The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1994
Philip R Horkin, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Stephen C Ma, Mesa, AZ (US);
Isaac N Durboraw, III, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
George W Muncaster, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A communication and position locating system (2) suitable for air traffic control is described. Multiple satellites (40) are provided in two geosynchronous constellations. One constellation (e.g., 4 satellites) has a first closed ground track (14). The other (e.g., 2 satellites (161, 182)) has a different ground track (18) or is geostationary, located outside of the first ground track (14). Geolocation information is transmitted by the satellites (40) to aircraft (28) and ground stations (26) so that aircraft (28) can determine their current position. A pseudo range correction map is provided to the aircraft (28) by the base stations (26) to permit differential geolocation measurements. The satellites (40) include communication transceivers (80) so that aircraft (28) can communicate voice and data to other aircraft (28) and to the ground stations (26, 30, 32) and automatically report their position to air traffic control centers (30), e.g., via the satellites (40). High positional accuracy over large geographic areas is obtained.