Virtualized site survey systems and methods for cell sites

• US 9,704,292 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: Priest, Lee, Terry, Charlie, Godwin, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A
• Application Number:
  US15/168,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20160307366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 345427, 345582, 455423, 455424, 455431, 701 2- 4, 701 15, 701 16, 701 22, 244189, 244190, 348 36, 348 37, 348144
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/08 involving all processing steps from image acquisition to 3D model generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30184 Infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/337 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/55 from multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/75 involving models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/225 for indoor or short range network

Abstract

A virtual site survey method at a cell site utilizing three-dimensional (3D) models for remote performance includes obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof; subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs; and remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model at a cell site for remote performance of a virtual site survey comprising:

obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof;

subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to construct a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs; and

remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof, thereby eliminating the need for climbing at the cell site,

wherein the 3D model is a combination of an exterior of the cell site comprising the cell tower and associated cell site components thereon, geography local to the cell site, and the interiors of the one or more buildings at the cell site, and the 3D model comprises detail at a module level in the interiors, and

wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lighting rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

2. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:

determining equipment location on the cell tower and in the interiors;

measuring distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and

determining connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

3. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:

planning for one or more of new equipment and changes to existing equipment at the cell site through drag and drop operations in the GUI, wherein the GUI comprises a library of equipment for the drag and drop operations; and

subsequent to the planning, providing a list of the one or more of the new equipment and the changes to the existing equipment based on the library, for implementation thereof.

4. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:

providing one or more of the photographs of an associated area of the 3D model responsive to an operation in the GUI.

5. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering a texture map of the interiors responsive to an operation in the GUI.

6. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing an inventory of equipment at the cell site comprising cell site components on the cell tower and networking equipment in the interiors, wherein the inventory from the 3D model uniquely identifies each of the equipment based on associated unique identifiers.

7. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:

providing an equipment visual in the GUI of a rack and all associated modules therein.

8. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining comprises an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) obtaining the photographs on the cell tower and the obtaining comprises one or more of a fixed and portable camera obtaining the photographs in the interior.

9. The virtual site survey method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining is performed by an on-site technician at the cell site and the site survey is remotely performed.

10. An apparatus adapted to construct a three-dimensional (3D) model at a cell site for remote performance of a virtual site survey of the cell site comprising:

a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

receive, via the network interface, a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof,

process the plurality of photographs to construct a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs, subsequent to receiving the photographs; and

provide a Graphical User Interface of the 3D model for remote performance of a site survey of the cell site utilizing the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof, thereby eliminating the need for climbing at the cell site,

wherein the 3D model is a combination of an exterior of the cell site comprising the cell tower and associated cell site components thereon, geography local to the cell site, and the interiors of the one or more buildings at the cell site, and the 3D model comprises detail at a module level in the interiors, and

wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lighting rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, for the remote performance, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to

determine equipment location on the cell tower and in the interiors;

measure distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and

determine connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, for the remote performance, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to

perform planning for one or more of new equipment and changes to existing equipment at the cell site through drag and drop operations in the GUI, wherein the GUI comprises a library of equipment for the drag and drop operations;

and

subsequent to the planning, provide a list of the one or more of the new equipment and the changes to the existing equipment based on the library, for implementation thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, for the remote performance, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to

provide one or more of the photographs of an associated area of the 3D model responsive to an operation in the GUI.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to

render a texture map of the interiors responsive to an operation in the GUI.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to

perform an inventory of equipment at the cell site comprising cell site components on the cell tower and networking equipment in the interiors, wherein the inventory from the 3D model uniquely identifies each of the equipment based on associated unique identifiers.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, for the remote performance, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to

provide an equipment visual in the GUI of a rack and all associated modules therein.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the photographs are obtained both from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) obtaining the photographs on the cell tower and from one or more of a fixed and portable camera obtaining the photographs in the interior.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model at a cell site for remote performance of a virtual site survey comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof,

processing the plurality of photographs to construct a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs, subsequent to receiving the photographs; and

rendering a Graphical User Interface of the 3D model for remote performance of a site survey of the cell site utilizing the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof, thereby eliminating the need for climbing at the cell site,

wherein the 3D model is a combination of an exterior of the cell site comprising the cell tower and associated cell site components thereon, geography local to the cell site, and the interiors of the one or more buildings at the cell site, and the 3D model comprises detail at a module level in the interiors, and

wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lighting rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.