GPS receivers will be integral parts of software-defined radios.

A continuing development effort focuses on implementation of a Global Positioning System (GPS) waveform under the Software Communications Architecture (SCA). [As used within the special technological discipline of the SCA, “waveform” signifies not only a waveform in the commonly understood sense of the word, but also subsystems and components for receiving and transmitting the waveform; subsystems for processing the information conveyed by the waveform; subsystems that perform ancillary communication and control services relevant to the role of the affected software-defined radio (a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver) as a node in a data-communication network; and any or all of the aforesaid information and services.] The intent is to optimize GPS services by providing position and time information as an embedded waveform within a software-defined radio (SDR), rather than using additional GPS chip sets to provide the information. It is further intended that the GPS waveform first will be used to provide position and time information in Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) radios. [The JTRS is a family of military SDRs, waveforms, and cryptographic algorithms designed under the SCA.] The JTRS radios are reprogrammable to run a family of special waveforms that utilize carrier frequencies from 2 MHz to 2 GHz — a frequency range that includes the 1.2- and 1.5-GHz GPS frequencies.

This GPS Waveform (essentially, a software-defined GPS receiver) is initiated as a single aggregate device within an SDR.