# US 10,311,565 B2 · Cell site equipment verification using 3D modeling comparisons > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,565 B2 - Document ID: US10311565B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/466,400 - Filed: 2017-03-22 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-14 - Assignees: ETAK Systems, LLC - Applicants: Charlie Terry - Inventors: Charlie Terry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311565B2 ## CPC - G06T 7/001: {using an image reference approach} - B64U 10/10: Rotorcrafts - G06T 17/05: Geographic models - G06V 20/17: taken from planes or by drones - G06V 20/176: {Urban or other man-made structures} - H04L 41/0869: Validating the configuration within one network element - H04W 24/04: Arrangements for maintaining operational condition - H04W 24/10: Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} - B64U 10/60: Tethered aircraft - B64U 2101/26: for manufacturing, inspections or repairs - B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - G06T 2207/10028: Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Systems and method for verifying a cell site utilizing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) include providing an initial point cloud related to the cell site to the UAV; developing a second point cloud based on current conditions at the cell site, wherein the second point cloud is based on data acquisition using the UAV at the cell site; detecting variations between the initial point cloud and the second point cloud; and, responsive to detecting the variations, determining whether the variations are any of compliance related, load issues, and defects associated with any equipment or structures at the cell site. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for verifying a cell site, the method comprising the steps of: storing, in a database, an initial point cloud related to at least a cell tower at the cell site and cell equipment attached to the cell tower; developing a second point cloud based on current conditions of at least the cell tower and cell equipment at the cell site, wherein the second point cloud is based on data acquisition using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) at the cell site; detecting variations between the initial point cloud and the second point cloud; and responsive to detecting the variations, determining whether the variations are indicative of compliance related issues, wherein the compliance related issues are defined as an unauthorized amount of the cell equipment attached to the cell tower or the cell equipment being improperly attached to the cell tower. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating the initial point cloud by using the UAV to perform a data acquisition technique; and providing the initial point cloud from the database to the UAV. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: providing the data acquisition technique to the UAV with the initial point cloud to instruct the UAV to utilize the same data acquisition technique to develop the second point cloud. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the variations is performed in the UAV, and wherein the step of determining whether the variations are indicative of compliance related issues is performed in an external server. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the initial point cloud is created in a close out audit using the UAV to establish a known good condition whereby the cell equipment and cell tower include no compliance related issues. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: notifying an operator associated with the cell site of any compliance related issues associated with the cell equipment and cell tower at the cell site for remedial action based thereon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the initial point cloud and the second point cloud are created in a similar manner by the UAV using flight characteristics comprising one or more of launch location, launch orientation, flight path, number of flights about the cell site, and speed of the flights. ### Claim 8 An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) configured to verify a cell site, the UAV comprising: one or more rotors; a wireless interface; a data store; a processor communicatively coupled to the one or more rotors, the data store, and the wireless interface; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: store, in the data store, an initial point cloud related to at least a cell tower at the cell site and cell equipment attached to the cell tower; develop a second point cloud based on current conditions of at least the cell tower and cell equipment at the cell site, wherein the second point cloud is based on data acquisition using the UAV to fly at the cell site; detect variations between the initial point cloud and the second point cloud; and responsive to detecting the variations, perform one of i) determining whether the variations are indicative of compliance related issues, wherein the compliance related issues are defined as an unauthorized amount of cell equipment attached to the cell tower or the cell equipment being improperly attached to the cell tower, and ii) providing the second point cloud to a server to determine whether the variations are indicative of the compliance related issues. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The UAV of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to: create the initial point cloud by using the UAV to perform a data acquisition technique; and provide the initial point cloud from an external database to the data store. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The UAV of claim 9, wherein the data acquisition technique is provided with the initial point cloud to instruct the UAV to utilize the same data acquisition technique to develop the second point cloud. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The UAV of claim 8, wherein the UAV is configured to detect the variations, and wherein an external server is configured to determine whether the variations are indicative of compliance related issues. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The UAV of claim 8, wherein the initial point cloud is created in a close out audit using the UAV to establish a known good condition whereby the cell equipment and cell tower include no compliance related issues. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The UAV of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to: notify an operator associated with the cell site of the any compliance related issues associated with the cell equipment and cell tower at the cell site for remedial action based thereon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The UAV of claim 8, wherein the initial point cloud and the second point cloud are created in a similar manner by the UAV using flight characteristics comprising one or more of launch location, launch orientation, flight path, number of flights about the cell site, and speed of the flights.