Positioning and time transfer using television synchronization signals

• US 8,233,091 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Rabinowitz, Matthew, Spilker, James J. Jr., Furman, Scott, Rubin, Dimitri, Samra, Harvind, Burgess, David, Opshaug, Guttorm, Omura, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Shang, Annan
• Application Number:
  US12/117,676
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 348/516, 348/554, 348/725, 348731-733, 348/555, 348/558, 725131-140, 725/151
• US Class Current: 348/554
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/06 Generation of synchronising signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0352 for regeneration of the clock signal

Abstract

Methods having corresponding apparatus and computer-readable media comprise: receiving television signals and a message at an apparatus, wherein the television signals include an NTSC television signal and an ATSC television signal, wherein the message represents first and second arrival times representing absolute times of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the NTSC and ATSC television signals, respectively; measuring third and fourth arrival times, based on a local clock, after receiving the message, wherein the third and fourth arrival times represent times of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the NTSC and ATSC television signals, respectively; and providing a clock correction signal for the local clock based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first receiver adapted to receive television signals and a message, wherein the television signals include an NTSC television signal and an ATSC television signal, wherein the message represents a first arrival time and a second arrival time, wherein the first arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the second arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

a local clock;

a first arrival time module adapted to measure a third arrival time and a fourth arrival time, based on the local clock, after the first receiver receives the message, wherein the third arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the fourth arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the ATSC television signal; and

a clock correction unit adapted to provide a clock correction signal for the local clock based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing module adapted to determine, based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time, at least one of an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and

an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the ATSC television signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing module adapted to determine a position of the apparatus based on the clock correction signal and at least one of

the NTSC television signal, and

the ATSC television signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor unit adapted to provide the message.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the monitor unit comprises:

a second receiver adapted to receive the television signals;

a reference clock;

a second arrival time module adapted to measure a fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time based on the reference clock, wherein the fifth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the sixth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

a processing module adapted to determine the first arrival time and the second arrival time based on the fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit the message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the time module is further adapted to measure the third arrival time and the fourth arrival time within a time limit after the first receiver receives the message.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the time limit is determined based on the wavelengths of the NTSC and ATSC television signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the time limit is equal to or less than thirty six minutes.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the time limit comprises a first time limit and a second time limit, and wherein:

the first time limit is a time within which the time module measures the third arrival time after the first receiver receives the message, and

the second time limit is a time within which the time module measures the fourth arrival time after the first receiver receives the message.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the NTSC television signal is transmitted from a NTSC transmitter with a NTSC transmitter clock and the ATSC television signal is transmitted from an ATSC transmitter with an ATSC transmitter clock, and wherein the difference between the NTSC transmitter clock and the ATSC transmitter clock is within a maximum clock difference.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the maximum clock difference depends on the time limit.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the maximum clock difference is less than 1 ns per 11.7 seconds of the time limit.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the message received at the first receiver is comprised in a message protocol that depends on the time limit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the message protocol is short message service (SMS) when the time limit is 0.97 seconds or longer, and wherein the message protocol is a general packet radio service (GPRS) when the time limit is less than 0.97 seconds.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the time module is adapted to measure the third arrival time and the fourth arrival time with a maximum time error.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the maximum time error is determined based on the wavelengths of the NTSC and ATSC television signals.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the maximum time error is 186 ns.

18. An apparatus comprising:

first receiver means for receiving television signals and a message, wherein the television signals include an NTSC television signal and an ATSC television signal, wherein the message represents a first arrival time and a second arrival time, wherein the first arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the second arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

first arrival time means for measuring a third arrival time and a fourth arrival time, based on a local clock, after the first receiver means receives the message, wherein the third arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the fourth arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the ATSC television signal; and

clock correction means for providing a clock correction signal for the local clock based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

processing means for determining, based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time, at least one of an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and

an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the ATSC television signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

processing means for determining a position of the apparatus based on the clock correction signal and at least one of

the NTSC television signal, and

the ATSC television signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

monitor means for providing the message.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the monitor means comprises:

second receiver means for receiving the television signals;

a second arrival time module adapted to measure a fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time based on a reference clock, wherein the fifth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the sixth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

processing means for determining the first arrival time and the second arrival time based on the fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time; and

transmitter means for transmitting the message.

23. A method comprising:

receiving television signals and a message at an apparatus, wherein the television signals include an NTSC television signal and an ATSC television signal, wherein the message represents a first arrival time and a second arrival time, wherein the first arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the second arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

measuring a third arrival time and a fourth arrival time, based on a local clock, after receiving the message, wherein the third arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the fourth arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the ATSC television signal; and

providing a clock correction signal for the local clock based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining, based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time, at least one of an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and

an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the ATSC television signal.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining a position of the apparatus based on the clock correction signal and at least one of

the NTSC television signal, and

the ATSC television signal.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing the message.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving the television signals;

measuring a fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time based on a reference clock, wherein the fifth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at a monitor unit of the first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the sixth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

determining the first arrival time and the second arrival time based on the fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time; and

transmitting the message.

28. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving television signals and a message at an apparatus, wherein the television signals include an NTSC television signal and an ATSC television signal, wherein the message represents a first arrival time and a second arrival time, wherein the first arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the second arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of a first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

measuring a third arrival time and a fourth arrival time, based on a local clock, after receiving the message, wherein the third arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the fourth arrival time represents a time of arrival at the apparatus of a second wavefront of the ATSC television signal; and

providing a clock correction signal for the local clock based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

determining, based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time, at least one of

an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and

an absolute time of arrival at the apparatus of the second wavefront of the ATSC television signal.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a position of the apparatus based on the clock correction signal and at least one of

the NTSC television signal, and

the ATSC television signal.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

providing the message.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the television signals;

measuring a fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time based on a reference clock, wherein the fifth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at a monitor unit of the first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the sixth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

determining the first arrival time and the second arrival time based on the fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time; and

transmitting the message.

33. A system, comprising:

a monitor unit adapted to provide a message; and

a user terminal, comprising;

a first receiver adapted to receive television signals and to receive the message provided by the monitor unit, wherein the television signals include an NTSC television signal and an ATSC television signal, wherein the message represents a first arrival time and a second arrival time, wherein the first arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of a first wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the second arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of a first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

a local clock;

a first arrival time module adapted to measure a third arrival time and a fourth arrival time, based on the local clock, after the first receiver receives the message, wherein the third arrival time represents a time of arrival at the user terminal of a second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and wherein the fourth arrival time represents a time of arrival at the user terminal of a second wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

a clock correction unit adapted to provide a clock correction signal for the local clock based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time; and

a processing module adapted to determine, based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time, the third arrival time, and the fourth arrival time, at least one of an absolute time of arrival at the user terminal of the second wavefront of the NTSC television signal, and an absolute time of arrival at the user terminal of the second wavefront of the ATSC television signal, and to determine a position of the user terminal based on the clock correction signal and at least one of the NTSC television signal and the ATSC television signal.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the monitor unit comprises:

a second receiver adapted to receive the television signals;

a reference clock;

a second arrival time module adapted to measure a fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time based on the reference clock, wherein the fifth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the NTSC television signal; and

wherein the sixth arrival time represents an absolute time of arrival at the monitor unit of the first wavefront of the ATSC television signal;

a processing module adapted to determine the first arrival time and the second arrival time based on the fifth arrival time and a sixth arrival time; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit the message.

35. A method comprising:

receiving at an apparatus a first television signal, a second television signal, and a message, wherein the message represents a first time of transmittal and a second time of transmittal, wherein the first time of transmittal represents the time the first television signal was transmitted, and wherein the second time of transmittal represents the time the second television signal was transmitted;

estimating a first time of arrival and a second time of arrival based on a local clock, wherein the first time of arrival represents the time the first television signal was received, and wherein the second time of arrival represents the time the second television signal was received; and

providing a clock correction signal for the local clock based on the first time of arrival, the second time of arrival, the first time of transmittal, and the second time of transmittal.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second television signals are ATSC signals.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second television signals are NTSC signals.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the first television signal is transmitted from a first transmitter and the second television signal is transmitted from a second transmitter, and wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter are located on a same transmission tower.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising determining a position of the apparatus based on the clock correction signal and at least one of the first television signal and the second television signal.