Cells obtaining timing and positioning by using satellite systems with high power signals for improved building penetration

• US 9,213,103 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Whelan, David A., Gutt, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US13/442,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20130203437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.22, 342/357.39, 342/357.42, 342/357.64, 342/357.77, 455/12.1, 455/456.1, 701/468
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/21 Interference related issues ; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/23 Testing, monitoring, correcting or calibrating of receiver elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for cells to obtain timing and positioning by using satellite systems with high power signals for improved building penetration are disclosed herein. In particular, the present disclosure relates to providing timing synchronization and geolocation for small cells or macrocells in attenuated and/or indoor environments. In order to achieve timing synchronization and geolocation, the cells utilize high power signals, which contain timing information, in conjunction with related aiding information. Satellites, such as Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) Iridium satellites, are employed to transmit the high powered signals to the cells.

Claims

1. A method for a cell to obtain precise absolute time from a satellite, the method comprising:

receiving, with at least one antenna associated with the cell, at least one precision time signal from at least one satellite,

wherein the at least one precision time signal comprises a series of messages, wherein each of the messages comprises a correlation code;

determining, with at least one processor, a timing phase of the code based on an identified message that generated a highest correlation peak from the series of messages;

receiving, by the at least one processor, aiding information; and

determining, by the at least one processor, the precise absolute time by using the timing phase and the aiding information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is one of a small cell and a macro cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the aiding information is received by the at least one processor through a network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network is provided by ground based infrastructure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the network is at least one of a cellular network, a WiFi network, and an Internet network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the aiding information comprises at least one of orbit information associated with at least one of the at least one satellite, an approximate location of the cell, an approximate range between at least one of the at least one satellite and the cell, approximate time information, and timing bias information associated with at least one of the at least one satellite.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the code alternates between a coarse timing code and a pseudorandom code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one satellite is at least one of a Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite, a Medium Earth Orbiting (MEO) satellite, and a Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting (GEO) satellite.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the LEO satellite is one of an Iridium satellite and a Globalstar satellite.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the MEO satellite is one of a BeiDou COMPASS satellite, a Galileo satellite, and a Global Orbiting Navigation System (GLONASS) satellite.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining the aiding information from a Doppler profile of at least one of the at least one satellite.

12. A system for a cell to obtain precise absolute time from a satellite, the system comprising:

the cell;

at least one antenna associated with the cell to receive at least one precision time signal from at least one satellite,

wherein the at least one precision time signal comprises a series of messages, wherein each of the messages comprises a correlation code; and

at least one processor configured to determine a timing phase of the code based on an identified message that generated a highest correlation peak from the series of messages, to receive aiding information, and to determine the precise absolute time by using the timing phase and the aiding information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the cell is one of a small cell and a macro cell.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the aiding information is received by the at least one processor through a network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the network is provided by ground based infrastructure.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the network is at least one of a cellular network, a WiFi network, and an Internet network.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the aiding information comprises at least one of orbit information associated with at least one of the at least one satellite, an approximate location of the cell, an approximate range between at least one of the at least one satellite and the cell, approximate time information, and timing bias information associated with at least one of the at least one satellite.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the code alternates between a coarse timing code and a pseudorandom code.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one satellite is at least one of a Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite, a Medium Earth Orbiting (MEO) satellite, and a Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting (GEO) satellite.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the LEO satellite is one of an Iridium satellite and a Globalstar satellite.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the MEO satellite is one of a BeiDou COMPASS satellite, a Galileo satellite, and a Global Orbiting Navigation System (GLONASS) satellite.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the aiding information from a Doppler profile of at least one of the at least one satellite.