Dual-Channel UAV Communication for Anomaly Reporting Under Control Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems for high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) are vulnerable to unauthorized operations and communication failures, which can lead to loss of control over unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and there is a need for reliable anomaly detection in such systems.

Innovation Solution

A communication management device with dual communication units is implemented in flight vehicles, allowing for anomaly detection and reporting to a base station management device, ensuring reliable recognition of unauthorized access or control loss through a separate communication channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single communication unit is used for controlling the airframe, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability is worsened because anomaly detection becomes impossible when the communication unit is compromised or fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection capabilityVSAvoidcommunication unit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is segmented into two independent communication units: a first communication unit for receiving control signals and a second communication unit for transmitting anomaly information. This segmentation allows the system to detect anomalies in the first communication unit by using the second communication unit, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex monitoring mechanisms within a single unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second communication unit acts as an intermediary that reports anomalies detected by the acquisition unit to the base station management device. This intermediary mechanism enables reliable anomaly detection and reporting without requiring the first communication unit to have self-diagnostic capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cryptographic technology is applied to prevent hijacking, then the information security is improved, but the complexity of the communication system is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized operation preventionVSAvoidcommunication system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is divided into dedicated functional units: the first communication unit handles secure control signal reception with cryptographic protection, while the second communication unit handles anomaly reporting. This segmentation allows cryptographic security measures to be applied to the control communication without complicating the overall system architecture, as each unit has a clear, specialized function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If anomaly information is transmitted through the same communication unit used for control signals, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability is worsened because the anomaly detection capability is compromised when the communication unit is hijacked or fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly recognition accuracyVSAvoidcommunication channel configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication channels are segmented into a first communication unit for control signals and a second communication unit for anomaly information. This segmentation ensures that even if the first communication unit is compromised, the system can still detect and report anomalies through the second communication unit, thereby maintaining high reliability without requiring complex redundant systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second communication unit serves as an intermediary that independently reports anomalies to the base station management device. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain reliable anomaly detection and reporting capabilities even when the primary control communication channel is compromised, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3950499B1Communication management device, communication management system, communication management method, and communication management program
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 SOFTBANK CORPORATION
  • EP3950499B1 patent drawingFigure 1
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AI summary

A communication management device provided in a flight vehicle that communicates with a base station management device that manages a plurality of base stations, includes: a first communication unit that transmits and receives control signals of an airframe of the flight vehicle or flight information of the flight vehicle to and from the base station management device; a second communication unit that provides communications among the plurality of wireless terminals as a base station; an acquisition unit that acquires anomaly information indicating that anomaly of the first communication unit or anomaly of a flight state of the flight vehicle has occurred, and an anomaly reporting unit that transmits the anomaly information to the base station management device via the second communication unit when the anomaly information is acquired by the acquisition unit.