BASE STATION CONTROL FOR AN UNOCCUPIED FLYING VEHICLE (UFV)

• US 20140172193A1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Lord, Richard T., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,567,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example embodiments for base station control for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV). For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a base station, may: (i) obtain at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first UFV; or (ii) transmit to a second UFV at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.

Claims

1. A method for hazard handling for a base station, the method being at least partially implemented by at least one machine, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV); and

transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV.

2-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A base station for hazard handling, the base station comprising:

circuitry for obtaining at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV); and

circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV.

29. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for obtaining at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry for obtaining the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV, the first UFV being at least partially responsive to one or more flight control commands received from the base station.

30. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for obtaining at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry for obtaining the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV, the first UFV being unresponsive to flight control commands originating from the base station.

31. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for obtaining at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry for receiving from the first UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV.

32. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for obtaining at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry for determining the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV based at least partially on one or more values.

33. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV, the base station having at least partial flight control authority over the first UFV but not over the second UFV.

34. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV, the base station having at least partial flight control authority over the second UFV but not over the first UFV.

35. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight characteristic corresponding to the first UFV, the at least one flight characteristic representative of at least one flight attribute that is changeable by the first UFV to adjust a flight path of the first UFV.

36. The base station of claim 35, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight characteristic corresponding to the first UFV, the at least one flight characteristic representative of at least one flight attribute that is changeable by the first UFV to adjust a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of a position of the first UFV.

37. The base station of claim 35, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight characteristic corresponding to the first UFV, the at least one flight characteristic representative of at least one flight attribute that is changeable by the first UFV to adjust a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of an altitude of the first UFV.

38. The base station of claim 35, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight characteristic corresponding to the first UFV, the at least one flight characteristic representative of at least one flight attribute that is changeable by the first UFV to adjust a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of an expected future flight characteristic of the first UFV.

39. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV via at least one internet linkage.

40. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV via another base station.

41. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight capability of the first UFV, the at least one flight capability representative of a degree to which the first UFV is capable of adjusting a flight path of the first UFV.

42. The base station of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight capability of the first UFV, the at least one flight capability representative of a degree to which the first UFV is capable of adjusting a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of an acceleration identified in a specification corresponding to the first UFV.

43. The base station of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight capability of the first UFV, the at least one flight capability representative of a degree to which the first UFV is capable of adjusting a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of a maximum recommended speed corresponding to the first UFV.

44. The base station of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight capability of the first UFV, the at least one flight capability representative of a degree to which the first UFV is capable of adjusting a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of a turning ability corresponding to the first UFV.

45. The base station of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight capability of the first UFV, the at least one flight capability representative of a degree to which the first UFV is capable of adjusting a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of a hovering ability corresponding to the first UFV.

46. The base station of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of at least one flight capability of the first UFV, the at least one flight capability representative of a degree to which the first UFV is capable of adjusting a flight path of the first UFV, comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of a maneuverability quality corresponding to the first UFV.

47. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV responsive at least partially to receipt from the second UFV of at least one flight attribute inquiry.

48. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV responsive at least partially to receipt from the second UFV of at least one negotiation request for a flight path adjustment.

49. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV responsive at least partially to at least a portion of at least one flight attribute update procedure that includes at least one plan for imparting one or more flight characteristics.

50. The base station of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV responsive at least partially to at least a portion of at least one flight attribute announcement procedure that includes at least one plan for imparting one or more flight capabilities.

51. The base station of claim 28, further comprising:

circuitry for transmitting to the first UFV a flight control command to adjust a flight path corresponding to the first UFV, the flight control command based at least partially on at least one flight attribute indicator received from and corresponding to the second UFV.

52. The base station of claim 28, further comprising:

circuitry for negotiating with the second UFV for at least one flight path adjustment.

53. The base station of claim 52, wherein the circuitry for negotiating with the second UFV for at least one flight path adjustment comprises:

circuitry for transmitting to the second UFV an offer to make at least one adjustment to a flight path corresponding to the first UFV.

54. The base station of claim 52, wherein the circuitry for negotiating with the second UFV for at least one flight path adjustment comprises:

circuitry for receiving from the second UFV a request to make at least one adjustment to a flight path corresponding to the first UFV, with the request associated with a reference to a previous offer by the base station to make a flight path adjustment corresponding to the first UFV and with the request differing from the previous offer.

55. A system for hazard handling for at least one unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV), the system comprising:

means for obtaining at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first UFV; and

means for transmitting to a second UFV the at least one indicator of the at least one flight attribute corresponding to the first UFV.

56-81. -81. (canceled)