Leica Geosystems GPS Basics - Manual (Page 21)

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GPS Basics -1.0.0en How GPS works
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Other devices such as mobile tele-
phones can also be used for transmis-
sion of data.
In addition to Beacon Systems, other
systems also exist that provide coverage
over large land areas operated by
commercial, privately owned companies.
There are also proposals for govern-
ment owned systems such as the
Federal Aviation Authority’s satellite-
based Wide Area Augmentation System
(WAAS) in the United States, the Euro-
pean Space Agency’s (ESA) system and
a proposed system from the Japanese
government.
There is a commonly used standard for
the format of broadcast GPS data. It is
called RTCM format. This stands for
Radio Technical Commission Maritime
Services, an industry sponsored non-
profit organisation. This format is
commonly used all over the world.