Method and apparatus for generating and distributing satellite tracking information

• US 6,542,820 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Locate Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, van Diggelen, Frank, LaMance, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/875,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/214, 342/357.1, 342/357.6, 342/357.9
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/27 creating, predicting or correcting ephemeris or almanac data within the receiver

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a satellite tracking data that is valid for an extended period of time into the future. At least a portion of the satellite tracking data is formatted into a format prescribed by a remote receiver. The formatted data is transmitted to the remote receiver via a distribution network. As such, a remote receiver may accurately operate for days without receiving an update of the satellite tracking data.

Claims

1. A method for providing long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver comprising:

receiving satellite signals from at least one satellite at at least one receiving station;

producing long term satellite tracking data from information derived from said satellite signals; and

transmitting at least a portion of the long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises:

at least one of the following;

code phase measurements, carrier phase measurements, Doppler measurements, and ephemeris data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said long term satellite tracking data comprises:

at least one of;

a plurality of satellite positions with respect to time for a period of time into the future and a plurality of satellite clock offsets with respect to time for a period of time into the future.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said long term satellite tracking data comprises:

at least one of;

data representative of satellite positions, velocities or acceleration, data representative of satellite clock offsets, drift, or drift rates.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said producing step further comprises:

generating satellite orbit trajectory data for a past period of time; and

extending the satellite orbit trajectory data into the future.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said producing step further comprises:

generating satellite clock offset data for a past period of time; and

extending the satellite clock offset data into the future.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the said long term satellite tracking data is valid for greater than four hours.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the said at least one satellite is a global positioning system (GPS) satellite.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the said at least one satellite is a satellite used in a satellite positioning system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the said remote receiver is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the said remote receiver is a satellite positioning system receiver.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting step comprises:

transmitting using a wireless communications link.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said transmitting step further comprises:

broadcasting the at least a portion of the long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting step comprises:

transmitting using a computer network.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said transmitting step further comprises:

broadcasting the at least a portion of the long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting step comprises:

transmitting using the Internet.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said transmitting step further comprises:

broadcasting the at least a portion of the long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver.

18. A method for providing long term satellite tracking data to a remote global positioning system (GPS) receiver comprising:

receiving satellite signals from at least one satellite at a plurality of receiving stations;

processing the satellite signals to produce satellite trajectory data and clock data;

producing long term satellite tracking data from the satellite trajectory data and clock data;

generating an orbit model comprising at least a portion of the long term satellite tracking data; and

transmitting the orbit model to a remote GPS receiver.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said satellite trajectory data comprises past positions of the at least one satellite and said clock data comprises past clock offsets.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said long term satellite tracking data comprises a plurality of satellite positions with respect to time for a period of time into the future, and a plurality of satellite clock offsets with respect to time for a period of time into the future.

21. Apparatus for providing long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver comprising:

means for receiving satellite signals from at least one satellite at at least one receiving station;

means for producing long term satellite tracking data from information derived from said satellite signals; and

means for transmitting at least a portion of the long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said information comprises:

at least one of the following;

code phase measurements, carrier phase measurements, Doppler measurements, and ephemeris data.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said long term satellite tracking data comprises:

at least one of;

a plurality of satellite positions with respect to time for a period of time into the future and a plurality of satellite clock offsets with respect to time for a period of time into the future.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said long term satellite tracking data comprises:

at least one of;

data representative of satellite positions, velocities or acceleration, data representative of satellite clock offsets, drift, or drift rates.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said means for producing further comprises:

means for generating satellite orbit trajectory data for a past period of time; and

means for extending the satellite orbit trajectory data into the future.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said producing means further comprises:

means for generating satellite clock offset data for a past period of time; and

means for extending the satellite clock offset data into the future.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

a wireless communications link.

28. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

a computer network.

29. Apparatus for providing long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver comprising:

a receiver for receiving satellite signals from at least one satellite at at least one receiving station;

a computer for producing long term satellite tracking data from information derived from said satellite signals; and

a distribution network for distributing at least a portion of the long term satellite tracking data to a remote receiver.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said information is satellite trajectory data and satellite clock offset.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said at least one receiving station is a network of receiving stations for receiving global positioning system (GPS) satellite signals.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the computer comprises a memory for storing the long term satellite tracking data in a database.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the distribution network is a wireless network.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the distribution network is a computer network.