Google Map positioning via SMS using the SG8V1 Easy + Quectel M95 (GSM) + L80 (GPS)

  The article instructs users to implement location coordinates via SMS and display them to a Google Map using the SG8V1 Easy, GSM/GPRS M95 Easy and GPS L80 Easy of AT-COM. Users can "Plug and Play" thanks to the flexibility of ATCBus on each product.

   1. Introduction of SG8V1 Easy

    SG8V1 microcontroller was researched, designed by Integrated Circuit Design Research & Education Center - ICDREC. This is the first commercial microcontroller of Vietnam officially offered in the market. Chip is applied in the field of electricity, electronics, information technology ... with technical features, performance is completely competitive with imported chips of the same type.

   SG8V1 Easy is a product designed by AT-COM gives utility users the combination ATCBus with SG8V1 microcontroller series of ICDREC. The board supports USB Full Speed V2.0 through a programming kit that allows users to directly load the firmware for the SG8V1 microcontroller without any other programming kit. In addition, the microcontroller combines the Dual ATCBus Host Socket design to maximize the microcontroller resources that meet the needs of programmers deploying applications such as GSM, GPRS, GPS, Wifi, Ethernet, USB, PWM ... Especially with convenient data output, SG8V1 Easy will bring the most modern and refined design inspiration.

   2. Introduction of GSM/GPRS M95 Easy

    M95 Module  is a GSM/GPRS module of Quectel manufacturer. M95 Module operates with Quad-band: GSM850 MHz, GSM900 MHz, DCS1800 MHz, PCS1900 MHz. M95 Module supports GPRS multi-slot class 12, SMS, MMS... M95 Module integrated with internet protocols as : TCP/IP, UDP, FTP and PPP, control according to AT command protocol.    

    GSM/GPRS M95 Easy  is a product by AT-COM development based on the feature of M95 module. GSM/GPRS M95 Easy is designed with SIM Card Holder is integrated on the circuit, GSM built-in PIFA Antenna, earphone/microphone jack helps users to easily research and deploy the applications related to GSM/GPRS as: controls, monitor, collect data remotely via GPRS, SMS ... Besides, with compact size, handy data output,  GSM/GPRS M95 Easy will bring the most modern and refined design inspiration.

   3. Introduction of GPS L80 Easy

 L80 is an ultra compact GPS POT (Patch on Top) module with an embedded 15.0 × 15.0 × 4.0mm patch antenna. This space-saving design makes L80 the perfect module for the miniature devices. Adopted by LCC package and integrated with patch antenna, L80 has exceptional performance both in acquisition and tracking.

  Combining advanced AGPS called EASY™ (Embedded Assist System) and proven AlwaysLocate™ technology, L80 achieves the highest performance and fully meets the industrial standard. EASY™ technology ensures L80 can calculate and predict orbits automatically using the ephemeris data (up to 3 days) stored in internal flash memory, so L80 can fix position quickly even at indoor signal levels with low power consumption. With AlwaysLocate™ technology,  L80 can adaptively adjust the on/off time to achieve balance between positioning accuracy and power consumption according to the environmental and motion conditions.

  L80 supports automatic antenna switching function. It can achieve the switching between internal patch antenna and external active antenna. Moreover, it keeps positioning during the switching process.

 With its tiny design, high precision and sensitivity, L80 is perfectly suitable for a broad range of M2M applications such as portable device, automotive, personal tracking, security and industrial PDA, especially suitable for special applications, like GPS mouse and OBD.

    With the desire to bring the superiority features of L80 module to the user, AT-COM designs and brings to GPS L80 Easy product take advantage of the ability of L80 module and added utility features such as: communication is 3V3 and 5V voltage levels, Led stable location status message, Battery back up, External antenna Connector. Besides, with compact size, handy data output, GPS L80 Easy will bring the most modern and refined design inspiration.

   4. The application to locate the coordinates via SMS and show up Google Map

   To implement the application we perform the following steps:

   Step 1: Prepare

    • Hardware:    

                           + SG8V1 Easy board.

                           + GSM/GPRS M95 Easy board.

                           + GPS L80 Easy board.

                           + Android phone has installed Google Map software and SMS2Map software .

    • Software:    

                           + SMS2Map .

    Step 2: Connect the hardware

           Insert a SIM card into the GSM/GPRS M95 Easy board then connect the GSM/GPRS M95 Easy board and the L80 Easy board to the SG8V1 Easy board via ATCBus and power the system.

   Step 3: Load the application code for SG8V1

    Source code in the article using the SG8-CC compiler for the 8-bit SG8V1 microcontroller. Can Download source code for SG8V1 Easy (SG8V1 Easy M95 L80 demo code).

    Code after downloading to the computer should be edited and recompiled with iFast software.

    After unpacking, open the file main.c , proceed to correct the phone number in the code to send message board coordinates.

   Then we modify password of the board.

   After editing the code is complete, we compile the program into the executable file. Go to Build -> choose Build .  

   After the compilation is completed, we proceed to load the firmware for SG8V1. Connect to PC via mini USB on SG8V1 Easy board. Go to Tools -> choose SG8v1 Programming . 

    At the SG8V1 Programming interface, click Connect.

    Select Check to connect SG8V1 Easy board with iFast software.

    Select Import to get the executable file.

    The executable will be in the bin directory. Select the .srec file and click Open.

    Select Write to load the program into the SG8V1 microcontroller.

      Step 4: Implement Control to get coordinates and display to Google Map

    Once the system has finished booting, the system will automatically send a notification message to the user's phone number (the phone number is changed in step 3).

    When system startup is complete, we can get the coordinates of the system in two methods:

      Method 1: Press the SW1 button on the SG8V1 Easy board , the system sends the message containing the link coordinates.

      The system returns the message containing the coordinates.

     Method 2: Messaging SMS with the following syntax to get coordinates:

                                                                                  #position‹distance›‹password›. 

    After receiving the correct syntax message, the system returns the message with the link coordinates.

     The user click on the link in the message to display on the map, we are positioned as follows:

     * Use SMS2Map software to display the location of the system

        + Install SMS2Map software to your phone.

        + Open SMS2Map on your phone then you can press SW1 button on Easy SG8V1 or messaging to get coordinates to phone by syntax:

                                                                                     #position‹distance›‹password›.

        + When the message contains the coordinates sent to the user's phone number, SMS2Map will automatically display the location on the map of the software.

     + When the user clicks on the map, the software displays the address of the current system.

    4. Video demo