Authentication systems and methods for generating flight regulations

• US 9,805,607 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Gong, Ming, Dai, Jin, Cui, Hao, Wang, Xiaodong, Huang, Han, Wu, Jun, Fan, Wei, Ma, Ning, Rong, Xinhua, Lin, Xingsen
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/215,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20170169713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• 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 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• 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 5/0078 : for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• 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: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:

receiving an authentication request from a UAV, wherein the authentication request comprises a UAV identifier;

retrieving information that corresponds to the UAV identifier;

generating authentication vectors based on the retrieved information, wherein the authentication vectors comprise at least an authentication token;

transmitting the authentication token and a key evaluation reference to the UAV, wherein the UAV authenticates the authentication vector based on a message authentication code generated based on the authentication token, the key evaluation reference, and a key encoded on the UAV;

receiving a response from the UAV, wherein the response is based on the key evaluation reference and the key encoded on the UAV; and

verifying the authentication request based on the response received from the UAV.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication vectors further comprise an expected response.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the authentication request is verified when the response received from the UAV matches the expected response.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the expected response is calculated based on a key associated with the UAV identifier that is included in the retrieved information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication vectors further comprise an encryption key and an integration-checking key.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the encryption key and the integration-checking key are able to be calculated at the UAV based on the authentication token and the key evaluation reference.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing the encryption key and the integration-checking key to an air control system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising establishing secure communications between the UAV and the air control system based on the encryption key and the integration-checking key.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the encryption key is generated at the UAV and wherein the integration-checking key is provided by an authentication center to the air control system.

10. A system of authenticating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said system comprising:

an authentication module;

a communication module; and

one or more processors operably coupled to the authentication module and the communication module and configured to individually or collectively;

receive an authentication request from a UAV, wherein the authentication request comprises a UAV identifier;

retrieve information that corresponds to the UAV identifier;

generate authentication vectors based on the retrieved information, wherein the authentication vectors comprise at least an authentication token;

transmit the authentication token and a key evaluation reference to the UAV, wherein the UAV authenticates the authentication vector based on a message authentication code generated based on the authentication token, the key evaluation reference, and a key encoded on the UAV;

receive a response from the UAV, wherein the response is based on the key evaluation reference and the key encoded on the UAV; and

verify the authentication request based on the response received from the UAV.

11. A method of authenticating an authentication center, said method comprising:

providing an authentication request from a UAV to an authentication center, wherein the authentication request comprises a UAV identifier;

receiving authentication vectors from the authentication center, wherein the authentication vectors comprise an authentication token and a key evaluation reference, and wherein the authentication token is generated based on retrieved information that corresponds to the UAV identifier;

calculating an authentication sequence number based on the authentication token;

generating an authentication key based on the key evaluation reference and a key encoded on the UAV;

determining a message authentication code based on the authentication token, the authentication sequence number, and the authentication key; and

authenticating the authentication center based on at least one of the authentication sequence number and the message authentication code determined from the authentication vectors received from the authentication center.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the authentication center is authenticated when the message authentication code matches an expected message authentication code generated based on the key encoded on the UAV.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the authentication is unauthenticated when the authentication sequence number falls outside an acceptable range as determined by an authentication module.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the authentication key is generated based on evaluation of a standardized reference number.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the standardized reference number is a number of seconds that have passed since an agreed-upon point in time.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the authentication key is generated based on a random number generated as an additional authentication vector and provided to the UAV.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the authentication vectors further comprise an encryption key and an integration-checking key.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the encryption key and the integration-checking key are able to be calculated at the UAV based on authentication token and the key evaluation reference.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing the encryption key and the integration-checking key to an air control system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising establishing secure communications between the UAV and the air control system based on the encryption key and the integration-checking key.