3D model and beacon for automatic delivery of goods

• US 9,852,392 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Arun
• Primary Examiner(s): Trotter, Scott S
• Application Number:
  US14/193,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20150248640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/17 Helicopters flying platforms B64U10/13
• 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: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for drone delivery of products. In one aspect there is provided a method, which may include selecting, at a user equipment, a product; and selecting, by the user equipment, a three-dimensional location where a drone deposits the selected product. Related systems, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting, at a first user equipment, a product;

selecting, by the first user equipment, a three-dimensional location where a drone deposits the selected product; and

initiating delivery of the selected product to the three-dimensional location after receipt of a message indicative of an authentication requiring a machine readable bar code displayed on a second user equipment located at the three-dimensional location where the drone is to deposit the selected product after the bar code displayed on the second user equipment is read.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional location further includes a latitude, a longitude, and a height.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional location further includes a street address and a height.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the three-dimensional location further comprises:

presenting, at the first user equipment, a map.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving an indication of the selection of the location on the presented map.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

converting the selected location to the three-dimensional location where the drone deposits the selected product.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

select a product;

select a three-dimensional location where a drone deposits the selected product; and

initiate delivery of the selected product to the three-dimensional location after receipt of a message indicative of an authentication requiring a machine readable bar code displayed on a second user equipment located at the three-dimensional location where the drone is to deposit the selected product after the bar code displayed on the second user equipment is read.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the three-dimensional location further includes a latitude, a longitude, and a height.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the three-dimensional location further includes a street address and a height.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the selection of the three-dimensional location further includes presentation of the map.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least receive an indication of the selection of the location on the presented map.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least convert the selected location to the three-dimensional location where the drone deposits the selected product.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program code which when executed by at least one processor causes operations comprising:

selecting a product;

selecting a three-dimensional location where a drone deposits the selected product; and

initiating delivery of the selected product to the three-dimensional location after receipt of a message indicative of an authentication requiring a machine readable bar code displayed on a second user equipment located at the three-dimensional location where the drone is to deposit the selected product after the bar code displayed on the second user equipment is read.