Systems and methods for restricting drone airspace access

• US 9,552,736 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Taveira, Michael Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweeney, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US14/608,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20160225264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/485 whereby the further system is an optical system or imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/011 Identifying the radio environment
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• 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 5/006 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: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices are disclosed for providing access to a restricted area for a drone by a beacon device. Beacon signals including access information associated with access for the restricted area may be transmitted by the beacon device. The beacon device may receive one or more access parameters for the drone. The beacon device may compare the received one or more access parameters for the drone to the access information for the restricted area. The beacon device may determine clearance for the drone to access the restricted area based on comparing the one or more access parameter for the drone and the access information.

Claims

1. A method for providing access for a drone to an area of restricted air space (“

restricted area”

) by a beacon device, comprising;

transmitting, by the beacon device, beacon signals including access information associated with the drone accessing the restricted area;

receiving, by the beacon device, one or more access parameters associated with the drone;

determining, by the beacon device, a clearance for the drone to access the restricted area based on comparing the received one or more access parameters associated with the drone and the access information transmitted in the beacon signals; and

transmitting a signal from the beacon device to the drone indicating the determined clearance for accessing the restricted area, comprises;

transmitting an access approved notification from the beacon device to the drone when the determined clearance permits the drone access to the restricted area; and

transmitting an access denied notification from the beacon device to the drone when the determined clearance does not permit the drone access to the restricted area, wherein the access denied notification includes information for the drone to take a corrective action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting, by the beacon device, beacon signals including access information associated with the drone accessing the restricted area comprises receiving, by the beacon device from a server, at least the access information associated with the restricted area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by the beacon device, one or more access parameters associated with the drone comprises receiving, by the beacon device, at least the one or more access parameters from a server associated with the drone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information for the drone to take the corrective action comprises at least one of:

an instruction to land in or move to a designated area;

an instruction to proceed along a designated flight path to avoid the restricted area;

an instruction to return to a designated location;

an instruction to prevent takeoff;

an instruction to revert control of the drone to a third party;

an instruction to restrict usage of the drone while in the restricted area;

or an instruction to wait for a period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the beacon signals define a boundary profile of the restricted area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the access information comprises additional information including one or more of:

boundary information;

time-based access restriction information;

restriction level information;

suggested route information;

suggested corrective action information;

suggested alternative route information;

use restriction information;

or toll payment information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the beacon device, the clearance for the drone to access the restricted area based on comparing the received one or more access parameters for the drone and the access information transmitted in the beacon signals comprises:

receiving, by the beacon device, toll payment information from the drone; and

processing, by the beacon device, the toll payment information,

wherein transmitting the signal from the beacon device to the drone indicating the determined clearance for accessing the restricted area comprises transmitting a signal from the beacon device to the drone permitting access to the restricted area in response to successful processing of a toll payment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein processing, by the beacon device, the toll payment information comprises:

forwarding, by the beacon device, the toll payment information to a server; and

receiving, by the beacon device from the server, a processing result of the toll payment information processing performed in the server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access parameters associated with the drone comprises at least one of a drone access level, a drone toll payment, a drone identification, a drone authentication, or a drone capability.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the access information comprises conditional access restrictions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the conditional access restrictions comprise at least one of:

a drone access level restriction;

a drone toll payment restriction;

a time-based restriction;

a drone identification restriction;

a drone authentication restriction;

a drone use restriction;

a drone speed restriction;

or a drone altitude restriction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining, by the beacon device, the clearance for the drone to access the restricted area based on comparing the received one or more access parameters associated with the drone and the access information transmitted in the beacon signals comprises determining, by the beacon device, a clearance for the drone to access the restricted area based on comparing a drone access level included in the received one or more access parameters associated with the drone with a drone access level restriction included in the access information; and

transmitting the signal from the beacon device to the drone indicating the determined clearance for accessing the restricted area, comprises;

transmitting an access approved notification from the beacon device to the drone when the determined clearance permits the drone access to the restricted area based on the comparison indicating the drone access level is equal to or higher than the drone access level restriction; and

transmitting an access denied notification from the beacon device to the drone when the determined clearance denies the drone access to the restricted area based on the comparison indicating the drone access level is lower than the drone access level restriction.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access parameters associated with the drone comprise a conditional access level that is based on one or more of a capability of the drone, a qualification of the drone, an identity of an operator of the drone, a qualification of the operator of the drone, an experience level of the operator of the drone, or a maintenance history of the drone.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access parameters associated with the drone comprise a conditional access level that is based on both an access level assigned to the drone and to an access level assigned to an operator of the drone.

15. A method for obtaining access by a drone to an area of restricted air space (“

restricted area”

), comprising;

receiving, by the drone, beacon signals from a beacon device associated with the restricted area, the beacon signals including access information associated with the restricted area;

comparing, by the drone, the received access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone;

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on a result of comparing the received access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone; and

taking corrective action when the received access information does not permit the drone access to the restricted area based on the one or more access parameters for the drone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein comparing, by the drone, the received access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone comprises receiving, from a server associated with the drone, the result of comparing the received access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone performed in the server associated with the drone.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein comparing, by the drone, the received access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone comprises:

comparing a restriction level in the received access information with an access level assigned to the drone;

accessing the restricted area when the access level assigned to the drone is equal to or higher than the restriction level based on comparing the restriction level with the access level assigned to the drone; and

taking corrective action by the drone when the access level assigned to the drone is less than the restriction level based on comparing the restriction level with the access level assigned to the drone.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the corrective action comprises at least one of:

landing in or moving to a designated area;

proceeding along a designated path to avoid the restricted area;

returning to a designated location;

preventing takeoff;

reverting control of the done to a third party;

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area;

or waiting for a period of time.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

receiving, by the drone, beacon signals including access information associated with the restricted area comprises receiving a restriction level in the received access information that is changeable between a first restriction level and a second restriction level; and

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises accessing the restricted area when the restriction level is changed to the first level, and not accessing the restricted area when the restriction level is changed to the second level.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the corrective action comprises at least one of:

landing in or moving to a designated area;

proceeding along a designated path to avoid the restricted area;

returning to a designated location;

preventing takeoff;

reverting control of the done to a third party;

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area;

or waiting for a period of time.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the corrective action comprises returning to a designated location.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone further comprises:

providing, by the drone, toll payment information to one of a server and a beacon device;

receiving, by the drone, a confirmation of a toll payment with the toll payment information from the one of the server and the beacon device; and

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on the received confirmation of the toll payment.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises at least one of:

a drone access level;

a drone toll payment;

a drone identification;

a drone authentication;

or a drone capability.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the access information comprises at least one of:

a restriction level;

a drone toll payment restriction;

a time-based restriction;

a drone identification restriction;

a drone authentication restriction;

a drone use restriction;

a drone speed restriction;

or a drone altitude restriction.

25. A beacon device, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to;

transmit beacon signals including access information associated with a drone accessing a restricted area;

receive one or more access parameters associated with the drone;

determine a clearance for the drone to access the restricted area based on comparing the received one or more access parameters associated with the drone and the transmitted access information; and

transmit a signal to the drone indicating the determined clearance for accessing the restricted area, comprises;

transmit an access approved notification from the beacon device to the drone when the determined clearance permits the drone access to the restricted area; and

transmit an access denied notification from the beacon device to the drone when the determined clearance does not permit the drone access to the restricted area, wherein the access denied notification includes information for the drone to take a corrective action.

26. A drone, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor configured with processor-executable instructions for;

receiving beacon signals from a beacon device associated with the restricted area, the beacon signals including access information associated with the restricted area;

comparing the received access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone;

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on a result of comparing the received access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone, and

taking corrective action when the received access information does not permit access to the restricted area based on the one or more access parameters for the drone.