UAV flight corridor allocation in cellular networks

US11922818B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ) · SE

Inventors

• Jens Poscher · Aachen, DE
• Ralph Detke · Herzogenrath, DE
• Stefan Eichinger · Gerlingen, DE
• Pedro Tercero · Madrid, ES

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 2018
• Grant date: Mar 5, 2024
• Expiry date: Nov 22, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B7/18506
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system, method, node, apparatus, and computer program for allocating a flight corridor for use by an UAV (10) for traveling from a starting point to a destination point is presented. The UAV (10) is connected to a cellular network and associated with an Application Server, UAV-AS, (100) being responsible for an own geographical service area (150) where the UAV (10) is located. The UAV-AS (100) is maintaining a set of predetermined flight corridor segments in the geographical service area (150). The method is performed by the UAV-AS (100) and comprises receiving a request for allocation of a flight corridor for use by the UAV (10), the request comprising a starting point and a destination point. The method further comprises allocating a flight corridor being seamlessly covered by the cellular network and allowing a seamless control of the UAV (10) by the UAV-AS (100), the flight corridor comprising a concatenation of flight corridor segments and bridging the starting point and the destination point. The method also comprises sending a response comprising an identifier of the allocated flight corridor.