Precise absolute time transfer from a satellite system

1. A method of obtaining precise absolute time transfer from a satellite, the method comprising:

receiving a precision time signal from a satellite, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code;

determining a timing phase of the code;

receiving aiding information through a network, wherein the network is provided by ground based infrastructure; and

using the timing phase and the aiding information to determine a precise absolute time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is a cellular network, a WiFi network, or an Internet network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the code alternates between a coarse timing code and a pseudorandom code.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the satellite is a first satellite, the method further comprising:

using the precise absolute time to align positioning correlators of a receiver unit to determine a positioning signal from a second satellite in an attenuated or jammed environment.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second satellite is a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the satellite is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the LEO satellite is an Iridium satellite or a Globalstar satellite.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aiding information is orbit information associated with the satellite, an approximate time within about 5 seconds, an approximate range between the satellite and a receiver unit within about 3000 meters, or clock offset information associated with a clock of the satellite.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the aiding information from a Doppler profile of the satellite.

10. A receiver unit adapted for use in attenuated or jammed environments comprising:

an antenna adapted to receive a precision time signal from a satellite and receive aiding information through a network, wherein the network is provided by ground based infrastructure, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code;

a processor; and

a memory adapted to store a plurality of computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor are adapted to cause the receiver unit to:

determine a timing phase of the code, and

use the timing phase and the aiding information to determine a precise absolute time.

11. The receiver unit of claim 10 , wherein the satellite is a first satellite, the receiver unit further comprising:

system correlators adapted to be aligned based on the precise absolute time to perform navigation based on a positioning signal received from a second satellite.

12. The receiver unit of claim 11 , wherein the system correlators are implemented by the processor.

13. The receiver unit of claim 10 , wherein the satellite is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite.

14. The receiver unit of claim 13 , wherein the LEO satellite is an Iridium satellite or a Globalstar satellite.

15. The receiver unit of claim 10 , wherein the network is a cellular network, a WiFi network, or an Internet network.

16. The receiver unit of claim 10 , wherein the code alternates between a coarse timing code and a pseudorandom code.

17. The receiver unit of claim 10 , wherein the receiver unit is a cellular telephone, a handheld navigation device, a vehicle-based navigation device, or an aircraft-based navigation device.

18. The receiver unit of claim 10 , wherein the precision time signal further comprises data and wherein the determining the timing phase of the code further comprises:

receiving the data over a frequency band of the satellite;

downconverting and sampling the received data;

capturing and storing the sampled data in appropriate blocks;

performing a coarse acquisition search of the sampled data;

screening for peaks in the sampled data;

performing a fine acquisition search at a location of a screened peak determined from the coarse acquisition search so that a best peak is determined; and

determining the timing phase of the code based on an identified message that generated the best peak and relative time.

19. The receiver unit of claim 18 , wherein the performing the coarse acquisition search of the sampled data further comprises:

selecting a portion of the sampled data for detailed processing;

estimating Doppler of the portion of the sampled data using a known orbit model and estimated time;

digitally demodulating the portion of the sampled data with sine and cosine functions based on a known frequency sub band;

decimating the portion of the sampled data;

applying a Fast Fourier Transform to the decimated portion of the sampled data so that a highest peak and associated frequency are determined; and

continuing to a next portion of the sampled data and repeating the detailed processing.