Ionospheric Correction Data for Single-Frequency Satellite Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing satellite navigation systems face challenges in accurately correcting for deviations caused by the Earth's ionosphere, particularly for single-frequency receivers, leading to reduced positioning accuracy and longer convergence times.

Innovation Solution

A method and device utilizing a network of geostationary ground-based stations and crowd-sourced data from multiple satellite receivers to determine and provide precise ionospheric correction data, leveraging dual-frequency or multi-frequency receivers to enhance positioning accuracy through total electron content measurements and signal changes analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a dense regional reference station network is used to determine ionospheric state, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveionospheric state determination accuracyVSAvoidreference station network density
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines data from multiple independent sources (reference stations, mobile satellite receivers, and ionospheric models) into a unified correction system. This merging allows the system to achieve high measurement precision without requiring a dense reference station network, as the collective data from distributed sources compensates for individual sparsity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The correction data generation device performs multiple functions: it processes reference station data, incorporates mobile receiver observations, integrates ionospheric model predictions, and generates corrections for various satellite navigation systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized dense infrastructure by making each component serve multiple purposes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If correction data is provided for all ionospheric regions, then positioning accuracy is improved, but loss of information increases due to data transmission requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides correction data tailored to specific local conditions rather than uniform global corrections. By generating region-specific corrections based on local reference station data and mobile observations, the system achieves high positioning accuracy in each locale while transmitting only the necessary local correction parameters rather than exhaustive global data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the essential ionospheric correction parameters needed for positioning accuracy rather than transmitting complete ionospheric state information. This extraction approach maintains positioning precision while significantly reducing data transmission requirements by focusing only on the critical correction values

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If single-frequency satellite receivers are used, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to ionospheric effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiver frequency capabilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The correction data generation device acts as an intermediary that compensates for the limitations of single-frequency receivers. By processing data from dual-frequency receivers and reference stations to generate ionospheric corrections, the system mediates between the simple single-frequency receiver hardware and the requirement for high positioning accuracy, enabling precise positioning without requiring complex multi-frequency receiver hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances positioning accuracy to the decimeter level by providing precise ionospheric corrections, reducing the need for dense reference station networks, and improving convergence time for satellite navigation systems.

Implementation Method 1

at least one satellite signal transmitted between at least one satellite and the satellite receiver

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

deviations, disturbances, and the like in the Earth's ionosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonospheric refraction and delay: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3688494B1Method and apparatus for providing correction data for satellite navigation
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3688494B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3688494B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3688494B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing correction data (215, 275, 285, 295) for satellite navigation. The method has a step of determining the correction data (215, 275, 285, 295) using a plurality of state signals (235, 255, 265) relating to the Earth's ionosphere. The state signals (235, 255, 265) represent signals which have been read in from an interface (250) to a plurality of mobile satellite receivers (230) for satellite navigation. Each state signal (235, 255, 265) has a geographical position of one of the satellite receivers (230) and an item of state information relating to the Earth's ionosphere which is determined using at least one satellite signal (225) transmitted between at least one satellite (220) and the satellite receiver (230).