System and method for remote waveform analysis with associated metadata

Abstract

A method and waveform handling apparatus for capturing and storing data waveforms and metadata for analysis. The method includes receiving waveform data and metadata, the waveform data corresponding to a demodulated data burst, creating a waveform data record from the received waveform data, associating the waveform data with corresponding metadata, and creating a metadata record from the corresponding metadata. The method allows the waveform data in the waveform data record to be stored in a first data repository and the corresponding metadata in the metadata record to be stored in a second data repository, the waveform data and the corresponding metadata accessible for analysis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for associating waveform data with corresponding metadata, the method comprising:
 receiving waveform data and metadata, the waveform data corresponding to a demodulated data burst, the metadata corresponding to the waveform data;   creating a waveform data record from the received waveform data;   associating the waveform data with corresponding metadata;   creating a metadata record from the corresponding metadata; and   causing the waveform data in the waveform data record to be stored in a first data repository and the corresponding metadata in the metadata record to be stored in a second data repository, the waveform data and the corresponding metadata being accessible for analysis.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining access rights for the waveform data; and   determining access rights for the corresponding metadata,   wherein the access rights for the waveform data are independent from the access rights for the corresponding metadata.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 initiating a waveform analysis session for a particular waveform;   searching the waveform data record for the particular waveform to be analyzed;   searching the metadata record for metadata associated with the particular waveform; and   allowing access to the particular waveform and the associated metadata for analysis based on the determined access rights for the waveform data and the corresponding metadata.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising encrypting the data in the waveform data record and the metadata in the metadata record. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 decrypting the encrypted data in the waveform data record and the encrypted metadata in the metadata record; and   allowing access to the decrypted data in the waveform data record and the decrypted metadata in the metadata record for analysis based on the determined access rights for the waveform data and the corresponding metadata.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein analyzing the decrypted data in the waveform data record and the decrypted metadata in the metadata record comprises:
 correlating at least one metric, the at least one metric including a waveform quality, system throughput, a frame error rate and a burst error rate.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising correlating the at least one metric to at least one of GPS position, GPS time, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) profile, memory utilization, signal power, velocity, and radio temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding metadata includes at least one of channel type, coding rate, modulation rate, encryption key and encryption string of the data burst. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) data from a GPS receiver;   updating the waveform data record to include the GPS data;   creating additional metadata based on the received GPS data; and   updating the metadata record to include the additional metadata.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving additional metadata;   aggregating the additional metadata with the received metadata to provide an aggregate metadata record; and   analyzing the aggregate metadata record independent of the received waveform data.   
     
     
         11 . A waveform handling apparatus, the waveform handling apparatus comprising:
 an interface configured to:
 receive waveform data and metadata, the waveform data corresponding to a demodulated data burst, the metadata corresponding to the waveform data; and 
   processing circuitry comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
 create a waveform data record from the received waveform data; 
 associate the waveform data with corresponding metadata; 
 create a metadata record from the corresponding metadata; and 
 cause the waveform data in the waveform data record to be stored in a first data repository and the corresponding metadata in the metadata record to be stored in a second data repository, the waveform data and the corresponding metadata being accessible for analysis. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
 determine access rights for the waveform data; and   determine access rights for the metadata,   wherein the access rights for the waveform data are independent from the access rights for the metadata.   
     
     
         13 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
 initiate a waveform analysis session for a particular waveform;   search the waveform data record for the particular waveform to be analyzed;   search the metadata record for the metadata associated with the particular waveform; and   allow access to the particular waveform and the associated metadata for analysis based on the determined access rights for the waveform data and the corresponding metadata.   
     
     
         14 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to encrypt the data in the waveform data record and the metadata in the metadata record. 
     
     
         15 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
 decrypt the encrypted data in the waveform data record and the encrypted metadata in the metadata record; and   allow access to the decrypted data in the waveform data record and the decrypted metadata in the metadata record for analysis based on the determined access rights for the waveform data and the corresponding metadata.   
     
     
         16 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein analyzing the decrypted data in the waveform data record and the decrypted metadata in the metadata record comprises:
 correlating at least one metric, the at least one metric including a waveform quality, system throughput, a frame error rate and a burst error rate.   
     
     
         17 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the metadata includes at least one of channel type, coding rate, modulation rate, encryption key and encryption string of the data burst. 
     
     
         18 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the interface further is configured to receive Global Positioning System (GPS) data from a GPS receiver, and the memory further stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
 update the waveform data record to include the GPS data;   create additional metadata based on the received GPS data; and   update the metadata record to include the additional metadata.   
     
     
         19 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the GPS data comprises information regarding at least one of a location of a terminal that transmitted the data burst and a time that the terminal transmitted the data burst. 
     
     
         20 . The waveform handling apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the interface is further configured to receive information regarding which data bursts are a result of a retransmission request. 
     
     
         21 . A waveform handling apparatus, the waveform handling apparatus comprising:
 an interface configured to:
 receive waveform data and metadata, the waveform data corresponding to a demodulated data burst, the metadata corresponding to the waveform data; 
   processing circuitry comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
 create a waveform data record from the received waveform data; 
 associate the waveform data with corresponding metadata; 
 create a metadata record from the corresponding metadata; and 
 cause the waveform data in the waveform data record to be stored in a first data repository and the corresponding metadata in the metadata record to be stored in a second data repository, the waveform data and the corresponding metadata being separately accessible for analysis based on independent access rights for the waveform data and the metadata.