GNSS Receiver Parallel Search for Faster First Positioning Fix

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing GNSS receivers face challenges in obtaining a reliable and time-efficient first positioning fix, particularly when powered on, due to unknown time and range errors, atmospheric delays, and receiver hardware delays, which complicate code phase synchronization more than frequency synchronization.

Innovation Solution

A parallel search method is employed using controlled satellite-specific offsets to distribute search starting points, minimizing common mode errors, and iteratively refining prepositioning information as satellites are detected, allowing simultaneous search of multiple satellites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a serial search scheme is used to obtain a first positioning fix, then the search process is simple to implement, but the detection time is prolonged and robustness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch process simplicityVSAvoiddetection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The search process is segmented into parallel independent search channels, one for each satellite. Each channel performs code phase and frequency search simultaneously, transforming the sequential search into parallel searches that can proceed independently without blocking each other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The search approach transitions from a single-dimensional sequential search to a multi-dimensional parallel search space. By introducing parallel search channels as an additional dimension, the system can explore multiple satellites simultaneously rather than sequentially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of time

If a parallel search scheme is used to reduce detection time, then the detection time is reduced, but the complexity of code phase synchronization increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection timeVSAvoidcode phase synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining prepositioning information, code phase search ranges, and frequency search ranges before initiating the parallel search. This pre-processing step establishes the search parameters in advance, reducing the complexity during the actual search execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes search parameters dynamically by determining code phase search ranges and frequency search ranges based on prepositioning information. This allows the parallel search to operate with optimized parameters for each satellite, managing complexity through parameter adaptation rather than fixed rigid parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If prepositioning information is used to determine search ranges and starting points, then the robustness in obstructed scenarios is improved, but the computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness in obstructed scenariosVSAvoidcomputational requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by determining satellite-specific code phase search ranges and frequency search ranges based on individual satellite prepositioning information. Each satellite gets customized search parameters tailored to its specific characteristics and obstruction conditions, rather than using uniform parameters for all satellites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4113172B1Method for performing a parallel search, receiver, computer program product and non-volatile storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 U-BLOX
  • EP4113172B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4113172B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4113172B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method (100) for performing a parallel search for a first positioning fix in a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, receiver. The method (100) comprises determining (102) prepositioning information, wherein the prepositioning information comprises a receiver information and a satellite information for each satellite in a plurality of satellites. The method (100) further comprises determining (103) a code phase search range and a frequency search range, based on the prepositioning information, for each satellite in the plurality of satellites. The method (100) further comprises determining (104) a starting point information for each satellite in the plurality of satellites, wherein each respective starting point information is representative of an offset from a center of a search range of the respective satellite. The method (100) further comprises performing (105) the parallel search for all satellites in the plurality of satellites based on the respective code phase search range, the respective frequency search range and the respective starting point information.