Cellular communication network through unmanned aerial vehicle cellular communication links

• US 9,313,667 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Daoura, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Ashish K
• Application Number:
  US14/573,804
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A cellular communication network utilizes cellular communication receivers and cellular communication transmitters in a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles that are deployed or flown in a point to point line or mesh like environment enabling a ground to air, air to air and air to ground cellular datalink communications network.

Claims

1. A first unmanned aerial vehicle, the first unmanned aerial vehicle having a first flight control system that controls flight of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the first unmanned aerial vehicle having a first cellular communication signal receiver that receives cellular communication signals, and the first unmanned aerial vehicle having a first cellular communication signal transmitter that transmits cellular communication signals;

a control base, the control base having a control transmitter that transmits control signals to the first flight control system for controlling a flight of the first unmanned aerial vehicle;

a cellular communication base, the cellular communication base having a cellular communication receiver that receives cellular communication signals and a cellular communication transmitter that transmits cellular communication signals to the first unmanned aerial vehicle that are received by the first cellular communication signal receiver of the first unmanned aerial vehicle and are relayed by the first unmanned aerial vehicle by being transmitted as a cellular communication signal from the first cellular communication signal transmitter; and

,

a second unmanned aerial vehicle, the second unmanned aerial vehicle having a second cellular communication signal receiver that receives the cellular communication signal transmitted from the first cellular communication signal transmitter, and the second unmanned aerial vehicle having a second cellular communication signal transmitter that transmits cellular communication signals received from the first cellular communication signal transmitter.

2. The communication network of claim 1, further comprising:

the second unmanned aerial vehicle having a second flight control system with pre-programmed control signals that autonomously control flight of the second unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The communication network of claim 1, further comprising:

the cellular communication base being mobile.

4. The communication network of claim 3, further comprising:

the cellular communication base being handheld.

5. The communication network of claim 1, further comprising:

the cellular communication base being stationary.

6. The communication network of claim 5, further comprising:

the cellular communication base being a cell site.

7. A communication network comprising:

a control base, the control base having a control transmitter that transmits control signals for controlling a flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle, the control transmitter transmitting the control signals a set distance from the control base;

a first cellular communication base, the first cellular communication base having a cellular communication receiver that receives cellular communication signals and a cellular communication transmitter that transmits cellular communication signals;

a first unmanned aerial vehicle, the first unmanned aerial vehicle having a flight control system that controls flight of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a control signal receiver that receives control signals transmitted by the control transmitter within the set distance from the control base whereby the control base controls flight of the first unmanned aerial vehicle within the set distance from the control base, the first unmanned aerial vehicle having a first cellular communication signal receiver that receives cellular communication signals transmitted by the cellular communication base and the first unmanned aerial vehicle having a first cellular communication signal transmitter that transmits cellular communication signals received from the cellular communication base; and

,

a second unmanned aerial vehicle, the second unmanned aerial vehicle having a second cellular communication signal receiver that receives cellular communication signals transmitted by the first cellular communication signal transmitter, and the second unmanned aerial vehicle having a second cellular communication signal transmitter that transmits cellular communication signals received from the first cellular communication signal transmitter.

8. The communication network of claim 7, further comprising:

a third unmanned aerial vehicle, the third unmanned aerial vehicle having a third cellular communication receiver that receives cellular communication signals transmitted by the second cellular communication signal transmitter, and the third unmanned aerial vehicle having a third cellular communication signal transmitter that transmits cellular communication signals received from the second cellular communication signal transmitter.

9. The communication network of claim 7, further comprising:

the second unmanned aerial vehicle having a second flight control system with pre-programmed control signals that autonomously control flight of the second unmanned aerial vehicle beyond the set distance from the control base.

10. The communication network of claim 7, further comprising:

a manned aerial vehicle, the manned aerial vehicle having a cellular communication receiver that receives cellular communication signals transmitted from at least one of the first cellular communication signal transmitter and the second communication signal transmitter.

11. The network of claim 7, further comprising:

the first cellular communication base being mobile.

12. The communication network of claim 11, further comprising:

the first cellular communication base being a handheld cellular telephone.

13. The communication network of claim 7, further comprising:

the first cellular communication base being stationary.

14. The communication network of claim 13, further comprising:

the first cellular communication base being on a cellular tower.

15. The communication network of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one of the first unmanned aerial vehicle and the second unmanned aerial vehicle having an optical sensor.

16. The communication network of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one of the first unmanned aerial vehicle and the second unmanned aerial vehicle having a data transmission sensor.

17. A method of relaying a cellular communication signal, the method comprising:

providing a first unmanned aerial vehicle with a first cellular communication signal receiver and a first cellular communication signal transmitter;

providing a second unmanned aerial vehicle with a second cellular communication signal receiver and a second cellular communication signal transmitter;

controlling a flight of the first unmanned aerial vehicle from a control base where the flight of the first unmanned aerial vehicle is within a set distance from the control base;

controlling a flight of the second unmanned aerial vehicle beyond the set distance of the control base;

transmitting a cellular communication signal from a cellular communication base to the first cellular communication receiver; and

,

relaying the cellular communication signal by transmitting the cellular communication signal from the first cellular communication signal transmitter to the second cellular communication signal receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting the cellular communication signal from the cellular communication base that is a mobile cellular communication base.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting the cellular communication signal from the cellular communication base that is a stationary cell site.