Patent ID: 12192871

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some wireless communication systems may support aerial user equipments (UEs) which may be devices capable of flying or maneuvering through the air. One example of an aerial UE is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which may also be referred to as a drone. In some examples, the aerial UEs may communicate with aerial UE controllers, which may be referred to as UAV controllers (UAVCs), that may control the aerial UEs (e.g., using the Internet, Bluetooth, or any form of radio frequency communications). Additionally or alternatively, the aerial UEs may be configured with radio access network (RAN) equipment and may communicate with base stations or other network entities via the RAN (e.g., using 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technologies, such as fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) networks).

Strictly speaking, an aerial UE would typically comprise at least two separate entities or components. A flight related component may perform some or all of the functions of flying, maneuvering (e.g., to avoid obstacles), navigation, landing, and takeoff and may include a power source (e.g. a battery or hydrogen cell), electric or other types of motors, propellors, sensors and controllers. Another communications related component may perform functions associated with communication with a ground controller and/or with other entities such as a wireless communication system and may employ wireless technologies like fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or 5G NR. The communications related component may perform functions common to a non-aerial wireless device such as a smartphone, tracking device or Internet of Things (IoT) device and may be referred to a user equipment (UE). The two components may share some resources (e.g. power source, processor and memory) and may coordinate and interact to control a flight path, navigation, and maneuvering of the aerial UE. As discussed herein, an aerial UE can refer to just the communications related component, just the flight related component or to both components. An aerial UE may be an unmanned aerial vehicle and the two terms are used interchangeably herein.

In some emergency scenarios (e.g., earthquakes, tsunamis, or other emergencies in which free air space may be desired), emergency responders such as the police, an air traffic control (ATC), or an unmanned traffic management (UTM), may be unable to efficiently broadcast emergency information directly to multiple aerial UEs in the surrounding area. Accordingly, emergency responders may communicate with the aerial UEs via the RAN. For example, a base station may transmit emergency broadcast messaging (e.g., using system information block eight (SIB8) messages) which conveys emergency information. In some cases, however, the emergency broadcast messaging may not distinguish between aerial UEs and other types of UEs, which may lead to an inefficient use of communication resources (e.g., for non-aerial UEs that decode the emergency broadcast messaging intended for aerial UEs and/or for aerial UEs that decode the emergency broadcast messaging intended for non-aerial UEs). It may be beneficial to implement a method whereby a base station may indicate emergency information intended for aerial UEs (e.g., UAVs) in a way which does not disrupt other types of UEs.

As described herein, a base station may receive emergency instructions from an authorized third party (e.g., an emergency responder, a law enforcement agency, an ATC, etc.) that the base station is to broadcast to aerial UEs in a wireless communications system. In response to receiving the emergency instructions, the base station may generate a broadcast message (e.g., in a System Information Block (SIB)8(SIB8)) including the emergency instructions. For example, the base station may generate the broadcast message which indicates aerial operations (e.g., using a UAV action parameter having seven bits indicating the aerial operations and one bit indicating a feedback configuration for responding to the broadcast message) for aerial UEs to perform. In some implementations, the broadcast message may include additional parameters for the aerial operations (e.g., as a UAV action string parameter). For example, the base station may indicate altitude correction values, coordinates, etc., for the aerial operations. To distinguish between aerial UEs and other types of UEs, the base station may include, in the broadcast message, an indication (e.g., a field such as a messageIdentifier field) that the emergency information is for aerial UEs. Accordingly, non-aerial UEs may ignore the broadcast message, but aerial UEs may receive and decode the broadcast message to obtain the emergency instructions (e.g., the aerial operations and associated parameters). The aerial UEs may perform the indicated aerial operations according to the received broadcast message. In some implementations, the aerial UEs may transmit feedback to the base station in response to the broadcast message. Implementing aspects of the present disclosure may allow for emergency communication with aerial UEs and aerial operations for aerial UEs based on broadcast signaling, without disrupting other types of UEs (e.g., ground UEs, or other non-aerial UEs), which may lead to an increased efficiency of communications resource use, among other benefits.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects of the disclosure are further described in the context of a broadcast message, a messaging scheme, and a process flow. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a wireless communications system100that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system100may include one or more base stations105, one or more UEs115, and a core network130. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

The base stations105may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communications system100and may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. The base stations105and the UEs115may wirelessly communicate via one or more communication links125. Each base station105may provide a coverage area110over which the UEs115and the base station105may establish one or more communication links125. The coverage area110may be an example of a geographic area over which a base station105and a UE115may support the communication of signals according to one or more radio access technologies.

The UEs115may be dispersed throughout a coverage area110of the wireless communications system100, and each UE115may be stationary, or mobile, or both at different times. The UEs115may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. Some example UEs115are illustrated inFIG.1. The UEs115described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs115, the base stations105, or network equipment (e.g., core network nodes, relay devices, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, or other network equipment), as shown inFIG.1.

The base stations105may communicate with the core network130, or with one another, or both. For example, the base stations105may interface with the core network130through one or more backhaul links120(e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, or other interface). The base stations105may communicate with one another over the backhaul links120(e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) either directly (e.g., directly between base stations105), or indirectly (e.g., via core network130), or both. In some examples, the backhaul links120may be or include one or more wireless links.

One or more of the base stations105described herein may include or may be referred to by a person having ordinary skill in the art as a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB or a giga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or other suitable terminology.

A UE115may include or may be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. A UE115may also include or may be referred to as a personal electronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, a UE115may include or be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communications (MTC) device, among other examples, which may be implemented in various objects such as appliances, or vehicles, meters, among other examples.

The UEs115described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs115that may sometimes act as relays as well as the base stations105and the network equipment including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, among other examples, as shown inFIG.1.

The UEs115and the base stations105may wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links125over one or more carriers. The term “carrier” may refer to a set of radio frequency spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting the communication links125. For example, a carrier used for a communication link125may include a portion of a radio frequency spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth part (BWP)) that is operated according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling that coordinates operation for the carrier, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communications system100may support communication with a UE115using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. A UE115may be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers according to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregation may be used with both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD) component carriers.

Signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may consist of one symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inversely related. The number of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both). Thus, the more resource elements that a UE115receives and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be for the UE115. A wireless communications resource may refer to a combination of a radio frequency spectrum resource, a time resource, and a spatial resource (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial layers may further increase the data rate or data integrity for communications with a UE115.

The time intervals for the base stations105or the UEs115may be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit which may, for example, refer to a sampling period of Ts=1/(Δfmax·Nf) seconds, where Δfmaxmay represent the maximum supported subcarrier spacing, and Nfmay represent the maximum supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of a communications resource may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

Each frame may include multiple consecutively numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a number of slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable number of slots, and the number of slots may depend on subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include a number of symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended to each symbol period). In some wireless communications systems100, a slot may further be divided into multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may contain one or more (e.g., Nf) sampling periods. The duration of a symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation.

A subframe, a slot, a mini-slot, or a symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system100and may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100may be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs)).

Physical channels may be multiplexed on a carrier according to various techniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel may be multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using one or more of time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET)) for a physical control channel may be defined by a number of symbol periods and may extend across the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) may be configured for a set of the UEs115. For example, one or more of the UEs115may monitor or search control regions for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set may include one or multiple control channel candidates in one or more aggregation levels arranged in a cascaded manner. An aggregation level for a control channel candidate may refer to a number of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with encoded information for a control information format having a given payload size. Search space sets may include common search space sets configured for sending control information to multiple UEs115and UE-specific search space sets for sending control information to a specific UE115.

Each base station105may provide communication coverage via one or more cells, for example a macro cell, a small cell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof. The term “cell” may refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station105(e.g., over a carrier) and may be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID), or others). In some examples, a cell may also refer to a geographic coverage area110or a portion of a geographic coverage area110(e.g., a sector) over which the logical communication entity operates. Such cells may range from smaller areas (e.g., a structure, a subset of structure) to larger areas depending on various factors such as the capabilities of the base station105. For example, a cell may be or include a building, a subset of a building, or exterior spaces between or overlapping with geographic coverage areas110, among other examples.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider supporting the macro cell. A small cell may be associated with a lower-powered base station105, as compared with a macro cell, and a small cell may operate in the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cells may provide unrestricted access to the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider or may provide restricted access to the UEs115having an association with the small cell (e.g., the UEs115in a closed subscriber group (CSG), the UEs115associated with users in a home or office). A base station105may support one or multiple cells and may also support communications over the one or more cells using one or multiple component carriers.

In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)) that may provide access for different types of devices.

In some examples, a base station105may be movable and therefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographic coverage area110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas110associated with different technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas110may be supported by the same base station105. In other examples, the overlapping geographic coverage areas110associated with different technologies may be supported by different base stations105. The wireless communications system100may include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of the base stations105provide coverage for various geographic coverage areas110using the same or different radio access technologies.

Some UEs115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or low complexity devices and may provide for automated communication between machines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2M communication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies that allow devices to communicate with one another or a base station105without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTC may include communications from devices that integrate sensors or meters to measure or capture information and relay such information to a central server or application program that makes use of the information or presents the information to humans interacting with the application program. Some UEs115may be designed to collect information or enable automated behavior of machines or other devices. Examples of applications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventory monitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcare monitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological event monitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing, physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

The wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable communications or low-latency communications, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) or mission critical communications. The UEs115may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, or critical functions (e.g., mission critical functions). Ultra-reliable communications may include private communication or group communication and may be supported by one or more mission critical services such as mission critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), mission critical video (MCVideo), or mission critical data (MCData). Support for mission critical functions may include prioritization of services, and mission critical services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, mission critical, and ultra-reliable low-latency may be used interchangeably herein.

In some examples, a UE115may also be able to communicate directly with other UEs115over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link135(e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or D2D protocol). One or more UEs115utilizing D2D communications may be within the geographic coverage area110of a base station105. Other UEs115in such a group may be outside the geographic coverage area110of a base station105or be otherwise unable to receive transmissions from a base station105. In some examples, groups of the UEs115communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE115transmits to every other UE115in the group. In some examples, a base station105facilitates the scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications are carried out between the UEs115without the involvement of a base station105.

In some systems, the D2D communication link135may be an example of a communication channel, such as a sidelink communication channel, between vehicles (e.g., UEs115). In some examples, vehicles may communicate using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, or some combination of these. A vehicle may signal information related to traffic conditions, signal scheduling, weather, safety, emergencies, or any other information relevant to a V2X system. In some examples, vehicles in a V2X system may communicate with roadside infrastructure, such as roadside units, or with the network via one or more network nodes (e.g., base stations105) using vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, or with both.

The core network130may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network130may be an evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC), which may include at least one control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MIME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) and at least one user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for the UEs115served by the base stations105associated with the core network130. User IP packets may be transferred through the user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to IP services150for one or more network operators. The IP services150may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched Streaming Service.

Some of the network devices, such as a base station105, may include subcomponents such as an access network entity140, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entity140may communicate with the UEs115through one or more other access network transmission entities145, which may be referred to as radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmission/reception points (TRPs). Each access network transmission entity145may include one or more antenna panels. In some configurations, various functions of each access network entity140or base station105may be distributed across various network devices (e.g., radio heads and ANCs) or consolidated into a single network device (e.g., a base station105).

The wireless communications system100may operate using one or more frequency bands, typically in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. The UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, but the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to the UEs115located indoors. The transmission of UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter ranges (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) compared to transmission using the smaller frequencies and longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

The wireless communications system100may utilize both licensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communications system100may employ License Assisted Access (LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology in an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. When operating in unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, devices such as the base stations105and the UEs115may employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance. In some examples, operations in unlicensed bands may be based on a carrier aggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriers operating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operations in unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among other examples.

A base station105or a UE115may be equipped with multiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of a base station105or a UE115may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels, which may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with a base station105may be located in diverse geographic locations. A base station105may have an antenna array with a number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE115. Likewise, a UE115may have one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally or alternatively, an antenna panel may support radio frequency beamforming for a signal transmitted via an antenna port.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signal processing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a base station105, a UE115) to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam, a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated via antenna elements of an antenna array such that some signals propagating at particular orientations with respect to an antenna array experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antenna elements may include a transmitting device or a receiving device applying amplitude offsets, phase offsets, or both to signals carried via the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustments associated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by a beamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g., with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device or receiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

The wireless communications system100may be a packet-based network that operates according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer may be IP-based. A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer may perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate over logical channels. A Medium Access Control (MAC) layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer may also use error detection techniques, error correction techniques, or both to support retransmissions at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a UE115and a base station105or a core network130supporting radio bearers for user plane data. At the physical layer, transport channels may be mapped to physical channels.

The UEs115and the base stations105may support retransmissions of data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback is one technique for increasing the likelihood that data is received correctly over a communication link125. HARQ may include a combination of error detection (e.g., using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC)), forward error correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g., automatic repeat request (ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAC layer in poor radio conditions (e.g., low signal-to-noise conditions). In some examples, a device may support same-slot HARQ feedback, where the device may provide HARQ feedback in a specific slot for data received in a previous symbol in the slot. In other cases, the device may provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent slot, or according to some other time interval.

Some examples of the wireless communications system100may support aerial UEs115which may be devices capable of flying or maneuvering through the air. For example, the wireless communications system100may support UAVs (e.g., drones) which may communicate with other devices of the wireless communications system100such as base stations105. In some emergency scenarios, third party systems such as emergency responders (e.g., a law enforcement agency, an ATC, or an UTM) may communicate emergency information to the aerial UEs115via a base station105.

For example, a base station105may receive emergency instructions for aerial UEs115(e.g., identifying a set of actions to perform) from a third party. The base station105may generate a broadcast message (e.g., a SIB8) including emergency information such as the emergency instructions, associated parameters, and an indication that the emergency information is for the aerial UEs115. The base station105may transmit a short message indicating the aerial UEs115to monitor for the broadcast message and may transmit the broadcast message accordingly. An aerial UE115may receive the short message and the broadcast message and decode the broadcast message to obtain the emergency instructions. The aerial UE115may perform actions according to the emergency instructions. Implementing aspects of the present disclosure may enable communicating emergency information to aerial UEs115without disrupting other types of UEs115(e.g., ground UEs115).

FIG.2illustrates an example of a wireless communications system200that supports techniques for broadcasting UAV emergency information in wireless communications systems, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communications system200may implement aspects of a wireless communications system100, as described with reference toFIG.1. The wireless communications system200may include an aerial UE215-a, an aerial UE215-b, and an aerial UE215-cwhich may be examples of an aerial UE115, as described with reference toFIG.1. The wireless communications system200may also include a base station105-awhich may be an example of a base station105, as described with reference toFIG.1. The base station105may be associated with a cell providing wireless communications services within a geographic coverage area110-a. During an emergency scenario, the base station105-amay broadcast emergency messaging to the one or more of the aerial UE215-a, the aerial UE215-b, or the aerial UE215-c.

An aerial UE215may establish a communication link220(e.g., an access link, such as a Uu interface) with the base station105-aand may communicate with the base station105-ato support different application (e.g., video, remote command and control (C2), etc.). For example, the aerial UE215-a, the aerial UE215-b, and the aerial UE215-cmay establish a communication link220-a, a communication link220-b, and a communication link220-c, respectively, with the base station105-a. In some examples, an aerial UE215may establish a connection230(e.g., using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any form of radio frequency communication) with an aerial UE controller225(e.g., a remote control). In some cases, the connection230may be within a visual line of sight or beyond a visual link of sight (e.g., up to 10 km or beyond). The connection230may be referred to as a unmanned aerial vehicle-to-everything (U2X) command and control (U2X-C2) connection and may be, for example, a PC5, bidirectional connection. For example, the aerial UE215-bmay establish the connection230with the aerial UE controller225. An aerial UE215may receive flight instructions from the base station105. For example, an third-party authorized system205may convey flight or emergency instruction to a UTM210. The UTM210may convey the instructions to the base station105-afor transmitting via the RAN. Accordingly, the base station105-amay broadcast the instructions to the aerial UEs215or the aerial UE controller225.

In emergency scenarios, the base station105-amay receive emergency instructions for the aerial UEs215from the third-party authorized system205(e.g., via the UTM210). The base station105-amay generate a broadcast message (e.g., a SIBS) indicating emergency information, including the emergency instructions, and an indicator (e.g., by or in a message identifier field) that emergency information of the broadcast message is for aerial UEs215(e.g., UAVs). In some examples, the base station105-amay indicate the emergency instruction using a UAV action field (e.g., UAVAction) which includes seven bits indicating aerial operations for the aerial UEs215to perform and one bit indicating a feedback configuration for responding to the broadcast message (e.g., indicating whether the aerial UEs215are to transmit feedback messages in response to the broadcast message). In some implementations, the base station105-amay also indicate parameters for the aerial operations using a UAV action string field (e.g., UAVActionString). For example, the base station105-amay indicate flight path parameters (e.g., flight path maps), geographic coordinates (e.g., three-dimensional coordinates indicating a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude), altitude correctional values, etc., for the aerial operations.

The base station105-amay transmit a short message in downlink control information (DCI) to the aerial UEs215indicating (e.g., using a etwsAndCmasIndication field) the aerial UEs215to monitor for emergency information of a subsequent broadcast message. Accordingly, the base station105-amay transmit, and the aerial UEs215may receive, the broadcast message indicating the emergency instructions. In response to receiving the broadcast message, the aerial UEs215may decode the emergency information to obtain the emergency instructions (e.g., the actions or aerial operations and associated parameters) and may perform the aerial operations accordingly. In some examples, the broadcast message may include a two-dimensional (2D) geodetic area or a three-dimensional (3D) geodetic volume such that, if an aerial UE215(e.g., the aerial UE215-b, the aerial UE215-c, or the aerial UE215-c) receives the broadcast message, the aerial UE215may determine whether the aerial UE215is operating within the geodetic area or the geodetic volume. Accordingly, the aerial UE215may ignore the broadcast message if the aerial UE215is not within the geodetic area or the geodetic volume and may perform the aerial operations if the aerial UE215is within the geodetic area or the geodetic volume.

In some examples, if indicated by the base station105-ato report feedback, the aerial UEs215may transmit feedback messages (e.g., acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) messages) to the base station105-a. In some implementations, the aerial UEs215may use the feedback message to indicate completion of the aerial operations. In some examples, the aerial UEs215may indicate a UAV identifier, a current altitude, a current location, or any combination thereof using the feedback message. The base station105-amay indicate the feedback received from the aerial UEs215to the aerial UE controller225, the UTM210, the third-party authorized system205, or any combination thereof. Implementing aspects of the wireless communications system200may enable emergency communication with aerial UEs215without disrupting other types of UEs (e.g., ground UEs, or otherwise non-aerial UEs), which may lead to an efficient resource utilization, among other benefits.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a broadcast message300in a system that supports techniques for broadcasting UAV emergency information in wireless communications systems, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the broadcast message300may be implemented in aspects of the wireless communications system100or the wireless communications system200, as described with reference toFIGS.1and2. For example, a base station105may transmit the broadcast message300to aerial UEs215to indicate information to the aerial UEs215in emergency scenarios.

The broadcast message300may include a message identifier305(e.g., a messageIdentifier field) indicating that emergency information of the broadcast message300is for UAVs. For example, a base station105may determine a value of the message identifier305which enables or indicates UAVs to decode the broadcast message300while other types of UEs (i.e. UEs that are not aerial UEs) may ignore or disregard the broadcast message300. In some examples, the broadcast message300may also include a UAV action field310(e.g., UAVAction) which indicates aerial operations for UAVs to perform. In some implementations, the UAV action field310may include a set of seven bits315which indicates the aerial operations and a feedback bit320which indicates a feedback configuration for responding to (e.g., acknowledging) the broadcast message300(e.g., indicates whether the UAVs are to report feedback). In such examples, the broadcast message300may also include a UAV action string field325(e.g., UAVActionString) which indicates parameters for the aerial operations using a set of eight bits330. In accordance with Table 1, the UAV action field310and the UAV action string field325may indicate aerial operations such as, for example, an altitude correction and an associated altitude value, a landing procedure at provided coordinates, an exit procedure, or a home landing procedure. It is noted that the aerial operations illustrated in Table 1 are representative of potential aerial operations but do not enumerate all aerial operations the base station105may indicate. Additional examples of emergency instructions (e.g., for aerial operations) may include instructions to follow an emergency path schedule, update a feedback message with a UAV identity, update or indicate a UAV location prior to or subsequent to performing the aerial operations.

TABLE 1UAVActionUAVAction(Bits 1-7)(Bit 8)UAVActionStringDescriptionAltitude1Altitude ValueUAV to adjust altitude (e.g.Correctionfly below or above a definedaltitude value)Land UAV at1LandingUAV to land at definedCoordinatesCoordinateslanding coordinatesExit Warning1N/AUAV to exit a warning areaArea(e.g. an area in which thewarning message is beingbroadcast)Follow Home1N/AUAV to land at a configuredLanding Positionhome positionHover1N/AUAV to hover at currentpositionFlash lights/1N/AUAV to flash lights and/orsound audiosound an audio alarm and/oralarm/transmittransmit a pre-configured RFRF signalsignal (e.g. to enable theUAV to be more easilyheard, seen or identified andlocated by a wirelessreceiver)Reduce speed1Maximum speedUAV to reduce speed tobelow a defined maximumspeed

In some implementations, the broadcast message300may indicate more than one action. For example, the broadcast message300may indicate both an “Exit Warning Area” action and a “Flash lights/sound audio alarm/transmit RF signal” action as described in Table 1. An indication of two or more actions may be useful in some instances, e.g. when a number of aerial UEs are flying within the airspace of an airport and need to perform multiple actions to exit the airspace in a safe manner. An indication of multiple actions may be supported by including an indication of multiple actions in the UAV action field310and including indications of the individual actions (e.g. “Exit Warning Area” and “Flash lights/sound audio alarm/transmit RF signal” in the previous example) as part of the UAV action string field325or in some other field of the SIB8. Alternatively, an indication of one of the multiple actions may be included in the UAV action field310(e.g. “Exit Warning Area” in the previous example) with indications of the other actions (e.g. “Flash lights/sound audio alarm/transmit RF signal” in the previous example) included as part of the UAV action string field325or in some other field of the SIB8.

The broadcast message300may include additional parameters such as, for example, a serial number, a warning message segment type, a warning message segment number, a warning message, a data coding scheme, warning area coordinates (e.g. a definition of a warning area such as one or more coordinates and other parameters defining an area as a circle, ellipse or polygon), or any combination thereof which UAVs may use to determine operations to perform in emergency scenarios. Implementing aspects of the broadcast message300may enable emergency communications with UAVs without disrupting other types of UEs, which may lead to an efficient use of communication resource utilization.

FIG.4illustrates an example of a messaging scheme400in a system that supports techniques for broadcasting UAV emergency information in wireless communication systems, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the messaging scheme400may be implemented in the wireless communications system100or the wireless communications system200, as described with reference toFIGS.1and2. Similarly, the messaging scheme400may implement aspects of the broadcast message300, as described with reference toFIG.3. The messaging scheme400may be implemented (e.g., in emergency scenarios) by an aerial UE405, an aerial UE controller410, a RAN415, a UTM420, and a third party425which may be examples of the corresponding devices and systems described herein.

At430, the third party425may convey emergency information (e.g., using an emergency information distribution request) to the UTM420. For example, the third party425may send, to the UTM420, emergency instruction or aerial operations that the aerial UE405is to perform.

At435, the UTM420may forward the emergency information to the RAN415. At440, the UTM420may transmit a response (e.g., an emergency information distribution response) to the third party425.

At445, the RAN415may transmit a short message (e.g., a DCI message) to the aerial UE405indicating that emergency information will be transmitted in a subsequent broadcast message (e.g., SIB8). At450, the RAN415may transmit the broadcast message to the aerial UE405. In some examples, the broadcast message may include an indication (e.g., as a message identifier) that emergency information of the broadcast message is for UAVs (e.g. and is not intended for non-aerial UEs). In some implementations, the broadcast message may include a UAV action field indicating an action (e.g., based on the emergency instructions) for the aerial UE405. For example, the UAV action field may identify aerial operations for the aerial UE405to perform. In some examples, the broadcast message may also include a UAV action string field providing parameters (e.g., coordinates, altitude values, etc.) for the aerial operations. In some implementations, the broadcast message may include a request for an acknowledgment. In some examples, more than one action may be indicated in the UAV action field, the UAV action string field and/or in another field of the broadcast message as described previously forFIG.3. In some implementations, the request for the acknowledgment and/or the action or actions may be conveyed as part of the emergency information at430and435.

At455, the aerial UE405may transmit a feedback message (e.g., a UAV ACK message) to the RAN415, e.g., if a request for an acknowledgment was received at450. The RAN415may, at460, forward the feedback message to the aerial UE controller410. Similarly, at465, the RAN415may forward the feedback message to the UTM420and the UTM420may transmit the feedback message to the third party425.

Implementing aspects of the messaging scheme400may enable broadcasting emergency communications to UAVs without disrupting other types of UEs which may lead to an increased efficiency of communications.

FIG.5illustrates an example of a process flow500in a system that supports techniques for broadcasting UAV emergency information in wireless communications systems, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the messaging scheme400may be implemented in the wireless communications system100or the wireless communications system200, as described with reference toFIGS.1and2. Similarly, the messaging scheme400may implement aspects of the broadcast message300or the messaging scheme400, as described with reference toFIGS.3and4. The process flow500may include an aerial UE505and a base station155-bwhich may be examples of the corresponding devices described herein. Alternative examples of the following may be implemented in which some processes are performed in a different order than described or are not performed at all. In some examples, the processes may include additional features not mentioned below, or further processes may be added.

At510, the base station105-bmay receive emergency instructions from a third-party (e.g., a law enforcement agency, emergency responders, a UTM, an ATC, etc.).

At515, based on the emergency instructions, the base station105-bmay generate a broadcast message (e.g., a SIB8). For example, the base station105-bmay generate a broadcast message which includes emergency information including the emergency instructions. The broadcast message may include an indication (e.g., as a message identifier field) that the broadcast message is for UAVs. The broadcast message may also identify the emergency instructions (e.g., using a UAV action field), including aerial operations the aerial UE505is to perform. In some examples, the broadcast message may also include an indication of parameters for the aerial operations.

In some examples, at520, the base station105-bmay transmit a short message in DCI indicating the aerial UE505to monitor for emergency information in a subsequent broadcast message. At525, the base station105-bmay transmit the broadcast message to the aerial UE505.

At530, the aerial UE505may decode the broadcast message to obtain the emergency instructions and associated parameters. Accordingly, at535, the aerial UE505may perform the aerial operations indicated in the broadcast message. Implementing aspects of the process flow500may enable broadcasting emergency communications to UAVs without disrupting other types of UEs which may lead to an increased efficiency of communications.

FIG.6shows a block diagram600of a device605that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device605may be an example of aspects of a UE115as described herein. The device605may include a receiver610, a transmitter615, and a communications manager620. The device605may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver610may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). Information may be passed on to other components of the device605. The receiver610may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter615may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device605. For example, the transmitter615may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). In some examples, the transmitter615may be co-located with a receiver610in a transceiver module. The transmitter615may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager620, the receiver610, the transmitter615, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein. For example, the communications manager620, the receiver610, the transmitter615, or various combinations or components thereof may support a method for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager620, the receiver610, the transmitter615, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing, by the processor, instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the communications manager620, the receiver610, the transmitter615, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software or firmware) executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager620, the receiver610, the transmitter615, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

In some examples, the communications manager620may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver610, the transmitter615, or both. For example, the communications manager620may receive information from the receiver610, send information to the transmitter615, or be integrated in combination with the receiver610, the transmitter615, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager620may support wireless communication at an aerial UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager620may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The communications manager620may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The communications manager620may be configured as or otherwise support a means for decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The communications manager620may be configured as or otherwise support a means for performing one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles based on the emergency instructions.

By including or configuring the communications manager620in accordance with examples as described herein, the device605(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver610, the transmitter615, the communications manager620, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for communicating emergency instructions such that the device605may exhibit a reduced power consumption, a reduced processing, or a more efficient resource utilization.

FIG.7shows a block diagram700of a device705that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device705may be an example of aspects of a device605or a UE115as described herein. The device705may include a receiver710, a transmitter715, and a communications manager720. The device705may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver710may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). Information may be passed on to other components of the device705. The receiver710may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter715may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device705. For example, the transmitter715may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). In some examples, the transmitter715may be co-located with a receiver710in a transceiver module. The transmitter715may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The device705, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein. For example, the communications manager720may include a control receiver725, a broadcast receiver730, a decoding component735, an action component740, or any combination thereof. The communications manager720may be an example of aspects of a communications manager620as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager720, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver710, the transmitter715, or both. For example, the communications manager720may receive information from the receiver710, send information to the transmitter715, or be integrated in combination with the receiver710, the transmitter715, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager720may support wireless communication at an aerial UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The control receiver725may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The broadcast receiver730may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The decoding component735may be configured as or otherwise support a means for decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The action component740may be configured as or otherwise support a means for performing one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles based on the emergency instructions.

FIG.8shows a block diagram800of a communications manager820that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager820may be an example of aspects of a communications manager620, a communications manager720, or both, as described herein. The communications manager820, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein. For example, the communications manager820may include a control receiver825, a broadcast receiver830, a decoding component835, an action component840, a geodetic manager845, a broadcast component850, an action manager855, a response transmitter860, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager820may support wireless communication at an aerial UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The control receiver825may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The broadcast receiver830may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The decoding component835may be configured as or otherwise support a means for decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The action component840may be configured as or otherwise support a means for performing one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles based on the emergency instructions.

In some examples, in which the broadcast message includes geodetic 2D area or a geodetic 3D volume and to support wireless communication at an aerial UE, the geodetic manager845may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining whether the aerial vehicle is inside the geodetic 2D area or geodetic 3D volume. In some examples, in which the broadcast message includes geodetic 2D area or a geodetic 3D volume and to support wireless communication at an aerial UE, the broadcast component850may be configured as or otherwise support a means for ignoring the broadcast message when the aerial UE is determined to be not inside the geodetic 2D area or geodetic 3D volume; and. In some examples, in which the broadcast message includes geodetic 2D area or a geodetic 3D volume and to support wireless communication at an aerial UE, the action manager855may be configured as or otherwise support a means for performing the one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles when the aerial UE is determined to be inside the geodetic 2D area or geodetic 3D volume.

In some examples, the emergency instructions include an identifier of the one or more actions. In some examples, the emergency instructions include an indicator of one or more parameters for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE. In some examples, the indicator of the one or more parameters for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE includes an action string.

In some examples, the response transmitter860may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the base station, a response message in response to receiving the broadcast message, where the received broadcast message includes an indicator that the aerial UE is to transmit the response message.

In some examples, the response message includes a current location of the aerial UE, a confirmation of the performing of the one or more actions, an identification of the aerial UE, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the indicator includes a message identifier of the broadcast message. In some examples, the emergency instructions include safe landing geodetic coordinates, flight path maps for the aerial UE, an altitude value, or any combination thereof, for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE.

In some examples, the downlink control information message includes a short message. In some examples, the broadcast message includes a system information block eight message. In some examples, the one or more actions include an altitude correction, a landing procedure, a warning area exit procedure, a homing procedure, or any combination thereof. In some examples, performing the one or more actions further includes updating one or more target operations of the aerial UE based on the emergency instructions.

FIG.9shows a diagram of a system900including a device905that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device905may be an example of or include the components of a device605, a device705, or a UE115as described herein. The device905may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations105, UEs115, or any combination thereof. The device905may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager920, an input/output (I/O) controller910, a transceiver915, an antenna925, a memory930, code935, and a processor940. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus945).

The I/O controller910may manage input and output signals for the device905. The I/O controller910may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device905. In some cases, the I/O controller910may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, the I/O controller910may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system. Additionally or alternatively, the I/O controller910may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller910may be implemented as part of a processor, such as the processor940. In some cases, a user may interact with the device905via the I/O controller910or via hardware components controlled by the I/O controller910.

In some cases, the device905may include a single antenna925. However, in some other cases, the device905may have more than one antenna925, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver915may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas925, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver915may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver915may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas925for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas925. The transceiver915, or the transceiver915and one or more antennas925, may be an example of a transmitter615, a transmitter715, a receiver610, a receiver710, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory930may include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The memory930may store computer-readable, computer-executable code935including instructions that, when executed by the processor940, cause the device905to perform various functions described herein. The code935may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code935may not be directly executable by the processor940but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory930may contain, among other things, a basic I/O system (BIOS) which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor940may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor940may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor940. The processor940may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory930) to cause the device905to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). For example, the device905or a component of the device905may include a processor940and memory930coupled to the processor940, the processor940and memory930configured to perform various functions described herein.

The communications manager920may support wireless communication at an aerial UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager920may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The communications manager920may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The communications manager920may be configured as or otherwise support a means for decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The communications manager920may be configured as or otherwise support a means for performing one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles based on the emergency instructions.

By including or configuring the communications manager920in accordance with examples as described herein, the device905may support techniques for communicating emergency instructions such that the device905may exhibit a reduced power consumption, a reduced processing, an improved coordination between devices, or a more efficient resource utilization, among other benefits.

In some examples, the communications manager920may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver915, the one or more antennas925, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager920is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager920may be supported by or performed by the processor940, the memory930, the code935, or any combination thereof. For example, the code935may include instructions executable by the processor940to cause the device905to perform various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein, or the processor940and the memory930may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.10shows a block diagram1000of a device1005that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1005may be an example of aspects of a base station105as described herein. The device1005may include a receiver1010, a transmitter1015, and a communications manager1020. The device1005may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver1010may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). Information may be passed on to other components of the device1005. The receiver1010may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter1015may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device1005. For example, the transmitter1015may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). In some examples, the transmitter1015may be co-located with a receiver1010in a transceiver module. The transmitter1015may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager1020, the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein. For example, the communications manager1020, the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, or various combinations or components thereof may support a method for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager1020, the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing, by the processor, instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the communications manager1020, the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software or firmware) executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager1020, the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

In some examples, the communications manager1020may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, or both. For example, the communications manager1020may receive information from the receiver1010, send information to the transmitter1015, or be integrated in combination with the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager1020may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1020may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a network node, emergency instructions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The communications manager1020may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to an aerial UE, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The communications manager1020may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to one or more aerial UEs, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for the unmanned aerial vehicles, the emergency information indicating the emergency instructions.

By including or configuring the communications manager1020in accordance with examples as described herein, the device1005(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver1010, the transmitter1015, the communications manager1020, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for communicating emergency instructions such that the device1005may exhibit a reduced power consumption, a reduced processing, an improved coordination between devices, or a more efficient resource utilization, among other benefits.

FIG.11shows a block diagram1100of a device1105that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1105may be an example of aspects of a device1005or a base station105as described herein. The device1105may include a receiver1110, a transmitter1115, and a communications manager1120. The device1105may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver1110may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). Information may be passed on to other components of the device1105. The receiver1110may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter1115may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device1105. For example, the transmitter1115may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). In some examples, the transmitter1115may be co-located with a receiver1110in a transceiver module. The transmitter1115may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The device1105, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein. For example, the communications manager1120may include an instruction receiver1125, a control transmitter1130, a broadcast transmitter1135, or any combination thereof. The communications manager1120may be an example of aspects of a communications manager1020as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager1120, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver1110, the transmitter1115, or both. For example, the communications manager1120may receive information from the receiver1110, send information to the transmitter1115, or be integrated in combination with the receiver1110, the transmitter1115, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager1120may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The instruction receiver1125may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a network node, emergency instructions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The control transmitter1130may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to an aerial UE, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The broadcast transmitter1135may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to one or more aerial UEs, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for the unmanned aerial vehicles, the emergency information indicating the emergency instructions.

FIG.12shows a block diagram1200of a communications manager1220that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager1220may be an example of aspects of a communications manager1020, a communications manager1120, or both, as described herein. The communications manager1220, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein. For example, the communications manager1220may include an instruction receiver1225, a control transmitter1230, a broadcast transmitter1235, a response receiver1240, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager1220may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The instruction receiver1225may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a network node, emergency instructions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The control transmitter1230may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to an aerial UE, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The broadcast transmitter1235may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to one or more aerial UEs, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for the unmanned aerial vehicles, the emergency information indicating the emergency instructions.

In some examples, the broadcast message further includes a geodetic 2D area or geodetic 3D volume. In some examples, the emergency instructions include an identifier of the one or more actions. In some examples, the emergency instructions include an indicator of one or more parameters for one or more actions to be performed by the one or more aerial UEs. In some examples, the indicator of the one or more parameters for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE includes an action string.

In some examples, the response receiver1240may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from at least one of the one or more aerial UEs, one or more response messages in response to transmitting the broadcast message, where the transmitted broadcast message includes an indicator that the one or more aerial UEs are to transmit the response message. In some examples, the indicator includes a message identifier of the broadcast message.

In some examples, the response message includes a current location of the aerial UE, a confirmation of the performing of the one or more actions, an identification of the aerial UE, or any combination thereof.

FIG.13shows a diagram of a system1300including a device1305that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1305may be an example of or include the components of a device1005, a device1105, or a base station105as described herein. The device1305may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations105, UEs115, or any combination thereof. The device1305may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager1320, a network communications manager1310, a transceiver1315, an antenna1325, a memory1330, code1335, a processor1340, and an inter-station communications manager1345. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus1350).

The network communications manager1310may manage communications with a core network130(e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communications manager1310may manage the transfer of data communications for client devices, such as one or more UEs115.

In some cases, the device1305may include a single antenna1325. However, in some other cases the device1305may have more than one antenna1325, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver1315may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas1325, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver1315may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver1315may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas1325for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas1325. The transceiver1315, or the transceiver1315and one or more antennas1325, may be an example of a transmitter1015, a transmitter1115, a receiver1010, a receiver1110, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory1330may include RAM and ROM. The memory1330may store computer-readable, computer-executable code1335including instructions that, when executed by the processor1340, cause the device1305to perform various functions described herein. The code1335may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code1335may not be directly executable by the processor1340but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory1330may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor1340may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor1340may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor1340. The processor1340may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory1330) to cause the device1305to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system). For example, the device1305or a component of the device1305may include a processor1340and memory1330coupled to the processor1340, the processor1340and memory1330configured to perform various functions described herein.

The inter-station communications manager1345may manage communications with other base stations105, and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communications with UEs115in cooperation with other base stations105. For example, the inter-station communications manager1345may coordinate scheduling for transmissions to UEs115for various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or joint transmission. In some examples, the inter-station communications manager1345may provide an X2 interface within an LTE/LTE-A wireless communications network technology to provide communication between base stations105.

The communications manager1320may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1320may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a network node, emergency instructions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The communications manager1320may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to an aerial UE, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The communications manager1320may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to one or more aerial UEs, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for the unmanned aerial vehicles, the emergency information indicating the emergency instructions.

By including or configuring the communications manager1320in accordance with examples as described herein, the device1305may support techniques for communicating emergency instructions such that the device1305may exhibit a reduced power consumption, a reduced processing, an improved coordination between devices, or a more efficient resource utilization, among other benefits.

In some examples, the communications manager1320may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver1315, the one or more antennas1325, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager1320is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager1320may be supported by or performed by the processor1340, the memory1330, the code1335, or any combination thereof. For example, the code1335may include instructions executable by the processor1340to cause the device1305to perform various aspects of techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system as described herein, or the processor1340and the memory1330may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.14shows a flowchart illustrating a method1400that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1400may be implemented by an aerial UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1400may be performed by a UE115, an aerial UE215,405,505or a device605or705as described with reference toFIGS.1through9. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1405, the method may include receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The operations of1405may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1405may be performed by a control receiver825as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1410, the method may include receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1410may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1410may be performed by a broadcast receiver830as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1415, the method may include decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1415may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1415may be performed by a decoding component835as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1420, the method may include performing one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles based on the emergency instructions. The operations of1420may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1420may be performed by an action component840as described with reference toFIG.8.

FIG.15shows a flowchart illustrating a method1500that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1500may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1500may be performed by a UE115, an aerial UE215,405,505or a device605or705as described with reference toFIGS.1through9. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1505, the method may include receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The operations of1505may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1505may be performed by a control receiver825as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1510, the method may include receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles, an indication of a geodetic 2D area or a geodetic 3D volume, and an indication of one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1510may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1510may be performed by a broadcast receiver830as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1515, the method may include decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1515may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1515may be performed by a decoding component835as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1520, the method may include determining whether the aerial vehicle is inside the geodetic 2D area or the geodetic 3D volume. For example, the UE may determine a location for the UE (e.g. using GPS, another Global Navigation Satellite System such as Galileo, Glonass or Beidou and/or using inertial sensors and/or a barometric sensor) and determine whether the determined location is inside the geodetic 2D area or the geodetic 3D volume. The operations of1520may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1520may be performed by a geodetic manager845as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1525, the method may include ignoring the broadcast message when the aerial UE is determined to be not inside the geodetic 2D area or the geodetic 3D volume; and. The operations of1525may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1525may be performed by a broadcast component850as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1530, the method may include performing the one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles when the aerial UE is determined to be inside the geodetic 2D area or the geodetic 3D volume. For example, the one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles may include one or more of: an adjustment to altitude (e.g. to fly below or above a defined altitude value); landing at defined landing coordinates; exiting a warning area (e.g. an area in which the broadcast message is being broadcast); landing at a configured home position; hovering at a current position; flashing lights and/or sounding an audio alarm and/or transmitting a pre-configured RF signal (e.g. to enable the UAV to be more easily heard, seen or identified and located by a wireless receiver); or reducing speed to below a defined maximum speed. The operations of1530may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1530may be performed by an action manager855as described with reference toFIG.8.

FIG.16shows a flowchart illustrating a method1600that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1600may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1600may be performed by a UE115, an aerial UE215,405,505or a device605or705as described with reference toFIGS.1through9. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1605, the method may include receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The operations of1605may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1605may be performed by a control receiver825as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1610, the method may include receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1610may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1610may be performed by a broadcast receiver830as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1615, the method may include decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1615may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1615may be performed by a decoding component835as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1620, the method may include performing one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles based on the emergency instructions. The operations of1620may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1620may be performed by an action component840as described with reference toFIG.8.

At1625, the method may include transmitting, to the base station, a response message in response to receiving the broadcast message, where the received broadcast message includes an indicator that the aerial UE is to transmit the response message. The operations of1625may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1625may be performed by a response transmitter860as described with reference toFIG.8.

FIG.17shows a flowchart illustrating a method1700that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1700may be implemented by a base station or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1700may be performed by a base station105(e.g. a gNB or eNB) as described with reference toFIGS.1through5and10through13. In some examples, a base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1705, the method may include receiving, from a network node, emergency instructions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1705may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1705may be performed by an instruction receiver1225as described with reference toFIG.12.

At1710, the method may include transmitting (e.g. broadcasting), to one or more aerial UEs, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The operations of1710may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1710may be performed by a control transmitter1230as described with reference toFIG.12.

At1715, the method may include transmitting (e.g. broadcasting), to one or more aerial UEs, the broadcast message including an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles, the emergency information indicating the emergency instructions. The operations of1715may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1715may be performed by a broadcast transmitter1235as described with reference toFIG.12.

FIG.18shows a flowchart illustrating a method1800that supports techniques for broadcasting emergency information to unmanned aerial vehicles in a wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1800may be implemented by a base station or its components (e.g. a gNB or eNB) as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1800may be performed by a base station105as described with reference toFIGS.1through5and10through13. In some examples, a base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1805, the method may include receiving, from a network node, emergency instructions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The operations of1805may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1805may be performed by an instruction receiver1225as described with reference toFIG.12.

At1810, the method may include transmitting (e.g. broadcasting), to one or more aerial UEs, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information. The operations of1810may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1810may be performed by a control transmitter1230as described with reference toFIG.12.

At1815, the method may include transmitting (e.g. broadcasting), to one or more aerial UEs, where the broadcast message includes: an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles; and an indicator indicating that the one or more aerial UEs are to transmit one or more response messages, and where the emergency information indicates the emergency instructions. The operations of1815may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1815may be performed by a broadcast transmitter1235as described with reference toFIG.12.

At1820, the method may include receiving, from at least one of the one or more aerial UEs, one or more response messages in response to the indicator that the one or more aerial UEs are to transmit the one or more response messages. The operations of1820may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1820may be performed by a response receiver1240as described with reference toFIG.12.

The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:

Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at an aerial UE, comprising: receiving, from a base station of a cellular radio access network, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information; receiving the broadcast message, the broadcast message comprising an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles; decoding the emergency information to obtain emergency instructions based at least in part on the indicator identifying that the emergency information is for unmanned aerial vehicles; and performing one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles based at least in part on the emergency instructions.

Aspect 2: The method of aspect 1, wherein the broadcast message further comprises an indication of a geodetic 2D area or a geodetic 3D volume and further comprising: determining whether the aerial UE is inside the geodetic 2D area or the geodetic 3D volume; ignoring the broadcast message when the aerial UE is determined to be not inside the geodetic 2D area or the geodetic 3D volume; and performing the one or more actions for unmanned aerial vehicles when the aerial UE is determined to be inside the geodetic 2D area or the geodetic 3D volume.

Aspect 3: The method of any of aspects 1 through 2, wherein the emergency instructions comprise an identifier of the one or more actions.

Aspect 4: The method of any of aspects 1 through 3, wherein the emergency instructions comprise an indicator of one or more parameters for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE.

Aspect 5: The method of aspect 4, wherein the indicator of the one or more parameters for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE comprises an action string.

Aspect 6: The method of any of aspects 1 through 5, further comprising: transmitting, to the base station, a response message in response to receiving the broadcast message and subsequent to performing the one or more actions, wherein the received broadcast message comprises an indicator that the aerial UE is to transmit the response message.

Aspect 7: The method of aspect 6, wherein the response message includes a current location of the aerial UE, a confirmation of the performing of the one or more actions, an identification of the aerial UE, or any combination thereof.

Aspect 8: The method of any of aspects 1 through 7, wherein the indicator comprises a message identifier of the broadcast message.

Aspect 9: The method of any of aspects 1 through 8, wherein the emergency instructions comprise safe landing geodetic coordinates, flight path maps for the aerial UE, an altitude value, or any combination thereof, for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE.

Aspect 10: The method of any of aspects 1 through 9, wherein. the downlink control information message comprises a short message, and the broadcast message comprises a system information block eight message or a system information block eight message including one or more additional fields associated with unmanned aerial vehicles

Aspect 11: The method of any of aspects 1 through 10, wherein the one or more actions comprise an altitude correction, a landing procedure, a warning area exit procedure, a homing procedure, or any combination thereof.

Aspect 12: The method of any of aspects 1 through 11, wherein performing the one or more actions further comprises updating one or more target operations of the aerial UE based at least in part on the emergency instructions.

Aspect 13: A method for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: receiving, from a network node, emergency instructions for unmanned aerial vehicles; transmitting, to an aerial UE, a downlink control information message indicating availability of a broadcast message carrying emergency information; and transmitting, to one or more aerial UEs, the broadcast message comprising an indicator identifying that the emergency information is for the unmanned aerial vehicles, the emergency information indicating the emergency instructions.

Aspect 14: The method of aspect 13, wherein the broadcast message further comprises an indication of a geodetic 2D area or geodetic 3D volume.

Aspect 15: The method of any of aspects 13 through 14, wherein the emergency instructions comprise an identifier of one or more actions.

Aspect 16: The method of any of aspects 13 through 15, wherein the emergency instructions comprise an indicator of one or more parameters for one or more actions to be performed by the one or more aerial UEs.

Aspect 17: The method of aspect 16, wherein the indicator of the one or more parameters for the one or more actions to be performed by the aerial UE comprises an action string.

Aspect 18: The method of any of aspects 13 through 17, further comprising: receiving, from at least one of the one or more aerial UEs, one or more response messages in response to an indicator that the one or more aerial UEs are to transmit the one or more response messages, wherein the transmitted broadcast message comprises the indicator that the one or more aerial UEs are to transmit the one or more response messages.

Aspect 19: The method of aspect 18, wherein the one or more response messages include a current location of the aerial UE, a confirmation of the performing of one or more actions, an identification of the aerial UE, or any combination thereof.

Aspect 20: The method of any of aspects 13 through 19, wherein the indicator comprises a message identifier of the broadcast message.

Aspect 21: An apparatus for wireless communication at an aerial UE, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 12.

Aspect 22: An apparatus for wireless communication at an aerial UE, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 1 through 12.

Aspect 23: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at an aerial UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 12.

Aspect 24: An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 13 through 20.

Aspect 25: An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 13 through 20.

Aspect 26: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 13 through 20.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Although aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR system may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, the techniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the described techniques may be applicable to various other wireless communications systems such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, as well as other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.”

The term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (such as receiving information), accessing (such as accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing and other such similar actions.

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label, or other subsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “example” used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.