Fast user terminal position determination in a satellite communications system
US6298238A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S5/12
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus, method, and process for quickly and accurately determining the position of a user terminal in a satellite communications system. An initial coarse estimate of the radius of the Earth at a terminal position is made. The geometry of satellites being used and the user terminal is then determined. When only one satellite is used, the satellite-user terminal geometry includes the range and range rate of the satellite with respect to the user terminal. When two satellites are used, the satellite-user terminal geometry includes the range of each satellite with respect to the user terminal. An initial position estimate is determined based on the radius and the satellite-user terminal geometry. The coarse radius estimate can then be formed into a fine estimate and the initial position estimate further refined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.