Unmanned aerial vehicle communication, monitoring, and traffic management

• US 9,576,493 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jarrell Family Trust
• Original Assignee: John A. Jarrell
• Inventors: Jarrell, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US15/070,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20160196751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/06 for indicating aircraft presence
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• 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 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• 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 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle includes transmitting a first message via a communications transmitter of a lighting assembly for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle. The first message includes an identifier associated with the lighting assembly, and the lighting assembly is located within a proximity of a roadway. The method also includes receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a communications receiver of the lighting assembly. The second message includes an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method further includes transmitting a third message via the communications transmitter of the lighting assembly for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The third message includes an indication of an altitude at which the unmanned aerial vehicle should fly.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

transmitting via a transmitter of a communications station a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station, wherein the communications station is mounted to a support member, and wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground;

receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a receiver of the communications station, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is flying in a designated airspace;

receiving a third message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via the receiver of the communications station, the third message comprising a request to fly outside of the designated airspace; and

transmitting a fourth message via the transmitter of the communications station for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the fourth message comprising permission for the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly outside of the designated airspace, for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to make a flight adjustment.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the designated airspace is above at least one of a right-of-way and a right-of-way zone.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the designated airspace is an air corridor.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the flight adjustment causes the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly outside of the designated airspace.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle performs at least one of delivering a package and picking-up a package while outside of the designated airspace.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the unmanned aerial vehicle for return of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the designated airspace within a predetermined period of time.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge.