Drone authentication system

• US 10,427,786 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Corp.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson, Dowlatkhah, Sangar, Craine, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Application Number:
  US15/704,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20190077506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

Systems and methods for authenticating a user include monitoring a monitored space for a condition to provide an interaction between a drone and an individual. In response to the condition to provide the interaction between the drone and the individual being satisfied, the drone may obtain a first set of sensor data corresponding to the individual. The first set of sensor data may indicate that the individual requires a service that requires authentication of the individual as a user of the service and that the individual is unable to provide a primary authentication response. The drone may then obtain a second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual unable to provide the primary authentication response. The drone authentication system then determines, based on the second set of sensor data and identity data that the individual corresponds to identity data of a user of the service and performs the service.

Claims

1. A method of authentication, the method comprising:

monitoring a monitored space for a condition to provide an interaction between a drone and an individual;

obtaining, by the drone and in response to the condition to provide the interaction between the drone and the individual being satisfied, a first set of sensor data corresponding to the individual;

determining the individual requires a service, based on the first set of sensor data, that requires authentication of the individual as a user of the service and, in response, determining, based on the first set of sensor data, that the individual is unable to provide a primary authentication response;

obtaining, by the drone, a second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual unable to provide the primary authentication response; and

determining, based on the second set of sensor data and stored identity data, that the individual is a user of the service and, in response, performing the service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual unable to provide the primary authentication response is in response to determining the identity of the individual as a user of the service is known and the service requires authentication of the individual regardless of whether the individual is already identified as a user of the service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

autonomously navigating the drone toward the individual in response to the condition to provide the interaction between the drone and the individual being satisfied; and

initiating an investigate mode of the drone when the drone is within a predetermined range of the individual.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary authentication response is an acoustic credential to be obtained by an acoustic sensor included on the drone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying a biometric sensor, and wherein the second set of sensor data includes sensor data obtained by the biometric sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first set of sensor data does not include sensor data obtained by the biometric sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on image sensor data captured by an image sensor and included in the first set of sensor data, one or more sensors for use in obtaining the second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual.

8. An authentication system for use in a monitored space comprising:

a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least an imaging sensor; and

a drone that includes;

at least one communications interface;

at least one non-transitory memory storing identity data associated with one or more users;

one or more processors coupled to the plurality of sensors, communications interface, and non-transitory memory and configured to execute instructions to cause the authentication system to;

monitor a monitored space for a condition to provide an interaction between a drone and an individual;

obtain, in response to the condition to provide the interaction between the drone and the individual being satisfied, a first set of sensor data corresponding to the individual;

determine the individual requires a service based on the first set of sensor data that requires authentication of the individual as a user of the service and, in response, determine, based on the first set of sensor data, that the individual is unable to provide a primary authentication response;

obtain, by the drone, a second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual unable to provide the primary authentication response; and

determine, based on the second set of sensor data and stored identity data, that the individual is a user of the service and, in response, perform the service.

9. The authentication system of claim 8, wherein the obtaining the second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual unable to provide the primary authentication response is in response to determining the identity of the individual is known and the service requires authentication of the individual regardless of whether the individual is already identified.

10. The authentication system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the authentication system to:

autonomously navigate the drone toward the individual in response to the condition to provide the interaction between the drone and the individual being satisfied; and

initiate an investigate mode of the drone when the drone is within a predetermined range of the individual.

11. The authentication system of claim 8, wherein the primary authentication response is an acoustic credential to be obtained by an acoustic sensor included on the drone.

12. The authentication system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a biometric sensor coupled to the one or more processors, and wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute instructions to cause the authentication system to:

deploy the biometric sensor, and wherein the second set of sensor data includes sensor data obtained by the biometric sensor.

13. The authentication system of claim 12, wherein the first set of sensor data does not include sensor data obtained by the biometric sensor.

14. The authentication system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute instructions to cause the authentication system to:

determine, based on image sensor data captured by an image sensor and included in the first set of sensor data, one or more sensors of plurality of sensors for use in obtaining the second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

monitoring a monitored space for a condition to provide an interaction between a drone and an individual;

obtaining, by the drone and in response to the condition to provide the interaction between the drone and the individual being satisfied, a first set of sensor data corresponding to the individual;

determining the individual requires a service based on the first set of sensor data that requires authentication of the individual as a user of the service and, in response, determining, based on the first set of sensor data, that the individual is unable to provide a primary authentication response;

obtaining, by the drone, a second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual unable to provide the primary authentication response; and

determining, based on the second set of sensor data and stored identity data, that the individual is a user of the service and, in response, performing the service.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the obtaining the second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual unable to provide the primary authentication response is in response to determining the identity of the individual as a user of the service is known and the service requires authentication of the individual regardless of whether the individual is already identified as a user of the service.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

autonomously navigating the drone toward the individual in response to the condition to provide the interaction between the drone and the individual being satisfied; and

initiating an investigate mode of the drone when the drone is within a predetermined range of the individual.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the primary authentication response is an acoustic credential to be obtained by an acoustic sensor included on the drone.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

deploying a biometric sensor, and wherein the second set of sensor data includes sensor data obtained by the biometric sensor.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining, based on image sensor data captured by an image sensor and included in the first set of sensor data, one or more sensors for use in obtaining the second set of sensor data corresponding to the individual.