# US 12,113,604 B2 · System, control apparatus, computer readable storage medium, and control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,604 B2 - Document ID: US12113604B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/713,242 - Filed: 2022-04-05 - Published: 2022-07-21 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-13 - Assignees: SoftBank Corp. - Applicants: Softbank Corp. - Inventors: Jutatsu Sai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113604B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/18506: {Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service} - B64C 39/024: {of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV} - G05D 1/104: {involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying (traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00)} - G05D 1/695: for maintaining a fixed relative position of the vehicles, e.g. for convoy travelling or formation flight - H04B 7/18504: {Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform} - H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] - H04W 16/28: using beam steering - H04W 16/32: Hierarchical cell structures - H04W 72/542: using measured or perceived quality - H04W 84/06: Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) - B64U 10/13: Flying platforms - B64U 10/25: Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20) - B64U 50/31: generated by photovoltaics - B64U 2101/20: for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms - B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] - B64U 2201/104: using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services - H04W 84/20: Leader-follower arrangements - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - 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 A system having flying objects, each of which includes: a beacon signal transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting a beacon signal including rank information representing the flying object is at, a first rank when wirelessly connected with a gateway, a second rank when wirelessly connected with a flying object at the first rank, and a third rank when wirelessly connected with a flying object at the second rank; a flying object identification unit for identifying, when wirelessly connected with any flying object among the flying objects, flying objects from which strength of a radio wave received is stronger than threshold; and a flying object determination unit for determining a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed, from the identified flying objects and based on the strength of radio wave received from each of the flying objects and a rank of the each of the flying objects, is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a plurality of flying objects having a relaying function configured to relay communication between a gateway on a ground, and a user terminal within a cell formed by wirelessly connecting with the gateway and irradiating a beam toward a ground, wherein each flying object of the plurality of flying objects includes, a beacon signal transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting a beacon signal including rank information representing that the flying object is at a first rank when wirelessly connected with the gateway, the rank information representing that the flying object is at a second rank lower than the first rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the first rank, and the rank information representing that the flying object is at a third rank lower than the second rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the second rank, a radio wave strength measurement unit for measuring strength of a radio wave received from each of the plurality of flying objects, a flying object identification unit for identifying, when wirelessly connected with any flying object among the plurality of flying objects, a plurality of flying objects from which the strength of the radio wave received is stronger than a predetermined threshold, and a connection target determination unit for determining a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed, from the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit and based on the strength of the radio wave received from the each of the plurality of flying objects and a rank of the each of the plurality of flying objects. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when there is one flying object having the highest rank among the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit, the flying object having the highest rank as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when there is more than one flying object having the highest rank among the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit, a flying object from which strength of a radio wave received is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects having the highest rank as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when there is more than one flying object having the highest rank among the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit, a flying object from which strength of a radio wave received is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects having the highest rank as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit has a same rank, a flying object from which strength of a radio wave received is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit has a same rank, a flying object from which strength of a radio wave received is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit has a same rank, a flying object from which strength of a radio wave received is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein among the plurality of flying objects, a flying object being at the first rank is configured to wirelessly connect with the gateway, a plurality of flying objects being at the second rank is configured to fly in each of a plurality of second flight areas arranged so as to surround a first flight area for the flying object being at the first rank, and wirelessly connect with the flying object being at the first rank, and a plurality of flying objects being at the third rank is configured to fly in each of a plurality of third flight areas arranged outside the plurality of second flight areas so as to surround the first flight area, and wirelessly connect with a flying object being at the second rank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein among the plurality of flying objects, a flying object being at the first rank is configured to wirelessly connect with the gateway, a plurality of flying objects being at the second rank is configured to fly in each of a plurality of second flight areas arranged so as to surround a first flight area for the flying object being at the first rank, and wirelessly connect with the flying object being at the first rank, and a plurality of flying objects being at the third rank is configured to fly in each of a plurality of third flight areas arranged outside the plurality of second flight areas so as to surround the first flight area, and wirelessly connect with a flying object being at the second rank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein among the plurality of flying objects, a flying object being at the first rank is configured to wirelessly connect with the gateway, a plurality of flying objects being at the second rank is configured to fly in each of a plurality of second flight areas arranged so as to surround a first flight area for the flying object being at the first rank, and wirelessly connect with the flying object being at the first rank, and a plurality of flying objects being at the third rank is configured to fly in each of a plurality of third flight areas arranged outside the plurality of second flight areas so as to surround the first flight area, and wirelessly connect with a flying object being at the second rank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of flying objects being at the second rank forms each second cell of a plurality of second cells arranged so as to surround a first cell on a ground formed by the flying object being at the first rank, and each of the plurality of flying objects being at the third rank forms each of a plurality of third cells arranged outside the plurality of second cells so as to surround the first cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein when one flying object among the plurality of flying objects being at the second rank stops forming the second cell, the flying object being at the third rank which had been wirelessly connected to the one flying object replaces the one flying object, and then starts transmitting a beacon signal including the rank information representing that the flying object is at the second rank. ### Claim 13 A control apparatus mounted on a flying object for providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal within a cell formed by irradiating a beam toward a ground, and configured to control the flying object, comprising: a beacon signal transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting a beacon signal including rank information representing that the flying object is at a first rank when wirelessly connected with a gateway on a ground, the rank information representing that the flying object is at a second rank lower than the first rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the first rank, and the rank information representing that the flying object is at a third rank lower than the second rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the second rank; a radio wave strength measurement unit for measuring, when wirelessly connected with any of a plurality of flying objects, strength of a radio wave received from each of the plurality of flying objects; a flying object identification unit for identifying a plurality of flying objects from which the strength of the radio wave received is more than a predetermined threshold; and a connection target determination unit for determining a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed, from the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit and based on strength of a radio wave received from each of the plurality of flying objects and a rank of the each of the plurality of flying objects. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when there is one flying object having the highest rank among the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit, the flying object having the highest rank as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when there is more than one flying object having the highest rank among the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit, a flying object from which strength of a received radio wave is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects having the highest rank as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when there is more than one flying object having the highest rank among the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit, a flying object from which strength of a received radio wave is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects having the highest rank as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit has a same rank, a flying object from which strength of a received radio wave is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the connection target determination unit is configured to determine, when the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit has a same rank, a flying object from which strength of a received radio wave is the strongest among the plurality of flying objects as a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that causes a computer to function as a control apparatus mounted on a flying object for providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal within a cell formed by irradiating a beam toward a ground, and configured to control the flying object, comprising: a beacon signal transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting a beacon signal including rank information representing that the flying object is at a first rank when wirelessly connected with a gateway on a ground, the rank information representing that the flying object is at a second rank lower than the first rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the first rank, and the rank information representing that the flying object is at a third rank lower than the second rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the second rank; a radio wave strength measurement unit for measuring, when wirelessly connected with any of a plurality of flying objects, strength of a radio wave received from each of the plurality of flying objects; a flying object identification unit for identifying a plurality of flying objects from which the strength of the radio wave received is more than a predetermined threshold; and a connection target determination unit for determining a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed, from the plurality of flying objects identified by the flying object identification unit and based on strength of a radio wave received from each of the plurality of flying objects and a rank of the each of the plurality of flying objects. ### Claim 20 A control method to be executed by a control apparatus mounted on a flying object for providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal within a cell formed by irradiating a beam toward a ground, and configured to control the flying object, comprising: wirelessly transmitting a beacon signal including rank information representing that the flying object is at a first rank when wirelessly connected with a gateway on a ground, the rank information representing that the flying object is at a second rank lower than the first rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the first rank, and the rank information representing that the flying object is at a third rank lower than the second rank when wirelessly connected with another flying object being at the second rank; measuring, when wirelessly connected with any of a plurality of flying objects, strength of a radio wave received from each of the plurality of flying objects; identifying a plurality of flying objects from which the strength of the radio wave received is stronger than a predetermined threshold; and determining a connection target by determining a flying object with which wireless connection is to be performed, from the plurality of flying objects identified in the identifying the plurality of flying objects, and based on strength of a radio wave received from each of the plurality of flying objects and a rank of the each of the plurality of flying objects.