Unmanned aerial vehicle communication, monitoring, and traffic management

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle includes transmitting a first message via a communications transmitter of a lighting assembly for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle. The first message includes an identifier associated with the lighting assembly, and the lighting assembly is located within a proximity of a roadway. The method also includes receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a communications receiver of the lighting assembly. The second message includes an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method further includes transmitting a third message via the communications transmitter of the lighting assembly for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The third message includes an indication of an altitude at which the unmanned aerial vehicle should fly.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
 transmitting via a transmitter of a communications station a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station, wherein the communications station is mounted to a support member, and wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground;   receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a receiver of the communications station, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;   transmitting via a charging module of the communications station a charging signal for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the charging signal for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to charge a battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle;   transmitting via a transmitter of a communications station for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, a quantity associated with the charging signal.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the quantity associated with the charging signal comprises an amount of energy. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the quantity associated with the charging signal comprises billing information corresponding to an amount of energy provided by the charging module. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the charging signal is transmitted while the unmanned aerial vehicle is airborne. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 35 , wherein the charging signal is transmitted while the unmanned aerial vehicle hovers in a proximity to the communications station. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the charging signal is transmitted wirelessly to the unmanned aerial vehicle by the charging module. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the charging signal is transmitted wirelessly to the unmanned aerial vehicle by the charging module using a near field charging component. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the charging signal is transmitted by the charging module to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a charge cord of the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 39 , wherein at least a portion of the charge cord is in physical contact with the communications station during transmission of the charging signal. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 37 , wherein the charge cord is not in physical contact with the communications station during transmission of the charging signal. 
     
     
         42 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving via the receiver of the communications station an indication of a remaining battery charge for the unmanned aerial vehicle;   determining, based on the indication of the remaining battery charge, that the unmanned aerial vehicle should recharge its battery; and   informing the unmanned aerial vehicle, via the transmitter of the communications station, that the unmanned aerial vehicle should charge its battery.   
     
     
         43 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is in route to a destination, and wherein the determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle should recharge its battery includes determining that the remaining battery charge is insufficient for the unmanned aerial vehicle to reach the destination. 
     
     
         44 . A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
 transmitting via a transmitter of a communications station a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station, wherein the communications station is mounted to a support member, and wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground;   receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a receiver of the communications station, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and   transmitting, via the transmitter of the communications station for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle and for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to make a flight adjustment, an indication of one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly, and an indication of a landing area that is remote from the communications station.   
     
     
         45 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein the indication of one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly comprises an indication of one or more of latitude, longitude, and elevation. 
     
     
         46 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is associated with at least one of an airport, a high-security area, an area where unmanned aerial vehicles are unwelcome, and a recurring period of time. 
     
     
         47 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein the landing area that is remote from the communications station is selected from the group consisting of a safe landing area and an emergency landing area. 
     
     
         48 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is associated with an area being temporarily restricted from unmanned aerial vehicle flight. 
     
     
         49 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is associated with an area being permanently restricted from unmanned aerial vehicle flight. 
     
     
         50 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is associated with at least one of a natural disaster, an emergency condition, a congested area, a restricted area, and an area associated with a threat. 
     
     
         51 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , further comprising providing the unmanned aerial vehicle with an alternate route to bypass the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly. 
     
     
         52 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , further comprising determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle is flying within an area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly, and transmitting a warning message via the transmitter of the communications station for receipt by at least one of a police department communications unit, a fire department communications unit, a civil airspace authority communications unit, a Federal Aviation Authority communications unit, a first responder communications unit, and a security department communications unit. 
     
     
         53 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , further comprising determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle is flying within an area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly, and issuing a ticket for flying in the area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly to at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and an owner of the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         54 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge. 
     
     
         55 . A communications assembly, comprising:
 a support member located within a proximity of a roadway, wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground; and   a communications station mounted to the support member, the communications station comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station; 
 a receiver configured to receive a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and 
 a charging module configured to transmit a charging signal for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the charging signal for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to charge a battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle; 
 wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit, for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, a quantity associated with the charging signal. 
   
     
     
         56 . The communications assembly of  claim 55 , wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge. 
     
     
         57 . The communications assembly of  claim 55 , wherein the quantity associated with the charging signal is selected from the group consisting of an amount of energy and billing information corresponding to an amount of energy provided by the charging module. 
     
     
         58 . A communications assembly, comprising:
 a support member located within a proximity of a roadway, wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground; and   a communications station mounted to the support member, the communications station comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station; and 
 a receiver configured to receive a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; 
 wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit, for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle and for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to make a flight adjustment, an indication of one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly, and an indication of a landing area that is remote from the communications station. 
   
     
     
         59 . The communications assembly of  claim 58 , wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge. 
     
     
         60 . The communications assembly of  claim 58 , wherein the indication of one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly comprises an indication of one or more of latitude, longitude, and elevation.