IP Library Granted Patent US 10,856,153
Granted Patent B2
US 10,856,153 · App. 15/686,431 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Virtual 360-degree view modification of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installation

Inventors: Charlie Terry (Charlotte, NC); Jordan Bates (Charlotte, NC); Lee Priest (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
H04W16/18G06T17/05G06T19/00H04L67/36H04W24/08B64C2201/027B64C2201/127G06T2215/16H04W88/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,856,153
App. No.
15/686,431
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and method for creating, modifying, and utilizing a virtual 360-degree view of a telecommunications site obtaining data capture from the telecommunications site, wherein the data capture comprises one or more of photos and video; processing the data capture to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site in a first state, buildings, and constructions therein; importing the 3D model into modification software and adding one or more objects to the 3D model utilizing the modification software, wherein the one or more objects comprise one or more of geography, buildings, and constructions planned as possible additions to the telecommunications sites; creating a modified 3D model with the one or more objects and the 3D model in the first state such that the modified 3D model represents the telecommunications site in a second state; and utilizing the modified 3D model for one or more of planning, engineering, and installation.

Claims (40)

1. A method for creating, modifying, and utilizing a virtual 360-degree model of a telecommunications site for development at the telecommunications site, the method comprising:

obtaining data capture from the telecommunications site prior to the development at the telecommunications site, wherein the data capture comprises one or more of photos and video;

processing the data capture to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site in a pre-development state with associated geography of the telecommunications site;

adding one or more virtual objects to the 3D model of the telecommunications site, wherein the one or more virtual objects comprise one or more of telecommunications equipment and telecommunications buildings planned as possible installations to the telecommunications site;

modifying the 3D model to create a modified 3D model with the one or more virtual objects inserted in the 3D model in the pre-development state such that the modified 3D model represents the telecommunications site in a developed state; and

utilizing the modified 3D model for one or more of planning and engineering associated with the development at the telecommunications site.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data capture is performed via an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

exporting the 3D model as an object file with associated textures; and

importing the 3D model as the object file with the associated textures into modification software.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein utilizing the modified 3D model comprises displaying the modified 3D model via a server.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual objects are added based on associated dimensions and locations within the modified 3D model, and wherein the dimensions and locations are based on engineering schematics.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications site is a cell site, and wherein the telecommunications equipment includes at least a cell tower and cell site components.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing one of tagging and embedding multiple location identifiers to each of the one or more of photos and video, wherein processing the data capture to create the 3D model of the telecommunications site includes using at least one of the location identifiers for each of the one or more of photos and video to stitch the one or more of photos and video together to generate the 3D model.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data capture includes multiple location identifiers for each of the one or more of photos and video that are one of tagged and embedded to a corresponding one of the one or more of photos and video, wherein processing the data capture to create the 3D model of the telecommunications site includes using at least one of the location identifiers for each of the one or more of photos and video to stitch the one or more of photos and video together to generate the 3D model.

9. A server for creating, modifying, and utilizing a virtual 360-degree model of a telecommunications site for development at the telecommunications site, the server comprising:

a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

obtain data capture from the telecommunications site prior to the development at the telecommunications site, wherein the data capture comprises one or more of photos and video;

process the data capture to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site in a pre-development state with associated geography of the telecommunication site;

add one or more virtual objects to the 3D model of the telecommunication site, wherein the one or more virtual objects comprise one or more of telecommunications equipment and telecommunications buildings planned as possible installations to the telecommunications site;

modify the 3D model to create a modified 3D model with the one or more virtual objects inserted in the 3D model in the pre-developed state such that the modified 3D model represents the telecommunications site in a developed state; and

display the modified 3D model for one or more of planning and engineering associated with the development at the telecommunications site.

10. The server of claim 9 , wherein the data capture is performed via an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

11. The server of claim 9 , wherein, the instructions further cause the processor to export the 3D model as an object file with associated textures, and import the 3D model as the object file with the associated textures into modification software.

12. The server of claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to display the modified 3D model by displaying the modified 3D model on a remote device over the Internet.

13. The server of claim 9 , wherein the one or more virtual objects are added based on associated dimensions and locations within the modified 3D model, and wherein the dimensions and locations are based on engineering schematics.

14. The server of claim 9 , wherein the telecommunications site is a cell site, and wherein the telecommunications equipment includes at least a cell tower and cell site components.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store a program for creating, modifying, and utilizing a virtual 360-degree model of a telecommunications site for development at the telecommunications site, the program including instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the steps of:

obtaining data capture from the telecommunication site prior to the development at the telecommunications site, wherein the data capture comprises one or more of photos and video;

processing the data capture to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site in a pre-development state with associated geography of the telecommunications site;

adding one or more virtual objects to the 3D model of the telecommunications site, wherein the one or more virtual objects comprise one or more of telecommunications equipment and telecommunications buildings planned as possible installations to the telecommunications site;

modifying the 3D model to create a modified 3D model with the one or more virtual objects inserted in the 3D model in the pre-development state such that the modified 3D model represents the telecommunications site in a developed state; and

displaying the modified 3D model for one or more of planning and engineering, associated with the development at the telecommunications site.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the data capture is performed via an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein, the instructions further cause the one or more processors to further perform the step of exporting the 3D model as an object file with associated textures, and importing the 3D model as the object file with the associated textures into modification software.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform the step of displaying the modified 3D model by displaying the modified 3D model on a remote device over the Internet.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more virtual objects are added based on associated dimensions and locations within the modified 3D model, and wherein the dimensions and locations are based on engineering schematics.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the telecommunications site is a cell site, and wherein the telecommunications equipment includes at least a cell tower and cell site components.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2026
From: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 074818/0664 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 20, 2026
From: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: AQUARIAN CREDIT FUNDING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075246/0859 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2021
From: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056003/0641 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2017
From: TERRY, CHARLIE; BATES, JORDAN; PRIEST, LEE
To: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 043402/0375 →
Continuity (14)
Continuation In Part 15675930 · Aug 14, 2017
Continuation 15644144 · Jul 7, 2017
Continuation 15597320 · May 17, 2017
Continuation 15480792 · Apr 6, 2017
Continuation 15469841 · Mar 27, 2017
Continuation 15415040 · Jan 25, 2017
Continuation 15338700 · Oct 31, 2016
Continuation 15283699 · Oct 3, 2016
Continuation 15241239 · Aug 19, 2016
Continuation 15211483 · Jul 15, 2016
Continuation 15168503 · May 31, 2016
Continuation 15160890 · May 20, 2016
Continuation 14685720 · Apr 14, 2015
Related Publication 20180041907A1 · Feb 8, 2018
Cited By (11)
US 12,430,850 US 12,461,505 US 12,462,668 US 12,485,551 US 12,491,643 US 12,491,992 US 12,570,401 US 12,573,287 US 12,686,135 US 12,691,590 US 12,697,735