Modular processing system for geoacoustic sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9851461-B1
Application number	US-201213439132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2012
Priority date	Apr 4, 2012
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A system for analyzing a plurality of channels of data received from a sensor array. The system includes a data acquisition system that receives and independently processes each channel. A low-level processing section receives each channel of processed data and identifies signals of interest in one channel. Signals of interest are stored in an event database. A high-level processing section analyzes data occurring over a preset duration of time and across multiple channels of data and communicates with an operator machine interface. The operator machine interface provides analysis to an operator. Further aspects of the system characterize the data in order to indicate the data source and alert the operator to signals having certain predefined characteristics.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for analyzing a plurality of channels of data received from an array of acoustic sensors comprising:
a data acquisition system capable of receiving and independently processing each channel of data;
a low-level processing section joined to receive each channel of processed data from said data acquisition system, said low-level processing section capable of detecting and identifying a signal of interest in one channel of data;
an event database joined to said low-level processing section to receive the detected and identified signals of interest from said low-level processing section;
a high-level processing section joined to said event database, said high-level processing section being capable of analyzing data occurring over a preset duration of time and across multiple channels of data, said high-level processing section providing data analysis to said event database; and
an operator machine interface joined to said event database for providing data analysis, and detected and identified signals of interest.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said data acquisition system has a data storage means for storing the data.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the data acquisition system has a plurality of signal conditioning means joined to receive data from a single sensor of the array for processing the raw data.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the data acquisition system has a preprocessing means capable of processing raw data before storage and before provision to said signal conditioning means.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said low-level processing comprises:
a plurality of spectral analysis sections, each capable of receiving processed data from one channel and analyzing a spectral composition of the processed data for the associated channel;
a plurality of background noise estimation sections, each capable of receiving processed data from one channel and computing a running background noise estimate for the associated channel;
a detection section joined to receive said spectral composition and the running background noise estimate and capable of determining whether the spectral composition of the received processed data from one channel exceeds the running background noise sufficiently to indicate detection of a contact;
an event declaration section joined to said detection section to receive an indication that a portion of the processed data for the associated channel should be grouped with previously detected portions as an event; and
a classification section joined to said event declaration section for receiving processed data grouped as one event, said classification section assigning classes to events based on a predefined classification of the event.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said running background estimate is computed based on the detection status of one associated channel of processed data.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said running background estimate is computed based on a preselected frame of one associated channel of processed data.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said classification section identifies events having predefined criteria as spurious noise and removing these events from further processing.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said classification system assigns classes based on a statistical classification approach wherein said classification system determines a collection of descriptive features from the processed data for the associated channel, applies a set of rules to determine certain predetermined classes, and uses a likelihood-based approach to determine other predetermined classes.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein said high-level processing section comprises:
a target tracking section capable of analyzing detected and identified signals of interest from different channels of processed data utilizing assigned classes as part of the analysis; and
an alert generation section capable of analyzing detected and identified signals to determine if the signals warrant providing an alert to said operator machine interface based on the assigned class.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said target tracker section is capable of linking events across channels and time.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said alert generation section is joined to said target tracking section in order to avoid providing alerts for identified signals of interest from different channels having certain predetermined characteristics.

13. The system of claim 5 wherein the operator machine interface includes a map display showing a location of the array of acoustic sensors and capable of displaying a location of at least one event and the assigned class of the event.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said high-level processing section comprises:
a target tracking section capable of analyzing detected and identified signals of interest from different channels of processed data; and
an alert generation section capable of analyzing detected and identified signals to determine if the signals warrant providing an alert to said operator machine interface.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said target tracker section is capable of linking signals of interest across channels and time.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said alert generation section is joined to said target tracking section in order to avoid providing alerts for identified signals of interest from different channels having certain predetermined characteristics.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the operator machine interface includes a map display showing a location of the array of acoustic sensors and a location of detected and identified signals of interest.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the operator machine interface further includes a zone-time energy history display with detected and identified signals of interest indicated.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the operator machine interface provides audio reproductions of detected and identified signals of interest.

20. A system for analyzing a plurality of channels of data received from an array of acoustic sensors comprising:
a data acquisition system capable of receiving and independently processing each channel of data;
a low-level processing section joined to receive each channel of processed data from said data acquisition system, said low-level processing section capable of detecting and identifying a signal of interest in one channel of data;
a target tracking section joined to said low-level processing section and being capable of tracking detected signals across multiple channels of data and over time;
an event database joined to said low-level processing section to receive the detected and identified signals of interest from said low-level processing section, and being further joined to said target tracking section;
an alert generation section joined to said event database, said alert generation section being capable of analyzing data occurring over a preset duration of time and across multiple channels of data and determining if the signals warrant providing an alert, said alert generation section providing data analysis to said event database; and
an operator machine interface joined to said event database for providing data analysis, alerts and detected and identified signals of interest.

Assignees

• Ainsleigh Phillip L
• Anderson George D
• Greineder Stephen G
• Harrison Brian F
• L'Etoile Paul A
• Mcintosh Ian C
• Rowland Raymond J
• Stahl Robert J
• Mckenna Jason R
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Ainsleigh Phillip L
• Anderson George D
• Greineder Stephen G
• Harrison Brian F
• L'Etoile Paul A
• Mcintosh Ian C
• Rowland Raymond J
• Stahl Robert J
• Mckenna Jason R

Classifications

• G01S3/8006

  Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single aerial system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals · CPC title

• G01V1/001 Primary

  Acoustic presence detection · CPC title

• G01S11/14 Primary

  using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves · CPC title

• G01S5/18

  using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves · CPC title

• G01V1/003

  Seismic data acquisition in general, e.g. survey design (G01V1/3808, G01V1/42 take precedence) · CPC title