Systems and methods for managing drone access

• US 10,497,270 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Taveira, Michael Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/693,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20180025650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/30 with arrangements for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/18 for wireless local area networks or WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 : including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/25 : based on characteristics of target signal or of transmission as countermeasure against surveillance H04K3/827, e.g. using direct sequence spread spectrum or fast frequency hopping spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 : related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/92 : related to allowing or preventing remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for operating a drone consistent with an access level of the drone and/or an operator of the drone. Various embodiments may include determining, by a processor of the drone, whether the drone is registered with an agency or the operator of the drone is registered to operate the drone. In response to determining that the drone and/or the operator is registered, the drone processor may operate the drone consistent with an access level of the drone and/or operator. In response to determining that the drone and/or the operator is registered, the drone processor may restrict operations of the drone.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a drone, comprising:

transmitting, by a processor of the drone to a server, an identifier of the drone operator controlling the drone;

receiving, from the server, access restriction information based on the identifier of the drone operator; and

enabling, by the processor, control over operations of the drone by the drone operator in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone operator is registered to operate the drone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone operator is not registered to operate the drone, wherein restricting control over operations of the drone comprises preventing takeoff or limiting operations of the drone to within one or more of a minimum altitude restriction, a maximum altitude restriction, a time duration-based restriction, a speed restriction, or a drone-functionality restriction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone operator is not registered to operate the drone, wherein restricting control over operations of the drone comprises disabling a camera or preventing image or video recording.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling control over operations of the drone by the drone operator in response to the access restriction information indicating the drone operator is registered to operate the drone comprises enabling control over operations consistent with an access level of the drone operator.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining, by the processor, a location of the drone,

wherein enabling control over operations consistent with the access level of the drone operator comprises implementing access restrictions pertinent for the location of the drone.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining, by the processor, whether the drone is approaching or within a restricted area,

wherein enabling control over operations of the drone consistent with the access level of the drone operator comprises:

enabling access to the restricted area in response to determining that the drone is approaching the restricted area and that the access level of the drone operator permits operating within the restricted area.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining, by the processor, whether the drone is approaching or within a restricted area,

wherein enabling control over operations of the drone consistent with the access level of the drone operator comprises taking a corrective action, by the processor, in response to determining that the drone is within the restricted area and that the access level of the drone operator does not permit operating within the restricted area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein taking the corrective action comprises at least one of:

preventing takeoff;

landing in or moving to a designated area;

returning to a designated location;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

or

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein enabling control over operations of the drone consistent with the access level of the drone operator comprises enabling control over operations of the drone consistent with a combination of an access level of the drone and the access level of the drone operator.

10. A method for controlling a drone, comprising:

transmitting, by a processor of the drone to a server, an identifier of the drone;

receiving, by the processor from the server, access restriction information based on the identifier of the drone; and

enabling, by the processor, control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone is registered with an agency.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the agency comprises a government agency.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein restricting control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone is not registered with the agency comprises preventing takeoff or limiting operations of the drone to within one or more of a minimum altitude restriction, a maximum altitude restriction, a time duration-based restriction, a speed restriction, or a drone-functionality restriction.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, whether the drone is approaching a restricted area,

wherein enabling control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone is registered with the agency comprises;

enabling access to the restricted area in response to determining that the drone is approaching the restricted area and that the access level of the drone permits operating within the restricted area.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, whether the drone is within a restricted area; and

taking a corrective action in response to determining that the drone is within a restricted area and an access level of the drone does not satisfy access restrictions of the restricted area, wherein taking the corrective action comprises at least one of;

preventing takeoff;

landing in or moving to a designated area;

returning to a designated location;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

or

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining an access level stored in memory of the drone for transmission to the server.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving access restriction information comprises:

receiving an access level of the drone.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting, by the processor to the server, access level information of the drone based on at least one factor associated with a drone operator, wherein the received access restriction information indicates the drone operator is registered to operate the drone, wherein enabling control over operations of the drone is further in response to the access restriction information indicating the drone operator is not permitted to operate the drone.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the access level information of the drone is based at least in part upon one or more of an experience level of the operator, a certification of the operator, authentication of the operator, an operating history of the operator, or a level of insurance carried by the operator.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the access level information of the drone is based upon a combination of the access level of the drone and the access level of the drone operator.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein enabling control over operations of the drone comprises planning and following a path that avoids restricted areas in which the drone is not permitted to operate based upon the access level of the drone and travels through restricted areas in which the drone is permitted to operate based upon the access level of the drone.

21. A drone, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to;

transmit via the transceiver to a server an identifier of the drone operator controlling the drone;

receive via the transceiver from the server access restriction information based on the identifier of the drone operator; and

enable control over operations of the drone by the drone operator in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone operator is registered to operate the drone.

22. The drone of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to restrict control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone operator is not registered to operate the drone, wherein restricting control over operations of the drone comprises preventing takeoff or limiting operations of the drone to within one or more of a minimum altitude restriction, a maximum altitude restriction, a time duration-based restriction, a speed restriction, or a drone-functionality restriction.

23. The drone of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to restrict control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone operator is not registered to operate the drone, wherein restricting control over operations of the drone comprises disabling a camera or preventing image or video recording.

24. The drone of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to enable control over operations of the drone by the drone operator consistent with an access level of the drone operator.

25. The drone of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:

determine a location of the drone; and

enable control over operations consistent with the access level of the drone operator comprises implementing access restrictions pertinent for the location of the drone.

26. The drone of claim 24,

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to determine whether the drone is approaching or within a restricted area, and

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to enable control over operations of the drone consistent with the access level of the drone operator by:

enabling access to the restricted area in response to determining that the drone is approaching the restricted area and that the access level of the drone operator permits operating within the restricted area.

27. The drone of claim 24,

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to determine whether the drone is approaching or within a restricted area, and

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to enable control over operations of the drone consistent with the access level of the drone operator by taking a corrective action in response to determining that the drone is within the restricted area and that the access level of the drone operator does not permit operating within the restricted area.

28. The drone of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that taking the corrective action comprises at least one of:

preventing takeoff;

landing in or moving to a designated area;

returning to a designated location;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

or

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area.

29. The drone of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to enable control over operations of the drone consistent with a combination of an access level of the drone and the access level of the drone operator.

30. A drone, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to;

transmit to a server an identifier of the drone;

receive from the server access restriction information based on the identifier of the drone; and

enable control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone is registered with an agency; and

restricting control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating the drone is not registered with the agency.

31. The drone of claim 30, wherein the agency comprises a government agency.

32. The drone of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to restrict control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone is not registered with the agency by preventing takeoff or limiting operations of the drone to within one or more of a minimum altitude restriction, a maximum altitude restriction, a time duration-based restriction, a speed restriction, or a drone-functionality restriction.

33. The drone of claim 30,

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:

determine whether the drone is approaching a restricted area, and

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to enable control over operations of the drone in response to the access restriction information indicating that the drone is registered with the agency by;

enabling access to the restricted area in response to determining that the drone is approaching the restricted area and that the access level of the drone permits operating within the restricted area.

34. The drone of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:

determine whether the drone is within a restricted area; and

taking a corrective action in response to determine that the drone is within a restricted area and an access level of the drone does not satisfy access restrictions of the restricted area, wherein taking the corrective action comprises at least one of;

preventing takeoff;

landing in or moving to a designated area;

returning to a designated location;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

or

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area.

35. The drone of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to obtain an access level stored in memory of the drone for transmission to the server.

36. The drone of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to receive access restriction information by:

receiving an access level of the drone.

37. The drone of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:

transmit to the server access level information of the drone based on at least one factor associated with a drone operator,

wherein the received access restriction information indicates the drone operator is registered to operate the drone, wherein enabling control over operations of the drone is further in response to the access restriction information indicating the drone operator is not permitted to operate the drone.

38. The drone of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that the access level information of the drone is based at least in part upon one or more of an experience level of the operator, a certification of the operator, authentication of the operator, an operating history of the operator, or a level of insurance carried by the operator.

39. The drone of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that the access level information of the drone is based upon a combination of the access level of the drone and the access level of the drone operator.

40. The drone of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to enable control over operations of the drone by planning and following a path that avoids restricted areas in which the drone is not permitted to operate based upon the access level of the drone and travels through restricted areas in which the drone is permitted to operate based upon the access level of the drone.