Unmanned device interaction methods and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254363-B2
Application number	US-201213601140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2012
Priority date	Jul 17, 2012
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to participate in the performance of tasks, for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance, or for facilitating other interactions with such devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
circuitry for detecting a first location of an unmanned aerial device;
circuitry for obtaining data indicative of a device-detectable wireless signal path between an entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location;
circuitry for obtaining data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at a second location; and
circuitry for causing the unmanned aerial device to travel from a current location toward the first location based on the data indicative of the device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location and based on the data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the second entity and the unmanned aerial device at the second location.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a handheld device includes the circuitry for detecting a first location of an unmanned aerial device, the circuitry for obtaining data indicative of a device-detectable wireless signal path between an entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location, the circuitry for obtaining data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at a second location, and the circuitry for causing the unmanned aerial device to travel from a current location toward the first location based on the data indicative of the device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location and based on the data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the second entity and the unmanned aerial device at the second location.

3. A system comprising:
means for detecting a first location of an unmanned aerial device;
means for obtaining data indicative of a device-detectable wireless signal path between an entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location;
means for obtaining data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at a second location; and
means for causing the unmanned aerial device to travel from a current location toward the first location based on the data indicative of the device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location and based on the data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the second entity and the unmanned aerial device at the second location.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein a wearable device includes the means for causing the unmanned aerial device to travel from a current location toward the first location based on the data indicative of the device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location and based on the data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the second entity and the unmanned aerial device at the second location.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein a handheld device includes the means for detecting a first location of an unmanned aerial device, the means for obtaining data indicative of a device-detectable wireless signal path between an entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location, the means for obtaining data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at a second location, and the means for causing the unmanned aerial device to travel from a current location toward the first location based on the data indicative of the device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location and based on the data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the second entity and the unmanned aerial device at the second location.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein a device having one or more propellers includes the means for causing the unmanned aerial device to travel from a current location toward the first location based on the data indicative of the device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location and based on the data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the second entity and the unmanned aerial device at the second location.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein a vehicle having one or more wheels includes the means for detecting a first location of an unmanned aerial device the means for obtaining data indicative of a device-detectable wireless signal path between an entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location, the means for obtaining data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at a second location, and the means for causing the unmanned aerial device to travel from a current location toward the first location based on the data indicative of the device-detectable wireless signal path between the entity and the unmanned aerial device at the first location and based on the data indicative of no device-detectable wireless signal path between the second entity and the unmanned aerial device at the second location.

8. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for configuring the unmanned aerial device to perform a first observation of a particular task.

9. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for configuring the unmanned aerial device to capture biometric data relating to a human subject.

10. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for causing the unmanned aerial device to undertake an observation of a delivery task.

11. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a delivery of a package to a device associated with a recipient of the package, the wireless signal indicating at least one of the unmanned aerial device or the package or a sender of the package.

12. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for presenting navigation guidance via a display aboard the unmanned aerial device.

13. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for transmitting navigation guidance via a speaker of the unmanned aerial device.

14. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for identifying an operating mode of the unmanned aerial device audibly or visibly.

15. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for causing another unmanned aerial device to capture delivery data relating to the unmanned aerial device.

16. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for disabling one or more optical sensors of.

17. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for causing a data handling device aboard the unmanned aerial device to contain a task schedule indicating a first future delivery of a first object to a first destination and a second future delivery of a second object to a second destination.

18. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for determining whether or not an operator of the unmanned aerial device has indicated a tracking mode of the unmanned aerial device.

19. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for overriding a first task being performed by the unmanned aerial device by transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a second task to the unmanned aerial device.

20. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
means for configuring the unmanned aerial device to transmit a wireless signal indicative of having performed a pa

Assignees

• Levien Royce A
• Lord Richard T
• Lord Robert W
• Malamud Mark A
• Rinaldo Jr John D
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Levien Royce A
• Lord Richard T
• Lord Robert W
• Malamud Mark A
• Rinaldo Jr John D
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• A61M5/20 Primary

  Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically (A61M5/142 {, A61M5/46} take precedence; {hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54}) · CPC title

• A61M5/002

  Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics (needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A63H27/12

  Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops · CPC title

• G05B19/00

  Program-control systems · CPC title