Communication network initialization apparatus and method for fast GPS-based positioning

Patent 6067045 Issued on May 23, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 28, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

GPS precision approach and landing system for aircraft
Patent #: 5311194
Issued on: 05/10/1994
Inventor: Brown

GPS receiver utilizing a communication link
Patent #: 5841396
Issued on: 11/24/1998
Inventor: Krasner

Real time position correction to ground generated spacecraft ephemeris
Patent #: 5862495
Issued on: 01/19/1999
Inventor: Small, et al.

GPS receiver utilizing a communication link
Patent #: 5874914
Issued on: 02/23/1999
Inventor: Krasner

Reduction of time to first fix in an SATPS receiver
Patent #: 5917444
Issued on: 06/29/1999
Inventor: Loomis, et al.

Method and apparatus for determining time for GPS receivers Patent #: 5945944
Issued on: 08/31/1999
Inventor: Krasner

Inventors

Application

No. 301268 filed on 04/28/1999

US Classes:

342/357.09, With transmission of location-indicative information to or from a remote station342/357.01, With position indicating342/357.06, Using Global Positioning Satellite (GPS or Glonass)701/213Using Global Positioning System (GPS)

Examiners

Primary: Tarcza, Thomas H.
Assistant: Phan, Dao

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Whelan; John T., Sales; Michael W.

Foreign Patent References

WO 97/33382 WO. 09/13/1997
WO 98/25157 WO. 06/13/1998

International Classes

G01S 005/02
H04B 007/185

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed, utilizing a communications network (in this particular design, it is a GEM (Geo-Mobile) satellite system) to initialize a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (such one integrated into a handheld user terminal, or phone used within the communication network) to enable the GPS receiver to quickly acquire GPS satellite signals and perform positioning calculations. By systematically feeding the GPS receiver key pieces of information (GPS satellite trajectories, time estimate, position estimate, and additional positional references), the time to first fix (TTFF) of the GPS receiver can be drastically reduced.