Rapid Acquisition Assisted by Navigation Data for Inter-Satellite Links of Navigation Constellation

Abstract

Introducing inter-satellite ranging and communication links in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) can improve its performance. In view of the highly dynamic characteristics and the rapid but reliable acquisition requirement of inter-satellite link (ISL) signal of navigation constellation, we utilize navigation data, which is the special resource of navigation satellites, to assist signal acquisition. In this paper, we introduce a method that uses the navigation data for signal acquisition from three aspects: search space, search algorithm, and detector structure. First, an iteration method to calculate the search space is presented. Then the most efficient algorithm is selected by comparing the computation complexity of different search algorithms. Finally, with the navigation data, we also propose a method to guarantee the detecting probability constant by adjusting the non-coherent times. An analysis shows that with the assistance of navigation data, we can reduce the computing cost of ISL signal acquisition significantly, as well effectively enhancing acquisition speed and stabling the detection probability.