Satellite positioning system augmentation with wireless communication signals

A method for processing position information in a digital processing system, said method comprising:

• determining a first time measurement which represents a time of travel of a message in cell based communication signals in a cell based communication system which comprises a first cell based transceiver which communicates with said digital processing system and a communication system which communicates in a wireless manner with said first cell based transceiver;
• determining a position of a SPS receiver from at least said first time measurement and a second time measurement which represents a time of travel of SPS signals received at said SPS receiver which is integrated with said communication system and is remotely located relative to said first cell based transceiver and said digital processing system, wherein said cell based communication signals are capable of communicating messages from said communication system to said first cell based transceiver.

A system for processing position information, said system comprising:

• a SPS receiver which receives SPS signals from at least one SPS satellite and a communication system coupled to and integrated with said SPS receiver;
• a first cell based transceiver which is remotely positioned relative to said SPS receiver and communicates in a wireless manner with said communication system using cell based communication signals;
• a digital processing system coupled to said first cell based transceiver, said digital processing system determining a position of said SPS receiver from at least a first time measurement and a second time measurement, wherein said first time measurement represents a time of travel of a message in said cell based communication signals in a cell based communication system which comprises said first cell based transceiver and said communication system, and wherein said second time measurement represents a time of travel of said SPS signals, and wherein said cell based communication signals are capable of communicating data messages in a two-way direction between said first cell based transceiver and said communication system.

A mobile integrated system comprising a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver and a cell based communication system, said mobile integrated system comprising:

• a SPS receiver capable of receiving SPS signals and providing data for determining a first time measurement which represents a time of travel of SPS signals from a SPS satellite to said SPS receiver;
• a communication system capable of communicating in a wireless manner with a remotely located cell based transceiver and capable of providing data for determining a second time measurement which represents a time of travel of a message in cell based communication signals between said communication system and said remotely located cell based transceiver, wherein said cell based communication signals are capable of communicating messages between said communication system and said remotely located cell based transceiver, and wherein said SPS receiver is coupled to said communication system.