System and method for dismounted assured position, navigation and timing (DAPNT)

• US 10,234,538 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Inventors: Fortney, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US16/140,040
• Time in Patent Office: 176 Days
• Field of Search: 701470
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/47 the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/302 gathering intelligence information for situation awareness or reconnaissance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A process described herein may be used to determine a first asset'"'"'s position in a GNSS-limited environment. The process includes transmitting a current position for each of at least three additional assets in wireless messages by wireless transmitters. The current position for each of the at least three additional assets is determined using previously received position data and one more additional measurement generated by instruments on board the additional assets. The transmitted messages are received at a device of the first asset and a processor on the device implements pre-programmed instructions to access the current position for each of the three additional assets and determine the first asset'"'"'s position using the current position for each of the three additional assets.

Claims

1. A process for determining a first asset'"'"'s position in a GNSS-limited environment, the process comprising:

transmitting a current position for each of at least three additional assets in wireless messages by wireless transmitters, wherein the current position for each of the at least three additional assets is determined at each of the three additional assets using previously received position data and one more additional measurement generated by instruments on board the mounted assets; and

receiving the wireless messages at a receiving device located at the first asset from each of the at least three additional assets, wherein the receiving device implements pre-programmed instructions on a processor therein to access the current position for each of the three additional assets and determine the first asset'"'"'s position using the current position for each of the three additional assets.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the wireless messages are encrypted and further wherein the receiving device implements pre-programmed instructions on the processor to decrypt each of the encrypted messages.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the previously received position data is GNSS data.

4. The process according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving GNSS location data at a GNSS-receiver associated with the receiving device at the first asset and comparing the GNSS location data to the determined first asset'"'"'s position and updating current first asset position in accordance with the received GNSS location data.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the three additional assets is stationary.

6. The process according to claim 2, wherein the encrypted wireless messages are time stamped with the time of transmission by each of the wireless transmitters.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines the first asset'"'"'s position using a trilateration process.

8. The process according to claim 2, wherein the encrypted wireless messages are transmitted and received across a distance of up to 1000 meters.

9. The process according to claim 2, wherein the encrypted wireless messages are transmitted in accordance with an 802.11ac standard.

10. A device for determining a location of the device in a GNSS-limited environment comprising:

a receiving device for receiving one or more wireless messages from one or more nodes within a predetermined communications range, the receiving device including;

at least one antenna for receiving the one or more wireless messages;

a processor pre-programmed with instructions for;

accessing current position information from a payload of the messages for each of the one or more transmitting assets, and

calculating the location of the device using the current position information for at least three of the one or more assets; and

a display for displaying the location of the device in a visual format.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the one or more wireless messages are encrypted and further wherein the receiving device implements pre-programmed instructions on the processor to decrypt each of the encrypted messages.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined communications range is Wi-Fi.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the receiving device further includes a GNSS receiver for receiving GNSS signals when the GNSS signals are available.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more encrypted wireless messages are formatted in accordance with an 802.11ac standard.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more encrypted wireless messages includes a time stamp indicating time of transmission.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the predetermined Wi-Fi range is up to 1000 meters.

17. A process for determining a first asset'"'"'s position in a GNSS-limited environment, the process comprising:

receiving one or more wireless messages by at least one antenna in a device located at the first asset;

processing each of the one or more wireless messages by a processor on the device using pre-programmed instructions to;

receive one or more wireless messages transmitted from one or more transmitting assets within a predetermined Wi-Fi range of the device located at the first asset,

access current position information from a payload of the wireless messages for each of the one or more transmitting assets, and

calculate the first asset'"'"'s position using the current position information for at least three of the one or more transmitting assets; and

displaying by a display of the device the first asset'"'"'s position in a visual format.

18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the one or more wireless messages are encrypted and further wherein the device implements pre-programmed instructions on the processor to decrypt each of the received one or more encrypted wireless messages.

19. The process according to claim 17, further comprising:

receiving GNSS location data at a GNSS-receiver in the device at the first asset and comparing the GNSS location data to the calculated first asset'"'"'s position and updating the display of the device to display a current position of the first asset in accordance with the received GNSS location data.

20. The process according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the at least three transmitting assets is stationary.

21. The process according to claim 18, wherein the one or more encrypted wireless messages are time stamped with the time of transmission by each of the one or more transmitting assets.

22. The process according to claim 17, wherein the processor determines the first asset'"'"'s position using a trilateration process.

23. The process according to claim 18, wherein the encrypted wireless messages are transmitted and received across a distance of up to 1000 meters.

24. The process according to claim 18, wherein the encrypted wireless messages are transmitted in accordance with an 802.11ac standard.

25. A system for determining a first asset'"'"'s position in a GNSS-limited environment, the system comprising:

at least three additional assets, wherein at least one of the three additional assets includes at least a primary mounted asset navigation system, wherein, using previously-obtained GNSS position data, the primary mounted asset navigation system generates a current position for the at least one additional asset when the at least one additional asset is in a GNSS-limited environment;

the at least three additional assets further including a wireless transmitter for transmitting the current position for each of the three additional assets to the first asset using an encrypted wireless message; and

a receiving device located at the first asset for receiving the encrypted wireless messages from each of the at least three additional assets, the receiving device including a processor pre-programmed with instructions for decrypting each of the encrypted messages, accessing the current position for each of the three additional assets and determining the first asset'"'"'s position using the current position for each of the three additional assets.