METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RADIO FREQUENCY COVERAGE PREDICTION IN A MULTI-LEVEL WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20110263277A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Zuniga Gallegos, Fabiel
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/3913 Predictive models, e.g. based on neural network models
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment

Abstract

A method and system for predicting radio frequency (RF) coverage in a multi-level wireless network is described herein. The multi-level wireless network includes the network management server and a plurality of wireless devices, where each of the wireless devices includes an RF transmitter. A two-dimensional wireless network configuration model of a vertical level of the multi-level wireless network is determined. A path loss in a propagation path of an RF signal from an RF transmitter of a wireless device to a grid point in the vertical level is determined. The path loss may be based on a plurality of path loss exponents. A signal strength loss due to one or more obstacles that intersect the propagation path is determined. A strength of the RF signal is predicted based on the path loss and the signal strength loss.

Claims

1. A method for predicting radio frequency (RF) coverage in a multi-level wireless network, the multi-level wireless network including a plurality of wireless devices, each of the wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices including an RF transmitter, the method comprising:

determining, by a network management server, a two-dimensional wireless network configuration model of a vertical level of the multi-level wireless network;

determining a path loss in a propagation path of an RF signal from an RF transmitter of a wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices to a grid point in the vertical level, wherein the path loss is based on a plurality of path loss exponents;

determining a signal strength loss due to one or more obstacles intersecting the propagation path; and

predicting a strength of the RF signal based on the path loss and the signal strength loss.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a location attribute of one or more RF transmitters in the multi-level wireless network which are physically located at the vertical level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an origin attribute of the vertical level relative to other vertical levels of the multi-level wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a height attribute of the one or more obstacles intersecting the propagation path.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the path loss comprises:

identifying one or more vertical levels of the multi-level wireless network that intersect the propagation path;

determining a path loss exponent configured for each of the one or more vertical levels identified;

determining one or more distances in the propagation pathway that indicate a change in path loss exponents; and

calculating the path loss based on the path loss exponent for each of the one or more vertical levels and the one or more distances in the propagation pathway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a signal strength loss comprises:

identifying the one or more obstacles, wherein at least one obstacle of the one or more obstacles is a floor;

determining an attenuation factor for each of the one or more obstacles; and

calculating the signal strength loss based on the attenuation factor for each of the one or more obstacles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an obstacle of the one or more obstacles is a wall, and wherein the wall is represented as a planar object for the determination of the signal strength loss.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dividing a floor plan of the vertical level of the multi-level wireless network according to a plurality of grid blocks; and

determining one or more grid points in each of the grid blocks.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a coverage area of the RF transmitter based on the predicted strength, wherein the coverage area spans a plurality of vertical levels of the multi-level wireless network; and

providing a graphical representation of the coverage area of the RF transmitter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicted strength of the RF signal is an initial strength of the RF signal reduced by the path loss and the signal strength loss.

11. A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a data processor to predict radio frequency (RF) coverage in a multi-level wireless network, the multi-level wireless network including a plurality of wireless devices;

each of the wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices including an RF transmitter, the plurality of instructions comprising;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a two-dimensional wireless network configuration model of a vertical level of the multi-level wireless network;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a path loss in a propagation path of an RF signal from an RF transmitter of a wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices to a grid point in the vertical level, wherein the path loss is based on a plurality of path loss exponents;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a signal strength loss due to one or more obstacles intersecting the propagation path; and

instructions that cause the data processor to predict a strength of the RF signal based on the path loss and the signal strength loss.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the instructions that cause the data processor to determine the path loss comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to identify one or more vertical levels of the multi-level wireless network that intersect the propagation path;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a path loss exponent configured for each of the one or more vertical levels identified;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine one or more distances in the propagation pathway that indicate a change in path loss exponents; and

instructions that cause the data processor to calculate the path loss based on the path loss exponent for each of the one or more vertical levels and the one or more distances in the propagation pathway.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the instructions that cause the data processor to determine the signal strength loss comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to identify the one or more obstacles, wherein at least one obstacle of the one or more obstacles is a floor;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine an attenuation factor for each of the one or more obstacles; and

instructions that cause the data processor to calculate the signal strength loss based on the attenuation factor for each of the one or more obstacles.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein an obstacle of the one or more obstacles is a wall, and wherein the wall is represented as a planar object for the determination of the signal strength loss.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions that cause the data processor to determine an origin attribute of the vertical level relative to other vertical levels of the multi-level wireless network.

16. A system for predicting radio frequency (RF) coverage in a multi-level wireless network, the multi-level wireless network including a plurality of wireless devices, each of the wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices including an RF transmitter, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a two-dimensional wireless network configuration model of a vertical level of the multi-level wireless network;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a path loss in a propagation path of an RF signal from an RF transmitter of a wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices to a grid point in the vertical level, wherein the path loss is based on a plurality of path loss exponents;

determine a signal strength loss due to one or more obstacles intersecting the propagation path; and

predict a strength of the RF signal based on the path loss and the signal strength loss.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor is configured to determine the path loss by:

identifying one or more vertical levels of the multi-level wireless network that intersect the propagation path;

determining a path loss exponent configured for each of the one or more vertical levels identified;

determining one or more distances in the propagation pathway that indicate a change in path loss exponents; and

calculating the path loss based on the path loss exponent for each of the one or more vertical levels and the one or more distances in the propagation pathway.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor is configured to determine the signal strength loss by:

identifying the one or more obstacles, wherein at least one obstacle of the one or more obstacles is a floor;

determining an attenuation factor for each of the one or more obstacles; and

calculating the signal strength loss based on the attenuation factor for each of the one or more obstacles.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein an obstacle of the one or more obstacles is a wall, and wherein the wall is represented as a planar object for the determination of the signal strength loss.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an origin attribute of the vertical level relative to other vertical levels of the multi-level wireless network.