Providing secure positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) using a networked constellation of satellites

An apparatus for providing a positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service using a mesh network of interconnected nodes that includes a constellation of satellites, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store computer-readable program code;
• and
• at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to at least:
• receive a pseudorandom noise (PRN) code with time-registration metadata at a broadcast satellite of the constellation of satellites, the PRN code with the time-registration metadata routed through the mesh network from an originating node of the mesh network to the broadcast satellite;
• time-register the PRN code based on broadcast satellite time and the time-registration metadata;
• modulate the time-registered PRN code onto a carrier to produce a PNT signal for the broadcast satellite;
• and
• broadcast the PNT signal for receipt by a user equipment designed to use the PNT signal and any number of other PNT signals to calculate a geographical position and user clock solution.

A method of providing a positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service using a mesh network of interconnected nodes that includes a constellation of satellites, the constellation of satellites including one or more broadcast satellites, the method comprising:

• generating one or more pseudorandom noise (PRN) codes for the one or more broadcast satellites, the one or more PRN codes generated at an originating node of the mesh network;
• and at or from the originating node,
• mapping time-registration metadata for the one or more PRN codes;
• and
• routing the one or more PRN codes with the time-registration metadata through the mesh network to the one or more broadcast satellites, at which the one or more PRN codes are time-registered based on broadcast satellite time and the time-registration metadata and modulated onto a carrier to produce one or more PNT signals for broadcast and receipt by a user equipment designed to use the one or more PNT signals and any number of other PNT signals to calculate a geographical position and user clock solution.

A method of providing a positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service using a mesh network of interconnected nodes that includes a constellation of satellites the method comprising:

• receiving a pseudorandom noise (PRN) code with time-registration metadata at a broadcast satellite of the constellation of satellites, the PRN code with the time-registration metadata routed through the mesh network from an originating node of the mesh network to the broadcast satellite;
• time-registering the PRN code based on broadcast satellite time and the time-registration metadata;
• modulating the time-registered PRN code onto a carrier to produce a PNT signal for the broadcast satellite;
• and
• broadcasting the PNT signal for receipt by a user equipment designed to use the PNT signal and any number of other PNT signals to calculate a geographical position and user clock solution.