UAV Mesh Network Extending Cellular Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular radio access networks face capacity constraints and coverage gaps, particularly in high-demand scenarios like large events or disaster situations, where existing infrastructure may be overwhelmed or unavailable.
Innovation Solution
Deploying a mesh network using UAVs equipped with cellular radios, where a cell site acts as a donor node and UAVs function as child nodes, enabling dynamic expansion of coverage and capacity by relaying communications and executing flight plans to optimize coverage and alleviate congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a cell site operates as a traditional fixed infrastructure, then it provides stable coverage within its range, but it cannot dynamically extend coverage to high-demand areas or disaster zones beyond its range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static cell site infrastructure into a dynamic system by deploying UAVs that can move and reposition cellular radios to different locations in the sky. The UAVs execute flight plans to dynamically extend coverage areas, allowing the network to adapt to high-demand scenarios and disaster situations by relocating coverage to where it is needed most.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a three-dimensional spatial dimension to cellular coverage by deploying UAVs at elevated positions in the sky. This vertical dimension allows the mesh network to extend coverage beyond the horizontal limits of traditional ground-based cell sites, creating coverage in areas that were previously inaccessible or too far from existing infrastructure.
2Reliability
If cellular radio access network infrastructure is fixed and traditional, then it provides reliable service within coverage, but it cannot rapidly deploy additional capacity where needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning UAVs at strategic locations and pre-configuring them with cellular radios and mesh networking capabilities. When high-demand scenarios or disaster situations arise, these pre-prepared UAVs can be rapidly deployed and activated, eliminating the need for time-consuming infrastructure installation while maintaining service reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UAVs as intermediary elements between the fixed cell site infrastructure and end users in hard-to-reach areas. These UAVs act as mobile relay nodes that bridge the gap between traditional infrastructure and users beyond coverage range, enabling rapid capacity deployment without requiring direct line-of-sight or physical infrastructure installation at user locations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a cell site uses traditional infrastructure, then it maintains stable operation, but it becomes overwhelmed during high-demand scenarios like large events or disasters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cellular network capacity by deploying multiple independent UAV nodes, each equipped with its own cellular radio. These segmented capacity units can be independently activated and distributed across different high-demand areas, allowing the overall network capacity to scale flexibly during large events or disaster situations while the core cell site remains stable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing UAVs that can serve multiple purposes: extending coverage to new areas, providing additional capacity in high-demand zones, and acting as mobile relays during disasters. This universal platform allows a single cell site to dynamically adapt to various scenarios by deploying the same UAV infrastructure for different functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The UAV includes a flight system, a communications system, and a processing system. The communications system includes a cellular radio configured to support multiple contemporaneous communications connections, including at least a first communications connection with a cellular radio access network, at least a second communications connection with a second UAV in a set of one or more UAVs, and at least a third communications connection with a user equipment (UE) in a set of one or more UEs. The processing system is configured to control the flight system and relay communications between the cellular radio access network, the set of one or more UAVs, and the set of one or more UEs, in accordance with a mesh network protocol.