Carrier-Independent Internet Notification for Drone Connectivity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

End users of wireless devices deployed in drones, balloons, and airplanes may not be aware of Internet connectivity availability, even when their devices autonomously attach to the network, due to intermittent and event-driven service deployments, especially during emergencies or natural disasters.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that includes a client process detecting device attachment to a carrier network and notifying a server, which generates and transmits Internet service availability notifications to the user device through a carrier-independent server process, decoupling notification message delivery from carrier interfaces, allowing for autonomous message origination, error handling, and analytics collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mobile wireless stations are deployed in drones, balloons, and airplanes for Internet connectivity service, then service coverage and accessibility are improved, but users may not be aware of service availability due to intermittent and event-driven deployment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidservice availability notification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a notification system as an intermediary between the mobile wireless station and the user device. When the mobile wireless station attaches to a carrier network, the notification system detects this attachment and sends a notification message to the user device, bridging the information gap between service availability and user awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by monitoring carrier network attachment status and automatically notifying users of service availability. The notification system continuously monitors the state of the mobile wireless station and provides feedback to users when Internet connectivity becomes available, ensuring users are informed of service status changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If autonomous attachment to carrier networks is implemented, then device operation is simplified, but user awareness of connectivity availability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous attachmentVSAvoidconnectivity availability information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system serves as an intermediary that monitors the autonomous attachment process and communicates the results to users. While the device autonomously attaches to networks without user intervention, the notification system bridges the gap by informing users of the attachment status and service availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile wireless station performs self-service by autonomously attaching to carrier networks without requiring manual configuration. The notification system complements this by automatically detecting and communicating attachment status, maintaining ease of operation while providing information awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If carrier-independent server process is used for notification delivery, then service adaptability across multiple carriers is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-carrier compatibilityVSAvoidnotification system architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a carrier-independent server process as an intermediary layer between the mobile wireless station and various carrier networks. This intermediary handles notification delivery across multiple carriers using a standardized approach, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from implementing separate solutions for each carrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The notification system is designed with universality to work across multiple carrier networks through a single carrier-independent server process. This multi-functional approach allows the same system to handle notifications for different carriers, reducing overall system complexity compared to implementing carrier-specific notification systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3533158B1Method and apparatus for internet service availability notification
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3533158B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3533158B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3533158B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Internet Connectivity Services provided by mobile wireless stations deployed in drones, balloons, airplanes etc. may be intermittent and in some cases event-driven, such as in response to emergency and natural disasters. In such deployments, end users of wireless devices may not know that Internet connectivity has become available. Even when the wireless device, such as a smartphone, is able to autonomously attach to the network when Internet connectivity becomes available, end users may not realize that their devices have re-connected to the network. The proposed systems and methods relate to providing Internet service availability notification to end users. The proposed systems and methods collect data related to Internet service availability notifications for analytics.