Re: [gpsd-dev] Another query on terminology

[Eric S. Raymond]

Sanjeev Gupta <address@hidden>:
> Eric,
> 
> In some document (eg www/NMEA.txt)  we say:
> 
> "
> a. GPS satellites are identified by their PRN numbers, which range from 1
> to 32.
> "
> which implies that "GPS" is the US-specific constellation.  The other
> constellations are referred to by name (GLONASS, BeiDou, etc).  The term
> "GNSS" does not appear.
> 
> In other documents (www/hacking.html.in) we seem to use the term GNSS as
> complementary: "The GPS/GNSS monitoring tools"
> 
> 
> In drivers.c , I see:
> :
> 3  NMEA_SEN_GGA,  GPGGA   interval - GPS Fix Data
> 4  NMEA_SEN_GSA,  GPGSA   interval - GNSS DOPS and Active Satellites
> 5  NMEA_SEN_GSV,  GPGSV   interval - GNSS Satellites in View
> 6  NMEA_SEN_GRS,  GPGRS   interval - GNSS Range Residuals
> 7  NMEA_SEN_GST,  GPGST   interval - GNSS Pseudorange Errors Statistics
> 13 NMEA_SEN_MALM, PMTKALM interval - GPS almanac information
> "
> which seems to be mixing up stuff.
> 
> Suggestion: we use either one of:
> 
>    1. GNSS as a generic, and GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou as systems
>    2. GPS as generic, and Navstar, GLONASS, BeiDou as systems
> 
> Once you take this decision, I believe it will hep clarify the PRN issue a
> little as well.  This will not impact code, just the documentation.
> -- 
> Sanjeev Gupta
> +65 98551208     http://www.linkedin.com/in/ghane

I've been thinking about this as well.  Let's go with 2, it will confuse
most people less I think.  Go ahead and patch this.  Include definition
of "Navstar" where appropriate, and mention the ambiguity of "GPS".
-- 
                <a href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/";>Eric S. Raymond</a>