Graphic tools for interactively planning a wireless network

• US 5,963,867 A
• Filed: 08/16/1995
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Reynolds, Sheila M., Reynolds, Matthew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US08/515,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/446, 455/447, 455/448, 455/449, 455/456, 455/457, 455/62, 455/63, 455/67.1, 455/67.6, 455/67.7, 455/517, 455/524, 342/357, 342/450, 342/451, 342/454, 342/457, 395/183.08, 395/183.09
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing network planning information in an interactive manner is described. A user selects a planning tool and inputs a selection point. If a line of sight cursor tool has been selected, a set of points on a display are set indicating a line of sight exists from those points to the selected point. If a path loss cursor tool has been selected a set of points on a display are set indicating a path loss to the selection point less than a certain threshold. Alternatively, a set of point on the display are set to various colors or shades indicating a range of path loss amounts to the selected point. In the preferred embodiment the invention incorporates the use of a computer system.

Claims

1. A method for allowing evaluation of a placement location of a base station for a wireless telephone system comprising:

(a) storing a set of elevations associated with a region over which the wireless telephone system will be implemented;

(b) displaying said region on a display system;

(c) receiving said placement location;

(d) calculating a set of line of sight locations within a portion of said region from which said placement location can be seen wherein said portion of said region is substantially smaller than said region by

(d.1) calculating a first slope from the placement location to a first location proximate to said placement location;

(d.2) calculating a second slope from the first location to a second location located radially outward from said placement location; and

(d.3) placing said second location in said set of line of sight locations if said second slope is less than said first slope; and

(e) displaying said set of line of sight locations and said region.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step (c) is comprised of the steps of:

(c.1) receiving positioning signals via a positioning device; and

(c.2) receiving a selection signal via said positioning device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said positioning device is a mouse.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

converting an x-y coordinate to a polar coordinate.

5. A method for indicating the suitability of a placement location for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals comprising the steps of:

(a) generating data indicative of the ability of a radio frequency signal to be transmitted between said placement location and a set of surrounding locations within a geographical region, wherein said set of surrounding locations are much smaller than said geographical region by

(a.1) determining if each location in said set of surrounding locations has a direct line of sight view to said placement location by

(a.1.1) determining a set of points along a line from said placement location to and end point;

(a.1.2) determining whether each point in said set of points has a line of sight view to said placement location by calculating a first slope of a first line from said placement location to a first point in said set of points that is closest to said location;

calculating a second slope of a second line from said placement location a second point in said set of points that is closest to said first location; and

setting said second point to visible if said second slope is greater than said first slope, and to not visible if said second slope is less than first slope; and

(b) displaying said data within said geographical region on a display screen of a computer system.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein step (a) is comprised of the step of:

(a.1) determining a path loss amount with respect to said location for each location in said set of locations.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein step (a.1) is comprised of the steps of:

calculating a set of points along a line from said placement location to an end point;

determining whether each point in said set of points has a direct line of sight to said placement location;

recording a first edge and a second edge for each of said set of points that does not have a direct line of sight view of said placement location;

calculating said path loss amount using a direct line of sight path loss formula for each point in said set of points having a direct line of sight view to said placement location; and

calculating said path loss amount using a knife edge formula for each point in said set of points not having a direct line of sight view to said placement location.