Virtualized site survey systems and methods for cell sites

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9704292-B2
Application number	US-201615168503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A virtual site survey method at a cell site utilizing three-dimensional (3D) models for remote performance includes obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof; subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs; and remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model at a cell site for remote performance of a virtual site survey comprising:
obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof;
subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to construct a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs; and
remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof, thereby eliminating the need for climbing at the cell site,
wherein the 3D model is a combination of an exterior of the cell site comprising the cell tower and associated cell site components thereon, geography local to the cell site, and the interiors of the one or more buildings at the cell site, and the 3D model comprises detail at a module level in the interiors, and
wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lighting rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

2. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:
determining equipment location on the cell tower and in the interiors;
measuring distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and
determining connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

3. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:
planning for one or more of new equipment and changes to existing equipment at the cell site through drag and drop operations in the GUI, wherein the GUI comprises a library of equipment for the drag and drop operations; and
subsequent to the planning, providing a list of the one or more of the new equipment and the changes to the existing equipment based on the library, for implementation thereof.

4. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:
providing one or more of the photographs of an associated area of the 3D model responsive to an operation in the GUI.

5. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , further comprising:
rendering a texture map of the interiors responsive to an operation in the GUI.

6. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing an inventory of equipment at the cell site comprising cell site components on the cell tower and networking equipment in the interiors, wherein the inventory from the 3D model uniquely identifies each of the equipment based on associated unique identifiers.

7. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , wherein the remotely performing the site survey comprises:
providing an equipment visual in the GUI of a rack and all associated modules therein.

8. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining comprises an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) obtaining the photographs on the cell tower and the obtaining comprises one or more of a fixed and portable camera obtaining the photographs in the interior.

9. The virtual site survey method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining is performed by an on-site technician at the cell site and the site survey is remotely performed.

10. An apparatus adapted to construct a three-dimensional (3D) model at a cell site for remote performance of a virtual site survey of the cell site comprising:
a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to
receive, via the network interface, a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof,
process the plurality of photographs to construct a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs, subsequent to receiving the photographs; and
provide a Graphical User Interface of the 3D model for remote performance of a site survey of the cell site utilizing the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof, thereby eliminating the need for climbing at the cell site,

wherein the 3D model is a combination of an exterior of the cell site comprising the cell tower and associated cell site components thereon, geography local to the cell site, and the interiors of the one or more buildings at the cell site, and the 3D model comprises detail at a module level in the interiors, and
wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lighting rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, for the remote performance, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to
determine equipment location on the cell tower and in the interiors;
measure distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and
determine connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, for the remote performance, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to
perform planning for one or more of new equipment and changes to existing equipment at the cell site through drag and drop operations in the GUI, wherein the GUI comprises a library of equipment for the drag and drop operations; and
subsequent to the planning, provide a list of the one or more of the new equipment and the changes to the existing equipment based on the library, for implementation thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, for the remote performance, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to
provide one or more of the photographs of an associated area of the 3D model responsive to an operation in the GUI.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to
render a texture map of the interiors responsive to an operation in the GUI.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further causes the processor to
perform an inventory of equipment at the cell site comprising cell site components on the cell tower and networking equipment in

Assignees

• Priest Lee
• Terry Charlie
• Godwin Joshua
• Etak Systems Llc

Inventors

• Priest Lee
• Terry Charlie
• Godwin Joshua

Classifications

• 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

• H04W16/20

  for indoor coverage or short range network deployment · CPC title

• G06T7/97

  Determining parameters from multiple pictures (depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85) · CPC title

• B64C2201/108

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic