Methods and apparatus for a navigation system with reduced susceptibility to interference and jamming

US7372400B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Clark E. Cohen · Washington, US
• Robert W. Brumley · San Jose, US
• Mark L. Psiaki · Brooktondale, US
• Gregory M. Gutt · Ashburn, US
• William J. Bencze · Rue de l'Église, US
• Brent M. Ledvina · San Francisco, US
• Barton G. Ferrell · Glen Carbon, US
• David A. Whelan · Newport Beach, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 7, 2005
• Grant date: May 13, 2008
• Expiry date: May 27, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04K3/90
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A navigation system provides a significant level of protection against all forms of interference or jamming to GPS in a cost-effective way. The system employs a network of ground reference stations and Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites in conjunction with GPS. A common-view ranging geometry to a GPS satellite is established that links a reference station and a user. A second common-view geometry to a LEO satellite between the same reference station and user pair is also established. The ground stations synthesize real-time aiding signals by making carrier phase measurements of GPS the LEO satellite signals. This aiding information is transmitted via the LEO satellites to the user receiver at high power to penetrate ambient jamming. The user receiver locks onto the carrier phase of the LEO satellite, demodulates the aiding information, then applies the carrier phase measurements and the aiding information to enable extended coherent measurements of the GPS signals. The system thereby recovers the GPS signals that would otherwise be lost to the jamming.