GNSS Wave Buoy Spectrum Calculation Without Correction Services

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional GNSS measurement methods for ocean buoys face limitations such as limited observation distance, high cost, cumbersome calculation, and the need for correction services, resulting in inaccurate wave spectrum calculations.

Innovation Solution

A wave spectrum calculation method using GNSS wave buoys that employs a variometric differential positioning algorithm for high-frequency sampling to calculate relative displacement, combined with high pass filtering and the Longuet-Higgins method to obtain three-dimensional velocity data, eliminating the need for additional correction services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional precise positioning technology is used to obtain buoy position information, then positioning accuracy is improved, but cost increases and deployment difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddeployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/GNSS correction-based positioning systems with a variometric differential positioning algorithm that uses satellite signal phase differences to directly calculate buoy displacement. This substitution eliminates the need for complex correction services and high-precision satellite equipment, reducing both cost and deployment complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from absolute position coordinates to relative displacement derived from signal phase variations. By using phase difference measurements between adjacent epochs and applying variometric differential positioning, the system achieves accurate displacement measurement without requiring complex correction infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If traditional integration method is used to calculate displacement from velocity, then calculation simplicity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to large errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation simplicityVSAvoiddisplacement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional measurement approach by directly measuring displacement through phase difference calculations rather than integrating velocity measurements. The variometric differential positioning algorithm computes displacement directly from the difference in satellite signal phases between time epochs, avoiding the cumulative errors inherent in velocity integration while maintaining calculation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Speed

If single point positioning is used, then positioning speed is improved, but observation distance is limited and accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning speedVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces satellite signal phase differences as an intermediary measurement quantity that connects the buoy's position changes to observable signal characteristics. By using phase difference as the intermediary, the system can achieve both rapid positioning (inheriting the speed of single point positioning) and high accuracy (through the precision of phase measurements and differential calculations).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12474486B2Wave spectrum calculation method based on GNSS wave measuring buoy
Publication Date: 2025.11.18 FIRST INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY MNR
  • US12474486B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A wave spectrum calculation method based on GNSS wave measuring buoy is provided, which includes: placing GNSS drift buoys in the sea, collecting buoy position data; then obtaining three-dimensional velocity data of ocean waves; performing high pass filtering on velocity data of a sliding window to remove noise signals and trend terms, retaining wave motion data; calculating a cross spectrum and wave direction spectrum. The present disclosure solves limitations of traditional GNSS measurement methods applied to ocean buoy wave measurement, such as limited observation distance, high cost, tedious measurement and average calculation accuracy, and a need for correction services. The measurement accuracy is high and no additional correction services are required, which is more suitable for wave measurement, the wave spectrum algorithm in this method can adapt to more complex observation environments and incorporate results of a velocity measurement algorithm into a matched wave spectrum algorithm.