Unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance

• US 9,669,926 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Richard T., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Wood, Jr., Lowell L., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Lord, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ANTONUCCI, ANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/015,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20150203213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance. For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) obtain at least one indication of at least one location of a UFV; or (ii) attempt to counter at least one attack against a location determination for the UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.

Claims

1. A method for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance, the method being at least partially implemented by at least one machine, the method comprising:

determining at least one indication of at least one location of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV);

detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV;

obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV; and

activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV.

2. An apparatus for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance, the apparatus comprising:

at least one electronic device including at least;

circuitry configured for determining at least one indication of at least one location of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV);

circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV;

circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV; and

circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for determining at least one indication of at least one location of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry configured for obtaining the at least one location of the UFV via one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for determining at least one indication of at least one location of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry configured for obtaining at least one distance of the UFV to at least one waypoint.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for determining at least one indication of at least one location of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry configured for obtaining the at least one location of the UFV via at least one other UFV.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for determining at least one indication of at least one location of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprises:

circuitry configured for obtaining the at least one location of the UFV via at least one altimeter.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting differences in at least one location coordinate between measurements obtained from a proximate UFV and measurements ascertained by the UFV.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV including determining at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt a first determination of multiple determinations of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV; and

the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes initiating an attempt to determine to discount the first determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes estimating a position of an aerial vehicle; and

the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes deriving the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV based at least partially on the estimated position of the aerial vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes:

circuitry configured for reporting the at least one attack.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes:

circuitry configured for detecting at least one external effort to cause a degraded determination of the at least one location of the UFV.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes:

circuitry configured for detecting at least one or more attempts to disrupt a mechanism to obtain at least one position fix.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes:

circuitry configured for detecting at least attempts to disrupt at least one of a procedure or a component to obtain one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) coordinates using one or more orbiting satellites.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes:

circuitry configured for detecting at least one satellite positioning system (SPS) hijacking attack.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes:

circuitry configured for detecting at least one satellite positioning system (SPS) spoofing attack.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes determining at least one alternative antenna direction in response to at least one satellite positioning system (SPS) attack; and

the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes circuitry configured for directing at least one antenna beam that is to receive satellite positioning system (SPS) signals upwards.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the circuitry configured for directing at least one antenna beam that is to receive satellite positioning system (SPS) signals upwards includes:

circuitry configured for directing the at least one antenna beam in a direction that is substantially opposite a direction towards earth.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the circuitry configured for directing at least one antenna beam that is to receive satellite positioning system (SPS) signals upwards includes:

circuitry configured for directing the at least one antenna beam upward using, at least partially, at least one meta-material antenna.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes determining at least one alternative location determination in response to at least one satellite-based location determination attack; and

the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes circuitry configured for switching from satellite-based location determination to at least partially using terrestrial-based location determination.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the circuitry configured for switching from satellite-based location determination to at least partially using terrestrial-based location determination includes:

circuitry configured for switching to using at least one or more cellular base station towers for location determination.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the circuitry configured for switching from satellite-based location determination to at least partially using terrestrial-based location determination includes:

circuitry configured for switching to using at least one or more Wi-Fi signals for location determination.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the circuitry configured for switching from satellite-based location determination to at least partially using terrestrial-based location determination includes:

circuitry configured for switching to using at least one or more terrestrial beacons for location determination.

23. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes determining at least one alternative location determination in response to at least one satellite-based location determination attack; and

the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes circuitry configured for switching from using a first satellite-based location determination system to using a second satellite-based location determination system.

24. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes determining at least one alternative location determination in response to at least one satellite-based location determination attack; and

the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes circuitry configured for using a first satellite-based location determination system and a second satellite-based location determination system.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the circuitry configured for using a first satellite-based location determination system and a second satellite-based location determination system includes:

circuitry configured for switching between or among at least the first satellite-based location determination system and the second satellite-based location determination system.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the circuitry configured for switching between or among at least the first satellite-based location determination system and the second satellite-based location determination system includes:

circuitry configured for switching between or among at least the first satellite-based location determination system and the second satellite-based location determination system based at least partly on at least one geospatial zone.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the circuitry configured for switching between or among at least the first satellite-based location determination system and the second satellite-based location determination system includes:

circuitry configured for switching between or among at least the first satellite-based location determination system and the second satellite-based location determination system based at least partly on at least one reliability factor.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the circuitry configured for using a first satellite-based location determination system and a second satellite-based location determination system includes:

circuitry configured for utilizing at least a first location-related value obtained via the first satellite-based location determination system and a second location-related value obtained via the second satellite-based location determination system.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the circuitry configured for utilizing at least a first location-related value obtained via the first satellite-based location determination system and a second location-related value obtained via the second satellite-based location determination system includes:

circuitry configured for combining at least the first location-related value and the second location-related value.

30. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the circuitry configured for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV includes determining availability of at least one other UFV for assistance in determining at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV; and

the circuitry configured for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV includes circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one other UFV.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one other UFV includes:

circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one location associated with the at least one other UFV.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one location associated with the at least one other UFV includes:

circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) coordinates corresponding to the at least one location associated with the at least one other UFV.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one other UFV includes:

circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one range to the at least one other UFV.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one other UFV includes:

circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one communication received from the at least one other UFV.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one communication received from the at least one other UFV includes:

circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one notification, which is received from the at least one other UFV, of a detected location-determination attack.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one communication received from the at least one other UFV includes:

circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) coordinates, which are received from the at least one other UFV and which correspond to a location of the at least one other UFV.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one communication received from the at least one other UFV includes:

circuitry configured for performing at least one action to counter the at least one attack based, at least partially, on at least one communication that is received from the at least one other UFV via at least one antenna beam.

38. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving at the UFV a transmission including at least one notification of the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV via communication from external to the UFV.

39. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting interference with one or more navigational communications.

40. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting at least one problem caused by interference with one or more navigational communications.

41. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting blocking of one or more navigational signals.

42. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting imitation of one or more navigational signals.

43. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting navigational control hijacking.

44. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance comprises:

circuitry in the UFV.

45. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance comprises:

circuitry in a base station.

46. An arrangement for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance, the arrangement comprising:

means for determining at least one indication of at least one location of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV);

means for detecting at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV;

means for obtaining at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the detected at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one indication of at least one location of the UFV; and

means for activating the obtained at least one alternative determination of at least one indication of the at least one location of the UFV to counter the at least one attack that at least attempts to disrupt the determination of the at least one location of the UFV.