Spatially mapping radio frequency data in 3-dimensional environments

• US 9,491,587 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley J., Murray, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US14/660,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20160277901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/513, 455/509
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/04 Switchboards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/085 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide for the generation of 3-D RF performance maps of an environment by correlating RF performance data generated from known locations within the environment with spatial data generated of the environment. One embodiment comprises an apparatus that generates spatial data of an environment in a 3-D coordinate system. The apparatus generates RF performance data for an RF transmitter that is located within the environment. The apparatus identifies 3-D locations of the apparatus within the environment based on the spatial data, identifies RF performance values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the RF performance data, and generates a 3-D RF performance map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the RF performance values.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a scanner configured to generate spatial data of an environment in a 3-Dimensional (3-D) coordinate system as the apparatus is moved through the environment;

a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver located proximate to the scanner that is configured to generate RF performance data for an RF transmitter located within the environment as the apparatus is moved through the environment; and

a controller configured to identify 3-D locations of the scanner within the environment based on the spatial data generated as the apparatus is moved through the environment, to identify RF performance values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the RF performance data generated as the apparatus is moved through the environment, and to generate a 3-D RF performance map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the RF performance values.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the scanner comprises a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanner.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the RF receiver is configured to generate Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data for the RF transmitter; and

the controller is configured to identify RSSI values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the RSSI data, and to generate a 3-D RSSI map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the RSSI values.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the controller is configured to adjust the RSSI data based on a geometric offset between the RF receiver and the scanner.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the RF receiver is configured to generate Link Quality Indication (LQI) data for the RF transmitter; and

the controller is configured to identify LQI values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the LQI data, and to generate a 3-D LQI map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the LQI values.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the controller is configured to adjust the LQI data based on a geometric offset between the RF receiver and the scanner.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the RF receiver is configured to generate polarization data for the RF transmitter; and

the controller is configured to identify polarization values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations from the polarization data, and to generate a 3-D polarization map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the polarization values.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the controller is configured to adjust the polarization data based on a geometric offset between the RF receiver and the scanner.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the controller is configured to identify timestamps in the spatial data, to analyze the spatial data captured at the timestamps to identify locations of the scanner relative to the environment, to identify timestamps in the RF performance data, and to correlate timestamps in the spatial data to timestamps in the RF performance data to identify the RF performance values.

10. A method comprising:

generating, by a scanner, spatial data of an environment in a 3-Dimensional (3-D) coordinate system as the scanner is moved through the environment;

generating, by a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver located proximate to the scanner, RF performance data for an RF transmitter located within the environment as the RF receiver is moved through the environment;

identifying 3-D locations of the scanner within the environment based on the spatial data generated as the scanner is moved through the environment;

identifying RF performance values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the RF performance data generated as the RF receiver is moved through the environment; and

generating a 3-D RF performance map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the RF performance values.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

generating, by a scanner, spatial data comprises;

generating, by a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanner, the spatial data.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

generating the RF performance data comprises;

generating Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data for the RF transmitter;

identifying the RF performance values comprises;

identifying RSSI values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the RSSI data; and

generating the 3-D RF performance map comprises;

generating a 3-D RSSI map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the RSSI values.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

adjusting the RSSI data based on a geometric offset between the RF receiver and the scanner.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein:

generating the RF performance data comprises;

generating Link Quality Indication (LQI) data for the RF transmitter;

identifying the RF performance values comprises;

identifying LQI values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the LQI data; and

generating the 3-D RF performance map comprises;

generating a 3-D LQI map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the LQI values.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

adjusting the LQI data based on a geometric offset between the RF receiver and the scanner.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein:

generating the RF performance data comprises;

generating polarization data for the RF transmitter;

identifying the RF performance values comprises;

identifying polarization values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the polarization data; and

generating the 3-D RF performance map comprises;

generating a 3-D polarization map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the polarization values.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

adjusting the polarization data based on a geometric offset between the RF receiver and the scanner.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein:

identifying 3-D locations of the scanner in the environment further comprises;

identifying timestamps in the spatial data; and

analyzing the spatial data captured at the timestamps to identify locations of the scanner relative to the environment; and

identifying RF performance values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations further comprises;

identifying timestamps in the RF performance data; and

correlating timestamps in the 3-D spatial data to timestamps in the RF performance data to identify the RF performance values.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanner configured to generate time-stamped 3-Dimensional (3-D) spatial data of an environment;

a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver located proximate to the LiDAR scanner that is configured to generate time-stamped RF data for an RF transmitter located within the environment; and

a controller configured to identify 3-D locations of the scanner within the environment based on the 3-D spatial data, to identify timestamps of the 3-D spatial data that correspond with the 3-D locations, to correlate the timestamps of the 3-D spatial data with timestamps of the RF data, and to generate a 3-D RF map of the environment based on the correlation.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the RF data comprises Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data; and

the controller is configured to correlate the timestamps of the 3-D spatial data with the timestamps of the RSSI data, and to generate a 3-D RSSI map of the environment based on the correlation.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the RF data comprises Link Quality Indication (LQI) data; and

the controller is configured to correlate the timestamps of the 3-D spatial data with the timestamps of the LQI data, and to generate a 3-D LQI map of the environment based on the correlation.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the RF data comprises polarization data; and

the controller is configured to correlate the timestamps of the 3-D spatial data with the timestamps of the polarization data, and to generate a 3-D polarization map of the environment based on the correlation.