The position accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) modules is one of the most significant factors in determining the feasibility of new location-based services for smartphones. Considering the structure of current smartphones, it is impossible to apply the ordinary range-domain Differential GNSS (DGNSS) method. Therefore, this paper describes and applies a DGNSS-correction projection method to a commercial smartphone. First, the local line-of-sight unit vector is calculated using the elevation and azimuth angle provided in the position-related output of Android’s LocationManager, and this is transformed to Earth-centered, Earth-fixed coordinates for use. To achieve position-domain correction for satellite systems other than GPS, such as GLONASS and BeiDou, the relevant line-of-sight unit vectors are used to construct an observation matrix suitable for multiple constellations. The results of static and dynamic tests show that the standalone GNSS accuracy is improved by about 30%–60%, thereby reducing the existing error of 3–4 m to just 1 m. The proposed algorithm enables the position error to be directly corrected via software, without the need to alter the hardware and infrastructure of the smartphone. This method of implementation and the subsequent improvement in performance are expected to be highly effective to portability and cost saving.

Abstract:A differential global positioning system (DGPS) is one of the most widely used augmentation systems for a low-cost L1 (1575.42 MHz) single-frequency GPS receiver. The positioning accuracy of a low-cost GPS receiver decreases because of the spatial decorrelation between the reference station (RS) of the DGPS and the users. Hence, a network real-time kinematic (RTK) solution is used to reduce the decorrelation error in the current DGPS system. Among the various network RTK methods, the Flächen Korrektur parameter (FKP) is used to complement the current DGPS, because its concept and system configuration are simple and the size of additional data required for the network RTK is small. The FKP was originally developed for the carrier-phase measurements of high-cost GPS receivers; thus, it should be modified to be used in the DGPS of low-cost GPS receivers. We propose an FKP-DGPS algorithm as a new augmentation method for the low-cost GPS receivers by integrating the conventional DGPS correction with the modified FKP correction to mitigate the positioning error due to the spatial decorrelation. A real-time FKP-DGPS software was developed and several real-time tests were conducted. The test results show that the positioning accuracy of the DGPS was improved by a maximum of 40%.

The Hatch filter is a code-smoothing technique using integrated carrier phase observations. It is an easy technique that non-experts can use to reduce receiver noise on the pseudorange. This paper suggests a new algorithm for the optimal Hatch filter whose smoothing window width varies adaptively depending on the regional, diurnal and seasonal ionospheric variation and satellite elevation angle. We consider both quiet and storm conditions of the ionosphere. Using the well-known quiet ionospheric model, a conservative boundary value for ionospheric storm and the receiver noise statistics function of the satellite elevation angle, this algorithm can mathematically solve the optimal averaging constant for each satellite in every epoch. From a 24 hr data process result and real-time experiment, we found that the position accuracy of the optimal Hatch filter is better and more robust than that of the traditional Hatch filter. The optimal Hatch filter algorithm and its results are expected to provide a new solution for a single-frequency DGPS receiver and a thorough understanding of the relationship between the position error and the averaging constant. Furthermore, a DGPS user who applies this algorithm to a low-cost single-frequency receiver can obtain a more accurate and robust position result than via the classical Hatch filter.K E Y W O R D S 1. DGPS.2. optimal Hatch filter. 3. ionospheric delay.

A single station-based positioning system, known as Mosaic/DME, is introduced. This new system has been designed for the Alternative PNT (APNT) solution to air services as it acts as a backup navigation system in case of GNSS outage. The Mosaic/DME is a single station consisting of conventional DME and multiple pseudolites. The DME is operated using two-way round signals for range measurements, with pseudolites broadcasting one-way continuous signals for carrier phase measurements. The receiver in the aircraft receives both signals and calculates its own position after the ambiguity resolution process. In this paper, the feasibility of this system is studied via two topics: the performance of the navigation accuracy and ambiguity resolution using the weighted dilution of precision and Monte Carlo simulations. The results conclude that this system satisfies the required navigation accuracy of the APNT and yields a very fast and easy ambiguity resolution.

This paper proposes a method that combines compact real-time kinematic (RTK) and reference station (RS) networking techniques, and shows that this approach can reduce both the temporal and spatial decorrelation error. The compact RTK method compatibility with all the conventional network RTK systems, i.e., Master-Auxiliary Concept (MAC), Virtual Reference Stations (VRS), and Fla¨chen-Korrektur Parameter (FKP), is examined theoretically in this paper. To prove that the compact RTK approach is not only valid, but also helpful to the network RTK system, a field test was held using one hour of Receiver Independent Exchange Format (RINEX) data logged every second from Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS). No matter which network RTK method is applied, the Compact Network RTK approach resolves the ambiguity of the carrier phase in 10-40 s and determines position with 6-7 cm horizontal and 7-8 cm vertical error (95%) in a 100 by 100 km region. Moreover, the Compact Network RTK approach enables network RTK service providers to reduce the data-link bandwidth for correction messages to 5-700 bps (bit/s) down from several thousand bps, currently 9600 bps of GPRS/GSM, without a severe degradation of accuracy. K E Y W O R D S 1. Compact RTK. 2. Network RTK. 3. Time delay. 4. Distance-dependent error.