Unmanned device utilization methods and systems

• US 9,044,543 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US13/551,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/11, 701/23, 701/124, 701/2, 701/24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/26 for manufacturing, inspections or repairs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• 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 50/32 generated by fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/00 Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/76 Arrangements for rearranging, permuting or selecting data according to predetermined rules, independently of the content of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to perform a task, alone or in combination with other entities, or for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a tracking mode of a delivery task of a first unmanned aerial device; and

invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit a record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as an automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task includes at least;

invoking circuitry configured to respond to an indication of the first unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of a mobile device by deciding whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task, the indication of the first unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of a mobile device including an indication of the first unmanned aerial device being at a distance detectable by the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to perform a first observation of a particular task in a first zone and a second unmanned aerial device to perform a second observation of the particular task in a second zone, the particular task being the delivery task, the first zone and the second zone sharing a common boundary.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to capture normalcy-indicative data relating to a human subject as a component of the delivery task.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to capture normalcy-indicative data relating to a human subject as a component of the delivery task, at least some of the normalcy-indicative data being indicative of a speech rate or a movement rate of the human subject.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to undertake a performance observation task of a job that includes a performance task and the performance observation task, the performance task being the delivery task.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task comprises:

invoking circuitry configured to signal a decision whether or not to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with the first unmanned aerial device or with a specific person, the decision being an affirmative decision to reserve the specific resource, the specific resource including at least one of a space or a material.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to configure the first unmanned aerial device to continue observing a first person responsive to a prior observation of the first person.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining a tracking mode of a delivery task of a first unmanned aerial device;

invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit a record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as an automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task; and

invoking circuitry configured to cause a data handling device aboard the first 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, the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device including the first future delivery of the first object to the first destination, the data handling device aboard the first unmanned aerial device comprising at least one of a disk drive or a volatile memory.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to transmit 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 first unmanned aerial device or the package or a sender of the package, the delivery task including the delivery of the package to the recipient of the package.

10. The method of claim 8 in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task comprises:

invoking circuitry configured to signal a decision whether or not to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with the first unmanned aerial device or with a specific person.

11. The method of claim 8 in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task comprises:

invoking circuitry configured to signal a decision whether or not to configure the first unmanned aerial device to continue observing a first person responsive to a prior observation of the first person, the prior observation of the first person having resulted from the first unmanned aerial device participating in the delivery task.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

including circuitry configured to respond to a determination of whether or not a received signal expresses a first name of the first unmanned aerial device and whether or not the received signal expresses a second name of the first unmanned aerial device in the first unmanned aerial device.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

including circuitry configured to obtain the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device and including the circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task in a handheld device.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to perform a first observation of a particular task in a first zone and a second unmanned aerial device to perform a second observation of the particular task in a second zone, the particular task being the delivery task, the first zone and the second zone sharing a common boundary.

15. The method of claim 8 in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task comprises:

invoking circuitry configured to cause a modular observation unit to be lifted and activated within at most an hour of the modular observation unit becoming part of the first unmanned aerial device.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to capture normalcy-indicative data relating to a human subject as a component of the delivery task.

17. A method comprising:

obtaining a tracking mode of a delivery task of a first unmanned aerial device; and

invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit a record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as an automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task includes at least;

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular material to a vicinity of a portable device within one minute of an image capture of the vicinity of the portable device, the delivery task including the delivery of the particular material to the vicinity of the portable device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to perform a first observation of a particular task in a first zone and a second unmanned aerial device to perform a second observation of the particular task in a second zone, the particular task being the delivery task.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to transmit navigation guidance via a speaker of the first unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the first unmanned aerial device is not moving the first unmanned aerial device.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device not to be equipped with any light sensors by triggering a a releasable mechanical linkage coupled therewith to release a data handling unit that includes at least one light sensor.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause a volatile memory aboard the first 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, the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device including the first future delivery of the first object to the first destination.

22. The method of claim 17 in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task comprises:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first 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, the delivery task including the delivery of the particular object to the human recipient.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configure to decide whether or not to configure the first unmanned aerial device to continue observing a first person responsive to a prior observation of the first person.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause a data handling device aboard the first 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, the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device including the first future delivery of the first object to the first destination, the data handling device aboard the first unmanned aerial device comprising at least one of a disk drive or a volatile memory.

25. A method comprising:

obtaining a tracking mode of a delivery task of a first unmanned aerial device; and

invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit a record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as an automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task includes at least;

invoking circuitry configured to cause a modular observation unit to be lifted and activated within at most an hour of the modular observation unit becoming part of the first unmanned aerial device.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to present navigation guidance via a display aboard the first unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the first unmanned aerial device is not moving the first unmanned aerial device.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to determine whether or not an operator of the first unmanned aerial device has indicated a tracking mode of the first unmanned aerial device, the tracking mode of the first unmanned aerial device being the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device.

28. The method of claim 25 in which the invoking circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording the indication of the completion of the delivery task comprises:

invoking circuitry configured to respond to an indication of the first unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of a mobile device by deciding whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first 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 first unmanned aerial device.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

including both circuitry for obtaining the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device and the circuitry configured to decide whether or not to omit the record of the first unmanned aerial device completing the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device as the automatic and conditional response to whether or not the tracking mode of the delivery task of the first unmanned aerial device disables recording an indication of a completion of the delivery task in a wearable device.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

invoking circuitry configured to cause the first unmanned aerial device to undertake a performance observation task of a job that includes a performance task and the performance observation task, the performance task being the delivery task.