Electric Field Estimation Using Visibility Polygons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating electric field strength in cellular radio communication networks, such as ray tracing and ray launching, face challenges in achieving accurate results while efficiently managing computational resources, especially in urban environments with numerous obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying direct, reflection, and diffraction visibility polygons within an area, associating them with respective electric field values, and subdividing the area into pixels to determine if each pixel belongs to these polygons, allowing for proportional electric field strength calculation, thereby optimizing computational resources and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the ray tracing technique is used to estimate electric field strength with high spatial resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but computing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the micro-cell area into multiple sub-areas and classifies propagation paths into distinct categories (direct, reflected, diffracted). This segmentation allows the system to process different spatial regions and propagation mechanisms independently, reducing the computational burden while maintaining high measurement precision through targeted analysis of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by considering only the most significant propagation paths (direct, reflected, and diffracted) rather than all possible paths. This selective approach filters out less relevant propagation mechanisms, reducing computational complexity while preserving sufficient accuracy for electric field strength estimation in urban environments.
2Productivity
If the ray launching technique is used to reduce computational resources, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different levels of computational detail to different spatial regions and propagation path types. Direct paths receive full computational treatment in line-of-sight areas, while reflected and diffracted paths are processed with appropriate complexity based on their local characteristics. This localized approach maintains measurement precision where needed while improving overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of propagation path consideration from all possible paths (ray tracing) to a limited set of significant paths (direct, reflected, diffracted). This parameter change reduces computational complexity while maintaining sufficient accuracy by focusing on the most influential propagation mechanisms in urban micro-cell environments.
3Measurement precision
If all possible propagation paths are considered to achieve high accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the most significant propagation path types (direct, reflected, diffracted) from the complex set of all possible paths. By separating and treating these dominant paths individually, the system achieves high measurement precision for the critical components while reducing overall device complexity through focused computational effort on the most important propagation mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces computational time and resource usage while maintaining high spatial resolution, allowing for accurate electric field strength estimation across a large number of points within a micro-cellular area.
Implementation Method 1
the radio waves emitted by the antenna of the base station, in an urban environment, can encounter lots of obstacles along their propagation path
Implementation Method 2
the radio wave emitted by the base station may reach a point within the micro-cell after having been reflected by the vertical walls of the buildings
Implementation Method 3
the radio wave emitted by the base station may reach a point within the micro-cell after having been diffracted by the edges of the buildings
Data Source
AI summary
A method for estimating the electric field strength associated to a radio wave emitted by an electromagnetic source of a cellular radio communication network within an area. The method includes: identifying a set of obstacles; determining at least one of: a direct visibility polygon of points in line of sight with the source; a reflection visibility polygon of points reachable by the wave after reflection by the obstacles; a diffraction visibility polygon of points reachable by the wave after diffraction by the obstacles. The visibility polygons are associated to respective values of the electric field computed therein. The method further includes: subdividing the area into pixels; for each pixel, determining if it belongs to at least one of the visibility polygons; and in the affirmative, determining the electric field strength at the pixel as a value proportional to the electric field computed at the at least one visibility polygon.