Double-nudged broadcast orbit drift correction

• US 8,264,404 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Ferguson, Kendall, Remondi, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Harry
• Application Number:
  US12/774,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.66
• US Class Current: 342/357.66
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]

Abstract

A method in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver for double-nudged broadcast orbit drift correction. A first broadcast orbit message is utilized to nudge a broadcast orbit in use at the GNSS receiver to create a first nudged broadcast orbit for a GNSS satellite, the first nudged broadcast orbit being more precise than the broadcast orbit. A second broadcast orbit message is utilized to nudge the first nudged broadcast orbit in use at the GNSS receiver to create a double-nudged broadcast orbit for a GNSS satellite, the double-nudged broadcast orbit being more precise than the first nudged broadcast orbit. A third broadcast orbit message is utilized to maintain the double-nudged broadcast orbit, the third broadcast orbit message smaller than the second and the first broadcast orbit messages.

Claims

1. A method in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver double-nudged broadcast orbit drift correction, said method comprising:

receiving a first broadcast orbit message to nudge a broadcast orbit in use at said GNSS receiver to create a first nudged broadcast orbit for a GNSS satellite, said first nudged broadcast orbit being more precise than said broadcast orbit;

receiving a second broadcast orbit message sequentially after said receiving said first broadcast orbit message to nudge said first nudged broadcast orbit in use at said GNSS receiver to create a double-nudged broadcast orbit for a GNSS satellite, said double-nudged broadcast orbit being more precise than said first nudged broadcast orbit; and

receiving a third broadcast orbit message sequentially after said receiving said second broadcast orbit message to maintain correct said double-nudged broadcast orbit, said third broadcast orbit message smaller in size than said second and said first broadcast orbit messages.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said second broadcast orbit message at a different orbit time than that of said first broadcast orbit message.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said second message comprises:

receiving a validity period represented by a time tag associated with said second broadcast orbit message to determine when, in time, said double-nudge was performed.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

encoding said validity period in a compressed format.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing more ambiguity for said third broadcast orbit message with respect to said second and said first broadcast orbit message; and

increasing a receive rate for said third broadcast orbit message with respect to said second and said first broadcast orbit message.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

achieving said double-nudged broadcast orbit after receiving one said second broadcast orbit message followed by another said second broadcast orbit message within a validity period.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

achieving said double-nudged broadcast orbit after receiving one said second broadcast orbit message followed by said third broadcast orbit message within a validity period.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining said double-nudged broadcast orbit after achieving said double nudged orbit by receiving said second broadcast orbit message within a validity period.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining said double-nudged broadcast orbit as long as another said third broadcast orbit message arrives within a validity period.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing an N^th broadcast orbit message to maintain said double-nudged broadcast orbit, said N^th broadcast orbit message smaller than said third, said second and said first broadcast orbit messages.

11. A method in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver double-nudged broadcast clock error correction, said method comprising:

receiving a first broadcast clock error message to nudge a broadcast clock error in use at said GNSS receiver to create a first nudged broadcast clock error for a GNSS satellite, said first nudged broadcast clock error being more precise than said broadcast clock error;

receiving a second broadcast clock error message sequentially after said receiving said first broadcast clock error message to nudge said first nudged broadcast clock error in use at said GNSS receiver to create a double-nudged broadcast clock error for a GNSS satellite, said double-nudged broadcast clock error being more precise than said first nudged broadcast clock error; and

receiving a third broadcast clock error message sequentially after said receiving said second broadcast clock error message to correct said double-nudged broadcast clock error, said third broadcast clock error message smaller in size than said second and said first broadcast clock error messages.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving said second broadcast clock error message at a different clock time than that of said first broadcast clock error message.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said second message comprises:

utilizing a validity period represented by a time tag associated with said second broadcast clock error message to determine when, in time, said double-nudge was performed.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

encoding said validity period in a compressed format.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

providing more ambiguity for said third broadcast clock error message with respect to said second and said first broadcast clock error message; and

increasing a receive rate for said third broadcast clock error message with respect to said second and said first broadcast clock error message.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

achieving said double-nudged broadcast clock error after receiving one said second broadcast clock error message followed by another said second broadcast clock error message within a validity period.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

achieving said double-nudged broadcast clock error after receiving one said second broadcast clock error message followed by said third broadcast clock error message within a validity period.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining said double-nudged broadcast clock error after achieving said double nudged clock error by receiving said second broadcast clock error message within a validity period.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining said double-nudged broadcast clock error as long as another said third broadcast clock error message arrives within a validity period.

20. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an N^th broadcast clock error message to correct said double-nudged broadcast clock error, said N^th broadcast clock error message smaller than said third, said second and said first broadcast clock error messages.