Abstract: A system for tracking mobile subscribers, the system includes an aircraft having an on-board virtual BTS that substitutes for a stationary BTS. The virtual BTS emulates a behavior of the stationary BTS so as to be indistinguishable from the stationary BTS to the mobile device, including emulation of communication protocols and billing operations The virtual BTS communicate with the mobile devices. The virtual BTS includes a processor running Software Defined Radio (SDR) and a signal amplifier, the SDR receiving identifiers of the mobile devices. The aircraft includes a high-gain antenna for determining directions of signals from the mobile devices. A camera on board the aircraft takes images or video of an area on the ground. The processor collects and processes the images or video, the directions of the signals and the identifiers of the mobile devices to locate a specific subscriber. The processor transmits the processed information to a server.

Abstract: A system for tracking mobile subscribers, the system includes an aircraft having an on-board virtual BTS that substitutes for a stationary BTS. The virtual BTS emulates a behavior of the stationary BTS so as to be indistinguishable from the stationary BTS to the mobile device, including emulation of communication protocols and billing operations The virtual BTS communicate with the mobile devices. The virtual BTS includes a processor running Software Defined Radio (SDR) and a signal amplifier, the SDR receiving identifiers of the mobile devices. The aircraft includes a high-gain antenna for determining directions of signals from the mobile devices. A camera on board the aircraft takes images or video of an area on the ground. The processor collects and processes the images or video, the directions of the signals and the identifiers of the mobile devices to locate a specific subscriber. The processor transmits the processed information to a server.