Patent ID: 6327473
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A method for improving the sensitivity of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, the method including the steps of:a) receiving a GPS signal from a GPS satellite;b) determining whether the receiver has a source for synchronization to GPS time other than the GPS satellite itself; andc) if there is a source for synchronization to GPS time other than the GPS satellite itself, then:1) determining, from the synchronization source, the boundaries of a plurality of code periods in the received GPS signl;2) determining the amount of power in the received GPS signal by applying a particular code associated with a particular satellite to the received GPS signal during each of the plurality of code periods;3) summing the power received during each code period to determine a total integrated power over the sum of the plurality of code periods; and4) processing the received GPS signal using information about the particular satellite if the total integrated power is greater than a threshold value.