Granted Patent B2

US 12,309,681 · App. 17/425,997 · Granted May 20, 2025

Inventors: Tommy Arngren (Södra Sunderbyn, SE); Min Wang (Luleå, SE); Jan Christoffersson (Luleå, SE); Mårten Ericson (Gammelstad, SE)

Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)

H04W40/12H04W40/026H04W40/20

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A method in a first node of selecting a next hop for a data packet, the method comprising:

determining a volume that is at least partially located between a first communication device and a destination node of the data packet;

determining at least one moveable communication device located within the volume; and

selecting one of the at least one moveable communication device as a next hop for the data packet after the first communication device based on the one of the at least one moveable communication device being located within the volume for a predetermined time period.

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage media having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

determine a volume that is at least partially located between a first communication device and a destination node of a data packet;

determine at least one moveable communication device located within the volume; and

select one of the at least one moveable communication device as a next hop for the data packet after the first communication device based on the one of the at least one moveable communication device being located within the volume for a predetermined time period.

3. An apparatus for selecting a next hop for a data packet, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to:

determine a volume that is at least partially located between a first communication device and a destination node of the data packet;

determine at least one moveable communication device located within the volume; and

select one of the at least one moveable communication device as a next hop for the data packet after the first communication device based on the one of the at least one moveable communication device being located within the volume for a predetermined time period.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to determine whether each of the at least one moveable communication device will be located within the volume for the predetermined time period based on a respective location and velocity.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to determine that the selected moveable communication device will not be within the volume for the predetermined time period based on a current location and current velocity of the selected moveable communication device, and cause the selected moveable communication device to modify its velocity such that the selected moveable communication device will be located within the volume for the predetermined time period.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to cause the selected moveable communication device to modify its velocity by sending a command to the selected moveable communication device.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least one moveable communication device is mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

8. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the following applies:

the volume comprises a volume suitable for wireless transmission of the data packet from the first communication device;

the volume comprises a contiguous volume;

the volume is located at least partially along a straight line between a first node and the destination node, the first node being the apparatus;

the volume is within a predetermined distance or predetermined horizontal distance of the straight line; and

the volume comprises a substantially triangular or conical volume whereby the destination node is located substantially in a centre of the base of the volume.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to select one of the at least one moveable communication device based at least in part on communication quality to each of the at least one moveable communication device.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the destination node of the data packet comprises a base station.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least one moveable communication device comprises a device suitable for receiving and forwarding the data packet.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a first node comprises a moveable communication device or a User Equipment (UE), the first node being the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to transmit the data packet wirelessly to the selected moveable communication device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to determine at least one moveable communication device located within the volume by determining neighbour nodes of the first node.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to determine neighbour nodes of the first node by broadcasting a discovery signal, and receiving a respective response from each of the at least one moveable communication device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the respective response from each of the at least one moveable communication device indicates a respective location and velocity of the at least one moveable communication device.

17. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to:

determine a further volume that is at least partially located between the selected moveable communication device and the destination node;

determine at least one further moveable communication device located within the further volume; and

select one of the at least one further moveable communication device as a further next hop for the data packet after the selected moveable communication device.

18. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is configured to select one of the at least one moveable communication device as a next hop for the data packet after the first communication device by:

sending a request to the at least one moveable communication device;

receiving a response from a first set of the at least one moveable communication device; and

selecting one of the first set of the at least one moveable communication device as the next hop for the data packet after the first communication device.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (33)