Identification and location system for personnel and vehicles

Abstract

An identification interrogator is provided for surveillance of objects within an area. The identification interrogator transmits interrogation signals to all objects within the surveillance area, the reflections of which are received back by the interrogator to determine the locations of the objects, and communicates the determined locations to a processing facility to determine their authorized locations. Upon receipt of interrogation signals, some of the objects within the surveillance area broadcast their position and identification to processing facility for correlation with the locations determined by the reflection signals. The locations of other objects are found by correlating the location determined by the reflection signal with a predetermined list of objects and their location within the surveillance area. These may be objects with no means or method to transmit position and identification information, such as rock formations or buildings. If no broadcast information is received from an object and the location of that object determined by the reflection signal cannot be correlated with a predetermined list, than the object has no proper authorization to be within the surveillance area.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates generally to surveillance systems, and in particular to a surveillance system used in conjunction with a device to provide location and identification of friendly personnel or vehicle targets.[0003] 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART[0004] Surveillance systems for the detection of personnel and vehicles within sensitive or secured areas are being deployed in significant numbers due to increased concern for security and also due to the availability of effective, affordable sensors. These sensors may use detection methods, and may operate over distances and in environmental conditions that make it impossible for the surveillance system to achieve a detailed identification of each detected target. A "friendly" target is defined as an entity that is authorized to conduct activities within the area. "Unfriendly" targets are not authorized to be in the area and thus are assumed to be hostile. A way must be provided to differe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a new and improved method for detecting the presence of vehicles and personnel within a secured area and determining if a detected target is a \"friend\" or \"foe\". The invention is compatible with surveillance sensors and systems used for security purposes. The invention includes an IFF unit that is light in weight, consumes a small amount of power, and is capable of uniquely identifying the authorized person and their GPS derived position. The only additional equipment required at the site of the surveillance radar is a GPS receiver and a data communication unit. The invention also allows for the determination of the IFF unit position from the radar to an accuracy of substantially one square meter."

Problems solved by technology

These sensors may use detection methods, and may operate over distances and in environmental conditions that make it impossible for the surveillance system to achieve a detailed identification of each detected target.

"Unfriendly" targets are not authorized to be in the area and thus are assumed to be hostile.

These prior art methods are not practical for use in a surveillance sensor designed to detect personnel and vehicles within sensitive areas having typical dimensions of a kilometer or less.

This data communication network can determine the GPS coordinates of all participating agents, but the location accuracy of the replying agent is limited to the accuracy of a GPS receiver operating autonomously.

Further GPS receivers are not always able to provide a valid location as GPS satellite geometry and features may preclude a valid GPS solution.

These prior art examples have several limitations if an attempt is made to apply them for both detection of unauthorized intruders and identification of authorized entities within a secured area having dimensions in the order of a kilometer.

The IFF units are not easily reconfigured as man carried, low power consumption devices that typically operate at a range of less than a kilometer from the surveillance radar.

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