CA2667775C

Gps receiver and method for processing gps signals

Abstract

A precision carrier frequency signal for calibrating a local oscillator of a GPS receiver which is used to acquire GPS signals. The precision carrier frequency signal is used to calibrate the local oscillator such that the output of the local oscillator, which is used to acquire GPS signals, is modified by a reference signal generated from the precision carrier frequency signal. The GPS receiver locks to this precision carrier frequency signal and generates the reference signal. In another aspect of the invention, satellite almanac data is transmitted to a remote GPS receiver unit from a basestation via a communication link. The remote GPS receiver unit uses this satellite almanac data to determine approximate Doppler data for satellites in view of the remote GPS receiver unit.

CA2667775C, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 13

Term

Term ended

Expired 8 October 2016, 10 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Expired
  5. Today

53 claims: 6 independent, 47 dependent

  1. 1
    CA 02667775 2009-06-03 -43The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:1. A method for determining a position of a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, the method comprising: receiving at the mobile SPS receiver information representing an epoch of data in an SPS message being transmitted from an SPS satellite from a source other than the SPS satellite;and acquiring SPS signals from the SPS satellite in the mobile SPS receiver to determine a pseudorange to the SPS satellite, wherein the epoch is used to acquire the SPS signals.
  2. 8
    A method for assisting in the determination of a position of a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, the method comprising:transmitting, from a non-SPS satellite source, an epoch of data in an SPS message being transmitted from an SPS satellite, wherein the epoch is used to acquire SPS signals in a mobile SPS receiver.
  3. 17
    A method as in Claim 1, wherein the epoch is received for at least one SPS satellite in view of the mobile SPS receiver.
  4. 18
    A method as in Claim 1 wherein the mobile SPS receiver determines a plurality of pseudoranges, including the pseudorange, and wherein the plurality of pseudoranges is used for determination of a location of the mobile SPS receiver.
  5. 19
    A method as in Claim 8 wherein the epoch is for at least one SPS satellite in view of the SPS receiver.
  6. 20
    A method as in Claim 8 further comprising:determining a plurality of pseudoranges and determining a position of the mobile SPS receiver based on the plurality of pseudoranges.
  7. 21
    A mobile apparatus, comprising:a cellular communication system which receives information representative of an epoch of data in an SPS message being transmitted from an SPS CA 02667775 2009-06-03 -46satellite, the data representative of the epoch being transmitted from a wireless cell site;and a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver coupled to the cellular communication system, the mobile SPS receiver acquiring SPS signals from the SPS satellite to determine a pseudorange to the SPS satellite, wherein the epoch is used to acquire the SPS signals.
  8. 28
    A mobile apparatus as in Claim 21 wherein the epoch is received for at least one SPS satellite in view of the mobile SPS receiver. CA 02667775 2012-07-06
  9. 29
    A mobile apparatus as in Claim 21 wherein the mobile SPS receiver determines a plurality of pseudoranges, including the pseudorange, and wherein the plurality of pseudoranges is used for determination of a location of the mobile SPS receiver.
  10. 30
    A basestation apparatus comprising:a GPS receiver for receiving satellite positioning system (SPS) signals and determining epochs of data in SPS signals being transmitted from an SPS satellite;and a transmitter, coupled to the GPS receiver, the transmitter transmitting the epochs for use by a remote mobile SPS receiver in acquiring SPS signals in the mobile SPS receiver.
  11. 33
    A basestation apparatus as in Claim 30 wherein the GPS receiver is remotely located relative to the transmitter.
  12. 34
    An apparatus for determining a position of a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, the apparatus comprising:means for receiving at the mobile SPS receiver information representing an epoch of data in an SPS message being transmitted from an SPS satellite from a source other than the SPS satellite;and means for acquiring SPS signals from the SPS satellite in the mobile SPS receiver to determine a pseudorange to the SPS satellite, wherein the epoch is used to acquire the SPS signals. CA 02667775 2012-07-06
  13. 41
    An apparatus for assisting in the determination of a position of a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, the apparatus comprising:CA 02667775 2012-07-06 -49means for transmitting, from a non-SPS satellite source, an epoch of data in an SPS message being transmitted from an SPS satellite, wherein the epoch is used to acquire SPS signals in a mobile SPS receiver.
  14. 50
    The apparatus of Claim 34, wherein the epoch is received for at least one SPS satellite in view of the mobile SPS receiver.
  15. 51
    The apparatus of Claim 34 wherein the mobile SPS receiver determines a plurality of pseudoranges, including the pseudorange, and wherein the plurality of pseudoranges is used for determination of a location of the mobile SPS receiver.
  16. 52
    The apparatus of Claim 41 wherein the epoch is for at least one SPS satellite in view of the SPS receiver.
  17. 53
    The apparatus of Claim 41 further comprising:means for determining a plurality of pseudoranges and determining a position of the mobile SPS receiver based on the plurality of pseudoranges.