AUTHENTICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING FLIGHT REGULATIONS

• US 20160292696A1
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Gong, Ming, Dai, Jin, Cui, Hao, Wang, Xiaodong, Huang, Han, Wu, Jun, Fan, Wei, Ma, Ning, Rong, Xinhua, Lin, Xingsen
• Granted Patent: US 9,805,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B64U 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/226 Communication links with the remote-control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 : Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 : for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 : in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 : for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 : for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 : for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 : for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

Claims

1. A system for supporting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) regulation, said system comprising one or more processors configured to individually or collectively:

obtain user information, wherein the user is an owner and/or an operator of a UAV;

associate a user identifier with corresponding user information, wherein the user identifier uniquely identifies the user; and

associate the user identifier with the UAV to permit the user to operate the UAV.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is registered as the owner and/or operator of the UAV when the user purchases or receives the UAV.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identifier permits only the user to operate the UAV and/or the user to operate only the UAV.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identifier permits the user to operate one or more other UAVs.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user information comprises a name and address of the user.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory, said memory comprising one or more registration databases configured to individually or collectively store the user information and the user identifier.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more registration databases are owned, operated, or accessed by a control entity.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control entity is a government agency, an operator authorized by the government agency, a manufacturer of the UAV, or a distributor of the UAV.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is permitted to operate the UAV upon authenticating the user identifier and/or one or more authentication keys.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more registration databases are located off-board the UAV.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the user information is obtained and associated with the user identifier via a process implemented with aid of the one or more processors.

12. A system for supporting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) regulation, said system comprising one or more processors configured to individually or collectively:

obtain UAV information for a UAV that is owned or to be operated by a user; and

associate a UAV identifier with corresponding UAV information, wherein the UAV identifier uniquely identifies the UAV, and

wherein the UAV identifier is required to permit the user to operate the UAV.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV identifier is stored in a memory on-board the UAV.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV identifier is an alphanumeric string.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the UAV identifier is marked onto the UAV.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV identifier is issued prior to or concurrently with the manufacture of the UAV, and/or prior to sale or distribution of the UAV.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV identifier is received from a user input of the UAV information, and wherein said UAV information comprises a unique serial number of the UAV.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV identifier permits one or more other users to operate the UAV.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV information is indicative of physical characteristics of the UAV.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV information comprises one or more of the following parameters:

UAV type, configuration, model, shape, size, engine or motor power, flight range, battery life, type of sensors, performance capabilities, type of payload, payload ratings, capacity level, security level, missions, and mass or weight of the UAV.

21. The system of claim 12, further comprising a memory, said memory comprising one or more registration databases configured to individually or collectively store the UAV information and the UAV identifier.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more registration databases are owned, operated, or accessed by a control entity.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the control entity is a government agency, an operator authorized by a government agency, a manufacturer of the UAV, and/or a distributor of the UAV.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the UAV information is provided to the control entity prior to sale or manufacture of the UAV.

25. The system of claim 12, wherein the user is permitted to operate the UAV upon authenticating the UAV identifier and/or one or more authentication keys.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more registration databases are located off-board the UAV.

27. The system of claim 12, wherein the UAV information is obtained and associated with the UAV identifier via a process implemented with aid of the one or more processors.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the process is performed by a smart phone application and/or a web-based application, and wherein the UAV identifier is based on an input that the user provides to the smart phone application and/or the web-based application.

29. A method for supporting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) regulation, said method comprising:

obtaining user information, wherein the user is an owner or operator of a UAV;

associating a user identifier with corresponding user information, wherein the user identifier uniquely identifies the user; and

associating the user identifier with the UAV to permit the user to operate the UAV.

30. A method for supporting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) regulation, said method comprising:

obtaining UAV information for a UAV that is owned or to be operated by a user; and

associating a UAV identifier with corresponding UAV information, wherein the UAV identifier uniquely identifies the UAV, and wherein the UAV identifier is required to permit the user to operate the UAV.