immediate use of these files is not possible, but they rather require a "translation" into another file format, which can be done with the conversion program included in the MyPosition software package. The creatable file formats are: 1. Tabular text files (TXT format), 2. the MapInfo MIF file format, 3. the MapInfo TAB file format. Moreover, the specific internal data structure of the MyPosition log files is explained in the developer's documentation, so as to facilitate the development of custom solutions for log file analysis and conversion.

In addition or as an alternative to the recordings repeated in regular time intervals (1 - 600 seconds), the current position data can be saved at any time by activating the respective button in the "data view". Single, especially significant points can thus be captured with their exact position – independent of the currently used recording frequency – and for these special points there is an option for input of a point identifier and a short annotation text.

If MyPosition is to be used as an interface component within a custom application, the client program can access all the data attributes which are displayed by the MyPosition server program or written into the log files. The data communication methods used for this purpose and the available data structures are specified in the developer's documentation. A basic sample program is also included in the software package – with source code in "C++" and in "Visual Basic .NET".

Especially for a combined usage with the "MapInfo Professional"® software (for desktop or notebook PCs) there is an add-on module available free of charge (including MB sample code), with which you may implement your own MapInfo/MapBasic applications for GPS data utilization and processing (download link see below). Moreover, MyPosition customers from Britain may obtain a special version with a high-precision transformation from native GPS coordinates into British National Grid OSTN02 coordinates.

Available data attributes: Geographic longitude (only rounded to integers with the trial version), geographic latitude, elevation, speed, course (not displayed), date / time, number of satellites received, "fix quality", HDOP, HPE (only with Garmin® devices and devices with NMEA GST sentences), indicator for the start of a new logging segment. For individually captured position points (see above) an additional point identifier and annotation text can be saved.

Detailed documentation materials (in electronic form only), explaining program application and development, are included in the product package. The Windows help file can be accessed from the main program in a context-sensitive way.

There is also a German language version of this program.

Before bying this software product, you should have acquainted yourself thoroughly with the trial version (see below) and have verified that this works properly with your system configuration as well as with your GPS receiver and is usable in the intended way.

System Requirements

The MyPosition software can be used on desktop or notebook PCs with MS Windows® 98/NT4 or higher versions, or on the Pocket PC platform with Windows CE® version 3.0 / Windows Mobile® 2002 or higher, compatible versions. Pocket PCs must have an ARM processor (StrongARM, XScale) or compatible processor and a 240 x 320 or 480 x 640 pixel screen. Also required is a serial interface (RS-232 or Bluetooth) which can be addressed as a (possibly virtual) COM port – with the PC version and Garmin USB devices alternatively a USB port with Garmin USB driver software.

Prices for both platforms (PC and Pocket PC)

Prices for a single platform (PC only or Pocket PC only)

19% V.A.T. may need to be added for customers from a EU member country not having a EU V.A.T. reg. number.

Ordering procedures

Orders are accepted preferably in written or printed form (e.g. via fax: +49 5232 6918956). They should specify the following details:

1. Number of MyPosition licenses to be purchased and operating system platform
2. Name of company / organization; for larger firms or institutions please do also name branch, department etc., for which the software is to be licensed.
3. Name of person in charge
4. Postal / fax / e-mail address and billing address if applicable
5. Your intended mode of payment:
   - Direct (electronic / wire) bank transfer
   - Sending a cheque or "international money order"
6. Only if applicable: Your European Union V.A.T. registration number
7. Any specific requirements you might have pertaining to purchase procedures

Dispatch

The dispatch of the software will preferably be done via e-mail (ZIP file). You may request postal delivery of the program (additional shipping and handling charge of 5.50 EUR for European countries, 8.50 EUR for overseas countries / air mail).
The invoice will be sent by fax; other options are postal delivery or transmission in an e-mail-attached PDF file.

Trial Version

A trial version of the program is available free of charge. This is functionally restricted and delivers values of the geographic longitude only rounded to the nearest integers. The restriction not only applies to the data display but also to the log files. All the other data attributes mentioned above are available, and apart from the rounded longitude values the trial version is exactly identical to the unrestricted version.

Download trial version   (File size: 244 KB)

After extraction of the ZIP file further information can be found in the installation and application documentation.

Download MapInfo Pro add-on   (File size: 74 KB)