System and Method for Robust Navigation and Communication Via A Cooperative Ad-hoc Network

• US 20120021764A1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Quantum Dimension, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quantum Dimension, Inc.
• Inventors: Enright, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US13/190,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20120021764A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/10 providing dedicated supplementary positioning signals
• 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 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/011 Identifying the radio environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A MANET Signals of Opportunity (SoOP) network providing positioning information to mobile users cooperatively. Mobile nodes access SoOP/GNSS to determine location and share navigation and communication information with other users to extend coverage to adjacent nodes. The system also allows disadvantaged users to determine positioning based upon beacon information transmitted without access to GNSS signals.

Claims

1. A method for determining the positioning of a user terminal, comprising:

a) an ad-hoc network;

b) a node in an ad-hoc network;

c) a plurality of available Radio Frequency (RF)/GNSS signals;

d) a software algorithm for receiving and processing RF/GNSS signals;

e) providing user location from processed RF/GNSS signals;

f) sending and receiving a plurality of navigation and communication signals to/from other users in the network whereby positioning information is collaboratively shared.

2. The method of claim 1, sending a navigation waveform distinctive from other users in the network.

3. The method of claim 1, receiving and evaluating other navigation signals according to a signal quality metric.

4. The method of claim 1, sending the signal quality metrics to a plurality of other user terminals in the network.

5. The method of claim 1, selecting the final set of signals to be used by each terminal according to a selection algorithm.

6. The method of claim 1, determining a pseudo-range between the user terminal and each transmitter based on the transmitted signals and the metrics from the other users.

7. The method of claim 1, determining a position of the user terminal based on the pseudo-ranges and a location of each of the transmitters.

8. The method of claim 1,wherein the user terminals search for signals contained in a table.

9. The method of claim 1,wherein the user terminals begin the signal search based on their last known position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the table containing signal search information is transmitted to the users by another user terminal.

11. A method for determining the positioning of a user terminal, comprising:

a) an ad-hoc network;

b) a node in an ad-hoc network;

c) a plurality of available user generated beacon signals;

d) a software algorithm for receiving and processing user generated beacon signals;

e) providing user location from processed user generated beacon signals;

0 sending and receiving a plurality of user generated beacon signals to/from other users in the network whereby positioning information is collaboratively shared.

12. The method of claim 11, sending a user generated beacon signal distinctive from other users in the network.

13. The method of claim 11, receiving and evaluating other user generated beacon signals according to a signal quality metric.

14. The method of claim 11, sending the user generated beacon signal quality metrics to a plurality of other user terminals in the network.

15. The method of claim 11, selecting the final set of user generated beacon signals to be used by each terminal according to a selection algorithm.

16. The method of claim 11, determining a pseudo-range between the user terminal and each transmitter based on the transmitted user beacon signals and the metrics from the other users.

17. The method of claim 11, determining a position of the user terminal based on the pseudo-ranges and a location of each of the user generated beacon signals.

18. The method of claim 11,wherein the user terminals search for user generated beacon signals contained in a table.

19. The method of claim 11,wherein the user terminals begin the user generated beacon signal search based on their last known position.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the table containing user generated beacon signal search information is transmitted to the users by another user terminal.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein a user transmits a user generated beacon signal along with information containing its known location.

22. A method for determining the positioning of a user terminal, comprising:

g) an ad-hoc network;

h) a node in an ad-hoc network;

i) a plurality of available Radio Frequency (RF)/GNSS signals;

j) a software algorithm for receiving and processing RF/GNSS signals;

k) providing user location from processed RF/GNSS signals and user generated beacon signals

l) sending and receiving a plurality of navigation, communication and user generated beacon signals to/from other users in the network whereby positioning information is collaboratively shared

23. The method of claim 22, sending a navigation waveform distinctive from other users in the network.

24. The method of claim 22, receiving and evaluating signals according to a signal quality metric.

25. The method of claim 22, sending the signal quality metrics to a plurality of other user terminals in the network.

26. The method of claim 22, selecting the final set of signals to be used by each terminal according to a selection algorithm of signals.

27. The method of claim 22, determining a pseudo-range between the user terminal and each transmitter based on the transmitted signals and the metrics from the other users.

28. The method of claim 22, determining a position of the user terminal based on the pseudo-ranges and a location of each of the transmitters.

29. The method of claim 22,wherein the user terminals search for signals contained in a table.

30. The method of claim 22,wherein the user terminals begin the signal search based on their last known position.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the table containing signal search information is transmitted to the users by another user terminal.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein a user transmits a user generated beacon signal and information containing its known location to other users.