Multi-function appliance for a satellite navigation data distribution system

• US 7,640,103 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Podshivalov, Sergei, Abraham, Charles, Malkos, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US11/206,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/29, 701/215, 701/214, 340/435, 342/357.09, 342/357.12, 342/357.15, 342/357.1, 370/316
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view

Abstract

A multi-function appliance for use in a satellite navigation data distribution system is described. A computer includes an input/output interface and a memory the computer is configured with a plurality of modules. The plurality of modules includes a satellite signal receiver, a packetizer, a network interface, a concentrator, and a decoder. The satellite signal receiver is configured to obtain satellite navigation data from satellite signals. The packetizer is configured to packetize satellite navigation data to produce a reference packet stream. The network interface is configured to transmit packet streams towards a network. The concentrator is configured to remove duplicate packets within reference packet streams to generate a combined packet stream. The decoder is configured to decode satellite data from packet streams. In this manner, the computer may be configured to perform a reference station function, a hub function, or a server function in the satellite navigation data distribution network.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a computer having an input/output (I/O) interface and a memory, the computer being configured with a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules including;

a satellite signal receiver configured to obtain satellite navigation data from satellite signals;

wherein said memory stores a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions further comprising;

a first plurality of instructions for packetizing the navigation data to produce reference packet streams; and

a second plurality of instructions for removing duplicate packets within reference packet streams to generate a combined packet stream; and

a network interface configured to transmit the combine packet stream over a network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises a third plurality of instructions for driving the network interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the third plurality of instructions includes at least one of:

an internet protocol (IP) function, a uniform datagram protocol (UDP) function, a firewall function, or a virtual private network (VPN) function.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of instructions further includes network time protocol (NTP) software for time synchronization.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer further includes an interface for configuring the computer to perform a reference station function, a hub function, or a server function in a satellite navigation data distribution network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein packetizing the navigation data further comprises:

placing each subframe of the ephemeris data in separate packets of the reference packet stream.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the separate packets of the reference stream that each subframe is placed therein further comprise:

a packet header, said packet header including identifying information identifying a satellite transmitting the subframe therein.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein removing duplicate packets within the reference packet stream further comprises:

removing duplicate packets based on the identifying information in the packet header.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a computer having an input/output (I/O) interface and a memory, the computer being configured with a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules including;

a means for obtaining satellite navigation data from satellite signals;

a means for packetizing the satellite navigation data to produce a reference packet stream;

a means for removing duplicate packets within reference packet streams to generate a combined packet stream; and

a means for transmitting the combined packet stream over a network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of modules include hardware modules, software modules, or a combination of hardware and software modules.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for obtaining and the means for transmitting each comprise a hardware module coupled to the I/O interface, and wherein the means for packetizing, the means for removing, and the means for decoding each comprise a software module stored in the memory.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of modules further includes means for driving the means for transmitting.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for driving includes at least one of:

an internet protocol (IP) function, a uniform datagram protocol (UDP) function, a firewall function, or a virtual private network (VPN) function.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of modules further includes a means for time synchronization.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer further includes a means for configuring the computer to perform a reference station function, a hub function, or a server function in a satellite navigation data distribution network.