UNMANNED DEVICE INTERACTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20140022051A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US13/601,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20140022051A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/005 by providing the operator with signals other than visual, e.g. acoustic, haptic
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to participate in the performance of tasks, for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance, or for facilitating other interactions with such devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more articles of manufacture including

circuitry for obtaining a descriptor of a first entity operating a first unmanned aerial device;

circuitry for obtaining an operatorship criterion; and

circuitry for signaling a decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering a particular region as an automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.

2-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A system comprising:

one or more articles of manufacture including

means for obtaining a descriptor of a first entity operating a first unmanned aerial device;

means for obtaining an operatorship criterion; and

means for signaling a decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering a particular region as an automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.

32. The system of claim 31 in which the means for signaling a decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering a particular region as an automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device comprises:

means for signaling a decision whether or not to allow an actuator to obstruct a portal at a boundary of the particular region partly based on an indication of an identity of the first unmanned aerial device and partly based on an operatorship criterion having been applied to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the actuator including at least one of a door or a window.

34. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a handheld device, including the means for obtaining the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device and including the means for obtaining the operatorship criterion and including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.

35. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a wearable device, including the means for obtaining the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device and including the means for obtaining the operatorship criterion and including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.

37. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including one or more propellers and including the circuitry for obtaining the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device and including the circuitry for obtaining the operatorship criterion and including the circuitry for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.

40. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for configuring the second unmanned aerial device to capture normalcy-indicative data relating to a second entity, the second entity being a human subject.

41. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for causing the second unmanned aerial device to undertake a performance observation task of a job that includes a performance task and the performance observation task.

42. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for configuring the second unmanned aerial device to transmit a wireless signal indicative of having performed a particular task and not to store any indication of having performed the particular task.

43. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a delivery of a package to a device associated with a recipient of the package, the wireless signal indicating at least one of the second unmanned aerial device or the package or a sender of the package.

45. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for signaling a decision whether or not to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with a specific device or with a specific person.

46. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for responding to an indication of the second unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of the first unmanned aerial device.

47. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for presenting navigation guidance via a display aboard the second unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the second unmanned aerial device is not moving the second unmanned aerial device.

48. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for transmitting navigation guidance via a speaker of the second unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the second unmanned aerial device is not moving the second unmanned aerial device.

49. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for identifying an operating mode of the second unmanned aerial device audibly or visibly while a primary motor of the second unmanned aerial device is not moving the second unmanned aerial device.

50. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for causing a modular observation unit to be lifted and activated within at most about an hour of the modular observation unit becoming part of the second unmanned aerial device.

51. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for signaling a decision whether or not to configure the second unmanned aerial device to continue observing a first person responsive to a prior observation of the first person.

52. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for causing a third unmanned aerial device to capture delivery data relating to the second unmanned aerial device.

53. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for configuring the second unmanned aerial device not to be equipped with any light sensors.

55. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for causing the second unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a single dose of a therapeutic material to a human hand within one minute of an image capture of a portion of the human hand.

56. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for causing the second unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular object to a human recipient contemporaneously with an image capture of a portion of the human recipient.

57. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for determining whether or not an operator of the second unmanned aerial device has indicated a tracking mode of the second unmanned aerial device.

59. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device; and

means for causing the second unmanned aerial device to fly toward a home station in response to an indication of a specific person moving at least a threshold distance away from the second unmanned aerial device.

60. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for responding to a determination of whether or not a received signal expresses a first name of the second unmanned aerial device and whether or not the received signal expresses a second name of the second unmanned aerial device.

67. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a delivery of a package to a device associated with a recipient of the package, the wireless signal indicating at least one of the second unmanned aerial device or the package or a sender of the package, the second unmanned aerial device being a handheld device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for presenting navigation guidance via a display aboard the second unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the second unmanned aerial device is not moving the second unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for responding to an indication of the second unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of the first unmanned aerial device, the second unmanned aerial device including means for responding to a determination of whether or not a received signal expresses a first name of the second unmanned aerial device and whether or not the received signal expresses a second name of the second unmanned aerial device;

means for causing the second unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a single dose of a therapeutic material to a human hand within one minute of an image capture of a portion of the human hand; and

means for causing a third unmanned aerial device to capture delivery data relating to the second unmanned aerial device.

68. The system of claim 31 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a second unmanned aerial device including the means for signaling the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device;

means for configuring the second unmanned aerial device to transmit a wireless signal indicative of having performed a particular task and not to store any indication of having performed the particular task;

means for configuring the second unmanned aerial device not to be equipped with any light sensors;

means for causing the second unmanned aerial device to fly toward a home station in response to an indication of a specific person moving at least a threshold distance away from the second unmanned aerial device;

means for causing a data handling device aboard the second unmanned aerial device to contain a task schedule indicating a first future delivery of a first object to a first destination and a second future delivery of a second object to a second destination;

means for signaling a decision whether or not to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with a specific device or with the specific person; and

means for configuring the second unmanned aerial device to capture normalcy-indicative data relating to a second entity, the second entity being the specific person.

33. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

38-39. -39. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

58. (canceled)

61. A method comprising:

obtaining a descriptor of a first entity operating a first unmanned aerial device;

obtaining an operatorship criterion; and

invoking circuitry configured for signaling a decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering a particular region as an automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

configuring a second unmanned aerial device to perform a first observation of the first unmanned aerial device in a first zone and a third unmanned aerial device to perform a second observation of the first unmanned aerial device in a second zone, the second zone including the particular region.

63-64. -64. (canceled)

65. An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more physical media bearing a device-detectable outcome indicating an occurrence of

obtaining a descriptor of a first entity operating a first unmanned aerial device;

obtaining an operatorship criterion; and

signaling a decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering a particular region as an automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.

66. The article of manufacture of claim 65 in which a portion of the one or more physical media comprises:

an actuator manifesting the decision whether or not to impede the first unmanned aerial device entering the particular region as the automatic and conditional result of applying the operatorship criterion to the descriptor of the first entity operating the first unmanned aerial device.