Abstract: A system, apparatus and corresponding method by which to synchronize to a time reference a main module of a device—a main module such as global positioning system (GPS) receiver—using a cellular communication signal received by a cellular module also included in the device. To synchronize the main module to the reference time, the invention provides a method including the steps of: having the cellular module respond to the cellular communication signal by providing to a clock module of the main module a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also by providing to the main module information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time. The main module is then able to resolve a value for time based on the information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time and the trigger pulse.

Abstract: A ranging receiver (10) including a cellular module (11), for providing time according to a positioning system to enable synchronizing a wireless system to the positioning system. The ranging receiver (10) includes both the cellular module (11) and a main module (12) that provides ranging receiver functionality. When the cellular module (11) receives a time-stamped frame from the wireless system, it sends a trigger signal over a special hardware path to the main module (12), which then relates the time of trigger receipt to time according to the positioning system by calculating a position-velocity-time (PVT) solution, using a local clock (18) to get the difference in time between receipt of the trigger and the instant to which the PVT solution applies, and then communicates to the cellular module (11) when it received the trigger, according to positioning system time.

Abstract: A method for compensating for multipath components in a received CDMA signal comprising a repetitive PRN code uses delay times in addition to the early, late and prompt delay times for determining if a multipath component is present in the received signal, and if so, making an adjustment to the delay time of the replica code generated by a receiver so as to minimize the difference between the correlation values for a delay time equal to −1 chip and a delay time more negative than −1 chip. In this manner, adjustments to the estimation time for the start of the PRN code can be made in a manner which minimizes the effects of multipath components. A system using additional delays and correlators in association with the code phase detector, a code numerical control oscillator and replica code generator is described for performing the above methodology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the time of transmission of a signal part of a code modulated signal transmitted by a beacon of a positioning system and received by a receiver of the positioning system. In order to enable such a determination in weak signal conditions, it is proposed that measured subcomponents of the time of transmission of at least two signal parts are compared with corresponding predicted subcomponents in a way resulting in a combined difference for all signal parts. The comparison is performed for a plurality of assumed errors in the predicted subcomponent. The accurate time of transmission of a signal part is then determined based on the determined error value which results in the smallest combined difference. The invention relates equally to a corresponding receiver and to a corresponding positioning system.

Abstract: The position of an electronic device (1) is determined by means of satellites in a positioning system by determining satellite orbit data and a default position for the electronic device (1). At least the following steps are taken: a determination step for determining a first time data estimate by using said default position, a computing step for computing an estimate of the code phase of the satellite signal on the basis of said time data estimate, the default position and the satellite orbit data, and a searching step, in which a code-modulated signal transmitted by satellites of a positioning system is received for searching the signal of at least one satellite and for acquiring the signal by using said estimate of the code phase. The invention also relates to a system, in which the method is applied, as well as to an electronic device (1).

Abstract: A system, apparatus and corresponding method for time synchronization, using cellular signal bursts, of for example a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

Abstract: A method for compensating for multipath components in a received CDMA signal comprising a repetitive PRN code uses delay times in addition to the early, late and prompt delay times for determining if a multipath component is present in the received signal, and if so, making an adjustment to the delay time of the replica code generated by a receiver so as to minimize the difference between the correlation values for a delay time equal to −1 chip and a delay time more negative than −1 chip. In this manner, adjustments to the estimation time for the start of the PRN code can be made in a manner which minimizes the effects of multipath components. A system using additional delays and correlators in association with the code phase detector, a code numerical control oscillator and replica code generator is described for performing the above methodology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synchronizing a receiver (1) with a transmitted code-modulated spread spectrum signal. In the method, at least one reference code (r(x)) is used, which corresponds to a code used in the modulation, and the frequency shift of the transmitted signal and the code phase of the code used in the modulation are determined. In the method, a correlation step is taken to form a correlation function matrix on the basis of the received signal and said reference code. A non-coherent search matrix is formed of said correlation function matrix. In the method, elements in said non-coherent search matrix are modified on the basis of at least one statistical property of the elements in said non-coherent search matrix, and/or high-pass filtering is performed before the formation of said correlation function matrix. The invention also relates to a system and a receiver in which the method is applied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of an electronic device (1) by means of satellites in a positioning system. In the method, satellite orbit data and a default position for the electronic device (1) are determined. In the method, at least the following steps are taken: a determination step for determining a first time data estimate by using said default position, a computing step for computing an estimate of the code phase of the satellite signal on the basis of said time data estimate, the default position and the satellite orbit data, and a searching step, in which a code-modulated signal transmitted by satellites of a positioning system is received for searching the signal of at least one satellite and for acquiring the signal by using said estimate of the code phase. The invention also relates to a system, in which the method is applied, as well as to an electronic device (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for performing reacquisition in a positioning receiver (PR), in which at least one spread spectrum modulated signal is received. In the positioning receiver (PR), a reference signal is formed by using a reference code corresponding to the code used in the modulation of the signal to be received, and a correlation is made between the received signal and the reference signal. Said correlation is made in at least a first and a second part, and different correlation times are used in said first part and in said second part. The invention also relates to an electronic device (ED) comprising a positioning receiver (PR).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conserving power in a positioning system receiver using ranging signals to determine a state of motion of the receiver, the method including: a step (32) of performing at least a predetermined number of solutions of the state of motion of the receiver using a filter solution based on a variable mix of models of the motion of the receiver, and of providing the model mix used in each solution; and a step (35) of adopting a partial duty cycle indicating a percentage of time selected receiver components are powered on, based on the mix of models used in successive solutions. Typically, the receiver includes a radiofrequency (RF) front end module and a baseband processor module and the selected components that are powered on and off to save power typically include the RF front end module and the baseband processor module.

Abstract: A ranging receiver (10) including a cellular module (11), for providing time according to a positioning system to enable synchronizing a wireless system to the positioning system. The ranging receiver (10) includes both the cellular module (11) and a main module (12) that provides ranging receiver functionality. When the cellular module (11) receives a time-stamped frame from the wireless system, it sends a trigger signal over a special hardware path to the main module (12), which then relates the time of trigger receipt to time according to the positioning system by calculating a position-velocity-time (PVT) solution, using a local clock (18) to get the difference in time between receipt of the trigger and the instant to which the PVT solution applies, and then communicates to the cellular module (11) when it received the trigger, according to positioning system time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the phase of information modulated in a code-modulated signal transmitted by a satellite in a receiver (MS). In the method, at least partly the same information is transmitted from at least a first and a second satellite (SV1-SV4) substantially simultaneously, the code-modulated signal transmitted from at least the first and the second satellite (SV1-SV4) is received, and at least the received signal of the first satellite is demodulated to determine the transmitted information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for positioning a receiver receiving code modulated signals transmitted by satellites and formed by an individual code for each satellite. In order to provide a reliable reference position for the receiver, it is proposed that in a first step, a reference position for said receiver is calculated based on frequency measurements of said code modulated signals. This reference position can then be employed in a second step for determining the accurate position of the receiver. The invention equally relates to such a receiver, to positioning means, to a computing server and to a positioning system comprising means for realizing the proposed method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a receiver. In the method, at least one spread spectrum modulated signal is received on at least two receiving channels, and a reference signal is formed on said at least two receiving channels by using a reference code corresponding to the code used in the modulation of the signal to be received. Further, in the method, the received signal is correlated with the reference signal. In the receiver, a set of correlators is used, and for at least one correlator of said set of correlators, a receiving channel is selected, wherein said at least one correlator is used in the correlation of the signal received on the receiving channel with the corresponding reference signal.

Abstract: A code modulated signal transmitted by satellites (SV1-SV4) and formed by an individual code for each satellite (SV1-SV4) is received. At least one reference point (B) is selected, whose position is substantially known. Information is transmitted to the positioning means (S, MS) about the position of the at least one reference point, and about Ephemeris data on the satellites (SV1-SV4). Thus, at least the Ephemeris data on each of the satellites (SV1-SV4) to be used in the positioning and the location of the at least one reference point are used in the positioning of the receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for positioning a wireless communication device (MS). In the method, position data of one or a plurality of reference points is stored into at least one data base (DB), and it is detected which of said reference points is located in the vicinity of the wireless communication device (MS). In the method, at least position data of said reference point located in the vicinity of the wireless communication device (MS) is transmitted to the wireless communication device (MS), wherein in order to perform the positioning, said reference point located in the vicinity of the wireless communication device (MS) is selected as the default location of the wireless communication device (MS).

Abstract: A method, corresponding apparatus, and corresponding system for acquiring a received spread spectrum signal, the received signal having a carrier component at a carrier frequency, a code component having a code period, and a data component, the acquiring including matching the phase of a replica of the code component to the phase of the received code component and also determining any shift in the carrier frequency away from a transmitted carrier frequency, the method including the steps of: performing a first acquisition of the received signal so as to provide an approximately estimated carrier frequency and a phase of the replica and also so as to provide a code-wiped and an approximately carrier-wiped signal; and performing a second acquisition of the approximately carrier-wiped signal, the second acquisition including a substep of data wipe-off involving a squaring or similar operation on a signal derived from the approximately carrier-wiped signal; thereby providing a correction to the approximately esti

Abstract: A system, apparatus and corresponding method for time synchronization, using cellular signal bursts, of for example a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining an error in the reference time (15) of a receiver (MS) in positioning means (S,MS). In the method, a code modulated signal transmitted by satellites (SV1-SV4) is received the signal being formed with an individual code for each satellite (SV1-SV4). In the method, the time ({circumflex over (T)}ToTk) of transmission of the signal received from every satellite used in the positioning is determined to be used in determining the position of the satellite. To determine a difference between the time ({circumflex over (T)}ToTk) of transmission of the signal and the reference time, positioning is performed, and on the basis of the determined position, an error value (ERR) is calculated.