GNSS Asset Tag Positioning for Fast Low-Power Global Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPS/GNSS tracking systems face challenges in providing rapid and reliable global asset tracking, especially in remote and challenging environments such as oceans and mountains, due to limitations in power efficiency, communication time, and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a tag with a microcontroller, satellite communication subsystem, navigation receiver, and multiple sensors, which performs initial position searches and calculations using satellite ephemeris information, and optimizes antenna selection for efficient satellite communication, enabling rapid and accurate position determination with low power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS/GNSS receivers perform complete position calculations using traditional methods, then position accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases to approximately one minute
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing satellite ephemeris information and almanac data in the tag's memory before actual tracking. When a tag needs position determination, it can quickly retrieve pre-computed data and perform simplified calculations using the formula position = f(ephemeris, almanac, signal_data), rather than performing complete position calculations from scratch, reducing time consumption while maintaining position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and separates critical positioning calculations from the main GPS processing flow. By identifying and isolating the essential computational elements (ephemeris data, almanac data, and the core position calculation formula), the system can perform rapid position determination without executing the full traditional GPS calculation sequence, thus reducing time consumption while preserving accuracy.
2Speed
If GPS trackers continuously transmit location data, then real-time tracking capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by enabling tags to determine positions at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The server coordinates position determination requests, and tags perform calculations only when needed, using the efficient formula-based approach. This periodic operation maintains real-time tracking capability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The tag performs self-service by autonomously calculating its position using the simplified formula and pre-stored ephemeris/almanac data, then transmitting only the resulting position coordinates. This eliminates the need for continuous bidirectional communication and processing, reducing power consumption while maintaining real-time tracking capability through efficient autonomous operation.
3Reliability
If GPS receivers use multiple satellite systems (multi-GNSS), then position accuracy and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by designing the tag with a unified position determination formula that can process data from multiple GNSS satellite systems (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou) through the same computational framework. The server manages multi-system satellite data, and the tag uses the general formula position = f(ephemeris, almanac, signal_data) regardless of which satellite system provides the signals, reducing device complexity while improving reliability through multi-GNSS capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables near real-time global asset tracking with rapid position determination, efficient power usage, and reliable communication in challenging environments, such as marine environments, with the ability to activate and transmit location reports quickly and accurately.
Implementation Method 1
GPS satellites broadcast microwave signals to enable GPS receivers on or near the Earth's surface to determine location and time, and to derive velocity
Implementation Method 2
The foundation of pseudoranges is the correlation of code carried on a modulated carrier wave received from a GPS satellite with a replica of that same code generated in the receiver
Implementation Method 3
GPS satellites broadcast signals that provide time of transmission which is used to generate a pseudorange used to measure the distance to the satellite
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for global positioning satellite (GPS)/global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based real time global asset tracking are described. In an embodiment provides a system for real time, fast, global asset tracking, the system includes: a server with a processor, a memory, and a network interface, wherein the memory includes a tracking application, where the tracking application directs the processor to: receive a message including specific data from a tag; determine a time search window based on the message received from the tag; perform an initial position search; perform calculations for position and time, utilizing the time search window, the initial position search and satellite ephemeris information; and display a position information of the tag.