Constructing accurate, space-efficient, wireless coverage maps for vehicular contexts

Wireless connectivity for vehicles is a fast-growing market, with a plethora of different network technologies already in use. Surveys of the numbers of IEEE 802.11b/g access points in cities point to hundreds to thousands of networks within each square kilometre, with coverage areas that are not easily predicted due to the complexities of the urban environment. In order to take advantage of the diversity in wireless networks available, we need data concerning their coverage. Methods of generating such coverage maps that are accurate, space-efficient and easy to query are not a well addressed area. In this paper, we present and evaluate, using a large corpus of real-world data, novel algorithms for processing large quantities of signal strength values into coverage maps that satisfy such requirements. Categories and Subject Descriptors C.2.1 [Computer-Communication Networks]: Network Architecture and Design--Wireless General Terms Algorithms, Measurement Keywords Wireless, vehicles, c...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: WICON
• Authors: David N. Cottingham, Robert K. Harle, Andy Hopper
• Keywords: Computer Networks, Coverage Areas, Coverage Maps, IEEE 802.11b/g Access, WICON 2008