Distance-based serving cell selection for communications between an aerial vehicle and a cellular radio access network

An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

• an antenna;
• a modem configured to communicate with a cellular radio access network using the antenna;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• determine that a set of one or more conditions is met, the set of one or more conditions including a condition that the unmanned aerial vehicle has ascended to a predetermined altitude;
• and
• switch from using a signal strength-based serving cell selection process for the cellular radio access network to a distance-based serving cell selection process for the cellular radio access network, the switch made at least partly in response to determining the set of one or more conditions, including the condition that the unmanned aerial vehicle has ascended to the predetermined altitude, is met, and the distance-based serving cell selection process excluding signal strength as a factor in selecting a serving cell.

A method of communicating between an aerial vehicle and a cellular radio access network, comprising:

• determining the aerial vehicle has ascended to a predetermined altitude;
• switching from using a signal strength-based serving cell selection process for the cellular radio access network to a distance-based serving cell selection process for the cellular radio access network, the switch made at least partly in response to determining the aerial vehicle has ascended to the predetermined altitude, and the distance-based serving cell selection process excluding signal strength as a factor in selecting a serving cell;
• and
• perform the distance-based serving cell selection process by,
• determining a current location of the aerial vehicle;
• determining, at least partly in response to the current location, a location of a nearest cell of the cellular radio access network;
• and
• processing communications between the aerial vehicle and the cellular radio access network, using the nearest cell as a serving cell.