US 11,736,946 B2
Satellite relaying for geolocation and mitigation of GNSS denial
Robert S. Reis, Palo Alto, CA (US); Shmuel Shaffer, Palo Alto, CA (US); Darren Robert Reis, Palo Alto, CA (US); James M. Behmke, Pembroke, MA (US); and David Alexander Reuss, San Leandro, CA (US)
Assigned to Higher Ground LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Higher Ground LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/186,582.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/039,876, filed on Jun. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/003,438, filed on Apr. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0311203 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. H04W 4/00 (2018.01); H04W 12/122 (2021.01); G01S 19/11 (2010.01); G01S 19/51 (2010.01); G01S 19/42 (2010.01); G01S 19/25 (2010.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.01); G01S 19/21 (2010.01); H04B 7/185 (2006.01); G01S 19/37 (2010.01); G01S 5/14 (2006.01); G01S 19/45 (2010.01); H04W 4/021 (2018.01); H04W 4/02 (2018.01); H04W 64/00 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 12/122 (2021.01) [G01S 5/14 (2013.01); G01S 19/115 (2019.08); G01S 19/21 (2013.01); G01S 19/215 (2013.01); G01S 19/256 (2013.01); G01S 19/258 (2013.01); G01S 19/37 (2013.01); G01S 19/421 (2013.01); G01S 19/45 (2013.01); G01S 19/51 (2013.01); H04B 7/18513 (2013.01); H04W 4/021 (2013.01); H04W 4/023 (2013.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.02); H04W 64/00 (2013.01)] 45 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processing device from a communication satellite along a communication path, a message initiated by a transmitting device, the communication path having a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite, the message indicating a transmission time by the transmitting device;
determining, by the processing device, a reception time upon receiving the message, wherein the processing device and the transmitting device have synchronized clocks;
determining, by the processing device, a time difference between the transmission time and the reception time;
calculating, by the processing device, a distance between the communication satellite and the target device, the distance calculated based on a portion of the determined time difference associated with only traversal of a portion of the communication path that is between the communication satellite and the target device; and
performing, by the processing device, one or more actions based on the distance between the communication satellite and the target device,
wherein the processing device and the transmitting device have synchronized clocks based on the processing device and the transmitting device independently using Global Navigation Satellites System (GNSS) timing, the method further comprising:
declaring a potential spoofing of the GNSS and a lack of clock synchronization between the processing device and the transmitting device in response to the calculated distance between the communication satellite and the target device being an impossible distance based on one or more criteria.