System and method for obtaining radio frequency (RF) signal data
A system includes a plurality of mobile monitor setups, each mobile monitor setup connected with a vehicle. Each mobile monitor setup includes an omnidirectional antenna, a global positioning system (GPS) signal antenna configured to receive GPS signals and a receiver configured to obtain a plurality of radio frequency (RF) measurements. The plurality of RF measurements are swept across one or more frequency bands and each RF measurement is time stamped and location stamped based on received GPS signals.
1. A system comprising:
a central system comprising a central data storage and a processor;
a plurality of vehicle-mounted remote spectrum monitors, each remote spectrum monitor associated with a vehicle of a plurality of vehicles;
wherein each of the plurality of remote spectrum monitors comprises, an omnidirectional antenna, a global positioning system (GPS) signal antenna configured to receive GPS signals, a receiver configured to obtain a plurality of radio frequency (RF) measurements swept across a plurality of frequency bands, wherein each of the plurality of RF measurements is time stamped and location stamped based on received GPS signals;
wherein each remote spectrum monitor is configured to upload the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements to the central system over a cellular network; and
wherein the central system is configured to aggregate the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements uploaded by the plurality of remote spectrum monitors, and generate, from the aggregated plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements, a characterization of RF signals in space and time across an area traversed by the plurality of vehicles with which the plurality of remote spectrum monitors are associated.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central system is further configured to identify signal source locations based on the characterization of RF signals in space and time across the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central system is further configured to perform dynamic frequency allocation based on the characterization of RF signals in space and time across the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each remote spectrum monitor is configured to obtain the plurality of RF measurements autonomously when a vehicle with which that monitor setup is associated is operational.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of stationary remote spectrum monitors, each stationary remote spectrum monitor connected with a stationary location;
wherein each stationary remote spectrum monitor comprises, an omnidirectional antenna, a receiver configured to obtain a plurality of radio frequency (RF) measurements, wherein the plurality of RF measurements are swept across one or more frequency bands, and wherein each RF measurement is time stamped and location stamped based on the station location, and uploaded to the central system.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein each stationary remote spectrum monitor is configured to upload data comprising the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements obtained by that stationary remote spectrum monitor to the central system.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the central system is further configured to identify interference sources negatively affecting a frequency band from the one or more frequency bands in the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles using the aggregated plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the central system is further configured to identify, a frequency band from the one or more frequency bands which is free of interference in the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
9. A method comprising:
providing a central system comprising a central data storage and a processor;
providing a plurality of mobile remote spectrum monitors, each remote spectrum monitor associated with a vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, wherein each remote spectrum monitor comprises, an omnidirectional antenna, a global positioning system (GPS) signal antenna configured to receive GPS signals, and a receiver configured to obtain radio frequency (RF) measurements;
making a plurality of RF measurements using the receiver of each of the plurality of remote spectrum monitors wherein the plurality of RF measurements are swept across a plurality of frequency bands, and wherein each of the plurality of RF measurements is time stamped and location stamped based on received GPS signals;
uploading the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements from the plurality of remote spectrum monitors to the central system using a cellular network;
receiving, at the central system, the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements from the plurality of remote spectrum monitors;
aggregating using the central system, the received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements from the plurality of remote spectrum monitors; and
analyzing, using the central system, at least a portion of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
analyzing at least a portion of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements comprises generating a characterization of RF signals in space and time across an area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein
analyzing at least a portion of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements comprises identifying signal source locations based on the characterization of RF signals in space and time across the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein making a plurality of RF measurements is performed autonomously by each of the plurality of remote spectrum monitors when a vehicle with which that remote spectrum monitor is associated is operational.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving radio frequency (RF) measurement data from a plurality of stationary remote spectrum monitors, each stationary remote spectrum monitor connected with a stationary location and including, an omnidirectional antenna, a receiver configured to obtain a plurality of radio frequency (RF) measurements, wherein the plurality of RF measurements are swept across one or more frequency bands, and wherein each RF measurement is time stamped and location stamped based on the station location;
aggregating, with the central system, the received time and location stamped RF measurement from the plurality of stationary remote spectrum monitors with the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements from the plurality of mobile remote spectrum monitors; and
analyzing, with the central system, at least a portion of the aggregated time and location stamped RF measurements.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein analyzing at least a portion of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements comprises:
generating a characterization of RF signals in space and time across an area traversed by the plurality of vehicles; and
identifying interference sources negatively affecting a frequency band from the one or more frequency bands in the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles using the characterization of RF signals in space and time across the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein analyzing at least a portion of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements comprises:
generating a characterization of RF signals in space and time across an area traversed by the plurality of vehicles; and
identifying, a frequency band from the one or more frequency bands which is free of interference.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein analyzing at least a portion of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements comprises:
generating a characterization of RF signals in space and time across an area traversed by the plurality of vehicles; and
performing dynamic frequency allocation based on the characterization of RF signals in space and time across the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
providing the analysis of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements to a customer upon request.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
providing a portion of the aggregated received plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements to a customer upon request.
19. A method comprising:
providing a central system comprising a central data storage and a processor;
providing a plurality of mobile remoted spectrum monitors, each remote spectrum monitor mounted in a vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, and each remote spectrum monitor including,
an omnidirectional antenna,
a global positioning system (GPS) signal antenna configured to receive GPS signals,
a receiver configured to obtain radio frequency (RF) measurements autonomously when a vehicle with which said each mobile monitor setup is associated is operational;
making a plurality of RF measurements using the receiver of each of the plurality of remote spectrum monitors, wherein the plurality of RF measurements are swept across a plurality of frequency bands, and wherein each of the plurality of RF measurements is time stamped and location stamped based on received GPS signals;
uploading the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements from the plurality of remote spectrum monitors to the central system using a cellular network;
aggregating, at the central system, the plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements uploaded from the plurality of remote spectrum monitors; and
generating at the central system, from the aggregated plurality of time and location stamped RF measurements, a characterization of RF signals in space and time across an area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
identifying interference sources negatively affecting a frequency band from the one or more frequency bands in the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles using the characterization of RF signals in space and time across the area traversed by the plurality of vehicles.