METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ALLOCATING ELECTROMAGNETIC-SPECTRUM JAMMING ASSETS

• US 20160105254A1
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Bodenschatz, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,641,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/24 for communication related to weapons
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/34 involving multiple cooperating jammers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/92 related to allowing or preventing remote control

Abstract

Embodiments of a method and apparatus for assigning electromagnetic-spectrum (ES) jamming assets are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the method includes dividing an electronic warfare (EW) support area into a grid. The method may further include determining a vulnerability area (VA) of the entity based on planned route information of the entity within the EW support area. The VA may include portions of the grid. The method may further include assigning a first jamming asset to the VA based on a coverage capability of the first jamming asset. The coverage capability may include a number of contiguous portions of the grid.

Claims

1. A method for assigning electromagnetic-spectrum (ES) jamming assets for protection of an entity, the method comprising:

dividing an electronic warfare (EW) support area into a grid;

determining a vulnerability area (VA) of the entity based on planned route information of the entity within the EW support area, the VA including portions of the grid; and

assigning a first jamming asset to the VA based on a coverage capability of the first jamming asset, the coverage capability including a number of contiguous portions of the grid.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the determined VA based on location information of the entity; and

updating the assignment of jamming assets based on the updated VA.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

updating the determined VA and updating the assignment of jamming assets responsive to receiving location information and type information of an ES threat within the EW support area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the updating is based on a threat range of the ES threat.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the threat range is determined based on the type information of the ES threat.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the type information includes receiver sensitivity for a receiver corresponding to the threat.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a second jamming asset to the VA, the second jamming asset assigned to at least one portion of the VA not covered by the first jamming asset.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a display of entity coverage, the display including the grid, an indication of the VA, and an indication of the number of portions of the VA covered by the first jamming asset;

modifying the entity coverage based on a modification request received through a user input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning further comprises:

generating assignment decisions for covering portions of the grid based on preferences for protecting the entity

in a previous geographic position of the entity,

in a current geographic position of the entity, and

in a future geographic position of the entity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the planned route information is received in a message in accordance with a standard of the Joint Variable Message Format (JVMF) family of standards.

11. A method for protecting an entity on a battlefield, the method comprising:

dividing the battlefield into a grid;

determining vulnerability information of the entity based on a planned route of the entity within the battlefield, the vulnerability information including

a geographic vulnerability area (VA) including portions of the grid, and

timing information for times that the entity is predicted to be located in corresponding portions of the grid;

identifying a set of electromagnetic spectrum (ES) jamming systems within a distance of at least one portion of the VA; and

transmitting instructions to an ES jamming system of the set of ES jamming systems instructing the ES jamming system to provide coverage to the VA for a time period.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the set comprises:

determining maneuver distances between a current location of each of a plurality of ES jamming systems and the VA; and

allocating one or more of the plurality of ES jamming systems to the set of ES jamming systems based on the determined maneuver distances.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting instructions further comprises:

determining an amount of time needed for the ES jamming system to travel a respective maneuver distance to a portion of the grid from which coverage is to be provided; and

transmitting maneuver instructions, based on the determined amount of time, to the ES jamming system instructing the ES jamming system to travel to the portion of the grid.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving updated location information of the entity; and

providing jamming signals in a portion of the VA based on the updated location information of the entity.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing jamming signals in a first portion for a time duration subsequent to receiving a notification that the entity has left the first portion.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

suppressing jamming signals in a first portion responsive to receiving a notification that the entity is within the first portion.

17. An apparatus for assigning electromagnetic-spectrum (ES) jamming assets for protection of an entity, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors configured to

divide an electronic warfare (EW) support area into a grid;

determine a vulnerability area (VA) of the entity based on planned route information of the entity within the EW support area, the VA including portions of the grid; and

assign a first jamming asset to the VA based on a coverage capability of the first jamming asset, the coverage capability including a number of contiguous portions of the grid; and

a communication interface configured to

receive route information from a command server; and

transmit assignment notifications to the jamming assets.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein

the communication interface is further configured to receive location information of the entity;

and

the one or more processors are further configured to

update the determined VA based on the location information;

update the assignments based on the updated VA; and

assign a second jamming asset to the VA, the second jamming asset assigned to at least one portion of the VA not covered by the first jamming asset.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein

the communication interface is further configured to receive location information and type information of an ES threat within the geographic area;

and

the one or more processors are further configured to

determine a threat range of the ES threat based on the type information of the ES threat, the type information including a receiver sensitivity for a receiver corresponding to the ES threat; and

update the determined VA and the assignment of jamming assets based on the location information and the threat range of the ES threat.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a user display configured to display entity coverage, the display of entity coverage including the grid, an indication of the VA, and an indication of the number of portions of the VA covered by the first jamming asset; and

a user input device configured to receive a user input accepting or modifying the entity coverage.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the planned route information is received in a message in accordance with a standard of the Joint Variable Message Format (JVMF) family of standards.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when implemented on the EWBM device, cause the EWBM device to:

determine maneuver distances between a current location of each of a plurality of ES jamming systems and the VA; and

allocate one or more of the plurality of ES jamming systems to the set of ES jamming systems based on the determined maneuver distances.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions that, when implemented on the EWBM device, cause the EWBM device to:

determine an amount of time needed for an allocated ES jamming system to travel a respective maneuver distance to a portion of the grid from which coverage is to be provided; and

transmit maneuver instructions, based on the determined amount of time, to the allocated ES jamming system instructing the allocated ES jamming system to travel to the portion of the grid.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising instructions that, when implemented on the EWBM device, cause the EWBM device to:

receive updated location information from the entity;

provide jamming signals in a portion of the VA based on the updated location information of the entity.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24 further comprising instructions that, when implemented on the EWBM device, cause the EWBM device to:

provide jamming signals in a first portion for a time duration subsequent to receiving a notification that the entity has left the first portion; and

suppress jamming signals in the first portion responsive to receiving a notification that the entity is within the first portion.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed on an Electronic Warfare Battle Management (EWBM) device, cause the EWBM device to:

divide a battlefield into a grid;

determine vulnerability information of an entity based on a planned route of the entity within the battlefield, the vulnerability information including

a geographic vulnerability area (VA) including portions of the grid and

timing information for times that the entity is predicted to be located in corresponding portions of the grid;

identify a set of electromagnetic spectrum (ES) jamming systems within a distance of at least one portion of the VA; and

transmit instructions to an ES jamming system of the set of ES jamming systems instructing the ES jamming system to provide coverage to the VA for a time period.