Patents by Inventor Ken KOUMOTO

Ken KOUMOTO has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11755040
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus that enables a flying object to safely pass another flying object includes a detection unit configured to detect, in a predetermined range from a flying object, another flying object. A specifying unit is configured to specify a moving direction of the detected other flying object. A judging unit is configured to judge, based on the specified moving direction, whether or not passing is possible. A determination unit is configured to determine, based on a relationship between the flying object and the other flying object, content of a passing operation to be performed with respect to the other flying object. A flight control unit is configured to, if it is judged that passing is possible, control flight of the flying object and perform the passing operation according to the determined content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura, Shinya Hanano
  • Patent number: 11645879
    Abstract: Flight control unit and flight unit start flight in accordance with a flight plan. Flight history acquisition unit acquires a flight history of drone. Flight plan acquisition unit acquires a flight plan for drone. Inspection timing determination unit calculates a difference between the acquired flight plan and the acquired flight history, and based on the difference, determines an inspection timing for drone. Inspection timing notification unit provides notification of the determined inspection timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura, Shinya Hanano
  • Patent number: 11634225
    Abstract: Flight cessation detection unit detects that drone has ceased flying at an unexpected site. Situation information acquisition unit acquires, as situation information indicating a situation related to retrieval of the drone, information on weather in an area in which the drone has flown. Retrieval procedure determination unit determines a retrieval procedure for the drone based on a situation indicated by the acquired situation information. Retrieval procedure determination unit, upon detecting a time period having specific weather based on the acquired information on weather, determines a retrieval procedure in which the time period is designated as a retrieval time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura, Shinya Hanano
  • Patent number: 11605300
    Abstract: Flight type determination unit determines a flight type of drone on the basis of parameters obtained by flight schedule obtainment unit. The flight type includes a travel type, which uses a destination as a parameter, a touring type, which uses a range in space (a touring range) as a parameter, and a hovering type, which uses a position in space (a hovering position) as a parameter. Allocation rule storage unit stores allocation rules for flight airspace corresponding to each of the plurality of flight types. Flight airspace allocation unit allocates flight airspace to drone on the basis of allocation rules corresponding to the flight type of that drone as indicated by the parameters obtained for that drone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11531951
    Abstract: The location detection unit detects a destination location for delivery of an item by a drone. The release determination unit determines whether the drone transporting the item can release and place the item at the destination. Upon determination that the release and placement is not possible, a standby airspace determination unit determines a standby airspace within which the drone waits. The wait-time determination unit determines a wait-time for the drone in the determined standby airspace. The wait-time determination unit determines a wait-time by which the drone can arrive at a next destination by a scheduled arrival time following departure of the drone departs after standby. The standby instruction unit issues to the drone an instruction related to the standby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura, Shinya Hanano
  • Patent number: 11501651
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus includes a detection unit that detects within a predetermined range of an air vehicle another air vehicle. A specifying unit specifies a type of the detected other air vehicle. A determining unit determines a possibility that the air vehicle and the other air vehicle will collide, based on an attribute relating to movement of the other air vehicle. When it is determined that a possibility of collision exists, a flight control unit controls the flight of the air vehicle according to the specified type of the other air vehicle to avoid collision with the other air vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Youhei Oono, Hidetoshi Ebara, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11492100
    Abstract: An information apparatus includes a schedule obtainment unit that obtains flight schedule information transmitted from terminals. Allocation unit allocates an airspace and a permitted flight period to drone based on the obtained flight schedule information. If there is a predetermined commonality in the airspaces and the flight directions of multiple drones, allocation unit causes those multiple drones to share the airspace under the condition that formation flight in which distances therebetween are controlled is performed. Allocation unit determines an arrangement in which multiple drones are aligned in the order in which drones withdraw from formation flight as the arrangement of multiple drones during formation flight. Also, allocation unit determines an arrangement in which drone that does not include a formation flight function is in front and drone that includes formation flight function follows therebehind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11393344
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a flight plan in which first flight conditions are described, and information that indicates a time limit set with respect to a position on a path along which an air vehicle is to fly. An arrival judging unit judges, based on the acquired information, whether or not the air vehicle has arrived at the position within the time limit. A condition determination unit determines a second flight condition if it is judged that the air vehicle has not arrived at the position within the time limit. A flight control unit controls flight of the air vehicle selectively adopts a first flight control method which follows the first flight conditions or a second flight control method which follows the second flight condition based on a result obtained by the arrival judging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11380209
    Abstract: Allocation result accumulation unit accumulates allocation results of each business operator that requests allocation of flight airspace of drone. Allocation result accumulation unit accumulates, as the allocation results, an allocated airspace amount represented by the size of allocated flight airspace and the period in which flight in the flight airspace is permitted. When allocation requests are received from multiple business operators, flight airspace allocation unit allocates flight airspace by giving priority to a high priority business operator according to the allocation results accumulated in allocation result accumulation unit with respect to each business operator. Flight airspace allocation unit allocates the flight airspace by assigning a higher priority to a business operator for which the allocated airspace amount that has been accumulated is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Youhei Oono, Hidetoshi Ebara, Yuichiro Segawa
  • Publication number: 20210150914
    Abstract: A flight control unit includes an acquisition unit that acquires a flight plan in which first flight conditions are described, by performing communication with a server apparatus. A state judging unit judges a state of the communication. A condition determination unit determines a second flight condition if the judged communication state is a predetermined state. A flight control unit controls flight of an air vehicle based on the determined second flight condition and at least one of the first flight conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Youhei OONO, Yuichiro SEGAWA, Yukiko NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20210073715
    Abstract: The location detection unit detects a destination location for delivery of an item by a drone. The release determination unit determines whether the drone transporting the item can release and place the item at the destination. Upon determination that the release and placement is not possible, a standby airspace determination unit determines a standby airspace within which the drone waits. The wait-time determination unit determines a wait-time for the drone in the determined standby airspace. The wait-time determination unit determines a wait-time by which the drone can arrive at a next destination by a scheduled arrival time following departure of the drone departs after standby. The standby instruction unit issues to the drone an instruction related to the standby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Youhei OONO, Yuichiro SEGAWA, Yukiko NAKAMURA, Shinya HANANO
  • Publication number: 20210074168
    Abstract: A flight control system includes an acquiring unit that acquires a flight plan in which a first flight condition is described. A setting unit sets a degree of risk in an airspace where a flying object flies. A determining unit determines a second flight condition based on an object detected within a predetermined range from the flying object. A flight control unit controls flight of the flying object by switching between a first flight control method according to the first flight condition and a second flight control method according to a part of the first flight condition and the second flight condition in accordance with the degree of risk. In a case where the degree of risk in an airspace included in at least one airspace exceeds a predetermined level, the flight control unit selects the second flight control method to control the flying object in the airspace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Youhei OONO, Yuichiro SEGAWA, Yukiko NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20210035459
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus includes a detection unit that detects within a predetermined range of an air vehicle another air vehicle. A specifying unit specifies a type of the detected other air vehicle. A determining unit determines a possibility that the air vehicle and the other air vehicle will collide, based on an attribute relating to movement of the other air vehicle. When it is determined that a possibility of collision exists, a flight control unit controls the flight of the air vehicle according to the specified type of the other air vehicle to avoid collision with the other air vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: NTT Docomo, Inc.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Youhei OONO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Yuichiro SEGAWA, Yukiko NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20200387180
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus that enables a flying object to safely pass another flying object includes a detection unit configured to detect, in a predetermined range from a flying object, another flying object. A specifying unit is configured to specify a moving direction of the detected other flying object. A judging unit is configured to judge, based on the specified moving direction, whether or not passing is possible. A determination unit is configured to determine, based on a relationship between the flying object and the other flying object, content of a passing operation to be performed with respect to the other flying object. A flight control unit is configured to, if it is judged that passing is possible, control flight of the flying object and perform the passing operation according to the determined content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura, Shinya Hanano
  • Publication number: 20200365037
    Abstract: Flight type determination unit determines a flight type of drone on the basis of parameters obtained by flight schedule obtainment unit. The flight type includes a travel type, which uses a destination as a parameter, a touring type, which uses a range in space (a touring range) as a parameter, and a hovering type, which uses a position in space (a hovering position) as a parameter. Allocation rule storage unit stores allocation rules for flight airspace corresponding to each of the plurality of flight types. Flight airspace allocation unit allocates flight airspace to drone on the basis of allocation rules corresponding to the flight type of that drone as indicated by the parameters obtained for that drone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20200365039
    Abstract: Flight airspace allocation unit allocates a good communication airspace in which the quality of communication with base station is no lower than the predetermined level to all drones, and allocates a bad communication airspace in which the communication quality is lower than the predetermined level to drone that satisfies an allocation condition. Flight airspace allocation unit uses, as the allocation condition, a condition that is to be satisfied when the capability of drone is no lower than a predetermined standard. For example, if drone has flight has an avoidance function that is the function of avoiding an obstacle in order to avoid a collision, flight airspace allocation unit determines that the capability of that drone is no lower than the predetermined standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Youhei Oono, Hidetoshi Ebara, Yuichiro Segawa
  • Publication number: 20200331607
    Abstract: Flight cessation detection unit detects that drone has ceased flying at an unexpected site. Situation information acquisition unit acquires, as situation information indicating a situation related to retrieval of the drone, information on weather in an area in which the drone has flown. Retrieval procedure determination unit determines a retrieval procedure for the drone based on a situation indicated by the acquired situation information. Retrieval procedure determination unit, upon detecting a time period having specific weather based on the acquired information on weather, determines a retrieval procedure in which the time period is designated as a retrieval time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Youhei OONO, Yuichiro SEGAWA, Yukiko NAKAMURA, Shinya HANANO
  • Publication number: 20200334992
    Abstract: Allocation result accumulation unit accumulates allocation results of each business operator that requests allocation of flight airspace of drone. Allocation result accumulation unit accumulates, as the allocation results, an allocated airspace amount represented by the size of allocated flight airspace and the period in which flight in the flight airspace is permitted. When allocation requests are received from multiple business operators, flight airspace allocation unit allocates flight airspace by giving priority to a high priority business operator according to the allocation results accumulated in allocation result accumulation unit with respect to each business operator. Flight airspace allocation unit allocates the flight airspace by assigning a higher priority to a business operator for which the allocated airspace amount that has been accumulated is small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: NTT DoComo, Inc.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Youhei OONO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Yuichiro SEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20200327747
    Abstract: Flight control unit 201 and flight unit 202 start flight in accordance with a flight plan. Flight history acquisition unit 103 acquires a flight history of drone 20. Flight plan acquisition unit 102 acquires a flight plan for drone 20. Inspection timing determination unit 104 calculates a difference between the acquired flight plan and the acquired flight history, and based on the difference, determines an inspection timing for drone 20. Inspection timing notification unit 105 provides notification of the determined inspection timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Youhei OONO, Yuichiro SEGAWA, Yukiko NAKAMURA, Shinya HANANO
  • Publication number: 20200283128
    Abstract: An information apparatus includes a schedule obtainment unit that obtains flight schedule information transmitted from terminals. Allocation unit allocates an airspace and a permitted flight period to drone based on the obtained flight schedule information. If there is a predetermined commonality in the airspaces and the flight directions of multiple drones, allocation unit causes those multiple drones to share the airspace under the condition that formation flight in which distances therebetween are controlled is performed. Allocation unit determines an arrangement in which multiple drones are aligned in the order in which drones withdraw from formation flight as the arrangement of multiple drones during formation flight. Also, allocation unit determines an arrangement in which drone that does not include a formation flight function is in front and drone that includes formation flight function follows therebehind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi YAMADA, Ken KOUMOTO, Hidetoshi EBARA, Youhei OONO, Yuichiro SEGAWA, Yukiko NAKAMURA