Multi-function appliance for a satellite navigation data distribution system

• US 8,600,661 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Locate Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Malkos, Steven, Podshivalov, Sergei
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/623,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/29, 701/400, 701/408, 701/468, 701/469, 701/471, 701/470, 340/435, 342/357.09, 342/357.12, 342/357.15, 370/228, 370/351, 375/240, 375/245
• US Class Current: 701/408
• 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 including,

a receiver configured to receive, from a first source, a first satellite signal including first satellite navigation data, and to receive, from a second source, a second satellite signal including second satellite navigation data;

a packetizer configured to packetize the first satellite navigation data to produce a first reference packet stream and to add a first header to each packet of the first reference packet stream, and to packetize the second satellite navigation data to produce a second reference packet stream and to add a second header to each packet of the second reference packet stream;

a concentrator configured to generate a combined packet stream by removing, based on the first header and the second header, duplicate packets within the second reference packet stream with respect to the first reference packet stream; and

a decoder configured to decode satellite data from the combined packet stream.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the receiver, packetizer, concentrator, and decoder includes hardware modules, software modules, or a combination of hardware and software modules.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiver comprises a hardware module coupled to an I/O interface, and wherein the packetizer, the concentrator, and the decoder each comprise a software module stored in a memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a network interface configured to transmit the combined packet stream to an external destination.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the network interface is configured to transmit the combined packet stream using an Internet protocol (IP) function, a uniform datagram protocol (UDP) function, a firewall function, or a virtual private network (VPN) function.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a network timer configured to use a network time protocol (NTP) for time synchronization of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface configured to enable the apparatus to perform a reference station function, a hub function, or a server function in a satellite navigation data distribution network.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a means for receiving, from a first source, first satellite signals including first satellite navigation data, and receiving, from a second source, second satellite signals including second satellite navigation data;

a means for packetizing the first satellite navigation data to produce a first reference packet stream and adding a first header to each packet of the first reference packet stream, and for packetizing the second satellite navigation data to produce a second reference packet stream and adding a second header to each packet of the second reference packet stream;

a means for generating a combined packet stream by removing, based on the first header and the second header, duplicate packets within the second reference packet stream with respect to the first reference packet stream; and

a means for decoding satellite data from the combined packet stream.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the means for receiving, means for packetizing, means for generating, and means for decoding includes hardware modules, software modules, or a combination of hardware and software modules.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving comprises a hardware module coupled to an I/O interface, and the means for packetizing, the means for removing, and the means for decoding each comprise a software module stored in a memory.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for transmitting the combined packet stream to an external destination.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting transmits the combined packet stream using an Internet protocol (IP) function, a uniform datagram protocol (UDP) function, a firewall function, or a virtual private network (VPN) function.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a means for time synchronization of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for configuring the apparatus to perform a reference station function, a hub function, or a server function in a satellite navigation data distribution network.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless device, first satellite signals including first satellite navigation data from a first source and second satellite signals including second satellite navigation data from a second source;

packetizing, in the wireless device, the first satellite navigation data to produce a first reference packet stream and adding a first header to each packet of the first reference packet stream, and packetizing the second satellite navigation data to produce a second reference packet stream and adding a second header to each packet of the second reference packet stream;

generating, in the wireless device, a combined packet stream by removing, based on the first header and the second header, duplicate packets within the second reference packet stream with respect to the first reference packet stream; and

decoding, in the wireless device, satellite data from the combined packet stream.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting the combined packet stream to an external destination.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the combined packet stream using an Internet protocol (IP) function, a uniform datagram protocol (UDP) function, a firewall function, or a virtual private network (VPN) function.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

time synchronizing the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 15, farther comprising:

configuring the wireless device to perform a reference station function, a hub function, or a server function in a satellite navigation data distribution network.

20. The method of claim 15, Wherein the decoding the satellite data includes decoding at least one of ephemeris data, almanac data, and ionosphere data.