Personal Drone Network Relay for Weak Signal Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face issues with maintaining network connectivity for their devices, especially in areas with weak or absent network signals, which can disrupt communication and data access.
Innovation Solution
A personal communication drone system that utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to transmit messages and receive data by navigating to stronger network access points, operating in various modes such as relay, batch, emergency, and institutional assistance, and includes a connectivity module to detect network errors and coordinate with the drone to establish connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users rely on traditional ground-based network access points, then network infrastructure is simple and stable, but network connectivity is lost in areas with weak or absent network signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-based network access to aerial access by deploying drones that can fly to higher altitudes where network signals are stronger. This dimensional change from 2D ground level to 3D aerial space enables users in areas with poor ground-based connectivity to access stronger network signals through the drone's elevated position.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone serves as an intermediary between the user's device and the network access point. When the user's device cannot directly connect to the network due to weak signals, the drone acts as a relay that can access stronger signals from remote locations and forward data to the user's device, thereby maintaining network connectivity.
2Reliability
If drones are deployed to access stronger network signals, then network connectivity is maintained in poor coverage areas, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drone is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform multiple operations including navigating to different locations, detecting network signal strength, establishing network connections, and communicating with the user's device. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single drone system, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate specialized devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone autonomously performs several tasks without requiring manual intervention from the user. It automatically navigates to locations with stronger network signals, detects available access points, establishes connections, and manages data transmission. This self-service capability simplifies the user experience while maintaining complex underlying operations.
3Reliability
If the drone continuously monitors and navigates to optimal network access points, then network connectivity is optimized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously monitoring and navigating to optimal network access points, the system employs periodic action by establishing connections at specific locations and then remaining there for a predetermined period to complete data transfers. The drone only relocates when the current connection is exhausted or significantly degraded, reducing unnecessary energy consumption from constant movement while maintaining reliable connectivity during active use periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of using a drone for network connectivity, the system may comprise: a connectivity module to: detect an error associated with network traffic on a network connection utilized by a user device; query a connection datastore to retrieve at least one access point location that at least one device of the user has utilized within a predetermined period; a drone coordination module to: transmit configuration settings to a drone, the configuration settings including the at least one access point location and a mode of operation for the drone; and route at least a portion of the network traffic of the user device to the drone for transmission according to the configuration settings.