2.3 AUTONOMOUS INTEGRITY MONITORING TECHNIQUES
GPS receivers may track additional satellites for integrity monitoring purposes. This
function is independent of receiver architecture. Integrity monitoring receivers derive
multiple position solutions by excluding one satellite at a time. Inconsistencies in the
results are used to identify and exclude a faulty satellite. In general, at least five
satellites must be tracked to detect an integrity failure, and at least six satellites must
be tracked to exclude an erroneous satellite. Other measurements, such as altitude or
time, may be substituted for satellites in the integrity algorithms, much in the same
manner as these measurements are substituted in the PVT solution. In doing so, the
integrity of the aiding sources is checked as well. The integrity monitoring algorithms
are commonly referred to as Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE) algorithms or as
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM or AIM) algorithms. These algorithms
are typically executed on each new set of measurements, thus protecting the integrity
of each PVT data set output by the receiver. For additional discussion of integrity, refer
to Chapter 12.
2.4 TIME TRANSFER RECEIVERS
One of the more common uses of GPS is for precise time dissemination applications.
Several manufacturers offer this type of equipment commercially. These precise time
GPS receivers need only one GPS satellite for precise time dissemination if the
receiver is stationary on a precisely known location and the only "unknown" is its own
clock offset from GPS time and therefore from UTC. To obtain the necessary precise
position, the receiver either receives it as an operator input or uses four satellites to
determine its own position. These receivers typically include an internal oscillator or an
optional external frequency source (rubidium or cesium). Whenever the receiver is
tracking a satellite, it generates 1, 5, or 10 MHz reference frequencies that are
synchronized to UTC time. If no satellites are visible, the reference frequencies are
derived from the internal or external frequency source. The receivers can provide either
stand alone (uncoordinated) or coordinated time transfer operations. In SPS receivers,
use of SA will reduce the time and position accuracy available. The manufacturers of
time transfer receivers claim time accuracies in the 20 to 50 nanoseconds range, but
this accuracy requires algorithms that average pseudorange measurements over time
(10 60 minutes). A stand alone PPS time receiver normally provides time accuracy in
the 100 nanoseconds range. The advantage of having an external frequency source
interface designed into the receiver is that the long term error in the frequency source
can be adjusted when the receiver has satellites in view. A stationary PPS GPS
receiver with a precise time and time interval (PTTI) interface should be able to provide
UTC to an accuracy of 50 to 60 nanoseconds.
2.5 DIFFERENTIAL GPS (DGPS) RECEIVERS
DGPS receivers are used in applications where enhanced accuracy of the PVT solution
is required or desired. DGPS is based on the principle that receivers in the same
vicinity will see similar errors on a particular satellite ranging signal. In general, the
DGPS technique
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