Prioritized transmission of different data types over bonded communication channels

• US 10,271,261 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: El-Sight Limited
• Original Assignee: Sqwaq, Inc.
• Inventors: Lindsley, Edward, Dodd, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M
• Application Number:
  US15/494,441
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/70 Routing based on monitoring results
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/14 based on stability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, apparatus, and computer program products for prioritized transmission of different data types, including VHF airband radio communication data (e.g., being transmitted or received from a control tower) over bonded communication modules at a remotely operated aerial vehicle. Embodiments of the invention include portable (and potentially mobile and/or remotely operated) vehicles for wirelessly transmitting and receiving various data types over a bonded mobile network and a control device (which can be fixed or portable) capable of receiving data transmitted from the mobile node and transmitting data to it. Different data types can be assigned different priorities, facilitating selective transmission of higher-priority data, such as, for example, VHF airband radio communication data, when quality degrades on a network link.

Claims

1. A method for use at a remotely operated aerial vehicle, the remotely operated aerial vehicle including a bonded communication link, the bonded communication link bonding together the capabilities of a plurality of communication devices, the method for routing data through the bonded communication link, the method comprising:

accessing data associated with one or more other components co-located at the remotely operated aerial vehicle;

identifying a plurality of different data types included in the accessed data, the plurality of different data types including radio communication data;

referring to a data type prioritization scheme to assign a priority to each of the plurality of different data types including the radio communication data and another type of data;

monitoring a link quality for each of the plurality of communication devices;

selecting a subset of communication devices, from among the plurality of communication devices, for transferring the accessed data based on the monitored link qualities and assigned priorities, the subset of communication devices selected by balancing operating costs for one or more of the plurality of communication devices against having sufficient capability to reliably transfer the accessed data; and

routing the accessed data through the bonded communication link in accordance with a data distribution scheme based on the assigned priority for each of the plurality of different data types, including the radio communication data, and the monitored link qualities, including;

routing the radio communication data over a first communication device included in the subset of communication devices;

routing the other type of data over a second communication device included in the subset of communication devices; and

refraining from routing accessed data over any non-selected communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonded communication link provides connectivity to a control device that controls operation of the remotely operated aerial vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing data associated with one or more other components co-located at the remotely operated aerial vehicle comprises accessing radio communication data representing the content of a Very High Frequency (VHF) radio transmission from an aircraft control center.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing data associated with one or more other components co-located at the remotely operated aerial vehicle comprises accessing at least one of:

power data, engine data, and environmental data associated with operation of the remotely operated aerial vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a plurality of different data types included in the received data comprises identifying that the plurality of different data types includes one or more of:

video data, audio data, telemetry data, and command data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying that the plurality of different data types includes one or more of:

video data, audio data, telemetry data, and command data comprises identifying that the plurality of different data types include airworthiness telemetry data related to airworthiness of the remotely operated aerial vehicle and at least one other telemetry data type.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein referring to a data type prioritization scheme to assign a priority to each of the plurality of different data types comprises:

assigning a higher priority to the airworthiness telemetry data than to the at least one other telemetry data type, the video data and the audio data; and

assigning a higher priority to the at least one other telemetry data type than to the video data and the audio data.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein routing accessed data of another assigned priority over a second communication device comprises routing data of the at least one other telemetry data type over another communication device, from among the selected subset of communication devices, with degraded link quality relative to the higher link quality;

and

further comprising routing one or more of;

the audio data and the video data over a further communication device, from among the selected subset of communication devices, with further degraded link quality relative to the degraded link quality.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying that the plurality of different data types includes one or more of:

video data, audio data, telemetry data, and command data comprises identifying that the plurality of different data types include a telemetry data type and airworthiness command data related to airworthiness of the remotely operated aerial vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein referring to a data type prioritization scheme to assign a priority to each of the plurality of different data types comprises:

assigning a higher priority to the airworthiness command data than to the telemetry data, the video data, and the audio data; and

assigning a higher priority to the telemetry data type than to the video data and the audio data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein routing accessed data of another assigned priority over a second communication device comprises routing data of the telemetry data type over another communication device, from among the selected subset of communication devices, with degraded link quality relative to the higher link quality;

and

further comprising routing one or more of;

the audio data and the video data over a further communication device, from among the selected subset of communication devices, with further degraded link quality relative to the degraded link quality.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein referring to a data type prioritization scheme to assign a priority to each of the plurality of different data types comprises:

assigning a higher priority to the telemetry data type and the command data type than to video data and audio data; and

assigning a higher priority to the command data type than the telemetry data type.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein routing radio communication data over a first communication device comprises routing data packets representing the content of a Very High Frequency (VHF) airband transmission over a satellite communication device;

and

wherein routing the other type of data over a second communication device comprises comprising routing the other type of data over a 3G or 4G modem.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein identifying that the plurality of different data types include airworthiness command data related to airworthiness of the remotely operated aerial vehicle comprises identifying that the plurality of different data types include airworthiness command data received from one or more flight control devices at a control station.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing data associated with one or more components co-located at the remotely operated aerial vehicle comprises accessing radio communication data associated with an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio transmission.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more components co-located at the remotely operation aerial vehicle comprise the one or more components co-located at a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

17. A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), the RPA comprising:

one or more flight related components providing flight functionality of the RPA, the one or more flight related components controlled remotely from a remote pilot station;

one or more other components providing other functionality;

a hardware processor;

system memory coupled to the one or more hardware processors, the system memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more hardware processors;

a bonded communication link, the bonded communication link bonding together the capabilities of a plurality of communication devices;

the hardware processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to route data through the bonded communication link, including the following;

access data associated with one or more components of the RPA;

identify a plurality of different data types included in the accessed data, the plurality of different data types including radio communication data and telemetry data, the radio communication data representing the content of a Very High Frequency (VHF) airband radio transmission from an aircraft control center, the telemetry data from one of the one or more flight related components, the telemetry data related to the airworthiness of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA);

refer to a data type prioritization scheme to assign a priority to each of the plurality of different data types, including assigning the telemetry data a first priority and assigning the radio communication data a second priority, the first priority higher than the second priority;

monitor a link quality for each of the plurality of communication devices;

select a subset of communication devices, from among the plurality of communication devices, for transferring the accessed data based on the monitored link qualities and assigned priorities, the subset of communication devices selected by balancing operating costs for one or more of the plurality of communication devices against having sufficient capability to reliably transfer the accessed data; and

route the accessed data through the bonded communication link in accordance with a data distribution scheme based on the assigned priority for each of the plurality of different data types and the monitored link qualities, including;

route the telemetry data through one or more communication devices, from among the selected subset of communication devices, with higher link quality;

route the radio communication data through one or more other communication devices, from among the selected subset of communication devices, the one or more other communication devices having degraded link quality relative to the higher link quality; and

refrain from routing accessed data over any non-selected communication devices.

18. The Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) of claim 17, wherein the one or more flight related components comprises a plurality of rotors used to control direction, speed, acceleration, pitch, yaw, and roll of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

19. A system comprising:

a processor;

system memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions configured to cause the processor to;

access data associated with one or more components co-located at a remotely operated aerial vehicle;

identify a plurality of different data types included in the accessed data, the plurality of different data types including radio communication data;

refer to a data type prioritization scheme to assign a priority to each of the plurality of different data types including the radio communication data and another type of data;

monitor a link quality for each of a plurality of communication devices;

select a subset of communication devices, from among the plurality of communication devices, for transferring the accessed data based on the monitored link qualities and assigned priorities, the subset of communication devices selected by balancing operating costs for one or more of the plurality of communication devices against having sufficient capability to reliably transfer the accessed data; and

route the accessed data through the bonded communication link in accordance with a data distribution scheme based on the assigned priority for each of the plurality of different data types, including the radio communication data, and the monitored link qualities, including;

route the radio communication data over a first communication device included in the subset of communication devices;

route the other type of data over a second communication device included in the subset of communication devices; and

refrain from routing accessed data over any non-selected communication devices.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein instructions configured to cause the processor to access data associated with one or more components co-located at a remotely operated aerial vehicle comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to accessing at least one of:

power data, engine data, and environmental data associated with operation of the remotely operated aerial vehicle.