Patent ID: 12207217

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The disclosed system and method below may be described generally, as well as in terms of specific examples and/or specific embodiments. For instances where references are made to detailed examples and/or embodiments, it should be appreciated that any of the underlying principles described are not to be limited to a single embodiment, but may be expanded for use with any of the other system and methods described herein as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise stated specifically.

References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or any variation thereof, means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in some embodiments,” and “in other embodiments” in various places in the present disclosure are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or the same set of embodiments.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or.

Additionally, use of words such as “the,” “a,” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein; this is done merely for grammatical reasons and to conform to idiomatic English. This detailed description should be read to include one or at least one, and the singular also includes the plural unless it is clearly indicated otherwise.

FIG.1is a block-diagram illustration of an example secure data transmission system10for targeting specific receiver location that comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of a time multiplexer100, a receiver tracker120, a time delay unit130, and a plurality of transmitters140. The system for secure reception of data10may be used to transmit data to one, or a plurality of receivers, based on the specific location of the intended receivers. The system10provides spatial security for wireless data transmission in lieu of other security means. Such spatial security may be achieved by selectively allowing, in both bearing and range, a single point or plurality of points to correctly receive the wireless data transmission. Any receivers not located at the intended receiver location would not coherently receive the data transmission. There is a need for preventing common data transmission security threats which include, but are not limited to, interception and spoofing. Types of data transmission may include, but are not limited to bits, modulated baseband, and intermediate frequency data pulses. Data transmission may occur across many mediums including, but not limited to, radio waves, acoustics, light detection and ranging, optical, and broadband.

The secure data transmission system10may be used in any environment in which targeted data transmission is desired. Such circumstances may include when there is a need for spatial security, where the location of the data recipient is known. Further, the secure data transmission system may be used in combination with other security methods to add additional layers of security. For example, an additional digital key or orthogonal code may be needed to read the transmitted data at the receiver location.

The secure data transmission system10may also be used where the reuse of transmission frequencies is desired. Traditionally, data transmission functions by a receiver tuning into a selective channel. The instant disclosure makes possible the reuse of the frequency ranges because a plurality of transitions can be utilized on a single channel. Since, a transmission may only be coherently received in the location in which it is targeted, the same frequency channel can be reused for transmitting a multitude of signals without interference. Reuse of transmission frequencies is desirable for any high traffic communication network where the location of the receiver is known.

As shown inFIG.2, a time multiplexer100comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of a multiplexing sequence101, a multiplexing digital switch102, and a plurality of empty vectors103. The time multiplexer100receives an input data streams105and outputs a plurality of multiplexed output data streams104. The multiplexing sequence101is random or preset pattern for multiplexing to the input data streams105. The multiplexing digital switch102is any device capable of applying a multiplexing sequence101to the output data streams105to produce “N” number of output data streams104, where “N” also corresponds to the number of empty vectors103. Moreover, the multiplexing digital switch102then provides each of the plurality of outputs (1to “N”) to each of the “N” quantity of empty vectors103. After the multiplexing digital switch102provides the plurality of output data streams104, each of the plurality of empty vectors103comprise a single output data stream. In one embodiment, the quantity of empty vectors103“N” may also correspond to the number of transmitters140present in the secure data transmission system10.

The receiver tracker120may provide an instantaneous location of the plurality of receivers to the time delay unit130. The receiver tracker120may be any device that provides the intended receiver location to the time delay unit130. In one embodiment, the receiver tracker120provides global positioning system (GPS) coordinates to the time delay unit130. In another embodiment, the receiver tracker120provides a plurality of instantaneous receiver locations134.

As shown inFIG.3, a time delay unit130comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of a range calculator131, a delay estimator132, a plurality of stream time delays133, instantaneous receiver location134, and delayed data streams135. The range calculator131may receive the instantaneous receiver locations134of each of the plurality of receivers from the receiver tracker120. The range calculator131may also calculate the distance between each of the plurality of receivers and each of the plurality of transmitters140. Utilizing distance calculations, the delay estimator132may compute the time delays appropriate for each of the plurality of stream time delays133so as to align the transmission of each of the output data streams104for reception only at the desired receive location. After the delay estimator's132calculation, the plurality of stream time delays133are of a quantity (“N”) which is equivalent to the number empty vectors103. Each of the plurality of delayed data streams135comprise a multiplexed data stream, the corresponding time delay, and transmission latency information.

In one embodiment, the time delay unit130further comprises a phase alignment block. The phase alignment block may perform phase shifting to the plurality of output data streams104. Phase shifting divides the input data stream105based on power, instead of a time window, while carrying the data from the original data stream. The phase shifted data streams may be transmitted and aligned for coherency at the discrete location of a receiver, or a plurality of receivers.

Each of the plurality of transmitters140may receive the stream time delays133and transmit the data to one receiver, or a plurality of receivers. The transmitters140are of any type capable of transmitting an output data stream104including, but not limited to, any generic or custom modulation and RF frond end combination. In one embodiment, an output data stream104comprises the multiplexed input data streams105, time delay data, and latency data. In another embodiment, an output data stream comprises a phase shifted, multiplexed input data streams105and transmission latency data.

In one embodiment, the secure data transmission system10comprises at least three transmitters. The use of at least three transmitters enables accurate transmission in a three-dimensional environment. An example position of a three-transmitter system can be seen below inFIG.6. Points inFIG.6labeled Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3each represent one of the three transmitters140in an example embodiment of system10. Additionally, an intended receiver is specified as Rx1on the left side of theFIG.6.FIG.6demonstrates an example arrangement of three transmitters140and a receiver. In this embodiment, each of the output data streams104require a unique time delay calculation based on the transmitter140and receiver location to correctly time align the intended sequence at the receiver location. The instantaneous receiver location134of the receiver Rx1are provided by the time delay unit130to the range calculator131. The time delay may then calculated by the delay estimator132. An example of a time delay calculation is presented inFIG.7. As shown byFIG.7, the time of transmission (TOT) is unique for each of the output data streams104at each transmitter. In this example, the (TOT) at Tx2having a time delay value of zero is representative of the delay of Tx1and Tx3being relative to Tx2's transmission timing, but should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure. The time delays may be capable of providing coherent alignment at the receiver. Further, although this embodiment is representative of a single receiver system, it should be understood that multiple receivers may be used as well as this example without departing from the scope of the claims.

Time multiplexing, performed by the time multiplexer100, involves transmitting two or more digital signals over a common channel and shared medium. After time multiplexing occurs, the signals are individually transmitted and reassembled into their original format at the receiver. For example,FIG.8further demonstrates an example of time multiplexing an original data stream. InFIG.8, the Original Data Stream800comprises an example original bit stream. Multiplexed stream801,802, and803comprise randomly multiplexed original bit stream data corresponding to each of the three transmitters. Each data bit from the Original Data Stream800exists on one of the Multiplexed streams801,802, or803. When each of the multiplexed data streams are not given a time multiplexed data bit, they default to a zero value to ensure that their associated transmitter does not transmit in that time window. Then, each of the multiplexed data stream is transmitted by each of the plurality of transmitters140to an instantaneous receiver location134. At the intended receiver, Multiplexed Streams801,802, and803are recombined to produce the Original Data Stream800.

The instantaneous receiver location134may be any location that is discrete and know. For example, the location may be identified by its GPS coordinates. In one embodiment, the intended receiver may be a tower in a cellular network. In another embodiment, the intended receiver may be a network-connected vehicle. In another embodiment, the plurality of transmitters may target a plurality of receivers at discrete receiver locations. Targeting multiple receivers may be performed by generating multiple time windows so as to align the transmissions at each of the discrete receiver locations.

FIG.4is a method20for transmitting a data stream20, which comprises, consists of, or consists essentially receiving an input data streams105, multiplexing the input data steam to generate a plurality of output data streams104, receiving an instantaneous receiver location134, calculating a plurality of transmission ranges between each of the plurality of transmitters and the instantaneous receiver location134, calculating a plurality of time delays for each of the plurality of output data streams104, delaying each of the plurality of output data streams104according to each of the plurality of time delays, and transmitting each of the plurality of output data streams104to the instantaneous receiver location134. The method20may also include, multiplexing the input data streams105according to a multiplexing sequence, dividing the input data streams105to the plurality of output streams, and providing the plurality of output data stream to the plurality of empty vectors.

FIG.5is a method30for transmitting a data stream involving phase shifting, comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of receiving an input data streams105, wherein the input data streams105comprises a continuous wave form, phase shifting the input data steam to generate a plurality of output data streams104, receiving an instantaneous receiver location134, dividing each of the plurality of output data streams104based on power, aligning each of the plurality of output data streams104for coherency at the receiver, and transmitting each of the plurality of output data streams104to the instantaneous receiver location134. The method30may also include receiving a plurality of instantaneous receiver locations134, and transmitting each of the plurality of output data streams104to each of the plurality of instantaneous receiver locations134.

From the above description of secure data transmission system and method for targeting specific receiver locations, it is manifest that various techniques may be used for implementing the concepts of secure data transmission system10, secure data transmission method20, and secure data transmission method involving phase shifting30without departing from the scope of the claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The method/apparatus disclosed herein may be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically claimed and/or disclosed herein. It should also be understood that the secure data transmission system10, secure data transmission method20, and secure data transmission method involving phase shifting30is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of many embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.