# US 10,375,583 B2 · UAV network design > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,583 B2 - Document ID: US10375583B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/957,260 - Filed: 2018-04-19 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-25 - Assignees: Vivint, Inc. - Applicants: Vivint, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin Ross - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375583B2 ## CPC - H04W 16/18: Network planning tools - G06V 20/13: Satellite images - G06V 20/176: {Urban or other man-made structures} - H04B 7/18504: {Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform} - B64U 2101/20: for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms - B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract Methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to drone-assisted mesh network design are disclosed. Exemplary methods for wireless networking and communications may include identifying a geographic area, receiving topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height, the topographic data relating to the geographic area, analyzing the topographic data to identify one or more characteristics, determining a location relating to a first wireless network device based at least in part on the analyzing, and determining one or more locations each relating to one or more other wireless network devices within the geographic area based at least in part on the location relating to the first wireless network device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for wireless networking and communications, comprising: determining a location of a first wireless network device based at least in part on topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle; determining a location of a second wireless network device based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle; identifying a location and one or more characteristics of a signal inhibitor based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle; determining a sight path between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the location of the first wireless network device, the location of the second wireless network device, and the location and the one or more characteristics of the signal inhibitor; and selecting a link direction for a communication link between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the sight path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height, wherein determining the location and the one or more characteristics of the signal inhibitor is based at least in part on receiving the topographic data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving second topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at a second predetermined height different from the first predetermined height. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving image data; and analyzing the image data and the topographic data to identify the one or more characteristics of the signal inhibitor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the topographic data comprises image data obtained from one or more points within a geographic area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the topographic data comprises image data and distance data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the distance data comprises one or more distances based at least in part on the location of the first wireless network device and a surface of one or more structures. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the topographic data comprises image data and direction data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the topographic data comprises data describing a spatial relationship between two or more structures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the first wireless network device comprises: comparing a potential location on a surface of one or more structures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: comparing the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at two or more positions, wherein determining the location of the signal inhibitor is based at least in part on comparing the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at the two or more positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying the one or more characteristics of a geographic area based on the topographic data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more characteristics of the geographic area comprise: a color, a texture, an edge shape, an outline, an object classification, a material, a reflectivity, an orientation, a position, one or more relative heights, one or more relative distances, or a shape, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the unmanned air vehicle comprises a drone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle comprises lidar data. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for wireless networking and communications, comprising: a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to: determine a location of a first wireless network device based at least in part on topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle; determine a location of a second wireless network device based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle; identify a location and one or more characteristics of a signal inhibitor based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle; determine a sight path between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the location of the first wireless network device, the location of the second wireless network device, and the location and the one or more characteristics of the signal inhibitor; and select a link direction for a communication link between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the sight path. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the code executable by a processor to: determine a location of a first wireless network device based at least in part on topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle; determine a location of a second wireless network device based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle; identify a location and one or more characteristics of a signal inhibitor based at least in part on the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle; determine a sight path between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the location of the first wireless network device, the location of the second wireless network device, and the location and the one or more characteristics of the signal inhibitor; and select a link direction for a communication link between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device based at least in part on the sight path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of the claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height; and receive second topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at a second predetermined height different from the first predetermined height, wherein determining the location of the signal inhibitor is based at least in part on the topographic data or the second topographic data, or both. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, the code further comprising instructions executable by the processor to: receive the topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height; and receive second topographic data obtained by the unmanned air vehicle at a second predetermined height different from the first predetermined height, wherein determining the location of the signal inhibitor is based at least in part on the topographic data or the second topographic data, or both.