Methods and systems for using network location services in a unmanned aircraft systems traffic management framework

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11218840-B2
Application number	US-201716499190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2017
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A method for managing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. The method may include transmitting a request to monitor a location of the UAV to a location services system provided by a network operator that provides location information of the UAV based on wireless communications of the UAV in a network operated by the network operator, wherein the request to monitor the location of the UAV indicates an area of interest; receiving, from the location services system, a message that indicates a current location of the UAV as a result of the location services system detecting the UAV in the area of interest; and causing one or more remedial actions to be performed responsive to receipt of the message.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for managing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
transmitting a first request to monitor a location of the UAV and a location of an operator of the UAV to a first location services system provided by a first network operator that provides location information of the UAV based on wireless communications of the UAV in a first network operated by the first network operator, wherein the first request to monitor the location of the UAV indicates an area of interest;
receiving, from the first location services system, a first message that indicates a current location of the UAV and of the operator of the UAV as a result of the first location services system detecting the UAV in the area of interest;
determining geographical characteristics of an area between the operator of the UAV and the UAV; and
in response to receiving the first message and determining the geographical characteristics of the area between the operator of the UAV and the UAV, causing one or more remedial actions to be performed responsive to receipt of the first message when detected that the operator of the UAV has failed to maintain visual line of sight with the UAV.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message includes an identifier of the UAV and information describing the area of interest.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein prior to transmitting the first request, receiving an indication of the area of interest, wherein the area of interest is one of an area in which the UAV is not permitted and a flight plan in which the UAV is authorized to fly.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
verifying that the flight plan complies with a set of directives and constraints issued by a regulatory authority.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein transmitting the first request is performed in response to successfully verifying that the flight plan complies with the set of directives and constraints.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving subscriber information associated with the UAV and the first network; and
establishing a connection with the first location services system based on the subscriber information,
wherein the first request and the first message are transmitted through the connection.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network is one of a cellular network and a wireless local area network.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network is a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network and the first message originated from a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) of the 3GPP network.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more remedial actions include transmitting a second request to land the UAV and transmitting a third request to modify the current location of the UAV.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a set of one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to manage an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV):
transmit a first request to monitor a location of the UAV and a location of an operator of the UAV to a first location services system provided by a first network operator that provides location information of the UAV based on wireless communications of the UAV in a first network operated by the first network operator, wherein the first request to monitor the location of the UAV indicates an area of interest;
receive, from the first location services system, a first message that indicates a current location of the UAV and of the operator of the UAV as a result of the first location services system detecting the UAV in the area of interest;
determine geographical characteristics of an area between the operator of the UAV and the UAV; and
in response to receipt of the first message and determination of the geographical characteristics of the area between the operator of the UAV and the UAV, cause one or more remedial actions to be performed responsive to receipt of the first message when detected that the operator of the UAV has failed to maintain visual line of sight with the UAV.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the first message includes an identifier of the UAV and information describing the area of interest.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by the set of one or more processors of a computing device, further cause the computing device to:
prior to transmitting the first request, receive an indication of the area of interest, wherein the area of interest is one of an area in which the UAV is not permitted and a flight plan in which the UAV is authorized to fly; and
verify that the flight plan complies with a set of directives and constraints issued by a regulatory authority.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein transmitting the first request is performed in response to successfully verifying that the flight plan complies with the set of directives and constraints.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by the set of one or more processors of a computing device, further cause the computing device to:
receive subscriber information associated with the UAV and the first network; and
establish a connection with the first location services system based on the subscriber information,
wherein the first request and the first message are transmitted through the connection.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the first network is a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network and the first message originated from a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) of the 3GPP network.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the one or more remedial actions include transmitting a second request to land the UAV and transmitting a third request to modify the current location of the UAV.

17. A network device for managing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes one or more instructions that when executed by the processor cause the network device to:
transmit a first request to monitor a location of the UAV and a location of an operator of the UAV to a location services system provided by a network operator that provides location information of the UAV based on wireless communications of the UAV in a network operated by the network operator, wherein the first request to monitor the location of the UAV indicates an area of interest;
receive, from the location services system, a message that indicates a current location of the UAV and of the operator of the UAV as a result of the location services system detecting the UAV in the area of interest;
determine geographical characteristics of an area between the operator of the UAV and the UAV; and
in response to receipt of the first message and determination of the geographical characteristics of the area between the operator of the UAV and the UAV, cause one or more remedial actions to be performed responsive to receipt of the message when detected that the operator of the UAV has failed to maintain visual line of sight with the UAV.

18. The network device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more remedial actions include transmitting a second request to land the UAV and transmitting a third request to modify the current location of the

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Mahkonen Heikki
• Manghirmalani Ravi
• Takács Attila

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• G08G5/57

  for unmanned aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/55 Primary

  for a single aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/727

  from a ground station · CPC title

• B64U2201/00

  UAVs characterised by their flight controls · CPC title