Drone based systems and methodologies for capturing images

• US 10,640,208 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PicPocket-Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PicPocket-Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Gauglitz, Wolfram K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R
• Application Number:
  US15/537,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20180265194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A method is provided for sending a drone to a user on request. The method includes providing software, an instance of which is installed on a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with a user and is equipped with a tangible, non-transient medium having an instance of the software installed therein. The software contains suitable programming instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of (a) displaying, on a display associated with the mobile technology platform, a graphical user interface (GUI) having a user selectable object displayed thereon, (b) determining when the user selectable object has been selected by a user, and (c) when the user selectable object has been selected by the user, (i) determining the current location of the user via the location awareness functionality, and (ii) transmitting a request for a drone, wherein the request includes the determined current location of the user. The method further includes receiving, from one of the plurality of mobile technology platforms, a transmitted request for a drone, and dispatching a drone, from a fleet of drones, to fly over the determined current location of the user set forth in the request.

Claims

1. A method for sending a drone to a target location on request, comprising:

providing software, an instance of which is installed on a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with a user and is equipped with a tangible, non-transient medium having an instance of the software installed therein, and wherein the software contains suitable programming instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of;

(a) displaying, on a display associated with the mobile technology platform, a graphical user interface (GUI) having a user selectable object displayed thereon,

(b) determining when the user selectable object has been selected by the user, and

(c) when the user selectable object has been selected by the user, (i) obtaining the target location for the drone, and (ii) transmitting a request for the drone, wherein the request includes the target location;

receiving, from one of the plurality of mobile technology platforms, the transmitted request for the drone;

dispatching the drone to fly to the target location specified in the request; and

capturing digital media from the target location using a device disposed on the drone;

wherein at least one of a user'"'"'s ability to at least partially control a flight path of the drone or capturing digital media by the drone is based on a location of the drone relative to a geofence associated with the target location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the target location for the drone in comprises querying the user for the target location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media includes at least one digital image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media includes at least one digital video.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media includes at least one audio file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, upon entering the geofence, the software allows the user to assume at least partial control over the capture of digital media by the drone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, upon entering the geofence associated with the target location, the software allows the user to assume at least partial control over the capture of digital media by the drone while the drone is within the geofence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the target location for the drone comprises obtaining the current location of the user, and specifying the current location of the user as the target location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile technology platform associated with the user has location awareness capabilities, and wherein the location of the mobile technology platform at the time the request is transmitted is specified as the target location.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein, upon entering the geofence, the software allows the user to assume at least partial control over the flight path of the drone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the GUI includes a flight control panel that allows the user to input flight control commands from the mobile technology platform to the drone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the drone is equipped with a database of allowable commands, and wherein any flight control command input by the user which is not an allowable command is disregarded by the drone.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said flight control commands include commands which specify a portion of the flight path to be taken by the drone during digital media capture.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the GUI includes a digital media control panel that allows the user to input digital media capture control commands from the mobile technology platform to the drone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said digital media capture control commands include commands which specify a type of digital media to be captured by the drone.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said digital media capture control commands include commands which specify when digital media is to be captured by the drone.

17. A method for requesting digital media capture by a drone, comprising:

obtaining a mobile technology platform equipped with a display and having a tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium with an instance of a software program installed therein, wherein the software program contains suitable programming instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of;

(a) displaying, on the display, a graphical user interface (GUI) having a user selectable object displayed thereon, wherein the GUI includes a digital media control panel that allows the user to input digital media capture control commands from the mobile technology platform to the drone,

(b) determining when the user selectable object has been selected by the user, and

(c) when the user selectable object has been selected by the user, (i) obtaining a target location from the user or the mobile technology platform associated with the user, and (ii) transmitting a request for the drone, wherein the request includes the target location;

selecting the selectable object; and

inputting digital media capture control commands into the digital media control panel;

wherein said digital media capture control commands allow the digital media capture to occur within a geofence associated with the target location.

18. A method for sending a drone to a user on request, comprising:

providing software, an instance of which is installed on a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with the user and is equipped with a tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium having an instance of the software installed therein, and wherein the software contains suitable programming instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of;

(a) displaying, on a display associated with a mobile technology platform, a graphical user interface (GUI) having a user selectable object displayed thereon,

(b) determining when the user selectable object has been selected by the user, and

(c) when the user selectable object has been selected by the user, (i) obtaining a destination for the drone, and (ii) transmitting a request for the drone, wherein the request includes the destination;

receiving, from one of the plurality of mobile technology platforms, a transmitted request for the drone;

dispatching the drone to fly to the destination specified in the request; and

allowing the user to at least partially control at least one of flight of the drone or capturing of digital media by the drone when the drone is located within a geofence associated with the destination.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein, the destination corresponds to a determined location of the user.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of allowing the user to at least partially control is provided for a predetermined period of time.