Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an estimate of a location of a user receiver device. The method involves emitting, from at least one vehicle, at least one spot beam on Earth; and receiving, with the user receiver device, at least one spot beam. The method further involves calculating, with the user receiver device, the estimate of the location of the user receiver device according to the user receiver device's location within at least one spot beam. Each spot beam contains at least one acquisition signal, which may comprise at least one ring channel. Each ring channel comprises a frame count; a space vehicle identification (SVID); a spot beam identification (ID); and/or X, Y, Z coordinates of the vehicle emitting the spot beam relative to an Earth coordinate system. In one or more embodiments, at least one vehicle may be a satellite and/or a pseudolite.

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 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 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, 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 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 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: An implement steering system includes at least one sensor for providing an indication of tilt associated with an implement as it traverses along an implement path of travel and at least another sensor for providing an indication of the current position of the implement as it traverses along the implement path of travel. A processor provides an implement drift correction signal in response to the indication of tilt and the indication of current position in order of facilitate correcting the implement path of travel so it corresponds to a desired path of travel, while an implement steering arrangement which is responsive to the drift correction signal causes the implement path of travel to be corrected so it corresponds to the desired path of travel as the implement is pulled through an open field by an implement pulling vehicle.