Patents Assigned to ETAK Systems, LLC
  • Patent number: 10382975
    Abstract: Systems and method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site for one or more of a cell site audit, a site survey, and cell site planning and engineering include obtaining first data capture for above ground components including a cell tower, associated cell site components on the cell tower, one or more buildings, and surrounding geography around the cell site; obtaining second data capture for subterranean geography associated with the surrounding geography; utilizing the first data capture and the second data capture to develop the 3D model which includes both the above ground components and the subterranean geography; and utilizing the 3D model to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10368249
    Abstract: Systems and method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site and associated fiber connectivity for one or more of a cell site audit, a site survey, and cell site planning and engineering include determining fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining first data capture of the fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining second data capture of paths of the fiber connectivity from the cell site; obtaining third data capture of the cell site including a cell tower, associated cell site components on the cell tower, one or more buildings, and surrounding geography around the cell site; utilizing the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture to develop the 3D model; and utilizing the 3D model to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10354441
    Abstract: Systems and method for augmented reality to visualize a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment include creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a virtual object representing the equipment; providing the 3D model of the virtual object to an augmented reality server; providing a virtual environment representing the telecommunications site; obtaining the virtual object from the augmented reality server; and selectively inserting the virtual object in the virtual environment for one or more of planning, engineering, and installation associated with the telecommunications site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Godwin, Charlie Terry, Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10334164
    Abstract: Systems and method for creating and utilizing a virtual 360-degree view of a telecommunications site include capturing first data of a 360-degree view at multiple points around the telecommunications site; capturing second data of a 360-degree view at aerial points above the telecommunications site; capturing third data of a 360-degree view inside a shelter or cabinet at the telecommunications site, wherein each of the first data, second data, and third data comprise one or more of photos and video; stitching the first data, the second data, and the third data together with links to create a virtual 360-degree view environment of the telecommunications site, wherein the links enable virtual navigation about the telecommunications site; and displaying the virtual 360-degree view environment to a viewer over a network and adjusting the virtual 360-degree view environment based on commands received from the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Charlie Terry, Joshua Godwin, Jordan Bates, Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10327151
    Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based method of wireless coverage testing includes with a UAV comprising a wireless coverage testing configuration, flying the UAV in a route in a wireless coverage area associated with a cell tower; collecting measurement data via the wireless coverage testing configuration during the flying and associated with collected measurement data with location identifiers; and, subsequent to the flying, processing the collected measurement data with the location identifiers to provide an output detailing wireless coverage in the wireless coverage area including wireless coverage at ground level and above ground level to a set elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Lee Priest, Charlie Terry, Joshua Godwin
  • Patent number: 10312994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) network switchover and emergency procedures, implemented by a UAV includes communicating to an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system via a primary wireless network; receiving and storing emergency instructions from the ATC system; detecting communication disruption on the primary wireless network to the ATC system; responsive to the detecting, switching to a backup wireless network to reestablish communication to the ATC system; and, responsive to failing to reestablish communication to the ATC system via the backup wireless network, implementing the emergency instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10311565
    Abstract: Systems and method for verifying a cell site utilizing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) include providing an initial point cloud related to the cell site to the UAV; developing a second point cloud based on current conditions at the cell site, wherein the second point cloud is based on data acquisition using the UAV at the cell site; detecting variations between the initial point cloud and the second point cloud; and, responsive to detecting the variations, determining whether the variations are any of compliance related, load issues, and defects associated with any equipment or structures at the cell site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Charlie Terry
  • Patent number: 10255719
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10231133
    Abstract: A method for modeling a cell site with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes causing the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein a launch location and launch orientation is defined for the UAV to take off and land at the cell site such that each flight at the cell site has the same launch location and launch orientation; obtaining a plurality of photographs of the cell site during about the flight plane, wherein each of the plurality of photographs is associated with one or more location identifiers; and, subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on the associated with one or more location identifiers and one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Lee Priest, Charlie Terry, Joshua Godwin
  • Patent number: 10227134
    Abstract: A method for transporting maintenance personnel at a cell tower includes, responsive to a requirement for a tower climb for one or more of a site survey, a site audit, maintenance, and installation at the cell tower, securing a person in a drone, wherein the drone includes flight components at a substantial length from the person allowing the flight components to fly over a top of the cell tower and to place the person directly adjacent to a desired location on the cell tower; flying the drone up the cell tower to locate the person directly adjacent to the desired location; and performing the one or more of a site survey, a site audit, maintenance, and installation at the cell tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10198953
    Abstract: Obstruction detection and management systems and methods are performed through an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The obstruction detection and management method includes receiving UAV data from a plurality of UAVs, wherein the UAV data includes operational data for the plurality of UAVs and obstruction data from one or more UAVs; updating an obstruction database based on the obstruction data; monitoring a flight plan for the plurality of UAVs based on the operational data; and transmitting obstruction instructions to the plurality of UAVs based on analyzing the obstruction database with their flight plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10192354
    Abstract: Systems and methods for developing a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain photos and/or video include preparing the UAV for flight and programming an autonomous flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the autonomous flight path comprises a substantially circular flight path about the cell tower with one or more cameras on the UAV facing the cell tower; flying the UAV around the cell tower in a plurality of orbits comprising at least four orbits each with a different set of characteristics of altitude, radius, and camera angle, wherein the flying comprises of at least four orbits for a monopole cell tower and at least five orbits for a self-support/guyed cell tower; obtaining photos and/or video of the cell tower, the cell site, and cell site components during each of the plurality of orbits; and using the photos and/or video to develop the point cloud three-dimensional (3D) model of the cell site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Charlie Terry, Jordan Bates, Alan Lombadu, Josh Godwin, Richard Murphy, Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10189566
    Abstract: A method for three-dimensional (3D) coverage mapping of a coverage area of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes causing the UAV to fly about the coverage area at one or more elevations; causing the UAV to take measurements of wireless performance during flight about the coverage area; and utilizing the measurements to derive a 3D coverage map of the coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Charlie Terry, Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10183761
    Abstract: A modeling method performed for a cell site to detect changes in or at the cell site includes obtaining first data regarding the cell site from a first audit performed using one or more data acquisition techniques and obtaining second data regarding the cell site from a second audit performed using the one or more data acquisition techniques, wherein the second audit is performed at a different time than the first audit; processing the first data to define a first model of the cell site using the associated one or more location identifiers and processing the second data to define a second model of the cell site using the associated one or more location identifiers; comparing the first model with the second model to identify the changes in or at the cell site; and performing one or more actions based on the identified changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10187806
    Abstract: Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain data capture at a cell site for developing a three dimensional (3D) thereof include causing the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site; obtaining data capture during the flight path about the cell tower, wherein the data capture includes a plurality of photos or video subject to a plurality of constraints, wherein the plurality of photos are obtained by a plurality of cameras which are coordinated with one another; and subsequent to the obtaining, 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10157548
    Abstract: A waypoint management method for an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) includes communicating with a plurality of UAVs via one or more wireless networks comprising at least one cellular network; receiving updates related to an obstruction status of each of a plurality of waypoints from the plurality of UAVs, wherein the plurality of waypoints are defined over a geographic region under control of the ATC system; and managing flight paths, landing, and take-off of the plurality of UAVs in the geographic region based on the obstruction status of each of the plurality of waypoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10157546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing flight of one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in no-fly zones include receiving one or more no-fly zones each defined as geo-fences with associated coordinates; preventing one or more UAVs from entering the one or more no-fly zones by one or more of: transmitting the geo-fences to the one or more UAVs, transmitting avoidance commands to the one or more UAVs from an avoidance device located at a no-fly zone, and disrupting radio communication to the one or more UAVs from the avoidance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Godwin, Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10150661
    Abstract: A telescoping platform system for providing workers and/or equipment up a cell tower includes a telescoping pole adapted to selectively extend vertically via an extension mechanism; a platform disposed to a top of the telescoping pole and adapted to support one or more workers and/or equipment for the cell tower; and a plurality of support connections to attach the telescoping pole while it is selectively extended to the cell tower to provide horizontal support to the telescoping pole and the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10109205
    Abstract: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) air traffic control and monitoring systems and methods implemented by a consolidated system include communicating with a plurality of servers each configured to communicate with a plurality of UAVs in a geographic or zone coverage; consolidating data from the plurality of servers to provide a visualization of a larger geography comprising a plurality of geographic or zone coverages; providing the visualization via a Graphical User Interface (GUI); and performing one or more functions via the GUI for air traffic control and monitoring at any of a high-level and an individual UAV level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 10089888
    Abstract: Static obstruction detection and management systems and methods through an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) include receiving UAV data from a plurality of UAVs related to static obstructions; receiving external data from one or more external sources related to the static obstructions; analyzing the UAV data and the external data to populate and manage an obstruction database of the static obstructions; and transmitting obstruction instructions to the plurality of UAVs based on analyzing the obstruction database with their flight plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest