Method and apparatus for network planning

• US 7,469,144 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyer, Pete A., Freeman, David F., Vicharelli, Pablo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US11/612,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 455/446, 455/443, 455/444, 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/566, 455/456.1, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/403, 455/550.1, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 701/207, 701/208, 703/21, 703/22
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A system and method for wireless network planning utilizing raster data, stored and manipulated in raster data planes (204-212) and vector data (522) stored and manipulated in vector data planes (528-532). The invention increases the accuracy of network planning by simultaneously utilizing vector data planes (528-532) and raster data planes (204-212) to perform computations using vector features contained within map pixels (604). The disclosed method makes it possible to perform accurate computations such as propagation loss to vector points (602) contained within map pixels (604). Accuracy is further increased because other characteristics such as received power, elevation, and best server can be computed to the vector features rather than processing them with traditional raster resolutions.

Claims

1. A system for performing wireless network planning comprising:

a bus;

a pixel data plane containing a pixel data point;

a vector data plane, separate from the pixel data plane, containing a vector data point;

a coordinate data plane, separate from the pixel data plane, for processing data from at least the vector data plane;

a storage medium coupled to the bus for storing the pixel data plane, the vector data plane, and the coordinate data plane;

a digital processor communicating with the storage medium through the bus for executing machine readable instructions for processing the pixel data plane, the vector data plane and the coordinate data plane to determine propagation loss associated with a transmitter to receiver layout within the coordinate data plane;

an input for transferring data to the storage medium and the digital processor through the bus; and

an output for outputting the result of the processing of the pixel data plane, the vector data plane and the coordinate data plane, the wireless network planning being based on the output.

2. A method for simultaneously handling data planes for processing vector features in a wireless network planning system comprising:

accepting a vector data plane and a separate raster data plane;

utilizing a coordinate system stored as a coordinate system data plane separate from at least the raster data plane;

processing the vector data plane and the raster data plane using the coordinate system data plane to compute a distance to the vector feature that is within the boundaries of a pixel containing the vector feature; and

transferring the result to an output.

3. A method for simultaneously handling data planes for processing vector features in a wireless network planning system comprising:

accepting a vector data plane and at least one raster data plane;

utilizing a coordinate system stored as a coordinate system data plane;

determining if there is more than one raster data plane and if there are raster variables that are common to the more than one raster data plane;

storing the raster variables that are common to the more than one raster data plane in only one raster data plane, if results of the determining so warrant;

processing the vector data plane and the raster data plane using the coordinate system data plane to compute a distance to the vector feature that is within the boundaries of a pixel containing the vector feature; and

transferring the result to an output.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the raster data plane includes at least one raster variable.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the vector data plane includes at least one vector variable.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the coordinate system data plane is comprised of a geographical coordinate system.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the result is comprised of at least one data plane.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the vector data plane and the raster data plane is accepted over a network.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the output means is a network.