Retroactive Beamforming for Past Event Signal Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beamformed antenna systems struggle to effectively track past event signals, limiting their applicability in missions such as search and rescue, asset recovery, surveillance, and crime investigation.
Innovation Solution
Implement a reception processing system that processes received feed element signals using a first beamforming configuration for real-time communications and stores signals in a rolling buffer for retroactive past event signal tracking, allowing iterative searches and evaluations to identify target signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the system processes feed element signals in real-time using beamforming for communications, then real-time communication capability is improved, but the ability to track past event signals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the signal processing into two distinct paths: a real-time processing path for active communications and a retroactive processing path for past event detection. The rolling buffer stores historical feed element signals separately from real-time signals, allowing independent processing of each type without interfering with the other's performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously storing feed element signals in a rolling buffer before they are needed for analysis. This pre-storage of historical data enables rapid retroactive processing when past event detection is required, eliminating the need to search through historical records in real-time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system stores received signals in a rolling buffer for future analysis, then past event signal tracking capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling buffer serves multiple functions: it stores historical signals for past event detection, provides a reference for beamforming weight optimization, and enables retroactive signal processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the beamforming weights based on stored historical signals when performing past event detection. The beamforming configuration changes adaptively depending on whether real-time or retroactive processing is required, allowing a single system to handle both modes efficiently.
3Measurement precision
If the system performs iterative searches at different locations and times using stored signals, then signal detection accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing feed element signals in the rolling buffer with timestamps and spatial information. When iterative search is required, the system can immediately access pre-organized historical data rather than performing complex searches through raw signal records, significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the signal processing capability for retroactive analysis. By storing the beamforming weights and signal characteristics in the rolling buffer, the system can replicate and reprocess historical signals using the same or optimized beamforming algorithms without requiring additional physical hardware.
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.