Apparatus and method for laying out wireless cell, and recording medium for programs achieving the same

A storage unit recording a cell design program that is executed on an information processing apparatus provided with an input unit, an output unit, and a storage unit to determine a layout of a cell station in a wireless LAN system, said program comprising the steps of:

• a step that receives from said input unit layout information that defines a shape of a space to be designed and structures making up said space or a layout information of a makeup constituting said space, said layout information comprising a radio wave transmittancy and a reflectance of each material used in said space;
• a step that receives from said input unit terminal location information that defines a plurality of candidate locations in said space, at each of which a terminal can be placed;
• a step that calculates the number and locations of said cell stations to be installed in said space based on an E-field strength reference value of said terminals stored in said storage unit so that said cell stations are included in a communication coverage area of said cell stations, said layout information obtained, said communication coverage area and said terminal location information obtained;
• and
• a step that produces an output of the calculated number and locations of said cell stations
• wherein said communication coverage area of said cell station is calculated from said shape of said space and said radio wave transmittancy and said reflectance.

A storage unit recording a cell design program that is executed on an information processing unit provided with an input unit and a display unit to determine a layout of a cell station in a wireless communication system, said program comprising the steps of:

• a first step that displays a layout input field on a display screen of said display unit, said layout input field receiving structure information that defines a shape or layout information of an area in which said wireless communication system is installed, is input, said layout information comprising a radio wave transmittancy and a reflectance of each material used in said space;
• a second step that displays on the display screen of said display unit a field used to receive terminal location information showing locations of terminals;
• a third step that obtains the structure information and the terminal location information received from said input unit and calculates a candidate location at which a cell station of said wireless communication system is to be installed so that said cell station is in a communication coverage area of said cell station, from the layout input receiving structure information, the terminal location information and the communication coverage area of the cell station and the communication coverage area of the terminals;
• and
• a fourth step that displays said calculated candidate location in said layout input field displayed on the display screen of said display unit,
• wherein said communication coverage area of said cell station is calculated from said shape of said space and said radio wave transmittancy and said reflectance.

A cell design apparatus for determining the layout of a cell station in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• an input unit which receives structure information defining a shape or layout of an area in which said wireless communication system is installed, and terminal location information showing a location at which a terminal is placed and a communication coverage area of the terminal, said layout information comprising a radio wave transmittancy and a reflectance of each material used in said space;
• a processing unit that obtains the structure information and the terminal location information, and calculates a candidate location of a location at which a cell station is to be installed in said wireless communication system such that said cell station is included in a communication coverage area of the cell station, based on the structure information, the terminal location information, the communication coverage area of the cell station, and the communication coverage area of the terminal;
• and
• a display unit that displays a layout of the candidate location of the location at which said cell station is to be installed, said candidate location being calculated by said processing unit,
• wherein said communication coverage area of said cell station is calculated from said shape of said space and said radio wave transmittancy and said reflectance.