Cell engineering tool and methods

• US 5,491,644 A
• Filed: 09/07/1993
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Barnhart, Eric N., Harvey, Bruce A., Witten, Michael L., Pickering, Leslie W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Kamini S.
• Application Number:
  US08/116,887
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 340/854.6, 340/854.3, 340/855.5, 370/95, 370/80, 395/21, 395/50, 395/409, 395/919, 455/67.6, 455/67.4
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A cell engineering tool (10) evaluates wireless communications channels within and around architectural structures, such as buildings, in order to determine communications transfer characteristics, including the RMS signal power level and the complex-valued frequency-domain transfer function H(f) of the communications channel. In architecture, the CET (10) comprises a user interface (12) and an analysis engine (14) communicating with the user interface (12). The analysis engine (14) has a plurality of propagation models (16), which may be run concurrently for validation, if desired. Using the user interface (12), which is preferably a graphics mechanism, the user (18) inputs a floor plan, wall material parameters (conductivity, permittivity), and the location of a transmitter (53) and receiver (54) within the floor plan. The analysis engine (14) analyzes the input parameters and uses one or more of the propagation models (16) in order to derive a CET output. The propagation models (16) include an analytical model (26), a ray tracing model (27), and a statistical model (28). The analytical model (26) and the ray tracing model (27) are utilized to derive the transfer function H(f) and their respective results can be compared with each other for validation. Further, the statistical model (28) may be used to generate a rapid approximation of the RMS signal power loss or level.

Claims

1. A computer-based machine for determining wireless communications transfer characteristics between a transmitter location and a receiver location within and around an architectural structure based upon a floor plan of said architectural structure, material parameter and said transmitter and receiver locations, comprising:

means for receiving inputs;

means for determining from said inputs said floor plan of said architectural structure, said transmitter location and said receiver location within said floor plan, and respective relative permittivity and conductivity values of walls within said floor plan;

means for determining said transfer characteristics for a communications channel between said transmitter and receiver locations by mathematically combining said transmitter location, said receiver location, said relative permittivity values, and said conductivity values; and

means for displaying said transfer function.

2. A computer-based cellular engineering tool for determining wireless communications transfer characteristics between a transmitter location and receiver location within and around an architectural structure from architectural data, wall material parameters, and said transmitter and receiver locations, comprising:

user interface means for receiving input data and for displaying said transfer characteristics;

means for determining from said inputs a floor plan, said transmitter location and said receiver location within said floor plan, with respect to relative permittivity and conductivity values of walls within said floor plan; and

analysis means for determining a transfer characteristic for a communication channel between said transmitter and receiver locations by mathematically combining said transmitter location, said receiver location, said relative permittivity values and said conductivity values; and

means for graphically displaying said transfer characteristic.