Apparatus and method for recommending a radio propagation model based on terrain environment suitability and radio propagation environment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for recommending a radio wave model based on terrain environment suitability and a radio wave environment. The method for recommending a radio wave model comprises: displaying map data for a target area including a plurality of unit areas—each of the plurality of unit areas is classified to have one of a plurality of radio wave environment types based on geospatial data—; setting the location of a transmitter and a receiver within the target area; determining the radio wave environment type of the communication path based on characteristic information of terrain features within the unit areas corresponding to the communication path between the transmitter and the receiver; determining a recommended radio wave model among a plurality of radio wave models based on the radio wave environment type of the communication path; and providing information about the recommended radio wave model. The characteristic information of the terrain features may include at least one indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of the terrain features.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for recommending a radio wave model based on terrain environment suitability and radio wave environment. Background Technology

[0002] Accurately predicting signal loss is essential for the efficient design of wireless communication systems and securing optimal service coverage. Currently, various propagation models are available to predict signal loss. For example, the ITU-R (International Telecommunication Union - Radiocommunication Sector) provides propagation models that consider the characteristics of radio waves in various wireless communication environments.

[0003] It is crucial to select a radio propagation model suitable for the radio environment. However, since a wide variety of models are currently available with distinct characteristics, non-experts with limited understanding of these models may find it difficult to choose the appropriate model. When designing and constructing wireless networks, using a model unsuitable for the environment can lead to increased initial investment costs due to the over-installation of base stations and cause serious interference problems for users in adjacent areas.

[0004] Accordingly, methods for selecting and recommending propagation models have recently been provided. Existing methods for selecting and recommending propagation models primarily rely on empirical judgment or broadly classified regional information (e.g., urban centers, sub-urban centers, rural areas). For instance, existing propagation model selection methods recommend a model suited for urban environments if the target area is broadly classified as an 'urban center.' However, this approach fails to adequately reflect the complexity of local topography and features within the target area, which can lead to a decrease in the accuracy of propagation prediction. For instance, even if specific regions are uniformly classified as 'urban centers,' the actual propagation environment can vary significantly depending on factors such as building density, building height, and road structure; yet, existing methods select models without considering these real-world conditions.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a propagation model recommendation method that considers the actual propagation environment of the target area. The problem to be solved

[0006] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for recommending a radio wave model by considering the radio wave environment in a wireless communication system.

[0007] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for recommending a propagation model based on the propagation environment of a communication path within a target area in a wireless communication system.

[0008] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for classifying the radio wave environment by unit area based on geospatial information in a wireless communication system.

[0009] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for determining a propagation environment for a communication path between a transmitter and a receiver in a wireless communication system.

[0010] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for recommending an optimal propagation loss prediction model based on regional propagation environments and communication paths in a wireless communication system.

[0011] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for recommending a propagation loss prediction model for each of the unit regions corresponding to a communication path in a wireless communication system.

[0012] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for recommending a receiver-specific propagation loss prediction model in a wireless communication system.

[0013] The present disclosure may provide a method and apparatus for recommending a propagation loss prediction model by azimuth area in a wireless communication system.

[0014] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0015] A method for recommending a propagation model according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: displaying map data for a target area including a plurality of unit areas, wherein each of the plurality of unit areas is classified to have one of a plurality of propagation environment types based on geospatial data; setting the location of a transmitter and a receiver within the target area; determining the propagation environment type of the communication path based on characteristic information of a topographic feature within the unit areas corresponding to the communication path between the transmitter and the receiver; determining a recommended propagation model among a plurality of propagation models based on the propagation environment type of the communication path; and providing information about the recommended propagation model, wherein the characteristic information of the topographic feature may include at least one indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of the topographic feature.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path may include: determining at least one of whether a line of sight is secured, a variation in terrain, or a mountainous terrain ratio based on characteristic information of topographic features within unit areas corresponding to the communication path; and determining the propagation environment type of the communication path based on at least one of whether a line of sight is secured, the variation in terrain, or the mountainous terrain ratio.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, whether a line of sight is secured is determined for each unit area based on the average height of each unit area corresponding to the communication path, the topographic variation is determined based on the deviation of the average elevation of each unit area corresponding to the communication path, and the mountainous terrain inclusion ratio may be determined based on at least one of the elevation of each unit area corresponding to the communication path or mountainous terrain information.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path includes determining the propagation environment type of the communication path based on the complexity of each of at least some unit areas among the unit areas corresponding to the communication path where the line of sight is not secured, and the complexity of each of the at least some unit areas may be determined based on at least one of a building density index, a building size index, an average building height index, or an average terrain elevation index for each of the at least some unit areas.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path may include: comparing the mountain terrain inclusion ratio and the threshold ratio of unit areas corresponding to the communication path; determining the propagation environment type of the communication path as a mountain environment type based on the fact that the mountain terrain inclusion ratio is greater than or equal to the threshold ratio; and determining the propagation environment type of the communication path according to at least one of whether a line of sight is secured in the unit areas corresponding to the communication path or the terrain change diagram based on the fact that the mountain terrain inclusion ratio is less than the threshold ratio.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method further comprises the steps of: dividing the target area into the plurality of unit areas based on the geospatial data; calculating the complexity for each of the plurality of unit areas based on characteristic information of topographic features of the plurality of unit areas; and determining the propagation environment type for each of the plurality of unit areas using the complexity for each of the plurality of unit areas and at least one threshold value, wherein the complexity for each of the plurality of unit areas is determined based on at least one of a building density index, a building scale index, an average building height index, or an average terrain elevation index for each of the plurality of unit areas, and the plurality of propagation environment types may include at least one of an urban area, a sub-urban area, a residential area, a rural area, a mountainous area, and a coastal area.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the complexity for each of the plurality of unit areas can be obtained by applying a weight to at least one of the building density index, the building size index, the average building height index, or the average terrain elevation index.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method further includes the step of obtaining information related to the transmitter and the receiver based on user input, wherein the information related to the transmitter and the receiver may include at least one of a frequency, the location of the transmitter, the location of the receiver, the height of the transmitting antenna, the height of the receiving antenna, and the distance between the transmitter and the receiver.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining the recommended propagation model includes determining, based on the applicable communication conditions and propagation environment type of each of the plurality of propagation models, a propagation model among the plurality of propagation models that satisfies both the communication conditions set by the user and the propagation environment type of the communication path as the recommended propagation model, wherein each of the communication conditions set by the user and the applicable communication conditions may include at least one of frequency, distance between a transmitter and a receiver, height of a transmitting and receiving antenna, location, and service type.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining the recommended propagation model includes, when there is no propagation model among the plurality of propagation models that satisfies both the environmental conditions set by the user and the propagation environment type of the communication path, the step of evaluating the suitability of each of the plurality of propagation models, and the step of determining the propagation model with the highest suitability as the recommended propagation model, wherein the suitability may be determined based on the result of comparing items corresponding to the applicable communication conditions and propagation environment types of each of the plurality of propagation models with items corresponding to the communication conditions and propagation environment types of the communication path set by the user.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the degree of fit may be a value determined by applying a weight for at least one item to the item-specific scores obtained based on the comparison result.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further include the step of adjusting the suitability of at least one of the plurality of propagation models based on a topographic change map of the communication path.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the suitability of the at least one propagation model is adjusted upward based on the fact that the topographic change of the communication path is less than a threshold change, and the suitability of the at least one propagation model is adjusted downward based on the fact that the topographic change of the communication path is greater than or equal to a threshold change, and the at least one propagation model may include a model applicable to flat terrain.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, information regarding the recommended propagation model may include at least one of identification information, a recommendation rating, or a basis for recommendation regarding the recommended propagation model.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the propagation environment type of the communication path is determined for each of the unit areas corresponding to the communication path, and the recommendation model can be determined for each unit area based on the propagation environment type for each of the unit areas corresponding to the communication path.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the receiver is one of a plurality of receivers located within the target area, and the recommendation model can be determined for each of the plurality of receivers based on the propagation environment type of the communication path for each of the plurality of receivers.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for recommending a propagation model comprises: displaying map data for a target area including a plurality of unit areas, wherein each of the plurality of unit areas is classified to have one of a plurality of propagation environment types based on geospatial data; dividing the target area into a plurality of azimuth areas centered on a transmitter within the target area; determining a representative propagation environment type for each of the plurality of azimuth areas; determining a recommended propagation model for each of the plurality of azimuth areas based on the representative propagation environment type for each of the plurality of azimuth areas; and providing information about the recommended propagation model, wherein the representative propagation environment type may be determined based on at least one indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of topographic features of the unit areas included in each azimuth area. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the representative propagation environment type may be determined based on the average value of the at least one indicator for the unit areas included in each azimuth area.

[0032] A radio wave model recommendation device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an output module, an input module, and a processor, wherein the processor displays map data for a target area comprising a plurality of unit areas, wherein each of the plurality of unit areas is classified to have one of a plurality of radio wave environment types based on geospatial data, sets the location of a transmitter and a receiver within the target area, determines the radio wave environment type of the communication path based on characteristic information of a topographic feature within the unit areas corresponding to the communication path between the transmitter and the receiver, determines a recommended radio wave model among a plurality of radio wave models based on the radio wave environment type of the communication path, and controls to provide information regarding the recommended radio wave model, wherein the characteristic information of the topographic feature may include at least one indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of the topographic feature. Effects of the invention

[0033] According to the present disclosure, by classifying the propagation environment based on geospatial information and dynamic path analysis, a reliable propagation model suitable for the propagation environment can be recommended.

[0034] According to the present disclosure, by quantitatively combining various geospatial information (e.g., digital elevation model information, building information, etc.), it is possible to classify radio wave environments in a detailed and objective manner compared to existing subjective and broad regional classification methods. Furthermore, this enables accurate prediction of wireless communication characteristics in a specific region.

[0035] According to the present disclosure, the unique propagation characteristics of a communication path can be identified by dynamically analyzing characteristics such as whether a line of sight is secured, terrain variation, and whether mountainous terrain exists for a designated communication path based on user input. Furthermore, this can improve the accuracy of network design in complex urban or mountainous environments.

[0036] According to the present disclosure, by comprehensively considering precisely classified regional radio environment information, dynamically analyzed path characteristics, and parameters specified by the user (e.g., frequency, antenna height, distance between transmitters and receivers, etc.), an optimal or suboptimal radio propagation model can be recommended, thereby enabling the selection of a model that is more objective and reliable than methods relying on existing experience. Furthermore, by clearly presenting the basis for the radio propagation model recommendation, the user's understanding of the recommendation and selection of the radio propagation model can be improved.

[0037] According to the present disclosure, the reliability of radio wave loss prediction can be improved through accurate analysis of the radio wave environment and model recommendations. This reduces trial and error during the wireless communication network design process, thereby saving time and costs. Furthermore, wireless network quality can be improved by contributing to the prediction of potential communication blind spots and the selection of optimal base station locations.

[0038] The effects obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a propagation model recommendation system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a procedure for recommending a propagation model according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a procedure for classifying regional propagation environments according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a representative environment according to the characteristics of a dynamic path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a recommended propagation model according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of recommending a propagation model considering a propagation environment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a propagation model per grid cell according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of applying a propagation model per grid cell according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a propagation model for a receiver-specific path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of applying a propagation model to a path per receiver according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a propagation model based on azimuth angle for each receiver cluster area according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of applying a propagation model based on azimuth angles to receiver cluster regions according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0040] The following description merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Therefore, those skilled in the art may invent various devices that embody the principles of the invention and are included within the concept and scope of the invention, even though they are not explicitly described or illustrated in this specification. Furthermore, all conditional terms and embodiments listed in this specification are, in principle, explicitly intended only for the purpose of understanding the concept of the invention and should be understood as not being limited to the embodiments and conditions specifically listed as such.

[0041] The aforementioned objectives, features, and advantages will become clearer through the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings, and accordingly, a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to easily implement the technical concept of the invention.

[0042] Terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” in the specification and claims are used to distinguish between similar components, if applicable, and, but not necessarily, to describe a specific sequence or order of occurrence. It will be understood that such terminology is compatible under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of the invention described herein may operate, for example, in a sequence other than that shown or described herein. Likewise, where a method is described herein as comprising a series of steps, the order of such steps presented herein is not necessarily the order in which such steps may be executed, any described step may be omitted and / or any other step not described herein may be added to the method.

[0043] Additionally, terms such as "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "above," and "below" in the specification and claims are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to describe immutable relative positions. It will be understood that such terms are compatible under appropriate circumstances to allow the embodiments of the invention described herein to operate, for example, in directions other than those shown or described herein. The term "connected" as used herein is defined as being connected directly or indirectly by electrical or non-electrical means. Objects described herein as "adjacent" may be in physical contact with each other, close to each other, or within the same general range or area, appropriate to the context in which the phrase is used. The presence of the phrase "in one embodiment" implies the same embodiment, though not necessarily.

[0044] Furthermore, in the specification and claims, terms such as 'connected,' 'connecting,' 'concluded,' 'concluded,' 'combined,' 'combining,' and various variations thereof are used to refer to something that is directly connected to another component or indirectly connected through another component.

[0045] Furthermore, the suffixes "module" and "part" for components used in this specification are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the ease of drafting the specification, and do not inherently possess distinct meanings or roles.

[0046] Furthermore, the terms used herein are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. As used in this specification, 'comprise' and / or 'comprising' does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, actions, and / or elements to the mentioned components, steps, actions, and / or elements.

[0047] In addition, in describing the invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of known technology related to the invention may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0049] Propagation loss can vary not only by frequency and distance but also by the propagation environment, such as terrain and features (e.g., buildings, vegetation). Furthermore, factors such as whether a line of sight (LoS) is secured along the path between the transmitter and receiver, the rate of terrain change along the path, and whether the route passes through mountainous terrain have a significant impact on propagation characteristics like signal loss.

[0050] Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for more precisely analyzing factors affecting propagation characteristics as described above and recommending a propagation model based on the analysis results. Specifically, the present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for precisely classifying and / or analyzing the propagation environment of a target area and a communication path based on geospatial information and / or user-specified parameters, and recommending an optimal propagation model based on the classification and / or analysis results.

[0052] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a propagation model recommendation system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 1, the propagation model recommendation system includes a regional propagation environment determination module (110), a dynamic path analysis module (120), a propagation model recommendation module (130), and a result display module (140).

[0054] The regional propagation environment determination module (110) comprehensively analyzes geospatial information and classifies which type of designated environment (e.g., urban area, sub-urban area, rural area) the propagation environment of the target area corresponds to based on the analyzed results. Here, the geospatial information may include at least one of digital elevation model (DEM) information, building-related information, and mountain terrain information. The geospatial information may be referred to as geospatial data. The digital elevation model information includes elevation information for grid points at regular intervals (e.g., surface elevation, or elevation above sea level) and coordinate information of each grid point. The building-related information may include at least one of the building location, number of floors, height of the building, or number of buildings within a designated area. The mountain terrain information is topographical characteristic information of the mountainous area and may include at least one of the height, slope, topographic shape, elevation difference, location information, or defining the boundary of the mountainous area.

[0055] Specifically, the regional propagation environment determination module (110) may include a data preprocessing and grid generation module (112), a characteristic indicator calculation module (114), an environment classification module (116), and a map visualization module (118).

[0056] The data preprocessing and grid generation module (112) loads previously acquired DEM information, building-related information, and mountain terrain information, and divides the target area of ​​interest (AOI) to be analyzed into multiple grid cells of a specified size. Here, each grid cell has unique location coordinates (e.g., center point and boundary). The location coordinates of each grid cell can be used as reference points for mapping geographical characteristics to each grid cell.

[0057] The characteristic indicator calculation module (114) calculates a characteristic indicator for each of a plurality of grid cells within a target area based on at least one of previously acquired DEM information, building-related information, and mountain terrain information. The characteristic indicator for each grid cell is a quantitative characteristic indicator for objectively evaluating what characteristics each grid cell has in terms of the propagation environment, and may include at least one indicator indicating the density, scale, elevation, or height of a topographic feature (e.g., building and / or terrain) of each grid cell. Additionally, the characteristic indicator calculation module (114) calculates an integrated score indicating the complexity of each grid cell based on the characteristic indicator for each grid cell. The characteristic indicator calculation module (114) can calculate the integrated score by applying a weight to at least one of the plurality of characteristic indicators for each grid cell. Here, calculating the integrated score by applying a weight is intended to reflect the fact that the degree to which each characteristic indicator affects the propagation environment is different. In other words, the weights applied to each characteristic indicator can be determined based on the extent to which that characteristic indicator affects radio wave shielding.

[0058] The environment classification module (116) classifies the environment of each grid cell based on the integrated score of each grid cell. Specifically, the environment classification module (116) compares the integrated score of each grid cell with preset thresholds and performs a primary classification of which environment type each grid cell corresponds to: urban, suburban, rural, or none, based on the comparison result. Here, the thresholds may be set by experiment or experience. The aforementioned environment types are examples to aid understanding and are not limited thereto. For example, environment types include at least one of urban, dense urban, suburban, residential, rural, mountainous, or coastal, and each grid cell may be classified into any one of these.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the environment classification module (116) can perform a second classification to reclassify isolated cells after a first classification of the environment of each grid cell. For example, the environment classification module (116) can search for a grid cell that has an environment type different from a plurality of surrounding grid cells, and change the environment type of the searched grid cell so that the searched grid cell has the same environment type as a plurality of surrounding grid cells. This is to generate reliable environment map data by removing statistical noise that may be included in the classification result.

[0060] The map visualization module (118) controls each grid cell to be displayed through the result display module (140). When a map of a target area is displayed through the result display module (140), the map visualization module (118) can control the grid cells within the target area to have graphic effects (e.g., color, pattern, shading, etc.) corresponding to each environment type. When a specific grid cell is selected by a user, the map visualization module (118) can control the display of detailed information of the selected grid cell. At this time, the detailed information may include at least one of the characteristic indicators of the grid cell, the DEM elevation of the grid cell, statistical information about the building in the grid cell, or the absolute height of the building within the grid cell (e.g., height from a reference plane such as mean sea level). The detailed information may be provided through a popup, a tooltip, or a designated area. According to one embodiment, when a specific area including a plurality of grid cells is selected by a user, the map visualization module (118) can calculate an average value for the combined score of the plurality of grid cells and determine an environment type representing the plurality of grid cells based on the calculated average value.

[0061] The dynamic path analysis module (120) analyzes the propagation environment on the communication path based on parameters specified by the user. The parameters specified by the user are parameters indicating communication conditions and may include at least one of frequency, location of the transmitter, location of the receiver, height of the transmitting antenna, height of the receiving antenna, or distance between the transmitter and the receiver. Here, the location may include at least one of latitude or longitude, and the height may include at least one of above ground level (AGL), which indicates a relative height from the surface of the earth, or elevation, which indicates a height from a reference plane (e.g., mean sea level). According to one embodiment, at least some of the parameters specified by the user may be directly input by the user or inferred and obtained based on the user's map selection. For example, when specific grid cells are selected by the user as transmitter and receiver locations, the dynamic path analysis module (120) may obtain the location coordinates of the grid cells selected by the user as transmitter and receiver location coordinates, and obtain the average building height index of the corresponding grid cells as the height of the transmitting and receiving antennas. Additionally, the dynamic path analysis module (120) can obtain the distance between the transmitter and receiver based on the position coordinates of the grid cells selected by the user.

[0062] The dynamic path analysis module (120) establishes a communication path between a transmitter and a receiver based on the location of the transmitter, the location of the receiver, the height of the transmitting antenna, and the height of the receiving antenna specified by the user, and analyzes the characteristics of the communication path based on geospatial data. The characteristics of the communication path may include at least one of the state of the line of sight (LoS) on the communication path, changes in the terrain profile, and whether the path passes through mountainous terrain. The characteristics of the communication path may be determined based on characteristic indicators of grid cells corresponding to the communication path. Additionally, the dynamic path analysis module (120) determines a representative environment of the communication path based on the characteristics of the communication path. The representative environment of the communication path may indicate an environment type and whether a line of sight is secured, or whether it is mountainous terrain.

[0063] The propagation model recommendation module (130) stores and manages information about multiple propagation models. For example, the propagation model recommendation module (130) stores and manages information about propagation models such as [Table 1].

[0064] [Table 1] shows examples of applicable communication conditions and environments for each propagation model.

[0065] Propagation model Frequency distance antenna height environment location service ITU-R P.368 10kHz~30MHz 1km ~ 1,000km Tx > 10m, Rx > 1m Coastal, Rural outdoor MF / HF, Groundwave ITU-R P.1411 300MHz~3GHz ≤1km Tx(4m~50m), Rx(1.9m~3m) Urban, Dense Urban, Suburban, Residential. Rural outdoor Mobile ITU-R P.1546 301MHz~3GHz 1km ~ 1,000km Tx(0m~3km), Rx(30m, dense urban; 20m urban; 10, suburban) Urban / Suburban / Rural outdoor Broadcast, Mobile, Fixed ITU-R P.1812 30MHz~3GHz 0.25km ~31,000km Tx, Rx(<3km) Urban / Suburban / Rural / Coastal / Mountainous outdoor Broadcast ITU-R P.452 100MHz~50GHz ≤10,000km Tx, Rx Urban / Suburban / Rural / Coastal / Mountainous outdoor Fixed ITU-R P.2001 30MHz~50GHz 3km ~ 1,000km Tx(≤8km), Rx Rural / Coastal / Mountainous outdoor Fixed

[0066] [Table 1] indicates the applicable communication conditions and environments for ITU-R's propagation loss prediction models. Referring to [Table 1], it can be seen that the applicable frequency range for the ITU-R P.1411 model is 300 MHz to 3 GHz, the applicable distance between transmitters and receivers is within 1 km, the applicable transmitting antenna height is 4 m to 50 m, the applicable receiving antenna height is 1.9 m to 3 m, the location is outdoor, the service type is mobile, and the environment types are urban, dense urban, suburban, residential, and rural. Here, the applicable communication conditions and environments for the propagation models can be understood as recommending the use of each model under the corresponding communication conditions and environments. In other words, the ITU-R stipulates that each model should be used under the relevant communication conditions and environments. [Table 1] is merely an example to aid understanding, and the propagation models of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the propagation model may include other ITU-R models other than the ITU-R models in [Table 1], or an extended Hata model.

[0067] As shown in [Table 1], each propagation model has applicable communication conditions and environments and can be arranged hierarchically according to its own priority or recommended use. This is to enable the rapid exploration and evaluation of recommended models. The applicable communication conditions of each propagation model may include at least one of frequency, distance between transmitter and receiver, height of the transmitting antenna, height of the receiving antenna, location (e.g., indoor, outdoor), and type of communication service (e.g., fixed, mobile, broadcast, groundwave, MF / HF (medium frequency / high frequency)).

[0068] The propagation model recommendation module (130) selects at least one propagation model among a plurality of propagation models based on data obtained from the regional propagation environment classification module (110) and / or the dynamic path analysis module (120). Specifically, the propagation model recommendation module (130) compares the communication conditions and environments obtained by user input, the regional propagation environment classification module (110), and the dynamic path analysis module (120) with the applicable communication conditions and environments of each propagation model, and selects a propagation model based on the comparison result.

[0069] The result display module (140) displays at least one of a map of a target area, a communication path between a transceiver, or a recommended propagation model for a communication path, based on data provided from the regional propagation environment classification module (118), the dynamic path analysis module (120), and the propagation model recommendation module (130). According to one embodiment, the result display module (140) may display detailed information of a specific grid cell under the control of the map visualization module (118). According to one embodiment, the result display module (140) may display whether a line of sight is secured for each grid cell based on data provided from the dynamic path analysis module (120). According to one embodiment, the result display module (140) may obtain information and grounds for recommendation regarding a recommended propagation model from the propagation model recommendation module (130) and display the obtained information and grounds for recommendation regarding the recommended propagation model.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the aforementioned regional propagation environment determination module (110), dynamic path analysis module (120), and propagation model recommendation module (130) may be included in a processor. Additionally, the result display module (140) may be understood as an output module that provides a user interface. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the propagation model recommendation system may further include an input module that acquires user input. According to one embodiment, the output module and the input module may be composed of a single module.

[0072] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a procedure for recommending a propagation model according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of FIG. 2 may be performed by a device (e.g., a device including the propagation model recommendation system of FIG. 1).

[0073] Referring to FIG. 2, in step S201, the device classifies the propagation environment for each unit area within the target area. In other words, the device divides the target area into a plurality of unit areas, i.e., a plurality of grid cells, and can calculate at least one of a characteristic index or complexity for each of the topographic features of each grid cell based on geospatial data. The device can determine the propagation environment type of each grid cell based on the calculated characteristic index or complexity for each of the topographic features of each grid cell. The propagation environment type of each grid cell can be determined as an urban area, a sub-urban area, or a rural area.

[0074] In step S203, the device determines the propagation environment of the communication path. The device obtains information related to communication conditions based on user input and determines the propagation environment for a communication path that connects a transmitter and a receiver in a straight line based on the information related to communication conditions. The device may determine the propagation environment for the communication path based on characteristic information of topographic features within the grid cells corresponding to the communication path. The characteristic information of topographic features may include at least one characteristic indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of the topographic features. For example, the device may determine whether a line of sight is secured for each grid cell based on the line of sight height of the communication path and the height of topographic features within the grid cells corresponding to the communication path. Alternatively, the device may calculate the variation of terrain based on the deviation of the average elevation of the terrain of the grid cells corresponding to the communication path and calculate the ratio of mountainous terrain inclusion based on the elevation of the terrain of the grid cells corresponding to the communication path. Based on whether a line of sight is secured, the variation of terrain, and the ratio of mountainous terrain inclusion for the grid cells corresponding to the communication path, the device determines a single propagation environment representing the communication path. A single radio environment representing the communication path can indicate the type of radio environment and whether a line of sight is secured, or whether it is mountainous terrain.

[0075] In step S205, the device determines a propagation model based on the propagation environment and communication conditions of the communication path. The communication conditions may include at least one of frequency, distance between transceivers, height of the transmitting antenna, height of the receiving antenna, location, or type of communication service. The communication conditions may be obtained based on user input. Among a plurality of models, the device may determine a model having the same propagation environment and communication conditions as the propagation environment and communication conditions of the communication path as the optimal communication model. If there is no propagation model having the same propagation environment and communication conditions as the propagation environment and communication conditions of the communication path, the device may select a propagation model having the most similar propagation environment and communication conditions as the next best propagation model. The device may provide information regarding the determined propagation model to the user.

[0077] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a procedure for classifying regional propagation environments according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of FIG. 3 may be performed by a device (e.g., a device including the propagation model recommendation system of FIG. 1). The procedure of FIG. 3 may be understood as detailed operations of step S201 of FIG. 2.

[0078] Referring to FIG. 3, in step S301, the device acquires geospatial data. The geospatial data may include at least one of digital elevation model information, building-related information, or mountain terrain information. The device may receive and store geospatial data via wired and / or wireless from at least one other device based on user control or a specified event.

[0079] In step S303, the device performs data preprocessing and grid generation. The device preprocesses (e.g., loading and integrating) geospatial data corresponding to the target area among the acquired geospatial data, and can divide the target area into a plurality of grid cells having a specified size (e.g., 100m × 100m). Here, the target area may be a region set by a user or a pre-specified region.

[0080] In step S305, the device calculates the complexity per grid cell. The device may calculate characteristic indicators per grid cell and calculate the complexity per grid cell based on the calculated characteristic indicators. Specifically, the device may calculate characteristic indicators indicating at least one of density, scale, or height for each topographic feature of each grid cell within the target area. The characteristic indicators may include at least one of a building density indicator, a building scale indicator, an average building height indicator, or an average terrain elevation indicator. Here, the building density indicator indicates the total number of buildings located within the corresponding grid cell, and the building scale indicator indicates the total number of floors or the sum of the heights of the buildings within the corresponding grid cell. The average building height indicator indicates the average value of the height of the buildings within the corresponding grid cell from the ground or surface, i.e., the relative average elevation, and the average terrain elevation indicator indicates the average value of the height from the average sea level of the surface of the corresponding grid cell, i.e., the absolute average elevation. The characteristic indicators per grid cell may be calculated based on the DEM information, building-related information, and mountain terrain information of each grid cell.

[0081] The device calculates an integrated score indicating the complexity of each grid cell by applying a weight to at least one of the characteristic indicators calculated for each grid cell. For example, an integrated score for the first grid cell can be obtained by applying a first weight to the building size indicator of the first grid cell, and then summing the values ​​of other characteristic indicators of the first grid cell (e.g., building density indicator, average building height indicator, and average terrain elevation indicator) and the value to which the first weight was applied. As another example, an integrated score for the first grid cell can be obtained by applying a first weight to the building height indicator of the first grid cell, applying a second weight to the building size indicator of the first grid cell, applying a third weight to the average building height indicator of the first grid cell, and applying a fourth weight to the average terrain elevation indicator of the first grid cell, and then summing the values ​​obtained by applying the weights. The weight applied to each characteristic indicator can be determined according to the degree to which the corresponding characteristic indicator affects radio wave shielding. For example, since the height of a building is a more decisive factor than the number of buildings in radio wave shielding, the weight value applied to the building size indicator may be greater than the weight value applied to the building density indicator. According to one embodiment, the weights applied to different characteristic indicators may all be different values, or at least two of them may be the same value. As described above, the integrated score calculated may indicate the complexity of the corresponding grid cell. For example, a higher integrated score may indicate that the corresponding grid cell is a high-complexity cell closer to an urban environment with many or tall buildings, and a lower integrated score may indicate that the corresponding grid cell is a low-complexity cell closer to a rural environment with few or short buildings.

[0082] In step S307, the device compares the complexity and thresholds for each grid cell. The thresholds are values ​​set for classifying the environment types of the grid cells and may include a first threshold (threshold1, TH1) for classifying a rural environment (e.g., about 0.4) and a second threshold (threshold2, TH2) for classifying an urban environment and a suburban environment (e.g., about 1.7). Here, the first threshold and the second threshold are merely examples and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first threshold and the second threshold may be set to other values. Additionally, the thresholds may include at least one additional threshold in addition to the first threshold and the second threshold. For example, if there is at least one additional environment type other than the urban, suburban, and rural environments, at least one additional threshold may be used to classify that environment type.

[0083] If the complexity of the grid cell is less than the first threshold (TH1), in step S309, the device determines the environment type of the corresponding grid cell as rural.

[0084] If the complexity of the grid cell is greater than or equal to the first threshold (TH1) and less than the second threshold (TH2), in step S311, the device determines the environment type of the corresponding grid cell as a sub-center.

[0085] If the complexity of the grid cell is greater than the second threshold (TH2), in step S313, the device determines the environment type of the corresponding grid cell as the city center.

[0086] Once the environment types of all grid cells within the target area are determined, in step S315, the device generates map data. The device generates map data containing the grid cells and can control the display of the map data so that each grid cell is displayed with a graphic effect corresponding to each environment type. For example, grid cells classified as urban areas may be displayed in a first color (e.g., red), grid cells classified as sub-urban areas in a second color (e.g., beige), and grid cells classified as rural areas in a third color (e.g., green).

[0087] In the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3, the environment type of each grid cell is determined based on the result of comparing the complexity and threshold values ​​of each grid cell. However, due to local errors or singularities in the geospatial data, the classification result of a specific grid cell may differ from that of surrounding grid cells. To eliminate such statistical noise, the device may change the environment type of a specific grid cell based on the environment types of grid cells located around the specific grid cell (e.g., adjacent cells in the up, down, left, and right directions, and adjacent cells in the diagonal direction). In other words, if the environment type of a first grid cell is the first environment type and the surrounding grid cells of the first grid cell have a single environment type different from the first environment type, i.e., the second environment type, the device may determine the first grid cell as a misclassified isolated cell and change the environment type of the first grid cell from the first environment type to the second environment type. Through this, the spatial continuity and realism of the classification result of the map can be improved.

[0089] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a representative environment based on the characteristics of a dynamic path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of FIG. 4 may be performed by a device (e.g., a device including the propagation model recommendation system of FIG. 1). The procedure of FIG. 4 can be understood as a detailed operation of step S203 of FIG. 2. For example, FIG. 4 is an example of a procedure for precisely identifying the characteristics of a communication path through which actual radio waves travel, going beyond a classification of a general environment of an entire region.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 4, in step S401, the device acquires data related to the transmitter and receiver. The device may acquire data related to the transmitter and receiver based on user input. Data related to the transmitter and receiver may include at least one of the position of the transmitter, the position of the receiver, the height of the transmitting antenna, the height of the receiving antenna, or the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. Once data related to the transmitter and receiver is acquired, a communication path connecting the transmitter and the receiver in a straight line may be established based on the data related to the transmitter and receiver. For example, the communication path may be established as a virtual straight line connecting the antenna of the transmitter and the antenna of the receiver, i.e., a line of sight. At this time, the device may generate sampling points corresponding to the communication path and determine grid cells corresponding to the sampling points and at least one grid cell adjacent thereto as grid cells on the communication path.

[0091] In step S403, the device analyzes the characteristics of the communication path. Specifically, the device determines at least one of whether a line of sight is secured, the degree of terrain variation, or the proportion of mountainous terrain inclusion based on characteristic indicators of topographic features of the grid cells corresponding to the communication path. Specifically, the device compares the height of topographic features of the grid cells corresponding to the communication path with the height of the line of sight corresponding to the communication path, and can determine whether a line of sight is secured for each grid cell based on the comparison result. Here, the height of the line of sight is determined based on the height of the transmitter and the height of the receiver. The height of the transmitter is determined by the sum of the terrain elevation of the transmitter location (e.g., DEM elevation) and the ground elevation of the transmitting antenna, and the height of the receiver is determined by the sum of the terrain elevation of the receiver location (e.g., DEM elevation) and the ground elevation of the receiving antenna. Additionally, the height of the topographic features is the height of actual obstacles and may include at least one of the height of buildings within the corresponding grid cell or the height of mountainous terrain. In this case, the height of the buildings is determined by adding the DEM elevation of the corresponding grid and the average building height index, and the height of the mountainous terrain can be determined by adding the DEM elevation of the corresponding grid and the obstacle margin value defined by the user.

[0092] If the height of a terrain feature in a specific grid cell is lower than the height of a portion of the line of sight at that location, the device can determine that grid cell as a line of sight securing cell. Conversely, if the height of a terrain feature in a specific grid cell is higher than or equal to the height of a portion of the line of sight at that location, the device can determine that grid cell as a shielded cell. In other words, based on the height of the terrain feature and the height of the line of sight of the grid cells, the device can determine for each grid cell whether radio waves can travel straight through the line of sight or are shielded by an obstacle.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the device can calculate the terrain variation and / or mountain terrain inclusion ratio of grid cells corresponding to a communication path. The terrain variation indicates information regarding the ruggedness of the terrain of the grid cells corresponding to the communication path and can be calculated as the deviation of the average elevation of the terrain of the said grid cells. The mountain terrain inclusion ratio can be determined based on the number of grid cells containing mountain terrain among the grid cells corresponding to the communication path, or the ratio of the size of the mountain terrain to the total size of the grid cells corresponding to the communication path. Here, the mountain terrain can be determined based on the elevation of the terrain within the grid cells, or mountain terrain information.

[0094] In step S405, the device compares the mountainous terrain inclusion ratio with the threshold ratio. In other words, the device analyzes the characteristics of the communication path to determine whether the obtained mountainous terrain inclusion ratio is greater than the specified threshold ratio.

[0095] If the proportion of mountainous terrain inclusion is greater than the threshold ratio, in step S407, the device classifies the representative environment of the communication path as a mountainous environment. In other words, if the proportion of mountainous terrain inclusion exceeds the threshold ratio, the representative environment type of the communication path can be determined as "mountainous" regardless of other characteristics of the communication path.

[0096] If the proportion of mountainous terrain included is less than or equal to the threshold ratio, in step S409, the device determines a representative environment based on the characteristics of the communication path. The device may calculate an average integrated score based on at least one of whether the grid cells of the communication path have a line of sight or the variation of the terrain, and determine an environment that represents the entire path based thereon. For example, the device may determine the representative environment of the communication path based on the average value of the integrated scores of shielded cells among the grid cells on the communication path for which a line of sight is not secured. In this case, the representative environment of the communication path may be determined based on the result of comparing the average value of the integrated scores of shielded cells on the communication path with at least one threshold value for classifying the propagation environment. According to one embodiment, the representative environment of the communication path may be determined to indicate an environment type and whether a line of sight is secured. For example, the representative environment may indicate "urban-shielded," "urban-line of sight secured," "suburban-shielded," "suburban-line of sight secured," "rural-shielded," "rural-line of sight secured," etc.

[0097] In the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4, when the ratio of mountainous terrain included in the communication path exceeds a threshold ratio, the representative environment of the communication path is set to "mountainous" without considering other characteristics (e.g., whether a line of sight is secured, terrain variation), so that a propagation model dedicated to mountains is applied to the communication path, as the physical influence of mountainous terrain on the propagation path is very significant.

[0099] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a recommended propagation model according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of FIG. 5 may be performed by a device (e.g., a device including the propagation model recommendation system of FIG. 1). The procedure of FIG. 5 may be understood as a detailed operation of step S205 of FIG. 2. For example, FIG. 5 is an example of a procedure for automatically determining and recommending the propagation loss prediction model most suitable for a communication environment based on communication conditions specified by a user and analysis information within the propagation model recommendation system.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 5, in step S501, the device obtains communication conditions and environmental information. In other words, it obtains communication conditions set by user input and environmental information indicating a representative environmental type of the communication path. The communication conditions set by user input may be obtained based on at least one user input parameter. For example, the device may obtain communication conditions from user input including at least one of frequency, distance between transceivers, ground clearance of the transmitting antenna, ground clearance of the receiving antenna, location, or communication service type. According to one embodiment, at least some of the communication conditions may be inferred data obtained based on user input parameters. For example, the distance between transceivers or the height of the antennas may be inferred data based on the transmitter location and receiver location entered by the user. Environmental information may be obtained as described in FIG. 4.

[0101] In step S503, the device checks whether there exists a radio propagation model that satisfies both communication conditions and environmental information. The device can check whether there exists a radio propagation model that satisfies both set communication conditions and environmental information by comparing the applicable communication conditions and environment of each radio propagation model with the communication conditions and environmental information set by user input and / or analysis. At this time, the applicable communication conditions include at least one of frequency range, communication distance, transmitting and receiving antenna height, location, or service type information, and the applicable environment may indicate an applicable environment type (e.g., urban area, suburban area, rural area, mountainous area).

[0102] If there exists a propagation model that satisfies all of the set communication conditions and environmental information, in step S511, the device recommends the said propagation model as the optimal model. The device may provide information about said propagation model to the user as information about the recommended propagation model. In this case, the information about the recommended propagation model may include at least one of model identification information (e.g., model name) and recommendation grade (e.g., optimal model, next best model).

[0103] If there is no propagation model that satisfies all of the set communication conditions and environmental information, in step S505, the device evaluates the suitability of each propagation model. The device may evaluate the suitability of each propagation model by comparing each item of the communication conditions and environmental information set by user input and / or analysis with each item included in the communication conditions and environment of each propagation model, and by calculating a score indicating the degree of suitability for each item based on the comparison result. For example, if the value of the first item of the acquired communication conditions and environmental information falls within the range of the first item included in the communication conditions and environment of the first propagation model, the device may assign a first score (e.g., 1.0 point) to the first item of the first propagation model. Or, if the value of the second item of the acquired communication conditions and environmental information falls outside the range of the second item included in the communication conditions and environment of the first propagation model, the device may assign a second score (e.g., 0.0 point) to the second item of the first propagation model. According to one embodiment, the device may assign a value within the range of 0.1 to 1.0 based on relative distance or difference, rather than assigning a score based on whether the value matches or is included for some items. For example, if the distance between the acquired transmitter and receiver is 6 km and the distance range of the first propagation model is up to 5 km, a partial score (e.g., 0.8) may be assigned to the distance item of the first propagation model based on a ratio corresponding to the excess 1 km.

[0104] According to one embodiment, when a score indicating the degree of fit for each item for each propagation model is calculated, the device applies a weight to each item's score according to the importance of each item, and calculates the final fit by summing the values ​​obtained by applying the weights. For example, the device may apply a first weight to the score of the frequency item, a second weight to the score of the distance item, a third weight to the score of the antenna height item, and a fourth weight to the score of the environment item, and then sum the scores obtained by applying the weights. Here, each weight may be determined according to the importance of each item. The score obtained by summing is normalized to a range between 0.0 and 1.0 and may indicate the relative fit of each propagation model for the acquired communication conditions and environment information.

[0105] According to one embodiment, the device may adjust the suitability score of at least one propagation model by considering the topographic variation of the communication path. For example, if the topographic variation of the communication path is less than a threshold variation, the device determines that the terrain corresponding to the communication path is flat and may increase the score of a propagation model suitable for a flat environment (e.g., ITU-R P.1411, HATA). On the other hand, if the topographic variation of the communication path is greater than or equal to the threshold variation, the device determines that the terrain corresponding to the communication path is not flat and may decrease the score of a propagation model suitable for a flat environment (e.g., ITU-R P.1411, HATA). Alternatively, if the representative environment type of the communication path is mountainous, the device may decrease the score of a propagation model suitable for a flat environment.

[0106] In step S507, the device determines a next-best model based on fitness. The device may determine the propagation model with the highest fitness, i.e., evaluation score, among the propagation models as the next-best model.

[0107] In step S509, the device recommends a sub-propagation model. The device may provide information regarding the sub-propagation model to the user as information regarding the recommended propagation model. In this case, the information regarding the recommended propagation model may include at least one of a model name, a recommendation grade (e.g., optimal model, sub-model), or the basis for recommendation. The basis for recommendation may include the reason why the propagation model was selected as the sub-model. Specifically, the basis for recommendation may include information regarding at least one of the conditions that the propagation model satisfies or does not satisfy among a plurality of communication conditions (e.g., frequency, distance, antenna height, environment) for propagation model selection. For example, the device may provide information as the basis for recommendation explaining that the propagation model satisfies the frequency, antenna height, environment, etc., but the distance condition is not satisfied. In this case, information regarding the applicable distance range of the propagation model and the distance between the transceiver set by the user may be provided together. By providing the basis for recommendation as described above, the user can decide whether to accept the use of the propagation model based on the basis for recommendation.

[0109] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of recommending a propagation model by considering a propagation environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates an example of recommending an optimal or suboptimal propagation model by comprehensively considering precise classified propagation environment information, dynamically analyzed path characteristics, and parameters specified by a user (e.g., frequency, antenna height, distance between transmitter and receiver, etc.). FIG. 6 is an example of a screen providing information on the propagation environment analysis results and recommended propagation models through a user interface in a propagation model recommendation system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0110] Referring to Fig. 6, the map of the target area provided through the user interface is divided into multiple grid cells. At this time, each grid cell may be visually displayed differently depending on the environment type of the corresponding grid cell. For example, the color or pattern of the grid cell corresponding to the city center may be displayed to have a different color and pattern from the grid cells corresponding to the sub-city center and rural area.

[0111] According to one embodiment, a user can set a communication path (601) through a user interface. For example, the user can set the communication path (601) by directly inputting the location of the transmitter and the location of the receiver, or by selecting the grid cell where the transmitter is to be located and the grid cell where the receiver is to be located on a map. Once the communication path is set by user input, the radio wave model recommendation system can determine whether a line of sight is secured, the terrain change, and whether mountainous terrain is included by considering the buildings and terrain of the grid cells corresponding to the communication path, and can analyze a representative environment for the communication path based on the determination result.

[0112] When a representative environment for a communication path is analyzed, the propagation model recommendation system determines a recommended propagation model based on the communication conditions and representative environment type set by user input, and can display information (603) about the recommended propagation model through a user interface.

[0113] In the foregoing description, a method was described in which a device including a propagation model recommendation system analyzes a representative environment type for a communication path between a transmitter and a receiver, and recommends a propagation model based on the representative environment type, when there is one transmitter and one receiver. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the present disclosure may recommend a propagation model according to the embodiments described below.

[0115] Example #1: Recommendation and Application of Grid-Based Propagation Models

[0116] A communication path may pass through multiple grid cells having different propagation environments. In a situation where different environment types are mixed among multiple grid cells corresponding to the communication path, if a propagation model is selected and applied based on only one representative environment type for the communication path, a large error may occur between the propagation loss value predicted using the propagation model and the propagation loss value measured based on actual electric field strength. Therefore, the propagation model recommendation system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can select and recommend a propagation model on a grid basis to minimize the occurrence of errors in a situation where different environment types are mixed.

[0117] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a grid cell-specific propagation model according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of FIG. 7 may be performed by a device (e.g., a device including the propagation model recommendation system of FIG. 1). The procedure of FIG. 7 may be performed after step S201 of FIG. 2 or after the procedure of FIG. 3 has been performed. At least some of the operations of FIG. 7 are described below with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of applying a grid cell-specific propagation model according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0118] Referring to FIG. 7, in step S701, the device establishes a communication path. The communication path is a path that connects the transmitter and the receiver in a straight line, and can be established based on user input and / or geospatial data as described in FIG. 1 to 6.

[0119] In step S703, the device determines the environment type for each grid cell of the communication path. The device determines the grid cells of the communication path based on the communication path and determines the environment type for each of the determined grid cells. The grid cells of the communication path may include grid cells through which the communication path passes and at least one adjacent grid cell. The environment type of each grid cell may be classified and / or determined by a regional propagation environment classification module (110) and / or a dynamic path analysis module (130). For example, the environment type of each grid cell may be a type classified based on geospatial data. Alternatively, the environment type of each grid cell may be an environment type finally determined after being classified based on geospatial data, by considering at least one of whether a line of sight is secured for each grid cell, a topographic variation map for each grid cell, or whether mountainous terrain is included for each grid cell.

[0120] In step S705, the device determines and recommends a propagation model for each grid cell of the communication path. In other words, the device determines and recommends a propagation model for each grid cell based on the environment type of each grid cell of the communication path. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, if the environment type of the first grid cell is 'urban', the environment type of the second grid cell is 'mountainous', the environment type of the third grid cell is 'urban', the environment type of the fourth grid cell is 'suburban', and the environment type of the fifth grid cell is 'mountainous', the device may determine the recommended propagation model for the first grid cell and the third grid cell as the ITU-R P.1411 model, determine the recommended propagation model for the second grid cell and the fifth grid cell as the ITU-R P.452 model, and determine the recommended propagation model for the fourth grid cell as the HATA model.

[0121] As described above, the propagation recommendation model system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can apply individual propagation models to each grid cell by analyzing the environment type for each grid cell and determining a propagation model suitable for the environment type for each grid cell. In this way, when propagation models are divided and applied at the grid level, the effect of enabling precise propagation loss prediction even in complex terrain and environments can be obtained. For example, if the predicted loss values ​​for each grid are '1st grid cell: 7.8dB', '2nd grid cell: 11.2dB', '3rd grid cell: 8.0dB', '4th grid cell: 9.3dB', and '5th grid cell: 10.9dB', the total path loss can be calculated as 47.2dB, which is the sum of all such loss values.

[0122] As mentioned above, the method of determining and applying propagation models on a grid basis can faithfully reflect the complexity of the actual environment. In particular, it can improve the precision of propagation model application in areas where urban and mountainous terrains are mixed, areas with rapid changes in elevation, and areas where building densities vary by section.

[0124] Example #2: Recommendation and Application of Receiver-Specific Path-Based Propagation Models

[0125] A radio wave model recommendation system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can recommend and apply a radio wave model for each of the multiple receivers according to the communication path in a situation where one transmitter and multiple receivers are distributed. When a single transmitter (e.g., a base station) communicates with multiple receivers (e.g., terminals) within a target area where environments such as urban, rural, and mountainous areas are mixed, the communication paths for each of the multiple receivers may have different characteristics. For example, the communication paths for each of the multiple receivers may have different characteristics depending on environmental factors such as the amount of elevation change, whether a line of sight is secured, the proportion of mountainous terrain, or density. Additionally, the communication paths for each of the multiple receivers may have different characteristics depending on user input values ​​such as communication distance, frequency, and antenna height.

[0126] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a propagation model recommendation system can determine and recommend a propagation model for each receiver by considering the characteristics of each communication path for each receiver.

[0127] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a propagation model for a receiver-specific path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of FIG. 9 may be performed by a device (e.g., a device including the propagation model recommendation system of FIG. 1). The procedure of FIG. 9 may be performed after step S201 of FIG. 2 or after the procedure of FIG. 3 has been performed. At least some of the operations of FIG. 9 are described below with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of applying a propagation model for a receiver-specific path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0128] Referring to FIG. 9, in step S901, the device establishes a communication path for each receiver. The device obtains data related to the location of the transmitter and the location of each of the plurality of receivers, and establishes a communication path for each receiver based thereon. For example, the communication path may be established based on user input and / or geospatial data as described in FIG. 1 to 6.

[0129] In step S903, the device determines a representative environment based on the characteristics of the communication path for each receiver. The device can calculate characteristic indicators of the communication path for each receiver by considering factors such as whether a line of sight is secured, distance, average altitude, and the proportion of passage through mountainous terrain. Based on the characteristic indicators of the communication path for each receiver, the device can determine a representative environment for the communication path for each receiver.

[0130] In step S905, the device determines and recommends a propagation model based on a representative environment and set communication conditions for each receiver. The device compares the communication conditions set based on the representative environment and user input for each receiver with the applicable communication conditions and environments of each of the multiple propagation models, and determines and recommends an optimal or suboptimal propagation model for each receiver based on the comparison results. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the representative environment type of the first receiver may be determined as 'urban', the representative environment type of the second receiver as 'urban', and the representative environment type of the third receiver as 'suburban'. At this time, the device may determine the recommended propagation model for the first receiver as the ITU-R P.452 model based on the communication conditions and urban environment set for the first receiver, and determine the recommended propagation model for the second receiver as the HATA model based on the communication conditions and urban environment set for the second receiver. Additionally, the device may determine the recommended propagation model for the third receiver as the ITU-R P.1411 model based on the communication conditions and suburban environment set for the third receiver.

[0131] As described above, the device can determine and recommend a separate propagation model for each receiver based on characteristic indicators of the communication path for each receiver. That is, even if the transmitter is the same, different propagation models can be recommended and applied for each receiver. Accordingly, the precision of electric field strength prediction and interference evaluation can be dramatically improved, and the effect can be maximized in areas with varying altitudes or complex environmental characteristics.

[0133] Example #3: Recommendation and Application of Azimuth-Based Propagation Model

[0134] A radio wave model recommendation system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can divide a target area into azimuth-based regions centered on the transmitter in a situation where a single transmitter and a large number of receivers are distributed, and can recommend and apply a radio wave model for each divided azimuth region.

[0135] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining an azimuth-based propagation model for each receiver cluster area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of FIG. 11 may be performed by a device (e.g., a device including the propagation model recommendation system of FIG. 1). The procedure of FIG. 11 may be performed after step S201 of FIG. 2 or after the procedure of FIG. 3 has been performed. At least some operations of FIG. 9 are described below with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of applying an azimuth-based propagation model for each receiver cluster area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0136] Referring to FIG. 11, in step S1101, the device divides the target area into azimuth regions centered on the transmitter. For example, the device may divide the 360-degree target area centered on the transmitter into multiple azimuth regions at regular angle intervals. For example, the device may divide the target area into 12 azimuth regions at 30-degree intervals. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the device may divide the target area into 8 azimuth regions at 45-degree intervals.

[0137] In step S1103, the device determines a representative communication environment for each azimuth area. For each of the plurality of azimuth areas, the device determines a representative environment based on the average value of the environment of the grid cells belonging to each azimuth area. For example, the device may calculate at least one of a characteristic index or complexity for each of the topographic features of the grid cells belonging to the first azimuth area, and determine the representative environment of the first azimuth area based on the average value of the calculated values.

[0138] In step S1105, the device determines a propagation model based on representative environments and set communication conditions for each azimuth area. The device compares the communication conditions set based on representative environments and user input for each azimuth area with the applicable communication conditions and environments of each of the multiple propagation models, and can determine and recommend an optimal or suboptimal propagation model for each azimuth area based on the comparison results. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the target area is divided into eight azimuth areas (#1-#8) centered on the transmitter, and the representative environment type for each azimuth area can be determined as a city center, a sub-city center, or a suburb. At this time, the device can determine a recommended propagation model for each azimuth area as HATA, ITU-R P.452, or ITU-R P.1411 based on the communication conditions and environments set for each azimuth area.

[0139] In situations involving a large number of receivers, computational efficiency can be significantly improved by utilizing the method of recommending and applying propagation models by region as described above. Furthermore, this method allows for the precise reflection of regional characteristics in environments where terrain changes based on azimuth are distinct, and it is also effective in ensuring prediction consistency across the entire system.

[0141] As described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by automating the process of analyzing a complex propagation environment and selecting a propagation model, the limitations of existing methods that relied on user experience or subjective judgment can be overcome, and objective and highly reliable results can be provided.

[0142] A method for recommending a propagation model according to an embodiment described above may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., either individually or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specifically designed and configured according to the embodiment, or may be those known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes; optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory. Examples of program instructions include machine code, such as that generated by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc.

[0143] Each of the drawings referenced in the description of the preceding embodiments is merely an example illustrated for convenience of explanation, and the items, contents, and images of the information displayed on each screen may be displayed in various modified forms.

[0144] The present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings, but this is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom. Accordingly, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

Claim 1 A method for recommending a propagation model comprises: a step of displaying map data for a target area including a plurality of unit areas, wherein each of the plurality of unit areas is classified to have one of a plurality of propagation environment types based on geospatial data; a step of setting the location of a transmitter and a receiver within the target area; a step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path based on characteristic information of a topographic feature within the unit areas corresponding to the communication path between the transmitter and the receiver; a step of determining a recommended propagation model among a plurality of propagation models based on the propagation environment type of the communication path; and a step of providing information about the recommended propagation model, wherein the characteristic information of the topographic feature includes at least one indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of the topographic feature. Claim 2 A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path comprises: determining at least one of whether a line of sight is secured, a variation in terrain, or a mountainous terrain ratio based on characteristic information of topographic features within unit areas corresponding to the communication path; and determining the propagation environment type of the communication path based on at least one of whether a line of sight is secured, the variation in terrain, or the mountainous terrain ratio. Claim 3 A method according to claim 2, wherein the determination of whether a line of sight is secured is determined for each unit area based on the average height of each unit area corresponding to the communication path, the topographic variation is determined based on the deviation of the average elevation of each unit area corresponding to the communication path, and the mountainous terrain ratio is determined based on at least one of the elevation of each unit area corresponding to the communication path or mountainous terrain information. Claim 4 The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path comprises determining the propagation environment type of the communication path based on the complexity of each of at least some unit areas among the unit areas corresponding to the communication path where the line of sight is not secured, and wherein the complexity of each of the at least some unit areas is determined based on at least one of a building density index, a building size index, an average building height index, or an average terrain elevation index for each of the at least some unit areas. Claim 5 A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path comprises: a step of comparing the mountainous terrain ratio and the threshold ratio of unit areas corresponding to the communication path; a step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path as a mountainous environment type based on the fact that the mountainous terrain ratio is greater than or equal to the threshold ratio; and a step of determining the propagation environment type of the communication path according to at least one of whether a line of sight is secured in the unit areas corresponding to the communication path or the topographic change diagram based on the fact that the mountainous terrain ratio is less than the threshold ratio. Claim 6 The method of claim 1 further comprises: a step of dividing the target area into the plurality of unit areas based on the geospatial data; a step of calculating the complexity for each of the plurality of unit areas based on characteristic information of topographic features of the plurality of unit areas; and a step of determining the propagation environment type for each of the plurality of unit areas using the complexity for each of the plurality of unit areas and at least one threshold value, wherein the complexity for each of the plurality of unit areas is determined based on at least one of a building density index, a building scale index, an average building height index, or an average terrain elevation index for each of the plurality of unit areas, and the plurality of propagation environment types include at least one of an urban area, a sub-urban area, a residential area, a rural area, a mountainous area, and a coastal area. Claim 7 A method according to claim 6, wherein the complexity for each of the plurality of unit regions is obtained by applying a weight to at least one of the building density index, the building size index, the average building height index, or the average terrain elevation index. Claim 8 The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of obtaining information related to the transmitter and the receiver based on user input, wherein the information related to the transmitter and the receiver includes at least one of a frequency, the location of the transmitter, the location of the receiver, the height of the transmitting antenna, the height of the receiving antenna, and the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. Claim 9 The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the recommended radio wave model comprises determining, based on the applicable communication conditions and radio wave environment types of each of the plurality of radio wave models, a radio wave model among the plurality of radio wave models that satisfies both the communication conditions set by the user and the radio wave environment type of the communication path as the recommended radio wave model, wherein each of the communication conditions set by the user and the applicable communication conditions includes at least one of frequency, distance between the transmitter and the receiver, height of the transmitting and receiving antennas, location, and service type. Claim 10 The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of determining the recommended propagation model comprises: a step of evaluating the suitability of each of the plurality of propagation models when there is no propagation model among the plurality of propagation models that satisfies both the environmental conditions set by the user and the propagation environment type of the communication path; and a step of determining the propagation model with the highest suitability as the recommended propagation model, wherein the suitability is determined based on the result of comparing items corresponding to the applicable communication conditions and propagation environment types of each of the plurality of propagation models with items corresponding to the communication conditions set by the user and the propagation environment type of the communication path. Claim 11 A method according to claim 10, wherein the degree of suitability is a value determined by applying a weight for at least one item to the item-specific scores obtained based on the comparison result. Claim 12 A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of adjusting the suitability of at least one of the plurality of propagation models based on a topographic change map of the communication path. Claim 13 A method according to claim 12, wherein the suitability of the at least one propagation model is adjusted upward based on the fact that the topographic change of the communication path is less than a threshold change, and the suitability of the at least one propagation model is adjusted downward based on the fact that the topographic change of the communication path is greater than or equal to a threshold change, and wherein the at least one propagation model includes a model applicable to flat terrain. Claim 14 The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the recommended propagation model comprises at least one of identification information, recommendation grade, or recommendation basis for the recommended propagation model. Claim 15 A method according to claim 1, wherein the propagation environment type of the communication path is determined for each of the unit areas corresponding to the communication path, and the recommended propagation model is determined for each unit area based on the propagation environment type for each of the unit areas corresponding to the communication path. Claim 16 A method according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is one of a plurality of receivers located within the target area, and the recommended propagation model is determined for each of the plurality of receivers based on the propagation environment type of the communication path for each of the plurality of receivers. Claim 17 A method for recommending a propagation model comprises: a step of displaying map data for a target area including a plurality of unit areas, wherein each of the plurality of unit areas is classified to have one of a plurality of propagation environment types based on geospatial data; a step of dividing the target area into a plurality of azimuth areas centered on a transmitter within the target area; a step of determining a representative propagation environment type for each of the plurality of azimuth areas; a step of determining a recommended propagation model for each of the plurality of azimuth areas based on the representative propagation environment type for each of the plurality of azimuth areas; and a step of providing information on the recommended propagation model, wherein the representative propagation environment type is determined based on at least one indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of the topographic features of the unit areas included in each azimuth area. Claim 18 A method according to claim 17, wherein the representative propagation environment type is determined based on the average value of the at least one indicator for the unit areas included in each azimuth area. Claim 19 A device for recommending a propagation model, comprising: an output module; an input module; and a processor, wherein the processor displays map data for a target area comprising a plurality of unit areas, wherein each of the plurality of unit areas is classified to have one of a plurality of propagation environment types based on geospatial data; sets the location of a transmitter and a receiver within the target area; determines the propagation environment type of the communication path based on characteristic information of a topographic feature within the unit areas corresponding to the communication path between the transmitter and the receiver; determines a recommended propagation model among a plurality of propagation models based on the propagation environment type of the communication path; and controls to provide information regarding the recommended propagation model, wherein the characteristic information of the topographic feature includes at least one indicator related to at least one of the density, scale, elevation, or height of the topographic feature.

Images