IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,547,166
Granted Patent B2
US 12,547,166 · App. 16/999,187 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Method and system for teleoperations and support services

Inventors: Rohit Shirish Saraf (Nashua, NH); Bhumip Khasnabish (Lexington, MA)
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
G05D1/0011G05B13/0265H04W24/04H04W76/12H04W36/142
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,547,166
App. No.
16/999,187
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which an edge computing-based teleoperations service is provided. An edge network device may select an active and one or multiple backup remote-controlling devices in support of a teleoperations service session. The edge network device may include artificial intelligence to learn remote-controlling functions based on communications relayed between a remote-controlled device and the active remote-controlling device. The edge network device may use the learned remote-controlling functions during a failover procedure or other triggering network event.

Claims (56)

1 . A method comprising:

establishing, by a network device, a teleoperations session with an active remote-controlling device, a backup remote-controlling device, and a remote-controlled device, wherein the active remote-controlling device and the backup remote-controlling device are end devices operable by a user and enables the user to remotely control the remote-controlled device, wherein the backup remote-controlling device operates in a standby mode;

invoking, by the network device, a failover procedure based on a connection state with the active remote-controlling device; and

performing, by the network device during the failover procedure, active remote-controlling functions that include remotely controlling the remote-controlled device based on a learned model of the network device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

requesting, by the network device during the failover procedure, that the backup remote-controlling device remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and

receiving, by the network device and from the backup remote-controlling device, an indication that the backup remote-controlling device will remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

ceasing to perform, by the network device in response to the receiving, the active remote-controlling functions.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the network device during the teleoperations session and prior to the performing, communications between the active remote-controlling device and the remote-controlled device;

learning, by the network device, the active remote-controlling functions; and

updating the learned model.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

releasing, by the network device, the active remote-controlling device from remotely controlling the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing, by the network device during the teleoperations session, state information relating to the teleoperations session.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the establishing comprises:

selecting, by the network device, the active remote-controlling device to remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and

selecting, by the network device, the backup remote-controlling device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device includes a multi-access edge computing (MEC) device of a MEC network.

9 . A network device comprising:

a processor configured to:

establish a teleoperations session with an active remote-controlling device, a backup remote-controlling device, and a remote-controlled device, wherein the active remote-controlling device and the backup remote-controlling device are end devices operable by a user and enables the user to remotely control the remote-controlled device, wherein the backup remote-controlling device operates in a standby mode;

invoke a failover procedure based on a connection state with the active remote-controlling device; and

perform, during the failover procedure, active remote-controlling functions that include remotely controlling the remote-controlled device based on a learned model of the network device.

10 . The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

request, during the failover procedure, that the backup remote-controlling device remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and

receive, from the backup remote-controlling device, an indication that the backup remote-controlling device will remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.

11 . The network device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

cease to perform, in response to the receipt of the indication, the active remote-controlling functions.

12 . The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, during the teleoperations session and prior to the performance of the active remote-controlling functions, communications between the active remote-controlling device and the remote-controlled device;

learn the active remote-controlling functions; and

update the learned model.

13 . The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

release the active remote-controlling device from remotely controlling the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.

14 . The network device of claim 9 , wherein the the processor is further configured to:

store, during the teleoperations session, state information relating to the teleoperations session.

15 . The network device of claim 9 , wherein, when establishing, the processor is further configured to:

select the active remote-controlling device to remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and

select the backup remote-controlling device.

16 . The network device of claim 9 , wherein the network device includes a multi-access edge computing (MEC) device of a MEC network.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a network device, which when executed cause the network device to:

establish a teleoperations session with an active remote-controlling device, a backup remote-controlling device, and a remote-controlled device, wherein the active remote-controlling device and the backup remote-controlling device are end devices operable by a user and enables the user to remotely control the remote-controlled device, wherein the backup remote-controlling device operates in a standby mode;

invoke a failover procedure based on a connection state with the active remote-controlling device; and

perform, during the failover procedure, active remote-controlling functions that include remotely controlling the remote-controlled device based on a learned model of the network device.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the network device to:

request, during the failover procedure, that the backup remote-controlling device remotely control the remote-controlled device during with the teleoperations session; and

receive, from the backup remote-controlling device, an indication that the backup remote-controlling device will remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the network device to:

cease to perform, in response to the receipt of the indication, the active remote-controlling functions.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the network device to:

receive, during the teleoperations session and prior to the performance of the remote-controlling functions, communications between the active remote-controlling device and the remote-controlled device;

learn the active remote-controlling functions; and

update the learned model.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2020
From: SARAF, ROHIT SHIRISH; KHASNABISH, BHUMIP
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 053559/0277 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220057791A1 · Feb 24, 2022
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