Virtual Wide Area GNSS Reference Network for Weak Signal Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional AGNSS systems face challenges in providing accurate GNSS assistance data in weak signal environments due to high noise and transmission delays, which affect the usability of GNSS reference feeds from certain tracking stations, leading to reduced accuracy and availability of satellite navigation information.

Innovation Solution

A virtual wide area GNSS reference network is implemented, where a central processing station generates GNSS assistance data using a combination of actual and virtual GNSS reference feeds. Virtual feeds are derived based on actual feeds from usable tracking stations, satellite position information, and location data, allowing for the creation of a complete set of reference feeds even when unusable signals are received from other stations, enabling efficient data representation and communication to GNSS-enabled mobile devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GNSS reference feeds are collected from multiple tracking stations, then the availability and accuracy of GNSS assistance data is improved, but the system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of GNSS assistance dataVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines actual GNSS reference feeds from usable tracking stations with virtual reference feeds generated from trajectory data to create a complete reference network. This merging approach allows the system to maintain high accuracy by combining multiple data sources while managing complexity through automated processing of both actual and virtual feeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates virtual copies of GNSS reference feeds by generating synthetic trajectory data from known satellite positions and expected signal characteristics. These virtual feeds replicate the pattern of unusable station feeds, allowing the system to maintain reference network completeness without requiring physical deployment to every location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If tracking stations are placed in ideal locations with direct line-of-sight to satellites, then the quality of GNSS reference feeds is improved, but the coverage area and network deployment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of GNSS reference feedsVSAvoidnetwork deployment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent generates virtual reference feeds that copy the characteristics of feeds from ideal tracking stations. By synthesizing trajectory data from known satellite positions and applying expected signal patterns, the system creates reliable reference data from locations that would traditionally be unsuitable, thereby expanding network deployment flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of reference feed generation by using simulated trajectory data instead of requiring actual signal reception. This allows the system to generate reliable reference feeds from locations with poor satellite visibility by mathematically modeling what the signals should be, rather than requiring physical line-of-sight conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If the system processes actual GNSS reference feeds from all tracking stations, then the completeness of reference data is improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of reference dataVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent generates virtual copies of reference feeds for tracking stations with unusable signals, eliminating the need to process actual feeds from all stations. This approach maintains data completeness by synthesizing missing reference data rather than attempting to collect and process actual signals from every station, thereby reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent processes actual reference feeds only from usable tracking stations and supplements the rest with virtual feeds. This partial processing approach focuses computational resources on actually receiving and validating signals where possible, while using efficient algorithms to generate virtual feeds for the remaining stations, optimizing the balance between data completeness and processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8638258B2Method and system for a virtual wide area GNSS reference network

Publication Date: 2014.01.28 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

A GNSS enabled mobile device receives GNSS assistance data in a determined format from a central processing station communicatively coupled to a wide area reference network (WARN). The WARN comprises a first plurality of GNSS tracking stations from which usable signals are received by the central processing station, and a second plurality of GNSS tracking stations from which unusable or no signals are received by the central processing station. The central processing station generates the GNSS assistance data using a complete set of GNSS reference feeds of the WARN. The complete set of GNSS reference feeds comprises actual GNSS reference feeds from the first plurality of GNSS tracking stations and virtual GNSS reference feeds derived for the second plurality of GNSS tracking stations from processed actual GNSS reference feeds. The generated GNSS assistance data is reformatted into a determined format and is communicated to the GNSS enabled mobile device, accordingly.