Method and apparatus for providing an integrated communications, navigation and surveillance satellite system
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Abstract
A system provides integrated communications, navigation and surveillance capabilities. The system includes a space segment having a plurality of satellites broadcasting multiple navigation signals and a communication signal. A user segment includes a user device that is operable to broadcast communication signals to the satellites and of using the navigation signals broadcast by the satellites to determine a position of the user device. The satellites are operable to receive the communication signals from the user device and determine a position of the user device based upon the received communication signals. The satellites broadcast one of the navigation signals and the communication signal at a same frequency. The navigation signal acts as a pilot tone for the system to acquire and synchronize the user device with the system.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A system for providing integrated communications, navigation and surveillance information, the system comprising:
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a plurality of time synchronized satellites networked together, each of said satellites broadcasting navigation signals and being capable of two way communication and of relaying surveillance signals; and
at least one mobile user device, for communicating with said satellites, said user device receiving said navigation signals broadcast by said satellites and using said received navigation signals to compute a position of said user device, and wherein each of said satellites broadcasts a first navigation signal at a first frequency and sends a communication signal at said first frequency, and said first navigation signal acts as a pilot tone for the system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17-27. -27. (canceled)
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28. An integrated communications, navigation and surveillance information system comprising:
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a plurality of satellites operable to broadcast navigation signals and a communication signal; and
at least one user device operable to receive said navigation signals and determine its position based on said received navigation signals, wherein said satellites broadcast a first one of said navigation signals and said communication signal at a common frequency, and said first navigation signal acts as pilot tone for initial acquisition of said navigational signals by said user device with the system. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of acquiring and synchronizing a user device with an integrated communications, navigation and surveillance system, the method comprising:
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(a) broadcasting a communication signal from a plurality of satellites at a first frequency;
(b) broadcasting navigation signals from said plurality of satellites, one of said navigation signals being broadcast at said first frequency and serving as a pilot tone;
(c) receiving said broadcast navigation signals with the user device; and
(d) acquiring the user device with the system in response to the user device receiving said pilot tone. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification