# US 11,907,868 B2 · IOT drone fleet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,868 B2 - Document ID: US11907868B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/971,610 - Filed: 2022-10-23 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-27 - Assignees: DISH Technologies L.L.C. - Applicants: DISH Technologies L.L.C. - Inventors: Kayhan Karatekeli; Srinath Raghavan; Swapnil Tilaye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907868B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/02: Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events - G05D 1/689: Pointing payloads towards fixed or moving targets (positioning towed, pushed or suspended implements G05D1/672) - G05D 1/692: involving a plurality of disparate vehicles - G06Q 30/0645: Rental transactions; Leasing transactions - H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources} - H04L 63/102: {Entity profiles} - H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network - H04W 12/08: Access security - B64U 30/20: Rotors; Rotor supports - B64U 2101/20: for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms - B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography - B64U 2201/00: UAVs characterised by their flight controls - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - 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) - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract Apparatus, systems, processes, and computer-readable mediums for facilitating the use of drones are described. For one embodiment, such a system includes a user element having a user application computer program configured to instruct a user interface device to facilitate use of user data and use of mission parameter(s) for a proposed drone mission. An owner element includes an owner application computer program configured to facilitate use of owner data and use of at least one drone parameter. A fleet system element is communicatively coupled to the user element and to the owner element and includes a computer system processor configured to facilitate use of a fleet record and use of at least one fleet parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: an operator device comprising: a first processor; and a first computer readable medium non-transiently storing an operator application program; wherein the operator application program instructs the operator device to execute first computer instructions for operator operations comprising: a first operator operation facilitating fleet operative control of a fleet of drones; and an owner device comprising: a second processor; and a second computer readable medium non-transiently storing an owner application program; wherein the owner application program instructs the owner device to execute second computer instructions for owner operations including: a first owner operation facilitating owner operative control of at least two drones in the fleet of drones. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a user device comprising: a third processor; and a third computer readable medium non-transiently storing a user application program; wherein the user application program instructs the user device to execute third computer instructions for user operations including: a first user operation facilitating user operative control of a given drone of the at least two drones in the fleet of drones. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein, during a mission, the user device controls flight of the given drone unless preempted by the owner operative control or the fleet operative control. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein, during the mission, the fleet operative control takes priority over the owner operative control. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein, during the mission, the owner operative control takes priority over the user operative control. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the operator operations further comprise: a second operator operation facilitating fleet payload control for payloads of the fleet of drones. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the owner operations further comprise: a second owner operation facilitating owner payload control for the payloads of the at least two drones in the fleet of drones. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein a user device controls the payload of a given drone of the at least two drones. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein, during a mission, the owner payload control takes priority. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein, during a mission, the fleet payload control takes priority. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a government system element comprising a drone control service executing governmental operations comprising at least one of: verifying a user of a user device can utilize a given drone, of the at least two drones, for a mission; specifying at least one drone parameter for the mission; and authorizing a flight path for the given drone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: wherein a given drone in the fleet of drones is configured for control by a government system element providing a drone control service which facilitates independent governmental operative control of one or more of the drones in the fleet of drones. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the governmental operative control of the fleet of drones further comprises specifying a fleet parameter for the fleet of drones. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the government system element regulates usage of one or more drones in the fleet of drones. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: an operator element including an operator device comprising: a first processor; and a first computer readable medium non-transiently storing an operator application program; wherein the operator application program instructs the operator device to execute first computer instructions for operator operations comprising: a first operator operation facilitating fleet operative control of a fleet of drones in view of at least one drone regulation; wherein the operator operations further comprise: verifying whether a user element, as identified for a proposed mission, is permitted, in view of the at least one drone regulation, to execute the proposed mission. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the operator operations further comprise: when, the user element is not permitted to execute the proposed mission, proposing one or more revised mission parameters to the user element; and when the one or more revised mission parameters are accepted by the user element, approving the one or more revised mission parameters for a new mission and communicating an approval of the new mission to an owner element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the operator operations further comprise: determining whether a drone is available for release to the operator element; and when a drone is available, releasing the drone to the operator element. ### Claim 18 A system comprising: an operator element including an operator device comprising: a first processor; and a first computer readable medium non-transiently storing an operator application program; wherein the operator application program instructs the operator device to execute first computer instructions for operator operations comprising: a first operator operation facilitating fleet operative control of a fleet of drones in view of at least one drone regulation; and a second operator operation confirming the operator element, an owner element and a user element are permitted, by a governmental entity, to utilize at least one drone in the fleet of drones to perform at least one mission. ### Claim 19 A system comprising: an operator element including an operator device comprising: a first processor; and a first computer readable medium non-transiently storing an operator application program; wherein the operator application program instructs the operator device to execute first computer instructions for operator operations comprising: a first operator operation facilitating fleet operative control of a fleet of drones in view of at least one drone regulation promulgated by a governmental system element; and wherein the government system element maintains a fleet record including at least one of: a reservation; a rental term; insurance; a certification; and a usage restriction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the government system element regulates the first operator operation in view of at least one air traffic control restriction.