Modeling fiber cabling associated with cell sites

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017257778-A1
Application number	US-201715597320-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2017
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Sep 7, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site and associated fiber connectivity for one or more of a cell site audit, a site survey, and cell site planning and engineering include determining fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining first data capture of the fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining second data capture of paths of the fiber connectivity from the cell site; obtaining third data capture of the cell site including a cell tower, associated cell site components on the cell tower, one or more buildings, and surrounding geography around the cell site; utilizing the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture to develop the 3D model; and utilizing the 3D model to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site and associated fiber connectivity for one or more of a cell site audit, a site survey, and cell site planning and engineering, the method comprising:
determining fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining first data capture of the fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining second data capture of one or more paths of the fiber connectivity from the cell site; obtaining third data capture of the cell site including a cell tower, associated cell site components on the cell tower, one or more buildings, and surrounding geography around the cell site; utilizing the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture to develop the 3D model which comprises the cell site and the fiber connectivity; and utilizing the 3D model to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining fourth data capture for subterranean geography associated with the surrounding geography of the cell site; and utilizing the fourth data capture with the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture to develop the 3D model.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the fourth second data capture is performed with a data capture device using one of sonar, ultrasound, photogrammetry, and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
obtaining fifth data capture of interiors of one or more buildings at the cell site; and utilizing the fifth data capture with the first data capture, the second data capture, the third data capture, and the fourth data capture to develop the 3D model.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining first data capture and the obtaining second data capture are performed with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying about the cell tower with a data capture device on the UAV.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein an operator causes the UAV to fly the one or more paths to obtain the second data capture.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining first data capture, the obtaining second data capture, and the obtaining third data capture are performed with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying about the cell tower with a data capture device on the UAV.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the third data capture comprises a plurality of photos or video subject to a plurality of constraints, wherein the plurality of photos are obtained by a plurality of cameras which are coordinated with one another.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D model is presented in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.

10 . An apparatus adapted to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site and associated fiber connectivity for one or more of a cell site audit, a site survey, and cell site planning and engineering, the apparatus comprising:
a network interface, a data capture device, and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to
determine fiber connectivity at or near the cell site based on feedback from the data capture device;
obtain first data capture of the fiber connectivity at or near the cell site;
obtain second data capture of one or more paths of the fiber connectivity from the cell site;
obtain third data capture of the cell site including a cell tower, associated cell site components on the cell tower, one or more buildings, and surrounding geography around the cell site;
utilize the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture to develop the 3D model which comprises the cell site and the fiber connectivity; and
utilize the 3D model to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
obtain fourth data capture for subterranean geography associated with the surrounding geography of the cell site; and utilize the fourth data capture with the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture to develop the 3D model.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fourth second data capture is performed with a data capture device using one of sonar, ultrasound, photogrammetry, and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
obtain fifth data capture of interiors of one or more buildings at the cell site; and utilize the fifth data capture with the first data capture, the second data capture, the third data capture, and the fourth data capture to develop the 3D model.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first data capture and the second data capture are obtained with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying about the cell tower with the data capture device on the UAV.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein an operator causes the UAV to fly the one or more paths to obtain the second data capture.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture are obtained with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying about the cell tower with the data capture device on the UAV.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the third data capture comprises a plurality of photos or video subject to a plurality of constraints, wherein the plurality of photos are obtained by a plurality of cameras which are coordinated with one another.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the 3D model is presented in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.

Assignees

• Priest Lee
• Etak Systems Llc

Inventors

• Priest Lee

Classifications

• B64U80/70

  in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• G01S15/89

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• H04L43/0811

  by checking connectivity · CPC title