Patent Description:
In the related art, when a flight path is configured for an unmanned aerial vehicle, flight path information needs to be sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle through a dedicated link, for example, through a WiFi connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle or relayed by a satellite.

The current manner of configuring a flight path for the unmanned aerial vehicle requires to establish a dedicated link, and the configuration process is relatively cumbersome. A method, apparatus, base station, and core network device for transmitting flight information of unmanned aerial vehicle is briefly introduced in <CIT>.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a flight path configuration method as defined by claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the acquiring flight path information of an unmanned aerial vehicle includes:
acquiring the flight path information from a terminal running an unmanned aerial vehicle management system, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle management system is used to configure the flight path information for the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Optionally, the determining a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located includes:.

Optionally, the preset signaling includes at least one of:
a second paging signaling, a radio resource control signaling, and a medium access control layer control unit.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a flight path configuration apparatus as defined by claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the path acquiring module is configured to acquire the flight path information from a terminal running an unmanned aerial vehicle management system, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle management system is used to configure the flight path information for the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Optionally, the area determining module includes:.

A flight path configuration apparatus in accordance to claim <NUM> is equally disclosed.

Optionally, the apparatus further includes:.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, for an unmanned aerial vehicle in an idle state, since no communication connection is established between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a base station, flight path information from a core network cannot be directly sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the base station. Therefore, a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located can be determined first, and then a first paging signaling containing the flight path information can be sent to the base station in the tracking area, and the base station is instructed to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through a preset signaling through the first paging signaling, so that the flight path information can be sent from the core network to the unmanned aerial vehicle in the idle state, and thus the unmanned aerial vehicle configures the flight path based on the flight path information. Compared with related technologies, the configuration of the flight path can be completed based on the operator's network, without establishing a dedicated link, and the configuration process is relatively simple.

In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings used in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings may be obtained based on these drawings without creative labor.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work may fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flight path configuration method shown in this embodiment can be applied to a core network. The core network can communicate with a base station. The base station can communicate with a user device. The user device can be an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be a drone, an unmanned airship, or the like. The base station and the user device may communicate based on LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication or NR (New Radio) communication.

As shown in <FIG>, the flight path configuration method includes the following steps.

In step S11, flight path information of an unmanned aerial vehicle is acquired, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is in an idle state.

In one embodiment, the flight path information can be configured by an unmanned aerial vehicle management system. The unmanned aerial vehicle management system can be, for example, UTM (UAS Traffic Management). The full name of UAS is Unmanned Aircraft System. The unmanned aerial vehicle management system can run on a terminal, and a communication connection may exist between the core network and the terminal, and then the flight path information of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be obtained from the terminal.

According to the method of the invention, the unmanned aerial vehicle is in the idle state, which means a state that a communication connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station is disconnected. Since a communication connection exists between the base station and the core network, the core network can determine whether the communication connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station is disconnected. For example, when there is data transmission between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station, it can be determined that there is a communication connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station. When there is no data transmission between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station, it can be determined that a communication connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station is disconnected, that is, the unmanned aerial vehicle is in an idle state.

In step S12, a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located is determined, wherein at least one base station is located in the tracking area.

In one embodiment, one or more base stations can be set in the tracking area (TA). When the tracking area of the unmanned aerial vehicle changes, update request information for the tracking area can be generated and sent to the core network through the base station, and then the core network can determine the tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located.

In step S13, a first paging signaling is sent to the base station, wherein the first paging signaling contains the flight path information, and the first paging signaling is used to instruct the base station to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through a preset signaling.

For an unmanned aerial vehicle in an idle state, since no communication connection is established between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a base station, flight path information from a core network cannot be directly sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the base station. Therefore, a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located can be determined first, and then a first paging signaling containing the flight path information can be sent to the base station in the tracking area, and the base station is instructed to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through a preset signaling through the first paging signaling, so that the flight path information can be sent from the core network to the unmanned aerial vehicle in the idle state, for the unmanned aerial vehicle to configure the flight path based on the flight path information. Compared with related technologies, the configuration of the flight path can be completed based on the operator's network, without establishing a dedicated link, and the configuration process is relatively simple.

In an embodiment, the format of the first paging signaling may be as shown in Table <NUM>.

The core network may send the first paging signaling to the base station through the S1 interface, and the Flight Path Information in the first paging signaling is the flight path information.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart showing another method for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the acquiring flight path information of an unmanned aerial vehicle includes following steps.

In step S111, the flight path information is acquired from a terminal running an unmanned aerial vehicle management system, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle management system is used to configure the flight path information for the unmanned aerial vehicle.

In one embodiment, the flight path information can be configured by an unmanned aerial vehicle management system. The unmanned aerial vehicle management system can run on a terminal, and a communication connection may exist between the core network and the terminal, and then the flight path information of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be acquired from the the terminal.

The terminal that runs the unmanned aerial vehicle management system can be a server, a remote control and other devices.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart showing yet another method for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, on the basis of the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the determining a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located includes:.

In one embodiment, the tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located can change during movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle. When the tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located changes, the update request information for the tracking area can be generated and sent to the core network through the base station, for the core network to determine the tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located.

In an embodiment, the core network may instruct the base station to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the second paging signaling through the first paging signaling. In this case, the base station may broadcast the second paging signaling, and the identification information of the unmanned aerial vehicle may be included in the second paging signaling, so that when the unmanned aerial vehicle monitors the second paging signaling, it can be determined that the content in the second paging signaling needs to be acquired based on the identification information, for example, the flight path information carried by the second paging signaling is acquired. In this case, even if no communication connection is established between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station, the flight path information can still be obtained from the second paging signaling.

In one embodiment, the core network may instruct the base station to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling or Media Access Control Control Element (MAC CE) through the first paging signaling. In this case, the base station can establish a communication connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle first, and when there is a communication connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the RRC signaling or MAC CE carrying the flight path information is sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle, such that the flight path information is sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart showing yet another method for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flight path configuration method shown in this embodiment can be applied to a base station. The base station can communicate with a core network. The base station can communicate with a user device. The user device can be an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be a drone, an unmanned airship, or the like. The base station and the user device may communicate based on LTE communication or NR communication.

As shown in <FIG>, the flight path configuration method includes:.

For the unmanned aerial vehicle in an idle state, since no communication connection is established between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a base station, flight path information from a core network cannot be directly sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the base station. Therefore, a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located can be determined first, and then a first paging signaling containing the flight path information can be sent to the base station in the tracking area, and the base station is instructed to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through a preset signaling through the first paging signaling.

After receiving the first paging signaling, the base station may generate the preset signaling according to the first paging signaling, and the preset signaling includes the flight path information, and then preset signaling is sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle, so that the flight path information can be sent from the core network to the unmanned aerial vehicle in the idle state, for the unmanned aerial vehicle to configure the flight path based on the flight path information. Compared with related technologies, the configuration of the flight path can be completed based on the operator's network, without establishing a dedicated link, and the configuration process is relatively simple.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart illustrating yet another method for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the flight path configuration method further includes:.

It should be noted that step S24 and step S25 can be executed before step S21 as shown in <FIG>, or can be executed after step S23. The specific execution sequence is not limited in the present disclosure, step S24 and step S25 can be executed as long as the update request information sent from an unmanned aerial vehicle is received.

In an embodiment, the base station may broadcast the second paging signaling, and the identification information of the unmanned aerial vehicle may be included in the second paging signaling, so that when the unmanned aerial vehicle monitors the second paging signaling, it can be determined that the content in the second paging signaling needs to be acquired based on the identification information, for example, the flight path information carried by the second paging signaling is acquired. In this case, even if no communication connection is established between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station, the flight path information can still be obtained from the second paging signaling.

In one embodiment, the base station can establish a communication connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle first, and when there is a communication connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the RRC signaling or MAC CE carrying the flight path information is sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle, such that the flight path information is sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle from the core network.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart showing yet another method for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flight path configuration method shown in this embodiment can be applied to the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be a drone, an unmanned airship, or the like. The base station and the unmanned aerial vehicle may communicate based on LTE communication or NR communication.

In one embodiment, for an unmanned aerial vehicle in an idle state, since no communication connection is established between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a base station, flight path information from a core network cannot be directly sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the base station. Therefore, a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located can be determined first, and then a first paging signaling containing the flight path information can be sent to the base station in the tracking area, and the base station is instructed to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through a preset signaling through the first paging signaling.

After receiving the first paging signaling, the base station may generate the preset signaling which contains the flight path information according to the first paging signaling, and then may acquire the flight path information from the preset signaling when the unmanned aerial vehicle receives the preset signaling, and configures the flight path based on the flight path information. Compared with related technologies, the configuration of the flight path can be completed based on the operator's network, without establishing a dedicated link, and the configuration process is relatively simple.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart showing yet another method for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the method further includes:.

It should be noted that step S33 and step S34 can be executed before step S31 as shown in <FIG>, or can be executed after step S32. The specific execution sequence is not limited in the present disclosure. The update information for the tracking area can be generated as long as the tracking area is changed, that is, step S33 and step S34 are executed.

In one embodiment, the base station may broadcast the second paging signaling, and the second paging signaling may include the identification information of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle may monitor the base station. When the second paging signaling is monitored, it can be determined that the content in the second paging signaling needs to be acquired based on the identification information, for example, the flight path information carried by the second paging signaling is acquired. In this case, even if no communication connection is established between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the base station, the flight path information can still be obtained from the second paging signaling.

In one embodiment, the unmanned aerial vehicle may establish a communication connection with the base station first, and when there is a communication connection with the base station, the RRC signaling or MAC CE carrying the flight path information may be received from the base station, so that the flight path information may be acquired from the core network.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing the interaction of a core network, a base station, and an unmanned aerial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, after obtaining the flight path information of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the idle state, the core network can send the first paging signal to the base station in the tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located. The command contains flight path information, and the first paging signaling can instruct the base station to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the preset signaling.

After the base station receives the first paging signaling, the preset signaling may be generated according to the first paging signaling. The preset signaling includes flight path information, and the base station sends the preset signaling to the unmanned aerial vehicle. For example, when no communication connection is established with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the preset signaling can be sent by broadcasting, and after the communication connection is established with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the preset signaling can be sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle directedly.

After receiving the preset signaling, the unmanned aerial vehicle can obtain the flight path information since the preset signaling contains the flight path information, and then configure the flight path according to the flight path information, and fly according to the configured flight path.

Corresponding to the foregoing embodiments of the flight path configuration method, the present disclosure further provides embodiments of the flight path configuration apparatus.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart illustrating an apparatus for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flight path configuration apparatus shown in this embodiment can be applied to a core network. The core network can communicate with a base station. The base station can communicate with a user device. The user device can be an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be a drone, an unmanned airship, or the like. The base station and the user device may communicate based on LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication or NR (New Radio) communication.

As shown in <FIG>, the flight path configuration apparatus includes:.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram showing an area determining module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, on the basis of the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the area determining module <NUM> includes:.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart showing yet another apparatus for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flight path configuration apparatus shown in this embodiment can be applied to a base station. The base station can communicate with a core network. The base station can communicate with a user device. The user device can be an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be a drone, an unmanned airship, or the like. The base station and the user device may communicate based on LTE communication or NR communication.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram showing still another flight path configuration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, based on the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the flight path configuration apparatus further includes:.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart showing yet another apparatus for configuring a flight path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flight path configuration apparatus shown in this embodiment can be applied to the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be a drone, an unmanned airship, or the like. The base station and the unmanned aerial vehicle may communicate based on LTE communication or NR communication.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram showing yet another flight path configuration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, on the basis of the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the apparatus further includes:.

Regarding the apparatus in the foregoing embodiment, the specific manner in which each module performs operations has been described in detail in the related method embodiment, which will not be elaborated herein.

For the apparatus embodiments, since they basically correspond to the method embodiments, the description for related parts may refer to the description of the method embodiments. The apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or can be distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objective of the solutions of the embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement it without creative work.

The present disclosure also proposed an electronic device not corresponding to the subject matter for which protection is sought in the claims, including:.

The present disclosure also proposes a computer-readable storage medium with computer programs stored thereon, not corresponding to subject matter claimed, wherein the program implements steps in the method according to any of the foregoing embodiments when executed by a processor.

As shown in <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a flight path configuration apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus <NUM> may be provided as a base station. Referring to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> includes a processing component <NUM>, a wireless transmitting/receiving component <NUM>, an antenna component <NUM>, and a signal processing part specific to a wireless interface. The processing component <NUM> may further include one or more processors. One of the processors in the processing component <NUM> may be configured to implement the steps in the method described in any of the foregoing embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram showing a flight path configuration apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the apparatus <NUM> may be a mobile phone, a computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a messaging device, a game console, a tablet device, a medical device, a fitness device, a personal digital assistant, or the like.

Referring to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> may include one or more of the following components: a processing component <NUM>, memory <NUM>, a power component <NUM>, a multimedia component <NUM>, an audio component <NUM>, an input/output (I/O) interface <NUM>, a sensor component <NUM>, and a communication component <NUM>.

The processing component <NUM> typically controls the overall operations of the apparatus <NUM>, such as the operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communications, camera operations, and recording operations. The processing component <NUM> can include one or more processors <NUM> to execute instructions to perform all or part of the steps in the above-described methods. Moreover, the processing component <NUM> can include one or more modules to facilitate the interaction between the processing component <NUM> and other components. For example, the processing component <NUM> can include a multimedia module to facilitate the interaction between the multimedia component <NUM> and the processing component <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> is configured to store various types of data to support the operation of the apparatus <NUM>. Examples of such data include instructions for any application or method operated on the apparatus <NUM>, such as the contact data, the phone book data, messages, pictures, videos, and the like. The memory <NUM> can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device, or a combination thereof, such as a static random-access memory (SRAM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic memory, a flash memory, a magnetic or optical disk.

The power component <NUM> can include a power management system, one or more power sources, and other components associated with the generation, management, and distribution of power in the apparatus <NUM>.

The multimedia component <NUM> includes a screen providing an output interface between the apparatus <NUM> and the user. In some embodiments, the screen can include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel (TP). If the screen includes the touch panel, the screen can be implemented as a touch screen to receive input signals from the user. When the apparatus <NUM> is in an operation mode, such as a photographing mode or a video mode, the front camera and/or the rear camera can receive external multimedia data.

The audio component <NUM> is configured to output and/or input an audio signal. For example, the audio component <NUM> includes a microphone (MIC) configured to receive an external audio signal when the apparatus <NUM> is in an operation mode, such as a call mode, a recording mode, and a voice recognition mode. The received audio signal may be further stored in the memory <NUM> or sent via the communication component <NUM>. In some embodiments, the audio component <NUM> also includes a speaker for outputting the audio signal.

These buttons may include, but not limited to, a home button, a volume button, a starting button, and a locking button.

The sensor component <NUM> includes one or more sensors for providing state assessments of various aspects of the apparatus <NUM>. For example, the sensor component <NUM> can detect an open/closed state of the apparatus <NUM>, relative positioning of components, such as the display and the keypad of the apparatus <NUM>. The sensor component <NUM> can also detect a change in position of one component of the apparatus <NUM> or the apparatus <NUM>, the presence or absence of user contact with the apparatus <NUM>, an orientation, or an acceleration/deceleration of the apparatus <NUM>, and a change in temperature of the apparatus <NUM>. The sensor component <NUM> can also include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. The sensor component <NUM> can also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, configured to use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, the sensor component <NUM> can also include an accelerometer sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor.

The communication component <NUM> is configured to facilitate wired or wireless communication between the apparatus <NUM> and other devices. The apparatus <NUM> can access a wireless network based on a communication standard, such as Wi-Fi, <NUM>, <NUM> or a combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication component <NUM> receives broadcast signals or broadcast associated information from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication component <NUM> also includes a near field communication (NFC) module to facilitate short-range communications. For example, the NFC module can be implemented based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, infrared data association (IrDA) technology, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, Bluetooth (BT) technology and other technologies.

In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus <NUM> may be implemented with one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable Gate arrays (FPGAs), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors or other electronic components, to perform the flight path configuration methods of any one of the above embodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment, there is also provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions, such as memory <NUM> including instructions executable by the processor <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> to perform the above methods. For example, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium may be a ROM, a random-access memory (RAM), a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, and an optical data storage device, or the like.

Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present disclosure disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure, which are in accordance with the general principles of the present disclosure and include common general knowledge or conventional technical means in the art that are not disclosed in the present disclosure. The specification and embodiments are illustrative only, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise structures that have been described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply that there is any such actual relationship or sequence between these entities or operations. The terms "include", "contain" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or also include elements inherent to such processes, methods, articles, or devices. If there are no more restrictions, the element defined by the sentence "including a. " does not exclude the existence of other same elements in the process, method, article, or device that includes the element.

Claim 1:
A flight path configuration method for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
determining, by a core network, whether the unmanned aerial vehicle is idle by determining that a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a base station is disconnected; when it is determined that the unmanned aerial vehicle is in the idle state:
acquiring (S11), by the core network, flight path information of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
determining (S12), in the core network, a tracking area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is located, wherein the base station is located in the tracking area; and
sending (S13), from the core network, a first paging signalling to the base station, wherein the first paging signalling contains the flight path information, and the first paging signalling is used to instruct the base station to send the flight path information to the unmanned aerial vehicle through a preset signalling.