What term describes the process where a GPS receiver calculates distance from satellites?

The term that describes the process where a GPS receiver calculates distance from satellites is triangulation. This method involves using the known positions of at least three satellites to determine the location of the receiver. Each satellite broadcasts its position and the time the signal was sent. By measuring how long it took for the signal to reach the receiver, the GPS calculates the distance to each satellite.

To locate itself, the GPS receiver uses the distances calculated from multiple satellites and applies trilateration, which is a form of triangulation. This process allows it to pinpoint its position in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. Therefore, it's not just determining a position using angles as one might initially think of with classic triangulation, but rather using distances in a more advanced application of the principle.

While the other terms like localization, observation, and calculation may relate to aspects of GPS technology or the usage of GPS data, they do not specifically define the method of determining a position based on distances calculated from multiple satellites.