High resolution navigation and mapping system

Claim 1

A portable navigation system for locating a mobile personnel station operating within a predetermined region, said location being relative to a set of relatively distant, substantially fixed reference stations broadcasting respective location signals and comprising: (a) a plurality of portable relay stations; (b) each relay station, when inactive, being adapted to be transported to a location which is relatively near the personnel station operating region, each said relay station including relay receiver means which, upon activation of said relay station, receives location signals from said reference stations, each said relay station also including relay computer means deriving current location coordinates of said relay station from said location signals and wireless link means to output a respective relay station location signal indicating an absolute location of said relay station; and (c) said mobile personnel station including: (1) personnel receiver means receiving the relay location signals from said plurality of relay stations; (2) map storage means storing data representing a plurality of stereoscopic maps of the region of operation; (3) display means operable to stereoscopically display said maps and station indicia representing a relative location of said personnel stations on a map displayed on said display means; and (4) personnel computer means interfaced among said personnel receiver means, said map storage means, and said display means; said personnel computer means calculating absolute personnel station coordinates of a location of said personnel station relative to said relay stations, causing a map surrounding said location of said personnel station to be retrieved from said map storage means and displayed on said display means, and causing said station indicia to be displayed on the displayed map at a position corresponding to said personnel station coordinates.