Remote subscription unit for GNSS information

• US 7,580,794 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Ciganer, Ann, Bird, David G., Janky, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tan Q
• Application Number:
  US11/474,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/213, 701/214, 342/357.12, 342/358, 713/176, 705/50, 705/51, 705/67, 705/71, 235/382.5, 235/382, 380/277, 380/44, 380/47, 726/18, 726/26
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/04 providing carrier phase data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/071 DGPS corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/009 Transmission of differential positioning data to mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0877 using additional device, e.g. trusted platform module [TPM], smartcard, USB or hardware security module [HSM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures

Abstract

A GPS information service system for providing supplemental GPS correction and signal acquisition information to subscribers. A GPS information server broadcasts GPS aiding information encrypted with subscription keys. A remote GPS subscription unit receives the key enablers for the subscription keys in service activation (SAM) messages for the services for which they have subscribed and then uses the subscription keys to decrypt the GPS aiding information. In order to prevent unauthorized access to the information, unsymmetrical signature generation and authentication algorithms are used for generating and authenticating signatures for the SAM messages.

Claims

1. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) subscription unit, comprising:

receiver circuitry for receiving a GNSS aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

a subscription key generator for providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which the unit has subscriptions;

a GNSS information decrypter for decrypting said certain items with said certain subscription keys; and

a GNSS receiver for using said decrypted items for processing a GNSS satellite signal, wherein;

said items in said GNSS aiding signal include at least one of GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver, GNSS acquisition information for improving sensitivity in the GNSS receiver to said GNSS satellite signal or GNSS acquisition information for improving speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver.

2. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

said subscriptions have been procured with said GNSS information server.

3. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

the subscription key generator is constructed for providing a one of said certain subscription keys when said certain subscription key is activated by a key enabler.

4. The subscription unit of claim 3, wherein:

the subscription key generator has possession of said plurality of subscription keys but only provides said certain subscription key when said key enabler is received from said GNSS information server.

5. The subscription unit of claim 4, wherein:

the receiver circuitry is constructed for receiving a SAM signal having a service activation message carrying said key enabler from said GNSS information server, said message having a signature derived from a subscription unit identification and said message; and

further comprising;

a SAM decrypter having possession of said identification for authenticating said signature and providing said key enabler when said signature is authenticated.

6. The subscription unit of claim 5, wherein:

said GNSS information server includes a signature generation algorithm for deriving said signature; and

said SAM decrypter includes a signature authentication algorithm for authenticating said signature, said signature authentication algorithm being unsymmetrical with respect to said signature generation algorithm for increasing difficulty of using said signature authentication algorithm for discovering said signature generation algorithm.

7. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

a one of said subscription keys enables the GNSS receiver to use a one of said items for aiding the processing of said GNSS satellite signal until a designed date.

8. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

a one of said subscription keys enables the GNSS receiver to use a one of said items for aiding the processing of said GNSS satellite signal for a designated run time.

9. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

a one of said subscription keys prevents the GNSS receiver from using a one of said items for aiding the processing of said GNSS satellite signal.

10. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

said decrypted items include GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver.

11. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

said decrypted items include GNSS acquisition information for improving at least one of sensitivity to said GNSS satellite signal and speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver.

12. The subscription unit of claim 1, wherein:

the receiver circuitry is constructed for receiving said GNSS aiding signal from a communication satellite.

13. A method in a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) subscription unit, comprising:

receiving a GNSS aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which the unit has subscriptions;

decrypting said certain items with said certain subscription keys; and

using said decrypted items for processing a GNSS satellite signal in a GNSS receiver, wherein;

said items in said GNSS aiding signal include at least one of GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver, GNSS acquisition information for improving sensitivity in the GNSS receiver to said GNSS satellite signal or GNSS acquisition information for improving speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said subscriptions have been procured with said GNSS information server.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

providing said certain subscription keys includes activating a one of said certain subscription keys with a key enabler.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

activating said certain subscription key includes retaining possession of said plurality of subscription keys but only activating said certain subscription key when said key enabler is received from said GNSS information server.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a SAM signal having a service activation message carrying said key enabler from said GNSS information server, said message having a signature derived from a subscription unit identification and said message;

authenticating said signature according to said identification; and

providing said key enabler when said signature is authenticated.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said signature is derived with a signature generation algorithm; and

authenticating said signature includes applying a signature authentication algorithm being unsymmetrical with respect to said signature generation algorithm for increasing difficulty of using said signature authentication algorithm for discovering said signature generation algorithm.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein:

a one of said subscription keys enables use of a one of said items for aiding the processing of said GNSS satellite signal until a designed date.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein:

a one of said subscription keys enables use of a one of said items for aiding the processing of said GNSS satellite signal for a designated run time.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein:

a one of said subscription keys prevents use of a one of said items from aiding the processing of said GNSS satellite signal.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein:

processing said GNSS satellite signal includes using one of said decrypted items for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed from said GNSS satellite signal.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein:

processing said GNSS satellite signal includes using one of said decrypted items for improving at least one of either sensitivity to said GNSS satellite signal or speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein:

receiving said GNSS aiding signal includes receiving said GNSS aiding signal from a communication satellite.

25. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) subscription unit, comprising:

receiver circuitry for receiving a GNSS aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

a subscription key generator for providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which the unit has subscriptions, at least one of said certain items being precise time or precise frequency information;

a time and frequency enabler for using said certain subscription keys for decrypting information for setting said precise time or tuning to said precise frequency; and

a GNSS receiver for using said precise time or said precise frequency for processing a GNSS satellite signal.

26. A medium readable by a computer for directing a process, comprising steps of:

receiving a generic global navigation satellite system (GNSS) aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which subscriptions have been procured;

decrypting said certain items with said certain subscription keys; and

using said decrypted items for processing a GNSS satellite signal in a GNSS receiver, wherein;

said items in said GNSS aiding signal include at least one of GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver, GNSS acquisition information for improving sensitivity in the GNSS receiver to said GNSS satellite signal or GNSS acquisition information for improving speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver.

27. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) subscription unit, comprising:

receiver circuitry for receiving a GNSS aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

a subscription key generator for providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which the unit has subscriptions;

a GNSS information decrypter for decrypting said certain items with said certain subscription keys; and

a GNSS receiver for using said decrypted items for processing a GNSS satellite signal, wherein;

said items in said GNSS aiding signal include GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver without including any GNSS acquisition information for improving sensitivity in the GNSS receiver to said GNSS satellite signal or GNSS acquisition information for improving speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver.

28. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) subscription unit, comprising:

receiver circuitry for receiving a GNSS aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

a subscription key generator for providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which the unit has subscriptions;

a GNSS information decrypter for decrypting said certain items with said certain subscription keys; and

a GNSS receiver for using said decrypted items for processing a GNSS satellite signal, wherein;

said items in said GNSS aiding signal include GNSS acquisition information for improving at least one of sensitivity in the GNSS receiver to said GNSS satellite signal or GNSS acquisition information for improving speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver without including any GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver.

29. A method in a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) subscription unit, comprising:

receiving a GNSS aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which the unit has subscriptions;

decrypting said certain items with said certain subscription keys; and

using said decrypted items for processing a GNSS satellite signal in a GNSS receiver, wherein;

said items in said GNSS aiding signal include GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver without including any GNSS acquisition information for improving sensitivity to said GNSS satellite signal or GNSS acquisition information speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver.

30. A method in a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) subscription unit, comprising:

receiving a GNSS aiding signal from a GNSS information server, said GNSS aiding signal having a plurality of items encrypted with a plurality of subscription keys;

providing certain ones of said subscription keys corresponding to certain ones of said items for which the unit has subscriptions;

decrypting said certain items with said certain subscription keys; and

using said decrypted items for processing a GNSS satellite signal in a GNSS receiver, wherein;

said items in said GNSS aiding signal include GNSS acquisition information for improving at least one of GNSS acquisition information for improving sensitivity in the GNSS receiver to said GNSS satellite signal or GNSS acquisition information for improving speed for acquiring said GNSS satellite signal in the GNSS receiver without including any GNSS correction information for improving accuracy of a GNSS position computed by the GNSS receiver.