SECURE COMMUNICATIONS WITH UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

• US 20160300495A1
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: KANTOR, Igor, SRIVASTAVA, Ashok N., PASKO, Douglas M., BATLA, Hani, UBHI, Gurpreet
• Granted Patent: US 9,542,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• 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 5/0056 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 5/0082 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: G08G 5/0095 Aspects of air-traffic control not provided for in the other subgroups of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses

Abstract

A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location, and determines, based on credentials of the UAV, whether the UAV is authenticated for utilizing the device. The device determines, when the UAV is authenticated, capability information for the UAV based on component information of the UAV, and calculates the flight path. The device determines whether the UAV is capable of traversing the flight path based on the capability information, and generates, when the UAV is capable of traversing the flight path, flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides the flight path instructions and credentials of the device to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location when the UAV authenticates the device based on the credentials of the device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device, a request for a flight path for an unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from a first geographical location to a second geographical location in a region,

the request including credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle and component information associated with components of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determining, by the device and based on the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, whether the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated for utilizing the device;

determining, by the device and when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, a flight time for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the component information;

calculating, by the device, the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location;

determining, by the device, whether the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of traversing the flight path based on the flight time;

generating, by the device and when the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of traversing the flight path, flight path instructions for the flight path; and

providing, by the device, the flight path instructions and credentials associated with the device to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to;

authenticate the device based on the credentials associated with the device, and

travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the flight path instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

denying the request for the flight path when at least one of;

the unmanned aerial vehicle is not authenticated for utilizing the device, or

the unmanned aerial vehicle is incapable of traversing the flight path; and

providing, based on denying the request for the flight path, a message indicating that the request for the flight path is denied.

3. The method of claim 1, where the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle include at least one of:

an identification number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a model number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a serial number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a private encryption key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a public encryption key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a certificate associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

an identifier of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, or

a government registration number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, where the credentials associated with the device include at least one of:

a private encryption key associated with the device,

a public encryption key associated with the device,

a certificate associated with the device,

an identification number associated with the device,

an Internet protocol (IP) address associated with the device,

a media access control (MAC) address associated with the device, or

a password associated with the device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving feedback, and the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determining whether the feedback is authenticated based on the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

determining, when the feedback is authenticated, whether to modify the flight path based on the feedback received from the unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

calculating, when the flight path is to be modified, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback;

generating modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path; and

providing the modified flight path instructions, and the credentials associated with the device, to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to;

authenticate the device based on the credentials associated with the device, and

travel to the second geographical location based on the modified flight path instructions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle and a notification indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle arrived at the second geographical location; and

determining whether the notification is authenticated based on the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more devices to;

receive a request for a flight path for an unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from a first geographical location to a second geographical location in a region,

the request including credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determine, based on the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, whether the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated for utilizing the system;

determine, when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, a flight time for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, or regulatory information associated with the region;

determine whether the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of traversing the flight path based on the flight time;

generate, when the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of traversing the flight path, flight path instructions for the flight path; and

provide the flight path instructions and credentials associated with the system to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to one of;

reject the flight path instructions when the unmanned aerial vehicle fails to authenticate the system based on the credentials associated with the system, or

accept the flight path instructions and travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the flight path instructions, when the unmanned aerial vehicle authenticates the system based on the credentials associated with the system.

9. The system of claim 8, where the one or more devices are further to:

deny the request for the flight path when at least one of;

the unmanned aerial vehicle is not authenticated for utilizing the system, or

the unmanned aerial vehicle is incapable of traversing the flight path; and

provide, based on denying the request for the flight path, a message indicating that the request for the flight path is denied.

10. The system of claim 8, where the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle include at least one of:

an identification number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a model number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a serial number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a private encryption key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a public encryption key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a certificate associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

an identifier of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, or

a government registration number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8, where the credentials associated with the system include at least one of:

a private encryption key associated with the system,

a public encryption key associated with the system,

a certificate associated with the system,

an identification number associated with the system,

an Internet protocol (IP) address associated with the system,

a media access control (MAC) address associated with the system, or

a password associated with the system.

12. The system of claim 8, where the one or more devices are further to:

receive feedback, and the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determine whether the feedback is authenticated based on the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

determine, when the feedback is authenticated, whether to modify the flight path based on the feedback received from the unmanned aerial vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, where the one or more devices are further to:

calculate, when the flight path is to be modified, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback;

generate modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path; and

provide the modified flight path instructions, and the credentials associated with the system, to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to;

authenticate the system based on the credentials associated with the system, and

travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the modified flight path instructions.

14. The system of claim 8, where the one or more devices are further to:

receive the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle and a notification indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle arrived at the second geographical location; and

determine whether the notification is authenticated based on the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

15. A computer-readable medium for storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to;

receive a request for a flight path for an unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from a first geographical location to a second geographical location;

determine, based on credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, whether the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated for utilizing the device;

determine, when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, a flight time for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location;

determine whether the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of traversing the flight path based on the flight time;

generate, when the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of traversing the flight path, flight path instructions for the flight path; and

provide the flight path instructions and credentials associated with the device to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to one of;

reject the flight path instructions when the unmanned aerial vehicle fails to authenticate the device based on the credentials associated with the device, or

accept the flight path instructions and travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the flight path instructions, when the unmanned aerial vehicle authenticates the device based on the credentials associated with the device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the instructions further comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

deny the request for the flight path when at least one of;

the unmanned aerial vehicle is not authenticated for utilizing the device, or

the unmanned aerial vehicle is incapable of traversing the flight path; and

provide, based on denying the request for the flight path, a message indicating that the request for the flight path is denied.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle include at least one of:

an identification number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a model number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a serial number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a private encryption key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a public encryption key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

a certificate associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

an identifier of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, or

a government registration number associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the credentials associated with the device include at least one of:

a private encryption key associated with the device,

a public encryption key associated with the device,

a certificate associated with the device,

an identification number associated with the device,

an Internet protocol (IP) address associated with the device,

a media access control (MAC) address associated with the device, or

a password associated with the device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the instructions further comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive feedback, and the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determine whether the feedback is authenticated based on the credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

determine, when the feedback is authenticated, whether to modify the flight path based on the feedback received from the unmanned aerial vehicle.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, where the instructions further comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

calculate, when the flight path is to be modified, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback;

generate modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path; and

provide the modified flight path instructions, and the credentials associated with the device, to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to;

authenticate the device based on the credentials associated with the device, and travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the flight path instructions.