DNN-based LTE Signal Propagation Modelling for Positioning Fingerprint DB Generation

In this paper, we propose a signal propagation modeling technique for generating a positioning fingerprint DB based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) signals. When a DB is created based on the location-based signal information collected in an urban area, gaps in the DB due to uncollected areas occur. The spatial interpolation method for filling the gaps has limitations. In addition, the existing gap filling technique through signal propagation modeling does not reflect the signal attenuation characteristics according to directions occurring in urban areas by considering only the signal attenuation characteristics according to distance. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a Deep Neural Network (DNN)-based signal propagation functionalization technique that considers distance and direction together. To verify the performance of this technique, an experiment was conducted in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Based on the acquired signals, signal propagation characteristics were modeled for each method, and Root Mean Squared Errors (RMSE) was calculated using the verification data to perform comparative analysis. As a result, it was shown that the proposed technique is improved by about 4.284 dBm compared to the existing signal propagation model. Through this, it can be confirmed that the DNN-based signal propagation model proposed in this paper is excellent in performance, and it is expected that the positioning performance will be improved based on the fingerprint DB generated through it.