Patent ID: 7474265

Claim:
A method for allowing a position receiver to determine position solutions from positioning signals from a plurality of autonomous positioning networks within a positioning system, wherein: a) each autonomous positioning network is synchronized to a different timebase; b) each of said plurality of autonomous positioning networks comprises one or more positioning-unit device; c) a position receiver is situated near the boundary of two of said plurality of autonomous positioning networks; said method comprising the steps of: i) at least one positioning-unit device within a first autonomous positioning network receives positioning signals from at least one positioning-unit device from a second autonomous positioning network and measures the timebase difference between said second autonomous positioning network and said first autonomous positioning network and subsequently calculates a timebase clock correction; ii) said at least one positioning-unit device within said first autonomous positioning network incorporates said timebase clock correction into its positioning signals for transmission; iii) other positioning-unit devices within said first autonomous positioning network receive and relay said positioning signals incorporating said timebase clock correction; iv) said position receiver receives positioning signals incorporating said timebase clock correction from any positioning-unit device within said first autonomous positioning network; v) said position receiver receives positioning signals from said one or more positioning-unit devices from said second autonomous positioning network; vi) said position receiver applies said timebase clock correction to said positioning signals received from said one or more positioning-unit device from said second autonomous positioning network; and vii) said position receiver calculates its own position using said positioning signals from said first autonomous positioning network and said positioning signals from said second autonomous positioning network; such that positioning signals received from positioning-unit devices from said first and second autonomous positioning networks that are synchronized to different timebases can be used for position solutions.