UAV Handover Signaling for Timely Flight Path Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network devices struggle to obtain the latest flight path of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) after handover, leading to inefficient use of air interface resources, increased communication interference, and higher power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where a terminal device sends flight path availability indication information to a second network device only when specific conditions are met, ensuring timely acquisition of the flight path by the network device, thereby reducing unnecessary communication and resource waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the terminal device continuously sends flight path information to the network device during handover, then the network device can obtain the latest flight path, but air interface resources are wasted and communication interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight path informationVSAvoidair interface resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device pre-judges whether flight path information needs to be sent before actual handover occurs. By evaluating conditions in advance (such as comparing current flight path with previously reported path), the device determines whether the flight path has changed significantly. This preliminary assessment prevents unnecessary communication and conserves air interface resources while ensuring critical information is transmitted timely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuously transmitting flight path information during every handover event, the patent applies partial action by sending information only when specific conditions are met (e.g., flight path changes exceed a threshold). This selective transmission approach reduces communication overhead and interference while maintaining the essential function of keeping the network device informed about relevant flight path changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If the terminal device sends flight path information frequently to ensure latest updates, then the network device has accurate flight path data, but communication interference to other terminal devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight path update timelinessVSAvoidcommunication interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary judgment about the necessity of sending flight path information before actual transmission. By checking whether the flight path has changed significantly or whether handover conditions are met, the device avoids unnecessary communications that would interfere with other terminal devices, while still ensuring timely updates when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous transmission, the patent implements periodic or event-driven transmission of flight path information. The device checks conditions at specific intervals or upon triggering events (such as handover initiation or significant flight path changes), reducing communication interference while maintaining adequate information freshness for network operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If the terminal device sends flight path information in every communication, then the network device obtains complete flight path data, but power consumption of the terminal device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight path information completenessVSAvoidterminal device power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary assessment before each potential transmission of flight path information. By evaluating whether the flight path has changed significantly or whether the current communication context requires updated information, the device avoids unnecessary power-consuming transmissions while ensuring complete and accurate flight path data is sent when truly needed for network configuration and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4676122A1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4676122A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4676122A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4676122A1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: After a terminal device receives a first message from a first network device, when a first condition is satisfied, a second message sent by the terminal device to a second network device includes indication information. According to the method, the second network device obtains the indication information once instead of a plurality of times, to avoid a problem such as a waste of air interface resources caused by occupation of a large quantity of air interface resources between the terminal device and the network device. In addition, because communication between the terminal device and the network device can be reduced, communication interference to another terminal device can be reduced, and power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.