Abstract: A method for detecting a signal includes channelizing a digitized radio frequency (RF) environment to generate first tier channel outputs. The digitized RF environment includes a first bandwidth. Each first tier channel output has a second bandwidth smaller than the first bandwidth. Each first tier channel output overlaps at least a portion of at least one adjacent first tier channel output. One or more of the first tier channel outputs are channelized to generate multiple second tier channel outputs. Each second tier channel output has a third bandwidth that is smaller than the second bandwidth. Each second tier channel output overlaps at least a portion of at least one adjacent second tier channel output. The method includes performing a comparison of signal data from each second tier channel output to first signal feature data and determining whether a potential target signal is present in the digitized RF environment.

Abstract: A physically compact, wideband signal activity identification, demodulation and characterization, and direction finding device incorporates multiple and cascadable digital signal processing modules operating in asynchronous real time. The digital signal processing modules include a device for data buffering, a device for digital signal processing (DSP), and a device for high-speed data routing. The module device for data buffering is composed of, among other memory devices, a First In Tap Out (FITO) data buffer that may be accessed at any point for delay or faster than real time resynchronization by the DSP module device. The module device for digital signal processing function incorporates a general purpose digital processor for respective module calculation of overlapped hyperchannelization Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT).