Road-Link 5G Signal Maps Using Crowdsourced Line-of-Sight Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G network coverage maps are static and do not accurately reflect actual signal availability on roads, requiring significant computational resources for map-matching and failing to consider dynamic obstructions, which is a challenge for vehicle navigation and autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes 5G-enabled vehicles to crowd-source road-link map attributes through line-of-sight obstruction analysis, generating compact data indicating single-path communication signal availability on road links, using vehicles' sensors to detect and report 5G signal strength and obstructions, and aggregating this data to create dynamic 5G coverage maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If static 5G coverage maps showing theoretical cell site coverage are used, then map creation is simplified, but the accuracy of actual signal availability on roads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables vehicles to autonomously measure and report their own 5G signal reception status and location data. Each vehicle acts as a self-service measurement node, automatically contributing to the construction of the 5G coverage map without requiring manual surveying or complex external measurement infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where vehicles report actual signal reception data back to the mapping service provider. This feedback loop allows the coverage map to be continuously updated and refined based on real-world measurements, improving accuracy over time while maintaining ease of map creation.
2Reliability
If map-matching algorithms are used to match vehicle location to 5G-covered polygons, then coverage area identification is achieved, but computational resources and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the continuous 5G coverage area into discrete road link units. Instead of performing complex map-matching against large polygon geometries, the coverage map is divided into manageable road link segments, each with binary coverage status. This segmentation dramatically reduces computational complexity while maintaining reliable coverage identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential coverage information needed for vehicle navigation - specifically, whether 5G signal is available on each road link segment. By extracting and storing only this critical binary data rather than complete polygon geometries, the system reduces computational requirements for map-matching operations.
3Quantity of substance
If comprehensive 5G coverage maps are created, then coverage area information is provided, but dynamic obstructions and actual signal conditions are not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static theoretical coverage maps to dynamic actual coverage maps by continuously collecting real-time signal measurements from moving vehicles. The coverage status of each road link is updated dynamically based on current signal reception conditions, capturing the effects of dynamic obstructions and environmental factors that affect actual signal availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An approach is provided for building single-path communication signal map data for road link. The approach involves, for example, using, by one or more processors, one or more of map data or vehicle sensor data to make a determination that one or more single-path communication signals are detectable on a particular road link or on one or more portions thereof. The approach also involves, based on the determination, generating or storing, by the one or more processors, a road-link map attribute indicating that one or more single-path communication signals are detectable on the particular road link or on the one or more portions thereof. The approach further involves, based at least on the road-link map attribute, providing, by the one or more processors, coverage information indicating that one or more single-path communication signals are detectable on the particular road link or on the one or more portions thereof.