Apparatus for adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network

• US 10,630,376 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2018
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mutualink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mutualink, Inc.
• Inventors: Mazzarella, Joseph R., Wengrovitz, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US16/010,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20180309504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1, 701 2, 701 3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/385 Uniform resource identifier for session initiation protocol [SIP URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1093 by adding participants; by removing participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/402 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel non-real time sessions, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Embodiments include an apparatus for an adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network having aerial nodes that provides real-time persistent wide area communications service to provide communications in response to an incident. Typically, the service area is a wide area that is physically inaccessible via ground transportation. In addition, embodiments include the formation of a decentralized mesh supernetwork comprising two or more dynamic wireless aerial mesh networks. A member of a first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network may send a request to a member of a second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network for the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network to join the second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network to form a mesh supernetwork, and receive an acceptance from the member of the second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.

Claims

1. An apparatus, for a first aerial node, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver, wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

in combination with a second and a third aerial node, form an adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network that enables persistent wide area communications between a first end unit radio transceiver and a second end unit radio transceiver; and

maintain a flight pattern within the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network comprising a persistent coverage rotation cycle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the persistent coverage rotation cycle is based on an actual or projected flight duration time of the third aerial node.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third aerial node retires and a fourth aerial node fills a relational position vacated by the third aerial node within the flight pattern.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

communicate with the first end unit radio transceiver; and

initiate a handoff to the fourth aerial node.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

detect a failed aerial node of the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network; and

adapt the flight pattern to maintain the persistent wide area communications.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to measure an audio event, a radiation level, a chemical level, a heat level, an electromagnetic signature, a pressure level, a reflective signature, a geo-position coordinate, or a homing beacon signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine that the measurement satisfies a threshold; and

transmit via the wireless transceiver, a threshold alert to;

an aerial node of the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network;

the first end unit radio transceiver;

or a server coupled to the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine a new flight path based on the threshold alert, wherein the first aerial node of the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network adjusts the flight pattern of the first aerial node accordingly.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive via the wireless transceiver, a new flight command based on the threshold alert; and

adjust the flight pattern of the first aerial node accordingly.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the new flight command comprises different duties for the first aerial node than another aerial node of the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

detect a new aerial node in communications proximity; and

change to a new flight path based on an addition of the new aerial node to the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive via the wireless transceiver, a request from the new aerial node to join the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network; and

transmit via the wireless transceiver, an acceptance to the new aerial node.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transmission is transmitted out-of-band.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end unit radio transceiver comprises:

a legacy radio device, or an Internet Protocol (IP)-based device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the IP-based device includes:

a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable sensor, a watch, a remote controller, or a laptop computer.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive via the wireless transceiver, a new flight command comprising a speed, a direction, an elevation, a geospacial position, or a geographical waypoint; and

adjust the flight pattern accordingly.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the new flight command is generated manually, automatically, or semi-automatically.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the new flight command is based on a relative position of the first aerial node to a remaining aerial node of the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the new flight command is based on an intended flight path of a remaining aerial node of the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the new flight command is based on a deviation from a planned flight path of the first aerial node, or a deviation of a planned flight path of a remaining aerial node of the adaptive dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.