Methods for dynamically optimizing a flying Ad-Hoc network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11672004-B2
Application number	US-202117397335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2021
Priority date	May 7, 2020
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems for dynamically optimizing a Flying Ad-Hoc Network (“FANET”). A server that manages the FANET can receive information relating to the network activity of user devices connected to the FANET. Examples of the type of information included can include the user devices' locations, network connection quality, and network traffic volume dedicated to a Unified Endpoint Management (“UEM”) system of an enterprise. The server can analyze the network activity information based on a set of rules to prioritize the user devices connected to the FANET. The server can instruct unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) in the FANET to reposition themselves to provide the best connection for higher priority user devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for dynamically optimizing a flying ad-hoc network (“FANET”), comprising:
receiving location information of first and second user devices that connect to a unified endpoint management (“UEM”) system via the FANET;
determining that the first user device should receive priority to network resources over the second user device; and
providing instructions to re-position at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) in the FANET based on the priority determination and the location information.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining includes analyzing the network activity information of the first and second user devices based on a set of rules.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the network activity information indicates a volume and type of network traffic utilized by the first and second user devices, the network traffic type indicating whether the network traffic is dedicated to UEM-related activities.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the priority determination comprises at least one selected from the group of:
prioritizing user devices utilizing a greater amount of network resources dedicated to UEM-related activities;
prioritizing user devices based on a task being performed, wherein certain tasks are given priority over others; and
prioritizing user devices associated with certain users.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information is collected by a management application installed on the user devices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the priority determination is based on a calendar event that applies to the first user device and not the second user device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the priority determination includes determining that the first user device and a third user device can be served by a first UAV from a first location, wherein the repositioning includes moving the first UAV to the first location.

8. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a hardware-based processor, performs stages for dynamically optimizing a flying ad-hoc network (“FANET”), the stages comprising:
receiving location information of first and second user devices that connect to a unified endpoint management (“UEM”) system via the FANET;
determining that the first user device should receive priority to network resources over the second user device; and
providing instructions to re-position at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) in the FANET based on the priority determination and the location information.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the determining includes analyzing the network activity information of the first and second user devices based on a set of rules.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the network activity information indicates a volume and type of network traffic utilized by the first and second user devices, the network traffic type indicating whether the network traffic is dedicated to UEM-related activities.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the priority determination comprises at least one selected from the group of:
prioritizing user devices utilizing a greater amount of network resources dedicated to UEM-related activities;
prioritizing user devices based on a task being performed, wherein certain tasks are given priority over others; and
prioritizing user devices associated with certain users.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the location information is collected by a management application installed on the user devices.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the priority determination is based on a calendar event that applies to the first user device and not the second user device.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the priority determination includes determining that the first user device and a third user device can be served by a first UAV from a first location, wherein the repositioning includes moving the first UAV to the first location.

15. A system for dynamically optimizing a flying ad-hoc network (“FANET”), comprising:
a memory storage including a non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions; and
a computing device including a hardware-based processor that executes the instructions to carry out stages comprising:
receiving location information of first and second user devices that connect to a unified endpoint management (“UEM”) system via the FANET;
determining that the first user device should receive priority to network resources over the second user device; and
providing instructions to re-position at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) in the FANET based on the priority determination and the location information.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the determining includes analyzing the network activity information of the first and second user devices based on a set of rules.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the network activity information indicates a volume and type of network traffic utilized by the first and second user devices, the network traffic type indicating whether the network traffic is dedicated to UEM-related activities.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the priority determination comprises at least one selected from the group of:
prioritizing user devices utilizing a greater amount of network resources dedicated to UEM-related activities;
prioritizing user devices based on a task being performed, wherein certain tasks are given priority over others; and
prioritizing user devices associated with certain users.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the location information is collected by a management application installed on the user devices.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the priority determination includes determining that the first user device and a third user device can be served by a first UAV from a first location, wherein the repositioning includes moving the first UAV to the first location.

Assignees

• Vmware Inc

Inventors

• Shetty Rohit Pradeep
• Aluvala Suman
• Panchapakesan Ramani

Classifications

• H04W24/02 Primary

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04W84/18

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• H04W84/005

  Moving wireless networks · CPC title

• H04W24/08

  Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic · CPC title

• H04B7/18502

  Airborne stations · CPC title