A remotely distributed ray tracing for the analysis of electromagnetic propagation in complex indoor and outdoor environments

Abstract

Communication engineers are nowadays facing an increasing amount of problems which require versatile and valuable tools able to provide a reliable prediction of signal propagation in complex environments. Moreover, the increase of data rate and the growing demand of mobility have determined an increment in the number of the base stations. As a matter of fact, an optimal network planning requires to both cover the widest area and provide high data-rate services; to this end, mobile phone companies and wireless internet service providers demand efficient predictions about signal strength and channel characterization. The involved scenarios can also be indoor and/or mixed indoor and outdoor, with applications spanning from the case of a wireless indoor network, to the analysis in a hazardous working area to check the respect of the legal requirements dictated by the electromagnetic compatibility standards, or else a mobile-phone planning for base station placement, to quote a few.