Radio frequency (RF) emitter detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12238512-B2
Application number	US-202117467434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2021
Priority date	May 14, 2018
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus for privacy protection includes a peripheral interface connectable to a second device. In some embodiments, the second device is operably connectable to a personal communication device and the peripheral interface provides characteristics of communication signals associated with the personal communication device to the second device. The apparatus also includes a radio frequency (RF) detection device operable to detect energy carrying a communication signal to or from the personal communication device. The apparatus further includes a controller, coupled to the peripheral interface and the RF detection device, operable to scan an RF spectrum of the communication signal, received by the RF detection device, in order to identify communications associated with the personal communication device, and generate a notification upon determining that abnormal activities exist in the communications, wherein the notification triggers interruption of the communication signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
at a server connectable to a plurality of backpacks, wherein the server is connectable to each of the plurality of backpacks via a respective case connectable to a respective personal communication device and the respective personal communication device is connectable to the server:
assigning a first set of backpacks to monitor a first frequency range, including assigning each of the first set of backpacks to scan a first RF spectrum corresponding to the first frequency range, obtain first RF characteristics of the first RF spectrum, and send the first RF characteristics to the server;
assigning a second set of backpacks, different from the first set of backpacks, to monitor a second frequency range, different from the first frequency range, including assigning each of the second set of backpacks to scan a second RF spectrum corresponding to the second frequency range, obtain second RE characteristics of the second RF spectrum, and send the second RF characteristics to the server;
aggregating radio frequency (RF) signal information obtained by the first set and the second set of backpacks, including aggregating the first RF characteristics and the second RF characteristics; and
identifying characteristics of at least one RF emitter operating in one or more of the first frequency range and the second frequency range based on the aggregated RF signal information, wherein, when paired with the active case and the personal communication device, each respective backpack is operable to provide supplemental functionalities to the personal communication device, including detecting RF energy emissions used to identify the characteristics of the at least one RF emitter.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the RF signal information through a respective secure channel between the server and a respective backpack of the plurality of backpacks via the respective apparatus communicatively connected to the respective backpack and the respective personal communication device, and the respective personal communication device communicatively connected to the server.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RF signal information includes for an RF signal detected by a respective backpack, one or more of a communication protocol, a frequency, a bandwidth, a peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR), and a power level associated with the RF signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the first set of backpacks to monitor the first frequency range includes causing the first set of backpacks to detect RF signals one or more of timestamps and locations associated with the RF signals.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
the at least one RF emitter includes an RF emitter operating in the first frequency range proximate to the first set of the backpacks; and
identifying the characteristics of the at least one RF emitter includes calculating a location of the RF emitter based on the timestamps and the locations.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
synchronizing the first set of backpacks based on the timestamps.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the characteristics of the at least one RF emitter indicate abnormal activities in a respective RF spectrum; and
providing a notification to at least one of a personal communication device, an apparatus, or a backpack proximate to the at least one RF emitter.

8. A system comprising: a server including one or more processors and a non-transitory memory; and
a plurality of backpacks, wherein the server is connectable to each of the plurality of backpacks via a respective case connectable to a respective personal communication device and the respective personal communication device is connectable to the server;
wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
assigning a first set of backpacks to monitor a first frequency range, including assigning each of the first set of backpacks to scan a first RF spectrum corresponding to the first frequency range, obtain first RF characteristics of the first RF spectrum, and send the first RF characteristics to the server;
assigning a second set of backpacks, different from the first set of backpacks, to monitor a second frequency range, different from the first frequency range, including assigning each of the second set of backpacks to scan a second RF spectrum corresponding to the second frequency range, obtain second RF characteristics of the second RF spectrum, and send the second RF characteristics to the server;
aggregating radio frequency (RF) signal information obtained by the first set and the second set of backpacks, including aggregating the first RF characteristics and the second RF characteristics; and
identifying characteristics of at least one RF emitter operating in one or more of the first frequency range and the second frequency range based on the aggregated RF signal information, wherein, when paired with the active case and the personal communication device, each respective backpack is operable to provide supplemental functionalities to the personal communication device, including detecting RF energy emissions used to identify the characteristics of the at least one RF emitter.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
receiving the RF signal information through a respective secure channel between the server and a respective backpack of the plurality of backpacks via the respective apparatus communicatively connected to the respective backpack and the respective personal communication device, and the respective personal communication device communicatively connected to the server.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the RF signal information includes for an RF signal detected by a respective backpack, one or more of a communication protocol, a frequency, a bandwidth, a peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR), and a power level associated with the RF signal.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein assigning the first set of backpacks to monitor the first frequency range includes causing the first set of backpacks to detect RF signals one or more of timestamps and locations associated with the RF signals.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the at least one RF emitter includes an RF emitter operating in the first frequency range proximate to the first set of the backpacks; and
identifying the characteristics of the at least one RF emitter includes calculating a location of the RF emitter based on the timestamps and the locations.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
synchronizing the first set of backpacks based on the timestamps.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
determining the characteristics of the at least one RF emitter indicate abnormal activities in a respective RF spectrum; and
providing a notification to at least one of a personal communication device, an apparatus, or a backpack proximate to the at least one RF emitter.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, wherein when the instructions are executed by a server including one or more processors,
wherein the server is connectable to each of a plurality of backpacks via a respective case connectable to a respective personal communication device and the re

Assignees

• Ppip Llc

Inventors

• Fong Michael
• Fong Neric Hsin-Wu
• Idukuda Sowjitha
• Singh Shoor Veer

Classifications

• H04W72/20

  Control channels or signalling for resource management · CPC title

• H04W72/04

  Wireless resource allocation · CPC title

• H04L5/0048

  Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver (allocation of control signalling H04L5/0053; use of control signalling H04L5/0091) · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04L5/005

  of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals · CPC title