Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for secure routing based on the physical location of routers are disclosed herein. The disclosed method for secure data transmission of at least one data packet through a plurality of network nodes involves defining a source network node, a destination network node, and at least one security constraint, which is based on the physical location of at least one of the network nodes. The method further involves comparing available network nodes with the security constraint(s) to determine which of the available network nodes meet the security constraint(s) and, thus, are qualified network nodes. Additionally, the method involves determining a route comprising at least one of the qualified network nodes to route the data packet(s) through from the source network node to the destination network node. Further, the method involves transmitting the data packet(s) through the route of the qualified network node(s).

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for contextual-based virtual data boundaries are disclosed herein. In particular, the present disclosure relates to improvements in access control that work to restrict the accessibility of data based on assigning contextual data thresholds that create a virtual boundary. Specifically, the disclosed method involves assigning at least one threshold to at least one contextual criterion. The method further involves determining whether contextual information from the claimant meets at least one threshold to at least one contextual criterion. Also, the method involves authenticating the claimant, if the contextual information from the claimant meets at least one of the thresholds to at least one contextual criterion. Further, the method involves allowing the claimant access to the data, if the claimant is authenticated.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for secure routing based on a degree of trust are disclosed herein. The disclosed method involves assigning a level of trust to at least one network node, and utilizing the level of trust to determine a degree of security of the network node(s). The level of trust of the network node(s) is related to an amount of certainty of the physical location of the network node(s). The amount of certainty is attained from the network node(s) being located in a known secure location, and/or from verification of the physical location of the network node(s) by using satellite geolocation techniques or by using network ping ranging measurements. The method further involves utilizing the level of trust of the network node(s) to determine a degree of trust of at least one path for routing the data, where the path(s) includes at least one of the network nodes.

Abstract: A transmission-based authentication system and method to prevent an unauthorized claimant from tracking a signal are disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the method involves transmitting, from at least one transmission source, a plurality of authentication signals. The method further involves receiving, from at least one receiving source, a resultant signal that includes at least two of the authentication signals. Further, the method involves authenticating, with at least one authenticator device, at least one claimant by comparing properties of the resultant signal the claimant receives from the receiving source location(s) to expected properties of the resultant signal that the claimant should receive from the receiving source location(s). The properties that are compared are signal power, doppler shift, time of reception, and/or signal modulation. The transmission source(s) is employed in at least one satellite and/or at least one pseudo-satellite.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for the authentication of the physical location of a target node are disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the authentication of the target node's physical location is achieved by using ping ranging measurements obtained from the amount of time that elapses during ping messages being sent between the target node and at least one trusted node with a known physical location. The physical location of the trusted node(s) is obtained by using satellite geolocation techniques. The accuracy of the ranging measurements may be improved upon by using pre-coordination and/or priority determination of the ping messages being sent between the target node and the trusted node(s). In at least one embodiment, the ping messages are sent by dedicated ping response hardware that is associated with the target node and/or the trusted node(s). In some embodiments, the ping messages include a pseudo random code bit sequence.

Abstract: System, methods, and devices for a self-sustaining differential corrections network that employs roving reference devices (RRDs) as reference stations for improving positioning, navigation, and timing (PN&T) solutions for other enabled local roving and/or stationary receiving devices (RDs) are disclosed herein. The disclosed differential correction system enhancement leverages RRDs enabled for a non-global positioning system (non-GPS), secondary PN&T signal to characterize local errors. These local errors are then used by local RDs in combination with a signal to calculate an improved PN&T estimate for the RDs.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying and/or geolocating network nodes in attenuated environments for cyber and network security applications are disclosed. The system involves an origination network node, a destination network node, and at least one router network node. The origination network node is configured for transmitting a data packet to the destination network node through at least one router network node. The data packet contains a security signature portion, a routing data portion, and a payload data portion. The security signature portion comprises a listing of at least one network node that the data packet travelled through from the origination network node to the destination network node. In addition, the security signature portion comprises geolocation information, identifier information, and timing information for at least one network node in the listing.

Abstract: A “synchrolite” or rebroadcasting device allows GPS or GNSS navigation signals received at one or several locations to be processed at a separate location. The signals received by the synchrolite are added to a pilot tone and then encoded with a superimposed spread-spectrum code before being rebroadcast. The superimposed code allows signals from different synchrolites to be distinguished during the navigation process.

Abstract: A method and system for leveraging available navigation frequencies for determining position by creating a flexible navigation signal architecture is disclosed. Such an architecture is designed for customizing a navigation system by combining, adding, replacing or removing one or more removable RF section modules. At least one of the RF section modules has a mutually complementary frequency set with respect to a frequency set of one or more of the other RF section modules in the system.

Abstract: A method and system for leveraging available navigation frequencies for determining position by creating a flexible navigation signal architecture is disclosed. Such an architecture is designed for customizing a navigation system by combining, adding, replacing or removing one or more removable RF section modules. At least one of the RF section modules has a mutually complementary frequency set with respect to a frequency set of one or more of the other RF section modules in the system.

Abstract: A set of receiver antennas, of which at least one of the receiver antennas has the capability of receiving frequencies that another receiver antenna from the set is incapable of receiving, is used for determining position and orientation in a navigation system.

Abstract: A set of receiver antennas, of which at least one of the receiver antennas has the capability of receiving frequencies that another receiver antenna from the set is incapable of receiving, is used for determining position and orientation in a navigation system.

Abstract: Troposphere corrections are provided in a land based transmitter-positioning system. Troposphere delays correct ranges based on X- or ISM-band carrier ranging signals with a modulation rate of the code of at least about 30 MHz. Ground based transmitters transmit non-GPS type ranging signals, and the receivers correct for troposphere delays. Troposphere delay corrections are applied to range estimates on each iteration of an iterative position-fix algorithm. Different models of troposphere corrections in a ground based ranging system may be used.

Abstract: Wide area corrections are used substantially continuously. Local area corrections are used once or sparsely. For example, an initial position is determined with local area corrections. Wide area corrections are subsequently used. The initial position information is used in the wide area position determination to limit or avoid delay for convergence. Other sparse uses of local area corrections include verifying or updating positions based on substantially continuous use of wide area corrections.

Abstract: A Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite is used for broadcasting differential navigation corrections. Using LEO satellites, the “footprint” of the beam is much smaller than for geosynchronous satellites. Datalink bandwidth requirements are reduced to sufficiently cover an entire footprint area. With a LEO satellite transmitting in multiple beams, these footprints become even smaller. Corrections targeted to such a small area provide local area corrections broadcast from the LEO satellites. Payment, discounts, subsidies or charges are arranged to encourage different entities to own or host base stations, resulting in wide distribution of the network of base stations for use with satellite communications.

Abstract: A global navigation satellite system receiver manufacturer provides functional extensibility to a global navigation satellite system receiver. An application programming interface to the receiver is provided. The interface is public, such as using pubically available software or pubically distributed instructions, for loading on applications or other extensions to the core functionality of the GPS receiver. Other programmers than the manufacturer may add applications to the GPS receiver, avoiding separate devices in a vehicle.

Abstract: To reduce the number of processors and/or displays in mobile equipment, an operating system is emulated in one example. A primary operating system runs on a processor or uses a particular display. The emulated operating system shares the same processor and/or same display. The emulation allows use of applications drafted or written for different operating systems in a common or shared environment. As another example, a virtual terminal function is emulated on a particular device. The particular device interacts with additional sources of information for displaying images on a same display. Using emulated operating systems or virtual terminals, a navigation program is used in a vehicle. An additional program is run on the same processor or shares the same display in the same vehicle at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite is used for broadcasting differential navigation corrections. Using LEO satellites, the “footprint” of the beam is much smaller than for geosynchronous satellites, and therefore data link bandwidth requirements are reduced to sufficiently cover an entire area. With a LEO satellite transmitting in multiple beams, these footprints become even smaller. Corrections targeted to such a small area could have the form of local area corrections (for example, raw measurements taken from a navigation reference station) using the LEO satellites.

Abstract: A precise positioning method and system is disclosed wherein at least one ground transmitter is used for transmitting a ranging signal with code modulation. The at least one ground transmitter is configured to receive a signal from at least one satellite and a second ground transmitter. The at least one ground transmitter measures a code phase of the received signals. The measured code phase information is communicated to a rover that is associated with a user. The rover can determine the user's precise position based on the measured code and/or carrier phase information and a clock correction model.

Abstract: A precise positioning method and system is disclosed for allowing an array of ground transmitters to self-survey their relative location at centimeter-level accuracy by transmitting, amongst the ground transmitters in the array, bi-directional ranging signals associated with a wideband code modulation with a chipping rate faster than 30 MHz.