Patent ReferencesNavigation system and method Transdigitizer for relaying signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellites Vehicle location system Hybrid GPS/data line unit for rapid, precise, and robust position determination Position ambiguity resolution Rapid satellite signal acquisition in a satellite positioning system Navigation message receiver for global positioning system Method and apparatus for determining positions on the earth corresponding to an observed rate of change of satellite range Location system and method with acquisition of accurate location parameters GPS receiver and method for processing GPS signals InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 132556 filed on 08/11/1998US Classes:342/357.15, Satellite selection (i.e., tracking or acquisition)342/357.09, With transmission of location-indicative information to or from a remote station342/357.1, Combined with telecommunication342/357.12, GPS receiver signal processing342/357.13, With storage device (i.e., map or database)701/213Using Global Positioning System (GPS)ExaminersPrimary: Blum, Theodore M.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassH04B 007/185AbstractA method and an apparatus which acquire satellite positioning system (SPS) signals in an SPS receiver. Information on time of day, approximate receiver location, and satellite positions are used to reduce the time to search and acquire signals from one or more SPS satellites. In an example of a method of the invention, a first pseudorange to a first SPS satellite is determined, and an approximate location of the SPS receiver is determined. An estimated pseudorange for a second pseudorange to a second SPS satellite is determined from the approximate location and a satellite position of the second SPS satellite. The SPS receiver then searches for SPS signals from the second SPS satellite in a range determined by the estimated pseudorange. Typically, this method reduces the search time to initially acquire SPS signals from the second SPS satellite, and the estimated pseudorange is not based on a previously determined pseudorange for said second SPS satellite. In a particular example of the invention, the approximate location is determined from a cell based information source which correlates an identification of each of various wireless cell sites with an approximate location for objects within a cell of a wireless cell based communication system, such as a cellular (or cell based) telephone system. In other examples of the invention, relatively precise time of day information may be used with information indicating satellite positions and information indicating the approximate location to determine an estimated pseudorange for a first SPS satellite to be acquired.Other References
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