Having A Signal Repeater Patents (Class 342/353)
  • Patent number: 8798526
    Abstract: Techniques for selecting and processing signals from different stations in a wireless network are described. A destination station may receive a direct signal from a source station and at least one relay signal from at least one relay station. The destination station may determine metrics for the source and relay stations, e.g., based on pilots received from these stations. The destination station may select at least one signal to process from among the direct and relay signals based on the metrics for the source and relay stations. The destination station may select the direct signal if the metric for the source station exceeds a threshold. The destination station may select the relay signal from each relay station having a metric exceeding at least one threshold. The destination station may process the at least one selected signal to recover a transmission sent by the source station to the destination station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Tingfang Ji, Arnab Chakrabarti, Anastasios Stamoulis, Dexu Lin, Kambiz Azarian Yazdi
  • Patent number: 8718541
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising optimizing the location and configuration of relay stations in a wireless network that includes at least one base station and at least one relay station by taking into account at least one or more of the following: the distinct antenna heights of said at least one base station and said at least one relay station; the data dependency between said at least one relay station and said at least one base station; the service outage of said wireless network; and the network throughput of said wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Qinghua Li, Xintian Eddie Lin, Minnie Ho, Alexei Davydov, Andrey Pudeyev, Alexander Maltsev
  • Patent number: 8714458
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tracking system configured to track a product and/or an activity. The tracking system comprises a tracing device and a verification server. The tracing device is coupled with the verification server by means of communication means configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device and the verification server. The tracing device is coupled with a first satellite localization receiver which is configured to receive signals from a satellite localization system, process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables, and compute locations based on the satellite localization observables. The tracing device is configured to acquire from the first satellite localization receiver positioning data. The tracing device is further configured to provide the verification server with the positioning data and the satellite localization observable acquired from the satellite localization receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Telespazio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Musmeci
  • Patent number: 8711033
    Abstract: A method for the geolocation of a device transmitting a signal containing at least one message to a plurality of relay satellites in a medium earth orbit, visible from said device, receiving said message and transmitting it to processing means, comprises at least the following steps: determination of the times of reception of the message by the relay satellites; determination of the pseudo-distances between the device and the relay satellites; searching for and acquiring a minimum number N of satellite radio navigation signals; determination of the time lags between the transmission of the radio navigation signals and their reception by the said device; broadcasting by the device of these time lags in the message; and, determination of the position of the device from at least the pseudo-distances, from the time lags and from the positioning coordinates of the relay satellites and of the radio navigation satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Thibaud Calmettes, Michel Monnerat
  • Patent number: 8593339
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile satellite transceiver system for communicating with a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite and a communications satellite. In on implementation, the mobile satellite transceiver system includes a GPS receiver configured to receive communications from the GPS satellite, a satellite modem configured to transmit and receive communications from the communications satellite, and an operating system. In some implementations, the operating system of the mobile satellite transceiver system is configured to send and receive text messages to/from the communications satellite via the satellite modem. In some implementations the mobile satellite transceiver system also includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) interrogator for communicating with RFID tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation
    Inventor: Sebastian Morana
  • Patent number: 8463459
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for providing location information to a mobile receiver from a plurality of aerial vehicles is provided. The method includes receiving a source location from at least three location sources at each aerial vehicle of the plurality of aerial vehicles. The at least three location sources includes a remote aerial vehicle. A predicted location of the aerial vehicle at a future time is calculated at each aerial vehicle based at least in part on a current time at the aerial vehicle, the received source locations, and ephemeris data that represents motion of each remote aerial vehicle. The predicted location is transmitted at the future time at each aerial vehicle. The transmitted locations from the aerial vehicles are used by a mobile receiver to determine a current location of the mobile receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Brian Richard Breshears
  • Patent number: 8462044
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the transmit location of an emitter using a single geostationary satellite. In an embodiment, a signal is received at a ground station from the emitter and relayed by the geostationary satellite. The signal is received at the ground station at a plurality of time instances and has a plurality of observed frequencies, one for each time instance. A plurality of lines of position are determining based on the plurality of observed frequencies. The transmit location of the emitter is determined based on at least one intersection among the plurality of lines of position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic K. C. Ho, Jeffrey C. Chu, Michael L. Downey
  • Patent number: 8391780
    Abstract: A system and method of communicating signals is provided. The system includes a plurality of satellites, at least one receiver, and at least one satellite uplink station. The plurality of satellites include at least one active satellite. The at least one receiver is in communication with the plurality of satellites, and receives a signal from the at least one active satellite. The at least one satellite uplink station is in communication with the plurality of satellites, and transmits the signal and alters a frequency of the signal based upon a location of the at least one active satellite to reduce a Doppler frequency shift when activating and deactivating the plurality of satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Fruit, Eric A. Dibiaso
  • Patent number: 8369445
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for communication includes receiving, by a receiver, a first modulated signal. The first modulated signal includes at least one error. The method also includes demodulating the first modulated signal. The demodulation includes compensating for the at least one error utilizing information related to a velocity of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Marion P. Hensley
  • Publication number: 20130002476
    Abstract: The system comprises terminals that are mounted onto a predetermined number of feeder vessels, comprises means for detecting identification signals sent by surrounding ships, and moreover comprises means for recording identification information that include the detected identification signals and the current position of the feeder vessel. Said system also comprises a system for transmitting data via satellites, said data transmitting system making it possible to transmit data between the terminals and a monitoring center, said monitoring center including a means for generating requests intended for the terminals in order to ask said terminals to provide the recorded identification information. Said monitoring center also includes a means for analyzing the received identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Laine
  • Patent number: 8289207
    Abstract: An improved method is provided for positioning a directional antenna coupled to a radio towards a satellite. The method includes: receiving an input to the radio from an operator of the radio, where the input indicates a desired time period for positioning the antenna; transmitting, during the desired time period, a plurality of burst data transmissions from the radio over a channel associated with the satellite; receiving a plurality of reply data transmissions from the satellite which correspond to the plurality of burst data transmissions sent by the radio; determining a metric indicative of signal quality for each of the reply data transmissions; and outputting from the radio an indicator for each metric. The operator of the radio can use the indicator output by the radio to better position the antenna towards the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Booton, Timothy Snell, William Tyler
  • Patent number: 8279119
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping a structure detect wireless signals, including at least one multipath signal that has experienced at least one reflection against a portion of the structure prior to the detection. The wireless signals are analyzed to estimate reflection points for the multipath signal(s), and a map of at least the portion of the structure is generated based on the estimated reflection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Elwell, Jr., Donald E. Gustafson, J. Arnold Soltz
  • Patent number: 8195089
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooperative transmission in a multi-antenna relay wireless communication system are provided. A receiving end includes an estimator, a reader, a feedback unit and a detector. According to the present invention, the receiving end receives the signal from both the transmitting end and the relay station. Therefore, a reception gain is obtained and a high throughput can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dong-Ho Kim, Myeon-Kyun Cho, Yung-Soo Kim, Yeheskel Bar-Ness, Osvaldo Simeone, Nicola Varanese
  • Publication number: 20120119946
    Abstract: Disclosed is a satellite performance monitoring system. The satellite performance monitoring system may include a satellite communication controlling apparatus that is installed outdoors to transmit a test signal for measuring a performance of a satellite transponder to the satellite transponder and thereby receive a test response signal from the satellite transponder, and to transmit a reference signal to the satellite transponder and thereby receive a reference response signal from the satellite transponder; and a satellite performance monitoring apparatus that is installed indoors to generate the test signal and the reference signal, to generate a frequency response characteristic with respect to the satellite transponder using the test response signal, to compute a signal change amount occurring due to a weather condition using the reference signal and the reference response signal, and to apply the computed signal change amount to the frequency response characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jin Ho JO, Moon Hee You, Seong Pal Lee, Jae Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20120026032
    Abstract: A system includes a remote station configured to transmit a first signal having a co-polarization component and a first cross-polarization component. A satellite is configured to receive the first signal and transmit a repeated signal that substantially includes the first signal. A monitoring station is configured to isolate the repeated signal received from the satellite. Isolating the repeated signal generates a second signal having the co-polarization component, the first cross-polarization component, and a second cross-polarization component. The monitoring station is further configured to substantially reduce the second cross-polarization component of the second signal. A method includes receiving a signal having a co-polarization component and a plurality of cross-polarization components, manipulating the co-polarization component, and introducing the manipulated co-polarization component to the plurality of cross-polarization components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse P. Sigmund
  • Publication number: 20110268159
    Abstract: An improved method is provided for positioning a directional antenna coupled to a radio towards a satellite. The method includes: receiving an input to the radio from an operator of the radio, where the input indicates a desired time period for positioning the antenna; transmitting, during the desired time period, a plurality of burst data transmissions from the radio over a channel associated with the satellite; receiving a plurality of reply data transmissions from the satellite which correspond to the plurality of burst data transmissions sent by the radio; determining a metric indicative of signal quality for each of the reply data transmissions; and outputting from the radio an indicator for each metric. The operator of the radio can use the indicator output by the radio to better position the antenna towards the satellite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Booton, Timothy Snell, William Tyler
  • Patent number: 8050311
    Abstract: A first aspect of the present invention relates to a wireless relaying network having a number of network nodes, including a transmitting node, at least one relaying node and at least one receiving node. Briefly, according to the present invention the transmitting node forms an OFDM-symbol and transmits a signal comprising the OFDM-symbol to the at least one relay node and directly to the receiving node. The relaying node receives, amplifies and transmits the symbol to the receiving node in such manner as to enable the relayed signal and the direct signal to be receive concurrently at the at least one receiving node to enable constructive interference of the OFDM symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Peter Larsson
  • Patent number: 8019541
    Abstract: Data from GPS satellites within the field of view of a ground station are retransmitted to LEO satellites, such as Iridium satellites, and cross-linked if necessary before being transmitted to a user. The user is then able to combine the fed-forward data with data received directly from GPS satellites in order to resolve errors due to interference or jamming. Iridium and data aiding thus provides a means for extending GPS performance under a variety of data-impaired conditions because it can provide certain aiding information over its data link in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Clark Cohen, Bart Ferrell, Greg Gutt, David Whelan
  • Patent number: 8004459
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for determining the geolocation of an emitter on earth. A solution is obtained from two TDOA measurements that need not be acquired at the same time. A solution is obtained from a TDOA measurement and an FDOA measurement that need not be acquired at the same time and need not be coming from the same satellite pair. A location of an emitter can be determined from minimizing a cost function of the weighted combination of the six solutions derived from the two TDOA measurements and the two FDOA measurements, where the weight of each solution in the combination is determined based on the intersection angle of the two curves that define the possible locations of the emitter based on the TDOA and/or FDOA measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic K. C. Ho, Jeffrey C. Chu, Michael L. Downey
  • Publication number: 20100085246
    Abstract: A transceiver module for a satellite antenna comprises a base and a cover. The base includes a transducer extending between a first end plate and a second end plate in a first direction, a first filter portion including a number or first grooves extending in the first direction and arranged along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a waveguide to guide signals toward a third end plate. The cover serves as a second filter portion for the transceiver module and includes a number of second grooves arranged along the second direction. The base includes the transducer, the first filter portion and the waveguide as an integral member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Wen-Chao Shen
  • Patent number: 7684520
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for bus repeater tapering. The sizing of repeaters on a portion of one transmission line is chosen to propagate a signal transition at a particular rate. The sizing of repeaters on a substantially parallel portion of another transmission line, is chosen to propagate a second signal transition at a different rate. Thus, the worst-case capacitance coupling factor between the two transmission lines may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Tschanz, Muhammad M. Khellah, Yibin Ye, Vivek K. De
  • Patent number: 7616682
    Abstract: Chronologically synchronizing a unique positing signal generated by a positioning-unit device at a known location with a reference positioning signal generated by a reference transmitter at a known geometric distance. The positioning-unit device receives and interprets a reference positioning signal. It then generates and transmits a unique positioning signal, wherein the unique positioning signal is aligned with a frequency steerable clock. The positioning-unit device then receives the unique positioning signal. The positioning-unit device then adjusts the frequency of the frequency steerable clock by an amount derived from a measured frequency difference. The positioning-unit device then determines a reference positioning signal propagation delay between the reference transmitter and the positioning-unit device. At this stage, a time difference is measured between the received reference positioning signal and the received unique positioning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Locata Corporation Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: David Small
  • Patent number: 7596186
    Abstract: A modulation device comprises for each carrier frequency: means of discrimination between a signal coming from a first channel of a communications link and a signal coming from a second channel of said link, so as to obtain differentiated first and second signals; first assigning means, enabling the assigning of the first differentiated signal to one of the two modulation arms, and the second differentiated signal to the other of the two modulation arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Philippe Le Bars
  • Patent number: 7492314
    Abstract: User equipment navigation solution with position determination of a navigation signal reflector methods and systems are described. In an embodiment, navigation signals transmitted from global positioning system (GPS) platform(s) can be received at a GPS-enabled receiver as direct navigation signals and reflected navigation signals. The direct navigation signals can then be isolated from the reflected navigation signals. Receiver range measurements can be determined from the direct navigation signals which are received via direct signal paths from the GPS platform(s), and a navigation solution of the GPS-enabled receiver can then be resolved from the receiver range measurements. Similarly, reflector range measurements can be determined from the reflected navigation signals which are received via reflected signal paths from a signal reflector, and a position of the signal reflector can then be resolved from the reflector range measurements at the GPS-enabled receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Raymond S. DiEsposti, Jonathan A. Tekawy, Clifford W. Kelley
  • Patent number: 7477191
    Abstract: A method for performing Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) that eliminates the need for a common time base or clock calibration and a system for implementing the method. The method relies on a packet transmitted from a reference wireless device (first wireless device) with a known propagation delay between the first wireless device and a second device, which serves as a common reference point for all TDOA estimates. When a packet is received from a wireless device by the first wireless device and the second wireless device, the time difference of arrival is computed based on when the signal was received by the first device and the second device, using the known propagation delay to compensate for differences in clocks and frequencies between the first wireless device and the second wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Daniel Lyons
  • Patent number: 7437225
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing flight management to one or more aircraft via a communication link between a fight management system located outside the aircraft and a flight management system located inside the aircraft. Remote flight management system may monitor and control navigation functions, substantially reducing pilot or crewmember workload. Optimized simultaneous flight management of multiple aircraft located within a specified area or within a specified fleet may be provided. Remote flight management system may be suitable for monitoring and controlling navigation functions for multiple aircraft from a single location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Sethu R. Rathinam
  • Patent number: 7406311
    Abstract: A satellite system provides geosynchronous satellites in elliptical orbits in respective elliptical orbital planes separated by 120 degrees. The satellites traverse a common figure-eight ground track comprising northern and southern loops. The satellites are controllably switched to operate the satellite currently traversing the northern loop to deliver a selected signal (e.g., a selected frequency signal) to satellite receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. Marko
  • Patent number: 7366463
    Abstract: A radio signal relay device such as satellite is used to cover several relatively small geographical regions with relatively narrow beams as well as a relatively large geographical region with a single beam. This relatively wide beam permits legacy equipment to be used. A transmitting device in a beam transmits a signal to the relay device, which in turn retransmits the signal to a receiving device. The transmitting devices, relay device, and receiving devices synchronize communication by using a particular mode of communication which includes a band of carrier frequencies and a protocol. In addition to communicating like mode signals from a transmitter to a receiver, the relay device may be used in a dual mode communication system to translate signals from the one mode to another. A translator may direct a transmitter to modulate a signal on a different carrier frequency, convert one protocol into another protocol, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Archer, Richard H. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080055152
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for use in managing satellite communications includes: receiving, at a first earth-based gateway antenna system, one or more microwave communication signals from a substantially geostationary satellite; monitoring for a performance change in at least one signal from the satellite; and, in response to detecting a performance change in the at least one signal, transmitting instructions to the satellite to transmit at least a portion of the one or more microwave communication signals to a second earth-based gateway antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: WildBlue Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Erwin C. Hudson, Remberto L. Martin
  • Patent number: 7072611
    Abstract: A modular cellular wireless communication base station includes a plurality of active radiator modules located at a desired antenna location. Each module includes at least one antenna, a transmitter, and a receiver. A beam forming network controls relative amplitudes and phases of each of the modules. An RF front end transmits over a low power link with the active radiator modules via the beam forming network and receives over the low power link via a low noise amplifier. A delay diversity module provides a transmission CDMA delay diversity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Celletra Ltd.
    Inventor: Joseph Shapira
  • Patent number: 7069111
    Abstract: A system and method are described that use impulse radio technology to enhance the capabilities of a robot. In one embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of the robot. In another embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication, position and/or radar capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of a robot in order to, for example, monitor and control the environment within a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Time Domain Corp.
    Inventors: Susan J. Glenn, Gregory A. Shreve
  • Patent number: 6931232
    Abstract: A bi-static communication relay includes a receiver and transmitter carried by different platforms. In particular, the transmitter may be carried by a geosynchronous satellite forming a broadcast platform. The receiver is hidden on a low observable platform, such as an airborne or even a ground based platform forming a hidden platform. The location of the low observable platform is known only to legitimate users of the system. Communications between the hidden platform and broadcast platform are by way of a secure narrow beam uplink to reduce the risk of jamming. Physical separation of the receiver and transmitter essentially defeats the jammer's high power amplifier advantage since the receiver platform is hidden from the jammer. This forces the jammer to use a low gain antenna in order to cover as much sky as possible. System users, on the other hand, can use the gain advantage of a directional antenna, since they alone have knowledge of the hidden platform's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Wolcott
  • Patent number: 6879875
    Abstract: The design of the low cost GPS/IMU positioning and data integrating method, which employs integrated global positioning system/inertial measurement unit enhanced with dual antenna GPS carrier phase measurements to initialize and stabilize the azimuth of the low cost GPS/IMU integrated system, is performed. The utilization of the raw carrier phase measurement for the integration speeds up the ambiguity search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: American GNC Corporation
    Inventors: Guohui Hu, Ching-Fang Lin
  • Patent number: 6879878
    Abstract: A system and method are described that use impulse radio technology to enhance the capabilities of a robot. In one embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of the robot. In another embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication, position and/or radar capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of a robot in order to, for example, monitor and control the environment within a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Time Domain Corporation
    Inventors: Susan J. Glenn, Gregory A. Shreve
  • Patent number: 6847893
    Abstract: A method for satellite receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) real time fault detection and exclusion implementation comprising the following steps: (1) continuously computing a horizontal protection level (HPL) and a vertical 32 protection level (VPL) associated with the effective configuration of real time measurement geometry; (2) if the HPL is less than or equal to the horizontal alert limit (HAL), and/or if the VPL is less than or equal to said vertical alert limit (VAL); declaring the RAIM detection function available; (3) continuously computing a horizontal exclusion level (HEL) and continuously computing a vertical exclusion level (VEL) associated with the effective configuration of real time measurement geometry; and (4) if the HEL is less than or equal to the HAL, and/or if the VEL is less than or equal to the VAL, declaring the RAIM fault exclusion function available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation, LTD
    Inventor: Lawrence O. Lupash
  • Patent number: 6844844
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system comprising a radiofrequency antenna stationed in an orbit around the earth, and illuminating means for transmitting and/or receiving likewise orbiting round the earth located on at least a satellite separate from the one bearing the antenna, the antenna being located in the illuminating field of said means. The invention is characterised in that the antenna is a radiofrequency antenna formed by a mesh generation of tiles and phase-shifting means connected thereto, the signals received by the tiles passing through the phase-shifting means before being assembled on said tiles, said phase-shifting and/or delaying means being capable of diverting the radiofrequency signals corresponding to one or several channels transmitted by the illuminating means to send them to the earth along one or several beams and/or of diverting the radiofrequency signals corresponding to one or several beams transmitted from the earth to send them to the illuminating means along one or several channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Aguttes
  • Patent number: 6745124
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, a method and a computer usable medium including a program for determining a position of a mobile vehicle. This may be accomplished by receiving a positioning request from the mobile vehicle, receiving positioning information from at least three vehicle clients sharing an antenna tower with the mobile vehicle and transmitting a signal to the three vehicles. It may also be accomplished by determining a distance between the mobile vehicle and each of the vehicle clients, receiving positioning information from each of the vehicle clients and determining mobile vehicle position based on the determined distances and the vehicle client positioning information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel N. Aloi, Steven P. Schwinke, Jeffrey M. Stefan
  • Patent number: 6696942
    Abstract: An emergency warning network including a base station for broadcasting a warning signal and a first, earth-orbiting satellite for receiving the warning signal and rebroadcasting such to extend the range of communications of the base station. A first substation receives the warning signal and broadcasts a first forwarding signal in response thereto to a first portable receiver. A second substation also receives the warning signal and broadcasts a second forwarding signal in response thereto via a second, earth-orbiting satellite to a first branch station. The first branch station broadcasts a third forwarding signal in response to the second forwarding signal to a second portable receiver. A second branch station also receives the second forwarding signal via the second, earth-orbiting satellite and broadcasts a fourth forwarding signal to a third portable receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Larry G. Sweatt
  • Patent number: 6697008
    Abstract: A distributed electronic warfare system includes a central control site for controlling and receiving data from the system and utilizes a satellite communications system for communications within the system. Electronic warfare pods are attached to variety of aircraft. The electronic warfare pods listen to signals from targets and jam the targets under control of the central control site. The pods supply the data to the central control site. The pods have antennas for radiating jamming signals to the targets and receiving signals from the targets. Transmitters in the pods generate jamming signals and receivers receive the signals from the targets. A signal processor processes the received signals from the targets. The pods may be used for search and collection, geolocation, and electronic attack under control of the central control site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Sternowski
  • Patent number: 6677893
    Abstract: A method of locating the source of an unknown signal of varying frequency received by receive antennas (16, 18) via relay satellites (12, 14) involves downconversion of received signals to a first intermediate frequency (IF) and band-limiting the downconverted signals. The band-limited signals are constrained to lie within a prearranged acquisition signal bandwidth by adjustment of local oscillator (LO) downconversion frequency to counteract frequency change in the unknown signal. Downconverted signals are offset in time relative to one another using trial values of differential time offset and their correlation is determined for each trial value to provide actual time offset. Compensation is provided for change in correlation phase angle, which results from signals being downconverted experiencing different LO frequencies during the time interval of the trial offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: QinetiQ Limited
    Inventors: Robert M Rideout, Paul R Edmonds, Simon R Duck, David P Haworth, Christopher Griffin
  • Publication number: 20030164794
    Abstract: A network and method are provided that utilize impulse radio technology to enable an impulse radio communication link between a ground control station and an unmanned ground vehicle. Moreover, the network can include one or more unmanned aerial vehicles that act as repeater platforms which can extend the range of the impulse radio communication link between the ground control station and the unmanned ground vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Time Domain Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard S. Haynes, Renato Levy, Benjamin Bachrach
  • Patent number: 6593877
    Abstract: A method of determining the position of a transmitting beacon transmitting a signal to certain satellites in a constellation of satellites, which satellites in turn retransmit retransmitted signals to at least one detection ground station, wherein each of said ground stations is provided with at least one antenna whose directional characteristics do not make it possible to identify which satellite retransmitted any given retransmitted signal, and wherein the method implements the following steps: a) computing position for all combinations associating signals with satellites that might correspond to retransmission of transmitted signals; b) computing the position of the beacon for at least some of the satellite combinations, using the least squares method; and c) determining the combination which presents the smallest computation residue by the least squares method, the position of the transmitting beacon corresponding to this combination then being considered to be the position of the transmitting beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Bart Peeters, Jörg Herbert Hahn, Giuliano Gatti, Igor Stojkovic, Boudewijn Ambrosius, Hans Van der Marel
  • Patent number: 6563457
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a position of an object utilizes two-way ranging and polystatic techniques. A first communication transceiver at a first known location provides a bidirectional communication path between the first communication transceiver and the object wherein the first communication transceiver transmits a first ranging signal to the object and the object transmits a second ranging signal to the first communication transceiver in response to the first ranging signal. The first communication transceiver further provides a first unidirectional communication path between the first communication transceiver and the object wherein the first communication transceiver performs one of transmitting a third ranging signal to the object and receiving a fourth ranging signal from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, John I. Novak, III, Robert R. Holden
  • Patent number: 6549162
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for providing data originating from an aircraft to a ground-based device using a satellite communications link. The system includes an aircraft-based transceiver to transmit the data to a satellite. The data is associated with the operation of a particular aircraft. Also included is a ground-based receiver to receive the data transmitted from the aircraft-based transceiver through a communications link established by the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gage, John Mortensen
  • Patent number: 6545998
    Abstract: Apparatus for enhancing the processing capabilities of a satellite communication system including an uplink receiver 40 deployable with a first satellite 20. A first processor 50 deployable on satellite 20 is capable of processing signals from uplink receiver 40. A link terminal 60 deployable with satellite 20 is capable of receiving signals processed by a second processor from a second intersatellite communication link terminal deployable with a second satellite. A first switch 100 deployable with satellite 20 enables signals from uplink receiver 40 to be utilized by communication link terminal 60 or processor 50. A downlink transmitter 80 deployable with satellite 20 is capable of transmitting signals to a ground based communication station 90. A second switch 110 deployable with satellite 20 enables signals from communication link terminal 60 or first processor 50 to be utilized by downlink transmitter 80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Oliver W. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6525995
    Abstract: A radio-controlled timepiece is controlled by time telegrams emitted by a regional transmitter. When the timepiece is out of the effective range of the regional transmitter, the timepiece is controlled by a local (i.e., close-range) transmitter which transmits time telegrams that have the same frequency and encoding as the time telegrams from the regional transmitter. The local transmitter receives time information from a remote source, such as navigational satellites, or alternatively a time server by way of the internet, in order to create the local time telegrams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Junghans Uhren GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Diehl, Peter Kalisch
  • Patent number: 6501423
    Abstract: A system for directing an antenna for transmission over a two-way satellite network is disclosed. A transceiver is coupled to the antenna; the transceiver transmits and receives signals over the two-way satellite network. A user terminal is coupled to the transceiver and executes an antenna pointing program. The program instructs a user to initially point the antenna to a beacon satellite using predefined pointing values based upon the location of the antenna. The program receives new antenna pointing parameters that are downloaded from a hub over a temporary channel that is established via the beacon satellite. The program displays the new antenna pointing parameters and instructs the user to selectively re-point the antenna based upon the downloaded new antenna pointing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Kelly, Mark Petronic, Matthew Baer
  • Publication number: 20020175853
    Abstract: A method of determining the position of a transmitting beacon transmitting a signal to certain satellites in a constellation of satellites, which satellites in turn retransmit retransmitted signals to at least one detection ground station, wherein each of said ground stations is provided with at least one antenna whose directional characteristics do not make it possible to identify which satellite retransmitted any given retransmitted signal, and wherein the method implements the following steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Bart Peeters, Jorg Herbert Hahn, Giuliano Gatti, Igor Stojkovic, Boudewijn Ambrosius, Hans Van der Marel
  • Publication number: 20020158802
    Abstract: The invention relates to control systems and is directed at defining the state of transportation means (TM) in normal and extreme conditions. Each TM is fitted with a power-on radio-beacon station (RB) whose signals are retransmitted by means of geostationary Artificial Earth Satellites (AES) of the integrated variety to mated ground stations for reception of information. In extreme situations of TM, the transmission of information from RB is carried out continuously by signal sets with a gap of up to I within the narrow band in a wave-range of 400 MHz which is provided for transmitting emergency signals with the aid of AES. In the normal conditions, signal transmission is carried out in a narrow adjacent band with intervals between sets of greater than 10 sec. An 20-30-fold increase of a transfer bandwidth of the system is ensured by means of a synchronous transmission of the information sets from RB one after another with small time gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph Mironovich Ainbinder
  • Patent number: 6417799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of locating a jammer (14) of a satellite telecommunications system (10). To locate the jammer, at least two of the following three measurements are performed: a measurement of the difference between the instant of arrival at the telecommunications satellite and at a detection satellite (16) of signals transmitted at the same time by the jammer (14), the detection satellite being used solely for detection purposes; a measurement of the difference between the frequencies received by the telecommunications satellite and by the detection satellite, for a signal transmitted by the jammer; and an interferometric measurement of the angle between a direction associated with the detection satellite and the straight line between said satellite and the jammer (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Agnès Aubain, Bruno Lobert, Francis Martinerie, Bernard Deligny