Secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft

Improvements in secure communication using drones. The communication uses aircraft to provide a secure communication link that prevents undesirable reception. The secure link can be between two people, groups or more specific people. Optical transmission can be from laser, infrared, ultraviolet, white light or a particular wavelength of light. One or multiple of aircraft to relay information between senders and receivers. The aircraft can be drones that operate within buildings or with overhead aircraft. The aircraft can intelligently follow or lead a person to maintain a line-of-sight. Each user can have their own tracking aircraft and the aircraft can communicate between each other using light and/or wireless communication to optimize line-of-sight between the aircraft over geographic medium. The geographic medium may include one or more of terrain, air, water, and space. The object may be a soldier, vehicle, drone, or ballistic.

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to improvements in a secure communication between two or more people or groups. More particularly, the present secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft creates a communication system whereby light is used to communicate and the light can be received and directed using aircraft that adjust their position to maintain line-of-sight between the two or more people or groups and the aircraft to communicate about a moving object.

There are several circumstances where secure communication is necessary to prevent ease dropping by other. One of the most common methods for secure communication is with radio waves and an encrypted signal. The major problem with radio communication is that radio waves transmit in all directions and once the signal has been decrypted the communication is no longer secure. Another method of communication is with a laser where the beam is directed to a specific point where the optical signal can be received and converted into audio or other data. The major problem with this type of communication is that it requires a fairly tight beam of light and reception. It either the sender or receiver moves or is blocked by and object the line-of-sight can be disrupted.

A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,476 issued on Sep. 4, 2001 to Robert T. Carlson et al., and is titled Laser Communication System and Method. This patent discloses a laser communication system for full duplex wideband data transmission includes first and second terminals having dichroic wavelength-multiplexed optical systems wherein transmitted and received light are multiplexed along a path through the same aperture. The optical systems each preferably comprise a cassegrain receiver having primary and secondary mirrors for directing both transmitted and received laser light. While this patent discloses a light communication system it works with laser light with a very narrow light beam and does not allow for movement between the transmitter and the receiver.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,554,084 issued on Oct. 8, 2013 to Jae-Seung Song et al., and is titled Apparatus and method for visible light communication. This patent discloses an apparatus for transmitting Visible Light Communication (VLC) data, in which a data processor processes data to be transmitted, a modulator modulates data received from the data processor into a signal for VLC, a light output unit outputs light of a predetermined color and includes in the light a signal of any selected one characteristic among signals of two different characteristics, and a light output controller selects at least one of the signals of different characteristics, and controls the light output unit so that a signal from the modulator is output through the signal of the selected characteristic. This patent uses lights in fixed locations and does not operate with moving senders and receivers.

U.S. Publication Number 2015/0245448 was published on Aug. 27, 2015 to Readler, Blaine Clifford and is titled Encoded Light-Activated Illumination. This publication discloses a method for controlling detached lighting units uses source light of a capable flashlight to communicate information. The capable flashlight encodes an ID Tag in modulated light, and the detached lighting units recognize the specific ID Tag and responds, for example by activating and creating illumination. This publication does not use bi-directional communication.

U.S. Publication Number 2017/0230118 was published on Aug. 10, 2017 to Narkis E. Shatz et al., and is titled Transmitters for Optical Narrowcasting. This publication discloses a method for controlling detached lighting units uses source light of a capable flashlight to communicate information. The capable flashlight encodes an ID Tag in modulated light, and the detached lighting units recognize the specific ID Tag and responds, for example by activating and creating illumination. This publication does not use bi-directional communication.

What is needed is a narrow beam light communication that can operate with moving sender and receiver. The proposed secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft uses aircraft(s) that receives and transmits light communication sources to communicate around solid objects where light will not transmit through.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft to provide a secure communication link that prevents reception. The secure link can be between two people or more specific people. Additional people can be added or removed from the communication group by altering where the signal is sent.

It is an object of the secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft to use an optical data transmission mechanism. The optical transmission can be from laser, infrared, ultraviolet, white light or a particular wavelength of light. Depending upon the wavelength of the light, the light could appear as ambient light or from a flashlight if it was observed in different levels of natural light.

It is another object of the secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft to use one or a multiple of aircraft to relay information between senders and receivers. The aircraft can be drones that operate within buildings or with overhead aircraft. The aircraft move within 3-D space to remain in line-of-sight between two parties using one or a plurality of aircraft.

It is another object of the secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft for the aircraft to automatically determining one or more of a predicted location or range of locations for the moving two or more specific people for a potential path of travel. The aircraft can provide an alert for other moving objects in the vicinity with an alert concerning the moving object(s) or people, and providing the alert. The automatically determining may be further based on one or more historical traits concerning the object(s), and the geographic medium the object is moving through. The geographic medium may include one or more of terrain, air, water, and space. The object may be a soldier, vehicle, or drone. As described further below, the object may also be a ballistic. The automatically determining may be further based on one or more historical traits concerning the object, and the geographic medium the object is moving through. The geographic medium may include one or more of terrain, air, water, and space. The object may be a soldier, vehicle, or drone. As described further below, the object may also be a ballistic.

It is another object of the secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft for the aircraft to receive and detect the moving object information that may only be detected from an elevated position. The aircraft can receive historical traits and trends associated with the moving object, including statistical movement characteristics of the object, the statistical movement characteristics including acceleration and speed ability of the identified object; and adjusting the maximum acceleration, maximum speed, and maximum reachable range for the object as a function of geographic mediums that the object will move through in time over the projected course and trajectory of the object. In some embodiments, the method considers average speeds a particular object may traverse a particular geographic medium.

It is still another object of the secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft where the aircraft can intelligently follow or lead a person to maintain a line-of-sight. Each user can have their own tracking aircraft and the aircraft can communicate between each other using light and/or wireless communication to optimize line-of-sight between the aircraft.

It is still another object of the secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft where the communication for transmission or reception is with a mobile device such as a phone or table where transmission can be with the screen or flash and the reception can be with the camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this technology is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the technology and is not intended to limit the technology to the embodiments illustrated. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the technology. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters.

FIG.1shows a secure line-of-sight communication system. This figure shows a general pictorial diagram of a communication system for two separate users for using light communication. Each user has a headset70with a controller60that connects to an optical transmitter40and an optical receiver20. While the system shows that both users have both an optical transmitter40and an optical receiver20, one user can have an optical transmitter40with multiple people having optical receivers20. The optical transmitter40has a light source that transmits a signal44through a lens43.

The headset70has a microphone90that receives an audible signal from a user and a speaker80where the user can hear a signal44from their optical receiver20. The controller60can operate with a common headset70to convert the signals to and from the optical transmitter40and an optical receiver20. Collectively the optical transmitter40and an optical receiver20can be called a transceiver. The signal44can also be received by a phone, tablet, computer, goggles, wrist mounted screen or watch where it can be viewed.

The light source can be from laser, infrared, ultraviolet, white light or a particular wavelength of light. Depending upon the wavelength of the light, the light could appear as ambient light or from a flashlight if it was observed in different levels of natural light. The optical transmitter40has a lens43that can be adjusted to alter the width of the transmission beam from a narrow beam42to a broad beam41or any variation therein between. The width of the beam allows for a wider or narrow person or group of people to receive the signal. The signal44is detected by the optical receiver20where the optical signal is converted back into an audible should. While this example shows and describes transmission and reception of an audible signal, it should be understood that the signal could be data.

FIG.2shows a transmitter system. This is a fairly simplified circuit without a power source and support circuitry. In the circuit a signal from a microphone90is received and connects to an amplifier91that amplifies the signal to a level that will drive an emitter92to produce an optical broad beam41. A lens can then narrow the broad beam41to reduce the potential for the signal to be received by undesirable people. While this example shows the emitter92is a light emitting diode (LED) other illumination light sources are contemplated. In general, the emitter92needs to have a fast enough response to accommodate the frequency of the audio or digital signal.

FIG.3shows a receiver system. This is a fairly simplified circuit without a power source and support circuitry. The optical signal is received by a sensor25and passes through an amplifier93so the signal can be heard from the speaker80. The sensor25can be tuned to a receive a particular wavelength of light to filter out undesirable signal and to only receive signal from the optical transmitter.

In some uses of the secure line-of-sight communication, the person sending and the person receiving the signal are at fixed positions where the optical transmitter and the optical receiver simply point to each other. There are many other instances where one or both of the transmitter and receiver a moving and both the transmitter and the receiver must continue to more or adjust their orientation and/or position to maintain the line-of-sight. This requires one or a plurality of motors to adjust X, Y, Z and or yaw, pitch and roll.

FIG.4shows a control system for the line-of-sight communication system. In this embodiment the optical receiver20and the optical receiver40is mounted to a housing24. The housing24has a plurality of motors, such as an X motor21, a Y motor22, and a Z motor23to position and orientate the optical receiver20and the optical receiver40to maintain a line-of-sight. This embodiment shows a controller100that controls and positions the motors. A power120source provides power to the system and amplifies the signal from the microphone90to the optical transmitter and amplifies the signal44from the optical receiver20to the speaker80. Multiple units can be used to communicate. The optical beam can be a broad beam41or a narrow beam to include or exclude a larger or smaller number of people that can receive and interact.

In deployment, the location and position between the users may not be known. To allow for initial positioning the two (or more) a global positioning sensor (GPS) can find the position and direction of each device and may use a wireless radio signal to establish an initial position to align the line-of-sight beams.

FIG.5shows a centering receiver. To maintain that a receiver keeps the line-of-sight aligned the optical receiver20uses a sensor25with a plurality of rim sensors26. In this figure, the signal44is shown with broken lines. The previously identified controller100can monitor the plurality of rim sensors26to determine an alignment of the signal44with the sensor25. Depending upon the rim sensors26that receive the signal, the motors21,22and23are operated to increase the amount of signal44that reaches the sensor25.

FIG.6shows a secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft. This example shows communication with ocean vessels that typically use radio frequencies to communicate. Radio waves transmit omni-directional and can be easily received by anyone within range of the signal. One problem with water and land craft is curvature of the earth that can block signals. Radio signals can be sent to satellites that replicate the signal that can make it easier for additional people to receive the signal. In this figure the line-of-sight signal44going out or the return signal45can be sent from a first craft200to a first drone300that can be launched from the first craft200or from a moving vehicle, a stationary location, a roving vehicle, another craft or from land. The first drone300can remain above or near the first craft200and can send a signal44A and a return signal45A to a second drone301that is above or near a second craft201. The communication from the first craft200can then be sent from the second drone301with a signal44B and a return signal45B to provide a secure line-of-sight communication. The first drone300and the second drone301use a variety of sensors to maintain line-of-sight signals. The signal44,44A,44B and/or return signal45,45A,45B can be voice and/or data communication that can be heard or shown in a screen such as on a phone, computer, tablet or wrist mounted display.

FIG.7shows another embodiment of a secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft. In a battle situation, users such as a first202user and a second user203can move in and around a battle zone or other area where line-of-sight between the users202and203can be blocked by topography or by walls or structures. While this example shows a first drone300and a second drone301, it is contemplated that a single drone can be used receive and relay a signal from the first user202and the second user203.

The first drone300can remain above or near the first user202and can send a signal44A and a return signal45A to a second drone301that is above or near a second user203. The communication from the first user202can then be sent from the second drone301with a signal44B and a return signal45B to provide a secure line-of-sight communication. The drones300and301are able to communicate with the users202and203to move and maintain a stable and secure communication without non-users204and205from intercepting the signals44and45. The system can include additional users in the communication loop with additional drones or by altering the transmission beam.

FIG.8shows a line-of-sight drone such as a first drone300. This drone300has at least a sending and receiving modules on the bottom of the drone and at a side of the drone. This allows for a signal44and a return signal45from the bottom of the drone and a signal44A and a return signal45A from a side of the drone. To allow for initial positioning the two (or more) a global positioning sensor (GPS) can find the position and direction of each device and may use a wireless communication radio signal to establish an initial position to align the line-of-sight beams.

The drone(s) also have the ability to monitor and view the area around the people in the secure communication environment. The drone(s) can add additional secure communication to the members based upon other people and hazards. It should be appreciated that the present technology is not limited to the objects being hazards; other objects may be moving and processed to the present technology to maintain a communication link. In addition, although some examples herein are described with respect to moving hazards that a person, police or military member could encounter in the field or on the road, the present technology is not limited to that type of moving hazards.

In various embodiments, the determination of the travel trajectory can be based on the route and destination for the user. The destination can be determined variously, for example, based on navigation system communication, user input/selection, or predicted based on historical data that can show a pattern of having certain destinations at the time and place of the trip, based on past destinations for the route taken, based on the user's calendar or other information the user had provided, with different weights given to the information depending on the source of the information, e.g., less weight to destinations based on distant history and more weight to destinations based on the venue for an event.

For movement prediction in various embodiments, the form of movement needs to be matched with the polygon representing calculated potential locations within a determined timeframe based on mobility physics of the object, for example a person can physically run at maximum measured maximum speed of nearly 28 MPH (e.g., world's fastest runner Usain Bolt in the 100-Meter Sprint). The average vehicle has an average maximum speed of between 100-120 miles per hour. In various embodiments, the method calculates the average maximum speed of an identified object/person/vehicle, along with conditions of the object's terrain and the limited mobility and speed based on same (i.e. hills, pavement condition, curves in road, etc.) and calculates the maximum acceleration rate of a moving object (which could be a person, vehicle, or other object) along with its average calculated maximum speed and adjusts the algorithm in real time using the actual geo-location and relative movement against this algorithm to determine the earliest potential opportunity for an encounter (e.g., with the moving hazard, person, vehicle, etc.,). This can create a level of awareness for all users that will allow for appropriate preparation of possible encounter.

For example, drones or other automated sensing devices can be used to monitor and/or identify a moving object and take various actions. In some embodiment, one or more drones are launched in response to a report of a moving object. Drones can be launched from other moving vehicles, from stationary stored locations, or from roving vehicles tasked to follow tagged objects. The moving object can be detected by the drone(s), (e.g., based on the initial report with descriptors), reported, tagged and followed. Some embodiments provide a unique identifier for any target moving object; use a network of available sensors from moving vehicles, fixed points, etc.; and deliver data to a central system for later identification and tracking. This system may be cloud-based and could be decentralized for increased security and capability.

Exemplary methods include a system for real-time tracking using, for examples, drones and/or networked sensor technology. In some embodiments, drones or other sensor carrying devices (hard mounted or mobile including law enforcement vehicles and autonomous vehicles) identify and image targets using sensors such as photo, laser, lidar, infrared, radar, sonic, etc. to identify a target's unique identity (e.g., turning objects into their own QR codes, in essence) so other networked sensor systems can help recognize and update target location and other target deltas to the central system.

In some embodiments, the method can calculate the movement of an object in any predictable direction based on the movement range and characteristics of that object, including rate of acceleration and range of speed. Such embodiments may aid, for example, in the tracking of drones or other drones that could pose a danger to vehicles, or people.

For hiking app integration, for instance, the method may track hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, ice climbers, etc. The method may detect a rock-climbing fall, general fall, or other hazardous movement and have a “life alert” two-way communication if a person is disabled from a fall. If there is no response from climber or hiker to an alert, the method can alert others (where “others” as used herein may include people, robots (e.g., “robot doctors”), autonomous vehicles, drones, and the like) in the area with location information to provide help for the injured person. Other kinds of problems that may occur on the hiking trail albeit a sprained ankle, dehydration, lost, etc. could also be reported. In addition, the presence of dangerous animals could be detected by various embodiments or reported by other, including the presence of bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, etc. The last known location of such moving hazards (or other objects) could be sent to authorities, rangers, and hikers in the area.

FIG.9is a simplified flow diagram900of an example method, according to some embodiments, with further details described herein. While for some the communication is only voice, the system can support input from a wrist mounted device, phone, tablet or computer with the communication exchanged to others. The flow diagram900has optional Step902, as indicated by the dashed line, and includes providing a user interface to a user for information entry on a device, as described further herein.

Step904includes receiving (optionally via the user interface), moving object data corresponding to a moving object, as described further herein. Step906includes, receiving sensor data from a sensor, as described further herein. Step908includes merging the received moving object data and the received sensor data into a set of merged data, as described further herein. The user interface can be from a camera in the drone that provides one or more of: three dimensions; virtual reality interaction; and augmented reality interaction to in a phone, computer, heads-up display, or wrist mounted display.

Step910includes based on the merged data set, automatically determining one or more of: a predicted location for the moving object, a potential path of travel for the moving object, a potential for interaction between the moving object and one or more other objects, and an alert concerning the moving object, as described further herein. Step912includes providing the alert, as described further herein.

In some contemplated embodiments, the present technology is a system (and corresponding method) that provides a service where third parties are providing inputs and those third parties or others are receiving outputs from the system. Inputs could include all types of sensor data pertaining to users and moving objects (e.g., that could be classified as hazards), and third-party consumption of both that same data as well as receiving outputs from the system. Outputs received by the third-party provider could include additional information generated by the system pertaining to predictions determined concerning, but not limited to, approximation and estimation of future location, proximity, trajectory and routing.

For one non-limiting example, the method can further include providing the merged data set to a third-party provider, e.g., for generating a predicted location for the moving hazard (or other object), at least one potential path of travel for the moving hazard (or other object), and/or a potential for interaction between the first user and the moving hazard (or another object), and for generating and transmitting an alert.

FIG.10illustrates an exemplary computer system1000that may be used to implement some embodiments of the present invention. The computer system1000inFIG.10may be implemented in the contexts of the likes of computing systems, networks, servers, or combinations thereof. The computer system1000inFIG.10includes one or more processor unit(s)1010and main memory1020. Main memory1020stores, in part, instructions and data for execution by processor unit(s)1010. Main memory1020stores the executable code when in operation, in this example. The computer system1000inFIG.10further includes a mass data storage1030, portable storage device1040, output devices1050, user input devices1060, a graphics display system1070, and peripheral device(s)1080.

The components shown inFIG.10are depicted as being connected via a single bus1090. The components may be connected through one or more data transport means. Processor unit(s)1010and main memory1020are connected via a local microprocessor bus, and the mass data storage1030, peripheral device(s)1080, portable storage device1040, and graphics display system1070are connected via one or more input/output (I/O) buses.

Mass data storage1030, which can be implemented with a magnetic disk drive, solid state drive, or an optical disk drive, is a non-volatile storage device for storing data and instructions for use by processor unit(s)1010. Mass data storage1030stores the system software for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of loading that software into main memory1020.

Portable storage device1040operates in conjunction with a portable non-volatile storage medium, such as a flash drive, floppy disk, compact disk, digital video disc, or Universal Serial Bus (USB) storage device, to input and output data and code to and from the computer system1000inFIG.10. The system software for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure is stored on such a portable medium and input to the computer system1000via the portable storage device1040.

User input devices1060can provide a portion of a user interface. User input devices1060may include one or more microphones, an alphanumeric keypad, such as a keyboard, or touch screen, for inputting alphanumeric and other information, or a pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, stylus, or cursor direction keys. User input devices1060can also include a touchscreen. Additionally, the computer system1000as shown inFIG.10includes output devices1050. Suitable output devices1050include speakers, printers, network interfaces, and monitors.

Graphics display system1070include a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) or other suitable display device. Graphics display system1070is configurable to receive textual and graphical information and processes the information for output to the display device. Peripheral device(s)1080may include any type of computer support device to add additional functionality to the computer system.

Some of the components provided in the computer system1000inFIG.10can be those typically found in computer systems that may be suitable for use with embodiments of the present disclosure and are intended to represent a broad category of such computer components. Thus, the computer system1000inFIG.10can be a personal computer (PC), hand held computer system, telephone, mobile computer system, workstation, tablet, phablet, mobile phone, watch, server, minicomputer, mainframe computer, wearable, or any other computer system. The computer may also include different bus configurations, networked platforms, multi-processor platforms, and the like. Various operating systems may be used including UNIX, LINUX, WINDOWS, MAC OS, PALM OS, QNX ANDROID, IOS, CHROME, and other suitable operating systems.

In some embodiments, the computing system1000may be implemented as a cloud-based computing environment, such as a virtual machine operating within a computing cloud. In other embodiments, the computing system1000may itself include a cloud-based computing environment, where the functionalities of the computing system1000are executed in a distributed fashion. Thus, the computing system1000, when configured as a computing cloud, may include pluralities of computing devices in various forms, as will be described in greater detail below.

Thus, specific embodiments of a secure line-of-sight communication with aircraft have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.