Rapidly-deployable, drone-based wireless communications systems and methods for the operation thereof
First Claim
1. A drone-based wireless communications system, comprising:
- a satellite signal transformation unit configured to receive a satellite signal from a satellite, to extract content from the satellite signal, and to transmit a network source signal containing the content; and
a plurality of aerial network drones deployable to form a multi-drone network over a designated geographical area, the multi-drone network configured to;
receive the network source signal from the satellite signal transformation unit;
disseminate drone relay signals containing the content through the multi-drone network; and
broadcast user device signals containing the content over the designated geographical area for reception by user devices located therein;
wherein, when forming the multi-drone network, each aerial network drone in the plurality of aerial network drones repeatedly triangulates an ownship drone position as a function of (i) data received from multiple neighboring aerial network drones in the plurality of aerial network drones and (ii) data received from at least one of the satellite and the satellite signal transformation unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Drone-based wireless communications systems are provided, as are methods carried-out by such wireless communications systems. In one embodiment, the wireless communications system includes a Satellite Signal Transformation (SST) unit and a plurality of aerial network drones, which can be deployed over a designated geographical area to form a multi-drone network thereover. During operation, the SST unit transmits a network source signal, which contains content extracted from a satellite signal. The multi-drone network receives the network source signal, disseminates drone relay signals containing the content through the multi-drone network, and broadcastings user device signals containing the content over the designated geographical area. In embodiments, the multi-drone network may broadcast multiple different types of user device signals for reception by various different types of user devices located within the designated geographical area, such as an area containing communication infrastructure disabled by a natural disaster, a hostile attack, or other catastrophic event.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A drone-based wireless communications system, comprising:
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a satellite signal transformation unit configured to receive a satellite signal from a satellite, to extract content from the satellite signal, and to transmit a network source signal containing the content; and a plurality of aerial network drones deployable to form a multi-drone network over a designated geographical area, the multi-drone network configured to; receive the network source signal from the satellite signal transformation unit; disseminate drone relay signals containing the content through the multi-drone network; and broadcast user device signals containing the content over the designated geographical area for reception by user devices located therein; wherein, when forming the multi-drone network, each aerial network drone in the plurality of aerial network drones repeatedly triangulates an ownship drone position as a function of (i) data received from multiple neighboring aerial network drones in the plurality of aerial network drones and (ii) data received from at least one of the satellite and the satellite signal transformation unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A drone-based wireless communications system, comprising:
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a satellite signal transformation unit configured to receive a satellite signal from a satellite, to extract content from the satellite signal, and to transmit a network source signal containing the content; and a plurality of aerial network drones deployable to form a multi-drone network over a designated geographical area, the multi-drone network configured to; receive the network source signal from the satellite signal transformation unit; disseminate drone relay signals containing the content through the multi-drone network; and broadcast user device signals containing the content over the designated geographical area for reception by user devices located therein; wherein the plurality of aerial network drones includes at least a first aerial network drone equipped with a cellular antenna configured to receive wireless signals from user devices located within the designated geographical area, the first aerial network drone configured to; selectively transmit a request to return location data to a specific user device; and transmit the requested location data to an authority if received from the specific user device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An aerial network drone, comprising:
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a wireless receiver; an antenna array including at least first and second antennae; and a drone controller architecture coupled to the wireless receiver and to the antenna array, the drone controller architecture configured to; receive drone relay signals at the wireless receiver as a first signal type; transform the drone relay signals to second and third signal types different than the first signal type; broadcast the second and third signal types via the first and second antennae, respectively; cooperate with a plurality of other aerial network drones to selectively form a multi-drone network, which communicates with at least one of a satellite and a satellite signal transformation unit; and wherein, when forming the multi-drone network, repeatedly triangulate an ownship drone position as a function of (i) data received from multiple neighboring aerial network drones in the plurality of aerial network drones and (ii) data received from at least one of the satellite and the satellite signal transformation unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification