Aiming at providing a 24h / 24h archive
of EGNOS messages, ESA has launched a new service called
EGNOS Message Server (EMS). The EMS service is accessible
free-of-charge, using standard means (specifically,
the FTP protocol). In practical terms, EMS is accessible
by simply introducing an address in Internet Explorer
or Netscape Web browsers.
EMS stores the augmentation messages broadcast by EGNOS
in hourly text files, which are organised over a pre-defined
hierarchy of directories. All the information necessary
to access EMS and exploit its data is explained in the
EMS User Interface Document (UID).
This document can be understood as a comprehensive EMS
user guide, focusing both on developers of applications
and also on general users wanting to simply browse the
EMS archive.
The ESA EMS service opens the door to new forms of synergy
between the EGNOS system and the Internet. Some possible
applications are:
Interfacing simulation / analysis tools to EMS,
being able to automatically evaluate the EGNOS performances
over a given period.
Combining GPS data from the IGS network sites with
EGNOS messages got from EMS, being able to assess
EGNOS performances at the location of the IGS sites.
An interpolation process could easily derive performance
maps covering Europe.
Performing EGNOS tests using GPS-only receivers.
Using GPS-only data and the EGNOS messages got from
EMS, it is possible to apply the EGNOS corrections
and integrity information on the post-processing stage.
Test of EGNOS receivers. EMS data can be used offline
to simulate the presence of the EGNOS Signal-in-Space,
easing algorithm testing.
Test of SISNeT-enabled EGNOS receivers. In this
case, the presence of SISNeT can be simulated offline,
saving communication costs (e.g. GSM or GPRS fees).
EMS constitutes and enhancement of the possibilities
offered by the ESA SISNeT project: while SISNeT allows
accessing the EGNOS messages in real-time, EMS permits
an offline access to a huge archive of already broadcast
messages.
The use of EMS is based on the understanding of the Disclaimer.