3D coverage mapping of wireless networks with unmanned aerial vehicles
First Claim
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1. A method for three-dimensional (3D) coverage mapping of a coverage area of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
- pre-configuring the UAV with the coverage area of the cell site;
causing the UAV to fly about the coverage area at one or more elevations;
causing the UAV to take measurements of wireless performance during flight about the coverage area;
utilizing the measurements to derive a 3D coverage map of the coverage area;
determining poor coverage areas in the 3D coverage map; and
performing one or more remedial actions to address the poor coverage areas, wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise adding additional antennas on a cell tower at the cell site, adjusting antenna patterns of existing antennas on the cell tower, and adding a new cell tower in the coverage area, each of the one or more remedial actions is configured to increase coverage in the coverage area to address the poor coverage areas.
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Abstract
A method for three-dimensional (3D) coverage mapping of a coverage area of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes causing the UAV to fly about the coverage area at one or more elevations; causing the UAV to take measurements of wireless performance during flight about the coverage area; and utilizing the measurements to derive a 3D coverage map of the coverage area.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for three-dimensional (3D) coverage mapping of a coverage area of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
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pre-configuring the UAV with the coverage area of the cell site; causing the UAV to fly about the coverage area at one or more elevations; causing the UAV to take measurements of wireless performance during flight about the coverage area; utilizing the measurements to derive a 3D coverage map of the coverage area; determining poor coverage areas in the 3D coverage map; and performing one or more remedial actions to address the poor coverage areas, wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise adding additional antennas on a cell tower at the cell site, adjusting antenna patterns of existing antennas on the cell tower, and adding a new cell tower in the coverage area, each of the one or more remedial actions is configured to increase coverage in the coverage area to address the poor coverage areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) supporting three-dimensional (3D) coverage mapping of a coverage area of a cell site, the ATC system comprising:
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a network interface and one or more processors communicatively coupled to one another, wherein the network interface is communicatively coupled to a plurality of UAVs via one or more wireless networks; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to provide the coverage area of the cell site to a UAV; cause the UAV to fly about the coverage area at one or more elevations; cause the UAV to take measurements of wireless performance during flight about the coverage area; utilize the measurements to derive a 3D coverage map of the coverage area; determine poor coverage areas in the 3D coverage map; and cause performance of one or more remedial actions to address the poor coverage areas, wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise adding additional antennas on a cell tower at the cell site, adjusting antenna patterns of existing antennas on the cell tower, and adding a new cell tower in the coverage area, each of the one or more remedial actions is configured to increase coverage in the coverage area to address the poor coverage areas. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) configured for three-dimensional (3D) coverage mapping of a coverage area of a cell site, the UAV comprising:
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one or more rotors disposed to a body; a camera associated with the body; wireless interfaces; a spectrum analyzer; a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces and the camera; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to; receive a pre-configuration of the coverage area of the cell site; cause the UAV to fly about the coverage area at one or more elevations; cause the UAV to take measurements of wireless performance during flight about the coverage area; provide the measurements to derive a 3D coverage map of the coverage area; determine poor coverage areas in the 3D coverage map; and cause performance of one or more remedial actions to address the poor coverage areas, wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise adding additional antennas on a cell tower at the cell site, adjusting antenna patterns of existing antennas on the cell tower, and adding a new cell tower in the coverage area, each of the one or more remedial actions is configured to increase coverage in the coverage area to address the poor coverage areas.
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Specification