A radio frequency measurement technique utilizing audio distortion to access the instantaneous sensitivity of a security systems receiver

Abstract

A receiver measurement technique has been demonstrated to assess the instantaneous sensitivity of a security system's radio frequency (RF) receiver. Application of this measurement technique to a security systems wireless link can be used as warning to a system attack, identification of an interference source(s), changes in propagation conditions, or equipment failure. The interference sources may be unintentional or intentional, both of which can affect the performance of the receiver. An RF receiver used in a security system may be used to receive voice, video, telemetry, etc., which most likely is of high importance and/or consequence since it is used to gather information as part of a security system. In most cases, the receivers used in security systems have no indication of instantaneous receiver sensitivity. The measurement technique utilizes an RF audio distortion measurement to characterize the degradation to the communications receiver by providing a quantitative measure to the quality of the receiver's audio signal. This technique provides a way to quantify the performance of an RF receiver under a variety of conditions. The distortion to the audio signal can be the result of conducted, radiated, and/or coupled interference from active components that are within the receiver's passband.