IP Library Granted Patent US 10,255,719
Granted Patent B2
US 10,255,719 · App. 15/877,555 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

Systems and methods for satellite data capture for telecommunications site modeling

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,255,719
App. No.
15/877,555
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for creating a three dimensional (3D) model of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment utilizing one or more satellites for data capture include providing a location of a cell site to one or more satellites; receiving data capture from the one or more satellites with the data capture comprising photos or videos of a cell tower and cell site components at the cell site; and processing the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the data capture.

Claims (24)

1. A method for creating a three dimensional (3D) model of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment utilizing one or more satellites for data capture, the method comprising:

providing a location of a telecommunications site to one or more satellites;

receiving data capture from the one or more satellites with the data capture comprising photos or videos of a cell tower and cell site components at the telecommunications site;

processing the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site based on one or more objects of interest in the data capture; and

remotely performing a site survey of the telecommunications site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, one or more buildings, and interiors thereof,

wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lightning rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises: determining equipment location on the cell tower; measuring distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and determining connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more satellites comprise a plurality of satellites each with a different angle or orientation for the associated photos or videos.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the processing comprises stitching the associated photos or videos together to create a 3D point cloud for the 3D model.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

remotely performing one or more of planning, engineering, and installation associated with the telecommunications site utilizing the 3D model.

6. An apparatus configured to create a three dimensional (3D) model of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment utilizing one or more satellites for data capture, the apparatus comprising:

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

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

provide a location of a telecommunications site to one or more satellites;

receive data capture from the one or more satellites with the data capture comprising photos or videos of a cell tower and cell site components at the telecommunications site,

process the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site based on one or more objects of interest in the data capture, and

remotely perform a site survey of the telecommunications site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, one or more buildings, and interiors thereof,

wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the telecommunications site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lightning rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises: determining equipment location on the cell tower; measuring distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and determining connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more satellites comprise a plurality of satellites each with a different angle or orientation for the associated photos or videos.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processing comprises stitching the associated photos or videos together to create a 3D point cloud for the 3D model.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to

remotely performing one or more of planning, engineering, and installation associated with the telecommunications site utilizing the 3D model.

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 Jan 23, 2018
From: PRIEST, LEE
To: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 044697/0600 →