System and method for distribution of GPS satellite information
First Claim
1. A positioning information distribution system comprising:
- a plurality of satellite data receiving stations receiving data from at least one satellite in a positioning system and performing a plurality of satellite specific operations comprising;
extracting satellite information, calculating differential correction data relative to its own position, and transmitting satellite specific data including said satellite information and said differential correction data via a data link for each satellite in said positioning system from which data was received;
an information processing station coupled with said data link, said information processing station receiving a plurality of said satellite specific data transmissions from each of said plurality of satellite data receiving stations, conjoining said plurality of satellite specific data transmissions into a data file comprising satellite information and differential correction data for a plurality of said satellites in said positioning system, and distributing said data file via a network; and
a mobile unit including a positioning system receiver and a data processing unit, said mobile unit accessing said network and receiving said data file without providing any location information to said information processing station, said mobile unit selecting a portion of said data file correlating to satellites being in line-of-sight of said mobile unit and utilizing said portion of said data file to assist in computing a measured position of said mobile unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A positioning information distribution system for distributing positioning information through a data network is described. In one embodiment, the system distributes satellite information from a global positioning system (GPS). The system includes an information processing station connected to a data network accessible by wireless communication, a receiving station including a GPS receiver, and a mobile unit including a GPS receiver and a wireless receiver. The information processing station collects GPS satellite information from the receiving station and transmits the satellite information to the mobile unit using wireless communication. Alternately, a network of receiving stations are provided. The mobile unit can obtain the satellite information from the information processing station for determining its measured position, even when the mobile unit is roaming in an urban area and is not able to observe the GPS satellites for the lengthy observation period needed to acquire the satellite information itself.
37 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A positioning information distribution system comprising:
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a plurality of satellite data receiving stations receiving data from at least one satellite in a positioning system and performing a plurality of satellite specific operations comprising;
extracting satellite information, calculating differential correction data relative to its own position, and transmitting satellite specific data including said satellite information and said differential correction data via a data link for each satellite in said positioning system from which data was received;an information processing station coupled with said data link, said information processing station receiving a plurality of said satellite specific data transmissions from each of said plurality of satellite data receiving stations, conjoining said plurality of satellite specific data transmissions into a data file comprising satellite information and differential correction data for a plurality of said satellites in said positioning system, and distributing said data file via a network; and a mobile unit including a positioning system receiver and a data processing unit, said mobile unit accessing said network and receiving said data file without providing any location information to said information processing station, said mobile unit selecting a portion of said data file correlating to satellites being in line-of-sight of said mobile unit and utilizing said portion of said data file to assist in computing a measured position of said mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A GPS satellite information distribution system comprising:
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a plurality of receiving stations, each including a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a transmitter, said GPS receiver extracting said GPS satellite information from data from GPS satellites, calculating differential correction data relative to its own position, and transmitting said differential correction data and said GPS satellite information via a data link; an information processing station coupled with said data link, said information processing station receiving said GPS satellite information and differential correction data from each of said plurality of receiving stations, grouping said GPS satellite information and differential correction data into a data file comprising GPS satellite information and differential correction data for a plurality of said satellites in said positioning system and distributing said data file via a network; and a mobile unit including a GPS receiver and a wireless communicator, said mobile unit receiving said GPS satellite information and said differential correction data from said information processing station via said data network without providing any location information to said information processing station, said mobile unit selecting a portion of said data file correlating to satellites being in line-of-sight of said mobile unit and utilizing said portion of said data file and GPS positioning signals from said GPS satellites through said GPS receiver to compute a measured position of said mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for distributing global positional system (GPS) satellite information over a data network to a mobile unit, comprising:
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receiving in a plurality of receiving stations GPS signals transmitted by GPS satellites and extracting from said GPS signals GPS satellite information that is embedded in said GPS signals; in each receiving station, calculating differential correction data relative to the position of the receiving station; transmitting said GPS satellite information and said differential data to an information processing station through a data network, said information processing station receiving said GPS satellite information and differential correction data from each of said plurality of receiving stations, grouping said GPS satellite information and differential correction data into a data file comprising GPS satellite information and differential correction data for a plurality of said satellites in said positioning system and distributing said data file via a network; and communicating said GPS satellite information and said differential correction data to a mobile unit through a wireless data link to said data network without providing any information to said information processing station, said mobile unit selecting a portion of said data file correlating to satellites being in line-of-sight of said mobile unit and utilizing portion of said data file having said GPS satellite information and said differential correction data in conjunction with GPS signals of three or more GPS satellites to determine a measured position of said mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification