Global Positioning System Technical Overview

1. Global Positioning SystemTechnical Overview

2. What is GPS? Global Positioning System is: Satellite based time distribution system 32 Satellites in all numbered 1-32 24 Orbiting satellites in 6 inclined orbits About 12K nautical miles up Each satellite orbits the earth twice every 24 hours When & Why? 1st satellite launched Feb 28, 1978 by DOD Intended for exclusive military ops: Navigation, positioning, time distribution Consolidate overlapping existing systems Enhance precision weapons delivery Approved for civilian use in 1980 by President Carter Each Satellite transmits L1 and L2 signals L1 at 1575.42 MHz is for both civilian and military use L2 at 1227.60 MHz is exclusive to DOD and U.S. Gov (until recently)

3. 3 Segments of GPS Space Segment Consists of Solar powered satellites No more than 50 watts of transmit power 2100-3700 lbs each and 17 feet across & travels at 7000 MPH Each satellite transmits a unique CDMA code Can operate autonomously in the absence of the control segment Control Segment 11 control stations throughout the world Master - Schriever AFB Colorado (Top) Passive- Hawaii (Bottom), Ascension Islands, Diego Garcia, Kawajalein, DC, England, Argentina, Ecuador Bahrain, Australia Track and controls satellites and provides correct clock (timing) information User Segment Consists of a user and a GPS receiver Commercial Applications Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and boating Navigation and directions Fleet Management & Telematics Military Applications Weapons systems Field operations Force management

4. How It All Works The GPS receiver must know two things: Where the satellites are. (Location of each Satellite) Time at which the GPS signal was broadcast in order to calculate how far away they are. (Distance to each Satellite) How Does It Know Where They Are? Each satellite broadcasts its ephemeris model (astronomical position) along with time information and information on the propagation delay through the ionosphere. The ephemeris model describes satellite position, and velocity at time of transmission. An un-aided receiver may take 30 seconds to collect the data that repeats twice per minute How Does The Receiver Calculate The Distance To Each Satellite? Radio waves travel at the speed of light (~ one billion feet/sec) The distance to a satellite is the time elapsed from transmission to reception times the speed of light. [d = (t1 – t0) x c] The receiver uses the time information encoded in the signal to calculate the actual time that elapsed since transmission and then calculates distance. This process produces fixes with errors on the order of 30 feet Similarly, the receiver then also knows the correct time to about 30 nanoseconds

5. Calculating Latitude & Longitude (3 Satellites) The Receiver’s Lat & Lon coordinates will be the intersection of circles drawn around the satellites with radius = distance from satellites Rcv = (latR, lonR) Sat1 = (lat1,lon1) Sat2 = (lat2, lon2)` d1 d2 Longitude d3 • Only unknowns are latR & lonR • With 3 independent equations and only 2 unknowns, the Lat & Lon of the Receiver can be easily calculated • (latR – lat1)2 + (lonR – lon1)2 = (d1)2 • (latR – lat2)2 + (lonR – lon2)2 = (d2)2 • (latR – lat3)2 + (lonR – lon3)2 = (d3)2 Sat3 = (lat3, lon3) Latitude Knowing the location and distance of the satellites, Latitude and Longitude can be calculated using Geometry and Linear Algebra techniques

6. GPS Fix & Errors How Many Satellites Are Needed For A Fix? A minimum of 3 satellites = 2D fix Latitude Longitude Includes Timestamp 4 satellites = 3D fix Latitude Longitude Altitude Includes Timestamp By continuously updating your position, a GPS receiver can also accurately provide speed and direction of travel Sources of Error in GPS Obstructions - Buildings & Tunnels, Metallic Structures, Dense Foliage, Terrain Environment - Atmosphere & Weather (minor effects) Selective Availability - Intentional errors by DoD (disabled May 1, 2000) Multipath - GPS signals reflect off of structures causing timing errors

7. GPS Types Autonomous GPS: Using the GPS receiver only to calculate current position TTFF (Time to First Fix) ~ 50 seconds for a Bluetooth GPS Receiver. Assisted GPS (AGPS): Data Aiding - Wireless network “Assists” the GPS receiver by sending it ephemeris data from the Base Station Almanac that tells the receiver which satellites are visible in sky. Saves 18-30 secs. Temporal Aiding – Wireless Network shares its knowledge of GPS time with GPS Receiver so it does not have to solve ambiguities. Saves 4-6 seconds. Main benefit of AGPS is that it provides TTFF in ~10-20 seconds. AGPS - iDEN MLS (Mobile Location server) provides AGPS information one way from MLS to receiver inside the handset. Both Handset Application and Network initiated are available AGPS – CDMA Uses Qualcomm GPSOne Technology PDE (Position Determining Equipment) provides AGPS to the handset MS-Assist (User Plane) – Handset Application initiated; Uses PDE on every fix MS-Based (User Plane) – Handset Application initiated; Uses PDE on first fix and only when needed (every 60-90 min) Control Plane (BMF) – Network initiated via web services calls to BMF Gateway

8. CDMA Location Accuracy Accuracy AGPS AGPS Fix ... open sky (5m - 50m) Most Precise GPS Fix requires a minimum of four(4) GPS measurements. If there three(3) or fewer GPS measurements, proceed to Hybrid Fix below. Hybrid FIX ... partial view of sky (20m - 100m) Hybrid Fix is activated when GPS Fix fails. CDMA pilot phase measurements can be used as virtual GPS measurements in fixing position. AFLT FIX ... indoors (50m – 200m) AFLT Fix can be done when Hybrid Fix fails due to no GPS measurements. AFLT Fix requires a minimum of three(3) CDMA pilot phase measurements to fix position in accordance with the TDOA(Time Difference Of Arrival) theory. Cell Sector Center FIX ... anywhere (0.5mi – 3mi) If AFLT Fix fails in case when there are less than three (3) CDMA pilot phase measurements, location server reports cell sector center as the handset position. Least Precise

9. FAQs & More Information FAQs Q: What happens to GPS when users are on a voice call? A: On most current CDMA handsets, voice calls prevent GPS activity. More Information Wiki Page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System#