Multi-system-based detection and mitigation of GNSS spoofing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11971490-B2
Application number	US-202117186611-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2021
Priority date	Apr 1, 2020
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques for multi-system-based detection and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: obtaining a first location of an object from a primary location determination hardware system; obtaining a second location of the object from a secondary location determination hardware system; determining a distance difference between the first location and the second location; determining whether the distance difference between the first location and the second location is acceptable based on a threshold distance; and initiating one or more mitigation actions in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being unacceptable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
obtaining, by a process, a first location of an object from a primary location determination hardware system;
obtaining, by the process, a second location of the object from a secondary location determination hardware system;
determining, by the process, a distance difference between the first location and the second location;
determining, by the process, whether the distance difference between the first location and the second location is acceptable based on a threshold distance; and
initiating, by the process, one or more mitigation actions in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being unacceptable, wherein one of the one or more mitigation actions comprises switching from utilization of the primary location determination hardware system to the secondary location determination hardware system for geolocation of the object.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the primary location determination hardware system is based on distances to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, and wherein the secondary location determination hardware system is based on distances to communication satellites.

3. The method as in claim 2 , wherein:
distances to communication satellites are calculated by echo messages communicated between the communication satellites and the object, or
distances to communication satellites are calculated by one-way relay messages communicated between the communication satellites and the object, or both.

4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the object is a mobile device.

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the process is executed on a ground station in communication with the object, or
the process is executed on the object, when the object is a mobile device.

6. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the primary location determination hardware system and secondary location determination hardware system are located on first and second devices, respectively, wherein the first and second devices are in communication with each other.

7. The method as in claim 6 , wherein one of the first and second devices is the object.

8. A method, comprising:
obtaining, by a process, a first location of an object from a primary location determination hardware system;
obtaining, by the process, a second location of the object from a secondary location determination hardware system;
determining, by the process, a distance difference between the first location and the second location;
determining, by the process, whether the distance difference between the first location and the second location is acceptable based on a threshold distance; and
initiating, by the process, one or more mitigation actions in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being unacceptable, wherein the primary location determination hardware system and secondary location determination hardware system are located on a single device.

9. The method as in claim 8 , wherein:
the single device is the object; or
the single device is a separate device other than the object.

10. The method as in claim 8 , wherein one of the one or more mitigation actions comprises switching from utilization of the first location to the second location.

11. The method as in claim 8 , wherein the primary location determination hardware system is based on distances to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, and wherein the secondary location determination hardware system is based on distances to communication satellites.

12. The method as in claim 11 , wherein:
distances to communication satellites are calculated by echo messages communicated between the communication satellites and the object, or
distances to communication satellites are calculated by one-way relay messages communicated between the communication satellites and the object, or both.

13. The method as in claim 8 , wherein the object is a mobile device.

14. The method as in claim 8 , wherein:
the process is executed on a ground station in communication with the object, or
the process is executed on the object, when the object is a mobile device.

15. The method as in claim 8 , wherein the primary location determination hardware system and secondary location determination hardware system are located on first and second devices, respectively, wherein the first and second devices are in communication with each other.

16. The method as in claim 15 , wherein one of the first and second devices is the object.

17. A method, comprising:
obtaining, by a process, a first location of an object from a primary location determination hardware system;
obtaining, by the process, a second location of the object from a secondary location determination hardware system, wherein the primary location determination hardware system has a better sensitivity than the secondary location determination hardware system;
determining, by the process, a distance difference between the first location and the second location;
determining, by the process, whether the distance difference between the first location and the second location is acceptable based on a threshold distance; and
initiating, by the process, one or more mitigation actions in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being unacceptable.

18. The method as in claim 17 , wherein one of the one or more mitigation actions comprises switching from utilization of the first location to the second location.

19. The method as in claim 17 , wherein the object is a mobile device.

20. The method as in claim 17 , wherein:
the process is executed on a ground station in communication with the object, or
the process is executed on the object, when the object is a mobile device.

21. The method as in claim 17 , wherein the primary location determination hardware system and secondary location determination hardware system are located on first and second devices, respectively, wherein the first and second devices are in communication with each other.

22. The method as in claim 21 , wherein one of the first and second devices is the object.

23. A method, comprising:
obtaining, by a process, a first location of an object from a primary location determination hardware system;
obtaining, by the process, a second location of the object from a secondary location determination hardware system;
determining, by the process, a distance difference between the first location and the second location;
determining, by the process, whether the distance difference between the first location and the second location is acceptable based on a threshold distance;
initiating, by the process, one or more mitigation actions in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being unacceptable; and
utilizing the first location in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being acceptable.

24. The method as in claim 23 , wherein one of the one or more mitigation actions comprises switching from utilization of the first location to the second location.

25. The method as in claim 23 , wherein the primary location determination hardware system is based on distances to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, and wherein the secondary location determination hardware system is based o

Assignees

• Higher Ground Llc

Inventors

• Reis Robert S
• Shaffer Shmuel
• Reis Darren Robert
• Behmke James M
• Reuss David Alexander

Classifications

• G01S19/20

  Integrity monitoring, fault detection or fault isolation of space segment · CPC title

• G01S19/215

  issues related to spoofing · CPC title

• G01S19/21 Primary

  Interference related issues {; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service} · CPC title

• G01S19/421

  by combining or switching between position solutions or signals derived from different satellite radio beacon positioning systems; by combining or switching between position solutions or signals derived from different modes of operation in a single system · CPC title

• G01S5/14

  Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location · CPC title