UAV Backhaul Relay for Dynamic Network Capacity Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network infrastructure is inefficient in utilizing available capacity due to bursty data transmissions and overprovisioning, leading to underutilization of network resources, especially in scenarios where devices require more capacity than what is typically provided.
Innovation Solution
Deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as backhaul relays to provide on-demand wireless coverage and data transfer services, allowing devices to access higher network capacity by establishing wireless coverage areas and backhaul links to data networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network service providers overprovision subscribers to ensure adequate capacity, then devices can have access to sufficient network capacity, but network capacity utilization becomes inefficient with much of the capacity remaining unused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic capacity allocation where the network system continuously monitors device capacity usage patterns and adjusts the amount of network capacity provided to each device in real-time. This allows the system to provision capacity during burst periods while reducing or deallocating capacity during idle periods, thereby maintaining reliability when needed while improving overall utilization efficiency.
2Productivity
If network capacity is capped at lower rates for subscribers, then network service providers can manage load and costs, but devices cannot access full available capacity when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of capacity allocation from static to dynamic by implementing a system that monitors usage patterns and adjusts capacity parameters in real-time. This allows the network to provide capped rates during normal operation to manage load while automatically increasing capacity to full available rates during burst periods when devices actually need the throughput, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
3Reliability
If fixed network infrastructure is used to provide wireless services, then network capacity is guaranteed up to an inherent maximum, but the capacity cannot be dynamically adjusted to match actual device usage patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities to the fixed network infrastructure by implementing a monitoring and control system that can allocate and de-allocate network capacity in real-time based on actual device usage patterns. This maintains the reliability guarantee of having maximum capacity available while adding the adaptability to adjust capacity allocation flexibly to match actual demand, preventing both overprovisioning and underprovisioning.
Data Source
AI summary
An example embodiment may involve flying, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to a geographical location, where a wireless router is at the geographical location. The example embodiment may also involve detecting, by the UAV, a wireless coverage area defined by the wireless router. The example embodiment may also involve accessing, by the UAV, the wireless coverage area using a network identifier and a password. The example embodiment may also involve establishing, by the UAV, a backhaul link to a data network. The example embodiment may also involve transmitting, by the UAV, a notification to a client device served by the wireless coverage area, where the notification indicates that the UAV is a default gateway for the wireless coverage area. The example embodiment may also involve exchanging, by the UAV, data transmissions between (i) the client device, and (ii) one or more other devices accessible via the data network.