Multi-mode Frequency Hopping Signal Verification via Segmented Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Detecting frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals is challenging due to the large number of modes and interference from other emitters, making it difficult to identify and verify these signals, especially when the mode is unknown or when interference is present.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a coarse detection process to quickly identify potential signals and a fine detection process for precise verification, including FFT scans, channelized search, and demodulation of signal headers to confirm the signal of interest, using a Field Programmable Gate Array for analyzing phase and magnitude data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a comprehensive scanning approach is used to detect all possible FHSS modes, then the detection coverage is improved, but the detection time and computational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection coverageVSAvoiddetection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the detection process into two distinct stages: a coarse detection process that quickly identifies potential signals using simplified criteria, and a fine detection process that performs comprehensive verification. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both wide detection coverage and reasonable detection time by filtering candidates before detailed analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coarse detection process applies partial action by using simplified detection criteria that don't fully verify all signal characteristics. Instead of performing complete verification on all detected signals, the system applies excessive filtering in the coarse stage to reduce the number of signals requiring full verification, thereby balancing coverage and time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If traditional detection methods are used without hierarchical processing, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ability to distinguish signals from interference deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal verification accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is segmented into coarse and fine detection processes with distinct functions. The coarse process handles initial signal identification with simple criteria, while the fine process performs accurate verification. This segmentation enables high measurement precision through the fine detection stage while keeping overall system complexity manageable by limiting complex operations to only candidate signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coarse detection process acts as an intermediary between the received signals and the fine detection process. It filters and pre-processes signals, presenting only promising candidates to the more complex fine detection stage. This intermediary function improves verification accuracy while preventing the full complexity of fine detection from applying to all signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the detection system processes all detected signals with full verification, then the verification reliability is improved, but the processing throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal identification reliabilityVSAvoidsignal processing throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification process is segmented into two levels: initial filtering in the coarse detection stage and comprehensive verification in the fine detection stage. This ensures that full verification reliability is applied only to signals that pass the coarse filter, maintaining high reliability for identified signals while preserving processing throughput by avoiding full verification of all detected signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial verification action in the coarse detection stage, performing only basic checks on all signals. Excessive filtering is applied to eliminate obvious non-matches before the fine detection stage, ensuring that the computationally intensive full verification is performed only on a reduced set of candidates, thus maintaining both reliability and throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11923892B2Method and architecture for positive identification and verification of multi-mode frequency hopping signals

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 RAYTHEON CO

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for updating data in a computer network. An exemplary method includes: scanning to capture a first set of signals; identifying from the first set of received signals a second set of signals having on times longer than a specified minimum dwell time; providing a plurality of signal profiles associated with a plurality of pulsed patterns of a signal of interest; identifying from the second set of signals a third set of signals that match at least one of the signal profiles; receiving demodulated data regarding the third set of signals; obtaining characteristic information for each of the third set of signals; verifying for each of the third set of signals their relevant information; determining whether the verification of the third set of signals produced a match; and upon determining of the match, providing an indication of a signal of interest.