Patent Application
20240306019
The present invention relates to spectrum analysis and management for radio frequency (RF) signals, and more particularly for automatically identifying signals in a wireless communications spectrum based on temporal feature extraction.
Generally, it is known in the prior art to provide wireless communications spectrum management for detecting devices for managing the space. Spectrum management includes the process of regulating the use of radio frequencies to promote efficient use and gain net social benefit. A problem faced in effective spectrum management is the various numbers of devices emanating wireless signal propagations at different frequencies and across different technological standards. Coupled with the different regulations relating to spectrum usage around the globe effective spectrum management becomes difficult to obtain and at best is only operable to be reached over a long period of time.
Another problem facing effective spectrum management is the growing need from spectrum despite the finite amount of spectrum available. Wireless technologies have exponentially grown in recent years. Consequently, available spectrum has become a valuable resource that must be efficiently utilized. Therefore, systems and methods are needed to effectively manage and optimize the available spectrum that is being used.
Most spectrum management devices may be categorized into two primary types. The first type is a spectral analyzer where a device is specifically fitted to run a ‘scanner’ type receiver that is tailored to provide spectral information for a narrow window of frequencies related to a specific and limited type of communications standard, such as cellular communication standard. Problems arise with these narrowly tailored devices as cellular standards change and/or spectrum use changes impact the spectrum space of these technologies. Changes to the software and hardware for these narrowly tailored devices become too complicated, thus necessitating the need to purchase a totally different and new device. Unfortunately, this type of device is only for a specific use and cannot be used to alleviate the entire needs of the spectrum management community.
The second type of spectral management device employs a methodology that requires bulky, extremely difficult to use processes, and expensive equipment. In order to attain a broad spectrum management view and complete all the necessary tasks, the device ends up becoming a conglomerate of software and hardware devices that is both hard to use and difficult to maneuver from one location to another.
While there may be several additional problems associated with current spectrum management devices, at least four major problems exist overall: 1) most devices are built to inherently only handle specific spectrum technologies such as 900 MHz cellular spectrum while not being able to mitigate other technologies that may be interfering or competing with that spectrum, 2) the other spectrum management devices consist of large spectrum analyzers, database systems, and spectrum management software that is expensive, too bulky, and too difficult to manage for a user's basic needs, 3) other spectrum management devices in the prior art require external connectivity to remote databases to perform analysis and provide results or reports with analytics to aid in management of spectrum and/or devices, and 4) other devices of the prior art do not function to provide real-time or near real-time data and analysis to allow for efficient management of the space and/or devices and signals therein.
In today's complex RF environment, to detect a signal can be difficult, especially for those that are less consistent, with low power levels, or buried in easily identified signals. These signals cannot be detected by a radio gear in the prior art. Some devices in the prior art can do automatic violation detection by creating a rough channel mask based on external database, for example the FCC database and comparing the spectrum against that channel mask and detecting signals that violate the channel mask. However, these devices cannot detect signals that are not in the external database.
Examples of relevant prior art documents include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 8,326,313 for “Method and system for dynamic spectrum access using detection periods” by inventors McHenry, et al., filed Aug. 14, 2009 and issued Dec. 4, 2012, discloses methods and systems for dynamic spectrum access (DSA) in a wireless network. A DSA-enabled device may sense spectrum use in a region and, based on the detected spectrum use, select one or more communication channels for use. The devices also may detect one or more other DSA-enabled devices with which they can form DSA networks. A DSA network may monitor spectrum use by cooperative and non-cooperative devices, to dynamically select one or more channels to use for communication while avoiding or reducing interference with other devices. Classification results can be used to “learn” classifications to reduce future errors.
U.S. Publication No. 2013/0005240 for “System and Method for Dynamic Coordination of Radio Resources Usage in a Wireless Network Environment” by inventors Novak, et al., filed Sep. 12, 2012 and published Jan. 3, 2013, discloses an architecture, system and associated method for dynamic coordination of radio resource usage in a network environment. The publication discloses a relay communication method including detecting, by a first wireless mobile device, sensory data associated with multiple radio channels relative to at least one radio element in a sensing area of the first wireless mobile device. If the first wireless mobile device is out of range of a wide area cellular network, a short-range wireless communication path is established with a second wireless mobile device having a wide area cellular communication connection. The sensory data is transmitted by the first wireless mobile device to the second wireless mobile device for reporting to a network element via a wide area cellular network serving the second wireless mobile device. The sensory data are processed by sensing elements and sent to a distributed channel occupancy and location database (COLD) system. The sensory data is updated dynamically to provide a real-time view of channel usage.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,515,473 for “Cognitive radio methodology, physical layer policies and machine learning” by inventors Mody, et al., filed Mar. 6, 2008 and issued Aug. 20, 2013, discloses a method of cognitive communication for non-interfering transmission, wherein the improvement includes the step of conducting radio scene analysis to find not just the spectrum holes or White spaces; but also to use the signal classification, machine learning, pattern-matching and prediction information to learn more things about the existing signals and its underlying protocols, to find the Gray space, hence utilizing the signal space, consisting of space, time, frequency (spectrum), code and location more efficiently.
U.S. Publication 2013/0217450 for “Radiation Pattern Recognition System and Method for a Mobile Communications Device” by inventors Kanj, et al., filed Nov. 26, 2010 and published Aug. 22, 2013, discloses a radiation pattern recognition system and method for a wireless user equipment (UE) device wherein a set of benchmark radiation patterns are matched based on the wireless UE device's usage mode. The publication discloses that the wireless UE device includes one or more antennas adapted for radio communication with a telecommunications network. A memory is provided including a database of benchmark radiation patterns for each of the one or more antennas in one or more usage modes associated with the wireless UE device. A processor is configured to execute an antenna application process for optimizing performance of the wireless UE device based at least in part upon using the matched set of benchmark radiation patterns.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,224,254 for “Operating environment analysis techniques for wireless communication systems” by inventor Simon Haykin, filed Oct. 13, 2005 and issued Jul. 17, 2012, describes methods and systems of analyzing an operating environment of wireless communication equipment in a wireless communication system. A stimulus in the operating environment at a location of the wireless communication equipment is sensed and linearly expanded in Slepian sequences using a multitaper spectral estimation procedure. A singular value decomposition is performed on the linearly expanded stimulus, and a singular value of the linearly expanded stimulus provides an estimate of interference at the location of the wireless communication equipment. The traffic model, which could be built on historical data, provides a basis for predicting future traffic patterns in that space which, in turn, makes it possible to predict the duration for which a spectrum hole vacated by the incumbent primary user is likely to be available for use by a cognitive radio operator. In a wireless environment, two classes of traffic data pattern are distinguished, including deterministic patterns and stochastic patterns.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,713 for “Broadcast receiver capable of automatic station identification and format-scanning based on an internal database updatable over the airwaves with automatic receiver location determination” by inventor Pierre R. Schwob, filed Sep. 25, 1992 and issued Feb. 28, 1995, describes a broadcasting system capable of automatically or semi-automatically updating its database and using the database to identify received broadcasting stations, and search for stations according to user-chosen attributes and current data. The receiver is capable of receiving current location information within the received data stream, and also of determining the current location of the receiver by using a received station attribute. The patent discloses providing an automatic or quasi-automatic data updating system based on subcarrier technology or other on-the-air data transmission techniques.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,741,595 for “Device for enabling trap and trace of internet protocol communications” by inventors Maher, III, et al., filed Jun. 11, 2002 and issued May 25, 2004, describes a network processing system for use in a network and operable to intercept communications flowing over the network, the network passing a plurality of data packets, which form a plurality of flows, the network processing system including: a learning state machine operable to identify characteristics of one or more of the flows and to compare the characteristics to a database of known signatures, one or more of the known signatures representing a search criteria, wherein when one or more characteristics of one or more of the flows matches the search criteria the learning state machine intercepts the flow and replicates the flow, redirecting the replication to a separate address.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,676,192 for “Radio scanner programmed from frequency database and method” by inventor Wayne K. Wilson, filed Jan. 7, 2011 and issued Mar. 9, 2010, discloses a scanning radio and method using a receiver, a channel memory and a display in conjunction with a frequency-linked descriptor database. The frequency-linked descriptor database is queried using a geographic reference to produce a list of local radio channels that includes a list of frequencies with linked descriptors. The list of radio channels is transferred into the channel memory of the scanner, and the receiver is sequentially tuned to the listed frequencies recalled from the list of radio channels while the corresponding linked descriptors are simultaneously displayed.
U.S. Publication 2012/0148069 for “Coexistence of white space devices and wireless narrowband devices” by inventors Chandra, et al., filed Dec. 8, 2010 and published Jun. 14, 2012, discloses architecture enabling wireless narrowband devices (e.g., wireless microphones) and white space devices to efficiently coexist on the same telecommunications channels, while not interfering with the usability of the wireless narrowband device. The architecture provides interference detection, strobe generation and detection and, power ramping and suppression (interference-free coexistence with spectrum efficiency). The architecture provides the ability of the white space device to learn about the presence of the microphone. This can be accomplished using a geolocation database, reactively via a strober device, and/or proactively via the strober device. The strober device can be positioned close to the microphone receiver and signals the presence of a microphone to white space devices on demand. The strober device takes into consideration the microphone's characteristics as well as the relative signal strength from the microphone transmitter versus the white space device, in order to enable maximum use of the available white space spectrum.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,326,240 for “System for specific emitter identification” by inventors Kadambe, et al., filed Sep. 27, 2010 and issued Dec. 4, 2012, describes an apparatus for identifying a specific emitter in the presence of noise and/or interference including (a) a sensor configured to sense radio frequency signal and noise data, (b) a reference estimation unit configured to estimate a reference signal relating to the signal transmitted by one emitter, (c) a feature estimation unit configured to generate one or more estimates of one or more feature from the reference signal and the signal transmitted by that particular emitter, and (d) an emitter identifier configured to identify the signal transmitted by that particular emitter as belonging to a specific device (e.g., devices using Gaussian Mixture Models and the Bayesian decision engine). The apparatus may also include an SINR enhancement unit configured to enhance the SINR of the data before the reference estimation unit estimates the reference signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,835,319 for “System and method for identifying wireless devices using pulse fingerprinting and sequence analysis” by inventor Sugar, filed May 9, 2007, discloses methods for identifying devices that are sources of wireless signals from received radio frequency (RF) energy, and, particularly, sources emitting frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS). Pulse metric data is generated from the received RF energy and represents characteristics associated thereto. The pulses are partitioned into groups based on their pulse metric data such that a group comprises pulses having similarities for at least one item of pulse metric data. Sources of the wireless signals are identified based on the partitioning process. The partitioning process involves iteratively subdividing each group into subgroups until all resulting subgroups contain pulses determined to be from a single source. At each iteration, subdividing is performed based on different pulse metric data than at a prior iteration. Ultimately, output data is generated (e.g., a device name for display) that identifies a source of wireless signals for any subgroup that is determined to contain pulses from a single source.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,131,239 for “Method and apparatus for remote detection of radio-frequency devices” by inventors Walker, et al., filed Aug. 21, 2007 and issued Mar. 6, 2012, describes methods and apparatus for detecting the presence of electronic communications devices, such as cellular phones, including a complex RF stimulus is transmitted into a target area, and nonlinear reflection signals received from the target area are processed to obtain a response measurement. The response measurement is compared to a pre-determined filter response profile to detect the presence of a radio device having a corresponding filter response characteristic. The patent discloses that the pre-determined filter response profile includes a pre-determined band-edge profile, so that comparing the response measurement to a pre-determined filter response profile includes comparing the response measurement to the pre-determined band-edge profile to detect the presence of a radio device having a corresponding band-edge characteristic.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,369,305 for “Correlating multiple detections of wireless devices without a unique identifier” by inventors Diener, et al., filed Jun. 30, 2008 and issued Feb. 5, 2013, describes at a plurality of first devices, wireless transmissions are received at different locations in a region where multiple target devices may be emitting, and identifier data is subsequently generated. Similar identifier data associated with received emissions at multiple first devices are grouped together into a cluster record that potentially represents the same target device detected by multiple first devices. Data is stored that represents a plurality of cluster records from identifier data associated with received emissions made over time by multiple first devices. The cluster records are analyzed over time to correlate detections of target devices across multiple first devices. It aims to lessen disruptions caused by devices using the same frequency and to protect data.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,155,649 for “Method and system for classifying communication signals in a dynamic spectrum access system” by inventors McHenry, et al., filed Aug. 14, 2009 and issued Apr. 10, 2012, discloses methods and systems for dynamic spectrum access (DSA) in a wireless network wherein a DSA-enabled device may sense spectrum use in a region and, based on the detected spectrum use, select one or more communication channels for use. The devices also may detect one or more other DSA-enabled devices with which they can form DSA networks. A DSA network may monitor spectrum use by cooperative and non-cooperative devices, to dynamically select one or more channels to use for communication while avoiding or reducing interference with other devices. A DSA network may include detectors such as a narrow-band detector, wide-band detector, TV detector, radar detector, a wireless microphone detector, or any combination thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. RE43,066 for “System and method for reuse of communications spectrum for fixed and mobile applications with efficient method to mitigate interference” by inventor Mark Allen McHenry, filed Dec. 2, 2008 and issued Jan. 3, 2012, describes a communications system network enabling secondary use of spectrum on a non-interference basis. The system uses a modulation method to measure the background signals that eliminates self-generated interference and also identifies the secondary signal to all primary users via on/off amplitude modulation, allowing easy resolution of interference claims. The system uses high-processing gain probe waveforms that enable propagation measurements to be made with minimal interference to the primary users. The system measures background signals and identifies the types of nearby receivers and modifies the local frequency assignments to minimize interference caused by a secondary system due to non-linear mixing interference and interference caused by out-of-band transmitted signals (phase noise, harmonics, and spurs). The system infers a secondary node's elevation and mobility (thus, its probability to cause interference) by analysis of the amplitude of background signals. Elevated or mobile nodes are given more conservative frequency assignments than stationary nodes.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,424,268 for “System and Method for Management of a Shared Frequency Band” by inventors Diener, et al., filed Apr. 22, 2003 and issued Sep. 9, 2008, discloses a system, method, software and related functions for managing activity in an unlicensed radio frequency band that is shared, both in frequency and time, by signals of multiple types. Signal pulse energy in the band is detected and is used to classify signals according to signal type. Using knowledge of the types of signals occurring in the frequency band and other spectrum activity related statistics (referred to as spectrum intelligence), actions can be taken in a device or network of devices to avoid interfering with other signals, and in general to optimize simultaneous use of the frequency band with the other signals. The spectrum intelligence may be used to suggest actions to a device user or network administrator, or to automatically invoke actions in a device or network of devices to maintain desirable performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,249,631 for “Transmission power allocation/control method, communication device and program” by inventor Ryo Sawai, filed Jul. 21, 2010 and issued Aug. 21, 2012, teaches a method for allocating transmission power to a second communication service making secondary usage of a spectrum assigned to a first communication service, in a node which is able to communicate with a secondary usage node. The method determines an interference power acceptable for two or more second communication services when the two or more second communication services are operated and allocates the transmission powers to the two or more second communication services.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,094,610 for “Dynamic cellular cognitive system” by inventors Wang, et al., filed Feb. 25, 2009 and issued Jan. 10, 2012, discloses permitting high quality communications among a diverse set of cognitive radio nodes while minimizing interference to primary and other secondary users by employing dynamic spectrum access in a dynamic cellular cognitive system. Diverse device types interoperate, cooperate, and communicate with high spectrum efficiency and do not require infrastructure to form the network. The dynamic cellular cognitive system can expand to a wider geographical distribution via linking to existing infrastructure.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,565,811 for “Software-defined radio using multi-core processor” by inventors Tan, et al., filed Aug. 4, 2009 and issued Oct. 22, 2013, discloses a radio control board passing a plurality of digital samples between a memory of a computing device and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to a system bus of the computing device. Processing of the digital samples is carried out by one or more cores of a multi-core processor to implement a software-defined radio.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,064,840 for “Method and system for determining spectrum availability within a network” by inventors McHenry, et al., filed Jun. 18, 2009 and issued Nov. 22, 2011, discloses an invention which determines spectrum holes for a communication network by accumulating the information obtained from previous received signals to determine the presence of a larger spectrum hole that allows a reduced listening period, higher transmit power and a reduced probability of interference with other networks and transmitters.
U.S. Publication No. 2009/0143019 for “Method and apparatus for distributed spectrum sensing for wireless communication” by inventor Stephen J. Shellhammer, filed Jan. 4, 2008 and published Jun. 4, 2009, discloses methods and apparatus for determining if a licensed signal having or exceeding a predetermined field strength is present in a wireless spectrum. The signal of interest maybe a television signal or a wireless microphone signal using licensed television spectrum.
U.S. Publication No. 2013/0090071 for “Systems and methods for communication in a white space” by inventors Abraham, et al., filed Apr. 3, 2012 and published Sep. 1, 2015, discloses systems, methods, and devices to communicate in a white space. The publication discloses that a wireless communication transmitted in the white space authorizes an initial transmission by a device. The wireless communication may include power information for determining a power at which to transmit the initial transmission. The initial transmission may be used to request information identifying one or more channels in the white space available for transmitting data.
U.S. Publication No. 2012/0072986 for “Methods for detecting and classifying signals transmitted over a radio frequency spectrum” by inventors Livsics, et al., filed Nov. 1, 2011 and published Mar. 22, 2012, discloses a method to classify a signal as non-cooperative (NC) or a target signal. The percentage of power above a first threshold is computed for a channel. Based on the percentage, a signal is classified as a narrowband signal. If the percentage indicates the absence of a narrowband signal, then a lower second threshold is applied to confirm the absence according to the percentage of power above the second threshold. The signal is classified as a narrowband signal or pre-classified as a wideband signal based on the percentage. Pre-classified wideband signals are classified as a wideband NC signal or target signal using spectrum masks.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,494,464 for “Cognitive networked electronic warfare” by inventors Kadambe, et al., filed Sep. 8, 2010 and issued Jul. 23, 2013, describes an apparatus for sensing and classifying radio communications including sensor units configured to detect RF signals, a signal classifier configured to classify the detected RF signals into a classification, the classification including at least one known signal type and an unknown signal type, a clustering learning algorithm capable of finding clusters of common signals among the previously seen unknown signals; it is then further configured to use these clusters to retrain the signal classifier to recognize these signals as a new signal type.
U.S. Publication No. 2011/0059747 for “Sensing Wireless Transmissions from a Licensed User of a Licensed Spectral Resource” by inventors Lindoff, et al., filed Sep. 7, 2009 and issued Apr. 1, 2014, describes sensing wireless transmissions from a licensed user of a licensed spectral resource includes obtaining information indicating a number of adjacent sensors that are concurrently sensing wireless transmissions from the licensed user of the licensed spectral resource. Such information can be obtained from a main node controlling the sensor and its adjacent sensors, or by the sensor itself (e.g., by means of short-range communication equipment targeting any such adjacent sensors). A sensing rate is then determined as a function, at least in part, of the information indicating the number of adjacent sensors that are concurrently sensing wireless transmissions from the licensed user of the licensed spectral resource. Receiver equipment is then periodically operated at the determined sensing rate, wherein the receiver equipment is configured to detect wireless transmissions from the licensed user of the licensed spectral resource.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,463,195 for “Methods and apparatus for spectrum sensing of signal features in a wireless channel” by inventor Shellhammer, filed Nov. 13, 2009 and issued Jun. 11, 2013, discloses methods and apparatus for sensing features of a signal in a wireless communication system. The disclosed methods and apparatus sense signal features by determining a number of spectral density estimates, where each estimate is derived based on reception of the signal by a respective antenna in a system with multiple sensing antennas. The spectral density estimates are then combined, and the signal features are sensed based on the combination of the spectral density estimates. The patent aims to increase sensing performance by addressing problems associated with Rayleigh fading, which causes signals to be less detectable.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,151,311 for “System and method of detecting potential video traffic interference” by inventors Huffman, et al., filed Nov. 30, 2007 and issued Apr. 3, 2012, describes a method of detecting potential video traffic interference at a video head-end of a video distribution network that includes detecting, at a video head-end, a signal populating an ultra-high frequency (UHF) white space frequency. The method also includes determining that a strength of the signal is equal to or greater than a threshold signal strength. Further, the method includes sending an alert from the video head-end to a network management system. The alert indicates that the UHF white space frequency is populated by a signal having a potential to interfere with video traffic delivered via the video head-end.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,311,509 for “Detection, communication and control in multimode cellular, TDMA, GSM, spread spectrum, CDMA, OFDM, WiLAN, and WiFi systems” by inventor Feher, filed Oct. 31, 2007 and issued Nov. 13, 2012, teaches a device for detection of signals, with location finder or location tracker or navigation signal and with Modulation Demodulation (Modem) Format Selectable (MFS) communication signal. Processor for processing a digital signal into cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase filtered signal and for processing a voice signal into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signal. Each is used in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and in Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) network. Device and location finder with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global Mobile System (GSM) and spread spectrum Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is used in a cellular network. Polar and quadrature modulator and two antenna transmitter for transmission of provided processed signal. Transmitter with two amplifiers operated in separate radio frequency (RF) bands. One transmitter is operated as a Non-Linearly Amplified (NLA) transmitter and the other transmitter is operated as a linearly amplified or linearized amplifier transmitter.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,514,729 for “Method and system for analyzing RF signals in order to detect and classify actively transmitting RF devices” by inventor Blackwell, filed Apr. 3, 2009 and issued Aug. 20, 2013, discloses methods and apparatuses to analyze RF signals in order to detect and classify RF devices in wireless networks. The method includes detecting one or more radio frequency (RF) samples; determining burst data by identifying start and stop points of the one or more RF samples; comparing time domain values for an individual burst with time domain values of one or more predetermined RF device profiles; generating a human-readable result indicating whether the individual burst should be assigned to one of the predetermined RF device profiles; and classifying the individual burst if assigned to one of the predetermined RF device profiles as being a WiFi device or a non-WiFi device with the non-WiFi device being a RF interference source to a wireless network.
The present invention relates to systems, methods and apparatus for automatic signal detection with temporal feature extraction in an RF environment. An apparatus learns the RF environment in a predetermined period based on statistical learning techniques, thereby creating learning data. A knowledge map is formed based on the learning data. The apparatus automatically extracts temporal features of the RF environment from the knowledge map. A real-time spectral sweep is scrubbed against the knowledge map. The apparatus is operable to detect a signal in the RF environment, which has a low power level or is a narrowband signal buried in a wideband signal, and which cannot be identified otherwise.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for real-time dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, including at least one receiver, at least one processor coupled with at least one memory, and a blockchain platform, wherein the at least one receiver is operable to create measurements of a RF environment, wherein the at least one receiver is in communication with the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is in communication with the blockchain platform, wherein the system is operable to sweep and learn the RF environment to create RF awareness data, wherein the system is operable to create metadata for the RF awareness data based on customer goals, wherein the system is operable to create actionable data to identify a scenario for dynamic spectrum sharing based on the metadata, wherein the blockchain platform is operable to execute a smart contract to allocate and/or reallocate the RF spectrum in real time based on the identified scenario for the dynamic spectrum sharing, wherein the blockchain platform is operable to determine a compensation for a party based on the smart contract and the allocation and/or reallocation of the RF spectrum, wherein the compensation is automatically provided according to the smart contract, and wherein the compensation is based on services provided with the allocation and/or reallocation of the RF spectrum.
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for real-time dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, including at least one receiver, at least one processor coupled with at least one memory, and a blockchain platform, wherein the at least one receiver is operable to create measurements of a RF environment, wherein the at least one receiver is in communication with the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is in communication with the blockchain platform, wherein the system is operable to sweep and learn the RF environment based on statistical learning techniques to create RF awareness data, wherein the system is operable to form a knowledge map based on the RF awareness data, wherein the system is operable to scrub a real-time spectral sweep against the knowledge map, wherein the system is operable to create impressions of the RF environment based on the knowledge map using a machine learning algorithm and update the RF awareness data based on the impressions of the RF environment, wherein the system is operable to identify a scenario for dynamic spectrum sharing based on the RF awareness data, wherein the blockchain platform is operable to execute a smart contract for the RF spectrum allocation and/or reallocation to allocate and/or reallocate at least one portion of the RF spectrum in real time based on the identified scenario for the dynamic spectrum sharing, and wherein the blockchain platform is operable to determine a compensation for a first party based on the RF spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, wherein the compensation is based on computational resources used, services provided to a second party, and/or signal parameters from the RF awareness data.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for real-time dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, including at least one receiver creating measurements of a RF environment, wherein the at least one receiver is in communication with at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is in communication with a blockchain platform, sweeping and learning the RF environment to create RF awareness data, creating metadata for the RF awareness data based on customer goals, creating actionable data based on the metadata, the blockchain platform executing a smart contract for dynamic spectrum sharing of at least one RF signal in real time based on the RF awareness data, and the blockchain platform determining a compensation for a party based on the RF awareness data for the at least one RF signal based on at least one signal characteristic and/or parameter, wherein the compensation is based on the at least one signal characteristic and/or parameter.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings, as they support the claimed invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention.
Related US patents and patent applications include U.S. application Ser. No. 15/357,157, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,537,586, 9,185,591, 8,977,212, 8,798,548, 8,805,291, 8,780,968, 8,824,536, 9,288,683, 9,078,162, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/913,013, and U.S. Application No. 61/789,758. All of them are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention addresses the longstanding, unmet needs existing in the prior art and commercial sectors to provide solutions to the at least four major problems existing before the present invention, each one that requires near real time results on a continuous scanning of the target environment for the spectrum.
The present invention relates to systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable spectrum management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements. Furthermore, present invention relates to spectrum analysis and management for radio frequency (RF) signals, and for automatically identifying baseline data and changes in state for signals from a multiplicity of devices in a wireless communications spectrum, and for providing remote access to measured and analyzed data through a virtualized computing network. In an embodiment, signals and the parameters of the signals are operable to be identified and indications of available frequencies that are operable to be presented to a user. In another embodiment, the protocols of signals are also operable to be identified. In a further embodiment, the modulation of signals, data types carried by the signals, and estimated signal origins are operable to be identified.
It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for identifying signal emitting devices including: a housing, at least one processor and memory, at least one receiver and sensors constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals from signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications; and wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically analyze the measured data to identify at least one signal emitting device in near real time from attempted detection and identification of the at least one signal emitting device, and then to identify open space available for wireless communications, based upon the information about the signal emitting device(s) operating in the predetermined spectrum; furthermore, the present invention provides baseline data and changes in state for compressed data to enable near real time analytics and results for individual units and for aggregated units for making unique comparisons of data.
The present invention further provides systems for identifying white space in wireless communications spectrum by detecting and analyzing signals from any signal emitting devices including at least one apparatus, wherein the at least one 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 of the apparatus is operable for identifying signal emitting devices including: a housing, at least one processor and memory, at least one receiver, and sensors constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals from signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications; and wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically analyze the measured data to identify at least one signal emitting device in near real time from attempted detection and identification of the at least one signal emitting device, and then to identify open space available for wireless communications, based upon the information about the signal emitting device(s) operating in the predetermined spectrum; all of the foregoing using baseline data and changes in state for compressed data to enable near real time analytics and results for individual units and for aggregated units for making unique comparisons of data.
The present invention is further directed to a method for identifying baseline data and changes in state for compressed data to enable near real time analytics and results for individual units and for aggregated units and storing the aggregated data in a database and providing secure, remote access to the compressed data for each unit and to the aggregated data via network-based virtualized computing system or cloud-based system, for making unique comparisons of data in a wireless communications spectrum including the steps of: providing a device for measuring characteristics of signals from signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications, with measured data characteristics including frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof; the device including a housing, at least one processor and memory, and sensors constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals within the spectrum; and further including the following steps performed within the device housing: assessing whether the measured data includes analog and/or digital signal(s); determining a best fit based on frequency, if the measured power spectrum is designated in an historical or a reference database(s) for frequency ranges; automatically determining a category for either analog or digital signals, based on power and sideband combined with frequency allocation; determining a TDM/FDM/CDM signal, based on duration and bandwidth; identifying at least one signal emitting device from the composite results of the foregoing steps; and then automatically identifying the open space available for wireless communications, based upon the information about the signal emitting device(s) operating in the predetermined spectrum; all using baseline data and changes in state for compressed data to enable near real time analytics and results for individual units and for aggregated units for making unique comparisons of data.
Additionally, the present invention provides systems, apparatus, and methods for identifying open space in a wireless communications spectrum using an apparatus having a multiplicity of processors and memory, at least one receiver, sensors, and communications transmitters and receivers, all constructed and configured within a housing for automated analysis of detected signals from signal emitting devices, determination of signal duration and other signal characteristics, and automatically generating information relating to device identification, open space, signal optimization, all using baseline data and changes in state for compressed data to enable near real time analytics and results for individual units and for aggregated units for making unique comparisons of data within the spectrum for wireless communication, and for providing secure, remote access via a network to the data stored in a virtualized computer system.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for real-time dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, including at least one receiver, at least one processor coupled with at least one memory, and a blockchain platform, wherein the at least one receiver is operable to create measurements of a RF environment, wherein the at least one receiver is in communication with the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is in communication with the blockchain platform, wherein the system is operable to sweep and learn the RF environment to create RF awareness data, wherein the system is operable to create metadata for the RF awareness data based on customer goals, wherein the system is operable to create actionable data to identify a scenario for dynamic spectrum sharing based on the metadata, wherein the blockchain platform is operable to execute a smart contract to allocate and/or reallocate the RF spectrum in real time based on the identified scenario for the dynamic spectrum sharing, wherein the blockchain platform is operable to determine a compensation for a party based on the smart contract and the allocation and/or reallocation of the RF spectrum, wherein the compensation is automatically provided according to the smart contract, and wherein the compensation is based on services provided with the allocation and/or reallocation of the RF spectrum.
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for real-time dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, including at least one receiver, at least one processor coupled with at least one memory, and a blockchain platform, wherein the at least one receiver is operable to create measurements of a RF environment, wherein the at least one receiver is in communication with the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is in communication with the blockchain platform, wherein the system is operable to sweep and learn the RF environment based on statistical learning techniques to create RF awareness data, wherein the system is operable to form a knowledge map based on the RF awareness data, wherein the system is operable to scrub a real-time spectral sweep against the knowledge map, wherein the system is operable to create impressions of the RF environment based on the knowledge map using a machine learning algorithm and update the RF awareness data based on the impressions of the RF environment, wherein the system is operable to identify a scenario for dynamic spectrum sharing based on the RF awareness data, wherein the blockchain platform is operable to execute a smart contract for the RF spectrum allocation and/or reallocation to allocate and/or reallocate at least one portion of the RF spectrum in real time based on the identified scenario for the dynamic spectrum sharing, and wherein the blockchain platform is operable to determine a compensation for a first party based on the RF spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, wherein the compensation is based on computational resources used, services provided to a second party, and/or signal parameters from the RF awareness data.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for real-time dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation and/or reallocation, including at least one receiver creating measurements of a RF environment, wherein the at least one receiver is in communication with at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is in communication with a blockchain platform, sweeping and learning the RF environment to create RF awareness data, creating metadata for the RF awareness data based on customer goals, creating actionable data based on the metadata, the blockchain platform executing a smart contract for dynamic spectrum sharing of at least one RF signal in real time based on the RF awareness data, and the blockchain platform determining a compensation for a party based on the RF awareness data for the at least one RF signal based on at least one signal characteristic and/or parameter, wherein the compensation is based on the at least one signal characteristic and/or parameter.
Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for the purpose of describing at least one preferred embodiment and/or examples of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. Various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the claims.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for spectrum analysis and management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging at least one or a multiplicity of signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements and location and other measurements, and using near real-time parallel processing of signals and their corresponding parameters and characteristics in the context of historical and static data for a given spectrum, and more particularly, all using baseline data and changes in state for compressed data to enable near real time analytics and results for individual units and for aggregated units for making unique comparisons of data.
The systems, methods and apparatus according to the present invention preferably have the ability to detect in near real time, and more preferably to detect, sense, measure, and/or analyze in near real time, and more preferably to perform any near real time operations within about 1 second or less. Advantageously, the present invention and its real time functionality described herein uniquely provide and enable the apparatus units to compare to historical data, to update data and/or information, and/or to provide more data and/or information on the open space, on the apparatus unit or device that is operable to be occupying the open space, and combinations, in the near real time compared with the historically scanned (15 min to 30 days) data, or historical database information. Also, the data from each apparatus unit or device and/or for aggregated data from more than one apparatus unit or device are communicated via a network to at least one server computer and stored on a database in a virtualized or cloud-based computing system, and the data is available for secure, remote access via the network from distributed remote devices having software applications (apps) operable thereon, for example by web access (mobile app) or computer access (desktop app).
The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable spectrum management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements. In an embodiment, signals and the parameters of the signals are operable to be identified and indications of available frequencies are operable to be presented to a user. In another embodiment, the protocols of signals are also operable to be identified. In a further embodiment, the modulation of signals, data types carried by the signals, and estimated signal origins are operable to be identified.
Embodiments are directed to a spectrum management device that is operable to be configurable to obtain spectrum data over a wide range of wireless communication protocols. Embodiments are also operable to provide for the ability to acquire data from and sending data to database depositories that are operable to be used by a plurality of spectrum management customers.
In one embodiment, a spectrum management device is operable to include a signal spectrum analyzer that is operable to be coupled with a database system and spectrum management interface. The device is operable to be portable or is operable to be a stationary installation and is operable to be updated with data to allow the device to manage different spectrum information based on frequency, bandwidth, signal power, time, and location of signal propagation, as well as modulation type and format and to provide signal identification, classification, and geo-location. A processor is operable to enable the device to process spectrum power density data as received and to process raw I/Q complex data that is operable to be used for further signal processing, signal identification, and data extraction.
In an embodiment, a spectrum management device or apparatus unit is operable to comprise a low noise amplifier that receives a radio frequency (RF) energy from an antenna. The antenna is operable to be any antenna structure that is capable of receiving RF energy in a spectrum of interest. The low noise amplifier is operable to filter and amplify the RF energy. The RF energy is operable to be provided to an RF translator. The RF translator is operable to perform a fast Fourier transform (FFT) and either a square magnitude or a fast convolution spectral periodogram function to convert the RF measurements into a spectral representation. In an embodiment, the RF translator is operable to also store a timestamp to facilitate calculation of a time of arrival and an angle of arrival. The In-Phase and Quadrature (I/Q) data is operable to be provided to a spectral analysis receiver or it is operable to be provided to a sample data store where it is operable to be stored without being processed by a spectral analysis receiver. The input RF energy is operable to also be directly digital down-converted and sampled by an analog to digital converter (ADC) to generate complex I/Q data. The complex I/Q data is operable to be equalized to remove multipath, fading, white noise and interference from other signaling systems by fast parallel adaptive filter processes. This data is operable to then be used to calculate modulation type and baud rate. Complex sampled I/Q data is also operable to be used to measure the signal angle of arrival and time of arrival. Such information as angle of arrival and time of arrival are operable to be used to compute more complex and precise direction finding. In addition, they are operable to be used to apply geo-location techniques. Data is operable to be collected from known signals or unknown signals and time spaced in order to provide expedient information. I/Q sampled data is operable to contain raw signal data that is operable to be used to demodulate and translate signals by streaming them to a signal analyzer or to a real-time demodulator software defined radio that is operable to have the newly identified signal parameters for the signal of interest. The inherent nature of the input RF allows for any type of signal to be analyzed and demodulated based on the reconfiguration of the software defined radio interfaces.
A spectral analysis receiver is operable to be configured to read raw In-Phase (I) and Quadrature (Q) data and either translate directly to spectral data or down convert to an intermediate frequency (IF) up to half the Nyquist sampling rate to analyze the incoming bandwidth of a signal. The translated spectral data is operable to include measured values of signal energy, frequency, and time. The measured values provide attributes of the signal under review that are operable to confirm the detection of a particular signal of interest within a spectrum of interest. In an embodiment, a spectral analysis receiver is operable to have a referenced spectrum input of 0 Hz to 12.4 GHz, preferably not lower than 9 kHz, with capability of fiber optic input for spectrum input up to 60 GHz.
For each device, at least one receiver is used. In one embodiment, the spectral analysis receiver is operable to be configured to sample the input RF data by fast analog down-conversion of the RF signal. The down-converted signal is operable to then be digitally converted and processed by fast convolution filters to obtain a power spectrum. This process is operable to also provide spectrum measurements including the signal power, the bandwidth, the center frequency of the signal as well as a Time of Arrival (TOA) measurement. The TOA measurement is operable to be used to create a timestamp of the detected signal and/or to generate a time difference of arrival iterative process for direction finding and fast triangulation of signals. In an embodiment, the sample data is operable to be provided to a spectrum analysis module. In an embodiment, the spectrum analysis module is operable to evaluate the sample data to obtain the spectral components of the signal.
In an embodiment, the spectral components of the signal are operable to be obtained by the spectrum analysis module from the raw I/Q data as provided by an RF translator. The I/Q data analysis performed by the spectrum analysis module is operable to operate to extract more detailed information about the signal, including by way of example, modulation type (e.g., FM, AM, QPSK, 16QAM, etc.) and/or protocol (e.g., GSM, CDMA, OFDM, LTE, etc.). In an embodiment, the spectrum analysis module is operable to be configured by a user to obtain specific information about a signal of interest. In an alternate embodiment, the spectral components of the signal are operable to be obtained from power spectral component data produced by the spectral analysis receiver.
In an embodiment, the spectrum analysis module is operable to provide the spectral components of the signal to a data extraction module. The data extraction module is operable to provide the classification and categorization of signals detected in the RF spectrum. The data extraction module is operable to also acquire additional information regarding the signal from the spectral components of the signal. For example, the data extraction module is operable to provide modulation type, bandwidth, and possible system in use information. In another embodiment, the data extraction module is operable to select and organize the extracted spectral components in a format selected by a user.
The information from the data extraction module is operable to be provided to a spectrum management module. The spectrum management module is operable to generate a query to a static database to classify a signal based on its components. For example, the information stored in static database is operable to be used to determine the spectral density, center frequency, bandwidth, baud rate, modulation type, protocol (e.g., GSM, CDMA, OFDM, LTE, etc.), system or carrier using licensed spectrum, location of the signal source, and a timestamp of the signal of interest. These data points are operable to be provided to a data store for export. In an embodiment and as more fully described below, the data store is operable to be configured to access mapping software to provide the user with information on the location of the transmission source of the signal of interest. In an embodiment, the static database includes frequency information gathered from various sources including, but not limited to, the Federal Communication Commission, the International Telecommunication Union, and data from users. As an example, the static database is operable to be an SQL database. The data store is operable to be updated, downloaded or merged with other devices or with its main relational database. Software API applications are operable to be included to allow database merging with third-party spectrum databases that is operable to only be accessed securely.
In the various embodiments, the spectrum management device is operable to be configured in different ways. In an embodiment, the front end of the system is operable to comprise various hardware receivers that are operable to provide In-Phase and Quadrature complex data. The front end receiver is operable to include API set commands via which the system software is operable to be configured to interface (i.e., communicate) with a third party receiver. In an embodiment, the front end receiver is operable to perform the spectral computations using FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) and other DSP (Digital Signal Processing) to generate a fast convolution periodogram that is operable to be re-sampled and averaged to quickly compute the spectral density of the RF environment.
In an embodiment, cyclic processes are operable to be used to average and correlate signal information by extracting the changes inside the signal to better identify the signal of interest that is present in the RF space. A combination of amplitude and frequency changes are operable to be measured and averaged over the bandwidth time to compute the modulation type and other internal changes, such as changes in frequency offsets, orthogonal frequency division modulation, changes in time (e.g., Time Division Multiplexing), and/or changes in I/Q phase rotation used to compute the baud rate and the modulation type. In an embodiment, the spectrum management device is operable to have the ability to compute several processes in parallel by use of a multi-core processor and along with several embedded field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). Such multi-core processing is operable to allow the system to quickly analyze several signal parameters in the RF environment at one time in order to reduce the amount of time it takes to process the signals. The amount of signals computed at once is operable to be determined by their bandwidth requirements. Thus, the capability of the system is operable to be based on a maximum frequency Fs/2. The number of signals to be processed is operable to be allocated based on their respective bandwidths. In another embodiment, the signal spectrum is operable to be measured to determine its power density, center frequency, bandwidth and location from which the signal is emanating and a best match is operable to be determined based on the signal parameters based on information criteria of the frequency.
In another embodiment, a GPS and direction finding location (DF) system is operable to be incorporated into the spectrum management device and/or available to the spectrum management device. Adding GPS and DF ability is operable to enable the user to provide a location vector using the National Marine Electronics Association's (NMEA) standard form. In an embodiment, location functionality is incorporated into a specific type of GPS unit, such as a U.S. government issued receiver. The information is operable to be derived from the location presented by the database internal to the device, a database imported into the device, or by the user inputting geo-location parameters of longitude and latitude which is operable to be derived as degrees, minutes and seconds, decimal minutes, or decimal form and translated to the necessary format with the default being ‘decimal’ form. This functionality is operable to be incorporated into a GPS unit. The signal information and the signal classification are operable to then be used to locate the signaling device as well as to provide a direction finding capability.
A type of triangulation using three units as a group antenna configuration performs direction finding by using multilateration. Commonly used in civil and military surveillance applications, multilateration is able to accurately locate an aircraft, vehicle, or stationary emitter by measuring the “Time Difference of Arrival” (TDOA) of a signal from the emitter at three or more receiver sites. If a pulse is emitted from a platform, it will arrive at slightly different times at two spatially separated receiver sites, the TDOA being due to the different distances of each receiver from the platform. This location information is operable to then be supplied to a mapping process that utilizes a database of mapping images that are extracted from the database based on the latitude and longitude provided by the geo-location or direction finding device. The mapping images are operable to be scanned in to show the points of interest where a signal is either expected to be emanating from based on the database information or from an average taken from the database information and the geo-location calculation performed prior to the mapping software being called. The user can control the map to maximize or minimize the mapping screen such that the mapping screen is maximized or minimized to provide a better view which is more fit to provide information of the signal transmissions. In an embodiment, the mapping process does not rely on outside mapping software. The mapping capability has the ability to generate the map image and to populate a mapping database that is operable to include information from third party maps to meet specific user requirements.
In an embodiment, triangulation and multilateration are operable to utilize a Bayesian type filter that is operable to predict possible movement and future location and operation of devices based on input collected from the TDOA and geolocation processes and the variables from the static database pertaining to the specified signal of interest. The Bayesian filter takes the input changes in time difference and its inverse function (i.e., frequency difference) and takes an average change in signal variation to detect and predict the movement of the signals. The signal changes are measured within 1 ns time difference and the filter is operable to also adapt its gradient error calculation to remove unwanted signals that are operable to cause errors due to signal multipath, inter-symbol interference, and other signal noise.
In an embodiment the changes within a 1 ns time difference for each sample for each unique signal is operable to be recorded. The spectrum management device is operable to then perform the inverse and compute and record the frequency difference and phase difference between each sample for each unique signal. The spectrum management device is operable to take the same signal and calculates an error based on other input signals coming in within the 1 ns time and is operable to average and filter out the computed error to equalize the signal. The spectrum management device is operable to determine the time difference and frequency difference of arrival for that signal and compute the odds of where the signal is emanating from based on the frequency band parameters presented from the spectral analysis and processor computations, and determines the best position from which the signal is transmitted (i.e., origin of the signal).
The signal processor 214 is operable to include a signal detection module 216, a comparison module 222, a timing module 224, and a location module 225. Additionally, the signal processor 214 is operable to include an optional memory module 226 which is operable to include one or more optional buffers 228 for storing data generated by the other modules of the signal processor 214.
In an embodiment, the signal detection module 216 is operable to operate to identify signals based on the RF energy measurements received from the RF receiver 210. The signal detection module 216 is operable to include a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module 217 which is operable to convert the received RF energy measurements into spectral representation data. The signal detection module 216 is operable to include an analysis module 221 which is operable to analyze the spectral representation data to identify one or more signals above a power threshold.
A power module 220 of the signal detection module 216 is operable to control the power threshold at which signals are operable to be identified. In an embodiment, the power threshold is operable to be a default power setting or is operable to be a user selectable power setting. A noise module 219 of the signal detection module 216 is operable to control a signal threshold, such as a noise threshold, at or above which signals are operable to be identified.
The signal detection module 216 is operable to include a parameter module 218 which is operable to determine one or more signal parameters for any identified signals, such as center frequency, bandwidth, power, number of detected signals, frequency peak, peak power, average power, signal duration, etc. In an embodiment, the signal processor 214 is operable to include a timing module 224 which is operable to record time information and provide the time information to the signal detection module 216. Additionally, the signal processor 214 is operable to include a location module 225 which is operable to receive location inputs from the location receiver 212 and determine a location of the spectrum management device 202. The location of the spectrum management device 202 is operable to be provided to the signal detection module 216.
In an embodiment, the signal processor 214 is operable to be connected to one or more memory 230. The memory 230 is operable to include multiple databases, such as a history or historical database 232 and characteristics listing 236, and one or more buffers 240 storing data generated by signal processor 214. While illustrated as connected to the signal processor 214 the memory 230 is operable to also be on chip memory residing on the signal processor 214 itself. In an embodiment, the history or historical database 232 is operable to include measured signal data 234 for signals that have been previously identified by the spectrum management device 202. The measured signal data 234 is operable to include the raw RF energy measurements, time stamps, location information, one or more signal parameters for any identified signals, such as center frequency, bandwidth, power, number of detected signals, frequency peak, peak power, average power, signal duration, etc., and identifying information determined from the characteristics listing 236. In an embodiment, the history or historical database 232 is operable to be updated as signals are identified by the spectrum management device 202. In an embodiment, the characteristic listing 236 is operable to be a database of static signal data 238. The static signal data 238 is operable to include data gathered from various sources including by way of example and not by way of limitation the Federal Communication Commission, the International Telecommunication Union, telecom providers, manufacture data, and data from spectrum management device users. Static signal data 238 is operable to include known signal parameters of transmitting devices, such as center frequency, bandwidth, power, number of detected signals, frequency peak, peak power, average power, signal duration, geographic information for transmitting devices, and any other data that is operable to be useful in identifying a signal. In an embodiment, the static signal data 238 and the characteristic listing 236 are operable to correlate signal parameters and signal identifications. As an example, the static signal data 238 and characteristic listing 236 is operable to list the parameters of the local fire and emergency communication channel correlated with a signal identification indicating that signal is the local fire and emergency communication channel.
In an embodiment, the signal processor 214 is operable to include a comparison module 222 which is operable to match data generated by the signal detection module 216 with data in the history or historical database 232 and/or characteristic listing 236. In an embodiment the comparison module 222 is operable to receive signal parameters from the signal detection module 216, such as center frequency, bandwidth, power, number of detected signals, frequency peak, peak power, average power, signal duration, and/or receive parameter from the timing module 224 and/or location module 225. The parameter match module 223 is operable to retrieve data from the history or historical database 232 and/or the characteristic listing 236 and compare the retrieved data to any received parameters to identify matches. Based on the matches the comparison module is operable to identify the signal. In an embodiment, the signal processor 214 is operable to be optionally connected to a display 242, an input device 244, and/or network transceiver 246. The display 242 is operable to be controlled by the signal processor 214 to output spectral representations of received signals, signal characteristic information, and/or indications of signal identifications on the display 242. In an embodiment, the input device 244 is operable to be any input device, such as a keyboard and/or knob, mouse, virtual keyboard or even voice recognition, enabling the user of the spectrum management device 202 to input information for use by the signal processor 214. In an embodiment, the network transceiver 246 is operable to enable the spectrum management device 202 to exchange data with wired and/or wireless networks, such as to update the characteristic listing 236 and/or upload information from the history or historical database 232.
In block 312 the processor 214 is operable to identify one or more signal above a threshold. In an embodiment, the processor 214 is operable to analyze the spectral representation data to identify a signal above a power threshold. A power threshold is operable to be an amplitude measure selected to distinguish RF energies associated with actual signals from noise. In an embodiment, the power threshold is operable to be a default value. In another embodiment, the power threshold is operable to be a user selectable value. In block 314 the processor 214 is operable to determine signal parameters of any identified signal or signals of interest. As examples, the processor 214 is operable to determine signal parameters such as center frequency, bandwidth, power, number of detected signals, frequency peak, peak power, average power, signal duration for the identified signals. In block 316 the processor 214 is operable to store the signal parameters of each identified signal, a location indication, and time indication for each identified signal in a history database 232. In an embodiment, a history database 232 is operable to be a database resident in a memory 230 of the spectrum management device 202 which is operable to include data associated with signals actually identified by the spectrum management device.
In block 318 the processor 214 is operable to compare the signal parameters of each identified signal to signal parameters in a signal characteristic listing. In an embodiment, the signal characteristic listing is operable to be a static database 238 stored in the memory 230 of the spectrum management device 202 which is operable to correlate signal parameters and signal identifications. In determination block 320 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the signal parameters of the identified signal or signals match signal parameters in the characteristic listing 236. In an embodiment, a match is operable to be determined based on the signal parameters being within a specified tolerance of one another. As an example, a center frequency match is operable to be determined when the center frequencies are within plus or minus 1 kHz of each other. In this manner, differences between real world measured conditions of an identified signal and ideal conditions listed in a characteristics listing is operable to be accounted for in identifying matches. If the signal parameters do not match (i.e., determination block 320=“No”), in block 326 the processor 214 is operable to display an indication that the signal is unidentified on a display 242 of the spectrum management device 202. In this manner, the user of the spectrum management device is operable to be notified that a signal is detected, but has not been positively identified. If the signal parameters do match (i.e., determination block 320=“Yes”), in block 324 the processor 214 is operable to display an indication of the signal identification on the display 242. In an embodiment, the signal identification displayed is operable to be the signal identification correlated to the signal parameter in the signal characteristic listing which matched the signal parameter for the identified signal. Upon displaying the indications in blocks 324 or 326 the processor 214 is operable to return to block 302 and cyclically measure and identify further signals of interest.
If the average of the sample block is equal to or greater than the noise floor average (i.e., determination block 510=“Yes”), the sample block is operable to potentially include a signal of interest and in block 512 the processor 214 is operable to reset a measurement counter (C) to 1. The measurement counter value indicating which sample within a sample block is under analysis. In determination block 516 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the RF measurement of the next frequency sample (C) is greater than the signal power threshold. In this manner, the value of the measurement counter (C) is operable to be used to control which sample RF measurement in the sample block is compared to the signal power threshold. As an example, when the counter (C) equals 1, the first RF measurement is operable to be checked against the signal power threshold and when the counter (C) equals 2 the second RF measurement in the sample block is operable to be checked, etc. If the C RF measurement is less than or equal to the signal power threshold (i.e., determination block 516=“No”), in determination block 517 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the cross block flag is set. If the cross block flag is not set (i.e., determination block 517=“No”), in determination block 522 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the end of the sample block is reached. If the end of the sample block is reached (i.e., determination block 522=“Yes”), in block 506 the processor 214 is operable to load the next available sample block and proceed in blocks 508, 510, 514, and 512 as discussed above. If the end of the sample block is not reached (i.e., determination block 522=“No”), in block 524 the processor 214 is operable to increment the measurement counter (C) so that the next sample in the sample block is analyzed.
If the C RF measurement is greater than the signal power threshold (i.e., determination block 516=“Yes”), in block 518 the processor 214 is operable to check the status of the cross block flag to determine whether the cross block flag is set. If the cross block flag is not set (i.e., determination block 518=“No”), in block 520 the processor 214 is operable to set a sample start. As an example, the processor 214 is operable to set a sample start by indicating a potential signal of interest is operable to be discovered in a memory by assigning a memory location for RF measurements associated with the sample start. Referring to
In determination block 530 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the C RF measurement (e.g., the next RF measurement because the value of the RF measurement counter was incremented) is greater than the signal power threshold. If the C RF measurement is greater than the signal power threshold (i.e., determination block 530=“Yes”), in determination block 532 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the end of the sample block is reached. If the end of the sample block is not reached (i.e., determination block 532=“No”), there further RF measurements are operable to be available in the sample block and in block 526 the processor 214 is operable to store the C RF measurement in the memory location for the sample. In block 528 the processor is operable to increment the measurement counter (C) and in determination block 530 determine whether the C RF measurement is above the signal power threshold and in block 532 determine whether the end of the sample block is reached. In this manner, successive sample RF measurements are operable to be checked against the signal power threshold and stored until the end of the sample block is reached and/or until a sample RF measurement falls below the signal power threshold. If the end of the sample block is reached (i.e., determination block 532=“Yes”), in block 534 the processor 214 is operable to set the cross block flag. In an embodiment, the cross block flag is operable to be a flag in a memory available to the processor 214 indicating the signal potential spans across two or more sample blocks. In a further embodiment, prior to setting the cross block flag in block 534, the slope of a line drawn between the last two RF measurement samples are operable to be used to determine whether the next sample block likely contains further potential signal samples. A negative slope is operable to indicate that the signal of interest is fading and is operable to indicate the last sample was the final sample of the signal of interest. In another embodiment, the slope is operable to not be computed and the next sample block is operable to be analyzed regardless of the slope.
If the end of the sample block is reached (i.e., determination block 532=“Yes”) and in block 534 the cross block flag is set, referring to
If the end of the sample block is reached (i.e., determination block 532=“Yes”) and in block 534 the cross block flag is set, referring to
If the mean is greater than the signal threshold (i.e., determination block 544=“Yes”), in block 546 the processor 214 is operable to identify the sample as a signal of interest. In an embodiment, the processor 214 is operable to identify the sample as a signal of interest by assigning a signal identifier to the signal, such as a signal number or sample number. In block 548 the processor 214 is operable to determine and store signal parameters for the signal. As an example, the processor 214 is operable to determine and store a frequency peak of the identified signal, a peak power of the identified signal, an average power of the identified signal, a signal bandwidth of the identified signal, and/or a signal duration of the identified signal. In block 552 the processor 214 is operable to clear the cross block flag (or verify that the cross block flag is unset). In block 556 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the end of the sample block is reached. If the end of the sample block is not reached (i.e., determination block 556=“No”) in block 558 the processor 214 is operable to increment the measurement counter (C), and referring to
In block 614 the processor 214 is operable to compare the signal parameters of the identified signal to signal parameters in a signal characteristic listing 236. In an embodiment, the characteristic listing 236 is operable to be a static database separate from the history database 232, and the characteristic listing 236 is operable to correlate signal parameters with signal identifications. In determination block 616 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the signal parameters of the identified signal match any signal parameters in the signal characteristic listing 236. In an embodiment, the match in determination 616 is operable to be a match based on a tolerance between the signal parameters of the identified signal and the parameters in the characteristic listing 236. If there is a match (i.e., determination block 616=“Yes”), in block 618 the processor 214 is operable to indicate a match in the history database 232 and in block 622 is operable to display an indication of the signal identification on a display 242. As an example, the indication of the signal identification is operable to be a display of the radio call sign of an identified FM radio station signal. If there is not a match (i.e., determination block 616=“No”), in block 620 the processor 214 is operable to display an indication that the signal is an unidentified signal. In this manner, the user is operable to be notified a signal is present in the environment, but that the signal does not match to a signal in the characteristic listing.
If there are matches (i.e., determination block 706=“Yes”), in optional block 708 the processor 214 is operable to display a plot of one or more of the signals matching the current location. As an example, the processor 214 is operable to compute the average frequency over frequency intervals across a given spectrum and is operable to display a plot of the average frequency over each interval. In block 712 the processor 214 is operable to determine one or more open frequencies at the current location. As an example, the processor 214 is operable to determine one or more open frequencies by determining frequency ranges in which no signals fall or at which the average is below a threshold. In block 714 the processor 214 is operable to display an indication of one or more open frequency on a display 242 of the spectrum management device 202.
The protocol module 806 is operable to identify the communication protocol (e.g., LTE, CDMA, etc.) associated with a signal of interest. In an embodiment, the protocol module 806 is operable to use data retrieved from the characteristic listing, such as protocol data 804 to help identify the communication protocol. The symbol detector module 816 is operable to determine symbol timing information, such as a symbol rate for a signal of interest. The protocol module 806 and/or symbol module 816 is operable to provide data to the comparison module 222. The comparison module 222 is operable to include a protocol match module 814 which is operable to attempt to match protocol information for a signal of interest to protocol data 804 in the characteristic listing to identify a signal of interest. Additionally, the protocol module 806 and/or symbol module 816 is operable to store data in the memory module 226 and/or history database 232. In an embodiment, the protocol module 806 and/or symbol module 816 is operable to use protocol data 804 and/or other data from the characteristic listing 236 to help identify protocols and/or symbol information in signals of interest.
The optimization module 818 is operable to gather information from the characteristic listing, such as noise figure parameters, antenna hardware parameters, and environmental parameters correlated with an identified signal of interest to calculate a degradation value for the identified signal of interest. The optimization module 818 is operable to further control the display 242 to output degradation data enabling a user of the spectrum management device 802 to optimize a signal of interest.
In block 1110 the processor 214 is operable to compare the signal parameters and protocol data of the identified signal to signal parameters and protocol data in the signal characteristic listing 236. In determination block 1112 the processor 214 is operable to determine whether the signal parameters and protocol data of the identified signal match any signal parameters and protocol data in the signal characteristic listing 236. If there is a match (i.e., determination block 1112=“Yes”), in block 1114 the processor 214 is operable to indicate a match in the history database and in block 1118 is operable to display an indication of the signal identification and protocol on a display. If there is not a match (i.e., determination block 1112=“No”), in block 1116 the processor 214 is operable to display an indication that the signal is an unidentified signal. In this manner, the user is operable to be notified a signal is present in the environment, but that the signal does not match to a signal in the characteristic listing.
In an embodiment, based on signal detection, a time tracking module, such as a TDOA/FDOA module 1204, is operable to track the frequency repetition interval at which the signal is changing. The frequency repetition interval is operable to also be tracked for a burst signal. In an embodiment, the spectrum management device is operable to measure the signal environment and set anchors based on information stored in the historic or static database about known transmitter sources and locations. In an embodiment, the phase information about a signal be extracted using a spectral decomposition correlation equation to measure the angle of arrival (“AOA”) of the signal. In an embodiment, the processor of the spectrum management device is operable to determine the received power as the Received Signal Strength (“RSS”) and based on the AOA and RSS is operable to measure the frequency difference of arrival. In an embodiment, the frequency shift of the received signal is operable to be measured and aggregated over time. In an embodiment, after an initial sample of a signal, known transmitted signals are operable to be measured and compared to the RSS to determine frequency shift error. In an embodiment, the processor of the spectrum management device is operable to compute a cross ambiguity function of aggregated changes in arrival time and frequency of arrival. In an additional embodiment, the processor of the spectrum management device is operable to retrieve FFT data for a measured signal and aggregate the data to determine changes in time of arrival and frequency of arrival. In an embodiment, the signal components of change in frequency of arrival are operable to be averaged through a Kalman filter with a weighted tap filter from 2 to 256 weights to remove measurement error such as noise, multipath interference, etc. In an embodiment, frequency difference of arrival techniques are operable to be applied when either the emitter of the signal or the spectrum management device are moving or when then emitter of the signal and the spectrum management device are both stationary. When the emitter of the signal and the spectrum management device are both stationary the determination of the position of the emitter is operable to be made when at least four known other known signal emitters positions are known and signal characteristics are operable to be available. In an embodiment, a user is operable to provide the four other known emitters and/or is operable to use already in place known emitters, and is operable to use the frequency, bandwidth, power, and distance values of the known emitters and their respective signals. In an embodiment, where the emitter of the signal or spectrum management device is operable to be moving, frequency deference of arrival techniques are operable to be performed using two known emitters.
The processor 214 of spectrum management devices 202, 802 and 1202 is operable to be any programmable microprocessor, microcomputer or multiple processor chip or chips that are operable to be configured by software instructions (applications) to perform a variety of functions, including the functions of the various embodiments described above. In some devices, multiple processors are operable to be provided, such as one processor dedicated to wireless communication functions and one processor dedicated to running other applications. Typically, software applications are operable to be stored in the internal memory 226 or 230 before they are accessed and loaded into the processor 214. The processor 214 is operable to include internal memory sufficient to store the application software instructions. In many devices the internal memory is operable to be a volatile or nonvolatile memory, such as flash memory, or a mixture of both. For the purposes of this description, a general reference to memory refers to memory accessible by the processor 214 including internal memory or removable memory plugged into the device and memory within the processor 214 itself.
The present invention provides for systems, methods, and apparatus solutions for device sensing in white space, which improves upon the prior art by identifying sources of signal emission by automatically detecting signals and creating unique signal profiles. Device sensing has an important function and applications in military and other intelligence sectors, where identifying the emitter device is crucial for monitoring and surveillance, including specific emitter identification (SEI).
At least two key functions are provided by the present invention: signal isolation and device sensing. Signal Isolation according to the present invention is a process whereby a signal is detected, isolated through filtering and amplification, amongst other methods, and key characteristics extracted. Device Sensing according to the present invention is a process whereby the detected signals are matched to a device through comparison to device signal profiles and is operable to include applying a confidence level and/or rating to the signal-profile matching. Further, device sensing covers technologies that permit storage of profile comparisons such that future matching is operable to be done with increased efficiency and/or accuracy. The present invention systems, methods, and apparatus are constructed and configured functionally to identify any signal emitting device, including by way of example and not limitation, a radio, a cell phone, etc. Another key function provided by the present invention is blind detection and protocol identification.
Regarding signal isolation, the following functions are included in the present invention: amplifying, filtering, detecting signals through energy detection, waveform-based, spectral correlation-based, radio identification-based, or matched filter method, identifying interference, identifying environmental baseline(s), and/or identify signal characteristics.
Regarding device sensing, the following functions are included in the present invention: using signal profiling and/or comparison with known database(s) and previously recorded profile(s), identifying the expected device or emitter, stating the level of confidence for the identification, and/or storing profiling and sensing information for improved algorithms and matching. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the identification of the at least one signal emitting device is accurate to a predetermined degree of confidence between about 80 and about 95 percent, and more preferably between about 80 and about 100 percent. The confidence level or degree of confidence is based upon the amount of matching measured data compared with historical data and/or reference data for predetermined frequency and other characteristics.
The present invention provides for wireless signal-emitting device sensing in the white space based upon a measured signal, and considers the basis of license(s) provided in at least one reference database, preferably the federal communication commission (FCC) and/or other defined database including license listings. The methods include the steps of providing a device for measuring characteristics of signals from signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications, the characteristics of the measured data from the signal emitting devices including frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof; making an assessment or categorization on analog and/or digital signal(s); determining the best fit based on frequency if the measured power spectrum is designated in historical and/or reference data, including but not limited to the FCC or other database(s) for select frequency ranges; determining analog or digital, based on power and sideband combined with frequency allocation; determining a TDM/FDM/CDM signal, based on duration and bandwidth; determining best modulation fit for the desired signal, if the bandwidth and duration match the signal database(s); adding modulation identification to the database; listing possible modulations with best percentage fit, based on the power, bandwidth, frequency, duration, database allocation, and combinations thereof; and identifying at least one signal emitting device from the composite results of the foregoing steps. Additionally, the present invention provides that the phase measurement of the signal is calculated between the difference of the end frequency of the bandwidth and the peak center frequency and the start frequency of the bandwidth and the peak center frequency to get a better measurement of the sideband drop off rate of the signal to help determine the modulation of the signal.
In embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for automatically identifying devices in a spectrum, the apparatus 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 a spectrum associated with wireless communications; and wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically analyze the measured data to identify at least one signal emitting device in near real time from attempted detection and identification of the at least one signal emitting device. The characteristics of signals and measured data from the signal emitting devices include frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof.
The present invention systems including at least one apparatus, wherein the at least one 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 of the apparatus is operable for identifying signal emitting devices 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 a spectrum associated with wireless communications; and wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically analyze the measured data to identify at least one signal emitting device in near real time from attempted detection and identification of the at least one signal emitting device.
The present invention provides for systems, methods, and apparatus solutions for automatically identifying open space, including open space in the white space of a wireless communication spectrum. Importantly, the present invention identifies the open space as the space that is unused and/or seldomly used (and identifies the owner of the licenses for the seldomly used space, if applicable), including unlicensed spectrum, white space, guard bands, and combinations thereof. Method steps of the present invention include: automatically obtaining a listing or report of all frequencies in the frequency range; plotting a line and/or graph chart showing power and bandwidth activity; setting frequencies based on a frequency step and/or resolution so that only user-defined frequencies are plotted; generating files, such as by way of example and not limitation, .csv or .pdf files, showing average and/or aggregated values of power, bandwidth and frequency for each derived frequency step; and showing an activity report over time, over day vs. night, over frequency bands if more than one, in white space if requested, in Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band or space if requested; and if frequency space is seldomly in that area, then identify and list frequencies and license holders.
Additional steps include: automatically scanning the frequency span, wherein a default scan includes a frequency span between about 54 MHz and about 804 MHz; an ISM scan between about 900 MHz and about 2.5 GHz; an ISM scan between about 5 GHz and about 5.8 GHz; and/or a frequency range based upon inputs provided by a user. Also, method steps include scanning for an allotted amount of time between a minimum of about 15 minutes up to about 30 days; preferably scanning for allotted times selected from the following: a minimum of about 15 minutes; about 30 minutes; about 1 hour increments; about 5 hour increments; about 10 hour increments; about 24 hours; about 1 day; and about up to 30 days; and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, if the apparatus is configured for automatically scanning for more than about 15 minutes, then the apparatus is preferably set for updating results, including updating graphs and/or reports for an approximately equal amount of time (e.g., every 15 minutes).
The systems, methods, and apparatus also provide for automatically calculating a percent activity associated with the identified open space on predetermined frequencies and/or ISM bands. Signal Database.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide for sensed and/or measured data received by the at least one apparatus of the present invention, analyzed data, historical data, and/or reference data, change-in-state data, and any updates thereto, are storable on each of the at least one apparatus. In systems of the present invention, each apparatus further includes transmitters for sending the sensed and/or measured data received by the at least one apparatus of the present invention, analyzed data, historical data, and/or reference data, change-in-state data, and any updates thereto, are communicated via the network to the at least one remote server computer and its corresponding database(s). Preferably, the server(s) aggregate the data received from the multiplicity of apparatus or devices to produce a composite database for each of the types of data indicated. Thus, while each of the apparatus or devices is fully functional and self-contained within the housing for performing all method steps and operations without network-based communication connectivity with the remote server(s), when connected, as illustrated in
In particular, the aggregation of data from distributed, different apparatus or device units allow for comparison of sample sets of data to compare signal data or information for similar factors, including time(s), day(s), venues, geographic locations or regions, situations, activities, etc., as well as for comparing various signal characteristics with the factors, wherein the signal characteristics and their corresponding sensed and/or measured data, including raw data and change-in-state data, and/or analyzed data from the signal emitting devices include frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the comparisons are conducted in near real time. The aggregation of data is operable to provide for information about the same or similar mode from apparatus to apparatus, scanning the same or different frequency ranges, with different factors and/or signal characteristics received and stored in the database(s), both on each apparatus or device unit, and when they are connected in network-based communication for transmission of the data to the at least one remote server.
The aggregation of data from a multiplicity of units also advantageously provides for continuous, 24 hours/7 days per week scanning, and allows the system to identify sections that exist as well as possibly omitted information or lost data, which is operable to still be considered for comparisons, even if it is incomplete. From a time standpoint, there is operable to not be a linearity with respect to when data is collected or received by the units; rather, the systems and methods of the present invention provide for automated matching of time, i.e., matching time frames and relative times, even where the environment, activities, and/or context are operable to be different for different units. By way of example and not limitation, different units are operable to sense and/or measure the same signal from the same signal emitting device in the spectrum, but interference, power, environmental factors, and other factors are operable to present identification issues that preclude one of the at last one apparatus or device units from determining the identity of the signal emitting device with the same degree of certainty or confidence. The variation in this data from a multiplicity of units measuring the same signals provides for aggregation and comparison at the remote server using the distributed databases from each unit to generate a variance report in near real time. Thus, the database(s) provide repository database in memory on the apparatus or device units, and/or data from a multiplicity of units are aggregated on at least one remote server to provide an active network with distributed nodes over a region that produce an active or dynamic database of signals, identified devices, identified open space, and combinations thereof, and the nodes are operable to report to or transmit data via network-based communication to a central hub or server. This provides for automatically comparing signal emitting devices or their profiles and corresponding sensed or measured data, situations, activities, geographies, times, days, and/or environments, which provides unique composite and comparison data that are operable to be continuously updated.
Furthermore, the database aggregating nodes of the apparatus or device units provide a baseline compared with new data, which provide for near real time analysis and results within each of the at least one apparatus or device unit, which calculates and generates results such as signal emitting device identification, identification of open space, signal optimization, and combinations thereof, based upon the particular settings of each of the at least one apparatus or device unit. The settings include frequency ranges, location and distance from other units, difference in propagation from one unit to another unit, and combinations thereof, which factor into the final results.
The present invention systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments provide for leveraging the use of deltas or differentials from the baseline, as well as actual data, to provide onsite sensing, measurement, and analysis for a given environment and spectrum, for each of the at least one apparatus or device unit. Because the present invention provides the at least one processor on each unit to compare signals and signal characteristic differences using compressed data for deltas to provide near real time results, the database storage is operable to further be optimized by storing compressed data and/or deltas, and then decompressing and/or reconstructing the actual signals using the deltas and the baseline. Analytics are also provided using this approach. So then the signals database(s) provide for reduced data storage to the smallest sample set that still provides at least the baseline and the deltas to enable signal reconstruction and analysis to produce the results described according to the present invention.
Preferably, the modeling and virtualization analytics enabled by the databases on each of the at least one apparatus or device units independently of the remote server computer, and also provided on the remote server computer from aggregated data, provide for “gap filling” for omitted or absent data, and or for reconstruction from deltas. A multiplicity of deltas is operable to provide for signal identification, interference identification, neighboring band identification, device identification, signal optimization, and combinations, all in near real time. Significantly, the deltas approach of the present invention which provide for minimization of data sets or sample data sets required for comparisons and/or analytics, i.e., the smallest range of time, frequency, etc. that captures all representative signals and/or deltas associated with the signals, environment conditions, noise, etc.
The signal database(s) are operable to be represented with visual indications including diagrams, graphs, plots, tables, and combinations thereof, which are operable to be presented directly by the apparatus or device unit to its corresponding display contained within the housing. Also, the signals database(s) provide each apparatus or device unit to receive a first sample data set in a first time period, and receive a second sample data set in a second time period, and receive a N sample data set in a corresponding N time period; to save or store each of the at least two distinct sample data sets; to automatically compare the at least two sample data sets to determine a change-in-state or “delta”. Preferably, the database receives and stores at least the first of the at least two data sets and also stores the delta. The stored delta values provide for quick analytics and regeneration of the actual values of the sample sets from the delta values, which advantageously contributes to the near real time results of the present invention.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the at least one apparatus is continuously scanning the environment for signals, deltas from prior at least one sample data set, and combinations, which are categorized, classified, and stored in memory.
The systems, methods and apparatus embodiments of the present invention include hardware and software components and requirements to provide for each of the apparatus units to connect and communicate different data they sense, measure, analyze, and/or store on local database(s) in memory on each of the units with the remote server computer and database. Thus the master database or “SigDB” is operable to be applied and connect to the units, and is operable to include hardware and software commercially available, for example SQL Server 2012, and to be applied to provide a user the criteria to upgrade/update their current sever network to the correct configuration that is required to operate and access the SigDB. Also, the SigDB is preferably designed, constructed and as a full hardware and software system configuration for the user, including load testing and network security and configuration. Other exemplary requirements include that the SigDB will include a database structure that is operable to sustain a multiplicity of apparatus units' information; provide a method to update the FCC database and/or historical database according a set time (every month/quarter/week, etc.), and in accordance with changes to the FCC.gov databases that are integrated into the database; operable to receive and to download unit data from a remote location through a network connection; be operable to query apparatus unit data stored within the SigDB database server and to query apparatus unit data in ‘present’ time to a particular apparatus unit device for a given ‘present’ time not available in the current SigDB server database; update this information into its own database structure; to keep track of Device Identifications and the information each apparatus unit is collecting including its location; to query the apparatus units based on Device ID or location of device or apparatus unit; to connect to several devices and/or apparatus units on a distributed communications network; to partition data from each apparatus unit or device and differentiate the data from each based on its location and Device ID; to join queries from several devices if a user wants to know information acquired from several remote apparatus units at a given time; to provide ability for several users (currently up to 5 per apparatus unit or device) to query information from the SigDB database or apparatus unit or device; to grant access permissions to records for each user based on device ID, pertinent information or tables/location; to connect to a user GUI from a remote device such as a workstation or tablet PC from a Web App application; to retrieve data queries based on user information and/or jobs; to integrate database external database information from the apparatus units; and combinations thereof.
Also, in preferred embodiments, a GUI interface based on a Web Application software is provided; in one embodiment, the SigDB GUI is provided in any appropriate software, such as by way of example, in Visual Studio using .Net/Asp.Net technology or JavaScript. In any case, the SigDB GUI preferably operates across cross platform systems with correct browser and operating system (OS) configuration; provides the initial requirements of a History screen in each apparatus unit to access sever information or query a remote apparatus unit containing the desired user information; and, generates.csv and .pdf reports that are useful to the user.
Automated Reports and Visualization of Analytics.
Various reports for describing and illustrating with visualization the data and analysis of the device, system and method results from spectrum management activities include at least reports on power usage, RF survey, and/or variance, as well as interference detection, intermodulation detection, uncorrelated licenses, and/or open space identification.
The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable spectrum management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements. In an embodiment, signals and the parameters of the signals are operable to be identified and indications of available frequencies are operable to be presented to a user. In another embodiment, the protocols of signals are operable to also be identified. In a further embodiment, the modulation of signals, devices or device types emitting signals, data types carried by the signals, and estimated signal origins are operable to be identified.
Referring again to the drawings,
By way of example, and not limitation, the computing devices 3820, 3830, 3840 are intended to represent various forms of digital devices 3820, 3840, 3850 and mobile devices 3830, such as a server, blade server, mainframe, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a desktop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, a workstation, a laptop, and other similar computing devices. The components shown here, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the invention described and/or claimed in this document.
In one embodiment, the computing device 3820 includes components such as a processor 3860, a system memory 3862 having a random access memory (RAM) 3864 and a read-only memory (ROM) 3866, and a system bus 3868 that couples the memory 3862 to the processor 3860. In another embodiment, the computing device 3830 is operable to additionally include components such as a storage device 3890 for storing the operating system 3892 and one or more application programs 3894, a network interface unit 3896, and/or an input/output controller 3898. Each of the components is operable to be coupled to each other through at least one bus 3868. The input/output controller 3898 is operable to receive and process input from, or provide output to, a number of other devices 3899, including, but not limited to, alphanumeric input devices, mice, electronic styluses, display units, touch screens, signal generation devices (e.g., speakers) or printers.
By way of example, and not limitation, the processor 3860 is operable to be a general-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a state machine, gated or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable entity or combinations thereof that is operable to perform calculations, process instructions for execution, and/or other manipulations of information.
In another implementation, shown in
Also, multiple computing devices are operable to be connected, with each device providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g., a server bank, a group of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). Alternatively, some steps or methods are operable to be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.
According to various embodiments, the computer system 3800 is operable to operate in a networked environment using logical connections to local and/or remote computing devices 3820, 3830, 3840 through a network 3810. A computing device 3830 is operable to connect to a network 3810 through a network interface unit 3896 connected to the bus 3868. Computing devices are operable to communicate communication media through wired networks, direct-wired connections or wirelessly such as acoustic, RF or infrared through a wireless communication antenna 3897 in communication with the network's wireless communication antenna 3812 and the network interface unit 3896, which is operable to include digital signal processing circuitry when necessary. The network interface unit 3896 is operable to provide for communications under various modes or protocols.
In one or more exemplary aspects, the instructions are operable to be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combinations thereof. A computer readable medium is operable to provide volatile or non-volatile storage for one or more sets of instructions, such as operating systems, data structures, program modules, applications or other data embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The computer readable medium is operable to include the memory 3862, the processor 3860, and/or the storage device 3890 and is operable to be a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed computer system) that store the one or more sets of instructions 3900. Non-transitory computer readable media includes all computer readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal per se. The instructions 3900 are operable to further be transmitted or received over the network 3810 via the network interface unit 3896 as communication media, which are operable to include a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics changed or set in a manner as to encode information in the signal.
Storage devices 3890 and memory 3862 include, but are not limited to, volatile and non-volatile media such as cache, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory or other solid state memory technology, disks or discs (e.g., digital versatile disks (DVD), HD-DVD, BLU-RAY, compact disc (CD), CD-ROM, floppy disc) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that is operable to be used to store the computer readable instructions and which is operable to be accessed by the computer system 3800.
It is also contemplated that the computer system 3800 is operable to not include all of the components shown in
The present invention further provides for aggregating data from at least two apparatus units by at least one server computer and storing the aggregated data in a database and/or in at least one database in a cloud-based computing environment or virtualized computing environment, as illustrated in
In other embodiments of the present invention, which include the base invention described hereinabove, and further including the functions of machine “learning”, modulation detection, automatic signal detection (ASD), FFT replay, and combinations thereof.
Automatic modulation detection and machine “learning” includes automatic signal variance determination by at least one of the following methods: date and time from location set, and remote access to the apparatus unit to determine variance from different locations and times, in addition to the descriptions of automatic signal detection and threshold determination and setting. Environments vary, especially where there are many signals, noise, interference, variance, etc., so tracking signals automatically is difficult, and a longstanding, unmet need in the prior art. The present invention provides for automatic signal detection using a sample of measured and sensed data associated with signals over time using the at least one apparatus unit of the present invention to provide an automatically adjustable and adaptable system. For each spectrum scan, the data is automatically subdivided into “windows”, which are sections or groups of data within a frequency space. Real-time processing of the measured and sensed data on the apparatus unit(s) or devices combined with the windowing effect provides for automatic comparison of signal versus noise within the window to provide for noise approximation, wherein both signals and noise are measured and sensed, recorded, analyzed compared with historical data to identify and output signals in a high noise environment. It is adaptive and iterative to include focused windows and changes in the window or frequency ranges grouped. The resulting values for all data are squared in the analysis, which results in signals identified easily by the apparatus unit as having significantly larger power values compared with noise; additional analytics provide for selection of the highest power value signals and review of the original data corresponding thereto. Thus, the at least one apparatus automatically determines and identifies signals compared to noise in the RF spectrum.
The apparatus unit or device of the present invention further includes a temporal anomaly detector (or “learning channel”). The first screen shot illustrated in
In a similar capacity, the user is operable to load a spreadsheet that they have constructed on their own to describe the channels that they expect to see in a given environment, as illustrated in
Automatic signal detection of the present invention eliminates the need for a manual setting of a power threshold line or bar, as with the prior art. The present invention does not require a manual setting of power threshold bar or flat line to identify signals instead of noise, instead it uses information learned directly from the changing RF environment to identify signals. Thus, the apparatus unit or device is operable to be activated and left unattended to collect data continuously without the need for manual interaction with the device directly. Furthermore, the present invention allows remote viewing of live data in real time on a display of a computer or communications device in network-based connection but remotely positioned from the apparatus unit or device, and/or remote access to device settings, controls, data, and combinations thereof. The network-based communication is operable to be selected from mobile, satellite, Ethernet, and functional equivalents or improvements with security including firewalls, encryption of data, and combinations thereof.
Regarding FFT replay, the present invention apparatus units are operable to replay data and to review and/or replay data saved based upon an unknown event, such as for example and not limitation, reported alarms and/or unique events, wherein the FFT replay is operable to replay stored sensed and measured data to the section of data nearest the reported alarm and/or unique event. By contrast, prior art provides for recording signals on RF spectrum measurement devices, which transmit or send the raw data to an external computer for analysis, so then it is impossible to replay or review specific sections of data, as they are not searchable, tagged, or otherwise sectioned into subgroups of data or stored on the device.
The previous approach to ASD was to subtract a calibration vector from each FFT sample set (de-bias), then square each resulting value and look for concentrations of energy that would differentiate a signal from random baseline noise. The advantages of this approach are that, by the use of the calibration vector (which was created using the receiver itself with no antenna), the present invention is operable to able to closely track variations in the baseline noise that are due to the characteristics of the receiver, front end filtering, attenuation and A/D converter hardware. On most modern equipment, the designers take steps to keep the overall response flat, but there are those that do not.
The drawbacks to this approach are: 1) It requires the use of several “tuning” variables which often require the user to adjust and fiddle with in order to achieve good signal recognition. A fully automatic signal detection system should be able to choose values for these parameters without the intervention of an operator. 2) It does not take into account variations in the baseline noise floor that are introduced by RF energy in a live environment. Since these variations were not present during calibration, they are not part of the calibration vector and are not operable to be “canceled out” during the de-bias phase. Instead, they remain during the square and detect phase, often being mistakenly classified as signal. An example of this is
In order to solve these two problems, and provide a fully automatic signal detection system, a new approach has been taken to prepare the calibration vector. The existing square and detect algorithm works well if the data are de-biased properly with a cleverly chosen calibration vector, overcoming issues with use of prior art methods and use of insufficient calibration vectors.
So, rather than attempt to make the calibration vector fit the data, the new approach examines the data itself in an attempt to use parts of it as the correction vector. This is illustrated by the light purple and baby blue lines in the
The new Gradient Detection algorithm is applied to the smoothed data to detect locations where the slope of the line changes quickly. In places where the slope changes quickly in a positive direction, the algorithm marks the start of a signal. On the other side of the signal the gradient again changes quickly to become more horizontal. At that point the algorithm determines it is the end of a signal. A second smoothing pass is performed on the smoothed data, but this time, those values that fall between the proposed start and end of signal are left out of the average. The result is line 4 (baby blue) in
One of the other user-tunable parameters in the existing ASD system was called “Sensitivity”. This was a parameter that essentially set a threshold of energy, above which each FFT bin in a block of bins averaged together must exceed in order for that block of bins to be considered a signal. In this way, rather than a single horizontal line to divide signal from noise, each signal is operable to be evaluated individually, based on its average power. The effect of setting this value too low was that tiny fluctuations of energy that are actually noise would sometimes appear to be signals. Setting the value too high would result in the algorithm missing a signal. In order to automatically choose a value for this parameter, the new system uses a “Quality of Service” feedback from the Event Compositor, a module that processes the real-time events from the ASD system and writes signal observations into a database. When the sensitivity value is too low, the random bits of energy that ASD mistakenly sees as signal are very transient. This is due to the random nature of noise. The Event Compositor has a parameter called a “Pre-Recognition Delay” that sets the minimum number of consecutive scans that it must see a signal in order for it to be considered a candidate for a signal observation database entry (in order to catch large fast signals, an exception is made for large transients that are either high in peak power, or in bandwidth). Since the random fluctuations seldom persist for more than 1 or 2 sweeps, the Event Compositor ignores them, essentially filtering them out. If there are a large number of these transients, the Event Compositor provides feedback to the ASD module to inform it that its sensitivity is too low. Likewise, if there are no transients at all, the feedback indicates the sensitivity is too high. Eventually, the system arrives at an optimal setting for the sensitivity parameter.
The result is a fully automated signal detection system that requires no user intervention or adjustment. The black brackets at the top of
Because the system relies heavily upon averaging, a new algorithm was created that performs an N sample average in fixed time; i.e., regardless of the width of the average, N, each bin requires 1 addition, 1 subtraction, and 1 division. A simpler algorithm would require N additions and 1 division per bin of data. A snippet of the code is probably the best description:
Automatic Signal Detection (ASD) with Temporal Feature Extraction (TFE)
The system in the present invention uses statistical learning techniques to observe and learn an RF environment over time and identify temporal features of the RF environment (e.g., signals) during a learning period.
A knowledge map is formed based on learning data from a learning period. Real-time signal events are detected by an ASD system and scrubbed against the knowledge map to determine if the real-time signal events are typical and expected for the environment, or if there is any event not typical nor expected.
The knowledge map consists of an array of normal distributions, where each distribution column is for each frequency bin of the FFT result set provided by a software defined radio (SDR). Each vertical column corresponds to a bell-shaped curve for that frequency. Each pixel represents a count of how many times that frequency was seen at that power level.
A learning routine takes power levels of each frequency bin, uses the power levels as an index into each distribution column corresponding to each frequency bin, and increments the counter in a location corresponding to a power level.
The TFE function monitors its operation and produces a “settled percent.” The settled percent is the percentage of the values of the incoming FFT result set that the system has seen before. In this way, the system is operable to know if it is ready to interpret the statistical data that it has obtained. Once it reaches a point where most of the FFT values have been seen before (99.95% or better), it is then operable to perform an interpretation operation.
Gradient detection is then applied to the profile to identify areas of transition. An algorithm continues to accumulate a gradient value as long as the “step” from the previous cell to this cell is always non-zero and the same direction. When it arrives at a zero or different direction step, it evaluates the accumulated difference to see if it is significant, and if so, considers it a gradient. A transition is identified by a continuous change (from left to right) that exceeds the average range between the high and low boundaries of power levels shown as line b (white) in
To a prior art receiver, the narrow band signal hidden within a wideband signal is not distinguishable or detectable. The systems and methods and devices of the present invention are operable to scan a wideband with high resolution or high definition to identify channel divisions within a wideband, and identify narrowband signals hidden within the wideband signal, which are not a part of the wideband signal itself, i.e., the narrow band signals are not part of the bundled channels within the wideband signal.
Also, at the red cursor in
The ASD system has the ability to distinguish between large eruptions of energy that increase the baseline noise and the narrow band signals that could normally be swamped by the additional energy because it generates its baseline from the spectrum itself and looks for relative gradients rather than absolute power levels. This baseline is then subtracted from the original spectrum data, revealing the signals, as displayed by the brackets at the top of the screen. Note that the narrow-band signals are still being detected (tiny brackets at the top that look more like dots) even though there is a hump of noise super-imposed on them.
TFE is a learning process that augments the ASD feature in the present invention. The ASD system enhanced with TFE function in the present invention is operable to automatically tune parameters based on a segmented basis, the sensitivity within an area is changeable. The TFE process accumulates small differences over time and signals become more and more apparent. In one embodiment, the TFE takes 40 samples per second over a 5-minute interval. The ASD system in the present invention is capable of distinguishing signals based on gradients from a complex and moving noise floor without a fixed threshold bar when collecting data from an environment.
The ASD system with TFE function in the present invention is unmanned and water resistant. It runs automatically 24/7, even submerged in water.
The TFE is also capable of detecting interferences and intrusions. In the normal environment, the TFE settles, interprets and identifies signals. Because it has a statistical knowledge of the RF landscape, it is operable to tell the difference between a low power, wide band signal that it normally sees and a new higher power narrow band signal that is operable to be an intruder. This is because it “scrubs” each of the FFT bins of each event that the ASD system detects against its knowledge base. When it detects that a particular group of bins in a signal from ASD falls outside the statistical range that those frequencies normally are observed, the system is operable to raise an anomaly report. The TFE is capable of learning new knowledge, which is never seen before, from the signals identified by a normal detector. In one embodiment, a narrow band signal (e.g., a pit crew to car wireless signal) impinges on an LTE wideband signal, the narrow band signal is operable to be right beside the wideband signal, or drift in and out of the wideband signal. On display, it just looks like an LTE wideband signal. For example, a narrow band signal with a bandwidth of 12 kHz or 25-30 kHz in a wideband signal with a bandwidth of 5 MHz over a 6 GHz spectrum just looks like a spike buried in the middle. But, because signals are characterized in real time against learned knowledge, the proposed ASD system with TFE function is able to pick out narrow band intruder immediately.
The present invention is able to detect a narrow band signal with a bandwidth from 1-2 kHz to 60 kHz inside a wideband signal (e.g., with a bandwidth of 5 MHz) across a 6 GHz spectrum. In
Statistical learning techniques are used for extracting temporal feature, creating a statistical knowledge map of what each frequency is and determining variations and thresholds and etc. The ASD system with TFE function in the present invention is capable of identifying, demodulating and decoding signals, both wideband and narrowband with high energy.
If a narrowband signal is close to the end of wideband LTE signal, the wideband LTE signal is distorted at the edge. If multiple narrowband signals are within a wideband signal, the top edge of the wideband signal is ragged as the narrow band signal is hidden within the wide band signal. If one narrow band signal is in the middle of a wideband signal, the narrow band signal is usually interpreted as a cell within the wideband signal. However, the ASD system with TFE function in the present invention learns power levels in a spectrum section over time, and is able to recognize the narrow band signal immediately.
The present invention is operable to log the result, display on a channel screen, notify operator and send alarms, etc. The present invention auto records spectrum, but does not record all the time. When a problem is identified, relevant information is auto recorded in high definition.
The ASD system with TFE in the present invention is used for spectrum management. The system in the present invention is set up in a normal environment and starts learning and stores at least one learning map in it. The learning function of the ASD system in the present invention is operable to be enabled and disabled. When the ASD system is exposed to a stable environment and has learned what is normal in the environment, it will stop its learning process. The environment is periodically reevaluated. The learning map is updated at a predetermined timeframe. After a problem is detected, the learning map will also be updated.
The ASD system in the present invention is operable to be deployed in stadiums, ports, airports, or on borders. In one embodiment, the ASD system learns and stores the knowledge in that environment. In another embodiment, the ASD system downloads prior knowledge and immediately displays it. In another embodiment, an ASD device is operable to learn from other ASD devices globally.
In operation, the ASD system then collects real time data and compares to the learning map stored for signal identification. Signals identified by the ASD system with TFE function is operable to be determined to be an error by an operator. In that situation, an operator is operable to manually edit or erase the error, essentially “coaching” the learning system.
The systems and devices in the present invention create a channel plan based on user input, or external databases, and look for signals that are not there. Temporal Feature Extraction is not only operable to define a channel plan based on what it learns from the environment, but it also “scrubs” each spectrum pass against the knowledge it has learned. This allows it to not only identify signals that violate a prescribed channel plan, but it is operable to also discern the difference between a current signal, and the signal that it has previously seen in that frequency location. If there is a narrow band interference signal where there typically is a wide band signal, the system will identify it as an anomaly because it does not match the pattern of what is usually in that space.
The device in the present invention is designed to be autonomous. It learns from the environment, and, without operator intervention, is operable to detect anomalous signals that either were not there before, or have changed in power or bandwidth. Once detected, the device is operable to send alerts by text or email and begin high resolution spectrum capture, or IQ capture of the signal of interest.
The identification and classification algorithms that the system uses to identify Temporal Features are optimized to be used in real time. Notice that, even though only fragments of the low level wide band signal are detected on each sweep, the system still matches them with the signal that it had identified during its learning phase.
Also as the system is running, it is scrubbing each spectral sweep against its knowledge map. When it finds coherent bundles of energy that are either in places that are usually quiet, or have higher power or bandwidth than it has seen before, it is operable to automatically send up a red flag. Since the system is doing this in Real Time, it has critical relevance to those in harm's way—the first responder, or the war fighter who absolutely must have clear channels of communication or instant situational awareness of imminent threats. It's one thing to geolocate a signal that the user has identified. It's an entirely different dimension when the system is operable to identify the signal on its own before the user even realizes it's there. Because the device in the present invention is operable to pick out these signals with a sensitivity that is far superior to a simple threshold system, the threat does not have to present an obvious presence to be detected and alerted.
Devices in prior art merely make it easy for a person to analyze spectral data, both in real time and historically, locally or remotely. But the device in the present invention operates as an extension of the person, performing the learning and analysis on its own, and even finding things that a human typically may miss.
The device in the present invention is operable to easily capture signal identifications, match them to databases, store and upload historical data. Moreover, the device has intelligence and the ability to be more than a simple data storage and retrieval device. The device is a watchful eye in an RF environment, and a partner to an operator who is trying to manage, analyze, understand and operate in the RF environment.
In one embodiment, a machine learning algorithm is used in TFE to create impressions of what is happening in an RF environment, degrade impressions in real time, and eliminate small numbers of synaptic impressions, which allows for signal persistence, anomaly identification and alarm generation. In one embodiment, the machine learning algorithm is an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm. The ASD with TFE function in the present invention is operable for blind detection.
In one embodiment, the systems and devices with TFE function are operable to detect wideband signals within wideband signals and identify signal structures. For example, but not for limitation, in 4G/LTE or 5G systems, a 10 MHz wideband signal emitter and a 20 MHz wideband signal emitter are separate but they operate as one unit. The 10 MHz wideband signal and the 20 MHz wideband signal are aggregated into a 30 MHz wideband signal. The systems and devices with TFE function in the present invention are operable to detect the two separate wideband signals from the aggregated 30 MHz wideband signal. In another embodiment, the systems and devices with TFE function in the present invention are operable to identify narrowband signals and wideband signals within a wideband signal which has a bandwidth up to 100 MHz.
The TFE enabled node devices in the present invention is operable to operate independently, in cluster, or in a network system. For example, at least three nodes are operable to operate automatically in the field and run TFE function on different bands simultaneously.
In one embodiment, the systems and devices with TFE function are further operable for geolocation and are operable to report autonomously or operate in stealth mode. In one embodiment, the systems and devices with TFE function are operable to estimate a location of a signal emitting device from which a signal of interest is emitted based on in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) data generated from spectral sweep in the RF environment.
In one embodiment, the systems and devices are configured with multiple receivers. In one embodiment, the multiple receivers include up to eight receivers. These multiple receivers are operable to sweep multiple bandwidths and perform time-frequency analyses at the same time. Each receiver has learning functions governing multiple instances, and the time-frequency feature of an RF environment is obtained from all these multiple receivers combined.
The ASD devices in the present invention are operable to record their locations, timestamps and locations of signals of interest. In one embodiment, the ASD devices with TFE function in the present invention are operable to detect GPS coordinates themselves. All ASD devices are mobile and linked to a GPS system for time and location. In one embodiment, an ASD device is a fixed node, no GPS connection is required. The fixed node has its own clock freewheel, the time from its own clock is only 0.01 ms off compared to GPS time.
TFE function does not identify each device in an RF environment, but the ASD with TFE function in the present invention is operable to get network fingerprint of radio transmitters. Protocol identification function is operable to identify number of users on a network. The ASD with TFE function in the present invention is operable to detect how many users on a detected signal based on the TFE function even when these users are not always on the detected signal.
Radio signals are operable to shift between different frequencies, and portable radios with different modulation are operable to conflict. As temperature drifts, component drifts, or battery voltage changes, each radio leaves fingerprint on the network. I/Q data from radio signals are operable to be used to identify locations from where the radio signals are emitted. Frequency deterioration is operable to be used to learn about how transmitters are performing. Signal demodulation is used to identify device types.
The prior art is dependent upon a synchronized receiver for power, phase, frequency, angle, and time of arrival, and an accurate clock for timing, and significantly, requires three devices to be used, wherein all are synchronized and include directional antennae to identify a signal with the highest power. Advantageously, the present invention does not require synchronization of receivers in a multiplicity of devices to provide geolocation of at least one apparatus unit or device, thereby reducing cost and improving functionality of each of the at least one apparatus in the systems described hereinabove for the present invention. Also, the present invention provides for larger frequency range analysis, and provides database(s) for capturing events, patterns, times, power, phase, frequency, angle, and combinations for the at least one signal of interest in the RF spectrum. The present invention provides for better measurements and data of signal(s) with respect to time, frequency with respect to time, power with respect to time, and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments of the at least one apparatus unit of the present invention, geolocation is provided automatically by the apparatus unit using at least one anchor point embedded within the system, by power measurements and transmission that provide for “known” environments of data. The known environments of data include measurements from the at least one anchorpoint that characterize the RF receiver of the apparatus unit or device. The known environments of data include a database including information from the FCC database and/or user-defined database, wherein the information from the FCC database includes at least maximum power based upon frequency, protocol, device type, and combinations thereof. With the geolocation function of the present invention, there is no requirement to synchronize receivers as with the prior art; the at least one anchorpoint and location of an apparatus unit provide the required information to automatically adjust to a first anchorpoint or to a second anchorpoint in the case of at least two anchorpoints, if the second anchorpoint is easier to adopt. The known environment data provide for expected spectrum and signal behavior as the reference point for the geolocation. Each apparatus unit or device includes at least one receiver for receiving RF spectrum and location information as described hereinabove. In the case of one receiver, it is operable with and switchable between antennae for receiving RF spectrum data and location data; in the case of two receivers, preferably each of the two receivers are housed within the apparatus unit or device. A frequency lock loop is used to determine if a signal is moving, by determining if there is a Doppler change for signals detected.
Location determination for geolocation is provided by determining a point (x, y) or Lat Lon from the at least three anchor locations (x1, y1); (x2, y2); (x3, y3) and signal measurements at either of the node or anchors. Signal measurements provide a system of non-linear equations that must be solved for (x, y) mathematically; and the measurements provide a set of geometric shapes which intersect at the node location for providing determination of the node.
For trilateration methods for providing observations to distances the following methods are used:
wherein do is the reference distance derived from the reference transmitter and signal characteristics (e.g., frequency, power, duration, bandwidth, etc.); Po is the power received at the reference distance; Pr is the observed received power; and n is the path loss exponent; and Distance from observations is related to the positions by the following equations:
Also, in another embodiment of the present invention, a geolocation application software operable on a computer device or on a mobile communications device, such as by way of example and not limitation, a smartphone, is provided. Method steps are illustrated in the flow diagram shown in
The equations referenced in
Note that check if RF propagation distances form circles where one or more circles are Fully Enclosed if it is based upon Mod Type and Power Measured, then Set Distance 1 of enclosed circle to Distance 2 minus the distance between the two points. Also, next, check to see if some of the RF Propagation Distances Form Circles, if they do not intersect, then if so based on Mod type and Max RF power Set Distance to each circle to Distance of Circle+(Distance between circle points—Sum of the Distances)/2 is used. Note that deriving z component to convert back to known GPS lat lon coordinate is provided by: z=sqrt(Dist2−x2−y2).
Accounting for unknowns using Differential Received Signal Strength (DRSS) is provided by the following equation when reference or transmit power is unknown:
And where signal strength measurements in dBm are provided by the following:
For geolocation systems and methods of the present invention, preferably two or more devices or units are used to provide nodes. More preferably, three devices or units are used together or “joined” to achieve the geolocation results. Also preferably, at least three devices or units are provided. Software is provided and operable to enable a network-based method for transferring data between or among the at least two device or units, or more preferably at least three nodes, a database is provided having a database structure to receive input from the nodes (transferred data), and at least one processor coupled with memory to act on the database for performing calculations, transforming measured data and storing the measured data and statistical data associated with it; the database structure is further designed, constructed and configured to derive the geolocation of nodes from saved data and/or from real-time data that is measured by the units; also, the database and application of systems and methods of the present invention provide for geolocation of more than one node at a time. Additionally, software is operable to generate a visual representation of the geolocation of the nodes as a point on a map location.
Errors in measurements due to imperfect knowledge of the transmit power or antenna gain, measurement error due to signal fading (multipath), interference, thermal noise, no line of sight (NLOS) propagation error (shadowing effect), and/or unknown propagation model, are overcome using differential RSS measurements, which eliminate the need for transmit power knowledge, and are operable to incorporate TDOA and FDOA techniques to help improve measurements. The systems and methods of the present invention are further operable to use statistical approximations to remove error causes from noise, timing and power measurements, multipath, and NLOS measurements. By way of example, the following methods are used for geolocation statistical approximations and variances: maximum likelihood (nearest neighbor or Kalman filter); least squares approximation; Bayesian filter if prior knowledge data is included; and the like. Also, TDOA and FDOA equations are derived to help solve inconsistencies in distance calculations. Several methods or combinations of these methods are operable to be used with the present invention, since geolocation will be performed in different environments, including but not limited to indoor environments, outdoor environments, hybrid (stadium) environments, inner city environments, etc.
Typically, prior art arrays are more localized and deployed in a symmetrical fashion to reduce the complexity of mathematics and the equipment. The problem with localized fixed arrays are twofold: they require a large footprint for assembly and operation to gain accuracy in directional measurements. Conversely, smaller footprint arrays of geometric antenna systems are operable to lose significant accuracy of the directional measurements. To avoid these limitations, a large variable array is used with fixed or mobile sites to allow greater accuracy.
In one embodiment of the present invention, geolocation using angle of arrival is provided by a fixed position antenna system constructed and configured with a four-pole array in a close proximity to each other. The antenna system is a unique combination of a half (½) Adcock antenna array positioned at each unit. The antenna system is fixed and is operable to be deployed with a switching device to a low-cost full Adcock system. The use of a phase difference on the dual receiver input allows the local unit to determine a hemisphere of influence in a full Adcock configuration or a group of the deployed units as a full space diversity Adcock antenna system. This embodiment advantageously functions to eliminate directions in the vector-based math calculation, thereby eliminating a large group of false positives.
The antenna system used with the geolocation systems and methods of the present invention includes three or more deployed units where none of the units is a full-time master nor slave. Each unit is operable to be set to scan independently for target profiles. Once acquisition is obtained from one unit, the information is automatically disseminated to the other units within the cluster, i.e., the information is communicated wirelessly through a network. Preferably, the unit array is deployed in an asymmetrical configuration.
The antenna system in the present invention utilizes Normalized Earth Centered Earth Fixed vectors. Two additional vector attributes of the monitoring station are selected from the following: pitch, yaw, velocity, altitude (positive and negative) and acceleration.
Once a target acquisition from a single unit is acquired, a formatted message is broadcast to the deployed monitoring array stations. The formatted message includes but is not limited to the following: center frequency, bandwidth, modulation schema, average power and phase lock loop time adjustment from the local antenna system.
The monitoring units include a GPS receiver to aid in high resolution clocks for timing of signal processing and exact location of the monitoring unit. This is key to determine an exact location of the monitoring units, either fixed or mobile, to simulate mathematically the variable large scale antenna array. The phased-locked inputs determine the orientation of the incoming target signal into hemispheres of influence.
For this example,
The next step in the process is to determine for each target measurement the delays of arrival at each location. This will further reveal the direction of travel to the target or additionally if the target is within the large-scale variable array's own footprint.
Once the unit processing the data has received information from the other units in the array, processing of the information begins. First, the unit automatically sorts the array time of arrival at each location of the at least three units to construct mathematically a synthesis of the array. This is crucial to the efficiency and accuracy of the very large scale array, since no single monitoring unit is the point of reference. The point of reference is established by mathematical precedence involving time of arrival and the physical location of each monitoring unit at that point in time.
An aperture is synthesized between any two points on the array using the difference in the arrival time. Establishing a midpoint between two monitoring units establishes a locus for the bearing measurement along the synthesized aperture.
The aperture is given in radians by the following equation, where λ is the wavelength in meters, and Distance is the arc length in meters.
Distance is calculated by the following equations, where R is the radius of the earth in kilometers, and Lat and Lon refer to the points on installation for latitude and longitude in radians.
The radial distance directly related to the angle of arrival across the aperture is given by the equation representing the radial time between monitor unit 1 and monitor unit 2 divided by Aperture Length:
Using fundamental logic, two possible angles of arrival between the units defining the synthetic aperture for a bearing from the midpoint as illustrated in
The use of a second component to establish a synthetic aperture yields another bearing as illustrated in
The present invention provides geolocation based on fast triangulation and interferometry techniques with large scale arrays. In one embodiment, the large-scale arrays are mobility capable.
In one embodiment, at least four monitoring units are used for geolocation. There is a baseline at any given instance. A distance and angle between two monitoring units are obtained and converted to radian. A distance ratio between the two monitoring units relative to midpoint is obtained. Two monitoring units are used for determining times of arrival. Two other monitoring units are used for determining angles of arrival based on navigational mathematics, vectors, and military aviation and navigation. Great circle arcs between two or three midpoints are created. Arcs in the opposite hemisphere is ignored. For example, eighteen (18) units are operable to be used for geolocation, nine (9) of them are possibly from the other hemisphere, which are operable to be ignored. In one embodiment, reverse calculation is applied for time of travel, differences of time of arrival are calculated and compared with actual values to determine which four or more units are operable to be used. In another embodiment, clustering algorithms are used to determine which four or more monitoring unit points to use.
In one embodiment, a monitoring array comprises at least four monitoring units for geolocation. A distance ratio between the at least four monitoring units relative to a midpoint is determined. The at least four monitoring units scan independently for a signal of interest, and the monitoring array calculates times of arrival and angles of arrival for the signal of interest. Each of the at least four monitoring units is operable to measure the signal of interest and transmit a formatted message to other monitoring units within the monitoring array. The formatted message comprises center frequency, bandwidth, modulation schema, average power and symbol samples from the at least four monitoring units. Each of the at least four monitoring units is operable to determine a location of the signal emitting device from which the signal of interest is emitted based on calculations and measurements relating to the signal of interest.
In one embodiment, the target is an aircraft, and the aircraft position is normalized to a three-dimensional vector referenced to the center of the earth or an acceptable reference object. Normalized Earth Centered Earth Fixed vectors are utilized to determine velocity, direction of travel, etc. Additional vectors determine attributes of motion for a target. All the attributes are always relating to a position on earth or a reference object, not Euclidean geometry. A midpoint for angle of arrival is operable to be determined on the surface of the earth.
In one embodiment, snapshots of exact instance are received by three fixed units on or above the earth from a target at fixed time slices, a frequency array is operable to be recreated and data from the three units are replayed in sync. The location of the target will be identified generally. I/Q data from real-time spectrum sweeping and GPS information are also used to determine the location of target.
A blind spot is a point within the normal range of a transmitter where there is unusually weak reception. Large array for radio beacons are traditionally defined symmetrical. If the large array is asymmetrical, an additional unit is added to offset. There are typically blind spots for geolocation. In the present invention, the large array is preferably asymmetrical for geolocation, which causes less blind spots. The geolocation is performed within four to five kilometers to identify imminent threat or interfering signals. In a mountaintop installation, the geolocation is operable to be performed within as much as 100 kilometers.
In one embodiment, at least three or four node devices form a nodal network. Each node device is operable for data processing and analytics autonomously at the edge of the nodal network. Each node device provides actionable data faster and more secure. Each node device generates reports and provides geolocation for spectrum management at the edge of the network. Node devices in the present invention are operable to be at fixed locations or in motion. In one embodiment, the node devices are operable to be installed on drones, trucks, and/or convoys.
A secondary receiver Rx2 performs an FFT following a wideband sweeping. FFT data is then provided to an automatic signal detection (ASD) module. The ASD module distills metadata. Since the FFT data is processed at the node and the meta data is distilled automatically at the node, it significantly reduces data storage and transfer requirements. The learning and conflict detection engine tunes the ASD module automatically.
The learning and conflict detection engine is further operable for conflict recognition and anomaly identification and provides alerts and alarms. The learning and conflict detection engine is operable to build baselines for conflict analysis. The learning and conflict detection engine adds context to signal data, for example but not limitation frequency and bandwidth, and provides channelized data.
The node device then transmits alerts/alarms, meta data, channelized data, and actionable I/Q data via a secure virtual private network (VPN) tunnel or other communication schemes to a data center. In the present invention, the node device is unmanned and provides edge processing autonomously, which reduces backhaul needs, decreases data density, makes data actionable faster, and enables more nodes to be deployed with reduced infrastructure requirements. The node device is operable for automatic signal detection with TFE, signal recognition in real time, amass signal patterns in real time, build channel plans, and put particles in groups.
The ASD with TFE function in the present invention further enables the node devices to identify sporadic signals, nefarious activities, and signals behind signals (e.g., narrowband signals within wideband signals and wideband signals within wideband signals).
The node devices in the present invention are further operable to provide correlated event reports. In one embodiment, three different events are operable to be identified at the same time, and intermodulation is operable to be detected. The node devices are operable to identify events by examining the patterns of signals at intervals. In one embodiment, the node devices are operable for demodulation. In one embodiment, the node devices are operable for audio recognition. When multiple signals in an environment are detected at the same time, the node devices are operable to identify if they have the same protocol and the same radio ID. The node devices are operable to recognize voice and denote a conversation.
The node devices in the present invention are operable to provide detailed reports including coverage, capacity, conflict analysis, and selected IQ data analysis. The IQ data is selected based on trigger concepts, for example bit error rate and other data.
The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art the order of steps in the foregoing embodiments are operable to be performed in any order. Words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the methods. Further, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein are operable to be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans are operable to implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.
The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein are operable to be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor is operable to be a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor is operable to be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor is operable to also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Alternatively, some steps or methods are operable to be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.
In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described are operable to be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions are operable to be stored as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable medium or non-transitory processor-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein are operable to be embodied in a processor-executable software module which is operable to reside on a non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. Non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage media is operable to be any storage media that is operable to be accessed by a computer or a processor. By way of example but not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable media is operable to include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that is operable to be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that are operable to be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and BLU-RAY disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of non-transitory computer-readable and processor-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm are operable to reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and/or computer-readable medium, which are operable to be incorporated into a computer program product.
The present invention is also operable to provide for financial compensation and financial settlement for sharing spectrum. Preferably, the financial compensation and settlement is provided for dynamic spectrum sharing or dynamic allocation of spectrum in real time or near real time. The compensation is operable to be based on a variety of factors as described herein, as well as customer goals, policies, and requirements. More connected devices are using the finite resource of spectrum every day. If not addressed, this will lead to increased interference and lower quality of service. Dynamic spectrum sharing has been proposed as a method to provide more efficient and effective usage of the limited spectrum resources. Dynamic spectrum sharing is described in the present application and other related applications and patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,843,953, 11,700,533, and 11,871,103, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As dynamic spectrum sharing is implemented in the market, there is a need for automated real time or near real time compensation through the blockchain and smart contract infrastructure as described herein to provide compensation and motivation for sharing of spectrum.
The present invention provides for allocation and/or reallocation of RF spectrum in near real time or real time and facilitates calculation of compensation for allocation and/or reallocation of RF spectrum through a blockchain platform. The present invention is also operable to provide the compensation for allocation and/or reallocation of RF spectrum through the blockchain platform. The allocation and/or reallocation of the spectrum is operable to be dynamic allocation and/or reallocation in one embodiment. Customer goals and/or policies determine the allocation and/or reallocation. The system of the present invention, including but not limited to a receiver and a processor coupled with a memory, is operable to create RF awareness data including signal characteristics, signal parameters, power level measurements, frequency measurements, signal priorities, priority of service, and any other measurable data or parameters as described herein.
In one embodiment, the system for real-time dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation and/or reallocation includes at least one receiver, at least one processor coupled with at least one memory, and a blockchain platform. The at least one receiver is operable to create measurements of a RF environment and is in communication with the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory. The at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is in communication with the blockchain platform. The system is operable to sweep and learn the RF environment to create RF awareness data, and is operable to create metadata for the RF awareness data based on customer goals. Actionable data is operable to be created based on the metadata, which corresponds to customer goals, and a scenario for dynamic spectrum sharing is identified based on the metadata. The blockchain platform is operable to execute a smart contract to allocate and/or reallocate the RF spectrum in real time or near real time based on the identified scenario for the dynamic spectrum sharing. The blockchain platform is operable to determine a compensation for a party based on the smart contract and the allocation and/or reallocation of the RF spectrum. The compensation is operable to be provided via the system of the present invention, or through a third-party system. The compensation is based on services provided with the allocation and/or reallocation of the RF spectrum, computational resources used in the allocation and/or reallocation of the RF spectrum, a priority of at least one signal, a priority of service, a signal type, a signal classification, a signal category, and/or signal parameters from the RF awareness data. Customer goals are customer defined, and include service goals, cost goals, and/or any other goals which are defined by a customer. In one example, a goal is minimizing or eliminating interference or providing a certain quality of service to customer devices. The system is operable to learn the RF environment and update RF awareness data based on information learned from the RF environment, as well as predict scenarios for dynamic spectrum sharing. In one embodiment, the system creates impressions of the RF environment and updates a machine learning algorithm or artificial intelligence algorithm based on the impressions of the RF environment. Smart contracts are used to execute transactions for allocation and/or reallocation of spectrum.
Although the present application primarily describes allocation or reallocation of spectrum based on measurements from the RF environment and RF awareness data, the present invention is also operable to be used to allocate or reallocate resources in the RF environment, including resources associated with base stations, monitoring sensors, and computing resources.
In one embodiment, the blockchain smart contract billing system is used for both verification of both services and payment, with the blockchain system recording the RF services provided to the client and recording the information on a distributed ledger. The smart contract system also requests and/or processes the payment for the RF services performed for the client as the service is performed and recorded on the distributed ledger. The payment for the service is operable to be made and recorded with a Fiat Currency, Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfers, Automated Clearing House (ACH), Mobile Payment Platforms, Electronic Wallets, Prepaid Cards, Direct Debit, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), Invoice Billing, Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), etc.).
In an alternative embodiment, the blockchain system is only used for the tracking and management of RF awareness. The blockchain system records on a distributed ledger the actions of the detected signal vectors, computational resources, signal parameters and/or all other information collected or analyzed from the system discussed above. The use of a decentralized distributed ledger for spectrum management presents a new organization structure for the complex coordination and allocation process currently done by centralized governing authorities. The blockchain system is operable to be used for secure data and information storage on signal allocation and incorporated into the machine learning models of the present invention previously mentioned.
In a preferred embodiment, the blockchain smart contract billing system utilizes the following equation to calculate the price: F(RF awareness matrix)*Lambda1+Q(computational resource)*Lambda0+G(services)*Lambda2=Price. The price a client pays is a combination of the computational resources used, the number of RF awareness parameters used, and the number of services provided. Table 1 discusses the factors that influence the price and what they are proportional to.
In another embodiment, the blockchain smart contract billing system also considers the priority of the signals. The priority of the signal is operable to be incorporated into the smart contract system by having allocation and payment/price determined in part by a priority level assigned or negotiated for a client, service, signal, parameter, time of day, day of the year/week, and/or governing body. The blockchain smart contract system is operable to dynamically adjust the spectrum and management system so that the client, service, signal, parameter, and/or governing body with an assigned higher priority are executed first and/or given a more optimal/larger spectrum to operate in. The blockchain smart contract billing system also considers the priority of the signals and is worked into the price.
In one embodiment, the priority of the signal-based billing system described above is worked into the equation described in Table 1 by making a modification to 12 to account for not only the number of services but also the priority of those services as an additional multiplier that would affect the smart contract pricing of the dynamic spectrum sharing. The incorporation of the multiplier allows for the
Similarly, the blockchain smart contract system of the present invention also incorporates signal classes or signal categories based on a classification or categorization of a signal provided for by the present invention. Different categories and/or classes of signals are operable to be associated with higher or lower levels of compensation according to the present invention. Multipliers or other mathematical operations are operable to be utilized to set pricing based on a variety of factors and measurements according to the present invention. In one embodiment, pricing provided for in smart contracts for spectrum allocation is a preset static value. Alternatively, pricing is determined according to a multiplicity of factors dynamically in accordance with the smart contract terms.
In one embodiment, the smart contracts of the blockchain smart contracts system platform enable an automated and secure execution of spectrum allocation/management agreements. Smart contracts are self-executing, thereby avoiding the need for user intervention to facilitate dynamic spectrum sharing. These contracts contain predefined rules and conditions agreed upon by all involved parties. Upon the completion specified criteria defined in the contracts, including but not limited to the capture and processing of RF awareness, channelized data, actionable data, signal data and/or any related signal information, the smart contract will execute and any payment and/or outcome is processed and the network or ledger will update accordingly to record the transaction ensuring timely and reliable management of scarce radio frequency resources.
In one embodiment, the platform supports several different consensus mechanisms compatible with spectrum management. Proof of stake or delegated proof of stake consensus algorithms are operable to be employed to validate and add new spectrum allocation transactions to the distributed ledger. These different consensus systems ensure the integrity of the spectrum management process while distributing decision-making authority across participating nodes for edge processing and a more secure approach.
In another embodiment, the blockchain technology facilitates the transparent and traceable recording and verification of spectrum allocation/management transactions. Each transaction is cryptographically linked to previous transactions, creating a history of spectrum usage operable to be used for both automated payment systems and machine learning models for improved signal detection and RF environmental awareness. Any attempted alterations or unauthorized changes to spectrum allocation records is traceable, with accepted alterations and changes being implemented across the system, thereby enhancing accountability and trust in the system.
In an alternative embodiment, the blockchain smart contract system is also implemented on sidechains and/or consortium blockchains which offer flexibility in adapting the platform to diverse spectrum management scenarios. Sidechains running parallel to the primary blockchain are operable to be utilized with specific spectrum bands, regulatory jurisdictions, specific services and/or clients, while consortium blockchains enable collaboration among clients, services, and multiple stakeholders, such as governments, companies, and others active in the RF environment.
The blockchain smart contract system supports the integration of additional functionalities, such as real-time spectrum monitoring and dynamic spectrum sharing. Smart contracts can be programmed to adjust spectrum allocation based on changing usage patterns or priority access requirements, ensuring optimal utilization of radio frequency resources. The blockchain smart contract system is operable to merge with both with public and private blockchains depending on the client and situation. Regulatory bodies may choose to incorporate private blockchains to maintain control over sensitive spectrum allocation data. Public blockchains are operable to be utilized to offer transparency and accessibility to stakeholders and the general public.
The blockchain technology is based on existing communication protocols (e.g., HTTP, RPC), cryptography (grown from Public key cryptography in 1976), distributed peer-to-peer sharing mechanisms (e.g., Napster, bitTorrent), and a distributed set of databases kept in synchronization based on time. The blockchain technology is a technology that permanently records events or transactions on a network in a transparent, auditable, and irrefutable way. A blockchain ledger is stored on each blockchain node participating in or comprising a network. Blockchain nodes include, but are not limited to servers, mobile devices, work stations, or any networked client that can interface with an IP-based network and can operate an operating system capable of processing blocks. Blockchain is a loose specification rather than a specific implementation, which is capable of unlocking monopoly power over information in infrastructure systems for telecommunications, healthcare, finance, energy, and government. Blockchain also disintermediates “middle men” such as broker dealers, banks, transfer agents, or any third party in information or transactions that are utilized for trust in the transmittal of data or the execution of a transaction. In an introduction to blockchain applications in The Business of Blockchain by William Mougayar (2016), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, it is established that just as the Web could not exist without the Internet, blockchains could not exist without the Internet, and thus, the use of blockchains within the systems and methods of the present invention provide that it is not merely an abstract idea, since it is inextricably tied to Internet technology.
A smart contract is a computer protocol intended to digitally facilitate, verify, or enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract. In the context of blockchain, smart contracts are self-executing codes on a blockchain that automatically implements the terms of an agreement between parties.
In a preferred embodiment, the platform is operable to store data on a distributed ledger, e.g., a blockchain. Distributed ledger technology refers to an infrastructure of replicated, shared, and synchronized digital data that is decentralized and distributed across a plurality of machines, or nodes. The nodes include but are not limited to a mobile device, a computer, a server, and/or any combination thereof. Data is replicated and synchronized across a network of nodes such that each node has a complete copy of the distributed ledger. The replication and synchronization of data across a distributed set of devices provides increased transparency over traditional data storage systems, as multiple devices have access to the same set of records and/or database. Additionally, the use of distributed ledgers eliminates the need for third party and/or administrative authorities because each of the nodes in the network is operable to receive, validate, and store additional data, thus creating a truly decentralized system. Eliminating the third party and/or administrative authorities saves time and cost. A decentralized database is also more secure than traditional databases, which are stored on a single device and/or server because the decentralized data is replicated and spread out over both physical and digital space to segregated and independent nodes, making it more difficult to attack and/or irreparably tamper with the data. Tampering with the data at one location does not automatically affect the identical data stored at other nodes, thus providing greater data security.
In addition to the decentralized storage of the distributed ledger, which requires a plurality of nodes, the distributed ledger has further advantages in the way that data is received, validated, communicated, and added to the ledger. When new data is added to the distributed ledger, it must be validated by a portion of the nodes (e.g., 51%) involved in maintaining the ledger in a process called consensus. Proof of work, proof of stake, delegated proof of stake, proof of space, proof of capacity, proof of activity, proof of elapsed time, and/or proof of authority consensus are all compatible with the present invention, as are other forms of consensus known in the art. In one embodiment, the present invention uses fault-tolerant consensus systems. Each node in the system is operable to participate in consensus, e.g., by performing at least one calculation, performing at least one function, allocating compute resources, allocating at least one token, and/or storing data. It is necessary for a portion of the nodes in the system (e.g., 51% of the nodes) to participate in consensus in order for new data to be added to the distributed ledger. Advantageously, requiring that the portion of the nodes participate in consensus while all nodes are operable to participate in consensus means that authority to modify the ledger is not allocated to one node or even a group of nodes but rather is equally distributed across all of the nodes in the system. In one embodiment, a node that participates in consensus is rewarded, e.g., with a digital token, in a process called mining.
The blockchain is a commonly used implementation of a distributed ledger and was described in Satoshi Nakamoto's whitepaper Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, which was published in October 2008 and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In the blockchain, additional data is added to the ledger in the form of a block. Each block is linked to its preceding block with a cryptographic hash, which is a one-way mapping function of the data in the preceding block that cannot practically be computed in reverse. In one embodiment, a timestamp is also included in the hash. The computation of the cryptographic hash based on data in a preceding block is a computationally intensive task that could not practically be conducted as a mental process. The use of cryptographic hashes means that each block is sequentially related to the block before it and the block after it, making the chain as a whole immutable. Data in a block in a preferred embodiment cannot be retroactively altered after it is added to the chain because doing so changes the associated hash, which affects all subsequent blocks in the chain and which breaks the mapping of the preceding block. The blockchain is an improvement on existing methods of data storage because it connects blocks of data in an immutable fashion. Additionally, the blockchain is then replicated and synchronized across all nodes in the system, ensuring a distributed ledger. Any attempted changes to the blockchain are propagated across a decentralized network, which increases the responsiveness of the system to detect and eliminate fraudulent behavior compared to non-distributed data storage systems. The blockchain and the distributed ledger solve problems inherent to computer networking technology by providing a secure and decentralized way of storing data that is immutable and has high fault tolerance. The distributed ledger stores digital data and is thus inextricably tied to computer technology. Additional information about the blockchain is included in The Business of Blockchain by William Mougavar published in April 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In one embodiment, the data added to the distributed ledger of the present invention include digital signatures. A digital signature links a piece of data (e.g., a block) to a digital identity (e.g., a user account). In one embodiment, the digital signature is created using a cryptographic hash and at least one private key for a user. The content of the piece of data is used to produce a cryptographic hash. The cryptographic hash and the at least one private key are used to create the digital signature using a signature algorithm. The digital signature is only operable to be created using a private key. However, the digital signature is operable to be decoded and/or verified using a public key also corresponding to the user. The separation of public keys and private keys means that external parties can verify a digital signature of a user using a public key but cannot replicate the digital signature since they do not have a private key. Digital signatures are not merely electronic analogs of traditional physical signatures. Physical signatures are easily accessible and easily replicable by hand. In addition, there is no standard algorithm to verify a physical signature except comparing a first signature with a second signature from the same person via visual inspection, which is not always possible. In one embodiment, the digital signatures are created using the data that is being linked to the digital identity whereas physical signatures are only related to the identity of the signer and are agnostic of what is being signed. Furthermore, digital signatures are transformed into a cryptographic hash using a private key, which is a proof of identity of which there is no physical or pre-electronic analog. Digital signatures, and cryptographic hashes in general, are of sufficient data size and complexity to not be understood by human mental work, let alone verified through the use of keys and corresponding algorithms by human mental work. Therefore, creating, decoding, and/or verifying digital signatures with the human mind is highly impractical.
Public, private, consortium, and hybrid blockchains are compatible with the present invention. In one embodiment, the blockchain system used by the present invention includes sidechains wherein the sidechains run parallel to a primary chain. Implementations of distributed ledger and/or blockchain technology including, but not limited to, BITCOIN, ETHEREUM, HASHGRAPH, BINANCE, FLOW, TRON, TEZOS, COSMOS, and/or RIPPLE are compatible with the present invention. In one embodiment, the platform includes at least one acyclic graph ledger (e.g., at least one tangle and/or at least one hashgraph). In one embodiment, the platform includes at least one quantum computing ledger.
In one embodiment, the present invention further includes the use of at least one smart contract, wherein a smart contract includes a set of automatically executable steps and/or instructions that are dependent on agreed-upon terms. The smart contract includes information including, but not limited to, at least one contracting party, at least one contract address, contract data, and/or at least one contract term. In one embodiment, the at least one smart contract is deployed on a blockchain such that the at least one smart contract is also stored on a distributed node infrastructure. In one embodiment, the terms of the at least one smart contract are dependent on changes to the blockchain. For example, a provision of the at least one smart contract executes when a new block is added to the blockchain that meets the terms of the at least one smart contract. The smart contract is preferably executed automatically when the new block is added to the blockchain. In one embodiment, a first smart contract is operable to invoke a second smart contract when executed. A smart contract is operable to capture and store state information about the current state of the blockchain and/or the distributed ledger at any point in time. Advantageously, a smart contract is more transparent than traditional coded contracts because it is stored on a distributed ledger. Additionally, all executions of the smart contract are immutably stored and accessible on the distributed ledger, which is an improvement over non-distributed, stateless coded contracts. In one embodiment, the state information is also stored on a distributed ledger.
Distributed ledger technology further enables the use of cryptocurrencies. A cryptocurrency is a digital asset wherein ownership records and transaction records of a unit of cryptocurrency (typically a token) are stored in a digital ledger using cryptography. Use of centralized cryptocurrencies and decentralized cryptocurrencies are both compatible with the present invention. Centralized cryptocurrencies are minted prior to issuance and/or are issued by a single body. Records of a decentralized cryptocurrency are stored on a distributed ledger (e.g., a blockchain), and any node participating in the distributed ledger is operable to mint the decentralized cryptocurrency. The distributed ledger thus serves as a public record of financial transactions. Cryptocurrencies are typically fungible in that each token of a given cryptocurrency is interchangeable. The present invention is operable to facilitate transactions of at least one cryptocurrency, including, but not limited to, BITCOIN, LITECOIN, RIPPLE, NXT, DASH, STELLAR, BINANCE COIN, and/or ETHEREUM. In one embodiment, the present invention is operable to facilitate transactions of stablecoins, NEO Enhancement Protocol (NEP) tokens, and/or BINANCE Chain Evolution Proposal (BEP) tokens. In one embodiment, the present invention is operable to support tokens created using the ETHEREUM Request for Comment (ERC) standards as described by the Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIP). For example, the present invention is operable to support ERC-20-compatible tokens, which are created using the EIP-20: ERC-20 Token Standard, published by Vogelsteller, et al., on Nov. 19, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A cryptocurrency wallet stores keys for cryptocurrency transactions. As cryptocurrency is a virtual currency, the ability to access and transfer cryptocurrency must be protected through physical and/or virtual means such that such actions are only operable to be performed by the rightful owner and/or parties with permission. In one embodiment, a cryptocurrency wallet stores a private key and a public key. In another embodiment, the cryptocurrency wallet is operable to create the private key and/or the public key, encrypt data, and/or sign data (e.g., with a digital signature). In one embodiment, the private key is generated via a first cryptographic algorithm wherein the input to the first cryptographic algorithm is random. Alternatively, the input to the first cryptographic algorithm is non-random. In one embodiment, the public key is generated from the private key using a second cryptographic algorithm. In one embodiment, the first cryptographic algorithm and the second cryptographic algorithm are the same. The private key is only accessible to the owner of the cryptocurrency wallet, while the public key is accessible to the owner of the cryptocurrency wallet as well as a receiving party receiving cryptocurrency from the owner of the cryptocurrency wallet. Deterministic and non-deterministic cryptocurrency wallets are compatible with the present invention.
As a non-limiting example, a cryptocurrency transaction between a first party and a second party involves the first party using a private key to sign a transaction wherein the transaction includes data on a first cryptocurrency wallet belonging to the first party, the amount of the transaction, and a second cryptocurrency wallet belonging to the second party. In one embodiment, the second cryptocurrency wallet is identified by a public key. The transaction is then populated to a distributed network wherein a proportion (e.g., 51%) of the nodes of the distributed network verify the transaction. Verifying the transaction includes verifying that the private key corresponds to the first cryptocurrency wallet and that the amount of the transaction is available in the first cryptocurrency wallet. The nodes then record the transaction on the distributed ledger, e.g., by adding a block to a blockchain. Fulfilling the cryptocurrency transaction is a computationally intensive process due to key cryptography and the consensus necessary for adding data to the distributed ledger that could not practically be performed in the human mind. In one embodiment, a node is operable to verify a block of transactions rather than a single transaction.
Desktop wallets, mobile wallets, hardware wallets, and web wallets are compatible with the present invention. A software wallet (e.g., a desktop wallet, a mobile wallet, a web wallet) stores private and/or public keys in software. A hardware wallet stores and isolates private and/or public keys in a physical unit, e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive. The hardware wallet is not connected to the internet or any form of wireless communication, thus the data stored on the hardware wallet is not accessible unless the hardware wallet is connected to an external device with network connection, e.g., a computer. In one embodiment, the data on the hardware wallet is not operable to be transferred out of the hardware wallet. In one embodiment, the hardware wallet includes further data security measures, e.g., a password requirement and/or a biometric identifier requirement. In one embodiment, the present invention is operable to integrate a third-party cryptocurrency wallet. Alternatively, the present invention is operable to integrate a payments platform that is compatible with cryptocurrency, including, but not limited to, VENMO, PAYPAL, COINBASE, and/or payments platforms associated with financial institutions.
In one embodiment, the platform is operable to tokenize assets. A token is a piece of data that is stored on the distributed digital ledger and that can be used to represent a physical and/or a digital asset, e.g., in a transaction, in an inventory. The token is not the asset itself; however, possession and transfer of the token are stored on the distributed digital ledger, thus creating an immutable record of ownership. In one embodiment, the token includes cryptographic hashes of asset data, wherein the asset data is related to the asset. In one embodiment, the asset data is a chain of data blocks. For example, the asset is a work of digital art, and the asset data includes data about the work such as information about an artist, a subject matter, a file type, color data, etc. The corresponding token includes a cryptographic hash of the asset data, which describes the work. Alternative mappings of the asset data to the token are also compatible with the present invention. In one embodiment, the token is a non-fungible token (NFT). A first non-fungible token is not directly interchangeable with a second non-fungible token; rather, the value of the first token and the second token are determined in terms of a fungible unit (e.g., a currency). In one embodiment, the platform is operable to support ETHEREUM standards for tokenization, including, but not limited to, EIP-721: ERC-721 Non-Fungible Token Standard by Entriken, et al., which was published Jan. 24, 2018 and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In one embodiment, the platform is operable to create fractional NFTs (f-NFTs), wherein each f-NFT represents a portion of the asset. Ownership of an f-NFT corresponds to partial ownership of the asset.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. The above-mentioned examples are provided to serve the purpose of clarifying the aspects of the invention and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that they do not serve to limit the scope of the invention. All modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the present invention.
This application relates to and claims priority from the following applications. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/644,811, filed Apr. 24, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/525,017, filed Nov. 30, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/351,949, filed Jul. 13, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/116,620, filed Mar. 2, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/387,570, filed Jul. 28, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/863,422, filed Apr. 30, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/388,002 filed Apr. 18, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/681,558 filed Aug. 21, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/478,916 filed Apr. 4, 2017 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/412,982 filed Jan. 23, 2017. U.S. application Ser. No. 15/478,916 is continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/934,808 filed Nov. 6, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/504,836 filed Oct. 2, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/331,706 filed Jul. 15, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/086,875 filed Nov. 21, 2013. U.S. application Ser. No. 14/086,875 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/082,873 filed Nov. 18, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/912,683 filed Jun. 7, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/789,758 filed Mar. 15, 2013. U.S. application Ser. No. 14/086,875 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/082,916 filed Nov. 18, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/912,893 filed Jun. 7, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/789,758 filed Mar. 15, 2013. U.S. application Ser. No. 14/086,875 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/082,930 filed Nov. 18, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/913,013 filed Jun. 7, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/789,758 filed Mar. 15, 2013. Each of the U.S. Applications mentioned above is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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| 61789758 | Mar 2013 | US | |
| 61789758 | Mar 2013 | US | |
| 61789758 | Mar 2013 | US |
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| Parent | 18116620 | Mar 2023 | US |
| Child | 18351949 | US | |
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| Parent | 14504836 | Oct 2014 | US |
| Child | 14934808 | US | |
| Parent | 14331706 | Jul 2014 | US |
| Child | 14504836 | US | |
| Parent | 13912683 | Jun 2013 | US |
| Child | 14082873 | US | |
| Parent | 13912893 | Jun 2013 | US |
| Child | 14082916 | US | |
| Parent | 13913013 | Jun 2013 | US |
| Child | 14082930 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18644811 | Apr 2024 | US |
| Child | 18667537 | US | |
| Parent | 15478916 | Apr 2017 | US |
| Child | 15681558 | US | |
| Parent | 14934808 | Nov 2015 | US |
| Child | 15478916 | US | |
| Parent | 14086875 | Nov 2013 | US |
| Child | 14331706 | US | |
| Parent | 14082873 | Nov 2013 | US |
| Child | 14086875 | US | |
| Parent | 14082916 | Nov 2013 | US |
| Child | 14086875 | US | |
| Parent | 14082930 | Nov 2013 | US |
| Child | 14086875 | US | |
| Parent | 15412982 | Jan 2017 | US |
| Child | 15681558 | US |
