Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-10
2004-08-03
Lee, Andy (Department: 2663)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
C455S457000, C342S357490
Reexamination Certificate
active
06771625
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The Global Positioning system (GPS) is a time-synchronized space-based satellite system that broadcasts spread spectrum codes from a nominal constellation of 24 earth-orbiting satellites. GPS uses Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to simultaneously broadcast multiple codes on each GPS frequency. Since the standard GPS constellation consists of 24 satellites, 24 codes are normally broadcast simultaneously on each GPS frequency.
Because each satellite broadcasts a unique code, and because the codes have poor cross-correlation properties, it is relatively easy to use matched replica correlation processing to extract any particular code from the rest. In matched replica processing, a replica of a code sequence is compared with the received signal. The replica will correlate with the received signal only if the received signal contains the sequence of codes that match the replica and only when the replica is correctly aligned with the code sequence.
The GPS satellite constellation is continuously monitored, with ephemeris and clock corrections broadcast so that receiving equipment can locate GPS satellites at any time and make corrections necessary to account for errors in each satellite's clock. The distance from the satellite to the receiver can be determined from the location of a satellite, the time that the satellite's coded message was transmitted, and the nominal time the message was received. If codes are received from four or more GPS satellites, then the receiver's position and the error in the receiver's clock can be estimated. It is necessary to ensure that the receiver's clock is synchronized with the satellite constellation's clock in order to accurately measure the elapsed time between a satellite's code sequence transmission and reception of that code sequence by a GPS receiver.
GPS can provide highly accurate position estimates. However, the GPS signal frequency is approximately 1.5 GHz and its power level at the receiving antenna is −160 dBW. The high frequency and low received power of the GPS signals restrict the use of GPS to locations where the receiver's antenna has a clear, line-of-sight view of the requisite number of satellites. The requisite number of satellites is normally four, but can be less if some form of aiding is used. For example, if altitude aiding is used, it may be possible to obtain a GPS solution with three satellites. This line-of-sight restriction degrades GPS performance in buildings, in vehicles, under foliage, in areas with steep terrain where the horizon is blocked by mountains or high buildings, or other places where the GPS antenna does not have an unobstructed view of the sky.
Pseudolites
One way to mitigate these problems is to add pseudolites on the ground to augment the space-based GPS satellite constellation. Pseudolites, or pseudo-satellites, function like GPS satellites but are located on the Earth's surface rather than in orbit about the Earth. In the context of this invention, the term “pseudolite” means any transmitter that broadcasts coded spread spectrum signals (e.g., pseudo-random code sequences) that can be used to determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, i.e., ranging signals. A pseudolite can broadcast on one or more of the GPS satellite frequencies, or it can broadcast on a separate frequency. If a pseudolite broadcasts on a GPS frequency, it can mask the GPS broadcasts, particularly when the receiver is in close proximity to the pseudolite. Broadcasting on a separate frequency adds cost to the receiver because the receiver must have the frequency bandwidth to receive and process both the GPS and pseudolite signals.
Like GPS satellites, pseudolites broadcast repeating pseudo-random code sequences that a receiver on the ground can process to determine the elapsed time between code transmission and code reception. A pseudolite receiver can determine the distance between a pseudolite and the receiver from (1) the location of a pseudolite, (2) when the pseudolite transmits its code sequence, (3) nominally when the pseudolite receiver receives the code sequence, and (4) the speed of light. The pseudolite receiver processes the pseudolite transmissions in exactly the same way a GPS receiver processes the GPS satellite transmissions. A dual GPS/pseudolite receiver can concurrently process and apply range measurements from satellites and/or pseudolites to determine the receiver's location. That is, the receiver can use GPS measurements, pseudolite measurements, or a combination of GPS and pseudolite measurements to determine its own location.
A ground-based pseudolite has two major advantages over a space-based satellite. First, the ground-based pseudolite does not move, and its position can therefore be determined to any achievable measurement accuracy. Achievable accuracy is a function of the amount of time one spends making the measurement: using dual frequency GPS carrier tracking, centimeter accuracy can be achieved. Second, the pseudolite's output power can be arbitrarily large, allowing the signal to be received in areas where GPS is often blocked.
The Near-Far Problem and Time Division Multiplexing
When multiple pseudolites broadcast on a common frequency, they suffer from what is known as the “near-far problem.” A pseudolite that is too near a receiver can block reception of signals from distant pseudolites. This occurs when the received power level from the near-field pseudolite is much higher than the received power level from the far-field pseudolite, thereby masking the weaker signal. When pseudolites broadcast at the same frequency as the space-based GPS constellation, they can, when near enough to the receiver, mask the satellite signals.
The near-far problem does not arise between satellites in orbit because the relative distance from each satellite to an observer on earth is about the same, no matter where the observer moves on the surface of the earth. For example, the GPS constellation is in orbit approximately 26,600 Km above the earth's center of mass. If the satellites are in a 20,200 Km orbit above the surface of the earth (26,600 Km orbit above the center of the earth), then a satellite that is directly-overhead is 20,200 Km away from an observer standing on the Earth's surface, which is as close as an in-orbit GPS satellite can be to an observer. A GPS satellite that is on the horizon, the greatest distance from which a signal from an in-orbit GPS satellite can be received on earth, will be approximately 25,800 Km away from the observer. Therefore, the distance between an observer and any two GPS satellites never varies by more than 28%, with the associated received signal levels differing by 2 dB or less.
This is not the case with pseudolites on earth. Consider two pseudolites, one 10 Km from the receiver and another 1 Km from the receiver. If both pseudolites are broadcasting at the same power level, there will be a 100-fold difference between the received power levels of the two pseudolites, since, assuming spherical signal spreading between the pseudolite and receiver, received power is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
When a pseudolite broadcasts on the GPS frequency, the near-far problem can be mitigated if the pseudolite only broadcasts part of the time. If, for example, the pseudolite broadcasts for 100 msec and then is off for 900 msec, it will have a 10% duty cycle. That is, the pseudolite broadcast will only interfere with the GPS broadcast 10% of the time. A good GPS receiver will be able to maintain lock on the GPS constellation if the pseudolite duty cycle is short enough (typically 10% or less). The length of a pseudolite's duty cycle is constrained in two ways. First, it must be long enough to allow the receiver to receive and process the pseudolite data stream. Second, it must not be so long that it prevents the receiver from receiving and processing data streams from the GPS constellation or other pseudolites. From a pr
KSI Inc.
Lee Andy
Woodcock & Washburn LLP
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