Drone Cell Selection Using Flight Restrictions and Route Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication methods between drones and network devices, such as base stations, face challenges in achieving desirable communication performance due to interference and flight restrictions, leading to issues with signal quality and compliance with altitude regulations.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication method where a terminal device, such as a drone, receives indication messages from a network device to adjust its flight parameters and access appropriate cells, reporting flight route information to determine optimal communication resources, ensuring reliable downlink data transmission and compliance with flight restrictions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the drone operates at higher altitudes to improve communication coverage, then the communication range is extended, but the signal quality deteriorates due to increased interference and attenuation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverage areaVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic altitude adjustment where the drone automatically modifies its flight altitude based on real-time communication quality feedback. When signal quality deteriorates, the drone descends to optimal altitude ranges; when communication coverage needs expansion, it ascends appropriately. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between coverage area and signal quality by making altitude a variable parameter rather than a fixed constraint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where communication quality metrics (signal strength, interference levels) are continuously monitored and fed back to the flight control system. This feedback mechanism enables the drone to automatically adjust its altitude to maintain optimal communication performance, resolving the contradiction between extended coverage and signal quality through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If the drone follows a direct flight path to reduce transmission time, then the mission efficiency is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to passing through restricted zones or areas with poor signal conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission timeVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary route planning where the flight path is pre-calculated to avoid restricted zones and areas with poor communication infrastructure. The system proactively identifies and circumvents potential communication black spots before the drone enters them, ensuring continuous reliable communication without significant deviation from the optimal path, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission time and communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flight route is made dynamically adjustable based on real-time communication conditions. When the drone encounters restricted zones or poor signal areas, the system automatically modifies the flight path to maintain communication reliability while minimizing deviation from the direct route, balancing transmission time and communication reliability through adaptive route optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the drone operates in restricted zones to access target locations, then the mission capability is improved, but compliance with flight regulations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemission capabilityVSAvoidregulation compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of restricted zones using pre-loaded geographic information and regulation databases. Before the drone enters any restricted area, the system proactively notifies the operator and provides alternative route options, enabling compliance with flight regulations while maintaining mission capability through advance planning and operator decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication system acts as an intermediary between the drone and air traffic control or regulatory authorities. When approaching restricted zones, the system facilitates communication to obtain necessary permissions or coordinate flight paths, enabling the drone to operate in previously restricted areas through proper authorization channels while maintaining regulation compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Area of stationary object

If the drone uses higher transmission power to improve signal strength, then the communication range is extended, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidtransmission energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmission power adjustment where the drone continuously monitors signal quality and communication distance, then adapts transmission power accordingly. When communicating with distant ground stations, the drone increases power to extend range; when near ground stations or in good signal conditions, it reduces power to conserve energy. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between communication range and energy consumption by making transmission power a variable parameter optimized in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3618036B1Wireless communication method, network device and terminal device
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3618036B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3618036B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3618036B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This application provides a wireless communication method, a terminal device, and a network device. The terminal device receives a first indication message sent by the network device, so that the terminal device may select, according to the first indication message, to fly in an appropriate cell, thereby ensuring communication between the terminal device and the network device. The method includes: receiving, by the terminal device, the first indication message sent by the network device, where the first indication information includes at least one of flight zone restriction information, flight altitude information, and flight speed information that are of at least one cell, volume information of a flight device, and weight information of the flight device, and/or the first indication message includes information about a flight transmission characteristic supported by the at least one cell.