Aerial profiling of communication networks

• US 9,942,721 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zavesky, Eric, Decuir, Jason, Gratz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nealon, William
• Application Number:
  US15/206,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20180014162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 4554563
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

The use of semi-autonomous vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles) as a means to profile an airspace for prospective service, determine the characteristics of a radio-based problem, and temporarily host a service in response to emergency, unexpected outages, or other things are discussed herein. Functionalities of the solution may include probing and profiling, line-of-sight verification, and problem determination.

Claims

1. A server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a request for a communication profile of a geographic area;

determining an unmanned vehicle with specifications to complete the request;

providing instructions to the unmanned vehicle, the instructions comprise generate an interference for testing the effect of the interference at a position associated with the geographic area;

based on the instructions, receiving information associated with the generated interference at the position; and

determining the communication profile of the geographic area based on the information.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the communication profile comprises a quality of service approximate to the indication of position.

3. The server of claim 1, further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle.

4. The server of claim 1, further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication signal source comprises a mobile device.

5. The server of claim 1, further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication profile comprises an angle measurement associated with a line-of-sight of the trace.

6. The server of claim 1, further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication profile comprises a horizon measurement associated with a line-of-sight of the trace.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the communication profile comprises a radio frequency measurement.

8. A system comprising:

an unmanned vehicle; and

a processor communicatively connected with the unmanned vehicle; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a request for a communication profile of a geographic area;

determining that the unmanned vehicle comprises specifications to complete the request;

providing instructions to the unmanned vehicle, the instructions comprise generate an interference for testing the effect of the interference at a position associated with the geographic area;

based on the instructions, receiving information associated with the generated interference at the position; and

determining the communication profile of the geographic area based on the information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication profile comprises a quality of service approximate to the indication of position.

10. The system of claim 8, further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle, the communication signal source comprises a base station.

12. The system of claim 8, further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication profile comprises an angle measurement associated with a line-of-sight of the trace.

13. The system of claim 8, further operations comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the indication of position by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication profile comprises a horizon measurement associated with a line-of-sight of the trace.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication profile is from a mobile device communicatively connected with the unmanned vehicle.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a request for a communication profile of a geographic area;

determining an unmanned vehicle with specifications to complete the request;

providing instructions to the unmanned vehicle, the instructions comprise generate an interference for testing the effect of the interference at coordinates associated with the geographic area;

in response to the instructions, receiving information associated with the generated interference at the coordinates; and

determining the communication profile of the geographic area based on the information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication profile comprises a quality of service approximate to the coordinates.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing instructions to deploy the unmanned vehicle based on anticipated battery life needed to reach the coordinates.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the coordinates by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication signal source comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the coordinates by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication profile comprises an angle measurement associated with a line-of-sight of the trace.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing instructions to trace a line-of-sight propagation between a communication signal source and the coordinates by the unmanned vehicle, wherein the communication profile comprises a horizon measurement associated with a line-of-sight of the trace.