Signal transmission surveillance system

• US 8,055,206 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Bass, Jamie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Tuan
• Application Number:
  US12/551,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/39, 455/67.11, 455/67.7, 455/68, 455/73, 455/550.1, 455/91, 455/98, 455/130
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/006 Mounting of sensors, antennas or target trackers on projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18502 Airborne stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/24 for communication related to weapons
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/41 characterized by the control of the jamming activation or deactivation time control of jamming activation and deactivation time only for the purpose of alternating between jamming mode and target monitoring mode H04K3/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/44 characterized by the control of the jamming waveform or modulation type
• 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 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/92 related to allowing or preventing remote control

Abstract

A system and method of detecting, processing, and selectively responding to radio frequency transmissions detected by at least one electronic signal observation device deployed above a geographic area.

Claims

1. An operator station for communicating with a mobile electronic observation device capable of detecting radio frequency signals in a given geographical area, the operator station comprising:

a communication device comprising a transmitter and receiver, said transmitter is adapted to transmit a plurality of control and data signals to said mobile electronic observation device, wherein said plurality of control signals include a control signal to said mobile electronic observation device to transmit a signal which triggers transmission of a device identifier by one or more devices adapted to transmit or receive electromagnetic frequency signals;

an input and output section adapted to permit a user to receive information from, input data into, and otherwise operate said station and electronic observation device;

a location determination section adapted to determine a location of the operator station;

wherein said receiver is configured to receive a source signal from the mobile electronic observation device, the source signal including a first event pattern data comprising a location of said mobile electronic observation device and time associated with a detected radio frequency signal that the mobile electronic observation device has determined matches one or more of a predetermined plurality of characteristics, said plurality of characteristic comprising said device identifier;

a controller operably coupled to the receiver and including a clock, the controller configured to process the source signal detected by said receiver at said operator station and to create a second detection event pattern data comprising a location of an antenna coupled to said receiver and time of the detected radio frequency signal at the receiver, to compare the first detection event pattern data of the detected radio frequency signal within the source signal and the second detection event pattern data of the detected radio frequency signal by the controller, and to determine a source location of the source signal comprising the detected radio frequency signal and assign a first class of data point representative thereof; and

a user output operably coupled to the controller and configured to provide a graphical representation of said devices adapted to transmit or receive electromagnetic frequency signals associated with the source location represented by the data point.

2. The operator station of claim 1, further comprising mapping software configured to generate a radio frequency data map within the user output based upon one or more said data points.

3. The operator station of claim 1, further containing a docking station capable of electronically coupling with the electronic observation device and facilitating transfer of the detected radio frequency data from the electronic observation device to the controller, wherein the docking station is operatively coupled to the controller.

4. The operator station of claim 3, wherein the docking station, when electronically coupled to the electronic observation device, is further capable of charging a power source of the electronic observation device.

5. The operator station of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the processed data in the source signal to a command center.

6. The operator station of claim 1, wherein the user output includes electronic binoculars capable of displaying visual prompts on an electronic overlay.

7. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said thumbprint further comprises an identifier associated with a device or device class.

8. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said device identifier comprises cell or communication device electronic serial numbers or unique identifiers associated with a member of a plurality or class of devices.

9. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said plurality of control signals further comprises a signal adapted to interfere with one or more said devices adapted to transmit or receive electromagnetic frequency signals.

10. The operator station of claim 9, wherein said interference is adapted to disrupt said devices adapted to transmit or receive electromagnetic frequency signals ability to communicate with a communication network.

11. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said control signals are further adapted to control movement or position of said electronic observation device.

12. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said source signal further comprises signal duration and signal frequency.

13. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is further adapted to transmit a signal which triggers transmission of one or more said device identifiers by said one or more devices adapted to transmit or receive electromagnetic frequency signals, wherein said receiver receives one or more device identifiers and determines a location of said detected radio frequency signal and assigns a second class of data point representations for said detected radio frequency signal, wherein said station further increases location accuracy of said graphical representation based on said first and second classes of data point representations.

14. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said station further comprises a section adapted to encrypt or decrypt signals or data transmitted or received between said electronic observation device and said communication device.

15. The operator station of claim 1, further comprising a section adapted to receive and process video or infrared signals from said electronic observation device, wherein said station is further adapted to display said video or infrared signals.

16. The operator station of claim 1, further comprising a section adapted to receive and process audio signals from said electronic observation device wherein said station is further adapted to display said audio signals.

17. The operator station of claim 1, wherein said control signals further comprise a signal adapted to trigger one or more responder apparatuses on said electronic observation device, said one or more responder apparatuses may comprise a self destruct device, a jamming device, a video device, an infrared device, or an audio recording device.

18. The operator station of claim 1, further comprising a storage medium adapted to store a plurality of data, said plurality of data comprising a threat, condition or event library and predefined trigger events associated with said library.

19. The operator station of claim 18, wherein said plurality of control signals further comprise a trigger event signal which is sent to said electronic observation device when said station matches one or more components of said source signals with one or more data in said library, wherein said trigger event signal causes said electronic observation device to take a predetermined action associated with said data in said library.