Method and system for maintaining a GNSS receiver in a hot-start state

• US 8,310,393 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: van Diggelen, Frank, Abraham, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US13/102,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.25, 342/357.63, 342/357.71, 342/357.74, 701/468
• US Class Current: 342/357.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption

Abstract

A GNSS receiver in a wake up state during a standby mode may acquire ephemeris from received GNSS signals such as GPS signals and/or GLONASS signals. When subsequently transitioning from the standby mode to a normal mode operating at a high frequency clock, the acquired ephemeris may be utilized to generate a navigation solution for the GNSS receiver. The GNSS receiver in the wake up state during the standby mode may be switched to operate at the high frequency clock in order to receive GNSS signals. The GNSS receiver may extract complete ephemeris from the received GNSS signals, and may subsequently transition from the wake up state to a sleep state during the standby mode to save power. Radio frequency front-end components of the GNSS receiver may only be turned on to receive the GNSS signals. The GNSS receiver may transition between the standby mode and the normal mode.

Claims

1. A method for satellite communication, the method comprising:

when a navigation satellite system receiver is in a wakeup state during a standby mode operating at a low frequency clock, acquiring fresh ephemeris; and

when said navigation satellite system receiver subsequently transitions from said standby mode to a normal mode operating at a high frequency clock, generating a navigation solution for said navigation satellite system receiver utilizing said acquired fresh ephemeris.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising switching said navigation satellite system receiver in said wakeup state to operate at said high frequency clock for said acquisition of said fresh ephemeris.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising transitioning from a sleep state to said wakeup state during said standby mode for said acquisition of said fresh ephemeris.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising turning on radio frequency front-end components of said navigation satellite system receiver in said wakeup state during said standby mode to receive Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said received GNSS signals comprise GPS signals, GLONASS signals, and/or Galileo signals.

6. The method according to claim 4, comprising extracting complete ephemeris from the received GNSS signals for said acquisition of said fresh ephemeris.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising storing said extracted complete ephemeris in said navigation satellite system receiver.

8. The method according to claim 6, comprising transitioning from said wakeup state to said sleep state during said standby mode, subsequent to said extracting of said complete ephemeris.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising turning off said radio frequency front-end components of said navigation satellite system receiver in said sleep state during said standby mode.

10. The method according to claim 7, comprising transitioning from said standby mode to said normal mode;

and generating said navigation solution for said navigation satellite system receiver utilizing said stored complete ephemeris.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising transitioning from said normal mode to said wakeup state or said sleep state in said standby mode.

12. A system for satellite communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a navigation satellite system receiver, wherein when a navigation satellite system receiver is in a wakeup state during a standby mode operating at a low frequency clock, said one or more circuits are operable to acquire fresh ephemeris; and

said one or more circuits are operable to generate a navigation solution for said navigation satellite system receiver utilizing said acquired fresh ephemeris, when said navigation satellite system receiver subsequently transitions from said standby mode to a normal mode operating at a high frequency clock.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to switch said navigation satellite system receiver in said wakeup state to operate at said high frequency clock for said acquisition of said fresh ephemeris.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to transition from a sleep state to said wakeup state during said standby mode for said acquisition of said fresh ephemeris.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to turn on radio frequency front-end components of said navigation satellite system receiver in said wakeup state during said standby mode to receive Global Navigation. Satellite System (GNSS) signals.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said received GNSS signals comprise GPS signals, GLONASS signals, and/or Galileo signals.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to extract complete ephemeris from the received GNSS signals for said acquisition of said fresh ephemeris.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to store said extracted complete ephemeris in said navigation satellite system receiver.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to transition from said wakeup state to said sleep state during said standby mode, subsequent to said extracting of said complete ephemeris.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to turn off said radio frequency front-end components of said navigation satellite system receiver in said sleep state during said standby mode.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to transition from said standby mode to said normal mode;

and generating said navigation solution for said navigation satellite system receiver utilizing said stored complete ephemeris.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to transition from said normal mode to said wakeup state or said sleep state in said standby mode.