Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the potential precise time and time interval user with special reference to real-time systems. An overview of GPS operation is presented, and GPS error sources are described as they relate to the timing user. A review of receiver types and receiver tasks provides the basis for understanding GPS time transfer techniques. The accuracies provided by different techniques are reviewed and the special requirements for GPS time and frequency receivers as well as modern timing receiver enhancements are described. The precise time standard provided by GPS is traced through its path from global standards to the user application. GPS time dissemination failure modes that result from control problems, space craft failures, and receiver failures are outlined.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allan, D. W. 1994. System accuracy proves it's time for GPS. GPS World Showcase (December): 20.
Allan, D. W. 1995. Personal communication.
Allan, David W. and Dewey, Wayne P. 1993. Time domain spectrum of GPS SA. Proceedings of The Institute of Navigation: GPS 93, the Sixth International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division. Salt Lake City, UT.
Allan, D. W. and others. 1995. Improved time and frequency transfer opportunities via GPS. Proceedings of the 1995 European Frequency and Time Forum. Bescancon, France.
Anon. 1987. Interface Control Document—Global Positioning System. ICD-GPS-200 Rev. B. Rockwell International.
Anon. 1992. Global Positioning System Information Center (GPSIC) Users Manual. Alexandria, VA: U. S. Department of Transportation, U. S. Coast Guard.
Anon. 1995. Global Positioning System Standard Positioning Service Signal Specification. 2nd edition. United States Coast Guard Navigation Center.
Barnes, J. W. 1995. Personal communication.
Braasch, M. S. 1995. Isolation of GPS multipath and receiver tracking errors. Navigation: Journal of the Institute of Navigation 41(4): 415–434.
Brottlund, B. and Harris, C. 1995. UTC reference week calculation errors during GPS week 767. GPS World (February): 56.
Butterline, E. W. 1993. Reach out and time someone. GPS World (January): 32–40.
Cannon, M. E. and others. 1994. Performance analysis of a narrow correlator spacing receiver for precise static GPS positioning. In IEEE 1994 Position Location and Navigation Symposium Proceedings. Las Vegas, NV, pp. 355–360.
Clements, P. A. 1990. GPS: Out of this world. GPS World (September/October): 29–35.
Dana, P. H. and Penrod, B. M. 1990. The role of GPS in precise time and frequency dissemination. GPS World (July/August): 38–43.
Defense Mapping Agency. 1987. DMA Technical Report: Supplement to Department of Defense World Geodetic System 1984 Technical Report. Part I and II. Washington, DC: Defense Mapping Agency.
Dunn and others. 1993. Time and position accuracy using codeless GPS. In 25th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting. Marina Del Rey, CA, pp. 169–179.
Easton, R. L. 1978. The navigation technology program. Navigation: Journal of the Institute of Navigation 25(2): 107–112.
Fees, W. A. and Stephens, S. G. 1987. Evaluation of GPS ionospheric time-delay model. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems AES-23(3), (May).
Georgiadou, Y. and Doucet, K. D. 1990. The issue of selective availability. GPS World (September/October): 53–56.
Gouzhva, Y. G. and others. 1992. High-precision time and frequency dissemination with GLONASS. GPS World (July/August): 40–49.
Gouzhva, Y. G. and others. 1995. Getting in sync: GLONASS clock synchronization. GPS World (April): 48–56.
GPS World. 1995a. GPS World receiver survey. GPS World (January): 50–67.
GPS World. 1995b. Washington view. GPS World (November): 16–19.
Gupta. S. K. 1980 Test and evaluation procedures for the GPS user equipment. Global Positioning System, Volume I. Washington, DC: Institute of Navigation.
Hough, H. 1991. A GPS precise timing sampler. GPS World (October): 33–36.
King, M. T. and others. 1995. Prediction of the time accuracy and integrity of GPS timing. In Proceedings of the 1995 Frequency Control Symposium. Boston, MA.
Klepczynski, W. J. 1983. Modern navigation systems and their relation to timekeeping. Proceeding of the IEEE 71(10): 1193–1198.
Klobuchar, J. A. 1982. Ionospheric corrections for the single frequency user of the Global Positioning System. In Proceedings of the National Telesystems Conference. Galveston, TX.
Knight, J. E. and Rhoades, K. W. 1987. Differential GPS static and dynamic test results. In Proceedings of the Institute of Navigation Satellite Division First Technical Meeting. Colorado Springs, CO: Institute of Navigation.
Kuster, J. A. and others. 1994. A no-drift and less than 1 × 10–13 long term stability quartz oscillator using a GPS SA filter. Presented at the 1994 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium. Boston, MA.
Langley, R. B. 1991. Time, clocks, and GPS. GPS World (November/December): 38–42.
Langley, R. B. 1995. GPS and the Internet. GPS World (November): 59–63.
Lewandowski, W. 1993. GPS-common-view time transfer. In 25th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting. Marina Del Rey, CA, pp. 133–148.
Lewandowski, W., Petit, G. and Thomas, C. 1991. The need for GPS standardization. In 23rd Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting. Pasadena, CA, pp. 1–14.
Mills, D. L. 1991. Internet time synchronization: The network time protocol. IEEE Trans. Communications 39: 1482–1493.
Navin, P. 1993. GPS clock error. GPS World (May): 19.
Pietraszewski, D. and others. 1987. Status of United States Coast Guard sponsored differential GPS demonstration system development. In Proceedings of the Satellite Division First Technical Meeting The Institute of Navigation. Colorado Springs, CO, pp. 243–250.
Rawicz, H. C., Epstein, M. A. and Rajan, J. A. 1992. The time keeping system for GPS Block IIR. In 24th annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting. McLean, VA, pp. 5–28.
Shank, C. and Lavrakas, J. W. 1994. Inside GPS: The master control station. GPS World (September): 46–54.
Stein, S. R., Fox, C. Bartholomew, T. R. and Gifford, G. A. 1991. GPS time determination and dissemination: A tutorial. In Tutorials from the Twenty-third Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting. Pasadena, CA, pp. 109–146.
The White House. 1996. Fact Sheet: U.S. Global Positioning Policy. Washington, DC: Office of Science and Technology Policy National Security Council.
Thomas, C. and Allan, D.W. 1993. A real-time prediction of UTC. In 25th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting. Marina Del Ray, CA, pp. 217–229.
Toolin, M. 1992. GPS in a Russian telecommunications network. GPS World (June): 28–34.
Turner, R. N. and others. 1986. Architecture and performance of a real time differential GPS ground station. Proceedings of the Forty-second Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA: Institute of Navigation.
U. S. DoT. 1977. Department of Transportation National Plan for Navigation. Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Transportation.
U. S. DoD and DoT. 1986. 1986 Federal Radionavigation Plan. DOT-TSC-RSPA-87-3/DOD-4650.5. Springfield, VA: National Technical Information Service.
U. S. DoD and DoT. 1993. 1992 Federal Radionavigation Plan. DOT-VNTSC-VSPA-92-2/DOD-4650.5. Springfield, VA: National Technical Information Service.
U. S. DoD and DoT. 1995. 1994 Federal Radionavigation Plan. DOT-VNTSC-RSPA-95-1. Springfield, VA: National Technical Information Service.
USNO. 1993. Daily Time Differences series 4. (24 Feb).
Van Dierendonck, A. J., Fenton, P. and Ford, T. 1992. Theory and performance of narrow correlator spacing in a GPS receiver. Navigation: Journal of the Institute of Navigation 39(3): 265–283.
Ward, P. 1995. GPS receiver RF interference monitoring, mitigation, and analysis techniques. Navigation: Journal of the Institute of Navigation 41(4): 367–391.
Werner, U. H. 1993. Improving mobile communications with GPS. GPS World (May): 40–43.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dana, P.H. Global Positioning System (GPS) Time Dissemination for Real-Time Applications. Real-Time Systems 12, 9–40 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007906014916
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007906014916