Unmanned device utilization methods and systems

• US 10,019,000 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Charles J
• Application Number:
  US13/551,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,184 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/26 for manufacturing, inspections or repairs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• 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: B64U 50/32 generated by fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/00 Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/76 Arrangements for rearranging, permuting or selecting data according to predetermined rules, independently of the content of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to perform a task, alone or in combination with other entities, or for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one resource reservation device including one or more electronic devices, the one or more electronic devices including at least;

circuitry configured for receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user, the at least one resource request including at least identification of at least one resource and identification of at least one region for searching for the at least one resource;

circuitry configured for controlling at least one unmanned aerial device to search the at least one region for detecting one or more instances of the at least one resource;

circuitry configured for sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device;

circuitry configured for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource; and

circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user including at least circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to at least one of hover or land to indicate unavailability of the at least one resource, wherein the at least one resource is at least one parking space.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling at least one unmanned aerial device to search the at least one region for detecting one or more instances of the at least one resource includes:

circuitry configured for a first unmanned aerial device to search in a first zone and a second unmanned aerial device to search in a second zone.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user, the at least one resource request including at least identification of at least one resource including at least one of a parking space, a cashier or other living entity, a public table or other space, a power or network connection, an item for sale, or another object.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device includes:

circuitry configured for presenting navigation guidance via the at least one user interface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user, the at least one resource request including at least identification of at least one resource and identification of at least one region for searching for the at least one resource that is remote from a position of the at least one user.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling at least one unmanned aerial device to search the at least one region for detecting one or more instances of the at least one resource includes:

circuitry configured for controlling at least one unmanned aerial device to maintain at least one record indicating availability or unavailability of parking spaces.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing a user interface to present a notification specifying at least one of a driver, a car, or a license plate number indicating allocation of at least one of a space or a material to a specific person.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing at least one mobile device to present at least one notification indicating allocation of at least one resource responsive to an indication of the at least one unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of the at least one mobile device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device includes:

circuitry for sending from the at least one unmanned aerial device at least one address indicating at least one position of at least one entity in control of the at least one resource.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device includes:

at least one of;

circuitry configured for sending at least one indication that the at least one resource request is declined;

or

circuitry configured for sending at least one informational message other than the at least one position data or the at least one indication that the at least one resource request is declined.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource includes:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one trigger signal that is effective to allocate at least one parking space for use of at least one car that includes an affirmative signal from at least one person aboard the at least one car.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource includes:

circuitry configured for receiving from the at least one user at least one broadcast signal associating at least one of a sender or a device with a person.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to at least one of hover or land to notify passersby that the at least one resource is unavailable, wherein the at least one resource is at least one parking space.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device includes:

circuitry configured for causing the at least one user interface to present, to the at least one user, turn-by-turn instructions to locate the at least one resource.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device includes:

circuitry configured for causing the at least one user interface to present, to the at least one user, coordinates of the at least one location.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing at least one user interface of the at least one unmanned aerial device to present at least one notification including at least one identifier associated with the at least one user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing at least one user interface of the at least one unmanned aerial device to at least one of visually or audibly present a notification including at least one identifier associated with the at least one user.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing at least one video display device to present a notification indicating allocation of at least one parking space.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing at least one video display to present a notification indicating allocation of the at least one resource, wherein the at least one resource includes at least one of a cashier, a table, a power connection, a network connection, or an item for sale.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing at least one display device of at least one automobile to present a notification indicating allocation of the at least one resource associated with the position data to an entity.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for causing at least one display device of at least one cellular phone to present a notification indicating allocation of the at least one resource associated with the position data to an entity.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to transmit at least one indication that the at least one resource not be reserved to a first entity by associating the at least one resource with a second entity.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource includes:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to purchase the at least one resource.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource includes:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to temporarily reserve the at least one resource.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user includes:

circuitry configured for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to provide navigational guidance to the at least one user via at least one of a speaker or a display while the at least one unmanned aerial device remains stationary including at least one of tethered, hovering, or landing.

26. A method comprising:

receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user, the at least one resource request including at least identification of at least one resource and identification of at least one region for searching for the at least one resource;

controlling at least one unmanned aerial device to search the at least one region for detecting one or more instances of the at least one resource;

sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device;

receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource; and

controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user including at least controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to at least one of hover or land to indicate unavailability of the at least one resource, wherein the at least one resource is at least one parking space.

27. A system comprising:

means for controlling at least one resource reservation device including at least;

means for receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user, the at least one resource request including at least identification of at least one resource and identification of at least one region for searching for the at least one resource;

means for controlling at least one unmanned aerial device to search the at least one region for detecting one or more instances of the at least one resource;

means for sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device;

means for receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource; and

means for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user including at least means for controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to at least one of hover or land to indicate unavailability of the at least one resource, wherein the at least one resource is at least one parking space.

28. An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more physical media operatively coupled to the one or more processors and bearing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations including at least;

receiving at least one resource request entered via at least one user interface by at least one user, the at least one resource request including at least identification of at least one resource and identification of at least one region for searching for the at least one resource;

controlling at least one unmanned aerial device to search the at least one region for detecting one or more instances of the at least one resource;

sending to the at least one user interface, via at least one communication network, at least position data indicating at least one location of at least one instance of the at least one resource detected by the at least one unmanned aerial device responsive to detection by the at least one unmanned aerial device;

receiving at least one request from the at least one user via the at least one user interface to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource; and

controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to reserve the detected at least one instance of the at least one resource for use by the at least one user including at least controlling the at least one unmanned aerial device to at least one of hover or land to indicate unavailability of the at least one resource, wherein the at least one resource is at least one parking space.