Beamformed Antenna Retroactive Tracking With Rolling Buffers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beamformed antenna systems struggle to effectively track past event signals, which are crucial for applications like search and rescue, asset recovery, surveillance, and crime investigation, due to limitations in retroactive signal processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implement a reception processing system that stores received feed element signals in a rolling buffer and applies a second beamforming configuration to generate target spot beams for past event signal tracking, enabling iterative searches and evaluations at different locations and times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beamformed antenna systems process signals in real-time according to a first beamforming configuration, then real-time communications are supported, but the ability to track past event signals is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the signal processing function into two separate modes: a first beamforming configuration for real-time communications and a second beamforming configuration for past event signal tracking. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both real-time productivity and retroactive adaptability by processing signals through different computational paths rather than a single unified process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system stores received signals in a rolling buffer before processing, enabling past event signal tracking. This preliminary storage action allows the system to later retrieve and reprocess historical signals using the second beamforming configuration, thereby enabling retroactive analysis without compromising current real-time communication operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system stores received signals in a rolling buffer for later processing, then past event signal tracking is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal beamforming processor that can operate in multiple modes: real-time beamforming for communications and retroactive beamforming for past event tracking. By making the processing system multi-functional rather than adding separate dedicated hardware, the patent reduces overall system complexity while enabling both real-time and retroactive signal processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different beamforming configurations based on operational needs. The processor can transition from a first beamforming configuration optimized for real-time communications to a second beamforming configuration optimized for past event tracking, allowing the system to adapt its complexity level according to the current task rather than maintaining maximum complexity continuously.
3Measurement precision
If the system performs iterative searches at different locations and times, then signal detection accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary signal storage in a rolling buffer during real-time operation, preparing historical data for later retroactive analysis. This advance preparation allows the system to conduct iterative searches through stored signals without delaying current real-time communications, as the processing occurs in a time-shifted manner rather than blocking the primary communication pipeline.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for past event signal tracking are described. In some examples, a system may receive feed element signals corresponding to a set of feed elements of an antenna. To support a primary or real-time mission, the system may process the feed element signals according to a first beamforming configuration to generate spot beam signals, which may include communications scheduled for respective spot beams. To support a retroactive or searching mission, the system may also store the feed element signals for some duration. Based on a determination to search for a target signal from a target location within a coverage area of the antenna, the system may process the stored feed element signals according to a second beamforming configuration to generate a target spot beam signal corresponding to the target location, and evaluate the target spot beam signal for a presence of the target signal.