Selection of networks for communicating with unmanned aerial vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016300493-A1
Application number	US-201414282378-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2014
Priority date	May 20, 2014
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device receives a request for a flight path, for a UAV, from a first location to a second location, and calculates the flight path based on the request for the flight path. The device determines network requirements for the flight path based on the request, and determines scores for multiple networks with coverage areas covering a portion of the flight path. The device selects a particular network, from the multiple networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the multiple networks. The device causes a connection with the UAV and the particular network to be established, and generates flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides, via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a device, a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location; calculating, by the device, the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path; determining, by the device, network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path; determining, by the device, scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path,
the scores for the plurality of networks being based on information associated with the plurality of networks including at least one of:
availability information,
security information,
cost information,
bandwidth information, or
network resources information;

selecting, by the device, a first particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks; causing, by the device, a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network to be established; generating, by the device, flight path instructions for the flight path; providing, by the device and via the connection with the first particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path; receiving, by the device, network connectivity information,
the network connectivity information including information associated with a strength of a signal between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network;
selecting, by the device, a second particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information; and causing, by the device, a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the second particular network to be established.

2 . The method of claim 1 , where determining the network requirements for the flight path comprises at least one of:
determining the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location; determining the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; determining the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks; determining the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks; determining the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks; determining the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks; or determining the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.

3 . The method of claim 1 , where determining the scores for the plurality of networks comprises:
assigning weights to the information associated with the plurality of networks; and calculating a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights.

4 . The method of claim 1 , where selecting the first particular network comprises:
determining a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and selecting the first particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks.

5 . The method of claim 1 , where receiving the network connectivity information comprises:
receiving, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the network connectivity information during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and where the method further comprises:
determining whether to select another particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information.

6 . The method of claim 1 , where selecting the second particular network comprises:
selecting the second particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that the signal will be lost.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining the connection with the first particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that communication between the first particular network and the unmanned aerial vehicle will continue.

8 . A system, comprising:
one or more devices, at least partially implemented in hardware, to: receive a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location; calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path; determine network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path; determine scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path,
the scores for the plurality of networks being based on information associated with the plurality of networks including at least one of:
availability information,
security information,
cost information,
bandwidth information, or
network resources information;

select a first particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks; cause a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network to be established; generate flight path instructions for the flight path; provide, via the connection with the first particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path; receive network connectivity information,
the network connectivity information including information associated
with a strength of a signal between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network;
select a second particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information; and
cause a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the second particular network to be established.

9 . The system of claim 8 , where, when determining the network requirements for the flight path, the one or more devices are to at least one of:
determine the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location; determine the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; determine the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks; determine the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks; determine the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks; determine the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks; or determine the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.

10 . The system of claim 8 , where, when determining the scores for the plurality of networks, the one or more devices are to:
assign weights to the information associated with the plurality of networks; and calculate a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights.

11 . The system of c

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Ubhi Gurpreet
• Srivastava Ashok N
• Pasko Douglas M
• Batla Hani
• Kantor Igor

Classifications

• B64U2201/00

  UAVs characterised by their flight controls · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title

• G08G5/727

  from a ground station · CPC title

• G08G5/76

  for monitoring atmospheric conditions · CPC title

• G08G5/74

  for monitoring terrain · CPC title