SATELLITE RECEIVER AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING SERVER FOR IDENTIFYING SATELLITE STATE

• US 20130194132A1
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Seung-Yoon, KIM, Woo-Young, CHUNG, Do-Hyoung
• Granted Patent: US 9,335,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.64
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/08 providing integrity information, e.g. health of satellites or quality of ephemeris data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/20 Integrity monitoring, fault detection or fault isolation of space segment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS

Abstract

Provided is a system and method for transmitting a satellite state to a satellite receiver to determine use or non-use of a satellite signal in positioning estimation. A satellite navigation system includes at least one satellite, a satellite control center for controlling the at least one satellite, and a server. The server transmits satellite state information about the at least one satellite identified through the satellite control center to the satellite receiver. The satellite receiver restricts the use of the satellite signal for positioning estimation when the satellite state is identified as erroneous.

Claims

1. A method operative in a satellite receiver, comprising:

receiving satellite state information from a server;

determining whether an erroneous satellite is present based on the satellite state information received from the server; and

when at least one erroneous satellite is present, restricting the use of a satellite signal received from the at least one erroneous satellite.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the satellite state information includes:

receiving extended ephemeris data from the server; and

identifying satellite state information included in the extended ephemeris data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the satellite state information from the server, receiving satellite state information from a transmitting satellite;

determining whether the transmitting satellite is erroneous based on the satellite state information received from that satellite; and

restricting the use of a satellite signal received from the transmitting satellite when it is determined to be erroneous.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the satellite state information from the server, determining whether a satellite state request event occurs;

if so, requesting satellite state information from the server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether the satellite state request event occurs is based on at least one of a satellite signal utilization, validity/invalidity of extended ephemeris data, a satellite state information request period, and a connection/non-connection of the satellite receiver to a wireless LAN.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the satellite state information from the server, receiving a satellite signal from a transmitting satellite, and determining whether the transmitting satellite is erroneous based on a satellite position prediction technique;

initially restricting the use of the satellite signal for satellite receiver position estimation when the transmitting satellite is determined to be erroneous based on the prediction technique; and

when the satellite state information subsequently received from the server contradicts the erroneous state of the transmitting satellite, lifting the restriction on the use of the signal from the transmitting satellite.

7. A method operative in a server, comprising:

identifying satellite state information about at least one satellite through a satellite control center; and

transmitting the identified satellite state information to a satellite receiver.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the satellite state information is performed in response to a request from the satellite receiver for satellite state information about the at least one satellite.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the satellite state information is transmitted to the satellite receiver upon arrival of a satellite state transmission period.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the satellite state information to the satellite receiver is performed when a satellite state change is detected for at least one satellite.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the satellite state information to the satellite receiver includes:

transmitting extended ephemeris data including the satellite state information about the at least one satellite to the satellite receiver.

12. A satellite receiver comprising:

a satellite receiving unit for receiving a satellite signal;

a communication unit configured to communicate with a server; and

a control unit configured to determine whether an erroneous satellite is present based on the satellite state information received from the server through the communication unit; and

when at least one erroneous satellite is present, to restrict the use of a satellite signal received from the at least one erroneous satellite.

13. The satellite receiver of claim 12, wherein the control unit identifies satellite state information included in extended ephemeris data received from the server through the communication unit.

14. The satellite receiver of claim 12, wherein the control unit determines, before receiving the satellite state information from the server, when receiving satellite state information from a satellite through the satellite receiving unit, whether an error occurs in the satellite based on the satellite state information received from the satellite;

and when an error occurs in the satellite, restricts the use of a satellite signal received from the satellite.

15. The satellite receiver of claim 12, wherein before receiving the satellite state information from the server, when a satellite state request event occurs, the control unit requests satellite state information from the server through the communication unit.

16. The satellite receiver of claim 15, wherein the control unit determines whether the satellite state request event occurs based on at least one of a satellite signal utilization, validity/invalidity of extended ephemeris data, a satellite state information request period, and a connection/non-connection of the satellite receiver to a wireless LAN.

17. The satellite receiver of claim 12, wherein the control unit receives, before receiving the satellite state information from the server, a satellite signal from a transmitting satellite, determines whether the transmitting satellite is erroneous based on a satellite position prediction technique, initially restricts the use of the satellite signal for satellite receiver position estimation when the transmitting satellite is determined to be erroneous based on the prediction technique, and when the satellite state information subsequently received from the server contradicts the erroneous state of the transmitting satellite, lifts the restriction on the use of the signal from the transmitting satellite.

18. A server comprising:

a first interface for communicating with a satellite control center;

a second interface for communicating with a satellite receiver; and

a control unit for identifying satellite state information about at least one satellite from the satellite control center through the first interface, and transmitting the satellite state information about the at least one satellite to the satellite receiver through the second interface.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein when the satellite receiver requests satellite state information through the second interface, the control unit identifies satellite state information about at least one satellite from the satellite control center through the first interface.

20. The server of claim 18, wherein upon arrival of a satellite state transmission period, the control unit transmits the satellite state information about the at least one satellite to the satellite receiver through the second interface.

21. The server of claim 18, wherein when at least one satellite with a satellite state changed is present among the at least one satellite, the control unit transmits satellite state information about the at least one satellite with the satellite state changed to the satellite receiver through the second interface.

22. The server of claim 18, wherein the second interface transmits extended ephemeris data including the satellite state information about the at least one satellite to the satellite receiver.