X-MAPS WITH FLEXIBLE TILES

1 . A method performed by a Map Creator server for generating flexible tile maps related to conditions in a distributed communications network, the method comprising:

receiving, at the Map Creator server, measurements of at least one characteristic of a transmission;

determining two or more geographic areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions; and

storing indications of the determined geographic areas and indications of at least one characteristic of at least one transmission in each area.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining two or more geographic areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions further comprises:

clustering sub-cell areas of similar transmission measurements; and

mutually delimiting polygons based on sub-cell areas.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining two or more geographic areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions further comprises:

calculating areas of similar radio paths in external ray-tracing simulations.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining two or more geographic areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions further comprises:

evaluating PHY-layer measurements for similar transmission conditions.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining two or more geographic areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions further comprises:

filtering areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions according to similar propagation and environment conditions; and

categorizing areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions according to similar multi-path propagation configuration.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein indications of the determined geographic areas comprise a tessellation of arbitrarily formed polygons.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of at least two determined areas overlap a same physical space.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein indications of the determined geographic areas comprise indications of a layer value.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one characteristic of a transmission comprises an indication that no transmission was measured.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic of a transmission is weighted.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein indications of at least one characteristic of at least one transmission in each area comprise path loss.

12 . A method performed by a Map Creator server for generating flexible tile maps related to conditions in a distributed communications network, the method comprising:

receiving, at the Map Creator server, measurements of at least one characteristic of a transmission;

dividing areas of the distributed communications network into a quadratic tile grid;

assigning the measurements to areas using at least one location characteristic of the transmission;

generating indications of two or more irregularly shaped areas having one or more distinctly similar properties based on at least one characteristic of a transmission; and

storing the indications of the two or more irregularly shaped areas and indications of at least one characteristic of at least one transmission in each area.

13 . A Map Creator server for processing geo-information related to conditions in a distributed communications network, the Map Creator server comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor in communication with the network interface, the processor being configured to:

receive, via the network interface, measurements of at least one characteristic of a transmission;

determine two or more geographic areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions; and

store indications of the determined geographic areas and indications of at least one characteristic of at least one transmission in each area.

14 . The Map Creator server of claim 13 , where the processor is further configured to:

cluster sub-cell areas of similar transmission measurements; and

mutually delimit polygons based on sub-cell areas.

15 . The Map Creator server of claim 13 , where the processor is further configured to:

calculate areas of similar radio paths in external ray-tracing simulations.

16 . The Map Creator server of claim 13 , where the processor is further configured to:

evaluate PHY-layer measurements for similar transmission conditions.

17 . The Map Creator server of claim 13 , where the processor is further configured to:

filter areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions according to similar propagation and environment conditions; and

categorize areas of distinctly similar transmission conditions according to similar multi-path propagation configuration.

18 . The Map Creator server of claim 13 , where indications of the determined geographic areas comprise a tessellation of arbitrarily formed polygons.

19 . A Map Creator server for generating flexible tile maps related to conditions in a distributed communications network, the Map Creator server comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor in communication with the network interface, the processor being configured to:

receive, via the network interface, measurements of at least one characteristic of a transmission;

divide areas of the distributed communications network into a quadratic tile grid;

assign the measurements to areas using at least one location characteristic of the transmission;

generate indications of two or more irregularly shaped areas having one or more distinctly similar properties based on at least one characteristic of a transmission; and

store the indications of the two or more irregularly shaped areas and indications of at least one characteristic of at least one transmission in each area.

20 . The Map Creator server of claim 19 , where the at least one characteristic of a transmission is weighted.