Transmission detection using line of sight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10989792-B2
Application number	US-201816762436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A method for automatically determining a potential transmission region, comprising: acquiring multiple binary indications for a direct line of sight between a transmitter and an airborne vehicle respective of multiple geo-positions of the airborne vehicle; acquiring each of the multiple geo-positions respective of each of the multiple binary indications for the direct line of sight; for each one of the acquired geo-positions, determining a layer of access respective of topographical data for the geographical region and the acquired geo-position, as a subset of the geographical region that includes at least one potential point defining a potential line of sight between the transmitter and the airborne vehicle, thereby determining multiple layers of access; determining an intersection of the multiple layers of access; and determining, from the intersection, the potential transmission region respective of the transmitter and the geo-positions of the airborne vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for automatically determining at least one potential transmission region, comprising:
acquiring multiple binary indications for a direct line of sight between a transmitter and at least one airborne vehicle respective of multiple geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle;
acquiring each of said multiple geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle respective of each of said multiple binary indications for said direct line of sight;
for each one of said acquired geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle for said binary indication for said direct line of sight,
determining a layer of access respective of topographical data for said geographical region and said one of said multiple acquired geo-positions, as a subset of said geographical region that includes at least one potential point of said geographical region defining a potential line of sight between said transmitter and said at least one airborne vehicle,

thereby determining multiple layers of access;
determining an intersection of said multiple layers of access; and
determining, from said intersection, said at least one potential transmission region respective of said transmitter and each of said different geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein acquiring said geo-position further comprises acquiring data including a parameter selected from the group consisting of: a time stamp associated with said sensing of said binary indication for said direct line of sight; a heading measurement for said at least one airborne vehicle; an altitude measurement for said at least one airborne vehicle; a pose measurement for said at least one airborne vehicle; a velocity measurement for said at least one airborne vehicle; and an acceleration measurement for said at least one airborne vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a signal selected from the group consisting of: a threat signal; and a distress signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one airborne vehicle is selected from the group consisting of: a fixed wing aircraft; a helicopter; a drone; and
a surveillance balloon.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a signal selected from the group consisting of: an optical signal; a radio signal; a lidar signal; a radar signal, an acoustic signal, an ultrasound signal, a thermal signal; and any of a distance, amplitude, velocity, and acceleration associated with a projectile.

6. A system for automatically determining at least one potential transmission region, comprising:
a memory unit configured to store topographical data for a geographical region;
at least one first sensor configured to sense a signal from a transmitter at multiple geo-positions of at least one airborne vehicle;
at least one second sensor configured to sense said multiple geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle; and
at least one processor configured to:
acquire multiple binary indications for a direct line of sight between said transmitter and said at least one airborne vehicle respective of said sensed signal at said multiple geo-positions,
acquire said multiple geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle respective of said multiple binary indications for said direct line of sight,
for each one of said multiple acquired geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle respective of said binary indication for said direct line of sight,
determine a layer of access respective of said topographical data for said geographical region and said one of said multiple acquired geo-positions, as a subset of said geographical region that includes at least one potential point of said geographical region defining a potential line of sight between said transmission and said at least one airborne vehicle,

thereby determining multiple layers of access,
determine an intersection of said multiple layers of access, and
determine, from said intersection, said at least one potential transmission region respective of said transmitter and each of said multiple geo-positions of said at least one airborne vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising said at least one airborne vehicle, said at least one airborne vehicle provided with said at least one processor, said memory unit, said at least one first sensor, and said at least one second sensor.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said at least one second sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a compass, a GPS unit, a 3D accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a camera.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein said at least one first sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a long range radio antenna, a lidar detector, a radar antenna, a thermal detector, an acoustic detector, an ultrasound detector, and a camera.

10. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a user interface configured to display said at least one potential transmission region respective of each of said different geo-positions of at least one airborne vehicle.

Assignees

• Elbit Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Nahum Tomer
• Aharon Efrat
• Koussewitzky Assaf

Classifications

• G01S5/16

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• G01S7/021 Primary

  Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals · CPC title

• G01S5/14 Primary

  Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location · CPC title

• G01S7/4804

  Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying lidar signals or the like, e.g. laser illuminators · CPC title

• G01S5/04 Primary

  Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders · CPC title