Patent ID: 8514130

Claim:
A method for providing directional spectral awareness via an antenna system, said method comprising: monitoring an environment for electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of sectors via the antenna system, the antenna system having a first mode and a second mode, the antenna system being configured for omni-directional signal reception from the plurality of sectors via the first mode, the antenna system being configured for transmission of electromagnetic radiation into and reception of electromagnetic radiation from at least one selected sector included in the plurality of sectors via the second mode; detecting a first signal transmitted by a signal source, the signal source being positioned apart from the antenna system; sweeping through the plurality of sectors, wherein sweeping through the plurality of sectors includes: during a first dwell time, determining a measurement for a first sector included in the plurality of sectors; switching to a second sector included in the plurality of sectors; and during a second dwell time, determining a measurement for the second sector included in the plurality of sectors; and based upon said sweeping, identifying a sector corresponding to a direction of the signal source, wherein identifying the sector corresponding to the direction of the signal source includes comparing the measurement for the first sector to the measurement for the second sector, wherein the antenna system includes a parasitic antenna and processor, said processor being communicatively coupled with the parasitic antenna.