System and method for detecting interference in global positioning satellite signals

• US 7,366,611 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Sweetapple, Lee A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/272,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 701213-216, 342/357.06, 342/358
• US Class Current: 701/214
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/21 Interference related issues ; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service

Abstract

A system and method are provided for detecting local interference in GPS signals. A GPS receiver is capable of determining its GPS coordinates. A memory is capable of storing an initial location of the GPS receiver and a user-defined range of error. A processor is programmed to determine whether GPS coordinates from the GPS receiver differ from the initial location by more than a range of error, and for issuing a warning in response thereto.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring GPS accuracy, comprising:

a stationary GPS receiver capable of determining its GPS coordinates;

a memory capable of storing an initial location of said GPS receiver and a user-defined range of error;

a processor being programmed to determine whether GPS coordinates from said GPS receiver differ from said initial location by more than a range of error, and for issuing a warning in response thereto;

a plurality of remote units, each including said GPS receiver, said memory, said processor, and a transmitter capable of sending said warning; and

a monitoring unit including a receiver capable of receiving said warning from each of said plurality of remote units, and a display capable of displaying information relating to said warning;

wherein said plurality of remote units collectively provide local interference detection over an area.

2. A method for detecting errors in detect position, comprising:

determining an initial position of a marker;

receiving signals at the marker;

calculating, from the signals, a detected position of the marker;

comparing the detected position and the initial position; and

issuing a warning if the detected position differs from the initial position by more than a predetermined amount;

said determining further comprising;

calculating a plurality of positions for the marker over a period of time;

statistically analyzing the plurality of positions; and

setting said initial position based on a result of said analyzing.

3. The method of claim 2, said analyzing comprising taking an average of at least some of the plurality of positions.

4. The method of claim 2, said analyzing including disregarding aberrant ones of the plurality of positions.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said warning comprises a first warning, said method further comprising issuing a second warning different from the first warning if there are insufficient signals to perform said calculating.

6. A system for detecting local interference in GPS signals, comprising:

a plurality of remote units, each including;

a circuit capable of determining a location of said circuit;

a memory capable of storing an initial location of said circuit and a range of error;

a processor being programmed to determine whether a detected location of said circuit differs from said initial location by more than a range of error, and for issuing a warning in response thereto;

a transmitter capable of transmitting said warning;

a monitoring unit including a receiver capable of receiving said warning from each of said plurality of remote units, and a display capable of displaying information relating to said warning;

wherein said plurality of remote units collectively provide local interference detection over an area.