Abstract: An apparatus substantially updates all the phase shifter values of a phased array antenna by using “global write” to update these parameters to all phased-array transformation circuits simultaneously via a serial bus. Antenna elements, each controlled by a phased-array transformation circuit, are individually configured to transform phase and gain according to a register array. The register array has a local register group and a central register group, the local registers physically placed close in proximity to RF chains which each correspond to an element of array antenna, whereby each set of local registers control an individual antenna element and a central register controlling overall beam steering function. The apparatus is configured to efficiently elaborate phase shift weights into a submodule of a phase array antenna system with low noise and bandwidth.

Abstract: A position estimation method for indoor positioning includes filtering an initial position estimate that includes a corresponding covariance that reflects the quality of the geometry of the reference points and a previous initial position estimate that includes a corresponding covariance that reflects the quality of the geometry of the reference points by a Kalman filter to generate an updated previous position estimate, analyzing the updated previous position estimate to determine if the value is outside of a range, and constraining the updated previous position estimate based on the value being outside of the range.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a communication system operative to form, direct, and narrow communication beams using an array of electromagnetic radiators and a beam-narrowing architecture. A beam-width of an electromagnetic beam is narrowed, thereby increasing the concentration of electromagnetic energy in the beam and achieving a significant antenna gain. In various embodiments, the direction of an electromagnetic beam may be altered to improve communication between a transmitter and a receiver. In various embodiments, the system is a millimeter-wave system with a millimeter-wave array and millimeter-wave beams.

Abstract: A device management system is comprised of a server-side proxy component and at least one back-end computer. The server-side proxy component is configured to receive ephemeris and almanac data from a source and information from at least one client describing the geographic location of the client. The server-side proxy component is configured to send the ephemeris and almanac data and the information from the client to a back-end computer. Responsive to receiving this data and information, the computer compiles it into GPS data relevant to the location of the client.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a communication system. Particularly disclosed are systems and methods for locating and tracking radio frequency signals and for automatically positioning an antenna to receive a desired radio frequency signal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for acquiring a signal of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) are provided. The method includes: performing a first satellite signal acquiring operation based on an initially set Doppler frequency search start value and an initially set Doppler frequency search interval value; and changing the initially set Doppler frequency search start value and performing a second satellite signal acquiring operation when a satellite signal is not found through the first satellite signal acquiring operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for repurposing of a global navigation satellite system receiver for receiving low-earth orbit (LEO) communication satellite timing signals may comprise receiving a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite signal and/or a LEO signal in a receiver of the communication device. The MEO or LEO signal may be down-converted, and a position of the communication device may be calculated utilizing the down-converted signal. The signal may be down-converted utilizing a local oscillator signal generated by a phase locked loop (PLL), which may be delta-sigma modulated via a fractional-N divider. A clock signal may be communicated to the PLL utilizing a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator. The signal may be down-converted to an intermediate frequency or down-converted directly to baseband frequencies. The signal may be processed utilizing surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters. In-phase and quadrature signals may be processed in the RF path utilizing a two-stage polyphase filter.

Abstract: A method for reducing expected switchovers in antennas tracking at least one satellite. The method predicts an operation of a predetermined number of subsets of antennas during a simulated time interval. The subsets are derived from at least three antennas. Each of the at least three antennas has a field of view and is operative to selectively receive signals from and selectively transmit signals to a satellite in the respective field of view. The method determines, based on the predicted operation, an expected number of switchovers for each of the subsets during the simulated time interval. The method selects a selected subset from the subsets for communicating with the satellite. The selection of the selected subset is based on the expected number of switchovers.

Abstract: A control system connected to a plurality of array antenna performs beamforming. The control system comprises a beam radiation controller for requesting a predetermined first antenna group to radiate beams and requesting a second antenna group including the first antenna group to radiate beams to an optimized sector, a beam receiver for receiving response beams from the first antenna group and the second antenna group, and a sector selector for setting up an optimized sector based on the received beams for the first antenna group, and transmitting information on the optimized sector to the beam radiation controller in order to control the second antenna group to radiate beams to the optimized sector.

Abstract: Vessel communications systems and methods are described. According to one aspect, a vessel communications method includes receiving a first communication including first positional data which indicates a location of a first vessel, receiving a second communication including second positional data which indicates a location of a second vessel, using the first and second positional data, identifying a wireless communications range of the first vessel overlapping with a wireless communications range of the second vessel at a moment in time, as a result of the identifying, controlling only one of the first and second vessels to output wireless communications which include both of the first and second positional data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing navigational signals with reduced bandwidth by receiving a combination of two navigational signals, reducing the frequency of the combined two navigational signals to an intermediate frequency (IF); converting the IF signal to digital signals; translating the frequency of the IF signal to near baseband; filtering the near baseband signal; reducing the sample rate of the filtered near-baseband signal by a factor; translating a selection of the reduced, filtered, near-baseband signal to a single sidelobe; storing the single sidelobe in memory; and processing the single sidelobe for navigational purposes.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for shifting the phase of an radiofrequency signal. The device has an input line and an output line. An input switch is connected to the input line. The input switch is has several input throws. An output switch is connected to the output line. The output switch has several output throws which correspond to the input throws. The apparatus also has several phase shift lines. Each phase shift line has a true path length that is different from the true path lengths of the other phase shift lines.

Abstract: A system and method for determining transmission delay in a communications system. In some embodiments, satellite positioning information having System Frame Number (SFN) information may be received for a mobile device and observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) measurements may be received for a mobile device. A location of the mobile device may be determined as a function of the received satellite positioning information. A Global Positioning System (GPS) time estimate may be determined as a function of the determined location of the mobile device. Transmission delay between a node serving the mobile device and an antenna serving the mobile device may be determined as a function of the received OTDOA measurements and determined GPS time estimate.

Abstract: The system includes a reconfigurable GNSS antenna subsystem that dynamically reconfigures one or more antenna parameters to change one or more operating characteristics of an antenna based on environmental conditions and/or the presence of interfering signals to improve the quality of GNSS satellite signal reception. The system analyzes the received signals to determine if the GNSS satellite signals are sufficiently above received noise, if interfering signals are present, and/or if multipath signals are adversely impacting position calculations. Based on the analysis, the reconfigurable antenna subsystem selectively and dynamically reconfigures one or more parameters to change one or more operating characteristics of the antenna. As the conditions change, the reconfigurable antenna subsystem may dynamically reconfigure one or more of the antenna parameters accordingly.

Abstract: A wireless alarm and location system and method of locating an object are provided. The system includes a transceiver contained within a housing enclosure. At least one activation element is located at least partially within the housing enclosure. At least a first omnidirectional signal is communicated from the transceiver upon activation of the activation element. An alarm and location element is positioned remote from the housing enclosure, wherein the alarm and location element receives the first omnidirectional signal and calculates a location of the housing enclosure.

Abstract: A geolocation system includes an originator device configured to transmit a first wireless signal to a transponder device. The transponder device is configured to transmit a second wireless signal to the originator device. The system includes at least one observer device configured to receive the first wireless signal from the originator device and receive the second wireless signal from the transponder device. The system also includes a first processor configured to calculate a transactional difference range at the at least one observer device based on the first wireless signal received at the observer device and the second wireless signal received at the observer device. A corrected transactional difference range value may be calculated by subtracting a time-of-flight of the first wireless signal from the originator device to the transponder device from the transactional difference range. A method of performing geolocation using a transactional difference range is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to anti-spoofing techniques for satellite navigation systems. In general, the anti-spoofing techniques use codeless or semi-codeless tracking of encrypted satellite signals to generate measurements that can be used to perform consistency checks to received non-encrypted signals. The consistency checks will detect if the non-encrypted signal is a genuine satellite signal or a spoofing signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for requesting and providing assistance data for a satellite positioning system are described herein. A method as described herein includes receiving, at a base station over a wireless communication link, a first message from a mobile station, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a requested format of the requested assistance data, and wherein the requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the requested format; and transmitting a second message from the base station to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the second message includes the requested assistance data in the requested format.

Abstract: A system for interference suppression onboard a satellite includes a beamforming module that processes radio-frequency (RF) signals originated from a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna to generate multiple analog signals. At least one of the analog signals is an anti-interference signal. Analog-to-digital converters convert the analog signals to a number of digital signals. A processing module processes the digital signals to generate a phase and amplitude control signal. A summation module generates one or more composite signals with reduced interference.

Abstract: Techniques for managing power consumption of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver of a mobile device are provided. These techniques include a method that includes deriving a GNSS search window for the GNSS receiver based on a position uncertainty (PUNC) and a time uncertainty (TUNC), selecting a GNSS search mode based on the GNSS search window and resources available for searching for signals from GNSS satellite vehicles (SVs), wherein an estimated power consumption associated with execution of a GNSS search associated with the GNSS search mode does not exceed a power consumption limit specified for the GNSS receiver conducting the GNSS search using the GNSS search mode, and estimating a position of the mobile device.