Method and apparatus for implementing network planning

An apparatus for implementing network planning in a radio system in a desired area comprising:

• means for maintaining at least a two-dimensional vector map describing the desired area and including a description of the buildings and surfaces reflecting radio waves in the area,
• means for determining the signal strength of a transmitter at different points in the desired area,
• means for maintaining information about a subset of the points in the area,
• wherein the means for determining the signal strength also determines path attenuation between all subset points using a ray tracing method, the means for maintaining information includes means for storing the calculated values, and
• when performing network planning, the means for determining the signal strength determines a given number of the most significant signal paths among the possible signal propagation paths of the transmitter and the receiver located at the desired points in the area using the values stored in a memory and also determines the signal strength of the transmitter on the signal paths determined at the receiver location point using the ray tracing method.

A method for implementing network planning in a radio system in a desired area, where at least a two-dimensional vector map including a description of the building and surfaces reflecting radio waves in the area is used for determining the coverage area of a transmitter of the system, and where the signal strength of the transmitter is determined at different points in the desired area, the method comprising:

• selecting a subset of points among the points within the desired area, the subset of points forming, at least partially, a grid in the desired area,
• determining path attenuation between all subset points using a ray tracing method,
• storing the calculated values in a memory,
• when performing network planning in the desired area, locating the transmitter and a receiver at points included in the subset of points in the desired area and searching for a given number of the most significant signal paths among the possible signal propagation paths between the transmitter and the receiver,
• and determining the signal strength of the transmitter on the signal paths determined at a location point of the receiver using the ray tracing method.

An apparatus for implementing network planning in a radio system in a desired area comprising:

• means for maintaining at least a two-dimensional vector map describing the desired area and including a description of the buildings and surfaces reflecting radio waves in the area,
• means for determining the signal strength of a transmitter at different points in the desired area,
• means for maintaining information about a subset of the points in the desired area, the subset of points forming, at least partially, a grid in the desired area,
• wherein the means for determining the signal strength also determines path attenuation between all subset points using a ray tracing method, the means for maintaining information includes means for storing the calculated values, and, when performing network planning, the means for determining the signal strength determines a given number of the most significant signal paths among the possible signal propagation paths of the transmitter and the receiver located at the desired points included in the subset of points in the desired area using the values stored in a memory and also determines the signal strength of the transmitter on the signal paths determined at the receiver location point using the ray tracing method.