Method and system for providing wide area augmentation systems (WAAS) like corrections using a server and processor on the internet

• US 6,529,830 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Eschenbach, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/844,866
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/214, 701/215, 701/216, 342/357.01, 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/358, 455/12.1
• US Class Current: 701/215
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/074 providing integrity data, e.g. WAAS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/009 Transmission of differential positioning data to mobile

Abstract

A method and system that provide WAAS like corrections using a server and processor on a network. For one method, satellite measurement data is collected. Satellite position error corrections are computed using the collected satellite measurement data. The computed satellite position error corrections are stored. The stored satellite position error corrections can then be later retrieved and used by a server and processor coupled to the Internet.

Claims

1. A Global Positioning System (GPS) method comprising:

collecting satellite measurement data;

computing satellite position error corrections using the collected satellite measurement data;

storing the computed satellite position error corrections;

retrieving the stored satellite position error corrections; and

using the retrieved satellite position error corrections.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the computed satellite position error corrections to a server via a network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network includes an Internet network.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a request from a user connected to the network to compute pseudo range corrections for a given location by the server using the stored satellite position error corrections;

processing the stored satellite position error corrections to compute the pseudo range corrections by the server; and

transmitting the computed pseudo range corrections to the user by the server via the network.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a request from a user connected to the network to send the stored satellite position error corrections by the server; and

transmitting the stored satellite position error correction to the user by the server via the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the using of the retrieved satellite position error corrections includes using the retrieved satellite position error corrections in a real-time or non-real-time manner.

7. A Global Positioning System (GPS) system comprising:

a receiver to collect satellite measurement data and to compute satellite position error corrections using the collected satellite measurement data; and

a server coupled to the receiver via a network, the server to store the computed satellite position error corrections and to retrieve the stored satellite position error corrections.

8. The GPS system of claim 7, further comprising:

a user to use the retrieved satellite position error corrections.

9. The GPS system of claim 8, wherein the user is to provide a request to the server for the server to compute pseudo range corrections for a given location using the stored satellite position error corrections and to receive the computed pseudo range corrections from the server via the network.

10. The GPS system of claim 8, wherein the user is to provide a request to the server for the server to retrieve the stored satellite position error corrections and to receive the retrieved satellite position error corrections from the server via the network.

11. The GPS system of claim 7, wherein the receiver is to transmit the computed satellite position error corrections to the server via the network.

12. The GPS system of claim 11, wherein the network includes an Internet network.

13. The GPS system of claim 11, wherein the server is to provide satellite position error corrections in a real-time or non-real-time manner.

14. A server comprising:

a processor to receive computed satellite position error corrections via an Internet network, to store the received satellite position error corrections in a database, to retrieve the stored satellite position error corrections in the database, and to use the retrieved satellite position error corrections.

15. The server of claim 14, wherein the server is to receive the computed satellite position error corrections by a receiver connected to the Internet network.

16. The server of claim 14, wherein the processor is to process a request from a user connected to the Internet network to compute pseudo range corrections using the stored satellite position error corrections and to transmit the computed pseudo range correction to the user.

17. The server of claim 14, wherein the processor is to process a request from a user connected to the Internet network to transmit stored satellite position error corrections to the user.

18. The server of claim 14, wherein the processor is to use the retrieved satellite position error corrections in a real-time or non-real-time manner.

19. A method, comprising:

developing pseudorange correction information based on a stated reference position for a virtual reference station and a first set of satellite measurement information received at the virtual reference station; and

broadcasting the pseudorange correction information from the virtual reference station.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first set of satellite measurement information is transmitted from a central computer system.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first set of satellite measurement information stored in the central computer system is based on a second set of satellite measurement information received from a plurality of fixed reference stations.