Cooperative communication link mapping and classification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10368290-B2
Application number	US-201515520315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2015
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A method of cooperative communication link mapping and classification is provided. Location data are received defining a position of a communication node. Signal data of a communication link are monitored at the communication node with respect to a second communication node and characteristics of the signal data are identified. A location stamp of the position is applied to the characteristics of the signal data. The communication link is classified based on the characteristics of the signal data, and a map is populated classifying the communication link at the position indicated by the location stamp.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of cooperative communication link mapping and classification, the method comprising:
receiving location data defining a position of a communication node;
monitoring signal data of a communication link at the communication node with respect to a second communication node;
identifying characteristics of the signal data;
applying a location stamp of the position to the characteristics of the signal data;
classifying the communication link based on the characteristics of the signal data; and
populating a map classifying the communication link at the position indicated by the location stamp, wherein a time stamp is applied for each update of the map.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing the characteristics of the signal data at the position over a period of time; and
classifying the communication link based on a gradient of the characteristics of the signal data at the position over the period of time.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the gradient defines a signal quality improvement, a signal quality reduction, or a signal quality rate of change.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics include one or more of: a data rate, a bit error rate, a signal strength, a noise level, and a signal-to-noise ratio.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the map further comprises a vector of classifications of the communication link at the position covering a plurality of time stamps.

6. The method of any of claim 1 , wherein the map is a local communication link map and the method further comprises:
receiving one or more communication link maps; and
merging the local communication link map and the one or more received communication link maps to form a communication link accessibility map covering a plurality of communication links and positions.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
tracking signal trends for each of the communication links relative to the positions.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring signal data of two or more communication links at the communication node with respect to the communication node and two or more communication nodes;
populating the map with classifications of the two or more communication links; and
updating the map based on a change of position of the communication node or a change detected in a characteristic of at least one of the two or more communication links.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication node is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

10. A communication node of a cooperative communication link mapping and classification system, the communication node comprising:
a processor; and
memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication node to:
receive location data defining a position of the communication node;
monitor signal data of a communication link at the communication node with respect to a second communication node;
identify characteristics of the signal data;
apply a location stamp of the position to the characteristics of the signal data;
classify the communication link based on the characteristics of the signal data;
populate a map classifying the communication link at the position indicated by the location stamp; and
applying a time stamp to each update of the map.

11. The communication node of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the communication node to:
compare the characteristics of the signal data at the position over a period of time; and
classify the communication link based on a gradient of the characteristics of the signal data at the position over the period of time.

12. The communication node of claim 10 , wherein the map further comprises a vector of classifications of the communication link at the position covering a plurality of time stamps.

13. The communication node of claim 10 , wherein the map is a local communication link map and the instructions further cause the communication node to:
receive one or more communication link maps;
merge the local communication link map and the one or more received communication link maps to form a communication link accessibility map covering a plurality of communication links and positions; and
track signal trends for each of the communication links relative to the positions.

14. The communication node of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the communication node to:
monitor signal data of two or more communication links at the communication node with respect to the communication node and two or more communication nodes;
populate the map with classifications of the two or more communication links; and
update the map based on a change of position of the communication node or a change detected in a characteristic of at least one of the two or more communication links.

Assignees

• Sikorsky Aircraft Corp

Inventors

• Loussides George Nicholas
• Conner Michael Aaron
• Sane Harshad S
• Stathis Christopher
• Pitcher Garrett

Classifications

• H04W16/18

  Network planning tools · CPC title

• H04W24/10 Primary

  Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} · CPC title

• H04W64/006

  with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination · CPC title

• H04B17/309

  Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters · CPC title

• H04W40/246 Primary

  Connectivity information discovery · CPC title