Retransmission of signals using aircraft

Abstract

An electronic device and method for retransmission of a signal using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are disclosed. The electronic device includes a controller that controls movement of the UAV to a position within a signal coverage area associated with a remote transmitter. The electronic device further includes a receiver circuit disposed on the UAV that receives a first signal from the remote transmitter. The first signal corresponds to a first wireless communication standard. The electronic device further includes a signal processor that processes the first signal to obtain a second signal, and a transmitter circuit that controls one or more antennas disposed on the UAV to transmit a beam of the second signal to the electronic device that includes the one or more receivers. The second signal corresponds to a second wireless communication standard, which may be the same as or different from the first wireless communication standard.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications / incorporation by reference This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 869,685, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July 20, 2022. The above application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to signal retransmission and amplification for mobile and stationary receivers. In particular, various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electronic devices and methods for signal retransmission using aircraft. [Background technology]

[0003] Advances in the field of wireless communications have led to the development of various technologies that enable the transmission or reception of data through over-the-air (OTA) signals. For example, devices can receive data through Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth® signals, radio signals, signals from terrestrial broadcast stations, signals from telecommunication base stations, and satellite signals. Unlike wired communications, wireless communications require devices to be within the coverage area of ​​a remote transmitter. In some cases, devices located in difficult terrain or very remote locations with few transmitters may experience poor signal reception. In addition, certain signals, particularly those transmitted from terrestrial transmitters, are subject to terrestrial interference or loss due to various obstacles, such as trees, hills, buildings, and mountain ridges. Some signals are also subject to diffraction based on the wavelength or size of the obstacle. Low frequencies may diffract around large obstacles, such as hills. Similarly, cellular communications signals may be dominated by ground-plane effects when traveling across rooftops in urban environments. Such signals may then diffract over the roof edge and onto the road where they may be subject to multipath propagation, absorption and other effects. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The limitations and disadvantages of conventional approaches will become apparent to those skilled in the art by comparing the described system with certain aspects of the present disclosure illustrated in the remainder of this application and with reference to the drawings.

[0005] An electronic apparatus and method for retransmission of signals using an aircraft is provided substantially as hereinbefore illustrated and / or described in connection with at least one of the drawings and more fully set forth in the claims.

[0006] These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements throughout. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network environment for aircraft-based signal retransmission, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the example electronic device of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3C] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary operation for charging an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary operation for charging an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using one or more aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The disclosed electronic device and method for retransmitting signals using an aircraft may find implementation as described below. Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure provide an electronic device that can provide a method for retransmitting signals using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The electronic device (which may be mounted, for example, on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as a drone or a tethered balloon in the air (below the stratosphere)) may be configured to retransmit signals (such as radio frequency (RF) or optical signals) from one or more remote transmitters to one or more receivers located within electronic devices such as smartphones, wearable devices, vehicles, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

[0009] The electronic device may, at any point in time, receive a first signal (e.g., a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, a satellite signal carrying geolocation data or media content, a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi signal, or a Bluetooth® signal) from a remote transmitter based on its location within a signal coverage area associated with the remote transmitter. By way of example and not limitation, the remote transmitter may be one of a base station for a cellular network, a transponder for a satellite, a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi repeater, a repeater for a cellular network, a Bluetooth® transmitter, or an optical transmitter that uses optical signals for point-to-point communication. The electronic device may then be configured to process the received first signal to obtain a second signal and transmit a beam of the second signal to the electronic device using one or more antennas. The second signal may correspond to a wireless communication standard that may be the same or different from the wireless communication standard associated with the first signal. For example, the first signal and the second signal may both correspond to the ATSC standard. The disclosed electronic device can achieve satisfactory signal reception (from a remote transmitter) by retransmitting the first signal, while avoiding common challenges associated with terrestrial and / or atmospheric conditions that affect signal reception over longer distances or over difficult terrain such as hills, trees, buildings, or mountain ridges. The present disclosure provides a cost-effective and reliable method for achieving wireless communication or reception between remote transmitter(s) and terrestrial stationary or mobile receivers compared to conventional solutions.

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network environment for retransmission of signals using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment 100. The network environment 100 may include an electronic device 102, a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 104, a remote transmitter 106, and an electronic device 108. The electronic device 102, the first UAV 104, the remote transmitter 106, and the electronic device 108 may communicate with each other via one or more networks (e.g., a wireless communication network 110). The electronic device 102 may include a controller 112, receiver circuitry 114, a signal processor 116, transmit circuitry 118, one or more antennas 120, and charging circuitry 122. Also illustrated is a user 124 that may be associated with the electronic device 108.

[0011] The electronic device 102 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that can be configured to retransmit signals received from a remote transmitter (e.g., remote transmitter 106) to one or more receivers (e.g., electronic device 108). The electronic device 102 may be mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (e.g., first UAV 104) such that it can move between locations within the airspace where the electronic device 102 can receive signals from the remote transmitter(s) and transmit signals back to the remote receiver(s) (received from one or more receivers on the ground). Examples of the electronic device 102 may include, but are not limited to, a signal repeater, a multi-band repeater, a wireless range extender for one or more signal bands, a computing device coupled to RF circuitry, an airborne stationary repeater, a balloon-lofted internet access platform, a smartphone, a mobile phone, an optical repeater, or a communication device on the first UAV 104.

[0012] The first UAV 104 and other UAVs can be vehicles that can be configured to remain airborne for at least the duration of operation of the electronic device 102. The first UAV 104 can operate as a stationary aircraft or a moving vehicle that carries the electronic device 102 during flight and tracks a remote transmitter (e.g., remote transmitter 106) or receiver (such as the electronic device 108) to remain within direct line-of-sight (LOS) for communication. Examples of the first UAV 104 can include, but are not limited to, a drone, a tethered balloon in the air (below the stratosphere), or any inanimate object that can remain airborne. If the first UAV 104 is a tethered balloon in the air, the electronic device 102 can provide one-way data communication and two-way command and control.

[0013] The remote transmitter 106 can be configured to transmit a first signal associated with one or more service providers. According to some embodiments, the remote transmitter can only broadcast the first signal. According to other embodiments, the remote transmitter can also receive a signal from a remote receiver, such as the electronic device 102. The first signal can correspond to, for example, an RF signal or an optical signal. The remote transmitter 106 can be associated with one or more service providers that can follow a standard broadcast protocol or a common channel broadcast protocol. Examples of service providers can include, but are not limited to, a satellite broadcasting company, a terrestrial broadcasting company, a digital television broadcasting company, a cellular signal transceiver, or a Wi-Fi transceiver.

[0014] 1 is provided by way of example only, and therefore such example should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be applicable to other implementations of the remote transmitter 106. Examples of the remote transmitter 106 may include, but are not limited to, a base station for a cellular network, a transponder for a satellite, a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi repeater, a repeater for a cellular network, a Bluetooth transmitter, or an optical transmitter that uses optical signals for point-to-point communication.

[0015] The electronic device 108 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to receive a beam of a second signal (i.e., a retransmission or repeat of the first signal) via transmit circuitry 118 of the electronic device 102, which may be attached to the first UAV 104. The electronic device 108 may include one or more RF antennas (not shown) that receive the beam of the second signal from the electronic device 102.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the electronic device 108 may be in a static state, corresponding to a fixed geolocation within a geographic area, such as a remote campground or home. In another embodiment, the electronic device 108 may be located in or on a vehicle, which may be in a moving state. For example, the electronic device 108 may be located inside a van, bus, boat, or car.

[0017] 1 is presented by way of example only, and therefore such example should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be applicable to other implementations of electronic device 108. Examples of electronic device 108 may include, but are not limited to, a computing device, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop, a gaming device, a monitor, a set-top box, a mainframe machine, a server, a computer workstation, and / or a consumer electronics (CE) device.

[0018] The wireless communication network 110 may include a medium that enables two or more wireless nodes of the plurality of wireless nodes to communicate with each other. For example, the wireless communication network 110 may include a medium that enables the electronic device 102 and / or other network devices within the wireless communication network 110 to communicate with each other. The wireless communication network 110 may be established in accordance with the Institute of Electricals and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards for infrastructure mode (Basic Service Set (BSS) configuration) or, in some specific cases, in ad hoc mode (Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) configuration). The wireless communication network 110 may be established between different pairs of wireless nodes of the plurality of wireless nodes.

[0019] The wireless communication network 110 can be a wireless sensor network (WSN), a mobile wireless sensor network (MWSN), a wireless ad hoc network, a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), a wireless mesh network (WMN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, or an Evolved High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA+) network. The wireless communication network 110 can be, but is not limited to, 802.3, 802.15.1, 802.16 (Wireless Local Loop), 802.20 (Mobile Broadband Wireless Access), etc. Access:MBWA), 802.11-1997 (legacy version), 802.15.4, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11e, 802.11i, 802.11f, 802.11c, (European regulation specific) 802.11h, 802.11n, (Japanese regulation specific) 802.11j, 802.11p, 802.11ac, 802.11ad, 802.11a It may operate in accordance with IEEE standards such as 802.11 wireless standards or amendments, which may include 802.11h, 802.11aj, 802.11ax, 802.11ay, 802.11az, 802.11hr (high data rate), 802.11af (white space spectrum), 802.11-2007, 802.11-2008, 802.11-2012, and 802.11-2016.

[0020] The wireless communication network 110 can be established to use different types of communication, such as short-range or long-range communication, for different pairs of wireless nodes. The short-range communication can be point-to-point, point-to-point line-of-sight (LOS), or point-to-multipoint communication. Examples of protocols for short-range communication include, but are not limited to, radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless USB, dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), and near field communication (NFC) (e.g., NFC peer-to-peer), Bluetooth®, or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE). Other example protocols for different types of communication include, but are not limited to, ZigBee, personal area network (PAN), Wi-Max, wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), and local multipoint distribution service (LMDS).

[0021] The controller 112 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and / or interfaces that may be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 to a position within a signal coverage area associated with the remote transmitter 106. The controller 112 may be configured to control all components of the electronic device 102. Example implementations of the controller 112 may be an x86-based processor, a graphical processing unit (GPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a microcontroller, a central processing unit (CPU), and / or combinations thereof.

[0022] The receiver circuit 114 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and / or interfaces that may be configured to receive a first signal from the remote transmitter 106. In the case of point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication, the receiver circuit 114 may receive one or more signals from each of the electronic device 108 and the remote transmitter 106. The receiver circuit 114 may be located on the first UAV 104 as part of the electronic apparatus 102. The receiver circuit 114 may include, for example, one or more radio frequency (RF) antennas, one or more optical receivers (for free-space optical communications), downconverter(s), mixer(s), demodulator(s), demultiplexer(s), filter(s), etc.

[0023] The signal processor 116 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to process a first signal (received from the remote transmitter 106) to obtain a second signal. The first signal may be processed through a series of signal processing operations to obtain a second signal before the first signal can be retransmitted. Such operations (e.g., noise reduction operations, signal amplification, echo cancellation, signal regeneration, etc.) are well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore, for the sake of brevity, details of such operations are omitted from this disclosure. According to certain embodiments, the signal processor 116 may be a digital signal processor, an RF signal booster, an electro-optical repeater, an optical regenerator, etc.

[0024] The transmitter circuitry 118 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and / or interfaces that may be configured to transmit the second beam of signals to the electronic device 108 or other receiver. The second beam of signals may be transmitted via one or more antennas 120. The transmitter circuitry 118 may include, for example, one or more RF antennas (which may be the same as those in the receiver circuitry 114), one or more optical receivers (for free-space optical communications), upconverter(s), mixer(s), modulator(s), multiplexer(s), filter(s), etc.

[0025] The one or more antennas 120 can be configured to transmit and receive signals associated with the remote transmitter 106 and the electronic device 108. The one or more antennas 120 can be configured to receive a first signal from the remote transmitter 106 and transmit a second signal to the electronic device 108. The second signal can be derived from the first signal. The received first signal can include at least one of an RF signal or an optical signal. By way of example and not limitation, each of the received first and second signals can include a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, a satellite signal carrying geolocation data or media content, a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station (e.g., an ATSC signal), a Wi-Fi signal, or a Bluetooth signal. Examples of the one or more antennas 120 include, but are not limited to, a directional antenna, a multi-band antenna, a radio antenna, a quadrifilar antenna, a loop antenna, a patch antenna or a microstrip antenna, a phased array antenna, a dipole antenna, a choke ring antenna, a helical antenna, or a planar ring antenna.

[0026] The charging circuitry 122 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to control the charging of a battery that may be included in the first UAV 104. In one embodiment, the charging circuitry 122 may be configured to receive a directional beam of optical energy from an optical power transmitter that may be included in a battery charger. In another embodiment, the charging circuitry 122 may be configured to receive power directly via a cable from a battery charger coupled to a charging station.

[0027] In operation, the electronic device 102 can receive a trigger input, for example, to turn on the electronic device 102 or to activate a mode. The electronic device 102 can control the movement of the first UAV 104 based on this input. If the first UAV 104 is a balloon, the trigger input can cause the balloon to inflate and / or be released to a location (i.e., a stationary airborne location) within the signal coverage area of ​​the remote transmitter 106 (below the stratosphere). The trigger input can be received directly through an interface built into the electronic device 102 and / or through the electronic device 108. For example, the electronic device 102 can be configured to receive the trigger input through an I / O device (shown in FIG. 2 ) or a network interface (also shown in FIG. 2 ) of the electronic device 102.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the electronic device 102 can be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 to a position within the signal coverage area of ​​the remote transmitter 106. The remote transmitter 106 can be, for example, a base station of a cellular network, a transponder of a satellite, a terrestrial broadcast station, a TV transmitter (e.g., an ATSC or (Digital Video Broadcast) DVB transmitter), a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi repeater, a repeater for a cellular network, a Bluetooth transmitter, an optical transmitter using an optical signal for point-to-point communication, and the like.

[0029] The electronic device 102 can be configured to scan and detect a first signal from a remote transmitter 106 at its location. The remote transmitter 106 may or may not always be within the direct LOS of the electronic device 108 (i.e., the electronic device 108 including the receiver(s). The position of the electronic device 102 can be maintained such that the electronic device 108 on the ground (mounted on the first UAV 104) is within line of sight (LOS) of the electronic device 102. Control of the movement of the first UAV 104 is described, for example, in Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C.

[0030] The first signal can be an RF signal or an optical signal transmitted by the remote transmitter 106. By way of example and not limitation, the first signal can include a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, a satellite signal carrying geolocation data, media content, or Internet data, a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station (e.g., a Digital Television (DTV) or Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) signal), a Wi-Fi signal, or a Bluetooth® signal. The receiver circuit 114 of the electronic device 102 can receive the first signal from the remote transmitter 106 based on its location. The first signal can correspond to a first wireless communication standard and can be associated with a type of service provider, such as a satellite data provider, a cable TV service provider, a cellular service provider, an Internet service provider, or any short-range / long-range, point-to-point, or point-to-multipoint communication service provider. Reception of the first signal is described, for example, in FIG. 3C .

[0031] The signal processor 116 can be configured to process the first signal after reception to obtain a second signal. The second signal can correspond to a second wireless communication standard, which can be the same as or different from the first wireless communication standard associated with the first signal. By way of example and not limitation, the second signal can be a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial or satellite broadcast station, a Wi-Fi signal, or a Bluetooth® signal. The content of both the first and second signals can remain the same, but the second signal can be processed for noise reduction, amplification, and / or conversion to a form suitable for a communication standard different from the communication standard associated with the first signal. For example, if the first signal is a first ATSC signal received from a remote transmitter 106 (e.g., a terrestrial broadcast station), the second signal can be a second ATSC signal or a Wi-Fi signal carrying the content of the ATSC signal received from the remote transmitter 106. As another example, if the first signal is a cellular signal (e.g., according to the 4G LTE standard), the second signal can be a Wi-Fi signal that carries the content of the cellular signal. Signal processing is described, for example, in FIG. 3C.

[0032] The transmitter circuitry 118 of the electronic device 102 can control one or more antennas 120 disposed on the first UAV 104 to transmit a beam of a second signal to an electronic device 108 that includes one or more receivers. According to an embodiment, the first wireless communication standard can correspond to a first frequency band, and the second wireless communication standard can correspond to a second frequency band, which can be different from the first frequency band. Thus, the second signal can be transmitted in the second frequency band, which can be different from the first frequency band in which the first signal was received from the remote transmitter 106. Control of the one or more antennas 120 is described, for example, with respect to FIG. 3C .

[0033] In an exemplary scenario, the electronic device 108 used by the user 124 may experience weak signal coverage because the user 124 is located in a remote environment or in an environment that includes difficult terrain, such as hills, mountain ridges, or other ground obstacles. In such a scenario, a user input may be provided, for example, to turn on the electronic device 102 or to activate a mode. Based on the user input, the electronic device 102 may control the movement (i.e., flight) of the first UAV 104 to a position within the signal coverage area of ​​the remote transmitter 106. The electronic device 102 may receive a first signal (e.g., a weak signal with a low SNR) from the remote transmitter 106 at its location (while still disposed on the first UAV 104) and transmit a second signal (after processing the first signal to obtain a second signal) to the electronic device 108, which includes one or more receivers. The electronic device 102 may transmit a directional beam of the second signal to one or more receivers included in the electronic device 108. Thus, the first UAV 104 and the electronic device 102 can cooperate to provide effective and optimal signal reception to the electronic device 108 (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet, etc.) on the ground.

[0034] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the example electronic device of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The description of Figure 2 is provided with reference to the elements of Figure 1. Figure 2 illustrates an electronic device 102. The electronic device 102 may include circuitry 202, memory 204, a processor 206, input / output (I / O) devices 208, a network interface 210, one or more antennas 120, and a controller 112. The circuitry 202 may include receiver circuitry 114, transmitter circuitry 118, and charging circuitry 122. The processor 206 may include a signal processor 116. The I / O devices 208 may include a display device 212. The network interface 210 may connect the electronic device 102 to a remote transmitter 106 and an electronic device 108 via a wireless communication network 110.

[0035] Circuitry 202 may include suitable logic, circuits, and / or interfaces that can be configured to execute program instructions associated with different operations performed by electronic device 102. Circuitry 202 may include one or more specialized processing units that may be implemented as independent processors. In some embodiments, one or more specialized processing units may be implemented as an integrated processor or a group of processors that collectively perform the functions of the one or more specialized processing units. Circuitry 202 may be implemented based on multiple processor technologies known in the art. Example implementations of circuitry 202 may be an X86-based processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a microcontroller, a central processing unit (CPU), and / or other control circuitry.

[0036] The memory 204 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to store one or more instructions executed by the circuit 202. The memory 204 may be configured to store the first signal. The memory 204 may store speed information associated with the vehicle. The memory 204 may be further configured to store a battery level of the first UAV 104. Example implementations of the memory 204 may include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), CPU cache, and / or a secure digital (SD) card.

[0037] The processor 206 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to execute a set of instructions stored in the memory 204. The processor 206 may be configured to execute program instructions associated with different operations performed by the electronic device 102. Examples of processor technologies may include, but are not limited to, central processing units (CPUs), X86-based processors, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processors, complex instruction set computing (CISC) processors, graphical processing units (GPUs), and other processors.

[0038] The I / O device 208 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to receive input and provide output based on the received input. The I / O device 208 may include a variety of input / output devices that may be configured to communicate with the circuit 202. In one example, the electronic device 108 may display notification information corresponding to the battery level of the first UAV 104 (via a display device 212 associated with the I / O device 208). Examples of the I / O device 208 may include, but are not limited to, a touch screen, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a display device (e.g., the display device 212), a microphone, or a speaker.

[0039] The display device 212 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to display notification information corresponding to the battery level of the first UAV 104. The display device 212 may be a touch screen that allows a user to provide user input via the display device 212. The touch screen may be at least one of a resistive touch screen, a capacitive touch screen, or a thermal touch screen. The display device 212 may be implemented through a number of known technologies, such as, but not limited to, at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, a plasma display, or an organic LED (OLED) display technology, or other display devices. According to an embodiment, the display device 212 may refer to a display screen of a head-mounted device (HMD), a smart glasses device, a see-through display, a projection display, an electrochromic display, or a transparent display.

[0040] The network interface 210 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to facilitate communication between the electronic device 102, the first UAV 104, and the electronic device 108 over the wireless communication network 110. The network interface 210 may be implemented using various known technologies to support wired or wireless communication between the electronic device 102 and the wireless communication network 110. The network interface 210 may include, but is not limited to, an antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a coder-decoder (CODEC) chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, or a local buffer circuit.

[0041] The network interface 210 may be configured to communicate via wireless communication with a network, such as the Internet, an intranet, a wireless network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN), or a metropolitan area network (MAN). The wireless communication may be configured to use one or more of a number of communication standards, protocols, and technologies, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Extended Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, or IEEE 802.11n), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Light Fidelity (Li-Fi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-MAX), protocols for email, instant messaging, and short message service (SMS). Various operations of circuitry 202 for retransmission of signals using unmanned aerial vehicles are further described, for example, in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5, and 6.

[0042] FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The description of FIG. 3A will be provided in conjunction with elements of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary scenario 300A. Scenario 300A includes a vehicle 302 moving over hilly terrain. Also shown are a first remote transmitter 304 and a second remote transmitter 306, which may be configured to have functionality similar to the remote transmitter 106 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the first remote transmitter 304 and the second remote transmitter 306 illustrated in FIG. 3A are provided by way of example only, and therefore, such example should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present disclosure may also be applicable to other types of remote transmitters 106, such as a base station for a cellular network, a transponder for a satellite, an ATSC / DVB transmitter, a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi repeater, a repeater for a cellular network, a Bluetooth transmitter, an optical transmitter using an optical signal for point-to-point communication, etc.

[0043] FIG. 3A further illustrates a dashed curve indicating the boundary of a signal coverage area associated with the first remote transmitter 304. For example, as illustrated, the first UAV 104 can be initially docked to the vehicle 302. The electronic device 108 can be located inside or on the vehicle 302 (while it is moving). The vehicle 302 can be an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, or a non-autonomous vehicle, for example, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) automation levels. Other implementations of the vehicle 302 can include, but are not limited to, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and / or vehicles using a combination of one or more different renewable or non-renewable power sources. The vehicle 302 illustrated in FIG. 3A is provided by way of example only, and therefore, such example should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present disclosure can also be applicable to other types of vehicles 302, such as vans, buses, cars, boats, or other forms of vehicles. A discussion of other types of vehicles is omitted from this disclosure for the sake of brevity.

[0044] FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3B is described with reference to elements in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A. FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary scenario 300B. The exemplary scenario 300B includes a vehicle 302 moving over hilly terrain. Also illustrated are a first remote transmitter 304 and a second remote transmitter 306, each of which may be configured to have similar or identical functionality to the remote transmitter 106 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. Also illustrated is a dashed curve indicating the boundary of a signal coverage area associated with the first remote transmitter 304.

[0045] The electronic device 102 may receive user input at any time via the I / O device 208 of the electronic device 102. Based on the received user input, the controller 112 of the electronic device 102 may control the movement of the first UAV 104 to a position within the signal coverage area associated with the first remote transmitter 304. As shown in FIG. 3B , the vehicle 302 may be within the LOS of the first UAV 104. For example, in an area where signal reception is poor (such as a hilly area, a campground, or other remote location), the electronic device 102 may receive user input instructing the first UAV 104 to fly to a position within the signal coverage area associated with the first remote transmitter 304. The position of the first UAV 104 allows the electronic device 102 to receive the first signal from the first remote transmitter 304 without significant interference or loss from obstacles (such as hills, trees, or buildings).

[0046] Figure 3C illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3C is described with reference to elements in Figures 1, 2, 3A, and 3B. Figure 3C illustrates an exemplary scenario 300C. The exemplary scenario 300C includes a vehicle 302 moving over hilly terrain. Also illustrated are a first remote transmitter 304 and a second remote transmitter 306, each of which may be configured to have functionality similar to the remote transmitter 106 illustrated and described in Figure 1. Also illustrated is a dashed curve indicating the boundary of a signal coverage area associated with the first remote transmitter 304.

[0047] The vehicle 302 may at any time leave the geographic region included in the signal coverage area of ​​the first remote transmitter 304. As shown in FIG. 3C , the vehicle 302 may enter the geographic region included in the signal coverage area of ​​the second remote transmitter 306. However, obstacles may exist that affect stable, reliable, direct communication (or reception only) between the electronic device 108 (mounted on the vehicle 302) and the second remote transmitter 306. The controller 112 may be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 to a position within the signal coverage area associated with the second remote transmitter 306.

[0048] The receiver circuit 114 can be configured to receive a first signal from the second remote transmitter 306 based on the location. The first signal can correspond to a first wireless communication standard and can be received as one of an RF signal or an optical signal (i.e., pursuant to free-space laser communication). By way of example and not limitation, the first signal can include a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, a satellite signal carrying geolocation data or media content, a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi signal, or a Bluetooth signal. According to an embodiment, the first signal can be an ATSC signal or a DVB signal.

[0049] The signal processor 116 may be configured, upon receiving a first signal from the second remote transmitter 306, to process the received first signal to obtain a second signal. By way of example and not limitation, the signal processor 116 may be configured to filter the first signal to remove noise and amplify the filtered signal. If the received first signal is an optical signal, the signal processing device 116 may receive an electrical signal based on conversion of the optical signal. Because the first signal may be weak, the signal processor 116 may need to increase the power of the received first signal while ensuring that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received first signal is improved by the power gain.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the signal processor 116 and / or other RF components can be configured to convert a first signal into a second signal such that the second signal corresponds to the same or a different wireless communication standard as the wireless communication standard associated with the first signal. By way of example and not limitation, the second signal can include a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, a satellite signal carrying geolocation data or media content, a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi signal, or a Bluetooth® signal. According to some embodiments, the second signal can be the same as the first signal, i.e., an ATSC signal or a DVB signal. In such cases, the electronic device 102 can operate as an ATSC-to-ATSC re-transmitter.

[0051] In some scenarios, the second signal may correspond to a wireless communication standard different from the wireless communication standard associated with the first signal. As an example, the first signal may correspond to a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, and the second signal may correspond to a Wi-Fi signal carrying the same cellular communication data. As another example, the first signal may correspond to a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data (i.e., the first signal), and the second signal may correspond to an RF signal other than a cellular signal. The RF signal may be the same signal used by a terrestrial broadcast station for a DTV signal (e.g., an ATSC signal). As another example, the first signal may correspond to an RF signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station (e.g., content via an ATSC signal), and the second signal may correspond to a Wi-Fi signal carrying the same media content. As another example, the first signal may correspond to a satellite signal carrying geolocation or Internet data, and the second signal may correspond to a Wi-Fi signal carrying the same geolocation or Internet data. As another example, the first signal may correspond to a satellite signal carrying geolocation data, and the second signal may correspond to an RF signal (other than a cellular signal), which may be the same signal that terrestrial broadcast stations use for DTV signals (such as ATSC signals).

[0052] In some scenarios, the second signal may correspond to the same wireless communication standard as the wireless communication standard associated with the first signal. As an example, the first signal and the second signal may both correspond to RF signals carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station (e.g., for ATSC 1.0 / 3.0 transmission). In such cases, the electronic device 102 may operate as a broadcast repeater or signal retransmitter located on the first UAV 104.

[0053] After signal processing, the transmit circuitry 118 can be configured to control one or more antennas 120 located on the first UAV 104 to transmit a beam of a second signal to an electronic device 108 that includes one or more receivers. According to an embodiment, the one or more antennas 120 can be directional antennas that can be configured to receive a first signal from the second remote transmitter 306 and transmit a directional beam of the second signal to one or more receivers of the electronic device 108 located on the vehicle 302. Transmitting a directional beam can minimize dispersion of the signal in free space.

[0054] In one embodiment, the electronic device 102 can receive a first signal (such as a cellular or satellite signal) from a remote transmitter 106 and transmit a signal (received from one or more terrestrial receivers) back to a remote receiver (which can be located with or separate from the remote transmitter 106).

[0055] According to an embodiment, the second signal can be transmitted in a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band in which the first signal was received. Thus, a first wireless communication standard can correspond to the first frequency band, and a second wireless communication standard can correspond to the second frequency band. As an example, if the first signal in the first frequency band is one of a satellite signal, a DTV signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a Bluetooth® signal, or an optical signal (over free space), the second signal in the second frequency band can be an RF signal using whitespace signal frequencies (e.g., 50 MHz and 700 MHz).

[0056] According to an embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to receive speed information associated with the vehicle 302 from a data communication system associated with the vehicle 302. The data communication system can include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code capable of enabling the vehicle 302 to communicate with the electronic device 102 (and the first UAV 104) over the wireless communication network 110. The data communication system can implement known technologies supporting wired and / or wireless communication. The data communication system can include, but is not limited to, an antenna, a frequency modulation (FM) transceiver, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a coder-decoder (CODEC) chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, and / or a local buffer. The functionality of the data communication system can be the same as that of the network interface 210 described in FIG. 2, for example. Accordingly, further description of the data communication system is omitted from this disclosure for the sake of brevity.

[0057] Vehicle 302 may include an in-vehicle network (not shown) that facilitates communication between internal components of vehicle 302. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that vehicle 302 may include other suitable components or systems in addition to those illustrated herein for purposes of describing and explaining the functionality and operation of the present disclosure, and a description of such components or systems is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

[0058] The vehicle 302 may include one or more sensors (not shown) that determine speed information. The speed information associated with the vehicle 302 may be stored in a memory (locally) or on a server. The speed information may include, for example, position information and a current speed of the vehicle 302. The one or more sensors may include at least one of a position sensor, a speed sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), or an image sensor. Such sensors may be configured to obtain the speed information.

[0059] The controller 112 may be configured to determine, based on the speed information, a predicted position of the first UAV 104 relative to the predicted position of the vehicle 302 at a certain point in time. The predicted position of the first UAV 104 may correspond to an optimal position where the first UAV 104 can have the vehicle 302 within direct line of sight and can transmit directly to the electronic device 108 attached to the vehicle 302. The controller 112 may then be further configured to determine a current position of the first UAV 104. The current position of the first UAV 104 may include a ground position, a docked position, or any other position within the signal coverage area at that time. It may be determined whether there is a difference between the current position of the first UAV 104 and the predicted position of the first UAV 104 at that time. If the difference is above a threshold, the controller 112 may be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 until the difference between the current position and the predicted position of the first UAV 104 is minimized. This may enable the first UAV 104 to continuously track the movement of the vehicle 302.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to determine an expected relative speed of the first UAV 104 relative to the vehicle 302 at a certain point in time. The expected relative speed of the first UAV 104 can correspond to an optimal speed of the first UAV 104 relative to the current speed of the vehicle 302. The expected relative speed of the first UAV 104 can be determined such that the first UAV 104 can remain within the signal coverage area of ​​the first remote transmitter 304 while having the vehicle 302 (or electronic device 108) within direct line of sight for signal transmission / reception. The controller 112 can then be configured to determine a current relative speed of the first UAV 104. It can be determined whether there is a difference between the current relative speed of the first UAV 104 and the expected relative speed of the first UAV 104 at a certain point in time. If the difference is above or below the threshold, the controller 112 may be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 until the difference between the current relative velocity and the expected relative velocity of the first UAV 104 is minimized, thereby enabling the first UAV 104 to continuously track the movement (and follow the path) of the vehicle 302.

[0061] In one embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to determine an expected speed at which the vehicle 302 needs to travel relative to the speed of the first UAV 104. The expected speed of the vehicle 302 can correspond to an optimal speed that the vehicle 302 must have to remain within direct LOS of the first UAV 104. The controller 112 can then be further configured to determine a current speed of the vehicle 302. It can further determine whether there is a difference between the current speed of the vehicle 302 and the expected speed of the vehicle 302 at that time. If the difference is above or below a threshold, the transmitting circuit 118 can be configured to transmit a message including a call to change the speed of the vehicle 302 to match the expected speed. By way of example and not limitation, the message can include text, sound, or a graphical item prompting the user 124 to change the speed of the vehicle 302. The message can be displayed on a display device (e.g., display device 212) associated with the electronic device 108 or the vehicle 302.

[0062] Figure 4A illustrates exemplary operations for aircraft charging, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4A is described with reference to elements in Figures 1, 2, 3A, 3B, and 3C. Figure 4A illustrates a timeline 400A illustrating exemplary operations 404A-412A. The exemplary operations may be performed by any computer system, such as, for example, electronic device 102 and / or charging circuitry 122 of Figure 1.

[0063] The electronic device 108 can be located at a location that includes a charging station 402 and a battery charger (not shown) coupled to the charging station 402. The charging station 402 can include suitable logic, circuitry, and / or interfaces that can be configured to facilitate the transfer of electrical energy from the battery charger to the first UAV 104. The charging station 402 can also be configured to process and monitor the transfer of electrical energy. In some embodiments, the charging station 402 can include one or more power sources (e.g., battery packs) coupled to the battery charger.

[0064] In one embodiment, the charging station 402 and battery charger may be located in a public location (such as a public park or gas station) for transferring electrical energy. The battery charger may employ a charging cable, wireless charging circuitry, or an optical power transmitter (fiber-based or free-space) for transferring electrical energy. In another embodiment, the charging station 402 may be located in a private location (such as a charging adapter located at a specific location in a user's home or vehicle 302) for transferring electrical energy to the first UAV 104. The battery charger may include suitable logic, circuitry, or interfaces that may be configured to charge one or more batteries of the first UAV 104.

[0065] At 404A, a battery level of the first UAV 104 may be determined. In some embodiments, the controller 112 may be configured to determine the battery level of the first UAV 104. The first UAV 104 may include one or more sensors (not shown) that determine operational information related to the first UAV 104. The operational information may include, for example, the battery level of the first UAV 104, a battery charge indicator, a low charge indicator, and the speed of the first UAV 104. The battery level of the first UAV 104 may indicate the amount of charge remaining of the first UAV 104. The controller 112 may be configured to determine whether the battery level (e.g., a percentage value or a numerical value) is below a threshold based on the determined battery level of the first UAV 104. The threshold can be a percentage value between 0 and 1 (such as 60%, 70%, 75%, or other percentage value between 0% and 100%) or a number (such as 0.6, 0.7, 0.75, or other number).

[0066] In one embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to receive user input via an I / O device to set the threshold. In the absence of user input, the battery level can be compared to a default threshold. If the determined battery level is lower than the threshold, control can proceed to 406A. On the other hand, if the determined battery value is higher than the threshold, control can proceed to an end.

[0067] At 406A, notification information may be generated. In an embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to generate the notification information based on a determination that the battery level is below a threshold. The notification information may include text indicating a message that the user 124 should charge the battery of the first UAV 104 or replace the battery of the first UAV 104. The message may be displayed on a display device (e.g., display device 212) associated with the electronic device 108.

[0068] At 408A, the notification information may be transmitted. In an embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to transmit the generated notification information to the charging station 402. Further, the transmitting circuit 118 may be configured to transmit the generated notification information to the charging station 402, the notification information indicating a low battery level of the first UAV 104.

[0069] At 410A, a directional beam can be received. In one embodiment, charging circuitry 122 can be configured to receive a directional beam of optical energy from an optical power transmitter included in the battery charger. Charging station 402 can be configured to transmit a directional beam of optical energy (e.g., a laser beam) from the optical power transmitter (e.g., a high-power laser) to charging circuitry 122.

[0070] At 412A, charging of the battery may be controlled. In one embodiment, charging circuit 122 may be configured to control charging of one or more batteries included in first UAV 104. The one or more batteries may provide power to first UAV 104 to enable operation of various components of first UAV 104. The battery may be a source of power for one or more electrical circuits of first UAV 104. For example, the battery may be a source of power to circuit 202, memory 204, network interface 210, propulsion system, position sensor, and speed sensor.

[0071] Figure 4B illustrates exemplary operations for aircraft charging, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4B is described with reference to elements of Figures 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4A. Figure 4B illustrates a timeline 400B illustrating exemplary operations 404B-414B. The exemplary operations may be performed by any computer system, such as, for example, electronic device 102 and / or charging circuitry 122 of Figure 1.

[0072] At 404B, a battery level may be determined for the first UAV 104. In an embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to determine a battery level for the first UAV 104, for example, as described in 404A of FIG.

[0073] Notification information may be generated at 406B. In an embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to generate notification information based on determining that the battery level is below a threshold, for example, as described in 406A of FIG.

[0074] The notification information may be transmitted at 408B. In an embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to transmit the generated notification information to the charging station 402, for example, as described at 408A in FIG.

[0075] At 410B, a response may be received. In an embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to receive a response to the notification information from the charging station 402. The controller 112 may be configured to receive user input via an I / O device (e.g., the I / O device 208) associated with the electronic device 108. The user input may indicate a response to the notification information. The response may include permission to dock the first UAV 104 to the charging station 402.

[0076] At 412B, the movement of the first UAV 104 may be controlled. In one embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 until the first UAV 104 docks with the charging station 402. Benefits of controlling the movement of the first UAV 104 in this manner may include minimizing dispersion of transmitted energy and optimizing power transfer.

[0077] At 414B, power may be received. In one embodiment, the charging circuitry 122 may be configured to receive power directly via a cable from a battery charger coupled to the charging station 402. The power may be received based on a determination that the first UAV 104 is docked to the charging station 402. Charging of one or more batteries is described, for example, at 412A in FIG. 4A.

[0078] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmission of a signal using a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The description of FIG. 5 will be provided with reference to elements in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, and 4B. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary scenario 500. Scenario 500 includes a vehicle 502 in a moving state. Also shown is a remote transmitter 504, which may be configured to have similar or identical functionality to the remote transmitter 106 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the remote transmitter 504 in FIG. 5 is provided by way of example only, and therefore, such example should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present disclosure may also be applicable to other types of remote transmitters 504, such as a base station for a cellular network, a transponder for a satellite, a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi repeater, a repeater for a cellular network, a Bluetooth® transmitter, an optical transmitter using an optical signal for point-to-point communication, etc.

[0079] The controller 112 can be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 to a position within a signal coverage area associated with the remote transmitter 504, for example, as described in FIG. 3B. The receiver circuit 114 can be configured to receive a first signal from the remote transmitter 504 based on the position, for example, as described in FIG. 3C. For example, the first signal can be a satellite signal carrying geolocation data, media content, or internet data according to a first wireless communication standard. The first wireless communication standard can support satellite signal communication over the X-band (8-12 GHz) or the Ku-band (12-18 GHz). The signal processor 116 can be configured to process the received first signal to obtain a second signal, for example, as described in FIG. 3C. The transmit circuit 118 can then be configured to control one or more antennas 120 disposed on the first UAV 104 to transmit a beam of the second signal to an electronic device 108 including one or more receivers, for example, as described in FIG. 3C. The second signal may correspond to a second wireless communication standard, such as the Wi-Fi standard, which may be different from the first wireless communication standard used by the first signal. For example, instead of using the X-band or Ku-band, the content of the first signal may be carried via a Wi-Fi signal (i.e., the second signal).

[0080] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary scenario for retransmitting a signal using one or more aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The description of FIG. 6 will be provided in conjunction with elements of FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, and 5. FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary scenario 600. Scenario 600 includes a house 602 located in a mountainous region. Also shown are a first UAV 604A, a second UAV 604B, and a third UAV 604C, each of which may be configured to have similar or identical functionality to the first UAV 104 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. For simplicity, only three UAVs are shown in FIG. 6. However, in some embodiments, there may be more than three UAVs without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Also shown are a remote transmitter 106, an electronic device 108, and a user 124. Note that the electronic device 108 in FIG. 6 is provided by way of example only. The present disclosure may be applicable to other types of electronic devices 108.

[0081] As shown, for example, the electronic device 108 may be stationary, corresponding to a fixed geolocation within a geographic area, etc. For example, the electronic device 108 may be implemented as a television, a set-top box, a mobile phone, etc.

[0082] In some embodiments, a first electronic device, a second electronic device, and a third electronic device may be located on the first UAV 604A, the second UAV 604B, and the third UAV 604C, respectively. The first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the third electronic device may be configured to have functionality similar to or identical to the functionality of the electronic device 102 shown and described in FIG.

[0083] 6 further illustrates dashed curves indicating boundaries of a signal coverage area associated with the remote transmitter 106. At any point in time, the receiver circuit 114 of the electronic device 102 may detect one or more secondary UAVs (e.g., a first UAV 604A, a second UAV 604B, and a third UAV 604C) within an area that includes the remote transmitter (e.g., the remote transmitter 106) and / or the electronic device 108. Controllers (e.g., the controller 112) associated with the first, second, and third electronic devices may be configured to control the movement of the first UAV 604A, the second UAV 604B, and the third UAV 604C, respectively, so that the one or more secondary UAVs can cooperate to form a network or provide a better signal to one or more receivers. The first UAV 604A may be positioned at a location within the signal coverage area of ​​the remote transmitter 106 to receive a first signal from the remote transmitter 106. Similarly, the third UAV 604C can be positioned in a location where the electronic device 108 is within the LOS of the third UAV 604C so as to transmit to the electronic device 108. The second UAV 604B can be positioned between the first UAV 604A and the third UAV 604C so as to relay signals from the first UAV 604A to the third UAV 604C or from the third UAV 604C to the first UAV 604A.

[0084] One or more receiver circuits (such as receiver circuit 114) may be disposed on the first UAV 604A, the second UAV 604B, and the third UAV 604C, respectively, to receive a first signal. The first UAV 604A may receive a signal from the remote transmitter 106 and transmit the received signal to the second UAV 604B. Similarly, the second UAV 604B may receive a signal from the first UAV 604A and transmit the received signal to the third UAV 604C. The third UAV 604C may also receive a signal from the second UAV 604B and transmit the signal to the electronic device 108. The first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the third electronic device may cooperate as range extenders disposed on the respective UAVs.

[0085] The transmit circuitry (e.g., transmit circuitry 118) of the first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the third electronic device can be configured to control one or more antennas 120 disposed on the respective UAVs to transmit a beam of a second signal. The first signal (received by the first UAV 604A) can correspond to a first wireless communication standard. The signal processor 116 associated with the third electronic device can be configured to process the first signal to obtain a second signal and transmit the second signal to the electronic device 108. The first signal can be processed such that the second signal corresponds to a second wireless communication standard, which can be the same as or different from the first wireless communication standard. If the second wireless communication standard is the same as the first wireless communication standard, the first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the third electronic device (while disposed on their respective UAVs) can operate as signal retransmitters.

[0086] According to an embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to receive multiple first signals at a time, and the signal processor 116 can be configured to process the multiple signals for one or more receivers associated with the terrestrial electronic device 108. The transmit circuitry 118 can be configured to transmit multiple beams of second signals to the electronic device 108 after processing. As shown, for example, the received first signals can include a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data for a first receiver (e.g., a mobile phone) of the one or more receivers associated with the electronic device 108 and a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station for a second receiver (e.g., a television) of the one or more receivers associated with the electronic device 108.

[0087] The receiver circuit 114 can be configured to detect one or more repeaters (not shown) within an area that includes at least one of the remote transmitters (first remote transmitter 304 and second remote transmitter 306) and the electronic device 108. The receiver circuit 114 can be configured to include the detected one or more repeaters in the wireless communication network 110. Because the received first signal may be weak, the one or more repeaters need to provide a better signal by boosting the power of the received first signal while ensuring that the power gain is higher than the noise in the received first signal.

[0088] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations for retransmission of a signal using an aircraft vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The description of Figure 7 is provided with reference to elements of Figures 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5, and 6. Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart 700. The flowchart 1000 may include operations 702-710 and may be performed by the electronic device 102 of Figure 1 or the circuit 202 of Figure 2. The flowchart 700 may begin at 702 and proceed to 704.

[0089] At 704, movement of a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be controlled to a position within a signal coverage area associated with the remote transmitter 106. In one embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to control movement of the first UAV 104, for example, as described in FIG. 3B.

[0090] At 706, a first signal can be received from the remote transmitter 106 based on the location. In one embodiment, the receiver circuit 114 can receive the first signal from the remote transmitter 106 based on the location. The first signal can correspond to a first wireless communication standard. Receiving the first signal is described, for example, in FIG. 3C.

[0091] At 708, the received first signal may be processed to obtain a second signal. In an embodiment, the first signal may be processed by the signal processor 116 to obtain the second signal, for example, as described in FIG. 3C.

[0092] At 710, one or more antennas 120 disposed on the first UAV 104 may be controlled to transmit a beam of a second signal to the electronic device 108. In an embodiment, the transmit circuitry 118 may control one or more antennas 120 disposed on the first UAV 104 to transmit a beam of the second signal to the electronic device 108, which includes one or more receivers. The second signal may correspond to a second wireless communication standard, which may be the same or different from the first wireless communication standard. Control of the one or more antennas 120 is described, for example, in FIG. 3C . Control may proceed to an end.

[0093] Although flowchart 700 is depicted as discrete operations such as 704, 706, 708, and 710, the disclosure is not so limited. Thus, in some embodiments, such discrete operations may be further divided into additional operations, combined into fewer operations, or eliminated, depending on the implementation, without departing from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

[0094] Various embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium and / or storage medium having machine- and / or computer-executable instructions stored thereon to operate an electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102). The instructions may cause the electronic device 102 to perform operations including controlling movement of a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 104 to a position within a signal coverage area associated with a remote transmitter 106. The operations may further include retrieving a first signal from the remote transmitter 106 based on the position. The first signal may correspond to a first wireless communication standard. The first signal is received in a first frequency band. The operations may further include processing the received first signal to obtain a second signal. The operations may further include controlling one or more antennas 120 disposed on the first UAV 104 to transmit a beam of the second signal to an electronic device 108 including one or more receivers. The second signal may correspond to a second wireless communication standard, which may be the same or different from the first wireless communication standard.

[0095] An exemplary aspect of the present disclosure may provide an electronic device (such as electronic device 102 of FIG. 1 ) including a controller (such as controller 112) configured to control movement of a first UAV (such as first UAV 104) to a position within a signal coverage area associated with a remote transmitter (such as remote transmitter 106). A receiver circuit (such as receiver circuit 114) may be disposed on the first UAV 104. The receiver circuit 114 may be configured to receive a first signal from the remote transmitter 106 based on the position. The first signal may correspond to a first wireless communication standard. A signal processor (such as signal processor 116) may be configured to process the received first signal to obtain a second signal. The transmit circuit (such as transmit circuit 118) may be configured to control one or more antennas (such as one or more antennas 120) disposed on the first UAV 104 to transmit a beam of the second signal to an electronic device (such as electronic device 108) including one or more receivers. The second signal may correspond to a second wireless communication standard, which may be the same as or different from the first wireless communication standard.

[0096] In an embodiment, the first signal can be at least one of a radio frequency (RF) signal or an optical signal.

[0097] In one embodiment, each of the first signal and the second signal can be one of a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data, a satellite signal carrying geolocation data or media content, a radio frequency signal carrying media content broadcast by a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi signal, or a Bluetooth® signal.

[0098] In one embodiment, the remote transmitter 106 can be one of a base station for a cellular network, a transponder for a satellite, a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi repeater, a repeater for a cellular network, a Bluetooth® transmitter, or an optical transmitter that uses optical signals for point-to-point communication.

[0099] In an embodiment, a first wireless communication standard may correspond to a first frequency band, and a second wireless communication standard may correspond to a second frequency band, which may be different from the first frequency band.

[0100] In one embodiment, the electronic device 108 may be in a stationary state corresponding to a fixed geolocation within a geographic area.

[0101] In some embodiments, the electronic device 108 may be located in or on a vehicle (such as vehicle 302) that may be in a moving state.

[0102] In one embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to receive velocity information associated with the vehicle 302 from a data communication system associated with the vehicle 302. The controller 112 may be further configured to determine an expected position of the first UAV 104 relative to an expected position of the vehicle 302 at a point in time. The controller 112 may be further configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 until a difference between the current position and the expected position of the first UAV 104 is minimized.

[0103] In one embodiment, the controller 112 may be configured to receive velocity information associated with the vehicle 302 from a data communication system associated with the vehicle 302. The controller 112 may be further configured to determine an expected relative velocity of the first UAV 104 with respect to the vehicle 302 at a point in time, and to control the movement of the first UAV 104 until a difference between the current relative velocity and the expected relative velocity of the first UAV 104 is minimized.

[0104] In an embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to receive speed information associated with the vehicle 302 from a data communication system associated with the vehicle 302. The controller 112 can be further configured to determine an expected speed at which the vehicle 302 needs to travel relative to an expected speed of the first UAV 104. The transmitting circuit 118 can be further configured to transmit a message including a call to change the speed of the vehicle 302 to match the expected speed.

[0105] In one embodiment, electronic device 108 is placed in a location that includes a charging station (such as charging station 402 ) and a battery charger coupled to charging station 402 .

[0106] In an embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to determine a battery level of the first UAV 104. The controller 112 can be configured to generate notification information based on determining that the battery level is below a threshold. The controller 112 can be further configured to transmit the generated notification information to the charging station 402.

[0107] In some embodiments, electronic device 102 further includes charging circuitry (such as charging circuitry 122). Charging circuitry 122 may be configured to receive a directional beam of optical energy from an optical power transmitter included in a battery charger and control charging of one or more batteries included in first UAV 104.

[0108] In an embodiment, the controller 112 can be configured to receive a response to the notification information from the charging station 402. The response can include permission to dock the first UAV 104 to the charging station 402. The controller 112 can be further configured to control the movement of the first UAV 104 until the first UAV 104 docks to the charging station 402.

[0109] In some embodiments, the electronic device 102 further includes charging circuitry 122. The charging circuitry 122 may be configured to receive power directly via a cable from a battery charger coupled to the charging station 402. The power may be received based on a determination that the first UAV 104 is docked to the charging station 402.

[0110] In some embodiments, the receiver circuit 114 can be further configured to detect one or more second UAVs within an area including the remote transmitter 106 and / or the electronic device 108. The receiver circuit 114 can be further configured to establish a wireless communication network 110 between the detected one or more UAVs, the electronic device 108, and the electronic equipment 102. The one or more antennas 120 can be controlled to transmit a beam of a second signal to the electronic device 108 over the wireless communication network.

[0111] In one embodiment, the receiver circuit 114 can be further configured to detect one or more repeaters within an area that includes the remote transmitter and / or the electronic device 108. The receiver circuit 114 can be further configured to include the detected one or more repeaters in the wireless communication network 110. In one embodiment, each of the first signal and the second signal can be an ATSC signal.

[0112] The present disclosure can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The present disclosure can be implemented in a centralized manner in at least one computer system, or in a distributed manner where different elements can be distributed across several interconnected computer systems. Any computer system or other device adapted to perform the methods described herein can be suitable. The combination of hardware and software can be a general-purpose computer system that includes a computer program that, when loaded and executed, can control the computer system to perform the methods described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in hardware, including portions of integrated circuits that also perform other functions.

[0113] The present disclosure may also be embodied in a computer program product, which includes all features that enable the implementation of the methods described herein and which is capable of executing these methods when loaded into a computer system. A computer program in this context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having information processing capabilities to perform a particular function, either directly, or after a) conversion into another language, code or notation, or b) reproduction in a different content form, or both.

[0114] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but rather, it is intended to include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 100 Network Environment 102 Electronic equipment 104 First Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) 106 Remote Transmitter 108 Electronic Devices 110 Wireless Communication Network 112 Controller 114 Receiver Circuit 116 Signal Processor 118 Transmitting Circuit 120 one or more antennas 122 Charging circuit 124 users

Claims

1. 1. An electronic device comprising: a controller configured to control movement of a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to a position within a signal coverage area associated with the remote transmitter; a receiver circuit disposed on the first UAV and configured to receive a first signal corresponding to a first wireless communication standard from the remote transmitter based on the location; a signal processor configured to process the received first signal to obtain a second signal; a transmitter circuit configured to control one or more antennas disposed on the first UAV to transmit the beam of the second signal to an electronic device including one or more receivers; wherein the second signal corresponds to a second wireless communication standard that is the same as or different from the first wireless communication standard. An electronic device characterized by:

2. the first signal is at least one of a radio frequency (RF) signal or an optical signal; The electronic device of claim 1 .

3. Each of the first signal and the second signal is a cellular signal carrying cellular communication data; satellite signals carrying geolocation data or media content; radio frequency signals carrying media content broadcast by terrestrial broadcast stations; Wi-Fi signal, or Bluetooth® signals, 10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of:

4. the remote transmitter is one of a base station of a cellular network, a transponder of a satellite, a terrestrial broadcast station, a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi repeater, a repeater for a cellular network, a Bluetooth transmitter, an optical transmitter using an optical signal for point-to-point communication; The electronic device of claim 1 .

5. the first wireless communication standard corresponds to a first frequency band, and the second wireless communication standard corresponds to a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; The electronic device of claim 1 .

6. the electronic device is in a stationary state corresponding to a fixed geolocation within a geographic area; The electronic device of claim 1 .

7. The electronic device is located in or on a moving vehicle. The electronic device of claim 1 .

8. The controller receiving speed information associated with the vehicle from a data communication system associated with the vehicle; determining an expected position of the first UAV relative to an expected position of the vehicle at a point in time; controlling the movement of the first UAV until a difference between the current position of the first UAV and the predicted position is minimized; The electronic device of claim 7 further configured to:

9. The controller receiving speed information associated with the vehicle from a data communication system associated with the vehicle; determining an expected relative velocity of the first UAV with respect to the vehicle at a point in time; controlling the movement of the first UAV until a difference between the current relative velocity of the first UAV and the predicted relative velocity is minimized; The electronic device of claim 7 further configured to:

10. The controller receiving speed information associated with the vehicle from a data communication system associated with the vehicle; determining an expected speed at which the vehicle needs to travel relative to an expected speed of the first UAV; wherein the transmitting circuitry is further configured to transmit a message including a call to change the speed of the vehicle to match the expected speed.

8. The electronic device of claim 7.

11. the electronic device is placed at a location including a charging station and a battery charger coupled to the charging station; The electronic device of claim 1 .

12. receiving a directional beam of optical energy from an optical power transmitter included in said battery charger; Controlling charging of one or more batteries included in the first UAV; The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising a charging circuit configured to:

13. The controller determining a battery level of the first UAV; generating notification information based on the determination that the battery level is below a threshold; transmitting the generated notification information to the charging station; The electronic device of claim 11 further configured to:

14. The controller receiving a response to the notification information from the charging station, the response including permission to dock the first UAV at the charging station; controlling the movement of the first UAV until the first UAV docks with the charging station; The electronic device of claim 13 further configured to:

15. a charging circuit configured to receive power directly via a cable from the battery charger coupled to the charging station; The power is received based on a determination that the first UAV is docked to the charging station.

15. The electronic device of claim 14.

16. The receiver circuit includes: Detecting one or more second UAVs within an area containing at least one of the remote transmitter and the electronic device; establishing a wireless communication network between the detected one or more UAVs, the electronic device, and the electronic equipment; wherein the one or more antennas are controlled to transmit a beam of the second signal to the electronic device over the wireless communication network. The electronic device of claim 1 .

17. The receiver circuit includes: Detecting one or more repeaters within the area that includes at least one of the remote transmitter and the electronic device; including the detected one or more repeaters in the wireless communication network; 17. The electronic device of claim 16, further configured to:

18. each of the first signal and the second signal is an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) signal; The electronic device of claim 1 .

19. 1. An electronic device for Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) signal communication, comprising: a controller configured to control movement of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to a position within a signal coverage area associated with a remote transmitter; a receiver circuit disposed on the UAV and configured to receive a first ATSC signal from the remote transmitter based on the location; a signal processor configured to process the received first ATSC signal to obtain a second ATSC signal; a transmitter circuit configured to control one or more antennas disposed on the first UAV to transmit the second beam of ATSC signals to an electronic device including one or more receivers; An electronic device comprising:

20. Controlling movement of a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to a position within a signal coverage area associated with a remote transmitter; receiving a first signal corresponding to a first wireless communication standard from the remote transmitter based on the location; processing the received first signal to obtain a second signal; controlling one or more antennas disposed on the first UAV to transmit a beam of the second signal to an electronic device including one or more receivers; wherein the second signal corresponds to a second wireless communication standard that is the same as or different from the first wireless communication standard. A method characterized by:

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