Path loss data normalization for growth management of a cellular system

Abstract

The RF propagation of a wireless system is normalized to remove the directionality, orientation and gain characteristics of the antennae deployed in the system to allow for enhanced growth management of a wireless system. RF propagation data for a wireless system is gathered by any collection method. For example, drive test of the cellular system can be performed to receive and measure the signal strength throughout the system to determine the receive power of signals from cell sites in the system. Other methods such as uplink collection, E911 data can be used. After measurements of the system are collected, the data is post-processed to remove the effective gain achieved by each antenna associated with each of the signals to normalize the signals to a conceptual antenna having an isotropic radiation pattern. A database of the antenna gain and deployment patterns of the actual antennae in the system is used to normalize the data. The expected receive power of the conceptual antennae signals at the locations throughout the cellular system are determined using a propagation model. The modeled conceptual signals correspond to the measured signals and the characteristics of the conceptual antennae substituted to model the conceptual signals. The Propagation modeling can be revised through analysis of the correlation with the measured data. Once the system has been normalized and the propagation model is acceptably accurate, the system designer can model data corresponding to a variety of antenna gain, directionality and orientation choices to effectively enhance growth management through effective redeployment and specification of antennae without the need to physically experiment with antenna of varying characteristics and perform numerous data collections after antennae substitutions or reconfigurations. A final data collection such as a final drive test can be performed after implementation of a new antenna deployment.