Apple patents method for flying devices to switch cell towers
Apple describes a way for flying devices, such as drones, to manage their connection to cell towers. The device uses its flight path and location to pick the right tower and tells the network when it is flying.
In the filing’s own words
Provided is a method for a user equipment (UE). The UE performs at least one of the followings: obtaining a first information from a BS indicating at least one candidate cell, the first information being based on a flight trajectory associated with the UE; obtaining a second information from a BS indicating an accessibility of a cell, the second information being based on at least one of following: whether the cell is related to an ATG dedicated BS or a TN BS, a coverage of the cell, or a geographic location of the cell; obtaining a third information indicating a power mode switching operation from a BS, the third information being based on at least one of the following: a cell radius of a serving cell, a cell radius of at least one neighbor cell, a geographic location of the serving cell, or a geographic location of the at least one neighbor cell; or generating a fourth information relating to a flying status of the UE for transmitting to a BS, the fourth information being used for the BS to determine at least one parameter for UE measurement reporting.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1.- 20. (canceled)
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- CELL RE-SELECTION FOR ATG
- Publication number
- US20260333144A1
- Application number
- 19111306
- Filed
- Sep 29, 2022
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
H04W 36/0061 Electricity & electronicsH04B 7/18504 Electricity & electronicsH04B 7/18506 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/0058 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/00835 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/324 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
- Apple patents interface for sending messages via satellite Sep 29, 2026
- Apple patents way for phones to switch from ground towers to satellites Sep 17, 2026
- Apple patents moving phone plans between devices via Bluetooth Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents sharing Wi-Fi channel data to speed up device connections Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents smart surface that helps phones find signal faster Sep 8, 2026
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.