Uav network design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017094530-A1
Application number	US-201514866277-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Mar 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to drone-assisted mesh network design are disclosed. Exemplary methods for wireless networking and communications may include identifying a geographic area, receiving topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height, the topographic data relating to the geographic area, analyzing the topographic data to identify one or more characteristics, determining a location relating to a first wireless network device based at least in part on the analyzing, and determining one or more locations each relating to one or more other wireless network devices within the geographic area based at least in part on the location relating to the first wireless network device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for wireless networking and communications, comprising:
identifying a geographic area; receiving topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height, the topographic data relating to the geographic area; analyzing the topographic data to identify one or more characteristics; determining a location relating to a first wireless network device based at least in part on the analyzing; and determining one or more locations each relating to one or more other wireless network devices within the geographic area based at least in part on the location relating to the first wireless network device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at a second predetermined height different from the first predetermined height.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographic data comprises:
Lidar data.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving image data; and analyzing the image data and the topographic data to identify the one or more characteristics.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographic data comprises:
image data obtained from one or more points within the geographic area.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographic data comprises:
image data and distance data.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the distance data comprises:
one or more distances based at least in part on the location relating to the first wireless network device and a surface of one or more structures.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographic data comprises:
image data and direction data.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographic data comprises:
data describing a spatial relationship between two or more structures.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographic data comprises:
data describing one or more characteristics of a wireless signal inhibitor.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location relating to the first wireless network device comprises:
comparing a potential location on a surface of one or more structures.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise:
at least one of a color, a texture, an edge shape, an outline, an object classification, a material, a reflectivity, an orientation, a position, one or more relative heights, one or more relative distances, or a shape.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the topographic data comprises:
comparing topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at two or more positions.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned air vehicle comprises:
a drone.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more locations relating to the one or more other wireless network devices within the geographic area comprises:
identifying one or more sight paths between the location relating to the first wireless network device and at least some of the one or more locations relating to the one or more other wireless network devices.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
displaying the one or more sight paths on a representation of the geographic area.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a mesh network design based at least in part on the determined location relating to a first wireless network device or the determined one or more locations each relating to one or more other wireless network devices.

18 . An apparatus for wireless networking and communications, comprising:
a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to: identify a geographic area; receive topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height, the topographic data relating to the geographic area; analyze the topographic data to identify one or more characteristics; determine a location relating to a first wireless network device based at least in part on the analyzing; and determine one or more locations each relating to one or more other wireless network devices within the geographic area based at least in part on the location relating to the first wireless network device.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the topographic data comprises:
data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle in two or more directions.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the code executable by a processor to:
identify a geographic area; receive topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height, the topographic data relating to the geographic area; analyze the topographic data to identify one or more characteristics; determine a location relating to a first wireless network device based at least in part on the analyzing; and determine one or more locations each relating to one or more other wireless network devices within the geographic area based at least in part on the location relating to the first wireless network device.

Assignees

• Vivint Inc

Inventors

• Ross Kevin

Classifications

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• G06V20/13

  Satellite images · CPC title

• G06K9/0063

  Physics · mapped topic

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• G06K9/00637

  Physics · mapped topic