Systems and methods for restricting drone airspace access

• US 9,601,022 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Taveira, Michael Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/608,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20160253907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 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 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 providing conditional access for a drone for accessing a restricted area. Conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area may be received by the drone. The drone may compare the received conditional access information to one or more access parameters for the drone. The drone may access the restricted area based on the comparison of the received conditional access information and the access parameter. A drone may take corrective action when the received conditional access information does not permit access to the restricted area based on the access parameter for the drone.

Claims

1. A method for providing conditional access by a drone to an area of restricted space (“

restricted area”

), comprising;

receiving, by a processor of the drone, conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area;

comparing, by the processor of the drone, the received conditional access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone; and

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information to the one or more access parameters for the drone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises accessing the restricted area when the one or more access parameters satisfy the received conditional access information and not accessing the restricted area when the one or more access parameters do not satisfy the received conditional access information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising taking corrective action by the drone when the one or more access parameters do not satisfy the received conditional access information, wherein the corrective action comprises at least one of:

landing in or moving to a designated area;

proceeding along a designated path to avoid the restricted area;

returning to a designated location;

preventing takeoff;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area; and

waiting for a period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

comparing, by the processor of the drone, the received conditional access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone comprises comparing a restriction level in the received conditional access information with an access level assigned to the drone; and

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises accessing the restricted area when the access level assigned to the drone is equal to or higher than the restriction level based on comparing the restriction level with the access level assigned to the drone, and taking corrective action by the drone when the access level assigned to the drone is less than the restriction level based on comparing the restriction level with the access level assigned to the drone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the corrective action comprises at least one of:

landing in or moving to a designated area;

proceeding along a designated path to avoid the restricted area;

returning to a designated location;

preventing takeoff;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area; and

waiting for a period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving, by a processor of the drone, conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area comprises receiving a restriction level in the received conditional access information that is changeable between a first restriction level and a second restriction level; and

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises accessing the restricted area when the restriction level is changed to the first level and not accessing the restricted area when the restriction level is changed to the second level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditional access restrictions for the restricted area are configured to change based on one or more of:

a time;

a time period;

a time of day;

a day; and

a date.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone further comprises:

providing, by the processor of the drone, toll payment information to one of a server and a beacon device;

receiving, by the processor of the drone, a confirmation of a toll payment with the toll payment information; and

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on the received confirmation of the toll payment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises at least one of a drone access level, a drone toll payment, a drone identification, a drone authentication, and a drone capability.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditional access restrictions comprise at least one of a restriction level, a drone toll payment restriction, a time-based restriction, a drone identification restriction, a drone authentication restriction, a drone use restriction, a drone speed restriction, and a drone altitude restriction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving, by a processor of the drone, conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area comprises receiving the conditional access information from a database;

a first portion of the database is stored on a first server; and

a second portion of the database is stored on a second server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access parameters of the drone are at least in part based on one or more access parameters of an operator of the drone.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by a processor of the drone, conditional access information including conditional access restrictions for the restricted area comprises receiving the conditional access information from a server via a wireless communication network.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing the received conditional access information in a memory of the drone.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the conditional access information from a server via a wireless communication network comprises receiving updates to the conditional access information periodically according to an interval.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the conditional access information from a server via a wireless communication network comprises receiving an expiration time for the conditional access information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising reloading the conditional access information from the server when the expiration time expires.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by a processor of the drone, conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area comprises receiving the conditional access information from a database stored in a plurality of redundant servers, the method further comprising:

selecting one of the plurality of redundant servers from which to receive the conditional access information based on a criteria.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the criteria includes one or more of:

a proximity of the one of the plurality of redundant servers to the drone, a link quality of a communication link between the one of the plurality of redundant servers and the drone, an affiliation of the one of the plurality of redundant servers, a classification of the one of the plurality of redundant servers, a reputation of one of the plurality of redundant servers, and an operator of the one of the plurality of redundant servers.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information to the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area comprises modifying one or more of data collection and a flight parameter of the drone.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein modifying data collection of the drone comprises disabling video or other imaging equipment.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein modifying the flight parameter of the drone comprises one or more of maintaining a certain speed, altitude, or route.

20. A drone, comprising:

a transceiver; and

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

receive conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for an area of restricted space (“

restricted area”

);

compare the received conditional access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone; and

access the restricted area based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone.

21. The drone of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:

compare the received conditional access information for the restricted area to one or more access parameters for the drone by comparing a restriction level in the received conditional access information with an access level assigned to the drone;

access the restricted area when the access level assigned to the drone is equal to or higher than the restriction level based on comparing the restriction level with the access level assigned to the drone; and

take corrective action when the access level assigned to the drone is less than the restriction level based on comparing the restriction level with the access level assigned to the drone.

22. The drone of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to take corrective action comprising at least one of:

landing in or moving to a designated area;

proceeding along a designated path to avoid the restricted area;

returning to a designated location;

preventing takeoff;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area; and

waiting for a period of time.

23. The drone of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:

receive conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area in the form of a restriction level in the received conditional access information that is changeable between a first restriction level and a second restriction level;

access the restricted area based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone when the restriction level is changed to the first level; and

not access the restricted area when the restriction level is changed to the second level.

24. The drone of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with processor executable instructions to access the restricted area by the drone based on comparing the received conditional access information and the one or more access parameters for the drone by:

providing toll payment information to one of a server and a beacon device;

receiving a confirmation of a toll payment with the toll payment information; and

accessing the restricted area by the drone based on the received confirmation of the toll payment.

25. The drone of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to take corrective action when the received conditional access information does not permit access to the restricted area based on the one or more access parameters for the drone.

26. The drone of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with processor executable instructions to take corrective action comprising at least one of:

landing in or moving to a designated area;

proceeding along a designated path to avoid the restricted area;

returning to a designated location;

preventing takeoff;

reverting control of the drone to a third party;

restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area; and

waiting for a period of time.

27. The drone of claim 20, wherein the conditional access restrictions for the restricted area are configured to change based on one or more of:

a time;

a time period;

a time of day;

a day; and

a date.

34. The drone of claim 20, wherein access to the restricted area based on comparing the received conditional access information to the one or more access parameters for the drone comprises restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area.

35. The drone of claim 34, wherein restricting usage of the drone while in the restricted area comprises modifying one or more of data collection and a flight parameter of the drone.

36. The drone of claim 35, wherein modifying data collection of the drone comprises disabling video or other imaging equipment.

37. The drone of claim 35, wherein modifying the flight parameter of the drone comprises one or more of maintaining a certain speed, altitude, or route.

28. A server configured to provide conditional access permission to a drone to an area of restricted space (“

restricted area”

), comprising;

a server processor configured with processor executable instructions to;

receive one or more access parameters from the drone;

provide conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area to the drone;

compare the conditional access information for the restricted area to the received one or more access parameters for the drone; and

provide clearance to the drone for accessing the restricted area based on comparing the conditional access information and the received one or more access parameter for the drone.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon server-executable instructions configured to cause a server to perform operations comprising:

receiving from a drone one or more access parameters related to accessing an area of restricted space (“

restricted area”

);

providing conditional access information associated with conditional access restrictions for the restricted area to the drone;

comparing the conditional access information for the restricted area to the received one or more access parameters for the drone; and

providing clearance to the drone for accessing the restricted area based on comparing the conditional access information and the received one or more access parameter for the drone.