Dynamic wireless aerial mesh network
Embodiments include a dynamic wireless aerial mesh network having aerial nodes that provides real-time persistent wide area communications service to provide communications in response to an incident. Typically, the service area is a wide area that is physically inaccessible via ground transportation. In addition, embodiments include the formation of a decentralized mesh supernetwork comprising two or more dynamic wireless aerial mesh networks where each dynamic wireless aerial mesh network is owned by a different agency (e.g., a secure community). A member of a first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network may send a request to a member of a second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network for the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network to join the second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network to form a mesh supernetwork, and receive an acceptance from the member of the second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.
1. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions, execution of which by a processing device causes the processing device to perform operations for a first aerial node (AN) of a first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network, the operations comprising:
receiving a wireless communication associated with a first agency;
transmitting the wireless communication to an end unit radio transceiver associated with the first agency,
wherein the transmitting is via the first AN of two or more ANs of the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network that provides persistent wide area communications service;
detecting an event; and
adjusting a flight pattern of the first AN based on changes to the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network, wherein the changes are based on the event detected.
2. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the flight pattern of the first AN comprises a persistent coverage rotation cycle, wherein a replacement AN is scheduled to launch and land on a staggered basis based on an actual or projected flight duration time of the two or more ANs.
3. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein a second AN of the two or more ANs occupies a relational position within the flight pattern of the first AN, wherein as the second AN retires, the replacement AN launches to fill the relational position within the flight pattern of the first AN vacated by the second AN.
4. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 3 , wherein the first AN is in communication with the end unit radio transceiver, wherein the operations further comprise:
initiating a handoff to the replacement AN.
5. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the flight pattern of the first AN operation comprises:
detecting a failed AN of the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network; and
adapting the flight pattern of the first AN to maintain the persistent wide area communications service.
6. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the event operation comprises:
measuring an audio event, a radiation level, a chemical level, a heat level, an electromagnetic signature, a pressure level, a reflective signature, a geo-position coordinate, or a homing beacon signal.
7. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the detecting the event operation further comprises:
determining that the measurement satisfies a threshold; and
transmitting a threshold alert to an AN of the two or more ANs, the end unit radio transceiver associated with the first agency, or a server coupled to the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.
8. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a new flight path based on the threshold alert, wherein the first AN adjusts the flight pattern of the first AN accordingly.
9. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving a new flight path command based on the threshold alert, wherein a remaining AN of the two or more ANs adjusts a flight pattern of the remaining AN accordingly.
10. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the new flight path command includes different duties than the two or more ANs.
11. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the flight pattern operation comprises:
detecting a new AN in communications proximity, wherein the new AN is associated with the first agency; and
changing to a new flight path based on an addition of the new AN to the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.
12. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the flight pattern of the first AN operation comprises:
detecting a new AN in communications proximity, wherein the new AN is associated with a second agency, wherein the first and second agencies are associated with an incident, wherein the first and second agencies communicate securely, and wherein an agency includes a collection of communication resources having an administrator that maintains control over the agency;
receiving a request from the new AN to join the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network;
transmitting an acceptance to the new AN; and
changing to a new flight path based on an addition of the new AN to the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.
13. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
transmitting a second request to the first agency to join the new AN to the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network; and
receiving a second acceptance to join the new AN to the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.
14. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the transmitting the second request is transmitted out-of-band.
15. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the new AN is coupled to a second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network associated with the second agency, and wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving a second wireless communication from the end unit radio transceiver associated with the first agency; and
transmitting the second wireless communication to a second end unit radio transceiver associated with the second agency via the second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.
16. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the end unit radio transceiver comprises: a legacy radio device, or an Internet Protocol (IP)-based device.
17. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the IP-based device includes: a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable sensor, a watch, a remote controller, or a laptop computer.
18. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving a flight command including a speed, a direction, an elevation, or a geographical waypoint; and
adjusting the flight pattern of the first AN based on the flight command.
19. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the flight command is generated manually, automatically, or semi-automatically.
20. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the flight command is based on a geospatial position.
21. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the flight command is based on a relative position to a remaining AN of the two or more ANs.
22. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the flight command is based on an intended flight path of the remaining AN of the two or more ANs.
23. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the flight command is based on a deviation from a planned flight path of the first AN, or a deviation of a planned flight path an AN of the two or more ANs.
24. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the flight command is based on a flight condition or a rerouting flight instruction.
25. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the flight command is based on a ground bandwidth need, a density or number of end unit radio transceivers in a coverage area of the persistent wide area communications service, or a location of one end unit radio transceiver of the number of end unit radio transceivers in the coverage area.
26. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the first AN comprises a unique identification number that includes a unique aircraft identification number, a registration number, or a MAC address of an embedded hardware.
27. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the first AN comprises a designated sequence slot assignment within a multi-AN flight coverage pattern.
28. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
recording images in conjunction with another AN of the two or more ANs; and
transmitting the images via the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network or a separate communications path.
29. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the first AN is coupled to a platform comprising: a pilotless aerial drone, a balloon, an aerostat, or a piloted plane.
30. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein the first AN is coupled to the pilotless aerial drone, and another AN of the two or more ANs of the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network is coupled to a different platform.