GPStid

GPStid is a term used in GPS-related data processing to refer to a unique identifier attached to a specific GPS data item or time epoch within a receiver, log, or processing pipeline. It serves to tag data for synchronization, integrity checks, and cross-referencing across systems. A GPStid typically includes a time component—such as a GPS time epoch or time-of-week—and may also incorporate optional identifiers like a receiver ID, session ID, or data stream tag. The exact format varies by vendor and project, and there is no single universal standard for GPStid.

In practice, GPStid is used in log files and data streams to enable rapid matching of measurements with their corresponding ephemeris information, navigation messages, or ancillary metadata during processing or debugging. Implementations may produce numeric, alphanumeric, or composite string identifiers. They can be generated sequentially within a session or derived from a higher-level time reference, depending on the system design.

GPStid facilitates data correlation in multi-source environments, helping to align observations from different receivers or sensors by providing a common time anchor. Some GNSS software packages expose GPStid values to users for filtering, traceability, quality control, and troubleshooting. A key limitation is the potential for ambiguity when different tools or vendors employ incompatible GPStid schemes, underscoring the value of clear documentation and, when possible, data translation utilities when exchanging data between tools.

See also: GPS, GNSS data formats, time-stamping, data integrity, log management.