UAV NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating an unmanned aerial vehicle network, the method being implemented in one or more of a processor configured to execute programmed components, the method comprising:
- broadcasting, at a first unmanned aerial vehicle, a location of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles;
receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a broadcast message from a second unmanned aerial vehicle, the broadcast message indicating a location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle;
storing the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle in in a routing table, the routing table being stored in storage associated with the processor;
receiving information generated at the first unmanned aerial vehicle;
transmitting, through an optical transmitter of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the information to the second unmanned aerial vehicle;
receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, through an optical receiver of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, an optical beam transmitted by a third unmanned aerial vehicle;
generating an instruction for converting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the optical beam into digital data;
determining, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the destination of the digital data is the second unmanned aerial vehicle;
retrieving from the storage the routing table and determining from the routing table the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle; and
transmitting the digital data to the second the second unmanned aerial vehicle based on the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are provided for facilitating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) network. The UAV network in accordance with the disclosure can comprise multiple UAVs, ground processing stations, and/or any other components. A particular UAV in the network can carry payloads consisting of optical image sensors, processing devices, communication systems, and/or any other components. An individual UAV in the network can comprise photovoltaic cells capable of absorbing solar energy. Embodiments are provided for converting the solar energy to electricity for providing power to payloads aboard the UAV and as well as charging a battery aboard the UAV. In certain embodiments, the UAV can fly up to 65,000 feet and can cover as much as 500 km in range. One motivation of the present disclosure is to “outsource” some or entire information processing by an UAV to existing infrastructure, such as the ground processing station.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating an unmanned aerial vehicle network, the method being implemented in one or more of a processor configured to execute programmed components, the method comprising:
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broadcasting, at a first unmanned aerial vehicle, a location of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles; receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a broadcast message from a second unmanned aerial vehicle, the broadcast message indicating a location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle; storing the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle in in a routing table, the routing table being stored in storage associated with the processor; receiving information generated at the first unmanned aerial vehicle; transmitting, through an optical transmitter of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the information to the second unmanned aerial vehicle; receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, through an optical receiver of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, an optical beam transmitted by a third unmanned aerial vehicle; generating an instruction for converting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the optical beam into digital data; determining, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the destination of the digital data is the second unmanned aerial vehicle; retrieving from the storage the routing table and determining from the routing table the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle; and transmitting the digital data to the second the second unmanned aerial vehicle based on the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
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2. (canceled)
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11. A system for facilitating an unmanned aerial vehicle network, the system comprising one or more of a processor configured by machine readable-instructions to perform:
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broadcasting a location of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles; receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a broadcast message from a second unmanned aerial vehicle, the broadcast message indicating a location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle; storing the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle in in a routing table, the routing table being stored in storage associated with the processor; receiving information generated at the first unmanned aerial vehicle; transmitting, through an optical transmitter of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the information to the second unmanned aerial vehicle; receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, through an optical receiver of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, an optical beam transmitted by a second unmanned aerial vehicle; generating an instruction for converting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the optical beam into digital data; determining, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the destination of the digital data is the second unmanned aerial vehicle; retrieving from the storage the routing table and determining from the routing table the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle; and transmitting the digital data to the second unmanned aerial vehicle based on the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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12. (canceled)
Specification