Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Satellite-Constellation Configuration To Maintain Integrity of Long-Term-Orbit Information In A Remote Receiver

A method, comprising:

• obtaining broadcast ephemeris transmitted from at least one satellite of a constellation of satellites;
• comparing the broadcast ephemeris to long-term-orbit information available to a global-navigation-satellite receiver;
• and
• causing the global-navigation-satellite receiver to use of the broadcast ephemeris as a substitute for the long-term-orbit information when the long-term-orbit information differs substantially from the broadcast ephemeris.

A global-navigation-satellite receiver comprising:

• a receiver adapted to obtain broadcast ephemeris transmitted from at least one satellite of a constellation of satellites;
• memory adapted to store the broadcast ephemeris and executable instructions to:
• compare the broadcast ephemeris to long-term-orbit information available to a global-navigation-satellite receiver;
• and
• cause the global-navigation-satellite receiver to not use the long-term-orbit information when the long-term-orbit information differs from the broadcast ephemeris;
• and
• a processor adapted to obtain the executable instruction from memory, and to execute the executable instructions.

A server comprising:

• a receiver adapted to obtain broadcast ephemeris transmitted from at least one satellite of a constellation of satellites;
• memory adapted to store the broadcast ephemeris and executable instructions to:
• compare the broadcast ephemeris to long-term-orbit information available to a global-navigation-satellite receiver;
• and
• cause the global-navigation-satellite receiver to not use the long-term-orbit information when the long-term-orbit information differs from the broadcast ephemeris;
• and
• a processor adapted to obtain the executable instruction from memory, and to execute the executable instructions.