Methods, apparatus and systems for command and control (c2) communications setup and update

A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured for switching from a first command and control (C2) communication link between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a UAV controller (UAV-C) to a second C2 communication link for C2 communications, the WTRU comprising:

• a processor configured to determine to switch C2 communications from the first C2 communication link to the second C2 communication link based on a C2 switching condition;
• and
• a transmitter/receiver unit configured to:
• send, to a C2 control entity, a notification indicating link information used to determine a switch from the first C2 communication link to the second C2 communication link, and
• receive, from the C2 control entity, information indicating the switch to the second communication link,
• wherein the processor is further configured to switch C2 communications from the first C2 communication link to the second C2 communication link, and
• wherein the first C2 communication link is a direct C2 communication link and the second C2 communication link is a network-assisted C2 communication link or wherein the second C2 communication link is a direct C2 communication link and the first C2 communication link is a network-assisted C2 communication link.

A command and control (C2) control entity configured to for switching communication link between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a UAV controller (UAV-C) to a second C2 communication link for C2 communications, the C2 control entity comprising a processor and a transmitter/receiver unit configured to:

• receive, from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a notification indicating link information associated to a C2 switching condition from the first C2 communication link to the second C2 communication link;
• and
• send, to the WTRU, information indicating a switch to the second communication link,
• wherein the first C2 communication link is a direct C2 communication link and the second C2 communication link is a network-assisted C2 communication link or wherein the second C2 communication link is a direct C2 communication link and the first C2 communication link is a network-assisted C2 communication link.

A method of switching from a first command and control (C2) communication link between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a UAV controller (UAV-C) to a second C2 communication link for C2 communications, implemented by a C2 control entity, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a notification indicating link information associated to a C2 switching condition from the first C2 communication link to the second C2 communication link;
• and
• sending, to the WTRU, information indicating a switch to the second communication link,
• wherein the first C2 communication link is a direct C2 communication link and the second C2 communication link is a network-assisted C2 communication link or wherein the second C2 communication link is a direct C2 communication link and the first C2 communication link is a network-assisted C2 communication link.