IP Library › Patent Application 13601112

Patent Application

App. No. 13/601,112

UNMANNED DEVICE INTERACTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS

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Patent No.: US None
App. No.: 13/601,112

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Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to participate in the performance of tasks, for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance, or for facilitating other interactions with such devices.

Claims (96)

1 . A system comprising:

one or more articles of manufacture including

circuitry for obtaining operator input from an operator of a first unmanned aerial device as an earlier input component;

circuitry for obtaining environmental sensor input from a vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device as a later input component; and

circuitry for signaling a decision without regard to any other operator input whether or not to launch the first unmanned aerial device partly based on the operator input from the operator of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the earlier input component and partly based on the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the later input component.

2 . The system of claim 1 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

a carbon monoxide sensor configured to obtain at least some of the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device.

3 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . The system of claim 1 in which the one or more articles of manufacture comprise:

a vehicle having one or more wheels, the vehicle configured to support the circuitry for obtaining the operator input from the operator of the first unmanned aerial device as the earlier input component and configured to support the circuitry for obtaining the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device as the later input component and configured to support the circuitry for signaling the decision without regard to any other operator input whether or not to launch the first unmanned aerial device partly based on the operator input from the operator of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the earlier input component and partly based on the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the later input component.

32 . A system comprising:

one or more articles of manufacture including

means for obtaining operator input from an operator of a first unmanned aerial device as an earlier input component;

means for obtaining environmental sensor input from a vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device as a later input component; and

means for signaling a decision without regard to any other operator input whether or not to launch the first unmanned aerial device partly based on the operator input from the operator of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the earlier input component and partly based on the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the later input component.

33 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device to perform a first observation of a particular task in a first zone and a second unmanned aerial device to perform a second observation of the particular task in a second zone.

34 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device to capture normalcy-indicative data relating to a human subject.

35 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing the first unmanned aerial device to undertake a performance observation task of a job that includes a performance task and the performance observation task.

36 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a delivery of a package to a device associated with a recipient of the package, the wireless signal indicating at least one of the first unmanned aerial device or the package or a sender of the package.

37 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for presenting navigation guidance via a display aboard the first unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the first unmanned aerial device is not moving the first unmanned aerial device.

38 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for transmitting navigation guidance via a speaker of the first unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the first unmanned aerial device is not moving the first unmanned aerial device.

39 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for identifying an operating mode of the first unmanned aerial device audibly or visibly while a primary motor of the first unmanned aerial device is not moving the first unmanned aerial device.

40 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing another unmanned aerial device to capture delivery data relating to the first unmanned aerial device.

41 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device not to be equipped with any light sensors.

42 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing a data handling device aboard the first unmanned aerial device to contain a task schedule indicating a first future delivery of a first object to a first destination and a second future delivery of a second object to a second destination.

43 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for determining whether or not an operator of the first unmanned aerial device has indicated a tracking mode of the first unmanned aerial device.

44 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for overriding a first task being performed by the first unmanned aerial device by transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a second task to the first unmanned aerial device.

45 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

46 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for signaling a decision whether or not to reserve a space for a passenger vehicle.

47 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for signaling a decision whether or not to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with a specific device or with a specific person.

48 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for responding to an indication of the first unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of a mobile device.

49 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing a modular observation unit to be lifted and activated within at most about an hour of the modular observation unit becoming part of the first unmanned aerial device.

50 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for signaling a decision whether or not to configure the first unmanned aerial device to continue observing a first person responsive to a prior observation of the first person.

51 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing the first unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a single dose of a therapeutic material to a human hand within one minute of an image capture of a portion of the human hand.

52 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular material to a vicinity of a portable device within one minute of an image capture of the vicinity of the portable device.

53 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing the first unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular object to a human recipient contemporaneously with an image capture of a portion of the human recipient.

54 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing the first unmanned aerial device to fly toward a home station in response to an indication of a specific person moving at least a threshold distance away from the first unmanned aerial device.

55 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for responding to a determination of whether or not a received signal expresses a first name of the first unmanned aerial device and whether or not the received signal expresses a second name of the first unmanned aerial device.

56 . A method comprising:

obtaining operator input from an operator of a first unmanned aerial device as an earlier input component;

obtaining environmental sensor input from a vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device as a later input component; and

invoking circuitry configured for signaling a decision without regard to any other operator input whether or not to launch the first unmanned aerial device partly based on the operator input from the operator of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the earlier input component and partly based on the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the later input component.

57 . The method of claim 56 further comprising:

causing a modular observation unit to be lifted and activated within at most about an hour of the modular observation unit becoming part of the first unmanned aerial device.

58 . An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more physical media configured to bear a device-detectable implementation of a method including at least

obtaining operator input from an operator of a first unmanned aerial device as an earlier input component;

obtaining environmental sensor input from a vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device as a later input component; and

signaling a decision without regard to any other operator input whether or not to launch the first unmanned aerial device partly based on the operator input from the operator of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the earlier input component and partly based on the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the later input component.

59 . The article of manufacture of claim 58 in which a portion of the one or more physical media comprises:

one or more signal-bearing media configured to transmit one or more instructions for generating the decision without regard to any other operator input whether or not to launch the first unmanned aerial device partly based on the operator input from the operator of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the earlier input component and partly based on the environmental sensor input from the vicinity of the first unmanned aerial device obtained as the later input component.

60 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device not to be equipped with any light sensors;

means for transmitting navigation guidance via a speaker of the first unmanned aerial device while a primary motor of the first unmanned aerial device is not moving the first unmanned aerial device;

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device to transmit a wireless signal indicative of having performed a particular task and not to store any indication of having performed the particular task, the particular task including the delivery of the single dose of the therapeutic material;

means for signaling a decision whether or not to configure the first unmanned aerial device to continue observing a first person responsive to a prior observation of the first person; and

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device to capture normalcy-indicative data relating to the first person.

61 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing a modular observation unit to be lifted and activated within at most about an hour of the modular observation unit becoming part of the first unmanned aerial device;

means for configuring the first unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular material to a vicinity of a specific device within one minute of an image capture of the vicinity of the specific device, the specific device being a portable device;

means for signaling a decision whether or not to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with the specific device or with a specific person; and

means for causing the first unmanned aerial device to fly toward a home station in response to an indication of the specific person moving at least a threshold distance away from the first unmanned aerial device.

62 . The system of claim 32 in which the one or more articles of manufacture further comprise:

means for causing another unmanned aerial device to capture delivery data relating to the first unmanned aerial device;

means for causing the first unmanned aerial device to undertake a performance observation task of a job that includes a performance task and the performance observation task;

means for overriding a first task being performed by the first unmanned aerial device by transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a second task to the first unmanned aerial device, the first task including the performance observation task;

means for determining whether or not an operator of the first unmanned aerial device has indicated a tracking mode of the first unmanned aerial device;

means for causing the first unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular object to a human recipient contemporaneously with an image capture of a portion of the human recipient.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2013

From: LEVIEN, ROYCE A.; LORD, RICHARD T.; LORD, ROBERT W.; MALAMUD, MARK A.; RINALDO, JOHN D., JR.; WOOD, LOWELL L., JR.

To: ELWHA LLC

Reel/Frame 029833/0927 →