Distributed Wireless Communications for Tactical Network Dominance

• US 20080261509A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Department 13, Inc. (Department 13 International Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Department 13 LLC (Department 13 International Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sen, Robi
• Granted Patent: US 8,254,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/302 gathering intelligence information for situation awareness or reconnaissance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/80 Arrangements enabling lawful interception [LI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Ad-hoc networks employing cooperative signal processing are configured for detecting, identifying, and visualizing radio communication networks used by an adversary, such as enemy combatants or criminals. These networks are further configured for performing a non-passive tactical response to an adversary'"'"'s communication capabilities. Such ad-hoc networks are particularly useful for identifying radio communication resources, establishing radio links, and subverting an adversary'"'"'s communication capabilities in environments lacking available communication infrastructure, including battlefield environments, and locations where communication infrastructure is non-existent or has been compromised by natural disasters or terrorists attacks.

Claims

1. A tactical network dominance (TND) transceiver, comprising:

network-communication circuitry configured for providing transceiver functionality with at least one other TND transceiver,

a radio receiver configured for detecting an external radio communication link,

a radio transmitter configured for coupling to the external radio communication link, wherein the network-communication circuitry is further configured for directing the radio transmitter and the at least one other TND transceiver to produce a non-passive tactical response to the external radio communication link.

2. The transceiver recited in claim 1, wherein the network-communication circuitry is further configured for coordinating the radio receiver and the at least one other TND transceiver to receive the external radio communication link.

3. The transceiver recited in claim 1, wherein the non-passive tactical response directed by the network-communication circuitry comprises at least one of a set of actions, including transmitting a jamming signal, transmitting an altered radio signal received from the detected radio communication link, transmitting a spoofed signal, transmitting a denial-of-service (DoS) attack.

4. The transceiver recited in claim 1, wherein the network-communication circuitry is further configured for performing antenna array processing.

5. The transceiver recited in claim 1, wherein the network-communication circuitry is further configured for encrypting and decrypting information shared with other TND transceivers.

6. The transceiver recited in claim 1, further comprising computing circuitry configured to share information and provide for a clustered computing environment via the network-communication circuitry.

7. A tactical network dominance method performed by a plurality of wireless transceivers communicatively coupled together, the method comprising:

providing for coordinating the plurality of wireless transceivers to detect an external radio communication link,

providing for monitoring the external radio communication link,

providing for identifying the external radio communication link,

providing for assessing the external radio communication link for determining an assessed threat,

providing for determining a non-passive tactical response to the assessed threat, and

providing for coordinating the plurality of wireless transceivers to execute the non-passive tactical response.

8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein providing for coordinating the plurality of wireless transceivers to execute the non-passive tactical response further comprises at least one of a set of actions, the set including notifying personnel, sending codes to activate or deactivate automated systems, track users of the external radio communication link, and generate a visual representation of data gathered by the plurality of wireless transceivers.

9. The method recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of providing for assessing, providing for determining, and providing for coordinating the plurality of wireless transceivers to execute the non-passive tactical response is dynamically reconfigurable based on at least one of transceiver locations, historical value ranges, and recent measurements.

10. A server computer configured to perform the method of claim 7.

11. A computer-readable medium comprising a program code configured to perform the method of claim 7.

12. A computer-readable medium comprising a program code for causing a computer system to collect radio-signal data from a plurality of transceivers, perform signal processing on the radio-signal data for detecting radio transmissions, perform an identification function on detected radio transmissions for determining at least one radio communication source, and coordinate the plurality of distributed transceivers for performing a non-passive tactical response targeting the at least one radio communication source.

13. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, wherein the computer system comprises the plurality transceivers, each of the plurality of transceivers having computational capabilities.

14. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, wherein signal processing comprises determining the presence of energy signatures in a predetermined spectral region