Method and apparatus for processing a satellite positioning system signal using a cellular acquisition signal

Abstract

Method and apparatus for processing satellite positioning system signals is described. In one example, assistance data is received at a mobile receiver from a first wireless network using a wireless transceiver. The first wireless network may be a non-synchronized cellular network. A time synchronization signal is obtained from a second wireless network at the mobile receiver using a wireless receiver. A time offset is then determined in response to the time synchronization signal. Satellite signals are processed at the mobile receiver using the assistance data and the time offset. The second wireless network may be a synchronized cellular network or may be a non-synchronized cellular network that is externally synchronized to GPS time.

1 . A method of processing satellite positioning system signals, comprising: receiving assistance data at a mobile receiver from a first wireless network using a wireless transceiver;
 obtaining a time synchronization signal from a second wireless network at said mobile receiver using a wireless receiver;   determining a time offset in response to said time synchronization signal; and processing satellite signals at said mobile receiver using said assistance data and said time offset.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of processing comprises:
 obtaining expected pseudorange data in response to said assistance data;   determining expected code delay windows using said expected pseudorange data and a sub-millisecond portion of said time offset; and   correlating said satellite signals in response to said expected code delay windows to produce correlation results.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 coherently averaging said correlation results in response to said time offset to synchronize to navigation data bits.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 computing pseudoranges in response to said correlation results.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 sending said pseudoranges to a server using said first wireless network and said wireless transceiver; and   locating position of said mobile receiver at said server in response to said pseudoranges.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 processing satellite trajectory data within said mobile receiver using an absolute portion of said time offset to produce satellite position data; and   locating position of said mobile receiver in response to said pseudoranges and said satellite position data.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first wireless network comprises a non-synchronized cellular network and said second wireless network comprises a synchronized cellular network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said time synchronization signal is obtained without a subscription to said wireless network. 
     
     
         9 . A mobile receiver, comprising:
 a wireless transceiver for communicating with a first cellular network;   a cellular acquisition receiver for receiving a time synchronization signal from a second wireless network;   a satellite signal receiver for receiving satellite signals from satellite positioning system satellites;   a local clock in communication with said satellite signal receiver; and   a processor for determining a time offset between local time output by said local clock and satellite time output by said satellite positioning system satellites in response to said time synchronization signal.   
     
     
         10 . The mobile receiver of  claim 9 , wherein said processor is further configured to determine expected code delay windows using a sub-millisecond portion of said time offset and expected pseudorange data obtained via said wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile receiver of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 correlator circuitry for correlating said satellite signals in response to said expected code delay windows to produce correlation results.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile receiver of  claim 11 , wherein said correlator circuitry is configured to coherently average said correlation results in response to said time offset to synchronize to navigation data bits. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said processor is further configured to compute pseudoranges in response to said correlation results. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said processor is further configured to process satellite trajectory data using an absolute portion of said time offset to produce satellite position data, and locate position of said mobile receiver in response to said pseudoranges and said satellite position data. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said first wireless network comprises a non-synchronized cellular network and said second wireless network comprises a synchronized cellular network. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said cellular acquisition receiver is configured to obtain said time synchronization signal without a subscription to said second wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . A position location system, comprising:
 a server for providing assistance data;   a mobile receiver, including:   a wireless transceiver for communicating with said server through a first wireless network;   a cellular acquisition receiver for receiving a time synchronization signal from a second wireless network;   a satellite signal receiver for receiving satellite signals from satellite positioning system satellites;   a local clock in communication with said satellite signal receiver; and   a processor for determining a time offset between local time output by said local clock and satellite time output by said satellite positioning system satellites in response to said time synchronization signal.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said first wireless network comprises a non synchronized cellular network and said second wireless network comprises a synchronized cellular network.