US 12,442,639 B2
Method and system for routing/orchestration/management of aerial vehicles or data on a network
Paul Carver, Somerset, NJ (US); Abhigyan Sharma Abhigyan, Basking Ridge, NJ (US); John Craig, Ocean Township, NJ (US); Andrew Kell, Marietta, GA (US); James Pratt, Round Rock, TX (US); David Plunkett, Jr., Kennesaw, GA (US); James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr., Gainesville, GA (US); Michael Albrecht, Dallas, TX (US); Michael L. Hunter, Trenton, NJ (US); and Virginia S. Ng, Lawrenceville, GA (US)
Assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Nov. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/519,683.
Prior Publication US 2023/0147814 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. G01C 21/20 (2006.01); B60L 53/30 (2019.01); G06F 9/54 (2006.01); G08G 5/25 (2025.01); G08G 5/32 (2025.01); G08G 5/55 (2025.01); G08G 5/57 (2025.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01); H04W 12/63 (2021.01); B64U 50/34 (2023.01)
CPC G01C 21/20 (2013.01) [B60L 53/30 (2019.02); G06F 9/547 (2013.01); G08G 5/25 (2025.01); G08G 5/32 (2025.01); G08G 5/55 (2025.01); G08G 5/57 (2025.01); H04L 63/0428 (2013.01); H04W 12/63 (2021.01); B64U 50/34 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device, comprising:
a processing system of a network including a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
identifying an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) for route planning and power management;
obtaining information regarding a power source of the UAV, a present location of the UAV, and a destination location for the UAV;
determining, based on the information, a need for the UAV to recharge the power source of the UAV as part of a journey of the UAV from the present location of the UAV to the destination location for the UAV;
responsive to the determining the need, identifying a recharging station associated with the network for recharging the power source of the UAV, wherein the recharging station comprises an enclosure, and wherein the enclosure comprises an interior portion and an ingress mechanism that, when in an open position, enables the UAV to enter into the interior portion;
calculating a flight path for the UAV in accordance with the identifying the recharging station; and
based on the calculating:
generating first instructions that cause the UAV to travel to the recharging station,
prior to an arrival of the UAV to the recharging station, generating second instructions that cause a different UAV that is assigned to the recharging station as a home station and that is disposed within the interior portion of the enclosure to vacate the interior portion of the enclosure to allow the UAV to be accommodated by the recharging station, and
based on a type and capability of the different UAV, identifying one or more other recharging stations to direct the different UAV;
routing the different UAV to one of the one or more other recharging stations;
causing the recharging station to set the ingress mechanism to the open position when the UAV is determined to be within a threshold distance from the recharging station, thereby enabling the UAV to enter into the interior portion of the enclosure for the recharging of the power source of the UAV.