Interface Control Documents

The Global Positioning System consists of three segments: the space segment, control segment, and user segment, commonly known as user equipment. The communication boundaries that exist between the GPS and other systems, as well as within the GPS itself, are known as interfaces.

Interfaces are documented in Interface Control Documents (ICDs). ICDs are the formal means of establishing, defining, and controlling interfaces and for documenting detailed interface design definition for the GPS program.

Interface Specifications (ISs) are specific types of ICDs. ISs specify a single government office or agency as the only necessary and required approval authority for the document. However, the procedure and the process for development, control, and maintenance is the same for both ICDs and ISs.

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IS-GPS-200

Interface Specification IS-GPS-200 defines the requirements related to the interface between the space segment of the Global Positioning System and the navigation user segment of the GPS for radio frequency link 1 (L1) and link 2 (L2). Versions of the document prior to Revision D were designated as ICDs instead of ISs.

IS-GPS-200E This version of the document, dated June 8, 2010, is currently in effect and supersedes all previous versions. It is designated Revision E.
IS-GPS-200D,
IRN 001 		This older version of the document, dated March 7, 2006, has been superseded and is no longer in effect. It is designated Revision D and includes Interface Revision Notice (IRN) 001 (the blue text in the document). The document is provided here for historical reference purposes.
ICD-GPS-200C,
IRN 004 		This older version of the document, dated April 12, 2000, has been superseded and is no longer in effect. It is designated Revision C and includes IRNs 001 through 004. The document is provided here for historical reference purposes.

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IS-GPS-705

Interface Specification IS-GPS-705 defines the requirements related to the interface between the space segment of the Global Positioning System and the navigation user segment of the GPS for radio frequency link 5 (L5).

IS-GPS-705A This version of the document, dated June 8, 2010, is currently in effect and supersedes all previous versions. It is designated Revision A.
IS-GPS-705,
IRN 003 		This older version of the document, dated September 22, 2005, has been superseded and is no longer in effect. It includes Interface Revision Notices (IRNs) 001 through 003. The document is provided here for historical reference purposes.

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IS-GPS-800

Interface Specification IS-GPS-800 defines the characteristics of a signal transmitted from GPS satellites to navigation receivers on radio frequency link 1 (L1). While there are multiple signals broadcast within the frequency band of L1, this Interface Specification defines only the signal denoted L1 Civil (L1C).

IS-GPS-800A This version of the document, dated June 8, 2010, is currently in effect and supersedes all previous versions. It is designated Revision A.
IS-GPS-800 This older version of the document, dated September 4, 2008, has been superseded and is no longer in effect. The document is provided here for historical reference purposes.

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ICD-GPS-870

Interface Control Document ICD-GPS-870 defines the functional data transfer interface between the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) and the GPS user and user-support communities. The ICD describes the data files that are transferred in this interface and the means by which they are distributed. ICD-GPS-870 captures the same interface as ICD-GPS-240 (Navstar GPS Control Segment to User Support Community Interfaces), but for the OCX era.

ICD-GPS-870A This version of the document, dated November 1, 2011, is currently in effect and supersedes all previous versions. It is designated Revision A.
ICD-GPS-870A
"Was/Is" Matrix		 This document lists all the changes made relative to the original version of ICD-GPS-870.
ICD-GPS-870 This older version of the document, dated August 13, 2010, has been superseded and is no longer in effect. The document is marked "For Official Use Only" and has not been approved for public release.

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Last ICWG Meeting

September 13-15, 2011
SAIC Facility
El Segundo, California Learn more...

Interface Control Working Group

The Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) is a specialized technical working group comprised of appropriate technical representatives from the interfacing activities and other interested participating organizations.

The ICWG serves as a forum to develop and provide interface requirements, as well as focus on interface detail definition and issues.

ICWG members include representatives from the GPS Directorate of the U.S. Air Force, other government agencies and offices, contractors, and other industry organizations.

The detailed description and requirements of ICWGs are provided in the GPS ICWG Charter.
View charter...

ICWGs for documents that are publicly releasable are referred to as Public ICWGs, which are structured the same as the ICWG but with a few additional requirements. The additional requirements include coordinating meetings and documents to the public.

Public ICWG Meetings

For additional information about the ICWG, please contact smc.gperc@ losangeles.af.mil.

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