An Evaluation Point Culling Algorithm for Radio Propagation Simulation based on the Imaging Method

Abstract

This paper presents a three-dimensional radio propagation simulation technique that reduces its computation time. The technique is based on the imaging method, which is one of the ray tracing methods. First, the probability that propagation paths exist at evaluation points within second-order reflection is shown. The result shows that the probability is less than a few percents. Therefore, it appears that the computation time can be reduced by eliminating the calculation for evaluation points where rays never launch. Second, the algorithm implemented the idea is presented. The algorithm uses “approximated illumination area. “There aren’t any evaluation points outside the area. The area is solved from the coordinate relationships between the last reflected object and the last imaging point. The last imaging point is derived from recursive image generation of the transmitting point. After that, only evaluation points within the illuminated area are calculated. The computation time can be reduced to less than one-quarter of the time previously required because the calculation for evaluation points where rays don’t launch never be executed. The accuracy of the proposed method is not degraded since the method just eliminates redundancy of the path determination part of the conventional imaging method.