SELECTION OF NETWORKS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

• US 20160300493A1
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: UBHI, Gurpreet, Srivastava, Ashok N., Pasko, Douglas M., Batla, Hani, Kantor, Igor
• Granted Patent: US 9,881,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• 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: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed

Abstract

A device receives a request for a flight path, for a UAV, from a first location to a second location, and calculates the flight path based on the request for the flight path. The device determines network requirements for the flight path based on the request, and determines scores for multiple networks with coverage areas covering a portion of the flight path. The device selects a particular network, from the multiple networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the multiple networks. The device causes a connection with the UAV and the particular network to be established, and generates flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides, via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device, a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location;

calculating, by the device, the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path;

determining, by the device, network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path;

determining, by the device, scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path,

the scores for the plurality of networks being based on information associated with the plurality of networks including at least one of;

availability information,

security information,

cost information,

bandwidth information, or

network resources information;

selecting, by the device, a first particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks;

causing, by the device, a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network to be established;

generating, by the device, flight path instructions for the flight path;

providing, by the device and via the connection with the first particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path;

receiving, by the device, network connectivity information,

the network connectivity information including information associated with a strength of a signal between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network;

selecting, by the device, a second particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information; and

causing, by the device, a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the second particular network to be established.

2. The method of claim 1, where determining the network requirements for the flight path comprises at least one of:

determining the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location;

determining the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determining the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks;

determining the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks;

determining the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks;

determining the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks;

or

determining the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.

3. The method of claim 1, where determining the scores for the plurality of networks comprises:

assigning weights to the information associated with the plurality of networks; and

calculating a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights.

4. The method of claim 1, where selecting the first particular network comprises:

determining a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and

selecting the first particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks.

5. The method of claim 1, where receiving the network connectivity information comprises:

receiving, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the network connectivity information during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

where the method further comprises;

determining whether to select another particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information.

6. The method of claim 1, where selecting the second particular network comprises:

selecting the second particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that the signal will be lost.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the connection with the first particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that communication between the first particular network and the unmanned aerial vehicle will continue.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more devices, at least partially implemented in hardware, to;

receive a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location;

calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path;

determine network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path;

determine scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path,

the scores for the plurality of networks being based on information associated with the plurality of networks including at least one of;

availability information,

security information,

cost information,

bandwidth information, or

network resources information;

select a first particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks;

cause a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network to be established;

generate flight path instructions for the flight path;

provide, via the connection with the first particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path;

receive network connectivity information,

the network connectivity information including information associated

with a strength of a signal between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network;

select a second particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information; and

cause a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the second particular network to be established.

9. The system of claim 8, where, when determining the network requirements for the flight path, the one or more devices are to at least one of:

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks;

or

determine the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.

10. The system of claim 8, where, when determining the scores for the plurality of networks, the one or more devices are to:

assign weights to the information associated with the plurality of networks; and

calculate a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights.

11. The system of claim 8, where, when selecting the first particular network, the one or more devices are to:

determine a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and

select the first particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks.

12. The system of claim 8, where, when receiving the network connectivity information, the one or more devices are to:

receive, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the network connectivity information during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

where the one or more devices are further to;

determine whether to select another particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information.

13. The system of claim 8, where, when selecting the second particular network, the one or more devices are to:

select the second particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that the signal is being lost.

14. The system of claim 8, where the one or more devices are further to:

maintain the connection with the first particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that communication between the first particular network and the unmanned aerial vehicle will continue.

15. A computer-readable medium for storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to;

receive a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location;

calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path;

determine network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path;

determine scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path,

the scores for the plurality of networks being based on information associated with the plurality of networks;

select a first particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks;

cause a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network to be established;

generate flight path instructions for the flight path;

provide, via the connection with the first particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path;

receive network connectivity information,

the network connectivity information including information associated with a strength of a signal between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network;

select a second particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information; and

cause a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the second particular network to be established.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the instructions to determine the network requirements for the flight path comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least one of;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks;

determine the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks;

or

determine the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the instructions to determine the scores for the plurality of networks comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

assign weights to the information associated with the plurality of networks; and

calculate a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the instructions to select the first particular network comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

determine a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and

select the first particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the instructions to receive the network connectivity information comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the network connectivity information during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

where the instructions to select the second particular network comprise;

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

select the second particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that the signal with the first particular network is weakening.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the instructions further comprise:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

select a first network and a second network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks;

cause a first connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first network to be established until a particular point of the flight path;

cause a second connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the second network to be established at the particular point of the flight path; and

cause the first connection to be terminated after the second connection is established.