Metasurface reflectors and methods of wireless network configuration for wireless signal coverage improvement

A method of positioning one or more metasurface reflectors on a first surface relative to a radio node positioned on a second surface that is transverse to the first surface, the method comprising:

• emitting, by the radio node, a radio node beam having an elevation steering angle θ and an azimuth steering angle ¢;
• varying the elevation steering angle θ over a plurality of angle values;
• for each elevation steering angle θ, varying a horizontal distance from the radio node to the first surface over a plurality of distance values resulting in a plurality of angle value and distance pairs;
• for each angle value and distance value pair:
• calculating a beam gain for a plurality of points within an area on the surface;
• determining a peak gain location within the area providing a maximum beam gain;
• determining a flux metric F for a plurality of virtual frame positions at the second surface, wherein each virtual frame position has an area defined by a metasurface reflector and encompasses the peak gain location;
• and
• determining an individual virtual frame position among the plurality of virtual frame positions providing a maximum flux metric F;
• selecting an individual angle value and distance pair resulting in a largest maximum flux metric F among the plurality of angle value and distance pairs;
• and
• positioning the radio node on the second surface at a distance from the first surface according to the individual angle value and distance pair;
• positioning the metasurface reflector on the first surface at a location according to the individual frame position providing the maximum flux metric F of the individual angle value and distance pair.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a radio node configured to emit radio node beams;
• a primary metasurface reflector operable to be positioned on a first surface to reflect a primary node beam from the radio node positioned on a second surface transverse to the first surface, wherein a center of the primary metasurface reflector has a first vertical offset dz1 on the first surface;
• a pair of secondary metasurface reflectors operable to be positioned on adjacent sides of the primary metasurface reflector, each secondary metasurface reflector of the pair of secondary metasurface reflectors operable to reflect a secondary node beam from the radio node, wherein a center of each secondary metasurface reflector has a second vertical offset dz2 on the first surface that is greater than the first vertical offset dz1;
• and
• a pair of tertiary metasurface reflectors operable to be positioned on adjacent sides of the pair of secondary metasurface reflectors, each tertiary metasurface reflector of the pair of tertiary metasurface reflectors operable to reflect a tertiary node beam from the radio node, wherein a center of each tertiary metasurface reflector has a third vertical offset dz3 on the first surface that is less than the second vertical offset dz2 and greater than a first vertical offset z1.