Global navigation satellite system

• US 7,683,831 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US11/686,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.01
• US Class Current: 342/357.64
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/33 Multimode operation in different systems which transmit time stamped messages, e.g. GPS/GLONASS

Abstract

Each of a first and a second navigation satellite system (NSS) are adapted to operate according to a first and a second specification, respectively, and each includes a first and a second plurality of space vehicles (SV), respectively. Each of the first and the second plurality of SVs are adapted to be identified by a first and a second plurality of unique corresponding identifications (IDs), respectively. A processor is adapted to receive and identify a first plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the first plurality of SVs in response to the first plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to receive and identify a second plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the second plurality of SVs in response to the second plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to determine position location information in response to receiving and identifying the first plurality of corresponding signals and the second plurality of corresponding signals.

Claims

1. A method of communication comprising:

providing a location server adapted to communicate with a mobile station, a first satellite, and a second satellite, wherein the first satellite is adapted to operate according to a first specification including a first system time and wherein the second satellite is adapted to operate according to a second specification including a second system time;

defining at the location server a virtual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time;

receiving at the location server a first signal from the first satellite including a first satellite code phase time;

receiving at the location server a second signal from the second satellite including a second satellite code phase time;

calculating at the location server a GNSS time offset as a function of the virtual GNSS time, the first satellite code phase time and the second satellite code phase time; and

communicating the virtual GNSS time to the mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting the GNSS time offset to the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of determining a position of the mobile station, at the mobile station, in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the first satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is a function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the first satellite and a GNSS code phase time offset for the first satellite.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of determining a position of the mobile station, at the mobile station, in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the second satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is a function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the second satellite and a GNSS code phase time offset for the second satellite.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of calculating at the location server a GNSS clock correction parameter relative to the virtual GNSS time for each of the first and second satellites.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of transmitting to the mobile station the GNSS clock correction parameters for the first and second satellites.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

receiving the GNSS clock correction parameters at the mobile station, and

calculating a GNSS code phase time offset for each of the first and second satellites in response thereto.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of defining the virtual GNSS time as substantially identical to the first system time.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of defining the virtual GNSS time as substantially identical to the second system time.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of identifying the first and second satellites according to a GNSS identification.

11. A communications apparatus comprising:

a location server adapted to;

(a) communicate with a mobile station,

(b) define a virtual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time,

(c) receive a first signal from a first satellite including a first satellite code phase time, wherein the first satellite is adapted to operate according to a first specification including a first system time,

(d) receive a second signal from a second satellite including a second satellite code phase time, wherein the second satellite is adapted to operate according to a second specification including a second system time,

(e) calculate a GNSS time offset as a function of the virtual GNSS time, the first satellite code phase time and the second satellite code phase time, and

(f) communicate the virtual GNSS time to the mobile station.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the location server is further adapted to calculate a GNSS clock correction parameter relative to the virtual GNSS time for each of the first and second satellites.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the location server is further adapted to transmit to the mobile station the GNSS clock correction parameters for the first and second satellites.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first signal comprises a Global Position System (GPS) signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second signal comprises a Galileo satellite system signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first satellite comprises a first satellite clock, the first satellite clock being offsettable from the first system time resulting in a first satellite clock bias, wherein the location server is further adapted to calculate the GNSS clock correction parameter for the first satellite in response to the first satellite clock bias.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second satellite comprises a second satellite clock, the second satellite clock being offsettable from the second system time resulting in a second satellite clock bias, wherein the location server is further adapted to calculate the GNSS clock correction parameter for the second satellite in response to the second satellite clock bias.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the location server is adapted to define the virtual GNSS time as substantially identical to the first system time.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the location server is adapted to define the virtual GNSS time as substantially identical to the second system time.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the location server is adapted to identify the first and second satellites according to a GNSS identification.

21. A communications apparatus comprising:

a mobile station adapted to communicate with a location server, the location server adapted to;

(a) define a virtual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time,

(b) receive a first signal from a first satellite including a first satellite code phase time, wherein the first satellite is adapted to operate according to a first specification including a first system time,

(c) receive a second signal from a second satellite including a second satellite code phase time, wherein the second satellite is adapted to operate according to a second specification including a second system time, and

(d) calculate a GNSS time offset as a function of the virtual GNSS time, the first satellite code phase time and the second satellite code phase time,

wherein the mobile station is adapted to determine the virtual GNSS time, to receive from the location server the GNSS time offset and to determine a position of the mobile station in response thereto.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the mobile station is further adapted to determine a position of the mobile station in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the first satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is a function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the first satellite and a GNSS code phase time offset relative to the virtual GNSS time for the first satellite.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the mobile station is further adapted to determine a position of the mobile station in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the second satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is a function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the second satellite and a GNSS code phase time offset relative to the virtual GNSS time for the second satellite.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the mobile station comprises one of a personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a workstation, a minicomputer, a mainframe, a supercomputer, a network-based device, a data processor, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart card, a cellular telephone, a pager, or a wristwatch.

25. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

(a) code to cause at least a location server to communicate with a mobile station,

(b) code to cause at least the location server to define a virtual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time,

(c) code to cause at least the location server to receive a first signal from a first satellite including a first satellite code phase time,

(d) code to cause at least the location server to receive a second signal from a second satellite including a second satellite code phase time,

(e) code to cause at least the location server to calculate a GNSS time offset as a function of the virtual GNSS time, the first satellite code phase time and the second satellite code phase time; and

(f) code to cause the location server to communicate the virtual GNSS time to the mobile station.

26. The product of claim 25 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the location server to calculate a GNSS clock correction parameter relative to the virtual GNSS time for each of the first satellite and the second satellite.

27. The product of claim 26 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the location server to transmit to the mobile station the GNSS clock correction parameters for the first and second satellites.

28. The product of claim 25 wherein the first signal comprises a Global Position System (GPS) signal.

29. The product of claim 25 wherein the second signal comprises a Galileo satellite system signal.

30. The product of claim 26 wherein the first satellite comprises a first satellite clock, the first satellite clock being offsettable from the first system time resulting in a first satellite clock bias, and wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the location server to calculate the GNSS clock correction parameter for the first satellite in response to the first satellite clock bias.

31. The product of claim 26 wherein the second satellite comprises a second satellite clock, the second satellite clock being offsettable from the second system time resulting in a second satellite clock bias, and wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the location server to calculate the GNSS clock correction parameter for the second satellite in response to the second satellite clock bias.

32. The product of claim 25 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the location server to define the virtual GNSS time as substantially identical to the first system time.

33. The product of claim 25 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the location server to define the virtual GNSS time as substantially identical to the second system time.

34. The product of claim 25 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least the location server to identify the first and second satellites according to a GNSS identification.

35. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code to cause at least a mobile station to communicate with a location server, wherein the location server is adapted to define a virtual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time, receive a first signal from a first satellite including a first satellite code phase time, receive a second signal from a second satellite including a second satellite code phase time, and calculate a GNSS time offset as a function of the virtual GNSS time, the first satellite code phase time and the second satellite code phase time;

code to cause the mobile station to determine the virtual GNSS time;

code to cause at least the mobile station to receive from the location server the GNSS time offset; and

code to cause at least the mobile station to determine a position of the mobile station based on the virtual GNSS time and in response to the GNSS time offset.

36. The product of claim 35 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the mobile station to determine a position of the mobile station in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the first satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the first satellite and GNSS code phase time offset for the first satellite.

37. The product of claim 35 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code to cause at least the mobile station to determine a position of the mobile station in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the second satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is a function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the second satellite and a GNSS code phase time offset for the second satellite.

38. The product of claim 35 wherein the mobile station comprises one of a personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a workstation, a minicomputer, a mainframe, a supercomputer, a network-based device, a data processor, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart card, a cellular telephone, a pager, or a wristwatch.

39. A communications apparatus comprising:

a location server comprising;

(a) means for communicating with a mobile station,

(b) means for defining a virtual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time,

(c) means for receiving a first signal from a first satellite including a first satellite code phase time,

(d) means for receiving a second signal from a second satellite including a second satellite code phase time,

(e) means for calculating a GNSS time offset as a function of the virtual GNSS time, the first satellite code phase time and the second satellite code phase time; and

(f) means for communicating the virtual GNSS time to the mobile station.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the location server further comprises means for calculating a GNSS clock correction parameter for each of the first satellite and the second satellite.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the location server further comprises means for transmitting to the mobile station the GNSS clock correction parameters for the first and second satellites.

42. A communications apparatus comprising:

a mobile station comprising;

means for communicating with a location server, wherein the location server is adapted to define a virtual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time, receive a first signal from a first satellite including a first satellite code phase time, receive a second signal from a second satellite including a second satellite code phase time, and calculate a GNSS time offset as a function of the virtual GNSS time, the first satellite code phase time and the second satellite code phase time;

means for receiving from the location server the GNSS time offset;

means for determining the virtual GNSS time; and

means for determining a position of the mobile station at the mobile station based on the virtual GNSS time and in response to the GNSS time offset.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the mobile station further comprises means for determining a position of the mobile station in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the first satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is a function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the first satellite and a GNSS code phase time offset for the first satellite.

44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the mobile station further comprises means for determining a position of the mobile station in response to a GNSS time of transmission for the second satellite, wherein the GNSS time of transmission is a function of an effective GNSS code phase time at transmission for the second satellite and a GNSS code phase time offset for the second satellite.