Using digital television broadcast signals to provide GPS aiding information

• US 6,727,847 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Rosum Corporation (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Inventors: Rabinowitz, Matthew, Pierce, Matthew D., Spilker, James J. Jr., Omura, Jimmy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US10/292,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.03, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 701/213, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/357.29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/10 providing dedicated supplementary positioning signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/254 relating to Doppler shift of satellite signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• 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 19/46 the supplementary measurement being of a radio-wave signal type
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0081 Transmission between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/145 Using a supplementary range measurement, e.g. based on pseudo-range measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/615 : Signal processing at physical level signal processing in analog two-way television systems H04N7/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for providing satellite positioning system aiding information to a satellite positioning system receiver configured to determine the position of the satellite positioning system receiver using the satellite positioning system aiding information and the propagation time of a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system comprises providing the satellite positioning system aiding information; providing a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments; encoding the satellite positioning system aiding information as codewords; replacing data segments within the digital television signal with the codewords; and transmitting the digital television signal; wherein the satellite positioning system receiver receives the digital television signal and recovers the satellite positioning system aiding information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing satellite positioning system aiding information to a satellite positioning system receiver configured to determine the position of the satellite positioning system receiver using the satellite positioning system aiding information and the propagation time of a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system, the apparatus comprising:

a second satellite positioning system receiver to receive the satellite positioning system aiding information;

a channel coder to provide a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments;

an encoder to encode the satellite positioning system aiding information as codewords;

a packet multiplexer to replace data segments within the digital television signal with the codewords; and

a transmitter to transmit the digital television signal;

wherein the satellite positioning system receiver receives the digital television signal and recovers the satellite positioning system aiding information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the satellite positioning system receiver determines the position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

6. An apparatus for recovering satellite positioning system aiding information from a digital television signal, comprising:

a front end to receive the digital television signal, the digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing the satellite positioning system aiding information; and

a back end to select the data segments which have been replaced by codewords and to recover the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

10. An apparatus for determining a position of a satellite positioning system receiver using a satellite positioning system, comprising:

a front end to receive a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system, and to receive a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing satellite positioning system aiding information;

a back end to select the data segments which have been replaced by codewords and to recover the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments; and

a processor to determine a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor

determines a pseudo-range between the satellite positioning system receiver and a transmitter of the digital television signal based on a known component of the digital television signal;

and

determines a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the pseudo-range, the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

15. An apparatus for providing satellite positioning system aiding information to a satellite positioning system receiver configured to determine the position of the satellite positioning system receiver using the satellite positioning system aiding information and the propagation time of a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system, the apparatus comprising:

second satellite positioning system receiver means for receiving the satellite positioning system aiding information;

channel coder means for providing a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments;

encoder to means for encoding the satellite positioning system aiding information as codewords;

packet multiplexer means for replacing data segments within the digital television signal with the codewords; and

transmitter means for transmitting the digital television signal;

wherein the satellite positioning system receiver receives the digital television signal and recovers the satellite positioning system aiding information.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the satellite positioning system receiver determines the position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

20. An apparatus for recovering satellite positioning system aiding information from a digital television signal, comprising:

front end means for receiving the digital television signal, the digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing the satellite positioning system aiding information; and

back end means for selecting the data segments which have been replaced by codewords and to recover the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

24. An apparatus for determining a position of a satellite positioning system receiver using a satellite positioning system, comprising:

front end means for receiving a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system, and to receive a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing satellite positioning system aiding information;

back means for selecting the data segments which have been replaced by codewords and to recover the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments; and

processor means for determining a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processor means

determines a pseudo-range between the satellite positioning system receiver and a transmitter of the digital television signal based on a known component of the digital television signal;

and

determines a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the pseudo-range, the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

29. A method for providing satellite positioning system aiding information to a satellite positioning system receiver configured to determine the position of the satellite positioning system receiver using the satellite positioning system aiding information and the propagation time of a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system, the method comprising:

providing the satellite positioning system aiding information;

providing a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments;

encoding the satellite positioning system aiding information as codewords;

replacing data segments within the digital television signal with the codewords; and

transmitting the digital television signal;

wherein the satellite positioning system receiver receives the digital television signal and recovers the satellite positioning system aiding information.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the satellite positioning system receiver determines the position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

34. A method for recovering satellite positioning system aiding information from a digital television signal, comprising:

receiving the digital television signal, the digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing the satellite positioning system aiding information;

selecting the data segments which have been replaced by codewords; and

recovering the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

38. A method for determining a position of a satellite positioning system receiver using a satellite positioning system, comprising:

receiving at the satellite positioning system receiver a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system;

receiving at the satellite positioning system receiver a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing satellite positioning system aiding information;

selecting the data segments which have been replaced by codewords;

recovering the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments; and

determining a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

determining a pseudo-range between the satellite positioning system receiver and a transmitter of the digital television signal based on a known component of the digital television signal; and

determining a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the pseudo-range, the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

43. Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for providing satellite positioning system aiding information to a satellite positioning system receiver configured to determine the position of the satellite positioning system receiver using the satellite positioning system aiding information and the propagation time of a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system, the method comprising:

providing the satellite positioning system aiding information;

providing a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments;

encoding the satellite positioning system aiding information as codewords;

replacing data segments within the digital television signal with the codewords; and

transmitting the digital television signal;

wherein the satellite positioning system receiver receives the digital television signal and recovers the satellite positioning system aiding information.

44. The media of claim 43, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

45. The media of claim 44, wherein the satellite positioning system receiver determines the position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

46. The media of claim 44, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

47. The media of claim 44, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

48. Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for recovering satellite positioning system aiding information from a digital television signal, the method comprising:

receiving the digital television signal, the digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing the satellite positioning system aiding information;

selecting the data segments which have been replaced by codewords; and

recovering the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments.

49. The media of claim 48, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

50. The media of claim 49, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

51. The media of claim 49, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

52. Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for determining a position of a satellite positioning system receiver using a satellite positioning system, the method comprising:

receiving at the satellite positioning system receiver a signal transmitted by a satellite in the satellite positioning system;

receiving at the satellite positioning system receiver a digital television signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein at least one data segment has been replaced by at least one codeword representing satellite positioning system aiding information;

selecting the data segments which have been replaced by codewords;

recovering the satellite positioning system aiding information from the selected data segments; and

determining a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.

53. The media of claim 52, wherein the satellite positioning system is the global positioning system (GPS).

54. The media of claim 53, wherein the satellite positioning system aiding information comprises at least one of the group comprising:

a position of the satellite positioning system satellite;

clock correction information for the satellite positioning system satellite;

Doppler information for the signals transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite;

information regarding atmospheric effects on the signal transmitted by the satellite positioning system satellite; and

identification of the satellite positioning system satellites that are visible to the satellite positioning system receiver.

55. The media of claim 53, wherein the digital television signal comprises at least one of the group comprising:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television signal;

a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal; and

a Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal.

56. The media of claim 53, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a pseudo-range between the satellite positioning system receiver and a transmitter of the digital television signal based on a known component of the digital television signal; and

determining a position of the satellite positioning system receiver based on the pseudo-range, the signal received from the satellite positioning system satellite and the satellite positioning system aiding information.