GPS Signal Detection Using Hypothesis Testing Analysis

GPS signal detection using hypothesis testing analysis are given by using the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) approach, applying the model of intermediate frequency (IF) GPS signal of one satellite in white Gaussian noise. The test statistic follows central or noncentral F distribution and is nearly identical to central or noncentral chi-squared distribution because the processing samples are large enough to be considered as infinite in GPS acquisition algorithms. The probability of false alarm, the probability of detection and the threshold are affected largely when the hypothesis testing refers to the full PRN code phase and Doppler frequency search space cells instead of to each individual cell. The performance of the test statistic is also given with combining the noncoherent integration. Given the probability of false alarm to achieve a desired probability of detection, examples are illustrated to determine the relations among the threshold, the coherent integration time, the number of noncoherent integration and signal to noise ratio.