System and method for monitoring and reporting GPS pseudo range correction data

• US 6,208,289 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Haendel, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/311,947
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.03, 342/357.06, 701/213, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/07 providing data for correcting measured positioning data, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS] or ionosphere corrections

Abstract

A differential GPS receiver system in which a first receiver at a known location generates pseudo range correction data and a second GPS receiver at a nearby second known location uses the data to determine an enhanced calculated position of the second GPS receiver, which is then compared with the known second location. If the enhanced calculated position falls within an acceptable level of error from the known position, then the pseudo range correction data is transmitted to mobile receivers.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first receiver coupled to a first antenna, located at a first known location, said first receiver for receiving signals through said first antenna and generating in response thereto, information representative of a difference between said first location and a first computed location;

a second receiver coupled to a second antenna, located at a second, known location, said second receiver for receiving signals through said second antenna and further for receiving said information from said first receiver and generating in response thereto an enhanced position determination of said second antenna; and

,

a processor for making a comparison of said enhanced position determination of said second antenna with said second location and generating a signal representative of a characteristic of said comparison.

2. A system of claim 1 wherein said first receiver is a GPS receiver.

3. A system of claim 2 further comprising a transmitter coupled to said processor, and responsive to said comparison, for selectively transmitting information representative of said difference.

4. A system of claim 3 wherein said first known location and said second known location are co-located.

5. A system of claim 3 wherein said first antenna and said second antenna share common components.

6. A system comprising:

means for generating pseudo range correction data;

means for generating an enhanced position determination as a function of said pseudo range correction data;

means for making a comparison of said enhanced position determination with a surveyed location; and

,

means for selectively transmitting said pseudo range correction data as a function of said comparison.

7. A system of claim 6 wherein said means for generating pseudo range correction data is a GPS receiver.

8. A system of claim 7 wherein said means for comparison performs a comparison with respect to a predetermined maximum level of error between said enhanced position determination and said surveyed position.

9. A system of claim 8 wherein said means for generating an enhanced position determination is a GPS receiver.

10. A system of claim 9 wherein said means for selectively transmitting comprises a data link transmitter.

11. A system of claim 6 wherein said means for generating pseudo range correction data is a Glonass receiver.

12. A system of claim 6 wherein said means for generating pseudo range correction data is a Loran receiver.

13. A system of claim 10 wherein said means for selectively transmitting comprises a microprocessor.

14. A method of determining a position of a mobile object comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal at a first location generating a first correction signal at said first location in response to said first signal;

providing said first correction signal to a second location;

determining a calculated position of said second location in response to said first correction signal;

comparing said calculated position with a predetermined position of said second location and generating a comparison signal; and

transmitting said first correction signal to a third location if said comparison signal has a predetermined relationship with respect to a reference.

15. A method of claim 14 further including receiving said correction signal at a third location.

16. A method of claim 15 further including a step of storing said correction signal at a fourth location.

17. A method of claim 16 further including releasing said correction signal in response to said comparison signal.

18. A method of claim 17 wherein said step of receiving a first signal utilizes a GPS receiver.

19. A method of claim 18 wherein said step of determining a calculated position utilizes a GPS receiver.

20. A method of claim 19 wherein said step of storing said correction signal utilizes a data buffer.