For indoor wireless communication systems, radio frequency (RF) transceivers need to be placed strategically to achieve optimum communication coverage at the lowest cost. Unfortunately, the coverage region for a transceiver depends heavily on the type of building and on the placement of walls within the building. Traditionally, therefore, transceiver locations have been selected by human experts who rely on experience and heuristics to obtain the optimum (or near-optimum) placement. This paper describes an interactive software system that can be used to assist in transceiver placement. It is intended to be easy to use by individuals who are not experts at wireless communication system design. After the user has selected transceiver locations within a graphical floor plan, the system interprets the floor plan and uses simple path loss models to estimate coverage regions for each transceiver. These regions are highlighted, enabling the user to assess the total coverage. This paper describes the methodology used to compute the coverage regions for multifloored buildings and discusses the effect of interference sources. The resulting system is expected to be useful in the specification of indoor wireless systems.

Interactive computation of coverage regions for wireless communication in multifloored indoor environments

The present survey paper summarizes radio-propagation measurements and models for emerging wireless personal-communication systems. Both indoor and microcell-propagation environments are considered, and the problem of RF penetration into buildings is identified as an important area of research for emerging wireless-communication systems. >

Radio-wave propagation for emerging wireless personal-communication systems

The authors present the results of average and impulsive noise measurements inside several office buildings and retail stores. The noise measurement system operated at 918 MHz, 2.44 GHz, and 4 GHz with a nominal 40-MHz, 3-dB RF bandwidth. Omnidirectional and directional antennas were used to investigate the characteristics and sources of RF noise in indoor channels. Statistical analyses of the measurements are presented in the form of peak amplitude probability distributions, pulse duration distributions, and interarrival time distributions. Simple first-order mathematical models for these statistical characterizations are also presented. These analyses indicate that photocopiers, printers (both line printers and cash register receipt printers), elevators, and microwave ovens are significant sources of impulse noise in office and retail environments. >

Measurement and Models of Radio Frecuency Impulsive Noise for Indoor Wireless Communications

Indoor wireless communication systems are becoming increasingly prevalent in work environments. The need to quickly and efficiently provide in-building and microcellular coverage without sacrificing quality is critical to cellular and emerging personal communication system (PCS) operators. Traditionally, indoor wireless communication system design has been carried out by human experts relying on experience to determine a satisfactory system configuration. This thesis describes the algorithms and technical considerations implemented in a comprehensive propagation planning tool, SMT Plus, which has been designed to predict the coverage regions of both in-building and microcellular wireless communication systems. The goal of SMT Plus is to provide both wireless service providers and equipment manufacturers with an efficient, easy-to-use coverage prediction tool for use in the design of any indoor or campus-wide wireless system. Using site-specific building information combined with on-site signal strength measurements, the tool provides system planners with a highly accurate model of the propagation environment among a group of buildings. SMT Plus provides a comprehensive solution to the planning and installation of wireless communication systems in and around buildings.

/pdf/a-comprehensive-in-building-and-microcellular-wireless-4dxmv7wr04.pdf

A Comprehensive In-Building and Microcellular Wireless Communication System Design Tool

An interactive site modeling tool for estimating coverage regions for wireless communication systems in multifloored indoor environments

An interactive software tool has been developed which can be used to assess the coverage of RF transceivers within multifloor buildings. Using AutoCAD as a foundation, this system displays floor plans and permits the user to place transceivers at arbitrary locations within a building. The user can interactively set communication parameters and can view the resulting coverage regions, which depend on the locations and material properties of walls and partitions. Such a tool should prove to be very useful in the specification of wireless LAN systems.

Jan Haagh

Papers

An Interactive System for Visualizing Wireless Communication Coverage within Buildings