Cellular Transmitter Site Location Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining cellular and radio transmitter signal strength are imprecise, leading to inadequate coverage and unnecessary infrastructure expansions, as they fail to accurately predict signal quality and identify areas needing additional transmitters.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that calculate signal strength by identifying existing tower locations, using predictive models like the Longley-Rice model, correlating projected and actual signal strengths, and associating operators with towers to identify areas for improved coverage, allowing for more precise determination of signal strength and potential leasing opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current estimation methods are used to determine signal strength, then the process is simple and quick, but the measurement precision is poor leading to erroneous coverage reports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a correlation-based intermediary approach where actual signal strength measurements from mobile devices are used to correlate with and validate projected signal strength maps. This intermediary validation layer resolves the contradiction by providing accurate measurement without requiring complex direct measurement infrastructure, as the system uses readily available mobile device measurements to verify and refine coverage predictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by collecting actual signal strength measurements from mobile devices and using these measurements to correlate with and refine projected signal strength maps. This feedback mechanism allows the system to continuously improve accuracy by comparing predicted versus actual coverage, resolving the precision-accuracy tradeoff through iterative validation.
2Reliability
If additional transmitters are installed to improve coverage based on imprecise estimates, then signal coverage improves, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating projected signal strength maps and identifying potential coverage gaps before actually deploying additional transmitters. The system pre-analyzes coverage using correlation between projected and actual measurements, allowing operators to plan infrastructure investments only where truly necessary, thus improving reliability while minimizing unnecessary infrastructure quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing mobile devices themselves to provide signal strength measurements that validate coverage. Instead of requiring extensive infrastructure-based measurement systems, the patent leverages the mobile devices' own capabilities to report signal quality, enabling the network to self-diagnose coverage issues and determine where additional infrastructure is genuinely needed.
3Productivity
If third parties construct towers before operators identify needs, then leasing opportunities arise, but unnecessary towers may be built wasting resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary identification of potential transmitter site locations by analyzing projected signal strength maps and correlating them with actual measurements to identify coverage gaps. This preliminary analysis allows third-party tower owners to identify promising locations before construction, while operators can validate whether these locations truly address coverage needs, thus improving leasing efficiency while preventing resource waste on unnecessary towers.
Data Source
AI summary
This technology herein relates to methods and systems for determining cellular and other radio transmitter mappings based upon calculated and actual values. Cellular and other radio transmitter mappings are calculated based upon factors including transmitter locations, projected signal strength maps, and signal strength measurements. This technique can be used to determine prospective and actual locations of communications towers, and which communications providers would be interested in leasing space on those towers.