The Inversion-based Coverage Prediction Tool for Cellular Networks - Real City Experiments

This work describes a novel tool, called ICPT (inversion-based coverage prediction tool), for predicting coverage field strength in outdoor cellular network by means of the inversion method. Instead of using the highprecision geometric modeling of wireless environments, the problem of radio propagation prediction is solved by using an inversion of the measured data (under all priori constraints), adapting the system parameters according to the change of radio channels and the characteristics of user behaviors. ICPT undertakes the whole process of coverage calculation by loading GIS (Google Earth), selecting the placement of target area and cells with their characterization, and presenting the results in Google Earth. These tasks are easily carried out due to a friendly graphical interface developed in Visual C++2010. The proposed ICPT system is demonstrated using two applications in real cityZhuhai in China. The results are compared to that obtained by the COST231 model. The system can be used in coverage prediction, network fault diagnosing, as well as automatic