Techniques for determining geolocations
AssigneeHorizon Technologies Consultants, Ltd.
InventorsGary Goodrum, John Beckner, David Saunders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The described geolocation techniques determine a location of an earth-based vehicle using a non-geostationary satellite. For instance, the non-geostationary satellite receives signals transmitted by the earth-based vehicle, determines the arrival times of the signals, and the position information of the satellite corresponding to the arrival times of the signals. The arrival times and position information of the satellite are sent to a signal processing unit to determine a location of the vehicle.
Claims24
A system for performing geolocation, comprising:
- a data collection apparatus in a non-geostationary satellite, including a processor configured to:
- receive a number of signals from an earth-based vehicle;
- determine arrival times of the number of signals,
- obtain position information of the non-geostationary satellite corresponding to the arrival times of the number of signals, and
- send, to a signal processing unit, the arrival times and the position information of the non-geostationary satellite for the number of signals;
- wherein the signal processing unit is configured to determine a location of the earth-based vehicle, wherein the signal processing unit is (1) located either (a) in the non-geostational satellite or (b) in a computing system on or near the earth's surface and (2) includes a processor configured to:
- receive the arrival times and the position information of the non-geostationary satellite for the number of signals,
- select a plurality of candidate locations to determine the location of the earth-based vehicle, and
- process the arrival times, the position information, and the plurality of candidate locations to determine the location of the earth-based vehicle by:
- determining, for each candidate location and based on the arrival times and the position information, an error value that represents a proximity between a candidate location and the location of the earth-based vehicle, and
- selecting, from the plurality of candidate locations associated with a plurality of error values, one candidate location having a lowest error value, wherein the selected candidate location is determined as the location of the earth-based vehicle.
A signal processing unit to determine a location of an earth-based vehicle, the signal processing unit (1) being located either (a) in the non-geostational satellite or (b) in a computing system on or near the earth's surface and (2) including a processor to implement a method comprising:
- receiving arrival times and position information of a non-geostationary satellite associated with a number of signals received by the non-geostationary satellite from the earth-based vehicle;
- selecting a plurality of candidate locations to determine the location of the earth-based vehicle;
- and
- processing the arrival times, the position information, and the plurality of candidate locations to determine the location of the earth-based vehicle by:
- determining, for each candidate location and based on the arrival times and the position information, an error value that represents a proximity between a candidate location and the location of the earth-based vehicle, and
- selecting, from the plurality of candidate locations associated with a plurality of error values, one candidate location having a lowest error value, wherein the selected candidate location is determined as the location of the earth-based vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.