In order for receivers to independently determine the ground positions of
the stations they occupy in real time, it was necessary to devise a system for accurate
measurement of signal travel time from satellite to receiver. In GPS, this was
accomplished by modulating the carriers with pseudorandom noise (PRN) codes.
The PRN codes consist of unique sequences of binary values (zeros and ones)
that appear to be random but, in fact, are generated according to a special mathematical
algorithm using devices known as tapped feedback shift registers. Each
satellite transmits two different PRN codes. The L1 signal is modulated with the
precise code, or P code, and also with the coarse/acquisition code, or C/A code.
The L2 signal was modulated only with the P code. Each satellite broadcasts a
unique set of codes known as GOLD codes that allow receivers to identify the
origins of received signals. This identification is important when tracking several
different satellites simultaneously.