Signal transmission surveillance system

• US 8,215,236 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Bass, Jamie
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Application Number:
  US13/004,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20110100201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 102/387, 102/354, 342 13- 15
• US Class Current: 102/387
• 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 projectile deployed above a geographic area.

Claims

1. A method of performing radio frequency surveillance, the method comprising the steps of:

launching an electronic projectile over a defined area;

inhibiting descent of the electronic projectile to slow movement through said defined area;

selectively sending a query signal to a plurality of communication devices adapted to receive said query signal within said defined area when one or more predetermined conditions are met, wherein said query signal triggers said communication devices to transmit a unique identification code signal associated with each of said electromagnetic signal processing communication devices;

detecting a plurality of signals comprising at least radio frequency signals within the defined area, including said unique identification code signals;

monitoring said plurality of signals for trigger events which match predetermined criteria stored in a library, wherein said trigger events include said unique identification code signal;

activating a responder in response to at least one detected said trigger event;

transmitting a source identification signal associated with at least one said trigger event to an operator station; and

generating a radio frequency transmission map in response to the source identification signal.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said source identification signal comprises said predetermined criteria stored in said library.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said predetermined criteria further comprises at least one of a frequency location, a frequency movement, and a frequency duration.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising storing a plurality of time stamp data associated with a respective plurality of said detected signals.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising appending said unique identification code data to one or more of said plurality of signals data, and sending said unique identification code data and said plurality of signals data to said operator station.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of signals further comprises audio or visual signals.

11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising monitoring for predetermined conditions comprising uncontrolled descent.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein said one or more predetermined conditions comprises a command send from said operator station or an processing instruction stored in a storage media in said electronic projectile.

2. A method of performing radio frequency surveillance, the method comprising the steps of:

launching an electronic projectile over a defined area;

inhibiting descent of the electronic projectile to slow movement through said defined area;

selectively sending a query signal to a plurality of communication devices adapted to receive said query signal within said defined area when one or more predetermined conditions are met, wherein said query signal triggers said communication devices to transmit a unique identification code signal associated with each of said communication devices;

detecting a plurality of signals comprising at least radio frequency signals within the defined area, including said unique identification code signals;

monitoring said plurality of signals for trigger events which match predetermined criteria stored in a library, wherein said trigger events include said unique identification code signal;

activating a responder in response to at least one detected said trigger event; and

transmitting a source identification signal associated with at least one said trigger event to an operator station;

wherein the trigger events comprises at least one of a frequency location, a frequency movement, and a frequency duration.

3. A method of performing radio frequency surveillance, the method comprising the steps of:

launching an electronic projectile over a defined area;

inhibiting descent of the electronic projectile to slow movement through said defined area;

selectively sending a query signal to a plurality of communication devices adapted to receive said query signal within said defined area when one or more predetermined conditions are met, wherein said query signal triggers said communication devices to transmit a unique identification code signal associated with each of said communication devices;

detecting a plurality of signals comprising at least radio frequency signals within the defined area, including said unique identification code signals;

monitoring said plurality of signals for trigger events which match predetermined criteria stored in a library, wherein said trigger events include said unique identification code signal;

activating a responder in response to at least one detected said trigger event; and

transmitting a source identification signal associated with at least one said trigger event to an operator station;

wherein the step of activating a responder comprises transmitting a jamming radio frequency signal.

4. A method of performing radio frequency surveillance, the method comprising the steps of:

launching an electronic projectile over a defined area;

inhibiting descent of the electronic projectile to slow movement through said defined area;

selectively sending a query signal to a plurality of communication devices adapted to receive said query signal within said defined area when one or more predetermined conditions are met, wherein said query signal triggers said communication devices to transmit a unique identification code signal associated with each of said communication devices;

detecting a plurality of signals comprising at least radio frequency signals within the defined area, including said unique identification code signals;

monitoring said plurality of signals for trigger events which match predetermined criteria stored in a library, wherein said trigger events include said unique identification code signal;

activating a responder in response to at least one detected said trigger event; and

transmitting a source identification signal associated with at least one said trigger event to an operator station;

wherein the trigger events comprises at least one of a frequency location, a frequency movement, and a frequency duration;

wherein the step of activating a responder comprises detonating an explosive.

5. A method of performing radio frequency surveillance, the method comprising the steps of:

launching an electronic projectile over a defined area;

selectively sending a query signal from said electronic projectile to a plurality of communication devices adapted to receive said query signal within said defined area when one or more predetermined conditions are met, wherein said query signal triggers said communication devices to transmit one or more unique identification code signals associated with each of said communication devices;

the electronic projectile detecting a radio frequency signal within the defined area, including said unique identification code signals, and timestamping the detected radio frequency signal;

determining the location of the electronic projectile at the time the electronic projectile detects the radio frequency signal;

providing an operator station in communication with the electronic projectile;

the operator station detecting the radio frequency signal, and timestamping the radio frequency signal;

determining the location of the operator station at the time the operator station detects the radio frequency signal;

transmitting a source identification signal associated with at least one said trigger event from said electronic projectile to said operator station; and

calculating the location of the source of the radio frequency signal based upon the timestamps of the radio frequency signal, the location of the electronic projectile at the time the electronic projectile detected the radio frequency signal, and the location of the operator station at the time the operator station detected the radio frequency signal.