System and method for identifying wireless coverage for multi-occupant structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10405196-B1
Application number	US-201816156142-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 10, 2018
Priority date	Oct 10, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide for receiving, via a communication interface, line-of-site (LoS) information from a camera located at a radio site in a vicinity of a structure; identifying, using the LoS information, a first potential user location from a plurality of potential user locations within the structure; calculating, using the LoS information, a first signal strength value at the structure's exterior corresponding to an LoS signal path that extends, without obstruction, from the radio site to the first potential user location; determining that the first signal strength value exceeds a threshold signal value associated with a wireless service; and qualifying, responsive to the determination that the first signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value, the first potential user location for an equipment installation for the wireless service at the structure's exterior.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a network device via a communication interface, line-of-site (LoS) information from a camera located at a radio site in a vicinity of a structure;
identifying, by the network device and using the LoS information, a first potential user location from a plurality of potential user locations within the structure;
calculating, by the network device and using the LoS information, a first signal strength value at the structure's exterior corresponding to an LoS signal path that extends, without obstruction, from the radio site to the first potential user location;
determining, by the network device, that the first signal strength value exceeds a threshold signal value associated with a wireless service;
qualifying, by the network device responsive to the determination that the first signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value, the first potential user location for an equipment installation for the wireless service at the structure's exterior;
identifying, by the network device using the LoS information, a type of penetration of the structure's exterior, wherein the type of penetration includes a low-emissivity (low-E) glass of a first reflectivity or a non-low-E glass of a second reflectivity;
calculating, by the network device using the LoS information, another signal strength value for the first potential user location based on a signal loss associated with the first reflectivity or the second reflectivity; and
qualifying, by the network device responsive to a determination that the other signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value, the first potential user location for an equipment installation within the structure for the wireless service.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying, using the LoS information, a second potential user location from the plurality of potential user locations within the structure;
calculating, using the LoS information, a second signal strength value at the structure's exterior corresponding to a signal path that extends from the radio site to the second potential user location;
identifying, using the LoS information, one or more obstructions in the signal path responsive to determining that the second signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value;
calculating a third signal strength value for the second potential user location based on a signal loss associated with each of the one or more obstructions;
determining whether the third signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value; and
disqualifying, responsive to the determination that the third signal strength value does not exceed the threshold signal value, the second potential user location for an equipment installation for the wireless service.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying one or more obstructions comprises identifying foliage, wherein the signal loss corresponds to characteristics of the foliage at a particular time of year regardless of a time of year when the LoS information is received.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
disqualifying, responsive to a determination that the other signal strength value does not exceed the threshold signal value, the first potential user location for the equipment installation within the structure for the wireless service.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a type of penetration comprises identifying a window at the structure's exterior.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a a type of penetration comprises identifying a glass door.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first potential user location comprises:
determining, based on indicia located on the structure's exterior, the structure's identification; and
determining, based on records obtained using the structure's identification, the first potential user location relative to the second potential user location.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the LoS information further comprises:
receiving, from a ray tracing device located at the radio site, directional data associated with a movement of the camera, wherein a range of a tracing angle for the ray tracing device is equal to or greater than a range of viewing angle of the camera.

9. A network device comprising:
a communication interface;
a memory that stores instructions; and
a processor that executes the instructions to:
receive, via the communication interface, line-of-site (LoS) information from a camera located at a radio site in a vicinity of a structure;
identify, using the LoS information, a first potential user location from a plurality of potential user locations within the structure;
calculate, using the LoS information, a first signal strength value at the structure's exterior corresponding to an LoS signal path that extends, without obstruction, from the radio site to the first potential user location;
determine that the first signal strength value exceeds a threshold signal value associated with a wireless service;
qualify, responsive to the determination that the first signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value, the first potential user location for an equipment installation for the wireless service at the structure's exterior;
identify, using the LoS information, a type of penetration of the structure's exterior, wherein the type of penetration includes a low-emissivity (low-E) glass of a first reflectivity or a non-low-E glass of a second reflectivity;
calculate, using the LoS information, another signal strength value for the first potential user location based on a signal loss associated with the first reflectivity or the second reflectivity; and
qualify, responsive to a determination that the other signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value, the first potential user location for an equipment installation within the structure for the wireless service.

10. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:
identify, using the LoS information, a second potential user location from the plurality of potential user locations within the structure;
calculate, using the LoS information, a second signal strength value at the structure's exterior corresponding to a signal path that extends from the radio site to the second potential user location;
identify, using the LoS information, one or more obstructions in the signal path responsive to determining that the second signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value;
calculate a third signal strength value for the second potential user location based on a signal loss associated with each of the one or more obstructions;
determine whether the third signal strength value exceeds the threshold signal value; and
disqualify, responsive to the determination that the third signal strength value does not exceed the threshold signal value, the second potential user location for an equipment installation for the wireless service.

11. The network device of claim 10 , wherein, to identify one or more obstructions, the processor further executes the instructions to:
identify, foliage, wherein the signal loss corresponds to characteristics of the foliage at a particular time of year regardless of a time of year when the LoS information is received.

12. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:
disqualify, responsive to a determination that the other signal strength value does not the threshold signal value, the first potential user location for the equipment installation within the structure for the wireless service.

13. T

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Chadaga Deepak
• Pacamarra Alex

Classifications

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• G06V10/809

  of classification results, e.g. where the classifiers operate on the same input data · CPC title

• H04W16/20 Primary

  for indoor coverage or short range network deployment · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• G06F18/254

  of classification results, e.g. of results related to same input data · CPC title