# US 9,870,566 B2 · Authentication systems and methods for generating flight regulations

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- Number: US 9,870,566 B2
- Document ID: US9870566B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/942,936
- Filed: 2015-11-16
- Published: 2016-10-06
- Granted: 2018-01-16
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-31
- Assignees: Sz Dji Technology Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Sz Dji Technology Co., Ltd
- Inventors: Ming Gong; Jin Dai; Hao Cui; Xiaodong Wang; Han Huang; Jun Wu; Wei Fan; Ning Ma; Xinhua Rong; Xingsen Lin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9870566B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/018: Certifying business or products
- B64C 39/024: {of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV}
- G05D 1/0022: {characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00)}
- G05D 1/226: Communication links with the remote-control arrangements
- G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57)
- G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases
- G06F 21/31: User authentication
- G06F 21/44: Program or device authentication
- G06F 21/6227: {where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries}
- G08G 5/22: located on the ground
- G08G 5/25: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft
- G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations
- G08G 5/32: for flight plan preparation
- G08G 5/34: for flight plan modification
- G08G 5/53: for cruising
- G08G 5/55: for a single aircraft
- G08G 5/56: for two or more aircraft
- G08G 5/57: for unmanned aircraft
- G08G 5/59: in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
- G08G 5/723: {from the aircraft}
- G08G 5/727: {from a ground station}
- G08G 5/74: for monitoring terrain
- G08G 5/76: for monitoring atmospheric conditions
- H04L 63/101: {Access control lists [ACL]}
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)}
- B64U 10/13: Flying platforms
- B64U 30/20: Rotors; Rotor supports
- B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography
- B64U 2201/102: adapted for flying in formations
- B64U 2201/20: Remote controls
- G06F 2221/2117: User registration
- G08G 5/58: for emergency situations, e.g. hijacking or bird strikes
- H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- Y04S 40/20: Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security
- 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
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said system comprising:
one or more communication units configured to:
receive authentication of an identity of a UAV;
receive authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV; and
receive information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an application that is configured to, with aid of one or more processors, generate a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the one or more communication units,
wherein the one or more communication units are further configured to transmit said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.

### Claim 2

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors on an air control unit, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:
at the air control unit:
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV;
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV;
receiving information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly;
generating a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the air control unit; and
transmitting said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.

### Claim 3

A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a payload onboard, comprising:
at an air control unit:
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV;
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV;
receiving information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly;
generating a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the air control unit; and
transmitting said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises rendering the payload inoperational.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein rendering the payload inoperational comprises powering off the payload.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises operating the payload without any restrictions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises operating the payload with one or more restrictions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more restrictions are generated in accordance with one or more regulations.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is an image capture device configured to capture static and/or dynamic images.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting at least one of: (i) recordation of one or more images and (ii) transmission of one or more images.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting at least one of: (i) a resolution at which the image capture device captures images, (ii) a zoom level of the image capture device, (iii) an aperture size of the image capture device, and (iv) a focus of the image capture device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the image capture device from using a flash.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, the one or more restrictions comprise restricting a mode of the image capture device to at least one of: (i) a lighting mode, (ii) a color mode, and (iii) a static or dynamic image capture mode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is an audio capture device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound recordation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting audio capture device sensitivity.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound capture to a predetermined decibel range.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound capture to a predetermined frequency range.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting a microphone directionality of the audio capture device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is a light source, and the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the light source to operate below a threshold intensity.

### Claim 21 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is a speaker, and the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the speaker from transmitting sound.

### Claim 22 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the UAV comprises:
one or more propulsion units that effect flight of the UAV;
a communication module configured to receive the location-dependent payload usage parameter; and
a flight control unit configured to generate flight control signals that are delivered to the one or more propulsion units, wherein the flight control signals are generated in accordance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly at a translational velocity that is at least one of:
greater than a predetermined minimum threshold velocity; and
less than a predetermined maximum threshold velocity.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly at an altitude that is at least one of:
greater than a predetermined minimum threshold altitude; and
less than a predetermined maximum threshold altitude.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising determining at the air control unit that the geographical location is within a flight-restricted zone, wherein:
the location-dependent payload usage parameter reflects said determination; and
the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of the UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly to a second geographical location outside the flight-restricted zone.

### Claim 26 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the geographical location is within an allocated space comprising an allocated volume and/or an allocated region, and wherein one or more regulations apply within the allocated space.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the geographical location is within a flight-restricted zone.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein the flight-restricted zone is within a predetermined distance from at least one of: an airport, a public gathering place, a government property, a military property, a school, a private residence, and a power plant.

### Claim 29 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving an authentication of an identity of a UAV remote controller.

### Claim 30 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the authentication of the identity of the UAV provides information regarding whether the UAV has been tampered or not to the air control unit.