Devices, systems and processes for detecting and remediating interfence signals and identifying signal interference sources

1. A process, for identifying and detecting an interfering signal, comprising:

conducting a scan of one or more frequency bands to obtain at least one scan result;

determining, from the at least one scan result, if a response condition has been detected;

if a response condition has been detected:

identifying a first frequency band corresponding to the detected response condition;

determining whether a response condition action is to be performed;

if no response condition action is to be performed:

continue scanning of the one or more frequency bands;

if a response condition is to be performed:

identifying each of two or more sensors as an available sensor;

selecting at least one of the available sensors as a selected first sensor;

developing a scan plan;

instructing the selected first sensor to initiate the scan plan;

receiving first scan data from the first sensor;

analyzing the first scan data to identify a second frequency band;

wherein the second frequency band is indicative of an interfering signal, generated by a signal interference source, and arising within the first frequency band; and

based on at least the first scan data, estimating a location for the signal interference source (SIS).

2. The process of claim 1 ,

wherein the available sensor is an Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) sensor; and

wherein the process is performed using a frequency manager, a frequency controller and an IoT controller.

3. The process of claim 2 ,

wherein the first frequency band includes at least one frequency utilized by the IoT sensor to communicate with the IoT controller.

4. The process of claim 1 ,

wherein the identifying two or more sensors further comprises at least one of:

accessing a sensor database to identify each of the two or more sensors; and

initiating a query and response process to identify each of the two or more sensors.

5. The process of claim 4 ,

wherein the two or more sensors are located within a given geographic area.

6. The process of claim 5 ,

wherein the scan plan precludes a scanning of the first frequency band when the first sensor is scheduled to perform another activity.

7. The process of claim 6 ,

wherein the iterative scan plan instructs the first sensor to perform at least one non-transient computer instruction comprising operations for:

scanning the first frequency band, using a first scan width, across the first frequency band, to detect a coarse energy peak arising within the first frequency band; and

when the coarse energy peak is detected,

conducting a first narrow scan of a first frequency band about the detected coarse energy peak to identify a first narrow coarse energy peak; and

conducting a second narrow scan about the first narrow coarse energy peak to identify a second narrow coarse energy peak.

8. The process of claim 4 ,

wherein the first sensor initiates the scan plan by scanning the first frequency band during at least one first time period.

9. The process of claim 8 ,

wherein the scan plan includes a scanning of at least one frequency band adjacent to the first frequency band.

10. The process of claim 1 ;

wherein the first scan data is received in a scan result report generated by the first sensor and based upon multiple scans of the first frequency band by the first sensor.

11. The process of claim 1 ,

wherein the interfering signal arises intermittently within the first frequency band.

12. The process of claim 1 ,

wherein the scan plan instructs the first sensor to redirect at least one communications signal;

wherein the at least one communications signal, prior to being redirected, is communicated over a third frequency band;

wherein the third frequency band shares, at least in part, spectrum with at least one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band;

wherein the at least one communications signal, after being redirected, is communicated over a fourth frequency band; and

wherein the fourth frequency band is distinct from each of the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

13. The process of claim 12 ,

wherein the scan plan instructs the first sensor to suspend use of the third frequency band.

14. The process of claim 13 ,

wherein the first narrow scan uses a first narrow scan width that is one-fifth of the first scan width and is centered on the detected coarse energy peak; and

wherein the second narrow scan uses a second scan width that is one-fifth of the first narrow scan width and is centered on the first narrow coarse energy peak.

15. The process of claim 1 ,

wherein the scan plan includes at least one non-transient computer instruction which instructs the first sensor to execute at least one of a standard scan plan, an iterative scan plan, and an antenna command.

16. A device configured to detect an interfering signal comprising:

a processor; and

a communications module;

wherein the processor is configured to execute at least one non-transient computer instruction providing a scan plan;

wherein the communications module further comprises:

at least one transponder; and

an automatic gain controller (AGC);

wherein the scan plan first configures:

the transponder to first scan a first frequency band; and

the AGC to first monitor a first received signal strength across the first frequency band for a coarse energy peak indicative of an interfering signal being present in the first frequency band; and

wherein the processor and the communications module are provided in an Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) sensor; and

wherein the scan plan is received by the IoT sensor from an IoT controller.

17. The device of claim 16 ,

wherein the scan plan second configures:

the transponder to second scan a narrower frequency band; and

the AGC to second monitor a second received signal strength across the narrower frequency band for a first narrow coarse energy peak indicative of the interfering signal being present in each of the first frequency band and the narrower frequency band.

18. A process, for remediating a detected interfering signal, comprising:

determining a quiescent noise level for a sensor;

wherein the sensor includes an automatic gain controller (AGC) configured to measure signal strength of one or more received radio frequency signals;

determining, using the AGC and while a first node communicatively coupled to the sensor is not actively transmitting, a signal strength for an interfering signal;

determining, using the AGC and while the first node is actively transmitting, a signal strength for a received combined signal;

wherein the received combined signal includes first energy received in the interfering signal and second energy received from the first node;

determining whether the AGC is at a saturation level;

if the AGC is at the saturation level,

determining a ratio of the received combined signal attributable to received second energy;

if the ratio exceeds a first threshold, decreasing the second energy received from the first node by at least one of:

decreasing an output power of the first node;

shielding the sensor from the interfering signal; and

moving the sensor relative to a location for a source of the interfering signal;

if the AGC is not at the saturation level,

determining, using the AGC and while the first node is actively transmitting, if the AGC is at a maximum value;

if the AGC is at the maximum value,

reducing at least one gain setting for the AGC; and

if the AGC is not at the maximum value,

determining, while the first node is actively transmitting and the interfering signal is not present, a signal strength range for the second energy received from the first node.

19. The process of claim 18 ,

wherein the sensor is an Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) sensor; and

wherein the first node is at least one of a frequency manager, a frequency controller and an IoT controller.