Interface Control Documents

The communication boundaries between the Global Positioning System 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.

 

IS-GPS-200

Interface Specification IS-GPS-200 defines the requirements related to the interface between the GPS space and user segments for radio frequency link 1 (L1) and link 2 (L2).

PDF icon IRN-IS-200H-003
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Interface Revision Notice 003 to Revision H (IRN-IS-200H-003), dated Dec 9, 2015, and signed Jul 28, 2016, replaces all prior versions for new design. It incorporates Interface Revision Notices (IRNs) 001 through 003 relative to IS-GPS-200H.

Prior versions are provided here for historical reference purposes. These documents are no longer active for new design. Versions prior to Revision D were designated as ICDs.

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IS-GPS-705

Interface Specification IS-GPS-705 defines the requirements related to the interface between the GPS space and user segments for radio frequency link 5 (L5).

PDF icon IS-GPS-705D
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Revision D (IS-GPS-705D), dated Sep 24, 2013, and signed Mar 21, 2014, replaces all prior versions for new design. It incorporates Interface Revision Notices (IRNs) 001 through 005 relative to IS-GPS-705C.

Prior versions are provided here for historical reference purposes. These documents are no longer active for new design.

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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 multiple GPS signals broadcast at the L1 band, this Interface Specification defines only the signal denoted L1 Civil (L1C).

PDF icon IS-GPS-800D
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Revision D (IS-GPS-800D), dated Sep 24, 2013, and signed Mar 21, 2014, replaces all prior versions for new design. It incorporates Interface Revision Notices (IRNs) 001 through 005 relative to IS-GPS-800C.

Prior versions are provided here for historical reference purposes. These documents are no longer active for new design.

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ICD-GPS-240

Interface Control Document ICD-GPS-240 defines the functional data transfer interface between the GPS Control Segment (CS) and the GPS user and user-support communities during the Operational Control System (OCS)/Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) systems era.

PDF icon ICD-GPS-240A
Download 2.2 MB

Revision A (ICD-GPS-240A), signed Jan 12, 2010, replaces all prior versions for new design.

Prior versions are listed here for historical reference purposes. These documents are no longer active for new design.

  • ICD-GPS-240, Oct 2004

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, but for the OCX era.

PDF icon ICD-GPS-870B
Download 2.3 MB

Revision B (ICD-GPS-870B), dated Sep 24, 2013, and signed Oct 10, 2013, replaces all prior versions for new design. It incorporates Interface Revision Notices (IRNs) 001, 003, and 004 relative to IS-GPS-870A.

Prior versions are provided here for historical reference purposes. These documents are no longer active for new design.

The Air Force did not release the original ICD-GPS-870 to the public but did release a document comparing it with ICD-GPS-870A. Download 409 KB PDF

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Interface Control Working Group

Public Comments Invited on Revised PIRNs

The GPS Directorate seeks comments on three updated PIRNs incorporating inputs received in November-December 2016. Comments are due December 13.

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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.

For additional information about the ICWG, please contact SMCGPER@us.af.mil.

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