Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable local visual identification and verification of robotic vehicles. Various embodiments may enable disambiguation of a robotic vehicle from among a plurality of robotic vehicles.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for managing antennas on an aerial robotic vehicle used for wireless communications. A processor may receive position information identifying a location of the aerial robotic vehicle, determine whether to switch from using a first antenna to using a second antenna for active communications of the aerial robotic vehicle based on the position information, and switch active communications from using the first antenna to using the second antenna in response to determining that active communications of the aerial robotic vehicle should switch from using the first antenna to using the second antenna. The processor may make the determination using information from a database, which may correlate aerial robotic vehicle position to whether to use a particular one of the first and second antennas for active communications. The determination may also be based on a comparison of signal qualities obtained by both antennas.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for power efficient processor scheduling of features. In one embodiment, features may be scheduled for sequential computing, and each scheduled feature may receive a sensor data sample as input. In one embodiment, scheduling may be based at least in part on each respective feature's estimated power usage. In one embodiment, a first feature in the sequential schedule of features may be computed and before computing a second feature in the sequential schedule of features, a termination condition may be evaluated.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for managing antennas on an aerial robotic vehicle used for wireless communications. A processor may receive position information identifying a location of the aerial robotic vehicle, determine whether to switch from using a first antenna to using a second antenna for active communications of the aerial robotic vehicle based on the position information, and switch active communications from using the first antenna to using the second antenna in response to determining that active communications of the aerial robotic vehicle should switch from using the first antenna to using the second antenna. The processor may make the determination using information from a database, which may correlate aerial robotic vehicle position to whether to use a particular one of the first and second antennas for active communications. The determination may also be based on a comparison of signal qualities obtained by both antennas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting an indicator of channel quality while minimizing the use of a broadcast channel is described. A metric of forward link geometry of observed transmission signals is determined. An indicator of channel quality value is determined as a function of the observed transmission signals. An access sequence is selected, randomly, from one group of a plurality of groups of access sequences, wherein each of the plurality of groups of access sequences correspond to different ranges of channel quality values.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that may selectively switch a station's association from a first AP to a second AP based, at least in part, on whether an indication of first RSSI values for the first AP is greater than an indication of second RSSI values for the second AP by more than a difference value. For some embodiments, the difference value may be dynamically adjusted based, at least in part, on the first RSSI values, on a connection history of the station, and/or on a user selection.

Abstract: A method of performing context inference is described. The method includes collecting ambient light at a spectrometer sensor integrated in a portable device, characterizing the collected light to obtain optical information, comparing the optical information to optical data predetermined to match one or more contexts, inferring at least one characteristic of a specific context based on the comparison, and determining a probability that the portable device is in the specific context.

Abstract: Embodiments include devices and methods for an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) to receive manned aviation data from communication equipment available on the UAV without requiring the use of manned aviation radios and transponder equipment. A processor of the UAV may receive manned aviation data over a communication link with a communication network (e.g., the Internet) coupled to a server or network element that has access to manned aviation data. Communications with the communication network may be accomplished via the same communication channels used to transmit and receive mission-critical and payload communications. The processor may analyze the manned aviation data stream to obtain and identify relevant data, and may adjust a parameter of the UAV based on the analyzed manned aviation data stream. In various embodiments, the processor of the UAV may send UAV flight information to the communication network for inclusion in a manned aviation radio system broadcast.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for dynamic antenna steering on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The methods may include orienting an antenna on the UAV towards a serving ground station based on the UAV's position, orienting the antenna towards a neighboring ground station when it is time to conduct signal measurements of the neighboring ground station, conducting the signal measurements while orienting the antenna towards the neighboring ground station, and reorienting the antenna towards the serving ground station. Methods further include orienting a ground station antenna towards a UAV by obtaining a position of the UAV, calculating a vector between the position of the UAVs and the ground station, determining a direction to steer a beam based on the calculated vector, and steering the beam to the determined direction for the UAV.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods of managing network communication of a drone. The methods may include determining which type of at least two types of communications to classify a communication designated for transmission to or from the drone. The at least two types of communications may include operational safety communications and payload communications. A communication service configuration may be assigned based on the determined type of communications. The communications to or from the drone may be transmitted using the assigned communication service configuration.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods of navigating a drone that may include determining whether a radio link quality trigger event associated with communications with the drone has occurred while the drone travels along a set route to a destination. The radio link quality trigger event may correspond to predetermined characteristics of radio link quality. The drone may be steered to follow a search maneuver for improving radio link quality in response to determining the radio link quality trigger event has occurred. The search maneuver may follow a preconfigured deviation pattern that is configured before determining whether the radio link quality trigger event has occurred and departs from the set route.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting modulation parameters are disclosed. The apparatus and methods provide determination of when a particular modulation scheme is used by an access point. One or more modulation parameters associated with the particular modulation scheme and one or more timing values associated with the particular modulation scheme are then determined and transmitted using a portion of a broadcast channel transmitted by the access point.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an improved cellular user quality of experience (QoE) are disclosed. The system can comprise a database including multiple cell towers and their operating frequencies. The system can also include a database of frequencies for a plurality of user equipment (UE). The system enables user to input a chosen UE, a chosen location, and a connection type. The system can then provide a compatibility map depicting the coverage provided by cell towers proximate the chosen location that operate at the same frequencies as the chosen UE. Improved knowledge of UE and cell tower compatibility in areas of interest to the user can improve cellular customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty, and reduce UE returns.

Abstract: Embodiments include devices and methods for managing network communication of an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV). A processor of the UAV may determine an altitude of the UAV. The processor may optionally also determine a speed or vector of the UAV. Based on the determined altitude and/or speed/vector of the UAV, the processor may adjust the communication parameter of the communication link between the UAV and a communication network. The processor may transmit signals based on the adjusted communication parameter, which may reduce radio frequency interference caused by the transmissions of the UAV with the communication network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting an indicator of channel quality while minimizing the use of a broadcast channel is described. A metric of forward link geometry of observed transmission signals is determined. An indicator of channel quality value is determined as a function of the observed transmission signals. An access sequence is selected, randomly, from one group of a plurality of groups of access sequences, wherein each of the plurality of groups of access sequences correspond to different ranges of channel quality values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing application-controlled, power-efficient context (state) classification are described herein. An apparatus for performing context classification with adjustable granularity as described herein includes a classifier controller configured to receive a request for a context classification and a granularity input associated with the request; and a context classifier communicatively coupled to the classifier controller and configured to receive the request and the granularity input from the classifier controller, to select a resource usage level for the context classification based on the granularity input, wherein a granularity input indicating a higher granularity level is associated with a higher resource usage level and a granularity input indicating a lower granularity level is associated with a lower resource usage level, and to perform the context classification at the selected resource usage level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a delay associated with paging a remote device. In one implementation, a paging device arranges page operations such that if one of two consecutive page scans performed by a remote device occurs during a response scan, the other page scan occurs during the transmission of a page. In another implementation, a device scanning for a page arranges page scans such that if one of two consecutive page scans occurs during a page response scan, the other page scan occurs during the transmission of a page. In another implementation, a device scanning for a page performs a series of sets of separate page scans, wherein the time interval between two of separate scans in a set is less than the time interval between adjacent sets. The page scans in a set are configured to ensure that one of them occurs during the transmission of a page.

Abstract: To reduce inter-sector interference for “weak” users and combat a potentially large variation in interference levels observed by “strong” and weak users, system resources (e.g., frequency subbands) available for data transmission in a system are partitioned into multiple (e.g., three) disjoint sets. Each sector in the system is assigned one subband set. Neighboring sectors are assigned different subband sets such that the subband set assigned to each sector is orthogonal to the subband sets assigned to neighboring sectors. Each sector has an assigned subband set and an unassigned subband set, which contains all subbands not in the assigned set. Weak users in each sector (which are typically strong interferers to neighboring sectors) are allocated subbands in the assigned set. Strong users in each sector are allocated subbands in the unassigned set. The weak users in each sector are then orthogonal to strong interferers in neighboring sectors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a delay associated with paging a remote device. In one implementation, a paging device arranges page operations such that if one of two consecutive page scans performed by a remote device occurs during a response scan, the other page scan occurs during the transmission of a page. In another implementation, a device scanning for a page arranges page scans such that if one of two consecutive page scans occurs during a page response scan, the other page scan occurs during the transmission of a page. In another implementation, a device scanning for a page performs a series of sets of separate page scans, wherein the time interval between two of separate scans in a set is less than the time interval between adjacent sets. The page scans in a set are configured to ensure that one of them occurs during the transmission of a page.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting modulation parameters are disclosed. The apparatus and methods provide determination of when a particular modulation scheme is used by an access point. One or more modulation parameters associated with the particular modulation scheme and one or more timing values associated with the particular modulation scheme are then determined and transmitted using a portion of a broadcast channel transmitted by the access point.