Optimization of indoor radio coverage

Abstract

In this paper, we are studying the optimization of the number and positions of access points required to ensure the radio coverage of an indoor environment. In order to estimate the propagation effects in an indoor environment on radio wave propagation, we present existing path loss models and we list the corresponding advantages and drawbacks. In the context of this paper, simplicity and reduced computation time are the main constraints of the choice of an appropriate indoor propagation model. The accuracy of the model is of second order of importance. We choose an empirical model to estimate the indoor radio coverage. In a second step, we propose and develop an algorithm that divides an indoor environment map into sub- maps. Each of these sub-maps requires one access point to ensure its coverage. Finally, in order to test the good coverage of the whole map, each access point is placed at the centroid of the corresponding sub-map and the coverage map is calculated. The results obtained shows an enhancement of the coverage, and a determination of the minimum number of access points required in the indoor environment.