GPS augmentation using time offset code modulation

• US 6,421,006 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• 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: Yakos, Michael D., Murphy, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/514,088
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/387, 375/130
• US Class Current: 342/387
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters

Abstract

A positioning system incorporating a time offset into the pseudo random noise codes. Incorporating the time offset, a transmitter from a pseudo satellite sends pseudo random noise codes to a receiver which recognizes the pseudo random noise codes with the offset. The offset is typically done as one or more hours. Knowing the offset value, the receiver then acquires the signal, and uses it to determine position, distance, etc. The use of an offset allows conventional receivers to ignore the time offset signal by selecting a time offset value which is greater than the searching time allowed in the conventional receiver. Equipment capable of recognizing the time offset signal is capable of thereby ignoring and/or distinguishing incoming signals from other sources.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a pseudo random noise code signal comprising:

transmitting a pseudo random noise code signal including a time offset;

receiving said pseudo random noise code signal;

searching for said pseudo random noise code signals wherein said search is based on said time offset; and

identifying said pseudo random noise code signal by matching the received pseudo random noise code signal to a stored pseudo random noise signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the time offset is of one or more hours.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pseudo random code signal without the offset is equivalent to a GPS pseudo random noise code signal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the GPS pseudo random noise code signal is a P-code.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the GPS pseudo random noise code signal is a Y-code.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the GPS pseudo random noise code signal is a C/A-code.

7. A method of utilizing pseudo random noise code signals generated by pseudo satellites, the method comprising:

transmitting a pseudo random noise code signal from a pseudo satellite wherein said pseudo random noise code signal includes a time offset;

searching for any pseudo random noise code signal for less time than said time offset.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said time offset is one or more hours.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said pseudo random noise code signal is a GPS pseudo random noise code signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the GPS pseudo random noise code signal is a P-code.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the GPS pseudo random noise code signal is a Y-code.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the GPS pseudo random noise code signal is a C/A-code.

13. A method of processing pseudo random noise code signals which are generated by pseudo satellites, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a time offset pseudo random noise code signal;

performing a search for said time offset pseudo random noise code signal, wherein said search is based on a time offset of said time offset pseudo random noise code signal;

identifying said time offset pseudo random noise code signal by matching the received time offset pseudo random noise code signal to a stored pseudo random noise signal.