Patent ID: 6130642
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A system for transmitting position signals from a plurality of earth-based positions using the global positioning system (GPS), comprising:a plurality of delivery vehicles equipped to travel in air to a corresponding plurality of destinations at the surface of a body of water and equipped to sink to the bottom of the body of water;an antenna mounted in each of said plurality of delivery vehicles and deployable therefrom to float at the surface as said delivery vehicle sinks to the bottom of the body of water;a GPS receiver mounted in each of said plurality of delivery vehicles and coupled to said antenna for receiving GPS signals via said antenna from a plurality of GPS satellites and for, during an initial period of operation, determining an earth-based position of said antenna based on said GPS signals;a transmitter mounted in each of said plurality of delivery vehicles and coupled between said GPS receiver and said antenna for transmitting a signal indicative of said earth-based position over the air waves via said antenna; andsaid GPS receiver, after expiration of said initial period of operation, determining said earth-based position of said antenna using said signal transmitted from antennas associated with others of said plurality of delivery vehicles.