UAV Network Overlay for Cellular Capacity Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular networks face challenges in expanding capacity to meet increasing connectivity demands, particularly in areas with poor terrestrial coverage and during emergencies, as they struggle with RF coverage, accessibility, and backhaul bandwidth, especially when hosting high-bandwidth and high-computation services like video conferencing and 3D streaming.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a UAV network overlay system that uses software-defined networking (SDN) and bridging radio components to create a mesh network, allowing UAVs to act as nodes that can quickly deploy and augment existing cellular networks by bridging traditional UMTS, LTE, satellite, and short-wave radios, providing geo-spatially precise connectivity and temporarily replacing or augmenting terrestrial infrastructure during outages or high demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional terrestrial network infrastructure is used, then network coverage and capacity are maintained in standard conditions, but the system fails to provide adequate connectivity in areas with poor terrestrial coverage and during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static terrestrial network infrastructure into a dynamic system by introducing mobile UAVs that can be deployed on-demand to provide network connectivity. The UAV network dynamically adapts to changing connectivity requirements by moving to locations where it is most needed, whether for emergency response, event coverage, or filling terrestrial network gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UAVs as intermediary nodes between user equipment and the core network infrastructure. These UAVs act as mobile base stations that relay communications in areas where direct terrestrial network access is unavailable or unreliable, effectively bridging the connectivity gap without requiring modifications to the core network.
2Productivity
If more terrestrial infrastructure is deployed to expand capacity, then network coverage improves, but deployment time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically constructing and installing terrestrial network infrastructure with a much faster deployment method using UAVs. Instead of building towers and laying cables, the system launches mobile UAV platforms that can be positioned rapidly in the sky to provide immediate network capacity where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pre-configured UAV platforms that come equipped with necessary networking equipment and software before deployment. This preliminary preparation allows the UAVs to be deployed instantly to provide network capacity without requiring time-consuming on-site configuration or infrastructure construction.
3Power
If existing edge nodes are used to host high-bandwidth services, then service delivery is efficient, but the nodes become saturated and cannot honor all user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network capacity function by introducing additional UAV-based edge nodes that can independently host and deliver high-bandwidth services. This segmentation distributes the service delivery load across multiple independent platforms, preventing any single node from becoming saturated while maintaining efficient local service delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal service delivery platforms through UAVs that can host multiple different high-bandwidth services simultaneously (video conferencing, 3D streaming, file transfers, etc.). These multi-functional UAV nodes can adapt to serve various service types and user needs without requiring dedicated infrastructure for each service.
4Ease of operation
If software-defined networking is implemented, then network management becomes more flexible, but real-world physical challenges like RF coverage and back-haul bandwidth remain unaddressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses physical network performance limitations by adding a vertical dimension to the network architecture. By deploying UAVs in the air space above terrestrial infrastructure, the system creates a three-dimensional network topology that bypasses ground-based RF coverage limitations and physical obstacles, while maintaining SDN's software-based management flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a wireless network and a software defined network overlaid over the wireless network. The software defined network includes at least one UAV having a software defined network device and a bridging radio component. The system includes a communication component in communication with the bridging radio component and a controller connected to the software defined network that makes routing decisions and communicates the routing decisions to the software defined network device.