U.S. patent application number 10/121836 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-05 for services based on position location using broadcast digital television signals.
Invention is credited to Pierce, Matthew D., Rabinowitz, Matthew.
Application Number | 20020184653 10/121836 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46150106 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020184653 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pierce, Matthew D. ; et
al. |
December 5, 2002 |
Services based on position location using broadcast digital
television signals
Abstract
A service depends on the location of a device. The device
location is determined using DTV signals. More specifically, the
device location is determined based on pseudo-ranges between the
device and a plurality of digital television (DTV) transmitters and
the pseudo-ranges are determined based on broadcast DTV signals
received by the device from the DTV transmitters. Examples of DTV
signals include the American Television Standards Committee (ATSC)
signals, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute
Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signals and the
Japanese Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial
(ISDB-T) signals.
Inventors: |
Pierce, Matthew D.; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Rabinowitz, Matthew; (Palo Alto,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FENWICK & WEST LLP
TWO PALO ALTO SQUARE
PALO ALTO
CA
94306
US
|
Family ID: |
46150106 |
Appl. No.: |
10/121836 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10121836 |
Apr 12, 2002 |
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10008613 |
Nov 8, 2001 |
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10008613 |
Nov 8, 2001 |
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09932010 |
Aug 17, 2001 |
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09932010 |
Aug 17, 2001 |
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09887158 |
Jun 21, 2001 |
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60265675 |
Feb 2, 2001 |
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60281270 |
Apr 3, 2001 |
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60281269 |
Apr 3, 2001 |
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60293812 |
May 25, 2001 |
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60293813 |
May 25, 2001 |
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60293646 |
May 25, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/143 ;
375/E7.013; 725/149 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 5/0054 20130101;
G01S 5/145 20130101; H04N 21/8126 20130101; G01S 5/14 20130101;
H04N 21/41422 20130101; G01S 5/0215 20130101; G01S 19/46 20130101;
G01S 5/0036 20130101; G01C 21/206 20130101; G01S 5/0081 20130101;
H04N 21/25841 20130101; G01S 5/021 20130101; H04N 21/615 20130101;
H04N 21/2668 20130101; H04N 21/2662 20130101; A63F 2300/205
20130101; G01S 5/0221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/143 ;
725/149 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing a navigation service, the method
comprising: accessing a location of a device, the location
determined from pseudo-ranges between the device and a plurality of
digital television (DTV) transmitters, the pseudo-ranges calculated
from broadcast DTV signals received by the device from the DTV
transmitters; and providing navigation information according to the
location of the device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation information
comprises a map of a local vicinity around the device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation information
comprises directions between the location of the device and a
second location.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second location is determined
by a user of the device.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation information
comprises directions between the location of the device and a
location of a second device, wherein the location of the second
device is determined from pseudo-ranges between the second device
and a plurality of DTV transmitters, the pseudo-ranges calculated
from broadcast DTV signals received by the second device from the
DTV transmitters.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: periodically
accessing an updated location of the device; and periodically
providing updated navigation information according to the updated
location.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing navigation information
comprises: the device providing the navigation information.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the location of the
device comprises: receiving the location from a DTV location
server.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing navigation information
comprises: a service provider system retrieving the navigation
information according to the location of the device; and the
service provider system transmitting the navigation information to
the device.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing navigation information
comprises: a service provider system determining a key code for
navigation information according to the location of the device, the
key code enabling retrieval of the navigation information; and the
service provider system transmitting the key code to the
device.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the DTV signals are American
Television Standards Committee (ATSC) signals.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the DTV signals are European
Telecommunications Standards Institute Digital Video
Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signals.
13. An apparatus for providing a navigation service, comprising:
means for accessing a location of a device, the location determined
from pseudo-ranges between the device and a plurality of DTV
transmitters, the pseudo-ranges calculated from broadcast DTV
signals received by the device from the DTV transmitters; and means
for providing navigation information according to the location of
the device.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the navigation information
comprises a map of a local vicinity around the device.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the navigation information
comprises directions between the location of the device and a
second location.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second location is
determined by a user of the device.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: means for
periodically accessing an updated location of the device; and means
for periodically providing updated navigation information according
to the updated location.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the DTV signals are American
Television Standards Committee (ATSC) signals.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the DTV signals are European
Telecommunications Standards Institute Digital Video
Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signals.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the DTV signals are Japanese
Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T)
signals.
21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the device is positioned on a
vehicle.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the vehicle is an automobile
or a truck.
23. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the device is positioned on a
mobile electronic device.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the mobile electronic device
is a mobile phone.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the mobile electronic device
is a personal digital assistant.
26. A computer software product, comprising instructions stored on
a computer readable medium, to effect a method comprising:
accessing a location of the device, the location determined from
pseudo-ranges between the device and a plurality of DTV
transmitters, the pseudo-ranges calculated from broadcast DTV
signals received by the device from the DTV transmitters; and
providing navigation information according to the location of the
device.
27. The computer software product of claim 26, wherein the
navigation information comprises a map of a local vicinity around
the device.
28. The computer software product of claim 26, wherein the
navigation information comprises directions between the location of
the device and a second location.
29. The computer software product of claim 28, wherein the second
location is determined by a user of the device.
30. The computer software product of claim 25, the effected method
further comprising: periodically accessing an updated location of
the device; and periodically providing updated navigation
information according to the updated location.
31. A system for providing a navigation service based on a location
of a device, the system comprising: a device for receiving
broadcast DTV signals from a plurality of DTV transmitters; a DTV
location server for determining a location of the device from
pseudo-ranges between the device and the DTV transmitters, the
pseudo-ranges calculated from the received DTV signals; and a
service provider system for providing navigation information
according to the location of the device.
32. The system of claim 31 wherein the device serves as the service
provider system by providing the navigation information.
33. The system of claim 31 wherein: the device serves as the DTV
location server by determining the location from the pseudo-ranges;
and the device serves as the service provider system by providing
the navigation information.
34. The system of claim 31 wherein: the device serves as the DTV
location server by determining the location from the pseudo-ranges.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/008,613, "Services Based on Position
Location Using Broadcast Digital Television Signals," by Matthew D.
Pierce and Matthew Rabinowitz, filed Nov. 8, 2001; which is a
continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/932,010, "Position Location Using Terrestrial Digital Video
Broadcast Television Signals," by Matthew Rabinowitz and James J.
Spilker, Jr., filed Aug. 17, 2001; which is a continuation-in-part
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/887,158, "Position Location
Using Broadcast Digital Television Signals," by James J. Spilker,
Jr. and Matthew Rabinowitz, filed Jun. 21, 2001.
[0002] Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/008,613,
"Services Based on Position Location Using Broadcast Digital
Television Signals," by Matthew D. Pierce and Matthew Rabinowitz,
filed Nov. 8, 2001, also claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) from the following U.S. Provisional Patent
Applications: Serial No. 60/265,675, "System and Method for
Navigation and/or Data Communication Using Satellite and/or
Terrestrial Infrastructure," by Matthew Rabinowitz and James J.
Spilker, filed Feb, 2, 2001; Serial No. 60/281,270, "Use of the
ETSI DVB Terrestrial Digital TV Broadcast Signals For High Accuracy
Position Location in Mobile Radio Links," by James J. Spilker,
filed Apr. 3, 2001; Serial No. 60/281,269, "An ATSC Standard DTV
Channel For Low Data Rate Broadcast to Mobile Receivers," by James
J. Spilker and Matthew Rabinowitz, filed Apr. 3, 2001; Serial No.
60/293,812, "DTV Monitor System Unit (MSU)," by James J. Spilker
and Matthew Rabinowitz, filed May 25, 2001; Serial No. 60/293,813,
"DTV Position Location Range And SNR Performance," by James J.
Spilker and Matthew Rabinowitz, filed May 25, 2001; and Serial No.
60/293,646, and "Time-Gated Noncoherent Delay Lock Loop Tracking Of
DTV Signals," by James J. Spilker and Matthew Rabinowitz, filed May
25, 2001.
[0003] The subject matter of all of the foregoing are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] This invention relates generally to position location and
providing services based on position location. More specifically,
it relates to providing services in cases where the position
location is based on DTV signals.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] There have long been methods of two-dimensional
latitude/longitude position location systems using radio signals.
In wide usage have been terrestrial systems such as Loran C and
Omega, and a satellite-based system known as Transit. Another
satellite-based system enjoying increased popularity is the Global
Positioning System (GPS).
[0008] Initially devised in 1974, GPS is widely used for position
location, navigation, survey, and time transfer. The GPS system is
based on a constellation of 24 on-orbit satellites in
sub-synchronous 12 hour orbits. Each satellite carries a precision
clock and transmits a pseudo-noise signal, which can be precisely
tracked to determine pseudo-range. By tracking 4 or more
satellites, one can determine precise position in three dimensions
in real time, world-wide. More details are provided in B. W.
Parkinson and J. J. Spilker, Jr., Global Positioning System-Theory
and Applications, Volumes I and II, AIAA, Washington, DC, 1996.
[0009] GPS has revolutionized the technology of navigation and
position location. However in some situations, GPS is less
effective. Because the GPS signals are transmitted at relatively
low power levels (less than 100 watts) and over great distances,
the received signal strength is relatively weak (on the order of
-160 dBw as received by an omni-directional antenna). Thus the
signal is marginally useful or not useful at all in the presence of
blockage or inside a building.
[0010] There has even been a proposed system using conventional
analog National Television System Committee (NTSC) television
signals to determine position. This proposal is found in a U.S.
patent entitled "Location Determination System And Method Using
Television Broadcast Signals," U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,801, issued Apr.
23, 1996. However, the present analog TV signal contains horizontal
and vertical synchronization pulses intended for relatively crude
synchronization of the TV set sweep circuitry. Further, in 2006 the
Federal Communication Commission (FCC) will consider turning off
NTSC transmitters and reassigning that valuable spectrum so that it
can be auctioned for other purposes deemed more valuable.
[0011] Knowledge of an object or individual's position is useful or
even required in providing certain services. For example, emergency
911 services require knowledge of the caller's location. Similarly,
navigation services typically require knowledge of the user's
position. Other services, such as traffic reports and concierge
services, can be provided without knowledge of an individual's
location but can be greatly enhanced if the user's location is
known.
[0012] However, the current position location systems have
significant drawbacks that prevent or inhibit their use for many of
these services. For example, the proposed NTSC system is not
suitable for services that require high precision. In addition,
since the NTSC transmitters may be turned off in 2006, services
that require large initial investments are also less attractive
since the time to recover the investment may be limited. GPS
systems generally have higher precision than the NTSC system.
However, the receivers are relatively complex and expensive, thus
making the GPS approach inappropriate for services that require
simple and/or low-cost receivers. In addition, the GPS signal is
not particularly robust. GPS' low signal power makes it marginally
useful in the presence of blockage or inside buildings. Its low
bandwidth signal also makes it susceptible to multipath effects.
The GPS satellites also travel at high speeds and significant
Doppler aiding may be required to determine their exact location.
At times, GPS geometries may be insufficient, leading to high
Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) and making it difficult to
provide highly accurate position fixes. These factors make GPS
unsuitable for many types of services.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior
art by providing a service according to a location of a device. The
location is determined based on pseudo-ranges between the device
and a plurality of digital television (DTV) transmitters. The
pseudo-ranges are calculated based on broadcast DTV signals
received by the device from the DTV transmitters. Examples of DTV
signals include the American Television Standards Committee (ATSC)
signals, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute
Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signals and the
Japanese Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial
(ISDB-T) signals.
[0014] The use of DTV signals for position location has many
advantages. To begin with, DTV signals have excellent coverage. In
the United States, the use of DTV signals is mandated by the
Federal Communication Commission. In addition, compared to GPS
alternatives, DTV position location typically also has advantages
of simple and inexpensive implementation, stronger and larger
bandwidth signals, less susceptibility to multipath, and does not
require network aiding to mitigate Doppler effects.
[0015] Different implementations enable different services to be
provided to the user. Common services include both the performance
of a physical service and/or the provision of information. Examples
of services which are more physical in nature include emergency-911
service and roadside assistance. Examples of information-based
services include navigation services (e.g., maps and directions),
tracking (e.g., remote tracking of objects and "black-box" type
applications) and providing information tailored to the device
location (e.g., local news, local traffic reports, and information
about local commercial establishments and points of interest). In
another example, knowledge of the location of the device is used to
adjust a configuration of the device (e.g., adjusting reception for
a cell phone or data rate for a wireless modem). Other applications
will be apparent.
[0016] Note that the device is not required to be mobile. It could
be stationary. For example, DTV-based position location can be used
to adjust a stationary television set for improved reception. Nor
is the service necessarily provided to the user of the device or at
the location of the device. For example, in remote tracking, the
current location of an object may be provided to a third party
(e.g., an insurer of the object) at some central location.
Depending on the application, the service may or may not be
requested by the user of the device. For example, with
information-based services, the information may be solicited or
unsolicited. In some implementations, there are different
geographic domains (e.g., cells, service regions or zones) and the
service depends on in which geographic domain the device is
located. Once the location of the device is determined, it can be
mapped into one of the geographic domains. The service appropriate
to that domain can then be provided.
[0017] In different implementations, the various functions to be
performed may be allocated among different entities in different
ways. For example, in one approach, the device location is
calculated by the device itself and then transmitted to (or
requested by) a service provider's system. In a different approach,
the device location is determined by a separate DTV location server
in communication with the device. In another approach, there is no
separate service provider; the device itself renders the service.
As a final example, the service can be provided in many ways. In
one implementation, the service provider provides the service
directly to the user. In another approach, the service provider
transmits a request for service to a third party, which provides
the service. In yet another approach, the service provider
transmits a key code for the service to the user, thus authorizing
the user to acquire the service.
[0018] Other aspects of the invention include apparatus and systems
for carrying out the methods described above. In one approach, the
invention is implemented in software on a programmable processor.
In another approach, some or all of the functions are also
implemented in hardware.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0019] The invention has other advantages and features which will
be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of
the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 depicts a system suitable for implementing the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to
the present invention.
[0022] FIGS. 3A-3D are flow diagrams illustrating various
allocations of the steps shown in FIG. 2.
[0023] FIGS. 4A-4C depict systems for providing services related to
navigation.
[0024] FIG. 5 depicts a system in which a service depends on the
geographic domain in which a device is located.
[0025] FIG. 6 depicts a system with multiple user devices.
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a method for determining the device's
location.
[0027] FIG. 8 depicts the geometry of a position determination
using three DTV transmitters.
[0028] FIG. 9 illustrates a simple example of a position location
calculation for a device receiving DTV signals from two separate
DTV transmitters.
[0029] FIG. 10 depicts the effects of a single hill on a circle of
constant range for a DTV transmitter that is located at the same
altitude as the surrounding land.
[0030] FIG. 11 depicts an implementation of a sampler for use in
taking samples of received DTV signals.
[0031] FIG. 12 depicts an implementation of a noncoherent
correlator for use in searching for the correlation peak of the DTV
signal samples produced by the sampler of FIG. 11.
[0032] FIG. 13 illustrates the structure of the ATSC frame.
[0033] FIG. 14 illustrates the structure of the field
synchronization segment of the ATSC frame.
[0034] FIG. 15 illustrates the structure of the data segment of the
ATSC frame.
[0035] FIG. 16 shows a plot of the gain function for a filter used
in producing an ATSC DTV signal.
[0036] FIG. 17 depicts an implementation of a monitor unit.
[0037] FIG. 18 illustrates one implementation for tracking in
software.
[0038] FIG. 19 shows a plot of the output of the non-coherent
correlator.
[0039] FIG. 20 displays an example spectrum for a 1 millisecond
sample of the signal from a KICU channel 52 DTV broadcast from San
Jose.
[0040] FIG. 21 shows the computed autocorrelation function for the
in-phase and quadrature component of the resulting 6 MHz
signal.
[0041] FIG. 22 shows the characteristics of the 6 MHz signal.
[0042] FIG. 23 depicts the results of a simulation of the operation
of the correlator of FIG. 12.
[0043] FIG. 24 depicts an implementation of a receiver for use in
generating a pseudo-range measurement based on ETSI DTV
signals.
[0044] FIG. 25 shows the carrier numbers for the first 50
continuous pilot carriers.
[0045] FIG. 26 depicts the first 50 carriers of the continuous
pilot carriers.
[0046] FIG. 27 depicts the autocorrelation function of the
composite continuous pilot carriers with 177 parallel carriers in
the 8K mode.
[0047] FIG. 28 depicts the frequency hopping of the first 5
scattered pilot carriers.
[0048] FIG. 29 depicts the waveform of one example carrier with no
sign reversals over 8 time increments.
[0049] FIG. 30 is another view of the scattered pilot carriers.
[0050] FIG. 31 depicts the autocorrelation function of the
composite set of 568 frequency-hopped scattered pilot carriers.
[0051] FIG. 32 shows the detailed fine structure of the scattered
pilot composite signal observed over the first 100 time
increments.
[0052] FIG. 33 shows the fine structure of the doublet sidelobe of
the scattered pilot composite carrier.
[0053] FIG. 34 depicts an implementation of a monitor unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0054] Overview
[0055] FIG. 1 depicts a system 100 suitable for implementing the
present invention. The system 100 includes a device 102 operated by
a user, DTV transmitters 106A-106N, monitor stations 108A-108N, DTV
location server 110, and service provider system 120. The DTV
transmitters 106 broadcast DTV signals, including to device 102 and
to the monitor stations 108. The DTV location server 110 is linked
to the user device 102 (via base station 104 in this example) and
to the monitor stations 108. The service provider system 120 is
linked to the DTV location server 110 and to the user device 102
(also via base station 104 in this example).
[0056] FIGS. 2-3 are flow diagrams illustrating methods according
to the present invention. Generally speaking, as shown in FIG. 2,
the location of device 102 is determined 210 using DTV signals
which are received by the user device 102. A service which depends
on this location is provided 220.
[0057] In the example of FIG. 1, the DTV transmitters 106, monitor
stations 108 and DTV location server 110 are involved in
determining 210 the location of the device 102. In one
implementation (also shown in FIG. 2), the broadcast DTV signals
received by device 102 are used to calculate 212 pseudo-ranges
between the user device 102 and the DTV transmitters 106. The
pseudo-ranges, in turn, are used to determine 214 the location of
the device 102. In the implementation shown, the pseudo-ranges are
based on the time of flight between the DTV transmitters 106 and
the user device 102, as determined by the received DTV signals. The
monitor stations 108 track clock skew between the clocks for the
DTV transmitters 106. The server 110 calculates the location for
user device 102, using the time-of-flight measurements from user
device 102 and the clock skew information from the monitor stations
108. The server 110 also accesses weather server 114 in order to
make corrections due to weather conditions, and DTV phase center
database 112 in order to retrieve the known locations of the DTV
transmitters 106. Further details on various implementations are
given below in FIGS. 7-34.
[0058] In the example of FIG. 1, the service is provided 220 by the
service provider system 120. The service itself depends on the
location of the device. In certain applications, the service is
provided 220 to the user of the device 102. In others, it is
provided to a third party. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1,
the service provider system 120 is linked to the DTV location
server 110, from which the service provider system 120 accesses the
device location. The service provider system 120 may access other
databases 122, servers 124, etc. in order to perform its function,
as is the case with the DTV location server 110 and user device
102.
[0059] Example Allocations of Tasks
[0060] It should be understood that FIG. 1 and the corresponding
allocation of functionality between the user device 102, DTV
location server 110 and service provider system 120 is merely an
example. FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate some other example allocations. In
these flow diagrams, the user device 102, DTV location server 110
and service provider system 120 are each represented by one column
and the location of an activity in a particular column indicates
that the corresponding device performs that activity.
[0061] FIG. 3A shows the allocation discussed above. In this
example, the user device 102 calculates 212 the pseudo-ranges,
which are then transmitted 213 to the DTV location server 110. From
the pseudo-ranges, the DTV location server 110 determines 214 the
location of the device 102 and transmits 215 the location to the
service provider system 120. The service provider system provides
220 the service. One advantage of this approach is that each entity
can specialize in the function which it performs. For example, if
the device 102 is limited in computation power or data storage
because it is intended to be mobile, complex calculations or large
amounts of data may be shifted to the DTV location server 110 or
service provider system 120. The approach of FIG. 3A also offers
modularity, as different entities can be inserted into the
different roles. For example, the service provider system 120 may
be changed to provide different types of services but all taking
advantage of a common DTV location server 110. In one variation,
the same entity plays the role of both DTV location server 110 and
service provider system 120.
[0062] The handoffs between the different entities can be based on
other information. For example, rather than calculating 212 the
pseudo-ranges, the user device 102 could transmit some other
intermediate calculation, such as a partially processed
correlation. Similarly, the handoff between the DTV location server
110 and service provider system 120 could be based on some other
information. However, for convenience, these two handoffs will
always be discussed in terms of transmitting pseudo-ranges and the
location of device 102, although it is to be understood that the
handoffs may be implemented based on other intermediate stages.
[0063] In FIG. 3B, the user device 102 calculates its own location.
In other words, the device 102 both calculates 212 the
pseudo-ranges from the received DTV signals and determines 214 its
own location based on the pseudo-ranges. The device 102 transmits
215 its location to the service provider system 120, which provides
220 the service. There is no need for a separate DTV location
server 110. Thus, one advantage of this approach is that there are
fewer entities to coordinate.
[0064] In FIG. 3C, the user device 102 performs all functions. The
device 102 calculates 212 the pseudo-ranges from the received DTV
signals, determines 214 its location based on the pseudo-ranges and
also provides 220 the service, typically either to itself or to its
user. There is no separate DTV location server 110 or service
provider system 120. This approach is self-contained. It does not
rely on external entities nor does it require the corresponding
communications links. Thus, one advantage of this approach is its
inherently mobile nature.
[0065] FIG. 3D is a variant of FIG. 3C, in which the location
calculation is performed by an external DTV location server 110.
This permits more robust and/or accurate calculation of the device
location but still maintains some of the mobility of the approach
of FIG. 3C.
[0066] To summarize some of the possible variations, the
calculation of the device location can be performed entirely by the
device 102 or by/in conjunction with an external system (which is
referred to as the DTV location server 110 above). Once the
location is determined, the service itself can be provided by the
device 102, the DTV location server 110 or a separate service
provider system 120. As a final variant, the service can be
provided to the device 102, its user, or a third party. Other
variations will be apparent. The selection of which entities
perform which functions depends in part on the nature of the
service to be provided.
[0067] Advantages of DTV Positioning
[0068] Regardless of how the various functions are allocated, all
approaches determine the location of device 102 based on DTV
signals. This approach has many advantages. To begin with, DTV
signals have excellent coverage. In the United States, the use of
DTV signals is mandated by the Federal Communication Commission. By
the end of 2000, more than 166 DTV transmitters were in operation
and the FCC has set a goal that by 2006 all television broadcasting
will be on recently assigned digital channels. Similar coverage is
expected in Europe and Japan.
[0069] Compared to GPS, DTV signals also have a power advantage of
more than 40 dB, and substantially superior geometry to that which
a satellite system could provide, thereby permitting position
location even in the presence of blockage and also indoors where
reception of GPS signals is typically very poor. The DTV signal has
roughly six to eight times the bandwidth of GPS, thereby minimizing
the effects of multipath. Due to the high power and the nature of
the components within the DTV signal used for ranging (e.g., low
duty factor for ATSC DTV signal and sparse frequency components for
ETSI DTV signals), the processing requirements are minimal.
Implementations of the present invention accommodate far cheaper,
lower-speed, and lower-power devices than a GPS technique would
require. In addition, the range between DTV transmitters and users
changes very slowly compared to GPS. Therefore, the DTV signal is
not significantly affected by Doppler effects. This permits the
signal to be integrated for a long period of time, resulting in
very efficient signal acquisition.
[0070] Compared to conventional cellular telephone systems, the
frequency of the DTV signal is substantially lower and so has
better propagation characteristics. For example, the DTV signal
experiences greater diffraction than cellular signals, and so is
less affected by hills and has a larger horizon. Also, the signal
has better propagation characteristics through buildings and
automobiles. When used to locate cellular telephones, unlike the
terrestrial Angle-of-Arrival/Time-of-Arri- val positioning systems,
implementations of the present invention require no change to the
hardware of the cellular base station, and can achieve accuracies
on the order of 1 meter. The technique is independent of the air
interface, whether GSM (global system mobile), AMPS (advanced
mobile phone service), TDMA (time-division multiple access), CDMA,
or the like. A wide range of UHF (ultra-high frequency) frequencies
has been allocated to DTV transmitters. Consequently, there is
redundancy built into the system that protects against deep fades
on particular frequencies due to absorption, multipath and other
attenuating effects.
[0071] FIGS. 4-6 depict example implementations for different
example services. In these figures, the position location portion
of the system has been omitted for clarity, but is generally as
described previously. The figures show various implementations of
the service provider portion of the system. Each implementation is
introduced in the context of a specific service but has
applicability to a much broader range of services. For example,
FIGS. 4A-4C are introduced in the context of navigation services to
show how certain data and functions may be allocated between the
user device 102 and service provider system 120, but the various
allocations of data and functions shown in these figures are
applicable to other services as well.
[0072] Navigation Services
[0073] FIGS. 4A-4C depict example implementations for providing
services related to navigation. These systems include a map
database 422. In FIG. 4A, the service provider system 120 accesses
the map database 422 and transmits relevant information to the user
device 102 in order to render the navigation service. In FIG. 4B,
the service provider system 120 assists in providing the navigation
service, but the user device 102 accesses the map database 422
directly. In FIG. 4C, the user device 102 provides the navigation
service without the use of a service provider system 120. In an
alternate embodiment, map data is split between two databases, one
accessed by the service provider system 120 and the other by the
user device 102.
[0074] The map databases 422 are used to provide information for
the navigation services. In one implementation, the navigation
information provided is a map of the local vicinity around the
device 102. This map may be updated as the location of the device
102 is updated. In FIG. 4A, the service provider system 120
accesses the location of the user device 102, which location is
determined as described above. The system 120 retrieves the
relevant map data from the database 422 based on the location of
the device 102 and transmits the map data to the device for
display. In an alternate embodiment, the service provider system
renders the map data into a viewable map image and transmits the
image to the device 102, which receives and displays the map.
[0075] In FIG. 4B, the service provider system 120 assists in
providing navigation services but the map database 422 is accessed
by the device 102. For example, the service provider system 120
might identify which map data is relevant (e.g., U.S. Geological
Survey grid no. xxx) and send a key code for this map data to the
user device 102. The user device 102 then retrieves the map data
from database 422 based on the key code. In an alternate
embodiment, the map database is accessed by the user device 102 but
controlled by a third party. The service provider system transmits
a key code to the user device 102 which authorizes the device to
access the relevant portion of the database.
[0076] In FIG. 4C, there is no service provider system 120. The
user device 102 determines the relevant map data based on its
location, retrieves the map data from the database 422, and renders
the map image for display. For example, such a system may be
contained in a car, with the software and map database stored on a
CD or DVD. The location of device 102 may be determined by the user
device 102 itself and/or by a separate DTV location server 110, as
described previously. 100751 In another implementation, the
navigation information includes directions from/to the device
location to/from some other point of interest. Gas, food, lodging,
medical, and police are common points of interest that a user may
wish to locate. Entertainment, historical sites, parks and
recreational areas, shops and malls and transportation centers are
further examples of points of interest. Analogous to the example of
rendering a map, the calculation of the directions may be performed
by the user device 102, the service provider system 120, or between
the two. For example, the user might request directions, and the
service provider system 120 calculates and transmits the directions
to the user in response to the request.
[0077] Navigation services may be provided in a variety of
contexts. In one example, the user device 102 is attached to or
integrated as part of a vehicle with the navigation services
intended as an aid to piloting the vehicle. Examples include maps
of highways and streets for cars and other motor vehicles,
topographic or trail guidance for off-road vehicles, and navigation
aids for airplanes in flight or for watercraft (if in range of DTV
signals). As another example, the user device 102 is carried by an
individual and provides personal navigation assistance to the
individual. Examples include both urban settings (e.g., finding
one's way around a city) and rural settings (e.g., hiking),
military applications (e.g., guidance for soldiers in the field),
and in the context of games (e.g., paintball, capture the flag, or
war games). The DTV-based navigation services can also be used in
addition to other types of navigation services (e.g.,
GPS-based).
[0078] Tracking Services
[0079] Another general class of services which may be provided is
tracking services. In this class of services, the location of the
device 102 is tracked. If the device 102 is valuable, then tracking
the device 102 per se may be a valuable service. However, the
device 102 may also be attached to an object, in which case
tracking the device 102 is equivalent to tracking the object.
Examples of objects which might benefit from tracking include
vehicles (including cars and trucks), airplanes, freight
containers, rail cars, inventory, capital equipment, rental
equipment, and people (e.g., if a child were wearing a device).
[0080] In one implementation, the device is tracked in real-time
and the tracking service is provided to a third party. For example,
a company might wish to track various objects (e.g., inventory,
containers) as part of its internal operations or to reduce theft
and loss. The tracking information might be provided to the owner
of the object, an insurer of the object or law enforcement for
similar reasons. If multiple objects are tracked, the tracking data
from the objects can be collected at one location (e.g., a central
database) and conventional tracking software may be used to analyze
and present the tracking data in an efficient manner.
[0081] In another example, rather than tracking the current
location of the device, the history of the location of the device
is recorded for later use. One example is a "black-box"
application. If the black box is self-contained, the device
determines its own location and stores the history of its location
locally within the device without relying on external entities
(such as the DTV location server 110 or service provider system
120).
[0082] Device Configuration Services
[0083] In another general class of services, a configuration for
the device 102 is adjusted based on its location. One example is
cellular phone service. In this example, the device 102 is a cell
phone but also includes DTV location circuitry. The DTV location
circuitry (possibly with the assistance of a DTV location server
110) determines the cell phone's location. Adjustments are then
made to the cell phone, taking into account the phone's
location.
[0084] The optimal data rate, type of coding/modulation, antenna
configuration or other reception parameters for the cell phone may
vary with location. Once the cell phone's location is determined,
any of these parameters may be adjusted to account for the
location. If the location has heavy cell phone traffic, strong
multipath components, and strong obstacles in the communications
path, a more robust communications channel (e.g., lower data rate
and stronger error encoding) may be warranted, thus improving the
quality of the transmissions to the user's device 102. If the
multipath characteristics for a given location are known, filter
coefficients for processing the received cell phone signal and
antenna configuration may be altered to account for the
multipath.
[0085] FIG. 5 shows an example in which the adjustments depend on
geographic domain. More specifically, a geographic area is divided
into different domains 510 and the adjustment to the cell phone
depends on the geographic domain in which the device 102 is
located. In FIG. 5, the service provider system 120 determines the
relevant domain by comparing the device's location with the domains
stored in the domain database 522. The domains 510 preferably are
defined in a way that allows an efficient determination of which
particular domain 510 contains a specific location. For example,
domains can be defined by the geographic coordinates of their
boundaries. The domains 510 shown in FIG. 5 are all identical in
size and shape but this is not required. The domains can be of
different shapes and sizes. The domain boundaries and the number of
domains may vary over time.
[0086] In one implementation, the domains 510 correspond to the
cells in the coverage area. Each cell is served by a different base
station. Thus, knowing in which cell the device 102 is located
permits optimization of the device 102 for that particular base
station. For example, when the device 102 crosses from one cell to
another, its antenna might be oriented towards the base station for
the new cell. As another example, if the base stations can use
different coding or modulation techniques, the device 102 can be
configured to take advantage of this. As a final example, each cell
may offer different types of services or quality of service (e.g.,
local, local long distance, long distance, etc.). Thus, knowing in
which cell it is located permits the user device 102 to configure
itself to take advantage of the different services or quality of
service.
[0087] The domains 510 do not have to correspond to cells. For
example, in the case of compensation for multipath effects, each
domain 510 may represent a geographic area with a particular
multipath characteristic. Domain 510A may be dominated by
reflection off a nearby tall building. Domain 510B may be
characterized by many reflections off multiple surfaces. Domain
510C may be characterized by relatively weak multipath effects. The
cell phone is configured to compensate for the multipath effects
which characterize its current domain.
[0088] The approach of adjusting the configuration of device 102 is
not limited to cell phones. Devices which provide Internet access
or other types of wireless communications channels (e.g., wireless
modems) would also benefit from this approach, to name just a few
examples. In addition, the device 102 need not be mobile. In one
example, the device 102 is a television which determines its own
location and then configures itself for optimal reception of the
local broadcast channels.
[0089] The adjustments can also be determined entirely by the
device 102 (e.g., as in FIG. 4C), entirely by a separate service
provider system 120 (e.g., as in FIG. 4A), or between the two,
depending on the requirements of the specific application. In some
applications, the adjustments occur automatically without an
explicit request by the user of the device (e.g., to improve cell
phone reception or to auto-configure a television). In other
applications, the user must initiate the adjustment (e.g., by
pressing a button on the television to run the
auto-configuration).
[0090] Physical Services
[0091] Physical services may also be enabled or enhanced by knowing
the location of the device 102. As one example, knowing the
location of the device permits delivery of the physical service to
that specific location. Emergency roadside assistance, emergency
911 service, and food delivery are examples of these types of
services. In the E-911 example, the location of the device 102
requesting E-911 is determined based on DTV signals. The
appropriate E-911 unit(s) are then dispatched to the device
location.
[0092] As with the previous classes of services, physical services
may be rendered in a number of ways. In one approach, when the
service provider system 120 receives a request for a physical
service, the service provider itself may travel to the device
location and perform the physical service. In an alternate
approach, the service provider itself does not perform the physical
service. Instead, it contacts a local service provider, which
provides the service. For example, referring to FIG. 5, there may
be local service providers which service each of the domains 510.
Once the service provider system 120 determines in which domain the
device is located, it then contacts the corresponding local service
provider to provide the service. In the context of emergency
roadside assistance, the service provider could be a central
automobile club which uses a network of local towing companies to
provide the roadside assistance. In another alternative, the
service provider system 120 transmits a key code to the device,
which authorizes provision of the physical service. For example,
the user could present the key code to a local towing company to
have his car towed.
[0093] As a final example, the quality of service may vary from
domain to domain. For example, if the service is meal delivery,
urban domains may be promised faster delivery than rural
domains.
[0094] Localized Information Services
[0095] In another class of services, information is provided to the
user of the device 102 and the information is localized according
to the location of the device. Examples include local news, local
traffic reports, and information (e.g., description, hours of
operation, advertisements, promotions, coupons) about commercial
establishments or points of interest which are in a local vicinity
of the device.
[0096] In the architecture of FIG. 4A, the service provider system
120 determines the localized information, for example pulling it
from a central database. The information is transmitted to the
device 102, which displays it to the user. For example, in the case
of local news, the central database may include news from many
different municipalities. The service provider system 120
determines in which municipality the device is located and
transmits the local news for that municipality to the device.
Alternately, the service provider system 120 may transmit a key
code to the device 102 instead. The key code enables the device 102
to retrieve the local news from a different source, for instance a
third party which maintains a news database. In this example, the
news is localized based on municipality, which follows the
domain-based model shown in FIG. 5. Each municipality is a separate
domain 510 and the local news provided to the user depends on in
which municipality the user is located.
[0097] Another example is a virtual tour guide. In this
application, a tour of a point of interest is given via the device
102. For example, if the user is touring a zoo, the device might
provide information describing the penguin exhibit when the user is
located in the vicinity of the penguin exhibit, and so on. If the
user is touring a historic battlefield, the device might provide
information describing the events which occurred in the general
location of the device. As the device moves, the information
changes to describe the new location. The information can take many
forms: video, graphics and audio being a few. In a related service,
the user is offered "electronic postcards" of the point of
interest, which he may purchase. The device offers the postcards
based on its current location. For example, when the device is
located in the vicinity of the Hoover Dam, it offers images of the
Hoover Dam rather than images of Disneyland.
[0098] In another example, the device 102 is used to provide safety
or relief information. In the event of an emergency affecting the
location of the device, information concerning the emergency is
provided to the user. For example, if an earthquake occurs and the
device is located in the earthquake zone, details about the
earthquake and relief efforts, or instructions on how to respond to
the earthquake may be provided.
[0099] In certain applications, the user requests the localized
information. For example, the user might request and pay for local
news, similar to purchasing a newspaper. In other applications, the
localized information is unsolicited. For example, if the user is
walking past a store, the device might generate a coupon for the
store. In the event of an emergency, the user might automatically
receive information about safety procedures and relief efforts. In
one implementation, the user can select from among different
options with respect to unsolicited information. One possible
option is that the user device 102 is continuously tracked and
continuously receives unsolicited information. Another option is
that all unsolicited information is refused. A third option is that
the user receives information only when he so requests.
[0100] The user could also receive information based on a
previously registered profile. For example, the user might indicate
a preference for ice cream and a dislike for cookies. As the user
strolls around town, he receives information about local ice cream
parlors but not about local cookie vendors.
[0101] As with many of the classes of services, the provision of
localized information also applies to stationary devices. In one
application, the device 102 is integrated into a television set
which now can determine its own location. The television
programming broadcast to the television set includes different
choices for advertisements. The television set selects the
advertisements which are tailored for its location.
[0102] Additional Examples of Services
[0103] FIG. 6 depicts a system in which the service provided is
video gaming. In this example, two users with corresponding
wireless gaming devices 102A-102B are playing a video game
with/against each other. The video game is displayed locally, for
example on a cell phone, PDA, or other display device coupled to
the wireless gaming device. The users' movements in the video game
depend on their locations in the real world. The service provider
system 120 determines the users' locations according to the
location of the wireless gaming devices, which have been determined
using DTV signals, and updates the video game accordingly. Video
games for one player or more than two players can also be
implemented in this fashion.
[0104] In another application, the location of the device 102 is
used as an aid in surveying. For example, a surveyor could carry
the device 102 with him at a site and then record the locations at
various points around the site.
[0105] In a final example, the device 102 is used to alert the user
when certain other individuals are close by. For example, the user
might indicate in his profile that he is interested in meeting
other individuals with an interest in Civil War memorabilia. The
user's profile is stored at the service provider system 120. As the
user strolls around town, the service provider system 120 tracks
the location of the device, as well as the locations of devices of
other users. If any of the other users are nearby and also indicate
an interest in Civil War memorabilia, the service provider system
120 alerts the users so that they may meet each other if they so
desire. Different criteria, including for dating and matchmaking,
may be used.
[0106] It should be understood that the implementations and
services discussed above are examples. It is not practical or
feasible to list all possible types of services or systems for
providing services. For example, the user may access the rest of
the system via any number of devices 102. Examples include portable
computers, PDAs, mobile phones, cars and other vehicles, and any
object, which could include a chip or software implementing DTV
position location. Examples of user interfaces include conventional
monitor and keyboard, touch screen display and voice recognition
and synthesis. The user devices 102 may be implemented in a
distributed fashion. For example, antenna, user interface,
microprocessor, power supply, and local storage can be located at
different locations, with local communications accomplished via
cables, short range radio (e.g., BlueTooth), infrared or other
means.
[0107] Similarly, the DTV location server 110 and service provider
system 120 may implement their functions using many different
devices. In one implementation, DTV location server 110 is
implemented as a general-purpose computer (or group of computers)
executing software designed to perform the operations described
herein. In another implementation, DTV location server is
implemented as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).
The service provider system 120 may be similarly implemented.
[0108] The choice of user device 102, DTV location server 110 and
service provider system 120 depends on the nature of the service to
be provided. It also depends on the nature of the communications
links between the user device 102, DTV location server 110 and
service provider system 120.
[0109] These communications links may take many different forms. In
FIG. 1, the link between user device 102 and DTV location server
110 is shown as an air link to a base station 104 and a more
permanent link (e.g., a land line) from base station 104 to DTV
location server 110. In one example, the user device 102 is a
wireless telephone and base station 104 is a wireless telephone
base station. In one implementation, base station 104 is part of a
mobile MAN (metropolitan area network) or WAN (wide area network).
The link between user device 102 and service provider system 120 is
similarly depicted. Satellite communications (e.g., LEO, MEO, GEO)
are one alternative which is well-suited for mobile endpoint(s).
Land lines (e.g., fiber optic, cable, electrical) and microwave
links are alternatives which are well-suited for non-mobile
endpoints (e.g., between the DTV location server 110 and service
provider system 120 in the implementation of FIG. 1). The different
communications links can be either one-way or two-way, depending on
the application.
[0110] As another example, the actions required to implement a
service may be allocated between the user device 102, DTV location
server 110 and service provider system 120 in many ways. The user
device 102 may perform some, all or none of these actions locally.
Similarly, the service provider system 120's role may vary from
minor to major. Actions may also be allocated in various ways
between the DTV location server 110 and service provider system
120. For example, the service provider system 120 may communicate
with user device 102 via the DTV location server 110, instead of
directly as shown in FIG. 1. The reverse is also possible. In fact,
although the user device 102, DTV location server 110 and service
provider system 120 are shown as separate in FIG. 1, this is not
required.
[0111] The manner in which the service is requested and the manner
in which it is delivered can also vary. For example, the user can
explicitly request the service before it is provided. Alternately,
it can be requested implicitly, automatically, or by others on
behalf of the user. It may not be requested at all. Instead, the
service provider system 120 might "push" the service to the user.
With respect to delivery, the service provider system 120 enables
provision of the service but may or may not actually provide the
service. If the service provider system 120 does not provide the
service, it might arrange for a third party to provide the service
or it might forward the request to the relevant party. Alternately,
the service provider system 120 might send an authorization code to
the user, thus enabling the user to obtain the service.
[0112] As some final examples, the services which may be provided
are not limited to those discussed above. Another service is the
purchase of good or services, including for example movie tickets,
restaurant reservations, consumer goods, guided tours and local
tour books. Additional services include the transmission of
information from local commercial establishments (e.g., show times
for theaters, menus from restaurants, etc.) or localized
information, such as local news, traffic and weather. Table 1 below
lists rough data rates suggested for certain types of information
using current technology and quality standards. Data rates are not
restricted to those shown in the table. In the table, voice with
data refers to information stream which includes voice traffic
along with text information and or text messaging. This would
include speech recognition applications and text messages that
accompany standard voice applications.
1TABLE 1 Type of Data to be Data Rate(s) for Low Data Rate(s) for
Moderate Transferred Quality Transmission Quality Transmission Text
50 bps 150 bps-500 pbs Voice 3 Kbps 9.6 Kbps-14 Kbps Voice with
Text 3 Kbps 28.8 Kbps Audio 16 Kbps 256 Kbps Internet 28.8 Kbps 128
Kbps Video 100 Kbps 2 Mbps HDTV 1 Mbps-3 Mbps 19 Mbps
[0113] As a final point, it is not a requirement that position
location be based solely on DTV techniques. In alternate
embodiments, the DTV position location technologies are used in
conjunction with or as a supplement to other positioning
techniques, including for example those based on GPS, analog TV,
CDMA Network, TDMA network, and E-OTD.
[0114] General Position Location
[0115] FIG. 7 illustrates a method for determining the user's
location. The user device 102 receives DTV signals from a plurality
of DTV transmitters 106A and 106B through 106N (step 702).
[0116] Various methods can be used to select which DTV channels to
use in position location. In one implementation, a DTV location
server 110 informs the user device 102 of the best DTV channels to
monitor. In one implementation, user device 102 exchanges messages
with DTV location server 110 by way of base station 104. In one
implementation user device 102 selects DTV channels to monitor
based on the identity of base station 104 and a stored table
correlating base stations and DTV channels. In another
implementation, user device 102 can accept a location input from
the user that gives a general indication of the area, such as the
name of the nearest city; and uses this information to select DTV
channels for processing. In one implementation, user device 102
scans available DTV channels to assemble a fingerprint of the
location based on power levels of the available DTV channels. User
device 102 compares this fingerprint to a stored table that matches
known fingerprints with known locations to select DTV channels for
processing.
[0117] User device 102 determines a pseudo-range between the user
device 102 and each DTV transmitter 106 (step 704). Each
pseudo-range represents the time difference (or equivalent
distance) between a time of transmission from a transmitter 108 of
a component of the DTV broadcast signal and a time of reception at
the user device 102 of the component, as well as a clock offset at
the user device.
[0118] User device 102 transmits the pseudo-ranges to DTV location
server 110. In one implementation, DTV location server 110 is
implemented within or near base station 104.
[0119] The DTV signals are also received by a plurality of monitor
units 108A through 108N. Each monitor unit can be implemented as a
small unit including a transceiver and processor, and can be
mounted in a convenient location such as a utility pole, DTV
transmitters 106, or base stations 104. In one implementation,
monitor units are implemented on satellites.
[0120] Each monitor unit 108 measures, for each of the DTV
transmitters 106 from which it receives DTV signals, a time offset
between the local clock of that DTV transmitter and a reference
clock. In one implementation the reference clock is derived from
GPS signals. The use of a reference clock permits the determination
of the time offset for each DTV transmitter 106 when multiple
monitor units 108 are used, since each monitor unit 108 can
determine the time offset with respect to the reference clock.
Thus, offsets in the local clocks of the monitor units 108 do not
affect these determinations.
[0121] In another implementation, no external time reference is
needed. According to this implementation, a single monitor unit
receives DTV signals from all of the same DTV transmitters as does
user device 102. In effect, the local clock of the single monitor
unit functions as the time reference.
[0122] In one implementation, each time offset is modeled as a
fixed offset. In another implementation each time offset is modeled
as a second order polynomial fit of the form
Offset=a+b(t-T)+c(t-T).sup.2 (1)
[0123] that can be described by a, b, c, and T. In either
implementation, each measured time offset is transmitted
periodically to the DTV location server using the Internet, a
secured modem connection or the like. In one implementation, the
location of each monitor unit 108 is determined using GPS
receivers.
[0124] DTV location server 10 receives information describing the
phase center (i.e., the location) of each DTV transmitter 106 from
a database 112. In one implementation, the phase center of each DTV
transmitter 106 is measured by using monitor units 108 at different
locations to measure the phase center directly. In another
implementation, the phase center of each DTV transmitter 106 is
measured by surveying the antenna phase center.
[0125] In one implementation, DTV location server 110 receives
weather information describing the air temperature, atmospheric
pressure, and humidity in the vicinity of user device 102 from a
weather server 114. The weather information is available from the
Internet and other sources such as NOAA. DTV location server 110
determines tropospheric propagation velocity from the weather
information using techniques such as those disclosed in B.
Parkinson and J. Spilker, Jr., Global Positioning System--Theory
and Applications, AIAA, Washington, DC, 1996, Vol. 1, Chapter 17
Tropospheric Effects on GPS by J. Spilker, Jr., which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0126] DTV location server 110 can also receive from base station
104 information which identifies a general geographic location of
user device 102. For example, the information can identify a cell
or cell sector within which a cellular telephone is located. This
information is used for ambiguity resolution, as described
below.
[0127] DTV location server 110 determines a location of the user
device 102 based on the pseudo-ranges and a location of each of the
transmitters (step 706). FIG. 8 depicts the geometry of a location
determination using three DTV transmitters 106. DTV transmitter
106A is located at position (x1, y1). The range between user device
102 and DTV transmitter 106A is r1. DTV 106B transmitter is located
at position (x2, y2). The range between user device 102 and DTV
transmitter 106B is r2. DTV transmitter 106N is located at position
(x3, y3). The range between user device 102 and DTV transmitter
106N is r3.
[0128] DTV location server 110 may adjust the value of each
pseudo-range according to the tropospheric propagation velocity and
the time offset for the corresponding DTV transmitter 106. DTV
location server 110 uses the phase center information from database
112 to determine the location of each DTV transmitter 106.
[0129] User device 102 makes three or more pseudo-range
measurements to solve for three unknowns, namely the position (x,
y) and clock offset T of user device 102. In other implementations,
the techniques disclosed herein are used to determine location in
three dimensions such as longitude, latitude, and altitude, and can
include factors such as the altitude of the DTV transmitters.
[0130] The three pseudo-range measurements pr1, pr2 and pr3 are
given by
pr1=r1+T (2)
pr2=r2+T (3)
pr3=r3+T (4)
[0131] The three ranges can be expressed as
r1=.vertline.X-X1.vertline. (5)
r2=.vertline.X-X2.vertline. (6)
r3=.vertline.X-X3.vertline. (7)
[0132] where X represents the two-dimensional vector position (x,
y) of the user device 102, X1 represents the two-dimensional vector
position (x1, y1) of DTV transmitter 106A, X2 represents the
two-dimensional vector position (x2, y2) of DTV transmitter 106B,
and X3 represents the two-dimensional vector position (x3, y3) of
DTV transmitter 106N. These relationships produce three equations
in which to solve for the three unknowns x, y, and T. DTV locations
server 110 solves these equations according to conventional
well-known methods. The location of user device 102 is used in
providing the service to the user. For example, the user's location
may be transmitted to the service provider system 120, or the
system 120 may retrieve the user's location from the DTV location
server 110. Either way, the service provider system 120 accesses
the user's location.
[0133] In another implementation, user device 102 does not compute
pseudo-ranges, but rather takes measurements of the DTV signals
that are sufficient to compute pseudo-range, and transmits these
measurements to DTV location server 110. DTV location server 110
then computes the pseudo-ranges based on the measurements, and
computes the user's location based on the pseudo-ranges, as
described above.
[0134] In another implementation, the position of user device 102
is computed by user device 102. In this implementation, all of the
necessary information is transmitted to user device 102. This
information can be transmitted to user device by DTV location
server 110, base station 104, one or more DTV transmitters 106, or
any combination thereof. User device 102 then measures the
pseudo-ranges and solves the simultaneous equations as described
above. This implementation is now described.
[0135] User device 102 receives the time offset between the local
clock of each DTV transmitter and a reference clock. User device
102 also receives information describing the phase center of each
DTV transmitter 106 from a database 112.
[0136] User device 102 receives the tropospheric propagation
velocity computed by DTV locations server 110. In another
implementation, user device 102 receives weather information
describing the air temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity
in the vicinity of user device 102 from a weather server 114 and
determines tropospheric propagation velocity from the weather
information using conventional techniques.
[0137] User device 102 can also receive from base station 104
information which identifies the rough location of user device 102.
For example, the information can identify a cell or cell sector
within which a cellular telephone is located. This information is
used for ambiguity resolution, as described below.
[0138] User device 102 receives DTV signals from a plurality of DTV
transmitters 106 and determines a pseudo-range between the user
device 102 and each DTV transmitter 106. User device 102 then
determines its location based on the pseudo-ranges and the phase
centers of the transmitters.
[0139] In any of these of the implementations, should only two DTV
transmitters be available, the location of user device 102 can be
determined using the two DTV transmitters and the offset T computed
during a previous position determination. The values of T can be
stored or maintained according to conventional methods.
[0140] In one implementation, base station 104 determines the clock
offset of user device 102. In this implementation, only two DTV
transmitters are required for position determination. Base station
104 transmits the clock offset T to DTV location server 110, which
then determines the position of user device 102 from the
pseudo-range computed for each of the DTV transmitters.
[0141] In another implementation, when only one or two DTV
transmitters are available for position determination, GPS is used
to augment the position determination.
[0142] FIG. 9 illustrates a simple example of a position location
calculation for a user device 102 receiving DTV signals from two
separate DTV antennas 106A and 106B. Circles of constant range 902A
and 902B are drawn about each of transmit antennas 106A and 106B,
respectively. The position for a user device, including correction
for the user device clock offset, is then at one of the
intersections 904A and 904B of the two circles 902A and 902B. The
ambiguity is resolved by noting that base station 104 can determine
in which sector 908 of its footprint (that is, its coverage area)
906 the user device is located. Of course if there are more than
two DTV transmitters in view, the ambiguity can be resolved by
taking the intersection of three circles.
[0143] In one implementation, user device 102 can accept an input
from the user that gives a general indication of the area, such as
the name of the nearest city. In one implementation, user device
102 scans available DTV channels to assemble a fingerprint of the
location. User device 102 compares this fingerprint to a stored
table that matches known fingerprints with known locations to
identify the current location of user device 102.
[0144] In one implementation the position location calculation
includes the effects of ground elevation. Thus in terrain with
hills and valleys relative to the phase center of the DTV antenna
106 the circles of constant range are distorted. FIG. 10 depicts
the effects of a single hill 1004 on a circle of constant range
1002 for a DTV transmitter 106 that is located at the same altitude
as the surrounding land.
[0145] The computations of user position are easily made by a
simple computer having as its database a terrain topographic map
which allows the computations to include the effect of user
altitude on the surface of the earth, the geoid. This calculation
has the effect of distorting the circles of constant range as shown
in FIG. 10.
[0146] ATSC Position Location
[0147] FIGS. 11-23 illustrate various receivers for use with
American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) DTV signals. DTV was
first implemented in the United States in 1998. As of the end of
2000, 167 stations were on the air broadcasting the DTV signal. As
of Feb. 28 2001, approximately 1200 DTV construction permits had
been acted on by the FCC. According to the FCC's objective, all
television transmission will soon be digital, and analog signals
will be eliminated. Public broadcasting stations must be digital by
May 1, 2002 in order to retain their licenses. Private stations
must be digital by May 1, 2003. Over 1600 DTV transmitters are
expected in the United States.
[0148] These new DTV signals permit multiple standard definition TV
signals or even high definition signals to be transmitted in the
assigned 6 MHz channel. These new American Television Standards
Committee (ATSC) DTV signals are completely different from the
analog NTSC TV signals, are transmitted on new 6 MHz frequency
channels, and have completely new capabilities.
[0149] The inventors have recognized that the ATSC signal can be
used for position location, and have developed techniques for doing
so. These techniques are usable in the vicinity of ATSC DTV
transmitters with a range from the transmitter much wider than the
typical DTV reception range. Because of the high power of the DTV
signals, these techniques can even be used indoors by handheld
receivers.
[0150] In contrast to the digital pseudo-noise codes of GPS, the
DTV signals are received from transmitters only a few miles
distant, and the transmitters broadcast signals at levels up to the
megawatt level. In addition the DTV antennas have significant
antenna gain, on the order of 14 dB. Thus there is often sufficient
power to permit DTV signal reception inside buildings.
[0151] Certain receiver implementations use only the DTV signal
synchronization codes as opposed to demodulating and decoding the
DTV 8-ary Vestigial Sideband Modulation (8VSB) data signal.
Consequently, the DTV signal can be correlated for a period roughly
a million times longer than the period of single data symbol. Thus
the ability to track signals indoors at substantial range from the
DTV tower is greatly expanded. Furthermore, through the use of
digital signal processing it is possible to implement these new
tracking techniques in a single semiconductor chip.
[0152] FIG. 11 depicts an implementation 1100 of a sampler for use
in taking samples of received DTV signals. In one implementation,
sampler 1100 is implemented within user device 102. In another
implementation, sampler 1100 is implemented within monitor units
108. The sampling rate should be sufficiently high to obtain an
accurate representation of the DTV signal, as would be apparent to
one skilled in the art.
[0153] Sampler 1100 receives a DTV signal 1102 at an antenna 1104.
A radio frequency (RF) amp/filter 1106 amplifies and filters the
received DTV signal. A local oscillator clock 1116 and mixers 1108I
and 1108Q downconvert the signal to produce in-phase (I) and
quadrature (Q) samples, respectively. The I and Q samples are
respectively filtered by low-pass filters (LPF) 1110I and 1110Q. An
analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 1112 converts the I and Q samples
to digital form. The digital I and Q samples are stored in a memory
1114.
[0154] FIG. 12 depicts an implementation 1200 of a noncoherent
correlator for use in searching for the correlation peak of the DTV
signal samples produced by sampler 1100. In one implementation,
correlator 1200 is implemented within user device 102. In another
implementation, correlator 1200 is implemented within monitor units
108.
[0155] Correlator 1200 retrieves the I and Q samples of a DTV
signal from memory 1114. Correlator 1200 processes the samples at
intermediate frequency (IF). Other implementations process the
samples in analog or digital form, and can operate at intermediate
frequency (IF) or at baseband.
[0156] A code generator 1202 generates a code sequence. In one
implementation, the code sequence is a raised cosine waveform. The
code sequence can be any known digital sequence in the ATSC frame.
In one implementation, the code is a synchronization code. In one
implementation, the synchronization code is a Field Synchronization
Segment within an ATSC data frame. In another implementation, the
synchronization code is a Synchronization Segment within a Data
Segment within an ATSC data frame. In still another implementation,
the synchronization code includes both the Field Synchronization
Segment within an ATSC data frame and the Synchronization Segments
within the Data Segments within an ATSC data frame. Other
components of the DTV signal, such as pilot, symbol clock, or
carrier, can be used for position location. However, the use of
such signals, which have a high repetition rate, produces inherent
ambiguities. Techniques for resolving such ambiguities are
well-known in the art. One such technique is disclosed in M.
Rabinowitz, Ph.D. Thesis: A Differential Carrier Phase Navigation
System Combining GPS with Low-Earth Orbit Satellites for Rapid
Resolution of Integer Cycle Ambiguities, 2000, Department of
Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, pages 129-76, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0157] Mixers 1204I and 1204Q respectively combine the I and Q
samples with the code generated by code generator 1202. The outputs
of mixers 12041 and 1204Q are respectively filtered by filters
1206I and 1206Q and provided to summer 1207. The sum is provided to
square law device 1208. Filter 1209 performs an envelope detection
for non-coherent correlation, according to conventional methods.
Comparator 1210 compares the correlation output to a predetermined
threshold. If the correlation output falls below the threshold,
search control 1212 causes summer 1214 to add additional pulses to
the clocking waveform produced by clock 1216, thereby advancing the
code generator by one symbol time, and the process repeats. In a
preferred embodiment, the clocking waveform has a nominal clock
rate of 10.76 MHz, matching the clock rate or symbol rate the
received DTV signals.
[0158] When the correlation output first exceeds the threshold, the
process is done. The time offset that produced the correlation
output is used as the pseudo-range for that DTV transmitter
106.
[0159] In receiver correlators and matched filters there are two
important sources of receiver degradation. The user device local
oscillator is often of relatively poor stability in frequency. This
instability affects two different receiver parameters. First, it
causes a frequency offset in the receiver signal. Second, it causes
the received bit pattern to slip relative to the symbol rate of the
reference clock. Both of these effects can limit the integration
time of the receiver and hence the processing gain of the receiver.
The integration time can be increased by correcting the receiver
reference clock. In one implementation a delay lock loop
automatically corrects for the receiver clock.
[0160] In another implementation a NCO (numerically controlled
oscillator) 1218 adjusts the clock frequency of the receiver to
match that of the incoming received signal clock frequency and
compensate for drifts and frequency offsets of the local oscillator
in user device 102. Increased accuracy of the clock frequency
permits longer integration times and better performance of the
receiver correlator. The frequency control input of NCO 1218 can be
derived from several possible sources, a receiver symbol clock rate
synchronizer, tracking of the ATSC pilot carrier, or other clock
rate discriminator techniques installed in NCO 1218.
[0161] The current ATSC signal is described in "ATSC Digital
Television Standard and Amendment No. 1," Mar. 16, 2000, by the
Advanced Television Systems Committee. The ATSC signal uses 8-ary
Vestigial Sideband Modulation (8VSB). The symbol rate of the ATSC
signal is 10.762237 MHz, which is derived from a 27.000000 MHz
clock. The structure 1300 of the ATSC frame is illustrated in FIG.
13. The frame 1300 consists of a total of 626 segments, each with
832 symbols, for a total of 520832 symbols. There are two field
synchronization segments in each frame. Following each field
synchronization segment are 312 data segments. Each segment begins
with 4 symbols that are used for synchronization purposes.
[0162] The structure 1400 of the field synchronization segment is
illustrated in FIG. 14. The two field synchronization segments 1400
in a frame 1300 differ only to the extent that the middle set of 63
symbols are inverted in the second field synchronization
segment.
[0163] The structure 1500 of the data segment is illustrated in
FIG. 15. The first four symbols of data segment 1500 (which are -1,
1, 1, -1) are used for segment synchronization. The other 828
symbols in data segment 1500 carry data. Since the modulation
scheme is 8VSB, each symbol carries 3 bits of coded data. A rate
2/3 coding scheme is used.
[0164] Implementations of the invention can be extended to use
future enhancements to DTV signals. For example, the ATSC signal
specification allows for a high rate 16VSB signal. However, the
16VSB signal has the same field synch pattern as the 8VSB signal.
Therefore, a single implementation of the present invention can be
designed to work equally well with both the 8VSB and the 16VSB
signal.
[0165] The 8VSB signal is constructed by filtering. The in-phase
segment of the symbol pulse has a raised-cosine characteristic, as
described in J. G. Proakis, Digital Communications, McGraw-Hill,
3.sup.rd edition, 1995. The pulse can be described as 1 p ( t ) =
sin c ( t T ) cos ( t T ) 1 - 4 2 t 2 T 2 ( 8 )
[0166] where T is the symbol period 2 T = 1 10.76 .times. 10 6 ( 9
)
[0167] and .beta.=0.05762. This signal has a frequency
characteristic 3 P ( f ) = { T 2 { 1 + cos T ; 0 | f | < 1 - 2 T
[ T ( | f | - 1 - 2 T ) ] } ; 1 - 2 T | f | 1 + 2 T 0 ; | f | >
1 + 2 T } ( 10 )
[0168] from which it is clear that the one-sided bandwidth of the
signal is (1+.beta.)10.762237 MHz=5.38 MHz+0.3 1 MHz. In order to
create a VSB signal from this in-phase pulse, the signal is
filtered so that only a small portion of the lower sideband
remains. This filtering can be described as:
P.sub..nu.(f)=P(f)(U(f)-H.sub..alpha.(f)) (11)
[0169] where 4 U ( f ) = { 1 , f 0 0 , f < 0 } ( 12 )
[0170] where H.sub..alpha.(f) is a filter designed to leave a
vestigial remainder of the lower sideband. A plot of the gain
function for H.sub..alpha.(f) is shown in FIG. 16. The filter
satisfies the characteristics H.sub..alpha.(-j)=-H.sub..alpha.(f)
and H.sub..alpha.(f)=0, f>a.
[0171] The response U(f)P(f) can be represented as 5 U ( f ) P ( f
) = 1 2 ( P ( f ) + j P ( f ) ) ( 13 )
[0172] where {haeck over (P)}(f)=-j sgn(f)P(f) is the Hilbert
transform of P(f). The VSB pulse may be represented as 6 P v ( f )
= 1 2 X ( f ) + j 2 ( X ( f ) + 2 X ( f ) H ( f ) ) ( 14 )
[0173] and the baseband pulse signal 7 p v ( t ) = 1 2 x ( t ) + j
2 ( x ( t ) + x a ( t ) ) = p vi ( t ) + j p vq ( t ) ( 15 )
[0174] where p.sub.vi(t) is the in-phase component, p.sub.vq(t) is
the quadrature component, and
x.sub..alpha.(t)=2.intg..sub.-.infin..sup..infin.X(f)H.sub..alpha.(f)e.sup-
.j2.pi.ftdf (16)
[0175] Before the data is transmitted, the ATSC signal also embeds
a carrier signal, which has -11.5dB less power than the data
signal. This carrier aids in coherent demodulation of the signal.
Consequently, the transmitted signal can be represented as: 8 s ( t
) = n C n { p vi ( t - n T ) cos ( t ) - p vq ( t - n T ) sin ( t )
} + A sin ( t ) ( 17 )
[0176] where C.sub.n is the 8-level data signal.
[0177] FIG. 17 depicts an implementation 1700 of monitor unit 108.
An antenna 1704 receives GPS signals 1702. A GPS time transfer unit
1706 develops a master clock signal based on the GPS signals. In
order to determine the offset of the DTV transmitter clocks, a NCO
(numerically controlled oscillator) field synchronization timer
1708A develops a master synchronization signal based on the master
clock signal. The master synchronization signal can include one or
both of the ATSC segment synchronization signal and the ATSC field
synchronization signal. In one implementation, the NCO field
synchronization timers 1708A in all of the monitor units 108 are
synchronized to a base date and time. In implementations where a
single monitor unit 108 receives DTV signals from all of the same
DTV transmitters that user device 102 does, it is not necessary to
synchronize that monitor unit 108 with any other monitor unit for
the purposes of determining the position of user device 102. Such
synchronization is also unnecessary if all of the monitor stations
108, or all of the DTV transmitters, are synchronized to a common
clock.
[0178] A DTV antenna 1712 receives a plurality of DTV signals 1710.
In another implementation, multiple DTV antennas are used. An
amplifier 1714 amplifies the DTV signals. One or more DTV tuners
1716A through 1716N each tunes to a DTV channel in the received DTV
signals to produce a DTV channel signal. Each of a plurality of NCO
field synchronization timers 1708B through 1708M receives one of
the DTV channel signals. Each of NCO field synchronization timers
1708B through 1708M extracts a channel synchronization signal from
a DTV channel signal. The channel synchronization signal can
include one or both of the ATSC segment synchronization signal and
the ATSC field synchronization signal. Note that the pilot signal
and symbol clock signal within the DTV signal can be used as
acquisition aids.
[0179] Each of a plurality of summers 1718A through 1718N generates
a clock offset between the master synchronization signal and one of
the channel synchronization signals. Processor 1720 formats and
sends the resulting data to DTV location server 110. In one
implementation, this data includes, for each DTV channel measured,
the identification number of the DTV transmitter, the DTV channel
number, the antenna phase center for the DTV transmitter, and the
clock offset. This data can be transmitted by any of a number of
methods including air link and the Internet. In one implementation,
the data is broadcast in spare MPEG packets on the DTV channel
itself.
[0180] One thorough approach to mitigating the effects of multipath
is to sample an entire autocorrelation function, rather than to use
only early and late samples as in a hardware setup. Multipath
effects can be mitigated by selecting the earliest correlation
peak.
[0181] In the case that position can be computed with a brief
delay, a simple approach is to use a software receiver, which
samples a sequence of the filtered signal, and then processes the
sample in firmware on a DSP.
[0182] FIG. 18 illustrates one implementation 1800 for tracking in
software. An antenna 1802 receives a DTV signal. Antenna 1802 can
be a magnetic dipole or any other type of antenna capable of
receiving DTV signals. A bandpass filter 1804 passes the entire DTV
signal spectrum to an LNA 1806. In one implementation, filter 1804
is a tunable bandpass filter that passes the spectrum for a
particular DTV channel under the control of a digital signal
processor (DSP) 1814.
[0183] A low-noise amplifier (LNA) 1806 amplifies and passes the
selected signal to a DTV channel selector 1808. DTV channel
selector 1808 selects a particular DTV channel under the control of
DSP 1814, and filters and downconverts the selected channel signal
from UHF (ultra-high frequency) to IF (intermediate frequency)
according to conventional methods. An amplifier (AMP) 1810
amplifies the selected IF channel signal. An analog-to-digital
converter and sampler (A/D) 1812 produces digital samples of the
DTV channel signal s(t) and passes these samples to DSP 1814.
[0184] Now the processing of the DTV channel signal by DSP 1814 is
described for a coherent software receiver. A nominal offset
frequency for the downconverted sampled signal is assumed. If this
signal is downconverted to baseband, the nominal offset is 0 Hz.
The process generates the complete autocorrelation function based
on samples of a signal s(t). The process may be implemented far
more efficiently for a low duty factor signal. Let T.sub.i be the
period of data sampled, .omega..sub.in be the nominal offset of the
sampled incident signal, and let .omega..sub.offset be the largest
possible offset frequency, due to Doppler shift and oscillator
frequency drift. The process implements the pseudocode listed
below.
[0185] R.sub.max=0
[0186] Create a complex code signal 9 s code ( t ) = C _ n { p vi (
t - n T ) + j p vq ( t - n T ) }
[0187] where {overscore (C)}.sub.n is zero for all symbols
corresponding to data signals and non-zero for all symbols
corresponding to synchronization signals. 10 .cndot.For = i n -
offset t o i n + offset s t e p 0.5 T i
[0188] Create a complex mixing signal
[0189] s.sub.mix(t)=cos(.omega.t)+j sin(.omega.t), t=[0 . . .
T.sub.i]
[0190] Combine the incident signal s(t) and the mixing signal
s.sub.mix(t)
[0191] s.sub.comb(t)=S(t)S.sub.mix(t)
[0192] Compute the correlation function
R(.tau.)=s.sub.code*s.sub.comb(.ta- u.)
[0193] If max.sub..tau. .vertline.R(.tau.).vertline.>R.sub.max,
then R.sub.max.rarw.max.sub..tau..vertline.R(.tau.).vertline.,
R.sub.store(.tau.)=R(.tau.)
[0194] Next .omega.
[0195] Upon exit from the process, R.sub.store(.tau.) will store
the correlation between the incident signal s(t) and the complex
code signal s.sub.code(t). R.sub.store(.tau.) may be further
refined by searching over smaller steps of .omega.. The initial
step size for .omega. must be less then half the Nyquist rate 11 2
T i .
[0196] The time offset .tau. that produces the maximum correlation
output is used as the pseudo-range.
[0197] A technique for generating the non-coherent correlation in
software is now described. This approach emulates the hardware
receivers of FIGS. 11 and 12. Note that while the I and Q channels
are treated separately in the block diagrams, the I and Q
components may be combined to generate the mixing signal in
software. Since the non-coherent correlator uses envelope
detection, it is not necessary to search over a range of
intermediate frequencies. The process implements the pseudocode
listed below.
[0198] Create the in-phase and quadrature code signals 12 c i ( t )
= C _ n p v i ( t - n T i ) , c q ( t ) = C _ n p v q ( t - n T i
)
[0199] where the sum is over n, {overscore (C)}.sub.n is zero for
all symbols corresponding to data signals and non-zero for all
symbols corresponding to synchronization signals. Note that c.sub.i
has autocorrelation R.sub.i, c.sub.q has autocorrelation R.sub.q,
and that their cross-correlation is R.sub.iq.
[0200] For .tau.=0 to T.sub.per step T.sub.samp where T.sub.per is
the period of the code being used, and T.sub.samp is the sample
interval
[0201] Create a reference code mixing signal
[0202] s.sub.mix(t)=c.sub.i(t+.tau.)cos
(.omega.t+.nu.t+.phi.(+c.sub.q(t+.-
tau.)sin(.omega.t+.nu.t+.phi.)
[0203] where .omega. is the nominal IF frequency of the incident
signal, .nu. is the frequency offset of the mixing signal relative
to the incident signal, and .phi. is the phase offset of the mixing
signal from the incident signal.
[0204] Combine the incident signal s(t) and the reference code
mixing signal s.sub.mix(t). s.sub.comb(t)=S(t)s.sub.mix(t)
[0205] Low-pass filter s.sub.comb(t) to generate s.sub.filt(t) such
that the expected value of s.sub.filt(t) is given by
E[s.sub.filt(t)]=2R.sub.i-
(.tau.)cos(.nu.t+.phi.)+2R.sub.iq(.tau.)sin(.nu.t+.phi.) where we
have used that fact that R.sub.i(.tau.)=-R.sub.q(.tau.)
[0206] Perform envelope detection on s.sub.filt(t) (for example, by
squaring and filtering) to generate the non-coherent correlation:
z(.tau.)=2[R.sub.i(.tau.).sup.2+R.sub.iq(.tau.).sup.2]
[0207] Next .tau.
[0208] The time offset .tau. that produces the maximum correlation
output is used as the pseudo-range.
[0209] Notice that the non-coherent correlation z(.tau.) makes use
of the signal power in both the in-phase and quadrature components.
However, as a result of this, the effective bandwidth of the signal
that generates the non-coherent correlation is halved. The output
of the non-coherent correlator is illustrated in FIG. 19. The upper
plot shows the correlation peak for an interval of roughly
8.times.10.sup.-5 seconds. The lower plot shows the effective 3 MHz
bandwidth of the correlation peak.
[0210] A technique similar to that described above for tracking in
software was applied to DTV transmissions arising from San Jose,
Calif. and received indoors in Palo Alto, Calif. This example is
presented for illustration purposes and not to limit the scope of
the present invention. FIG. 20 displays an example spectrum for a 1
millisecond sample of the signal from a KICU channel 52 DTV
broadcast from San Jose. The signal was downconverted to a center
frequency of 27 MHz, which corresponds to a digital frequency of
0.54 for a sampling rate of 100 mega-samples per second. The signal
was digitally bandpass filtered to a bandwidth of 6 MHz.
[0211] The computed autocorrelation function for the in-phase and
quadrature component of the resulting 6 MHz signal is illustrated
in FIG. 21. Note that this is the autocorrelation for only the 4
data synchronization symbols at the beginning of each segment.
[0212] The characteristics of the 6 MHz signal are shown in FIG.
22. FIG. 22 displays a portion of the autocorrelation peak for the
in-phase channel. From the smoothness of the curve, one can see
that the signal-to-noise ratio is high. In addition, the curvature
of the peak indicates the high signal bandwidth which makes this
signal robust to multipath.
[0213] FIG. 23 depicts the results of a simulation of the operation
of correlator 1200. The simulation was conducted using Mathematica
software produced by Wolfram Research. The simulation input is the
digital I and Q samples stored in a memory 1114 by sampler
1100.
[0214] FIG. 23 shows the noncoherent correlation result for
symbol-synchronous sampling at a 10.76 MHz complex sample rate and
an integration time of 242 milliseconds or 10 fields. The
simulation is a worst case where the samples are offset by 1/2
symbol or 0.05 microseconds.
[0215] The simulation also includes Gaussian noise and a
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the 6 MHz bandwidth of -27 dB. With
a phase offset of the sampling this result degrades by 2 dB but
clearly the performance would still be excellent. Normal DTV
reception requires a SNR of approximately +18 dB. Correlator 1200
can recover tracking information at a SNR 18+27=45 dB below normal
DTV. This result requires accurate correction of the sampling clock
if a matched filter is employed. However, a time-gated delay lock
loop (DLL) will automatically synchronize its clock to that of the
received signal and produce the same result.
[0216] ETSI Position Location
[0217] FIGS. 24-34 illustrate various receivers for use with
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) DTV signals.
ETSI has defined a terrestrial DTV signal for Europe, referred to
herein as the Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T)
signal. These new DTV signals permit multiple standard definition
TV signals or even high definition signals to be transmitted in the
assigned 8 MHz channel. These new DVB-TDTV signals are completely
different from the analog NTSC TV signals, are transmitted on new 8
MHz frequency channels, and have completely new capabilities.
[0218] The inventors have recognized that the DVB-T signal can be
used for position location, and have developed techniques for doing
so. These techniques are usable in the vicinity of DVB-T DTV
transmitters with a range from the transmitter much wider than the
typical DTV reception range. Because of the high power of the DTV
signals, these techniques can even be used indoors by handheld
receivers.
[0219] The techniques disclosed herein and with respect to the ATSC
DTV signals previously can be applied to other DTV signals that
include known sequences of data by simply modifying the correlator
to accommodate the known sequence of data, as would be apparent to
one skilled in the relevant arts. These techniques can also be
applied to a range of other orthogonal frequency-division
multiplexing (OFDM) signals such as satellite radio signals.
[0220] In contrast to the digital pseudo-noise codes of GPS, the
DTV signals are received from transmitters only a few miles
distant, and the transmitters broadcast signals at levels up to the
megawatt level. In addition the DTV antennas have significant
antenna gain, on the order of 14 dB. Thus there is often sufficient
power to permit DTV signal reception inside buildings.
[0221] As described below, implementations of the present invention
utilize a component of the DVB-T signal that is referred to as the
"scattered pilot signal." The use of the scattered pilot signal is
advantageous for several reasons. First, it permits position
determination indoors, and at great distances from DTV
transmitters. Conventional DTV receivers utilize only one data
signal at a time, and so are limited in range from the DTV
transmitter by the energy of a single signal. In contrast,
implementations of the present invention utilize the energy of
multiple scattered pilot signals simultaneously, thereby permitting
operation at greater range from DTV transmitters than conventional
DTV receivers. Further, the scattered pilots are not modulated by
data. This is advantageous for two reasons. First, all of the power
in the scattered pilots is available for position determination;
none of the power is devoted to data. Second, the scattered pilots
can be observed for long periods of time without suffering the
degradation that data modulation would produce. Thus the ability to
track signals indoors at substantial range from the DTV tower is
greatly expanded. Furthermore, through the use of digital signal
processing it is possible to implement these new tracking
techniques in a single semiconductor chip.
[0222] FIG. 24 depicts an implementation 2400 of a receiver for use
in generating a pseudo-range measurement. In one implementation,
receiver 2400 is implemented within user device 102. In another
implementation, receiver 2400 is implemented within monitor units
108.
[0223] RF Sampler & Quantizer 2406 sequentially tunes antenna
2404 to each of the digital TV signals 2402 in the area, RF
amplifies, and downconverts the signal to IF or baseband. The
wideband filtered signal with its 8 MHz bandwidth is then sampled
and quantized by RF sampler and quantizer 2406. Then a segment of
the quantized signal including four or more symbol intervals is
stored in memory 2408. Preferably a substantially longer segment of
perhaps 0.1 seconds or more in duration is used to improve the
averaging time and to improve noise performance.
[0224] Mixer 2410 and correlator and integrator 2412 sequentially
correlate the stored time segment of the signal with various time
offset versions of the reference scattered pilot carrier generated
by scattered pilot generator 2418. The reference signal is stepped
in time by predetermined time steps to find the peak of the
autocorrelation function. The step size is selected to produce a
number of samples from the autocorrelation function that is
sufficient to identify the autocorrelation peak. In one
implementation, a large step size is initially used to obtain an
estimate of the autocorrelation peak; then a smaller step size is
used to refine that estimate. As shown below, implementations of
the present invention use time samples spaced by
1/(1116*20,000)=244 ns. A correlator search control 2420 searches
for the major peak in the autocorrelation function and when found
converts that measurement of pseudo-range to digitized form.
Receiver 2400 then sequentially performs the same set of functions
on the other digital TV signals 2402 available in the area from
other DTV towers. It is not necessary to make multiple measurements
from signals transmitted from the same DTV tower. The set of 3 or
more pseudo-range measurements is then sent to DTV location server
110 by way of digital cellular or other wireless link.
[0225] Note that the position location operation at the subscriber
handset or other device need only take place when the subscriber
needs position location. For a subscriber walking slowly, in a
slowly moving vehicle, or sitting in a building or field in an
emergency, this location information need only be measured
infrequently. Thus the battery or other power source can be very
small.
[0226] Although receiver 2400 implements a cross-correlator with a
sum of digital signals it will be clear to one skilled in the
relevant arts that alternate implementations can simplify the
circuitry by using FFT/DFT (fast Fourier transform/direct Fourier
transform) processing for example. Furthermore, although receiver
2400 processes the samples at intermediate frequency (IF), other
implementations process the samples in analog or digital form, and
can operate at IF or at baseband. Still other implementations
process the samples in the frequency domain.
[0227] Other signals within the DVB-T structure can also be used
for position location. For example, a wide laning technique could
be applied to the continuous pilot signals. However, such
techniques as wide laning involve inherent resolution of cycle
ambiguities. Techniques for resolving such ambiguities are
well-known in the art. One such technique is disclosed in M.
Rabinowitz, Ph.D. Thesis: A Differential Carrier Phase Navigation
System Combining GPS with Low Earth Orbit Satellites for Rapid
Resolution of Integer Cycle Ambiguities, 2000, Department of
Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, pages 59-76, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0228] In receiver correlators and matched filters there are two
important sources of receiver degradation. The user device local
oscillator is often of relatively poor stability in frequency. This
instability affects two different receiver parameters. First, it
causes a frequency offset in the receiver signal. Second, it causes
the received bit pattern to slip relative to the symbol rate of the
reference clock. Both of these effects can limit the integration
time of the receiver and hence the processing gain of the receiver.
The integration time can be increased by correcting the receiver
reference clock. In one implementation a delay lock loop
automatically corrects for the receiver clock.
[0229] In another implementation a NCO (numerically controlled
oscillator) clock 2414 adjusts the clock frequency of the receiver
to match that of the incoming received signal clock frequency and
compensate for drifts and frequency offsets of the local oscillator
in user device 102. Increased accuracy of the clock frequency
permits longer integration times and better performance of the
receiver correlator. The frequency control input of NCO clock 2414
can be derived from master clock 2416, a receiver symbol clock rate
synchronizer, tracking of the DVB-T pilot carrier, or other clock
rate discriminator techniques installed in NCO clock 2414.
[0230] The current DVB-T signal is described in a document entitled
Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Framing structure, channel coding
and modulation for digital terrestrial television, document number
ETSI EN 300 744, V1.4.1 (2001-01). The DVB-T signal is a complex
orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal that
carries 188 Byte MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) packets using
either 1512 or 6048 separate carriers. Most of these components
carry the random-like data modulation of the video TV signals and
are less useful for precision tracking at low signal levels. Note
that for purposes of position location, the user device may be in
locations where the entire information content of the DVB-T signal
is not available.
[0231] However the DVB-T DTV signal has embedded in it additional
components that can be used through the techniques described herein
for position location. For example, the DVB-T DTV signal includes
two types of periodic broadband pilot signals. The signal contains
both a set of continuous pilot carriers and a set of scattered
pilot carriers. The DVB-T signals have two modes: 2K and 8K. Some
of the parameters of these two modes are described in Table 2
below. While implementations of the invention are described with
reference to the 8K signals, the techniques described also apply to
the 2K signals.
2TABLE 2 Parameter 2 K mode 8 K mode Number of carriers K 1705 6817
Symbol Duration 224 microseconds 896 microseconds Carrier spacing
4464 Hz 1116 Hz Total spacing of signal 7.61 MHz 7.61 MHz
[0232] In addition, while implementations of the invention are
discussed with reference to the 8 MHz DVB-T signal, implementations
can be used with signals of other bandwidths. Further,
implementations of the invention can employ a subset of the
bandwidth of the DVB-T signal. For example, an implementation of
the invention can achieve satisfactory results using only 6 MHz of
an 8 MHz DVB-T signal. Implementations of the invention can be
extended to use future enhancements to the DVB-T signal.
[0233] The DVB-T continuous pilot signals in the 8K mode are a set
of 177 carriers each having a constant reference binary .+-.1
amplitude selected by a PN sequence described below. The carriers
are spaced by 1116 Hz. The carrier numbers for the first 50 carrier
frequencies are shown in FIG. 25. The frequency of a carrier can be
found by taking the product of the carrier number and 1116 Hz. FIG.
26 depicts the first 50 carriers of the continuous pilot carriers.
The vertical scale is the carrier number. The minimum frequency
offset between any two continuous pilot carriers is 3.times.1116 Hz
which determines the time ambiguity of these continuous carriers.
This signal can be likened to a sidetone ranging signal commonly
used in ranging measurements. However it differs in that the power
is divided among 177 separate carriers. Instead however one can
correlate the signal with a composite reference waveform of 177
carriers generated in FFT fashion. However this composite
continuous pilot signal has a poor autocorrelation function with
many significant spectral sidelobes as shown in FIG. 27.
[0234] FIG. 27 depicts the autocorrelation function of the
composite continuous pilot carriers with 177 parallel carriers in
the 8K mode. The time increments are given on the horizontal scale
in increments of {fraction (1/1116)} s. The signal was sampled at a
rate of 1116.times.20,000 samples/s. However as can be seen, the
sidelobe levels of this signal are quite high with many peaks above
0.2 in magnitude.
[0235] The 8K scattered pilot carriers are a set of 568
uniformly-spaced pilot carriers, each frequency hopped in a
chirp-like fashion over 4 sequentially increasing frequencies. Thus
each pilot begins at a frequency that is a multiple of
12.times.1116 Hz and remains at that frequency for the remainder of
a symbol duration ({fraction (1/1116)} s). Then for the next symbol
the pilot hops to a new frequency that is higher by 3.times.1116 Hz
and has a new .+-.1 sign. The pilot repeats this increase for a
total of 3 increments and then returns to its original frequency.
The frequency hopping of the first 5 of these 568 scattered pilots
is shown in FIG. 28. In each time increment the pilot carrier
increases in frequency by 3 increments of 1116 Hz. Each of the
6816/12=568 scattered pilots is spaced by 12.times.1116=13,392 Hz.
For the 2K mode there are 142 scattered pilots spaced by 53,568
Hz.
[0236] Each pilot carrier is given a .+-.1 sign amplitude as
governed by a PN sequence of an 11 stage shift register with a
polynomial
x.sup.11+x.sup.2+1 (18)
[0237] This PN sequence generates a sequence
w[k]=+1 (19)
[0238] where k is the frequency of the individual pilot carrier as
given above. Thus each time a pilot carrier changes to a new
frequency it also changes its sign according to w[k].
[0239] Thus the frequency of each of the scattered pilots can be
expressed in terms of t and p as
k[t, p]=3Mod[n[t],4]+12p (20)
[0240] where p is the number of the pilot and n[t] is the quantized
time interval
n[t]=[1116t] (21)
[0241] Each signal component for each of the 568 values of p is
s[t,p]=w[k[t,p]sin[2.pi.k[t,p].times.1116t]] (22)
[0242] The total scattered pilot signal is then the sum of 568
frequency hopped individual pilot carriers 13 s total [ t ] = p = 0
p = 867 s [ t , p ] ( 23 )
[0243] FIG. 29 depicts the waveform of one example carrier with no
sign reversals over 8 time increments. Time is given in seconds.
This scattered pilot carrier then has a total of 6816/12=568
carriers each of which hops sequentially over 4 frequencies for a
total of 568.times.4=2272 total frequencies in a chirp-like
fashion.
[0244] FIG. 30 is another view of the scattered pilot carriers. In
FIG. 30, the diagonal lines represent the 568 8K scattered pilot
carriers chirping stepwise over the entire band of 7.61 MHz (6816
carrier numbers) in 6816/4=1704 symbol intervals. Thus at any one
time instant there are 568 simultaneous chirp carriers. Each chirp
carrier sweeps the entire 7.61 MHz frequency band in stepwise
fashion. The numbers shown are for the 8K mode where the symbol
duration is 896 microseconds (us). The corresponding numbers for
the 2K mode are shown in parentheses where the symbol duration is
224 us.
[0245] This signal has a very good autocorrelation function as
shown in FIGS. 31-33. FIG. 31 depicts the autocorrelation function
of the composite set of 568 frequency-hopped scattered pilot
carriers. The composite signal has been sampled at a rate
1116.times.20,000=22.32 MHz. Thus there are 80,000 samples over the
4-symbol time increment period of the scattered pilot carriers.
Note the very low sidelobe cross-correlation of this signal with
the exception of the 4 sidelobes which as shown below are doublets.
FIGS. 32 and 33 show the detail over much smaller time
increments.
[0246] FIG. 32 shows the detailed fine structure of the scattered
pilot composite signal observed over the first 100 time increments.
Note the low levels of the autocorrelation function outside of the
peak.
[0247] FIG. 33 shows the fine structure of the doublet sidelobe of
the scattered pilot composite carrier. Note again the very small
values of the autocorrelation function of this signal outside of
the main peak and the 4 sidelobe peaks.
[0248] FIG. 34 depicts an implementation 3400 of monitor unit 108.
An antenna 3404 receives GPS signals 3402. A GPS time transfer unit
3406 develops a master clock signal based on the GPS signals. In
order to determine the offset of the DTV transmitter clocks, a NCO
(numerically controlled oscillator) code synchronization timer
3408A develops a master synchronization signal based on the master
clock signal. The master synchronization signal can include the
DVB-T scattered pilot carriers. In one implementation, the NCO
field synchronization timers 3408A in all of the monitor units 108
are synchronized to a base date and time. In implementations where
a single monitor unit 108 receives DTV signals from all of the same
DTV transmitters that user device 102 does, it is not necessary to
synchronize that monitor unit 108 with any other monitor unit for
the purposes of determining the position of user device 102. Such
synchronization is also unnecessary if all of the monitor stations
108, or all of the DTV transmitters, are synchronized to a common
clock.
[0249] A DTV antenna 3412 receives a plurality of DTV signals 3410.
In another implementation, multiple DTV antennas are used. An
amplifier 3414 amplifies the DTV signals. One or more DTV tuners
3416A through 3416N each tunes to a DTV channel in the received DTV
signals to produce a DTV channel signal. Each of a plurality of NCO
code synchronization timers 3408B through 3408M receives one of the
DTV channel signals. Each of NCO code synchronization timers 3408B
through 3408M extracts a channel synchronization signal from a DTV
channel signal. The channel synchronization signal can include the
DVB-T scattered pilot carriers. In one implementation, the
continuous pilot signal and symbol clock signal within the DVB-T
signal are used as acquisition aids.
[0250] Each of a plurality of summers 3418A through 3418N generates
a clock offset between the master synchronization signal and one of
the channel synchronization signals. Processor 3420 formats and
sends the resulting data to DTV location server 110. In one
implementation, this data includes, for each DTV channel measured,
the identification number of the DTV transmitter, the DTV channel
number, the antenna phase center for the DTV transmitter, and the
clock offset. This data can be transmitted by any of a number of
methods including air link and the Internet. In one implementation,
the data is broadcast in spare MPEG packets on the DTV channel
itself.
[0251] In another implementation, the receiver is software-based.
For example, receiver 1800 of FIG. 18 may be programmed to process
the incoming DTV signals.
[0252] Now the processing of the DTV channel signal by DSP 1714 is
described for a coherent software receiver. A nominal offset
frequency for the downconverted sampled signal is assumed. If this
signal is downconverted to baseband, the nominal offset is 0 Hz.
The process generates the complete autocorrelation function based
on samples of a signal s(t). The process may be implemented far
more efficiently for a low duty factor signal. Let T.sub.i be the
period of data sampled, .omega..sub.in be the nominal offset of the
sampled incident signal, and let .omega..sub.offset be the largest
possible offset frequency, due to Doppler shift and oscillator
frequency drift. The process implements the pseudocode listed
below.
[0253] R.sub.max=0
[0254] Create a complex code signal
[0255] s.sub.code(t)=C.sub.i(t)+jC.sub.q(t)
[0256] where C.sub.i is the function describing the in-phase
baseband signal and C.sub.q is the function describing the
quadrature baseband signal.
[0257] Compute F{s.sub.code}* where F is the Fourier transform
operator, and * is the conjugate operator.
[0258] For 14 = i n - offset to i n + offset step 2 T i
[0259] Create a complex mixing signal
[0260] s.sub.mix(t)=cos(.omega.t)+j sin(.omega.t), t=[0 . . .
T.sub.i]
[0261] Combine the incident signal s(t) and the mixing signal
s.sub.mix(t)
[0262] s.sub.comb(t)=s(t)s.sub.mix(t)
[0263] Compute the correlation function
R(.tau.)=F.sup.-1{F(s.sub.code)F(s- .sub.comb)}
[0264] If max.sub..tau..vertline.R(.tau.).vertline.>R.sub.max,
then R.sub.max.rarw.max.sub..tau..vertline.R(.tau.).vertline.,
R.sub.store(.tau.)=R(.tau.)
[0265] Next .omega.
[0266] Upon exit from the process, R.sub.store(.tau.) will store
the correlation between the incident signal s(t) and the complex
code signal s.sub.code(t). R.sub.store(z) may be further refined by
searching over smaller steps of .omega.. The initial step size for
.omega. must be less then half the Nyquist rate 15 2 T i .
[0267] The time offset .tau. that produces the maximum correlation
output is used as the pseudo-range.
[0268] Additional Position Location Examples
[0269] A number of embodiments of the invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, many specific details have
been described with respect to certain ATSC and DVB-T digital
television signals. However, the invention is also applicable to
other DTV signals, including DTV signals as defined by the Japanese
Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T).
[0270] As another example, the invention can be implemented in
digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware,
software, or in combinations thereof. Various signals and signal
processing techniques can be implemented in either the digital or
analog domain. Apparatus of the invention can be implemented in a
computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable
storage device for execution by a programmable processor; and
method steps of the invention can be performed by a programmable
processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions
of the invention by operating on input data and generating output.
The invention can be implemented advantageously in one or more
computer programs that are executable on a programmable system
including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive
data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions
to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least
one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a
high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or
in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the
language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable
processors include, by way of example, both general and special
purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive
instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random
access memory. Generally, a computer will include one or more mass
storage devices for storing data files; such devices include
magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks;
magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable
for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data
include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of
example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and
flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks
and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks. Any
of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs
(application-specific integrated circuits).
[0271] As another example, although one method for tracking the
ATSC signal using the in-phase and quadrature channels is
described, it should be clear that one can use only the in-phase
channel, only the quadrature channel or any combination of the two
to provide accurate tracking
[0272] Furthermore it should be clear that there are several
methods of tracking DTV signals using various forms of conventional
delay lock loops and through the use of various types of matched
filters.
[0273] Implementations of the present invention exploit the low
duty factor of the DTV signal in many ways. For example, one
implementation employs a time-gated delay-lock loop (DLL) such as
that disclosed in J. J. Spilker, Jr., Digital Communications by
Satellite, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs N.J., 1977, Chapter
18-6. Other implementations employ variations of the DLL, including
coherent, noncoherent, and quasi-coherent DLLs, such as those
disclosed in J. J. Spilker, Jr., Digital Communications by
Satellite, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs N.J., 1977, Chapter 18
and B. Parkinson and J. Spilker, Jr., Global Positioning
System-Theory and Applications, AlAA, Washington, DC, 1996, Vol. 1,
Chapter 17, Fundamentals of Signal Tracking Theory by J. Spilker,
Jr. Other implementations employ various types of matched filters,
such as a recirculating matched filter.
[0274] As a final example, in some implementations, DTV location
server 110 employs redundant signals available at the system level,
such as pseudo-ranges available from the DTV transmitters, making
additional checks to validate each DTV channel and pseudo-range,
and to identify DTV channels that are erroneous. One such technique
is conventional receiver autonomous integrity monitoring
(RAIM).
[0275] Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *