A novel 3-D indoor ray-tracing propagation model: The path generator and evaluation of narrow-band and wide-band predictions

A novel three-dimensional (3-D) ray-tracing model capable of supporting det ailed representation of the indoor environment, as well as external buildin g structures, is presented in this paper. The developed algorithm uses a hy brid imaging technique where the two-dimensional (2-D) image generations in vertical and horizontal planes are combined to produce 3-D paths. It also employs the concept of "illumination zones'' of the images which greatly si mplifies the image map and allows the evaluation of complex indoor scenario s. In order to investigate the accuracy of the presented model, comparisons of predictions with narrow-band and wide-band measurements are performed in l ine-of-sight (LOS), non-LOS (NLOS), and deep shadow areas, both for co- and cross-polarized antennas. The analysis shows that accurate power predictio ns can be achieved for both antenna polarizations with rms errors less than 7 dB, even vc-hen long sections of the test route are in deep shadow areas . There is a trend agreement between the simulated and measured channel imp ulse responses, while the rms delay spread in NLOS areas is predicted with less than 5-ns rms error (or better than 13% normalized mean error). The pa per provides an insight into the real and the modeled radio channel.