Patent ID: 9372052
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: F41G,F41J

Claim Text:
1. A computer method for managing at least one decoy comprising: (a) determining decoy characteristics and at least one decoy-minimum-distance threshold for the at least one decoy; (b) determining at least one high value unit (HVU) location of at least one HVU relative to at least one launch platform of the at least one decoy; (c) automatically calculating, by a specially-programmed computer, at least one set of lines extending from at least one direction of at least one threat through the at least one HVU location, and continuing beyond the at least one HVU location; (d) automatically calculating, by the specially-programmed computer, at least one decoy trajectory of the at least one decoy based on the at least one direction, launch time of the at least one decoy, bearing from the at least one HVU at a decoy launch time of the at least one decoy, course and speed of the at least one HVU, course, range, and speed of the at least one decoy launch platform, wind direction and speed at the at least one launch platform, and the decoy characteristics; (e) automatically calculating, by the specially-programmed computer, at least one HVU minimum distance from the at least one decoy trajectory to the at least one HVU location; (f) automatically calculating, by the specially-programmed computer, at least one line minimum distance from the at least one decoy trajectory to each of the at least one line of the at least one set of lines; and (g) automatically providing, by the specially-programmed computer, an indication if any of the at least one HVU minimum distance and the at least one line minimum distance are smaller than the at least one decoy-minimum-distance threshold, wherein the at least one decoy comprises at least one air-drifting decoy, the at least one air-drifting decoy having decoy characteristics including the lifetime of at least one air-drifting decoy, and at least one time of flight of the at least one air-drifting decoy.