Application of Operations Research to Interference

Abstract:
Work performed during the first six months of the program encompassing a review of several interference control methods and optimization techniques; selection of a control method for further investigation; development of applicable optimization techniques; and the design of a field test to check the assumptions and input data accuracies required for the control method is presented. Controlling the operational parameters of frequency, transmitter power, geographical location and antenna orientation has been considered, with frequency assignment the interference control method selected for further study. The mathematical tools investigated in relation to their applicability to the control methods considered are linear programming dynamic programming, and network and combinatorial search techniques. Emphasis is placed on radar interference problems and a field test using three L-band radars is described. Sample interference minimization problems with frequency as the controlled factor are presented, as well as the data available from the initial portions of the field test.