IP Library Granted Patent US 11,930,376
Granted Patent B2
US 11,930,376 · App. 16/881,623 · Granted Mar 12, 2024

Systems and methods for coordinating initiation, preparing, vetting, scheduling, constructing, and implementing a small cell implementation

Inventors: Lee Priest (Huntersville, NC); Richard Lien (Lords Valley, PA)
Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
H04W16/32B64C39/024G05D1/0094G08G5/0069H04L41/145H04W16/18B64U2101/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,930,376
App. No.
16/881,623
Granted
Mar 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for constructing and implementing a small cell is disclosed herein. The method includes capturing data and developing a model of the small cell; obtaining and validating a bill of materials for the small cell; identifying type, quantity, and location of materials for acquisition; coordinating utilities for the small cell with utility providers; and developing a project plan for the small cell and including with the model.

Claims (30)

1. A method for constructing and implementing a small cell, the method comprising:

capturing data and developing a three-dimensional (3D) virtual model of the small cell;

obtaining and validating a bill of materials for the small cell;

identifying type, quantity, and location of materials for acquisition;

coordinating utilities for the small cell with utility providers; and

developing a project plan for the small cell including the 3D virtual model.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bill of materials is obtained from the customer and validated against the 3D virtual model generated from the data captured by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) including one or more of photos and video of infrastructure that will receive the small cell.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the type, the quantity, and the location of materials and acquiring the materials includes building a logistics plan for acquiring the materials and allocating the materials to sub-contractors.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein coordinating the utilities for the small cell with the utility providers includes validating the utility connection points and requirements against one of a 3D virtual model generated from the data captured by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) including one or more of photos and video of infrastructure that will receive the small cell and construction documents validated against the 3D virtual model.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein managing and tracking implementation of the small cell includes performing one or more audits of the small cell with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each audit includes generating a 3D virtual model of a current implementation of the small cell based on data collected by the UAV, the data collected including one or more of photos and video of the small cell.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more audits includes verifying that a torque mark is present at each connection of components of the small cell based on the 3D virtual model.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more audits includes verifying a hardware configuration of components of the small cell based on the 3D virtual model, including a configuration of one or more antennas of the small cell.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the one or more audits of the small cell includes the UAV testing and validating wireless communication of the small cell.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein a panel of the small cell is opened during the one or more audits by one of the UAV mechanically interfacing with the small cell to open the panel and the small cell causing the panel to open based on detection of or command signals received from the UAV.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer for a small cell via steps comprising:

capturing data and developing a three-dimensional (3D) virtual model of the small cell;

obtaining and validating a bill of materials for the small cell;

identifying type, quantity, and location of materials for acquisition;

coordinating utilities for the small cell with utility providers; and

developing a project plan for the small cell including the 3D virtual model.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the bill of materials is obtained from the customer and validated against the 3D virtual model generated from the data captured by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) including one or more of photos and video of infrastructure that will receive the small cell.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein identifying the type, the quantity, and the location of materials and acquiring the materials includes building a logistics plan for acquiring the materials and allocating the materials to sub-contractors.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein coordinating the utilities for the small cell with the utility providers includes validating the utility connection points and requirements against one of a 3D virtual model generated from the data captured by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) including one or more of photos and video of infrastructure that will receive the small cell and construction documents validated against 3D virtual the model.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein managing and tracking implementation of the small cell includes performing one or more audits of the small cell with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein each audit includes generating a 3D virtual model of a current implementation of the small cell based on data collected by the UAV, the data collected including one or more of photos and video of the small cell.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the one or more audits includes verifying that a torque mark is present at each connection of components of the small cell based on the 3D virtual model.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the one or more audits includes verifying a hardware configuration of components of the small cell based on the 3D virtual model, including a configuration of one or more antennas of the small cell.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more audits of the small cell includes the UAV testing and validating wireless communication of the small cell.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein a panel of the small cell is opened during the one or more audits by one of the UAV mechanically interfacing with the small cell to open the panel and the small cell causing the panel to open based on detection of or command signals received from the UAV.

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 May 22, 2020
From: PRIEST, LEE; LIEN, RICHARD
To: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052735/0202 →
Continuity (15)
Continuation 16861537 · Apr 29, 2020
Continuation In Part 16750301 · Jan 23, 2020
Continuation In Part 15968131 · May 1, 2018
Continuation In Part 15926533 · Mar 20, 2018
Continuation In Part 15898695 · Feb 19, 2018
Continuation In Part 15877555 · Jan 23, 2018
Continuation In Part 15815786 · Nov 17, 2017
Continuation In Part 15675930 · Aug 14, 2017
Continuation In Part 15283699 · Oct 3, 2016
Continuation In Part 15241239 · Aug 19, 2016
Continuation In Part 15235686 · Aug 12, 2016
Continuation In Part 15168503 · May 31, 2016
Continuation In Part 15160890 · May 20, 2016
Continuation In Part 14685720 · Apr 14, 2015
Related Publication 20200288330A1 · Sep 10, 2020