Clarence J Funk

US Patent:

7692573, Apr 6, 2010

Filed:

Jul 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/165779

Inventors:

Clarence J. Funk - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01S 13/04

US Classification:

342 90

Abstract:

A system and methods enable efficient data association of input sensor data with uniquely identified candidate targets. The methods may use information provided by a target status history database, a target geolocation history database, and a target technical characteristics database, as well as data processing procedures provided by an algorithm rules database. The algorithm rules database provides procedures for generating target classification and identification information for input sensor data, for matching target classification and identification information obtained from input sensor data with information provided by the target technical characteristics database to generate an initial set of consistent, uniquely identified candidate targets, for estimating the minimal required speed of advance for each candidate target, for calculating weights and corresponding data association probabilities for the initial set of candidate targets with the input sensor data, and for selecting a final set of uniquely identified candidate targets with their data association probabilities.

US Patent:

7817079, Oct 19, 2010

Filed:

Apr 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/105129

Inventors:

Clarence John Funk - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01S 13/86
G01S 13/93

US Classification:

342 41, 342 43, 701 21

Abstract:

Methods and apparatuses are described that enable the automatic collection of maritime vessel location information within a global or regional framework by using a minimum network of vessels outfitted with non-intrusive AIS data collection systems. The network of vessels may comprise standard ships operating within their normal commercial or private tasks. By utilizing these non-specially tasked vessels and augmenting the received AIS reports with onboard radar/navigation information, accurate global or regional tracking information can be generated at a centralized location without incurring large costs.

US Patent:

7986809, Jul 26, 2011

Filed:

Aug 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/194424

Inventors:

Clarence John Funk - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382103, 348169, 342 29, 342 41, 342 90

Abstract:

Methods and systems are disclosed to associate input data with status, location, and technical attributes to arrive at a uniquely identified candidate object by obtaining a set of initial candidate objects based on input data being compared to known technical attributes of uniquely identified objects, obtaining best-known object location and status history for each initial candidate object using previously known location and status information of each initial candidate object, assigning a statistical weight to each initial candidate object based on its maximum calculated speed and speed capabilities of each initial candidate object, generating an association probability of each of the initial candidate objects to the input data to arrive at a set of final candidate objects, and re-evaluating any of the above with data considered to be current that was not used, wherein the set of final candidate objects are uniquely identified candidate objects arrived at with current data.

US Patent:

41141350, Sep 12, 1978

Filed:

Jun 20, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/589658

Inventors:

Clarence J. Funk - San Diego CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

H04B 1100

US Classification:

340 2

Abstract:

A system for monitoring air-water borne noise generated by an aircraft flg over a body of water from within the aircraft includes a sonobuoy having a phase linear array of hydrophones suspended beneath the surface of the water and an electromagnetic radar transponder to permit accurate location of the surface position of the sonobuoy and a plurality of electroacoustic transponders to provide positioning information for the hydrophone array located in spaced relation from the first sonobuoy.