Process for improving the continuity in the case of a two-frequency navigation satellite system

1. A process for improving continuity in a two-frequency navigation satellite system, said process comprising:

observing the ionosphere by measurements in at least two frequency bands containing the frequencies at which satellites of the two-frequency navigation satellite system transmit satellite navigation signals; and

transmitting an alert message which informs user systems of a change of the ionosphere when at least one measurement indicates a change of the ionosphere that deviates from at least one predefined conditions; wherein,

observation of the ionosphere is performed by at least one of a ground segment of the navigation satellite system, and satellites of the navigation satellite system;

said measurements comprise propagation time measurements of measuring signals transmitted between said ground segment and said satellites, in the at least two frequency bands; and, the measuring signals are distinct from the navigation signals.

2. A process for improving continuity in a two-frequency navigation satellite system, said process comprising:

observing the ionosphere by measurements in at least two frequency bands containing the frequencies at which satellites of the two-frequency navigation satellite system transmit satellite navigation signals; and

transmitting an alert message which informs user systems of a change of the ionosphere when at least one measurement indicates a change of the ionosphere that deviates from at least one predefined conditions;

wherein the observation of the ionosphere by measurements in the at least two frequency bands comprises,

emission of at least one measuring signal, which is transmitted between a ground segment of said navigation satellite system and satellites of the satellite system and which is distinct from the navigation signals; and

measurement of propagation times of said measuring signal for said satellites.

3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission of the alert message is performed by at least one of satellites of the navigation satellite system, and a ground segment of the navigation satellite system.

4. The process according to claim 2 , wherein one of the at least one predefined condition is a minimum duration of a change of the ionosphere.

5. The process according to claim 2 , wherein one of the at least one predefined condition is an exceeding of a predefined maximum propagation time deviation of a measuring signal.

6. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the alert message contains information concerning at least one of a region with respect to which there is a disturbance of the ionosphere, the location and extent of an ionospheric disturbance in a layer at a certain altitude, a polygon which designates a region of an ionospheric disturbance in a layer at a certain altitude, presence of a disturbance, and a delay or a reduction of a delay maximal in a time interval for which continuity is to be ensured.

7. The process according to claim 2 , further comprising:

determining information concerning a change of the ionosphere contained in the alert message; and

computing an influence of the change of the ionosphere on a position indication.

8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein:

the process is carried out by a receiver for satellite signals of a two-frequency navigation satellite system;

the receiver first receives two measuring signals on two different frequencies and then loses one of the measuring signals, so that only one of the two measuring signals will still be available; and

the receiver uses the ionospheric propagation time delay of the measuring signal last determined from the two-frequency measurement for the position indication; and

the receiver decides whether the last-determined ionospheric propagation time delay of the measuring signal can be used for a compensation of the influence of the ionosphere by means of the change of the ionosphere received in the alert message.

9. The process according to claim 7 , further comprising, excluding from the position indication those satellites which, as a result of the computed influence of the change of the ionosphere on the position indication have excessive signal propagation times.

10. The process according to claim 2 , wherein:

said measuring signals are generated and transmitted to said satellites by measuring devices included in said ground segment;

said satellites retransmit the received measuring signals back to said ground segment.

11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein:

said satellites embed their own measuring data in the retransmitted measuring signals; and

said measuring data devices analyze said measuring data embedded in the retransmitted data to detect a disturbance in the ionosphere.

12. The process according to claim 2 , wherein:

said measuring segments are generated, and transmitted to said satellites by measuring devices included in said ground segment; and

said satellites determine, based on said measuring signals, whether a disturbance in the ionosphere is present, and if so, send an alert message directly to user systems and to said ground segment.

13. The process according to claim 12 , wherein one of the at least one predefined condition is a minimum duration of a change of the ionosphere.

14. The process according to claim 12 , wherein one of the at least one predefined condition is an exceeding of a predefined maximum propagation time deviation of a measuring signal.

15. A two-frequency navigation satellite system, which comprises:

a space segment having several satellites that emit satellite navigation signals in two frequencies, said signals containing navigation messages for reception and evaluation by user systems for position indication and navigation; and

a ground segment that includes a plurality of observation and command stations which monitor the satellites; wherein

at least one of i) the observation and command stations, and ii) the satellites observes the ionosphere by measurements in at least two frequency bands containing the frequencies of the two-frequency navigation satellite system, and transmits an alert message which informs user systems of a change of the ionosphere when at least one measurement indicates a change of the ionosphere that deviates from at least one predefined conditions; and

said measurements in at least two frequency bands are made by,

emission of at least one measuring signal, which is transmitted between a ground segment of said navigation satellite system and satellites of the satellite system and which is distinct from the navigation signals; and

measurement of propagation times of said measuring signal for said satellites.