Patents by Inventor Kendall Ferguson

Kendall Ferguson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230161052
    Abstract: A receiver-side device for use in a satellite-based navigation system comprises a satellite receiver circuit for receiving signals from at least one satellite of the satellite-based navigation system, a communication interface for requesting and receiving data from a communication network, and at least one processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Rajani Rao, André Ebeling, Kendall Ferguson, Rodrigo Leandro, Renato Francesco de Lorenzo, Davide Lenzarini
  • Patent number: 10761213
    Abstract: A navigation satellite system, one or more NSS reference station is set out for providing information to one or more rover receivers. The NSS reference station comprises a processing unit configured to determine one or more first range intervals representing first ambiguity windows based on estimated atmospheric effects, and determine one or more second range intervals representing a second ambiguity window smaller than each of the first ambiguity windows based on uncertainties of range measurements within a predetermined previous period. The NSS reference station further comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the NSS rover receivers, first messages each comprising a modulo a first ambiguity window, and transmission of two first messages, to range measurement transmit between the NSS rover receiver, a plurality of second messages, each second message comprising a range measurement modulo one of the second ambiguity windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventor: Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10408941
    Abstract: A correction message for regional GNSS data includes at least one network message and at least one cluster message. The at least one network message relates to stations of a network of stations within a region. The at least one cluster message relates to a subset of stations within the region. Network elements are extracted from the network message and cluster elements are extracted from the cluster message. Network elements and cluster elements are used to determine a position of a rover within the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20180164443
    Abstract: A navigation satellite system, one or more NSS reference station is set out for providing information to one or more rover receivers. The NSS reference station comprises a processing unit configured to determine one or more first range intervals representing first ambiguity windows based on estimated atmospheric effects, and determine one or more second range intervals representing a second ambiguity window smaller than each of the first ambiguity windows based on uncertainties of range measurements within a predetermined previous period. The NSS reference station further comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the NSS rover receivers, first messages each comprising a modulo a first ambiguity window, and transmission of two first messages, to range measurement transmit between the NSS rover receiver, a plurality of second messages, each second message comprising a range measurement modulo one of the second ambiguity windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9915736
    Abstract: A navigation satellite system, one or more NSS reference station is set out for providing information to one or more rover receivers. The NSS reference station comprises a processing unit configured to determine one or more first range intervals representing first ambiguity windows based on estimated atmospheric effects, and determine one or more second range intervals representing a second ambiguity window smaller than each of the first ambiguity windows based on uncertainties of range measurements within a predetermined previous period. The NSS reference station further comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the NSS rover receivers, first messages each comprising a modulo a first ambiguity window, and transmission of two first messages, to range measurement transmit between the NSS rover receiver, a plurality of second messages, each second message comprising a range measurement modulo one of the second ambiguity windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventor: Kendall Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20170307760
    Abstract: A correction message for regional GNSS data includes data from several stations in a network. The correction message has at least one cluster message. The cluster message contains cluster elements relating to a subset of GNSS stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9733359
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospheric delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9354319
    Abstract: A method of communicating corrections for information related to satellite signals among global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers is described. The method includes at a first GNSS device determining a component of position of a satellite. The component is then divided by a first value to thereby obtain an integer value and a remainder value, and the only the remainder value is transmitted from the first GNSS device to the second GNSS device. Knowing the first value, the second GNSS device calculates the component of position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kendall Ferguson, Benjamin W. Remondi, Michael Albright
  • Publication number: 20150355341
    Abstract: A navigation satellite system, one or more NSS reference station is set out for providing information to one or more rover receivers. The NSS reference station comprises a processing unit configured to determine one or more first range intervals representing first ambiguity windows based on estimated atmospheric effects, and determine one or more second range intervals representing a second ambiguity window smaller than each of the first ambiguity windows based on uncertainties of range measurements within a predetermined previous period. The NSS reference station further comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the NSS rover receivers, first messages each comprising a modulo a first ambiguity window, and transmission of two first messages, to range measurement transmit between the NSS rover receiver, a plurality of second messages, each second message comprising a range measurement modulo one of the second ambiguity windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventor: Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9201147
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospheric delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9164174
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospher?c delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8624779
    Abstract: In a method of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference station integrity monitoring, network Real Time Kinematic (RTK) information is accessed for a location associated with a GNSS reference station. At least one aspect of GNSS information local to the location of the GNSS reference station is compared with a corresponding aspect of the network RTK information. The results of the comparing are monitored for indication of occurrence of compromise to operational integrity of the GNSS reference station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8456359
    Abstract: A method of communicating satellite tracking information among a network of global navigation satellite system receivers is described. The method includes determining at a first GNSS receiver which satellites in a constellation of satellites have been continuously tracked over a preceding selected time period, and for each such satellite determining its elevation with respect to the zenith. Only the elevation value for the lowest satellite in the set of satellites for which all satellites of higher elevation values have been continuously tracked over the selected time period is then transmitted to the second GNSS receiver. That receiver can then reconstruct the set of satellites which have been continuously tracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kendall Ferguson, Michael Timo Allison, Michael Albright
  • Publication number: 20120306694
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospheric delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20120293367
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospheric delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20120286991
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospher?c delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8264404
    Abstract: A method in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver for double-nudged broadcast orbit drift correction. A first broadcast orbit message is utilized to nudge a broadcast orbit in use at the GNSS receiver to create a first nudged broadcast orbit for a GNSS satellite, the first nudged broadcast orbit being more precise than the broadcast orbit. A second broadcast orbit message is utilized to nudge the first nudged broadcast orbit in use at the GNSS receiver to create a double-nudged broadcast orbit for a GNSS satellite, the double-nudged broadcast orbit being more precise than the first nudged broadcast orbit. A third broadcast orbit message is utilized to maintain the double-nudged broadcast orbit, the third broadcast orbit message smaller than the second and the first broadcast orbit messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Remondi, Kendall Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20110285586
    Abstract: In a method of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference station integrity monitoring, network Real Time Kinematic (RTK) information is accessed for a location associated with a GNSS reference station. At least one aspect of GNSS information local to the location of the GNSS reference station is compared with a corresponding aspect of the network RTK information. The results of the comparing are monitored for indication of occurrence of compromise to operational integrity of the GNSS reference station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8044849
    Abstract: A method of communicating corrections for information related to satellite signals among global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers is described. An ionosphere correction for ionosphere signal path delay is determined for a first satellite. This ionosphere correction is then compared to an ionosphere correction for ionosphere signal path delay for a satellite assumed to be directly over the receiver. The receiver then sends a message which includes only the difference between the ionosphere correction for the actual observation and the ionosphere correction for a satellite assumed to be at the zenith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kendall Ferguson, Benjamin W. Remondi, Michael Timo Allison, Michael Albright
  • Patent number: 8031111
    Abstract: A format for providing messages among GNSS apparatus includes providing a message identification block and a message body. The message identification block includes information specifying a message length and a message type block specifying a message type. Rather than sending all data from one apparatus to another, ambiguous observation data is sent to conserve bandwidth. At the sender a deconstruction of GNSS code and carrier observations using knowledge of the signal structure and constellation geometry, together with simplifications of atmospheric models, allows removal from the observation data of that information which can be implicitly understood or recreated by the recipient. This enables only the necessary information to be packed for transmission to the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kendall Ferguson, Benjamin W. Remondi, Michael Timo Allison, Michael Albright