Unmanned aerial vehicle platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783293-B2
Application number	US-201414282145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2014
Priority date	May 20, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A device receives a request for a flight path of UAV from a first location to a second location in a region, and determines, based on credentials associated with the UAV, whether the UAV is authenticated for utilizing the device and a network. The device determines, when the UAV is authenticated, capability information for the UAV based on the request and component information associated with the UAV. The device calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the capability information and one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, or regulatory information associated with the region. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path based on one or more of the weather information, the air traffic information, the obstacle information, or the regulatory information associated with the region, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a device and from an unmanned aerial vehicle, a request for a flight path, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location in a region, for the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel,
the device being different from the unmanned aerial vehicle, and
the request including credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

comparing, by the device, the credentials with information associated with an authority;
authenticating, by the device and based on comparing the credentials with the information associated with the authority, the unmanned aerial vehicle,
the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to interact with the device in connection with the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,
the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to connect with a network,
the network being associated with the device, and

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is registered with the authority;

determining, by the device and when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, capability information for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the request and component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;
calculating, by the device, the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the capability information, regulatory information associated with the region, and one or more of:
weather information,
air traffic information, or
obstacle information,

generating, by the device, flight path instructions for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the regulatory information and one or more of:
the weather information,
the air traffic information,
or the obstacle information,

providing, by the device, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,
the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the flight path instructions, and
the unmanned aerial vehicle including communication functionality to extend wireless communication service;

receiving, by the device and via the network, feedback from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, by the unmanned aerial vehicle;
determining, by the device, whether to modify the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the feedback;
calculating, by the device, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback; and
generating, by the device, modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback; and
providing, by the device, the modified flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle,
the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the modified flight path instructions.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
denying the request, based on the unmanned aerial vehicle not being authenticated; and
providing, based on denying the request, a message to the unmanned aerial vehicle indicating that the request, is denied.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a map for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the regulatory information and one or more of:
the weather information,
the air traffic information, or
the obstacle information, and

providing the map to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a notification indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle arrived at the second geographical location based on the unmanned aerial vehicle arriving at the second geographical location.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the method further comprises:
receiving at least one of:
the weather information,
the air traffic information,
the obstacle information, or
the regulatory information; and

storing the at least one of:
the weather information,
the air traffic information,
the obstacle information, or
the regulatory information.

6. A system, comprising:
a storage device to store:
weather information associated with a region,
air traffic information associated with the region,
obstacle information associated with the region, and
regulatory information associated with the region; and

one or more devices to:
receive, from an unmanned aerial vehicle, a request for a flight path, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location in the region, for the unmanned aerial vehicle,
the one or more devices being different from the unmanned aerial vehicle, and
the request including credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

compare the credentials with information associated with an authority;
authenticate, based on comparing the credentials with the information associated with the authority, the unmanned aerial vehicle,
the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to interact with the one or more devices in connection with the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,
the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to connect with a network,
the network being associated with the one or more devices, and the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is registered with the authority;

determine, when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, capability information for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the request and component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;
calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the capability information, regulatory information associated with the region and one or more of:
the weather information,
the air traffic information, or
the obstacle information,

generate flight path instructions for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the regulatory information and one or more of:
the weather information,
the air traffic information, or
the obstacle information,

provide the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,
the unmanned aerial vehicle including communication functionality to extend wireless communication service;

receive, via the network, feedback from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, by the unmanned aerial vehicle;
determine whether to modify the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the feedback;
calculate, based on determining to modify the flight path, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback;
generate modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback; and
provide the modified flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle,
the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06Q10/00 Primary

  Administration; Management · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

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

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• G05D1/101

  specially adapted for aircraft · CPC title

• B64C39/024 Primary

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