Systems, methods, and devices having databases and automated reports for electronic spectrum management

• US 8,787,836 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DGS Global Systems, Inc., Digital Global Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DGS Global Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Carbajal, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US14/087,441
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 375316-352
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for automated identification of signals and devices in a wireless communications spectrum, by identifying sources of signal emission in the spectrum by automatically detecting signals, analyzing signals, comparing signal data to historical and reference data, creating corresponding signal profiles, and automatically identifying signals and devices, comparing and storing data from a multiplicity of units and automatically generating reports for a wireless communications spectrum in near real time.

Claims

1. A system for providing advanced analytics and automated reports relating to a wireless communications spectrum comprising:

at least one apparatus, wherein each apparatus is operable for network-based communication with at least one server computer including a database, and/or with at least one other apparatus, but does not require a connection to the at least one server computer to be operable for identifying signal emitting devices;

wherein each apparatus is operable for sensing and/or measuring signals related to signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications including;

a housing, at least one processor and memory, and sensors constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals from signal emitting devices in the spectrum associated with wireless communications;

wherein each apparatus is operable to automatically analyze sensed and measured data, including determination of changes in state from a baseline dataset in near real time;

each apparatus including a static database comprising hardware parameters, environment parameters and terrain data to calculate signal degradation data for identifying the signal emitting devices;

wherein each apparatus is operable for automatically generating reports of the advanced analytics in near real time, and for displaying resulting data and the reports.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each apparatus is operable for storing information about open space to the memory on each apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensed and measured data includes indications of signal activity, power, bandwidth, frequency, duration, time or times, day or days, and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a baseline dataset and changes in state that are identified for predetermined frequencies, ISM bands, and/or user-defined frequencies, and wherein each apparatus is operable for automatically visually indicating and/or listing the baseline dataset and changes in state information stored in memory on each apparatus.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each apparatus is operable for automatically analyzing the sensed and measured data in near real time, based upon measured frequency, bandwidth, and duration, and wherein the reports are generated in near real time and reflect the sensed and measured data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the reports include variance reports, power usage reports, RF survey reports, signal optimization reports, and/or combinations thereof and wherein the variance reports include information about the variation of RF signals measured.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each apparatus is operable for automatically scanning a target environment to identify baseline data and changes in state for an allotted amount of time between a minimum of about 15 minutes up to about 30 days, which information is included in at least one report.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein identification of the baseline dataset and the changes in state within the spectrum is accurate to a predetermined degree of confidence between about 80 and about 100 percent.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each apparatus is operable for automatically scanning a frequency span between about 54 MHz and about 804 MHz.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each apparatus is operable for scanning a frequency span, including an ISM scan between about 900 MHz and about 2.5 GHz.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each apparatus is operable for scanning a frequency span including an ISM scan between about 5 GHz and about 5.8 GHz and/or a frequency range based upon inputs provided by a user.

12. An apparatus for providing advanced analytics relating to a wireless communications spectrum comprising:

a housing, a graphic user interface (GUI) of a display, at least one processor and memory, and sensors, all constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals, and for displaying sensed and measured data, including baseline data and changes in state from the baseline data from signal emitting devices in the wireless communication spectrum;

wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically and independently analyze the sensed and measured data to identify the baseline data and changes in state in near real time, without requiring connection to a remote server computer or a remote database;

wherein the apparatus is operable for automatically generating reports viewable on the GUI of the display on the apparatus, the reports including information resulting from the advanced analytics in near real time;

a static database comprising hardware parameters, environment parameters and terrain data to calculate signal degradation data for identifying the signal emitting devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the reports further include information about characteristics of signals and measured data from signal emitting devices within the wireless communication spectrum include frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the identification of baseline data and changes in state within the wireless communication spectrum provides for minimized data storage on the apparatus, for providing near real time results from comparing the baseline data and changes in state from the baseline data, and for generating near real time reports.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the identification of the baseline data and changes in state includes at least two sample sets, including a first and second sample set, from which delta is generated.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the reports include variance reports, power usage reports, RF survey reports, signal optimization reports, and/or combinations thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable for automatically determining the baseline data and the changes in state in near real time, based upon measured frequency, bandwidth, and duration.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable for storing information corresponding to the baseline data and the changes in state within the wireless communication spectrum to a database or databases in the memory on the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable for automatically visually indicating and/or listing the baseline data and changes in state information stored in the memory.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the baseline data and changes in state information further includes indications of signal activity, power, bandwidth, frequency, duration, time or times, day or days, and combinations thereof.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable for automatically scanning to identify the baseline data and changes in state for an allotted amount of time between a minimum of about 15 minutes up to about 30 days.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable for automatically scanning a frequency span between about 54 MHz and about 804 MHz.

23. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable for scanning a frequency span, including an ISM scan between about 900 MHz and about 2.5 GHz.

24. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable for scanning a frequency span, wherein a default scan includes an ISM scan between about 5 GHz and about 5.8 GHz and/or a frequency range based upon inputs provided by a user.

25. A method for providing advanced analytics relating to a wireless communications spectrum comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus having a housing, at least one processor and memory, and sensors and receivers, constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals from signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications;

wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically and independently analyze the sensed and measured wireless communications signals to identify sensed and measured data, including baseline data and changes in state in near real time, without requiring connection to a remote server computer or a remote database;

the apparatus;

automatically scanning the spectrum to identify open space for an allotted amount of time between a minimum of about 15 minutes up to about 30 days automatically obtaining information in the form of a listing or a report of all frequencies in a frequency range associated with the spectrum;

plotting a line and/or graph chart showing power and bandwidth activity in the spectrum;

setting frequencies based on frequency rules actionable by the processor or processors so that only predetermined frequencies are plotted;

automatically identifying the baseline data and the changes in state within the spectrum based upon activity over time and frequency;

automatically generating reports of the advanced analytics in near real time, and for displaying resulting data and the reports;

calculating signal degradation data using information on hardware parameters, environment parameters and terrain data contained in a static database in the apparatus.

26. The method of claim 25, further including the step of automatically comparing the measured data, including the baseline data and changes in state, with historical data and/or reference data.

27. The method of claim 25, further including the steps of:

measuring characteristics of signals from signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications, with characteristics of the measured data including frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof;

identifying at least one of the signal emitting devices;

storing an identification corresponding to the identified at least one signal emitting device, and storing baseline data and changes in state for each of the identifications.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the reports include variance reports, power usage reports, RF survey reports, signal optimization reports, and/or combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 25, further including the steps of categorizing the measured data and determining the open space for predetermined times and days, based upon the measured data and analyzed data.

30. The method of claim 25, further including the steps of:

storing an identification of open space in memory on the apparatus, wherein the identification of the baseline data and changes in state further includes information about signal activity, power, bandwidth, frequency, duration, time or times, day or days, and combinations thereof in the spectrum.