Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Including a satellite
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-06-12
Blum, Theodore M. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Including a satellite
C342S357490, C342S357490, C701S214000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246363
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and systems for determining a position of a target vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and a system for calibrating the Global Positioning System using a two-way ranging navigation system.
BACKGROUND ART
Current Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) technology in the form of a Global Positioning System (GPS) provides information utilizing satellite communication. The GPS, developed by the United States Department of Defense, consists of twenty-four (24) satellites that orbit the earth twice a day at an altitude of 12,000 miles. Additionally, the GPS consists of five (5) ground stations that monitor and manage the satellites. Using atomic clocks and location data, GPS satellites transmit continuous time and position information twenty-four (24) hours a day to a GPS receiver, which inputs data from three or more satellites simultaneously to determine the user's position on the earth. By measuring the time interval between the transmission and the reception of a satellite signal, the GPS receiver calculates the distance between the user and each satellite. The GPS receiver then uses the distance measurements from at least three satellites to arrive at a final user position or location.
The civilian GPS measurement yields an accuracy of approximately 100 meters. Additional accuracy, at a level needed for targets such as aircraft, is obtained by using a Differential GPS consisting of ground reference points. However, ground reference stations are expensive to deploy, and their effectiveness is limited to a finite radius from the reference position on the surface of the earth.
The civilian GPS system utilizes one-way ranging in which an accurate, synchronized clock is required at each station. Any synchronization error, or any error regarding the location of one of the satellites, results in an error in the determined position of the target. An aircraft, or other target, must have accurate position and velocity information and requires dedicated, precise equipment throughout the flight or mission to provide accurate position and velocity information with a high degree of integrity and reliability.
To overcome this problem, two-way ranging navigation has been proposed by co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/803,936, which is incorporated herein by reference. The two-way ranging navigation system disclosed therein determines a position of a vehicle, such as an aircraft or surface vehicle, utilizing two-way ranging techniques through multiple satellites to derive independent estimates of a vehicle's state vectors including position and velocity.
The two-way ranging navigation system includes transmitting a first signal to a vehicle from a traffic control station through a plurality of satellites. From that signal, the vehicle acquires and tracks a unique ranging code, and a message signal containing the unique code is transmitted from the vehicle. The links through multiple satellites are sequentially or simultaneously processed to provide two-way ranging with reasonably accurate estimations of state vectors. The two-way ranging navigation system processes ranging measurements to derive estimations of vehicle state vectors in response to a first signal and a message signal at a traffic controller, preferably a ground-based traffic controller employing &agr;-&bgr;/EKF (Extended Kalman Factor) tracking.
Two-way ranging navigation can be used as a stand alone positioning system for a target with higher accuracy than GPS systems. During normal communication links, positioning with two-way ranging navigation consumes little space-segment resources. However, when there is no communication between the user and the satellite, also known as “silent intervals”, two-way ranging navigation positioning requires additional space-segment bandwidth resources. GPS, on the other hand, being a one-way broadcast positioning system, requires no additional space-segment resources once it is deployed.
Therefore, there is a need to obtain the highest degree of positioning accuracy without the cost of two-way ranging navigation positioning and while utilizing the free civilian GPS signals whenever possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and system for using two-way ranging navigation to accurately determine the range along the path from a source to a destination by measuring the time delay during round-trip communication via satellite. The two-way ranging navigation measurements are used as calibration references, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of GPS without the cost of implementing Differential GPS and without the physical limitations associated with Differential GPS.
The system for calibrating GPS using two-way ranging navigation includes GPS and a two-way ranging navigation system for determining position measurements of a target. A correction factor is determined as a function of measurements taken by the two-way ranging navigation system and the GPS, and the GPS position of the target is adjusted by the correction factor.
The method for calibrating GPS using two-way ranging navigation includes taking a two-way ranging navigation measurement of a target, such as an aircraft, at a first predetermined time. A first GPS measurement of the target is also taken at the first predetermined time. A correction factor is determined as a function of the two-way ranging measurement and the GPS measurement. The GPS position is corrected by taking a second GPS measurement of the target at a second predetermined time and adjusting the measurement by the correction factor to obtain a corrected GPS position.
This method is especially advantageous for aircraft where higher positioning accuracy can be extended to all phases of flight without having to perform frequent two-way ranging navigation measurements. Higher accuracy can be obtained, when desired, by performing more two-way ranging navigation measurements whenever, and wherever, needed. In the application of aircraft, higher positioning accuracy in mid-course and landing can help reduce the size of safety buffer zones between aircraft, thereby increasing throughput capacity and air traffic efficiency.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the accuracy of GPS without adding unwanted cost and complexity. It is another object of the present invention to utilize two-way ranging navigation as a calibration reference for GPS. It is yet another object of the present invention to broadcast calibration information to all users within a predetermined region.
It is a further object of the present invention to maintain flexibility in the calibration method so as to allow different levels of accuracy based on different applications for navigation. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a back up navigation system for GPS in the case of GPS failure.
The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
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Chang Donald C. D.
Cheng David C.
Yung Kar W.
Blum Theodore M.
Duraiswamy V. D.
Hughes Electronics Corporation
Sales M. W.
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