Optimized time acquisition algorithm for low-power GPS-based watch applications

1. A Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled timepiece, comprising:

a timepiece, the timepiece comprising a local oscillator; and

a GPS receiver, coupled to the timepiece, the GPS receiver using at least the local oscillator and an intelligent search strategy which includes acquiring GPS correction signals at least one time of day, responding only to GPS signals meeting a signal strength threshold, and collecting statistical success rates of acquisition to predict a time at which the timepiece is expected to have improved signal reception, wherein the GPS receiver is powered on based on the predicted time.

2. The GPS enabled timepiece of claim 1 , wherein the GPS receiver provides time updates to the timepiece.

3. The GPS enabled timepiece of claim 2 , wherein the time updates are provided on a periodic basis.

4. The GPS enabled timepiece of claim 1 , wherein the time updates are also used to calibrate a drift of an internal oscillator in the GPS receiver.

5. The GPS enabled timepiece of claim 4 , wherein the local oscillator drift is used to predict the time arrival of the GPS message.

6. The GPS enabled timepiece of claim 1 , wherein a position determined by the GPS receiver is displayed on the timepiece.

7. A method for correcting time offsets in a GPS-enabled timepiece, comprising:

determining a preferred time to power on a GPS receiver portion of the GPS-enabled timepiece;

using at least a local oscillator and an intelligent search strategy to calculate the preferred time, wherein the intelligent search strategy includes the steps of acquiring GPS correction signals at least one time of day, responding only to GPS signals meeting a signal strength threshold, and collecting statistical success rates of acquisition to predict a time at which the timepiece is expected to have improved signal reception and to power on the GPS receiver portion of the GPS-enabled timepiece at the predicted time;

looking for at least one identifiable section, a telemetry word of a first subframe, in a received navigation message of a GPS signal received by the GPS receiver portion after powering on at the preferred time;

determining a correct time using the identifiable section of the received navigation message; and

correcting a time in the GPS-enabled timepiece using the determined correct time.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the correcting is done on a periodic basis.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a period of the periodic basis is determined by an average time error of the timepiece.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the average time error is determined at least by a drift rate of the local oscillator.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the preferred time to power on the GPS receiver portion is selected to reduce the average time to acquire a GPS signal.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the identifiable section of the received navigation message is a Time Of Week (TOW) signal.

13. A GPS-enabled timepiece, wherein a GPS portion of the GPS-enabled timepiece calibrates the GPS-enabled timepiece to display the correct time on a periodic basis, comprising:

means for using at least a local oscillator and an intelligent search strategy to calculate the preferred time, and wherein the intelligent search strategy comprises means for acquiring GPS correction signals at least one time of day, means for responding only to GPS signals meeting a signal strength threshold, and means for collecting statistical success rates of acquisition to predict a time at which the timepiece is expected to have improved signal reception and to power on the GPS receiver portion of the GPS-enabled timepiece at the predicted time;

means for determining a correct time using the identifiable section of the received navigation message; and

means for correcting a time in the GPS-enabled timepiece using the determined correct time.

14. The GPS-enabled timepiece of claim 13 , wherein the time updates are also used to calibrate a drift of an internal oscillator in the GPS receiver.

15. The GPS-enabled timepiece of claim 13 , wherein a local oscillator drift is used to predict the time arrival of the GPS message.

16. The GPS-enabled timepiece of claim 13 , wherein a position determined by the GPS receiver is displayed on the timepiece.