Space based augmentation system with hierarchy for determining geographical corrections source

• US 6,839,631 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Barber, Clayton E., Pemble, Cliff
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US10/029,816
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 701/216, 701220-221, 701/207, 701/213, 701/214, 701/215, 342/357.02, 342/357.04, 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/357.15, 342/352, 342/356, 342/358, 342/357.16, 342/357.01, 342/357.03, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 455/456.1, 455/427, 455/12.1, 455 131- 133
• US Class Current: 701/214
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/074 providing integrity data, e.g. WAAS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/08 providing integrity information, e.g. health of satellites or quality of ephemeris data

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided for determining the appropriate or desired geographical correction source for SBAS corrections. One aspect provided herein is a method. According to one method embodiment, a Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) correction message is received from a selected SBAS satellite. It is determined whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source and then processing the correction message received therefrom. A second SBAS satellite is selected from which to receive SBAS correction messages upon determining that at least one criterion is not satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source. One example of SBAS is the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) used in North America Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) correction messages from a selected SBAS satellite;

determining whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source; and

upon determining that the at least one criterion is not satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source, selecting a second SBAS satellite to be used as a correction source from which to receive SBAS correction messages,

wherein determining whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source includes determining whether the SBAS correction messages received from the selected SBAS satellite are reliable, and

wherein determining whether the SBAS correction message received from the selected satellite is reliable includes;

determining whether the SBAS correction messages received from the selected satellite are less reliable than SBAS correction messages received from the second SBAS satellite; and

upon determining that the SBAS correction messages received from the selected satellite are less reliable than SBAS correction messages received from a second SBAS satellite, determining whether a stability threshold is exceeded.

2. A method, comprising:

receiving Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) correction messages from a selected SBAS satellite;

determining whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source; and

upon determining that the at least one criterion is not satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source, selecting a second SBAS satellite to be used as a correction source from which to receive SBAS correction messages,

wherein determining whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source includes;

determining whether the selected SBAS satellite is sending SBAS correction messages;

upon determining that the selected SBAS satellite is sending SBAS correction messages, determining whether the SBAS correction messages received from the selected SBAS satellite are reliable; and

upon determining that the SBAS correction messages received from the selected SBAS satellite are reliable, determining whether a differential position can be created from the received SBAS correction messages.

3. A method in a global positioning system (GPS) for determining a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) corrections source, comprising:

synchronizing to signals from at least two WAAS satellites;

selecting one WAAS satellite from which to receive WAAS correction messages;

receiving WAAS correction messages from the selected WAAS satellite;

determining whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected WAAS satellite as a correction source; and

upon determining that the at least one criterion is not satisfied for using the selected WAAS satellite as a correction source, selecting a second WAAS satellite to be used as a correction source from which to receive WAAS correction messages

wherein determining whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected WAAS satellite as a correction source includes;

determining whether the selected WAAS satellite is sending WAAS correction messages;

upon determining that the selected WAAS satellite is sending WAAS correction messages, determining whether the WAAS correction messages received from the selected WAAS satellite are reliable; and

upon determining that the WAAS correction messages received from the selected WAAS satellite are reliable, determining whether a differential position can be created from the received WAAS correction message.

4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, wherein a computer executes the instructions to:

synchronize to signals from at least two Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) satellites;

select one SBAS satellite from which to receive correction messages;

receive correction messages from the selected SBAS satellite;

determine whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source; and

select a second SBAS satellite to be used as a correction source from which to receive correction messages if the at least one criterion is not satisfied for receiving correction messages from the selected SBAS satellite,

wherein the computer-executable instructions adapted to determine whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source include;

computer-executable instructions adapted to determine whether the selected SBAS satellite is sending SBAS correction messages;

computer-executable instructions adapted to determine whether the SBAS correction messages received from the selected SBAS satellite are reliable if it is determined that the selected SBAS satellite is sending SBAS correction messages; and

computer-executable instructions adapted to determine whether a differential position can be created from the received SBAS correction messages if it is determined that the SBAS correction messages received from the selected SBAS satellite are reliable.

5. A data structure for use by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver device in making Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) corrections, comprising:

a field representing a variable array for a Current SBAS Correction Source (CSCS) valid SBAS message counter and a Potential SBAS Correction Source (PSCS) valid SBAS message counter;

a field representing a CSCS variable index;

a field representing a PSCS variable index; and

a field representing a threshold constant for a difference between the CSCS valid SBAS message counter and the PSCS valid SBAS message counter.

6. The data structure of claim 5, further comprising a field representing a threshold constant for a minimum PSCS valid MSG counter.

7. A data structure for use by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver device in making Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) corrections, comprising:

a field representing a current timer variable;

a field representing a swap timer variable;

a field representing a threshold constant for a difference between the current timer variable and the swap timer variable; and

a field representing a variable that indicates whether any presently-tracked satellite has valid corrections collected from a Current SBAS Correction Source (CSCS).

8. The data structure of claim 7, further comprising:

a field representing a variable that indicates a presently-computed position fix type; and

a field representing a constant assigned to the presently-computed position fix type variable.

9. A data structure for use by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver device in making Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) corrections, comprising:

a field representing a current timer variable;

a field representing a swap timer variable;

a field representing a threshold constant for a difference between the current timer variable and the swap timer variable;

a field representing a variable that indicates a presently-computed position fix type; and

a field representing a constant assigned to the presently-computed position fix type variable.

10. The data structure of claim 9, further comprising a field representing a variable that indicates whether any presently-tracked satellite has valid corrections collected from a Current SBAS Correction Source (CSCS).

11. A data structure for use by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver device in making Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) corrections, comprising:

a field representing a Current SBAS Correction Source (CSCS) variable index;

a field representing a Potential SBAS Correction Source (PSCS) variable index

a field representing a variable array of health information for SBAS satellites;

a field representing a variable array for a CSCS valid SBAS message counter and a PSCS valid SBAS message counter;

a field representing a threshold constant for a difference between the CSCS valid SBAS message counter and the PSCS valid SBAS message counter;

a field representing a threshold constant for a minimum PSCS valid message counter;

a field representing a current timer variable;

a field representing a swap timer variable;

a field representing a threshold constant for a difference between the current timer variable and the swap timer variable;

a field representing a variable that indicates whether any presently-tracked satellite has valid corrections collected from a CSCS;

a field representing a variable that indicates a presently-computed position fix type; and

a field representing a constant assigned to the presently-computed position fix type variable.