Abstract:
A distributed and coordinated electronic warfare system is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of autonomous, geographically-distributed, mobile units (e.g., soldiers, vehicles, etc.), each of which carries an electronic warfare module. Each electronic warfare module comprises: a telecommunications transceiver for enabling the electronic warfare modules and their users to communicate with each other, and a threat-detection receiver for detecting potentially hostile radio signals, such as those that are used to detonate IEDs; and a jamming transmitter for transmitting sequences of electromagnetic pulses to interfere with potentially hostile radio signals, and an electronic warfare controller for coordinating the efforts of the electronic warfare modules.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to electronics in general, and, more particularly, to electronic warfare measures and countermeasures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The presence of improved explosive devices (“IEDs”) has hampered Allied efforts in the Global War on Terror. Many of the IEDs are detonated by remote control using radio signals, and, therefore, there is an urgent need for improved electronic warfare systems to defeat the radio signals that trigger the IEDs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention enables the distribution and coordination of electronic warfare assets in a novel and nonobvious manner. For example, the illustrative embodiment comprises a plurality of autonomous, geographically-distributed, mobile units (e.g., soldiers, vehicles, etc.), each of which carries an electronic warfare module. 
         [0004]    Each electronic warfare module comprises:
       a telecommunications transceiver for enabling the electronic warfare modules and their users to communicate with each other, and   a threat-detection receiver for detecting potentially hostile radio signals, such as those that are used to detonate IEDs; and   a jamming transmitter for transmitting sequences of electromagnetic pulses to interfere with potentially hostile radio signals, and   an electronic warfare controller for coordinating the efforts of the electronic warfare modules.       
 
         [0009]    The electronic warfare modules perform three salient functions:
   1. they coordinate among themselves to ensure that the operation of the jamming transmitters and the telecommunications transmitters do not interfere with the telecommunications transceivers, and   2. they share among themselves the information gleaned from the threat-detection receivers to enhance the ability to detect, identify, and assess potentially hostile radio signals, and   3. they coordinate the efforts of the jamming transmitters to eliminate redundant efforts, channel jamming resources where needed, and to have different jamming transmitters cooperate to address individual threats.   
 
         [0013]    The illustrative embodiment comprises a method comprising coordinating the transmission of a first sequence of electromagnetic pulses from a first transmitter at a first location and the transmission of a second sequence of electromagnetic pulses from a second transmitter at a second location to attack a first signal in a first geographic region in a first frequency band; wherein the first location and the second location are geographically diverse; and wherein the first sequence of electromagnetic pulses is temporally interleaved with the second sequence of electromagnetic pulses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts an aerial view of the salient aspects of a battlefield in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of electronics warfare module  105 - i  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, wherein iε{1, 2, 3}. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the performance of task  301  in accordance with of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the performance of task  302  in accordance with of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the performance of task  502  in accordance with of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  depicts an aerial view of the salient aspects of a battlefield in accordance with the present invention in which the partially overlapping geographic regions protected by geographically-diverse jamming transmitters cooperate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts an aerial view of the salient aspects of a battlefield in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The battlefield comprises: friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3 , foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3 , and explosives  103 - 1  through  103 - 3 , situated as shown. Friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3  constitute a convoy heading East through an area where foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3  lie in ambush. Foe  102 - 1  controls the detonation of buried explosive  103 - 1  via radio signal  104 - 1 , foe  102 - 2  controls the detonation of buried explosive  103 - 2  via radio signal  104 - 2 , and foe  102 - 3  controls the detonation of buried explosive  103 - 3  via radio signal  104 - 3 . 
         [0022]    Although the illustrative embodiment depicts three friends, three foes, three explosives, and three radio signals, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention that comprise any number of friends, any number of foes, any number of explosives, and any number of radio signals. Although the illustrative embodiment depicts the three foes as surrounding or enveloping the friends, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the friends, foes, and explosives have any spatial relationship. 
         [0023]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the battlefield is on land. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, however, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which: 
         [0024]    i. some or all of the battlefield is on land, or 
         [0025]    ii. some or all of the battlefield is on water, or 
         [0026]    iii. some or all of the battlefield is in the air, or 
         [0027]    iv. some or all of the battlefield is in space, or 
         [0028]    v. any combination of i, ii, iii, and iv. 
         [0029]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3 , are land-based. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, however, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which: 
         [0030]    i. some or all of friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3  are land-based, or 
         [0031]    ii. some or all of friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3  are naval-based, or 
         [0032]    iii. some or all of friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3  are airborne, or 
         [0033]    iv. some or all of friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3  are space-based, or 
         [0034]    v. any combination of i, ii, iii, and iv. 
         [0035]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3 , are land-based. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, however, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which: 
         [0036]    i. some or all of foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3  are land-based, or 
         [0037]    ii. some or all of foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3  are naval-based, or 
         [0038]    iii. some or all of foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3  are airborne, or 
         [0039]    iv. some or all of foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3  are space-based, or 
         [0040]    v. any combination of i, ii, iii, and iv. 
         [0041]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, explosives  103 - 1  through  103 - 3  are buried improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”). It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which: 
         [0042]    i. some or all of explosives  103 - 1  through  103 - 3  are land-based, or 
         [0043]    ii. some or all of explosives  103 - 1  through  103 - 3  are naval-based, or 
         [0044]    iii. some or all of explosives  103 - 1  through  103 - 3  are airborne, or 
         [0045]    iv. some or all of explosives  103 - 1  through  103 - 3  are space-based, or 
         [0046]    v. any combination of i, ii, iii, and iv. 
         [0047]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, radio signals  104 - 1  through  104 - 3  are in mutually-exclusive radio frequency bands and occupy mutually-exclusive geographic regions. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which:
       i. some or all of radio signals  104 - 1  through  104 - 3  are in overlapping radio frequency bands, or   ii. some or all of radio signals  104 - 1  through  104 - 3  are in overlapping geographic regions, or   iii. any combination of i and ii.       
 
         [0051]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, each of friends  101 - 1  through  101 - 3  carry an electronics warfare module for communications, electromagnetic threat detection and assessment and electromagnetic countermeasures. Each of electronics warfare modules  105 - 1  through  105 - 3  is described in detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0052]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of electronics warfare module  105 - i  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, wherein iε{1, 2, 3}. Electronics warfare module  105 - i  comprises: electronic warfare controller  201 - i , jamming transmitter  202 - i , telecommunications transceiver  203 - i , threat-detection receiver  204 - i , satellite positioning system receiver  205 - i , interconnected as shown. 
         [0053]    Electronic warfare controller  201 - i  comprises digital hardware and software for enabling electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  to coordinate the operation of jamming transmitters  202 - 1  through  202 - 3 , telecommunications transceivers  203 - 1  through  203 - 3 , and threat-detection receivers  204 - 1  through  204 - 3 . For example, the illustrative embodiment enables electronics warfare module  105 - 1  through  105 - 3  to coordinate their jamming and threat-detection efforts, and to ensure that the jamming and threat-detection efforts do not interfere with their respective telecommunications efforts. The operation of electronic warfare controller  201 - i  is described in detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0054]    Jamming transmitter  202 - i  comprises hardware and software for transmitting M sequences of electromagnetic pulses into N frequency bands in a geographic region, wherein M and N are positive integers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.). In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the purpose for having jamming transmitter  202 - i  transmit sequences of electromagnetic pulses is to interfere with the electromagnetic signals transmitted by foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3 , but it will be clear to those skilled in the art that there are other purposes (e.g., non-lethal threat suppression, etc.). In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the operation of jamming transmitter  202 - i  is controlled by electronic warfare controller  201 - i , and electronic warfare controller  201 - i  monitors the operation and status of jamming transmitter  202 - i . When jamming transmitter  202 - i  concurrently transmits a sequence of electromagnetic pulses into two or more frequency bands, the sequences are temporally interleaved. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the electromagnetic pulses transmitted by jamming transmitter  201 - i  is non-information bearing, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which some or all of the electromagnetic pulses transmitted by jamming transmitter  201 - i  are information bearing. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use jamming transmitter  202 - i.    
         [0055]    Telecommunications transceiver  203 - i  comprises hardware and software for (1) enabling electronic warfare controller  201 - i  to communicate with electronic warfare controller  202 - j , and (2) enabling the electronics warfare module  105 - i  to communicate with electronics warfare module  105 - j , wherein jε{1, 2, 3} and i #j. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use telecommunications transceiver  203 - i.    
         [0056]    Threat-detection receiver  204 - i  comprises hardware and software for enabling electronics warfare module  105 - i  to detect electromagnetic signals  104 - 1  through  104 - 3  from foes and for reporting to electronic warfare controller  201 - i  the parameters for all of the signals that it detects. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, threat-detection receiver  204 - i  is omni-directional, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which some or all of the threat-detection receivers have directional capabilities. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use threat-detection receiver  204 - i.    
         [0057]    Satellite positioning system receiver  205 - i  comprises hardware and software for enabling electronic warfare controller  201 - i  to determine its latitude, longitude, and altitude. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use satellite positioning system receiver  205 - i.    
         [0058]      FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, tasks  301  and  302  are performed continually and concurrently, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the tasks are not performed continually or concurrently. 
         [0059]    At task  301 , electronic warfare modules  105 - 1  through  105 - 3  cooperate to detect, identify, and assess the electromagnetic signals transmitted by foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3 . Task  301  is described in detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0060]    At task  302 , electronic warfare modules  105 - 1  through  105 - 3  cooperate to attack and neutralize the electromagnetic signals transmitted by foes  102 - 1  through  102 - 3 . Task  302  is described in detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the performance of task  301  in accordance with of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. To simplify the operation of the illustrative embodiment, tasks  401  through  404  are depicts as being performed in sequence, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use embodiments of the present invention in which tasks  401  through  404  are performed concurrently. 
         [0062]    At task  401 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  coordinate their respective jamming and telecommunications transmissions to enhance the likelihood of successful electromagnetic threat detection, identification, and assessment. In particular, electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  coordinate when to turn off their jamming and telecommunications transmissions and what frequency bands to transmit into so as to enhance the ability of threat-detection receivers  204 - 1  through  204 - 3  to detect, identify, and assess electromagnetic threats. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make embodiments of the present invention that perform task  401 . 
         [0063]    At task  402 , threat-detection receiver  204 - i  detects, identifies, and assesses electromagnetic signals from foes and reports to electronic warfare controller  201 - i  the parameters for all of the signals that it detects. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make embodiments of the present invention that perform task  402 . 
         [0064]    At task  403 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  share the parameters for all of the signals detected in task  402 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, all of electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  share the parameters with each other, and, therefore, each is equally knowledgeable. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, however, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which all of the signal parameters are not shared with all of the electronic warfare controllers. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make embodiments of the present invention that perform task  402 . 
         [0065]    At task  404 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  estimate the location of the source of each of the detected signals through triangulation and a knowledge of each electronics module at the time the signal was detected. As part of task  404 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  also estimate the geographic domain within which the hostile signals can be received. This information is used in task  302  as for deciding which signals need to be jammed and where. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make embodiments of the present invention that perform task  402 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the performance of task  302  in accordance with of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0067]    At task  501 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  communicate and coordinate to distribute the jamming efforts among jamming transmitters  202 - 1  through  202 - 3 . As part of task  501 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  coordinate to assign, when and where advantageous, jamming transmitters to interfere with the hostile electromagnetic signals in their vicinity. Referring to  FIG. 1 , jamming transmitter  202 - 1  might be assigned to interfere with signal  104 - 1 , jamming transmitter  202 - 2  might be assigned to interfere with signal  104 - 2 , and jamming transmitter  202 - 3  might be assigned to interfere with signal  104 - 3 . 
         [0068]    Furthermore, as part of task  501 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  coordinate to assign, when and where advantageous, jamming transmitters to assist each other to interfere with the hostile electromagnetic signals. For example, jamming transmitter  202 - 1  and jamming transmitter  202 - 2  might be each be assigned the task of partially jamming enemy signals  104 - 1  and  104 - 2 . This requires them to synchronize and coordinate when and where each is transmitting pulses into the frequency bands occupied by enemy signals  104 - 1  and  104 - 2 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention that perform task  501 . 
         [0069]    At task  502 , electronic warfare controllers  201 - 1  through  201 - 3  direct jamming transmitters to attack enemy signals  104 - 1  through  104 - 3 . Task  502  is described in detail below and in the accompanying figure. 
         [0070]      FIG. 6  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the performance of task  502  in accordance with of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0071]    At task  601 , jamming transmitter  102 - 1 , which is at a first location, transmits a first sequence of electromagnetic pulses into a first frequency band to attack signal  104 - 1 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , jamming transmitter  102 - 1  transmits the first sequence of electromagnetic pulses into region  701 . 
         [0072]    At task  602 , jamming transmitter  102 - 1 , while still at the first location, transmits a second sequence of electromagnetic pulses into a second frequency band to attack signal  104 - 2 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , jamming transmitter  102 - 1  transmits the second sequence of electromagnetic pulses into region  701 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, tasks  601  and  602  are concurrent and the first sequence and the second sequence are temporally interleaved. 
         [0073]    At task  603 , jamming transmitter  102 - 3 , while at a second location, transmits a third sequence of electromagnetic pulses into a third frequency band to attack signal  104 - 3 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , jamming transmitter  102 - 3  transmits the third sequence of electromagnetic pulses into region  702 . 
         [0074]    At task  604 , jamming transmitter  102 - 3 , while still at the second location, transmits a fourth sequence of electromagnetic pulses into the second frequency band to attack signal  104 - 2 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , jamming transmitter  102 - 3  transmits the fourth sequence of electromagnetic pulses into region  702 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, tasks  603  and  604  are concurrent. Furthermore, the second sequence, third sequence, and fourth sequences are temporally interleaved. 
         [0075]    It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just one example of the illustrative embodiment and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.