Spoofer detection power management for GPS receivers

• US 5,995,042 A
• Filed: 01/02/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics C4 Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yee, David Moon, Zucarelli, Philip John, Bickley, Robert Henry, Durboraw, Isaac Newton III
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US08/775,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 55/343
• US Class Current: 342/357.58
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/215 issues related to spoofing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/224 with countermeasures at transmission and/or reception of the jammed signal, e.g. stopping operation of transmitter or receiver, nulling or enhancing transmitted power in direction of or at frequency of jammer
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS

Abstract

In a GPS receiver, power is conserved by powering down P-code circuitry during and utilizing C/A code circuits during times when interfering signals, such as spoofing signals, are not detected. When spoofing is detected, the P-code circuitry is powered up so that the GPS receiver can continue to operate in the presence of spoofing.

Claims

1. A method for conserving power in a radio comprising a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals, a C/A-code module for detecting first positional information and a P-code module for detecting second positional information, comprising the steps of:

providing power to said C/A module whereby said C/A module provides positional information from said GPS signals;

detecting the occurrence of interference signals;

providing power to said P-code module when said interference signals are detected; and

removing power from said P-code module when interference signals are not detected.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said interference signals are spoofing signals.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said radio is a SAR radio.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said GPS receiver includes a SAASM, and said method comprises:

powering said SAASM module when said interference detector detects said interfering signals; and

removing power from said SAASM when interfering signals are not detected.

5. A GPS radio, comprising:

a battery;

an antenna;

first circuitry coupled to said antenna for receiving GPS signals and for determining the positional location of said antenna to a first degree of accuracy;

second circuitry coupled to said antenna for receiving said GPS signals and for determining the positional location of said antenna to a second higher degree of accuracy;

interference detecting circuitry having an output for indicating the detection of undesired GPS type signals interfering with said GPS signals; and

switchable power connections coupled between said battery and said second circuitry and operable in response to said detecting circuitry to establish battery connections to said second circuitry when said interfering signals are detected.

6. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said interference detecting circuitry comprises a spoofing detector; and

said undesired GPS type signals are spoofing signals.

7. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said first circuitry comprises circuitry for detecting first pseudorandom codes; and

said second circuitry comprises circuitry for detecting second pseudorandom codes.

8. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said first pseudorandom codes comprise C/A codes.

9. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said second pseudorandom codes comprise P codes.

10. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said first pseudorandom code comprises W codes.

11. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said spoofing detector comprises a noise level detector.

12. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 6, comprising:

means responsive to and external stimulus for automatically transmitting the location of said GPS radio as determined by said first or said second circuitry.

13. A GPS radio, comprising:

a power terminal;

an antenna;

first circuitry coupled to said power terminal and coupled to said antenna for receiving GPS signals and for determining the positional location of said antenna to a first degree of accuracy;

second circuitry coupled to said power terminal and coupled to said antenna for receiving said GPS signals and for determining the positional location of said antenna to a degree of accuracy more precise than said first degree of accuracy;

interference detecting circuitry coupled to said power terminal and operable to provide an output indicating the presence of undesired GPS type signals; and

controllable switch means coupled between said power terminal and said second circuitry and operable in response to said interference detecting circuiting output to connect said power terminal to said second circuitry when said undesired GPS type signals are present and for disconnecting said power terminal from said circuitry when said undesired GPS type signals are not present.

14. A GPS radio in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said undesired GPS type signals are spoofing signals.