US 11,811,486 B2
System and methods to provide aerial backhaul connectivity to terrestrial base stations
Daniel Vivanco, Ashburn, VA (US); David Ross Beppler, Duluth, GA (US); and Slawomir Mikolaj Stawiarski, Carpentersville, IL (US)
Assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Atlanta, GA (US); and AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Vienna, VA (US)
Filed by AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Atlanta, GA (US); and AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Vienna, VA (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/361,437.
Prior Publication US 2022/0416879 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. H04W 84/04 (2009.01); H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H04W 76/10 (2018.01); H04W 40/34 (2009.01)
CPC H04B 7/18504 (2013.01) [H04W 40/34 (2013.01); H04W 76/10 (2018.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device, comprising:
a processing system including a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
detecting a disruption in a backhaul connection;
based on the detecting, searching for an aerial device to provide alternate backhaul connectivity;
based on the searching, establishing a communications link with the aerial device, wherein the aerial device limits connections to devices identifying as terrestrial base stations by blocking attempts to connect made by one or more terrestrial user equipment (UE); and
based on the establishing, relaying communications from the one or more terrestrial UE to the aerial device.