Key Takeaways

  • GPS technology originated in the 1970s as a military innovation and has evolved through numerous patented advancements.
  • Roger L. Easton, Ivan A. Getting, and Bradford Parkinson were pivotal in GPS development; Easton’s patent emphasized passive ranging.
  • GPS systems consist of space, control, and user segments; improvements include touchscreens, multifunctionality, and increased satellite coverage.
  • GPS patents span diverse applications—vehicle safety, location-based services, augmented GPS accuracy, and user behavior prediction.
  • GPS patent rights are often subject to licensing, especially in consumer electronics where standard-essential patents (SEPs) are involved.

GPS patents refer to the exclusive rights that the United States government grants to inventors of GPS technologies and devices. They prohibit other parties from producing, selling, or commercializing the patented products for a specific time frame. GPS has become more advanced over the years because of many patented inventions. Today, it finds application in numerous industries and the daily lives of many people around the world.

What Is GPS?

GPS stands for “global positioning system.” It uses time-code information and satellite technology to determine an electronic receiver's location in the world. The United States government developed this navigation system to give users a three-dimensional positioning system.

GPS technology has become increasingly more accurate and advanced over the years. The receivers have become smaller, making the system suitable for application in a wide range of hand-held devices. The United States maintains 32 satellites in six orbital planes. These satellites communicate with monitoring stations and the numerous GPS signals in millions of electronic devices around the world.

When Did It All Start?

GPS was developed in 1973 and introduced to the public for the first time in the mid-1980s.

Why Was It Invented and Who Uses It Now?

GPS was initially developed for military use. It was meant to provide a constantly available global navigational platform and improve on existing navigational systems. Now, it also serves as a consumer technology, offering valuable assistance in vehicle navigation. In addition, the system helps emergency response teams navigate through difficult terrain and improve the efficiency of their search-and-rescue endeavors.

Who Invented the GPS?

Roger L. Easton, Ivan A. Getting, and Bradford Parkinson are credited with the invention of the GPS. The United States Department of Defense was largely responsible for launching the system around the world.

The Original GPS Navigation Patent and Its Abstract

About 40 years ago, Roger L. Easton applied for the “Navigation System Using Satellites and Passive Ranging Techniques” patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The navigation system functions to determine the user's location by measuring the distance between their GPS equipment and satellites of known location. Each satellite sends multi-frequency signals through a stable oscillator that is phase-synchronized with the equipment of the navigator, which delivers similar multi-frequency signals. By comparing the phases of signals from satellites and signals that are locally produced, the navigation system can determine the distance between the satellites and the navigator, as well as the navigator's location.

What Components Comprise the GPS?

The GPS system consists of three segments:

  • Space segment — This segment comprises 32 satellites orbiting the earth at an average altitude of 20,000 km. These satellites are complex mechanical structures that are specially designed to withstand pressure, cold, and radiation in space.
  • Control segment — This segment is made up of the United States government and the governments of other countries. The governments run and maintain the system and help send GPS information to users around the world.
  • User segment — The user segment consists of all users of GPS-enabled devices. These devices have a GPS receiver, circuit board, and a touchscreen.

How Was the Product Originally Made?

The first GPS device resembled a paper towel dispenser. Consisting of a GPS receiver, circuit board, and plastic polymers, it was significantly larger than today's GPS devices.

What Innovations Have Been Made to the Original Product and Why?

The GPS has undergone many improvements over the years. Here are some of the more notable ones:

  • Touchscreen — Most modern GPS devices come with touchscreen capability. With only one button, they are simple enough for use by the common user.
  • Multi-functionality — Some GPS units have additional functions such as MP3 players and e-readers.
  • Improved communication — The use of high-powered inter-atmospheric transmitters has led to improved communication between control stations and satellites.
  • Fewer dead zones — With 32 fully-operational satellites instead of the initial 24, there are fewer dead zones on Earth.

Some Interesting GPS Patents

Patent No. 8539380

Held by Horvitz, Krumm, and Hariharan, this patent is for an innovation that uses GPS signals and location logs to determine user activities and goals.

Patent No. 8538690

Invented by Li, Teng, and Lu, this system upgrade integrates vehicle location and spatial recognition to provide alerts for avoiding impact.

Patent No. 8538667

Friedlander and Kraemer created this system upgrade to enable users to gain information about current road conditions through their devices and vehicles.

Recent Trends in GPS Patent Filings

Recent GPS patent activity has shifted toward integrating AI and predictive analytics. New filings increasingly focus on:

  • Behavioral prediction using location history.
  • Augmented reality navigation.
  • Sensor fusion combining GPS with inertial measurement units (IMUs) and machine learning.
  • Energy-efficient GPS processing for wearable tech.

These innovations reflect the growing complexity and functionality of GPS applications beyond basic navigation​.

Licensing and Patent Rights in the GPS Industry

Many companies that hold key GPS patents license them as part of broader technology portfolios. For instance, manufacturers of smartphones, automotive systems, and fitness devices often enter licensing agreements to legally implement patented GPS functionality.

In some cases, these patents are considered Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) if they're necessary to comply with global GPS communication standards. SEP holders are generally required to offer licenses on Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) terms. This helps promote wider industry adoption while preserving intellectual property rights​.

Wireless-Assisted GPS Systems

A major innovation came with the development of wireless-assisted GPS (A-GPS) technologies. These systems integrate mobile network data with satellite signals to enhance accuracy, particularly in urban environments or indoor settings where satellite line-of-sight is limited. One such advancement was documented in the Wireless Network Assisted GPS System patent, which focused on reducing the time to first fix (TTFF) and enabling quicker, more reliable positioning on smartphones and other mobile devices​.

Notable Historical Milestones in GPS Patents

One of the earliest and most influential patents in GPS history was U.S. Patent No. 3,789,409, issued to Roger L. Easton in 1974. Titled “Navigation System Using Satellites and Passive Ranging Techniques,” this patent laid the groundwork for global positioning by using passive signals from multiple satellites to triangulate position. The technology emphasized synchronization through atomic clocks and phase comparisons—a method still integral to modern GPS today​.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a GPS patent? A GPS patent is a legal right granted for inventions related to GPS technologies, including satellite-based positioning systems, signal processing, and location-based services.

2. Who owns the original GPS patent? The original GPS patent was awarded to Roger L. Easton, who worked for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The patent emphasized satellite-based passive ranging.

3. Can GPS patents be licensed? Yes, many GPS patents—especially those categorized as standard-essential—are licensed under FRAND terms, allowing other companies to use them in GPS-enabled products.

4. How do wireless-assisted GPS systems improve accuracy? A-GPS systems combine satellite data with cellular network information to improve location accuracy, especially in areas with poor satellite visibility.

5. Are there recent innovations in GPS patents? Yes, recent patents focus on integrating GPS with AI, user behavior analysis, augmented reality, and low-power consumption technologies.

If you need help with GPS patents, you can post your legal need on Upcounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.