Virtual GNSS Time Management for Multi-System Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) face challenges in accurately determining position locations using signals from multiple satellite systems like GPS and Galileo, due to differences in system times and time offsets, which require significant modifications to user receivers and increase production costs.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to define a virtual navigation satellite system time, allowing a location server to manage and communicate a unified time frame to mobile receivers, enabling them to treat GPS and Galileo signals as a single GNSS system, thus eliminating the need for explicit time offset corrections at the receiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple satellite systems (GPS and Galileo) are used for position location, then service availability and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to handle different system times and time offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location server as an intermediary that maintains a virtual GNSS time and converts time offsets between different satellite systems. The mobile station communicates with this intermediary, which handles the complex time conversions, thereby reducing the complexity at the mobile station while enabling multi-system operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of GNSS time (virtual GNSS time) that replicates the functionality of multiple satellite system times in a unified manner. This virtual time system allows mobile stations to operate as if dealing with a single time reference, simplifying the device while maintaining compatibility with multiple satellite systems.
2Measurement precision
If multiple satellite systems are integrated, then position location accuracy is enhanced, but manufacturing costs increase due to required modifications in user receivers
Solution Approach 1:
By placing the time conversion functionality in a location server rather than in every mobile station, the patent avoids the need for complex hardware modifications in user receivers. This centralized approach allows manufacturers to produce simpler, cheaper devices while still achieving high positioning accuracy through the intermediary's time management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The location server provides universal time conversion services that work with multiple satellite systems (GPS, Galileo, and future systems) through a single platform. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate processing paths for different systems in the mobile station, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Measurement precision
If explicit time offset corrections are implemented at the receiver, then position accuracy is maintained, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The location server acts as an intermediary that pre-calculates and provides corrected timing information to the mobile station. This transfers the complex data processing burden from the mobile station to the server, maintaining position accuracy while simplifying the mobile station's processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The location server performs time offset corrections in advance, before the mobile station needs to calculate its position. By pre-processing the time conversions and providing corrected timing data to the mobile station, the complex calculations are done beforehand, reducing the processing complexity at the receiver while maintaining accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Each of a first and a second navigation satellite system (NSS) are adapted to operate according to a first and a second specification, respectively, and each includes a first and a second plurality of space vehicles (SV), respectively. Each of the first and the second plurality of SVs are adapted to be identified by a first and a second plurality of unique corresponding identifications (IDs), respectively. A processor is adapted to receive and identify a first plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the first plurality of SVs in response to the first plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to receive and identify a second plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the second plurality of SVs in response to the second plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to determine position location information in response to receiving and identifying the first plurality of corresponding signals and the second plurality of corresponding signals.