Nova Patents
EP0903880A2

Method and apparatus for modeling the propagation of wireless signals in buildings

Abstract

Techniques for predicting RF signal propagation in indoor environments are disclosed. A typical technique comprises six distinct phases. In one phase, the mean wall separation, d¯, of one floor of a building is estimated. In a second phase, a reflection coefficient, s, is estimated for the floor in general. In a third phase, a number of trial RF propagation measurements are made to gather empirical data about the RF propagation characteristics of the floor. In the fourth phase, the mean wall separation, d¯, the reflection coefficient, s, and the trial RF propagation measurements are fit, using well-known techniques, into a wireless propagation model, such asP(r) = P02πDπξ2re-r/ξ, where P(r) is the measured or predicted power at a distance, r, from the transmitter, and ξ is the parameter that is fit to the empirical data. In the fifth phase the wireless propagation model is used to predict the RF signal strength throughout the floor from a base station at a given location, and in the six phase one or more base stations are installed in the building based on the results predicted by the wireless propagation model. The fifth and sixth phases can be thereafter repeated for other building with sufficiently similar characteristics.

EP0903880A2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 111

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 15 September 2018, 8 years ago.

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29 claims: 4 independent, 25 dependent

  1. 1
    A method for placing a wireless base station inside a building, said method comprising the steps of:estimating a mean wall separation, d ¯ , of a floor of said building;creating a wireless propagation model based on said mean wall separation, d ¯ ;and placing said wireless base station in said building at a location based on said wireless propagation model.
  2. 8
    A building comprising one or more floors, with a wireless base station or stations being disposed on a given floor, with the number and location of said wireless base stations selected such that the signal from said wireless base station or stations has a power level essentially everywhere on said given floor above a threshold;CHARACTERIZED IN THAT    the number and location of said wireless base station or stations is based on a wireless propagation model that involves estimation of a mean wall separation, d ¯ , of said given floor.
  3. 15
    A method for placing a wireless base station inside a building, said method comprising the steps of estimating a mean wall separation, d ¯ x , in a first direction of a floor of said building;estimating a mean wall separation, d ¯ y , in a second direction of said floor, wherein said second direction is orthogonal to said first direction;creating a wireless propagation model based on said mean wall separation, d ¯ x , in said first direction of said floor and said mean wall separation, d ¯ y , in said second direction of said floor;and placing said wireless base station in said building at a location based on said wireless propagation model.
  4. 22
    A building comprising one or more floors, with a wireless base station or stations being disposed on a given floor, with the number and location of said wireless base stations selected such that the signal from said wireless base station or stations has a power level essentially everywhere on said given floor above a threshold;CHARACTERIZED IN THAT    the number and location of said wireless base station or stations is based on a wireless propagation model that involves estimation of a mean wall separation, d ¯ x , in a first direction of said given floor and estimation of a mean wall separation, d ¯ y , in a first direction of said given floor.
Independent claims4