Methods and systems for using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight path to coordinate an enhanced handover in 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) networks

Abstract

A method for managing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. The method may include receiving flight plan information describing a flight path of the UAV; generating one or more cell lists based on the flight plan information; and transmitting the one or more cell lists to a source cell in a wireless network in which the UAV is currently operating, wherein the one or more cell lists are used in a handover procedure between the source cell that the UAV is currently connected to and a target cell that the UAV will connect to after completing the handover procedure.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 62 / 502489, filed May 5, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference. technical field [0003] Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of managing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); and more particularly, UAV-based flight planning to manage UAVs in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks during cell handovers. Background technique [0004] The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are defining an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Traffic Management (UTM) system. Such systems attempt to propose efficient management structures for UAV traffic. In this regard, it is an attempt for UTM to act as an enabler to facilitate the widespread use of UAVs in both commercial and recreational settings, while at the same time minimizing hazards to manned air traffic and surrounding infras...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] However, in the above systems, the neighbor cell list and corresponding handover behavior are designed for typical ground-based UEs (e.g., phones) and may not be well suited for UAVs

For example, current 3GPP networks do not provide features to differentiate between variable altitude UEs and constant altitude UEs, and do not utilize UTM during the handover procedure

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