Large scale radio frequency signal information processing and analysis system
View Patent ↗A large-scale radio frequency signal information processing and analysis system that provides advanced signal analysis for telecommunication applications, including band capacity and geographical density determinations and detection, classification, identification, and geolocation of signals across a wide range of frequencies and across broad geographical areas. The system may utilize a range of novel algorithms for bin-wise processing, Rayleigh distribution analysis, telecommunication signal classification, receiver anomaly detection, transmitter density estimation, transmitter detection and location, geolocation analysis, telecommunication activity estimation, telecommunication utilization estimation, frequency utilization estimation, and data interpolation.
1. A large-scale radio frequency signal information processing and analysis system, comprising:
a computing device comprising a memory and a processor; and
a signal analyzer, comprising a first plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory of, and operating on the processor of, the computing device, wherein the first plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to:
receive signal information comprising a detected or confirmed signal; and
analyze the signal information using a first algorithm designed to provide information about the radio frequency signal landscape; and
a signal confirmer, comprising a second plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory of, and operating on the processor of, the computing device, wherein the second plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to:
receive signal information comprising a suspected signal;
confirm the existence of the suspected signal within the signal information using a second algorithm;
for portions of the data in which the existence of a signal is confirmed, forward that portion of the data to the signal analyzer; and
for portions of the data in which the existence of a signal is not confirmed, store or discard that portion of the data; and
a signal detector, comprising a third plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory of, and operating on the processor of, the computing device, wherein the third plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to:
receive signal information;
detect radio frequency signals within the signal information using a third algorithm;
for portions of the data in which a signal is detected, forward that portion of the data to the signal analyzer;
for portions of the data in which no signal is detected, store or discard that portion of the data; and
for portions of the data in which a signal is suspected, forward that portion of the data to the signal confirmer.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the algorithms used to detect, confirm, or analyze signals is a bin-wise processor, comprising a fourth plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory of, and operating on the processor of, the computing device, wherein the fourth plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to:
receive signal information;
average or sum the values in a given frequency bin over a number of frequency domain samples to reduce the variance in the signals and noise levels and thereby allow for low or negative signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) radio frequency signal detection;
find the median value in each frequency bin over a number of frequency domain samples to overcome the effects of a signal that is significantly stronger or weaker than the average;
find the maximum value, or minimum value, or both, in each frequency bin over a number of frequency domain samples and use to resolve signals that are continuously present and signals that are intermittent in time;
find the mean, median, maximum, minimum, variance, skew, and kurtosis values plus the time component for a bin or set of bins in a geographical area, and compare each statistic to the same statistic computed for that bin or set of bins over a larger area to identify deviations and identify anomalies;
perform bin-by-bin processing of the average, median, maximum, minimum, variance, skew and kurtosis values over a number of frequency domain samples to reduce the quantity of data in results and expedite processing;
adjust the number of frequency domain samples used in the average, median, minimum, maximum, variance, skew, and kurtosis to increase or decrease time resolution as needed and thereby aid in signal detection;
combine frequency bins as needed, using average, median, minimum, maximum, variance, skew, and kurtosis value to reduce quantity while also detecting the presence of signals;
combine the frequency domain samples over time to reduce noise and improve signal detection.