Estimation of wireless signal strength at a distance from distributed survey

1. A method of estimating a wireless signal strength value of a wireless signal transmission for an unpopulated cell in an array corresponding to a geographic area, the method comprising:

populating, at a computer system including processing circuitry, at least one cell along a route within the array with a corresponding received wireless signal strength value based on at least one measurement by at least one wireless device;

selecting, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a number of populated cells within a predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

identifying, at the computer system including processing circuitry, one of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

determining, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a maximum wireless signal strength value (MAX STRENGTH) from among the received wireless signal strength values that are based on the at least one measurement by the at least one wireless device;

estimating, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based at least on a wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells and the MAX STRENGTH;

determining, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a maximum range value (MAX RANGE) represented by a largest distance between two populated cells, the estimating of the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell being further based on the determined MAX RANGE;

determining, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a first distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells; and

determining, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a second distance between the identified one of the number of populated cells and a hypothetical location, the hypothetical location proximate a source of the wireless signal transmission, the MAX STRENGTH and MAX RANGE being used to calculate the second distance, the estimating of the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell is further based upon the first distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells and the second distance between the identified one of the number of populated cells and the hypothetical location; and

storing, at the computer system including processing circuitry, the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell in the array.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimation of the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell occurs after a predetermined number of cells have been populated.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying at least one of the received wireless signal strength values and the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying at least one other of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

estimating a second wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based at least on a wireless signal strength value for the at least one other of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell and the MAX STRENGTH;

averaging the estimated first wireless signal strength value and the estimated second wireless signal strength value; and

storing the average of the estimated first wireless signal strength value and the estimated second wireless signal strength.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon receipt of a wireless signal strength value greater than the determined MAX STRENGTH, further comprising:

determining an updated MAX STRENGTH; and

updating the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based on the updated MAX STRENGTH.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon determination of a third distance between two populated cells greater than the largest distance, further comprising:

determining an updated MAX RANGE; and

updating the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based on the updated MAX RANGE.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell is determined according to: Pr 2 =(C ·[(D+d)]^2−[(MAX RANGE)]^2·C)/F, where:

Pr 2 =the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell;

C=(−MAX STRENGTH)/[(MAX RANGE)]^2;

D=√((ABS([(MAX RANGE)]^2·C+Pr 1 ·F))/(ABS(C))), where Pr 1 =the wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells, and

F=a predetermined value of adjustment; and

d=a distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells.

8. A method of estimating a wireless signal strength value of a wireless signal transmission for an unpopulated cell in an array corresponding to a geographic area, the method comprising:

populating, at a computer system including processing circuitry, at least one cell along a route within the array with a corresponding received wireless signal strength value;

selecting, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a number of populated cells within a predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

identifying, at the computer system including processing circuitry, one of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

determining, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a maximum wireless signal strength value (MAX STRENGTH) from among the received wireless signal strength values;

estimating, at the computer system including processing circuitry, a first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based at least on a wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells and the MAX STRENGTH, the estimating of the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell being determined according to: Pr 2 =Pr(max)/(D+d)n, where:

Pr 2 =the estimated first wireless signal strength for the unpopulated cell;

Pr(max)=MAX STRENGTH ·F, where F is a predetermined value of adjustment;

D=(Pr(max)/Pr 1 )1/n, where Pr 1 =the wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells, and n=a variable corresponding to a topology of the route; and

d=a distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells; and

storing, at the computer system including processing circuitry, the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell in the array.

9. A wireless communication device configured to estimate a wireless signal strength value of a wireless signal transmission for an unpopulated cell in an array corresponding to a geographic area, the device comprising:

an interface configured to receive wireless signal strength values; and

processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:

populate at least one cell along a route within the array with a corresponding received wireless signal strength value;

select a number of populated cells within a predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

identify one of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

determine a maximum wireless signal strength value (MAX STRENGTH) from among the received wireless signal strength values;

estimate a first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based on a wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells and the MAX STRENGTH;

determine a maximum range value (MAX RANGE) represented by a largest distance between two populated cells, the estimating of the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell being further based on the determined MAX RANGE;

determine a first distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells; and

determine a second distance between the identified one of the number of populated cells and a hypothetical location, the hypothetical location proximate a source of the wireless transmission, wherein the MAX STRENGTH and MAX RANGE are used to calculate the distance D, estimating the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell being further based upon the first distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells and the second distance between the identified one of the number of populated cells and the hypothetical location.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9 , wherein estimation of the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell occurs after a predetermined number of cells have been populated.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9 , further comprising a display configured to display at least one of the received wireless signal strength values and the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify at least one other of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

estimate a second wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based at least on a wireless signal strength value for the at least one other of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell and the MAX STRENGTH;

average the estimated first wireless signal strength value and the estimated second wireless signal strength value; and

store the average of the estimated first wireless signal strength value and the estimated second wireless signal strength.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 9 , wherein upon receipt of a wireless signal strength value greater than the determined MAX STRENGTH, the processor is further configured to:

determine an updated MAX STRENGTH; and

update the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based on the updated MAX STRENGTH.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 9 , wherein estimating the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell is determined according to: Pr 2 =(C·[(D+d)]^2−[(MAX RANGE)]^2·C)/F, where:

Pr 2 =the estimated first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell;

C=(−MAX STRENGTH)/[(MAX RANGE)]^2;

D=√((ABS([(MAX RANGE)]^2·C+Pr 1 ·F))/(ABS(C))), where Pr 1 ,=the wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells, and F=a predetermined value of adjustment; and

d=a distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells.

15. A wireless communication device configured to estimate a wireless signal strength value of a wireless signal transmission for an unpopulated cell in an array corresponding to a geographic area, the device comprising:

an interface configured to receive wireless signal strength values; and

processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:

populate at least one cell along a route within the array with a corresponding received wireless signal strength value;

select a number of populated cells within a predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

identify one of the number of populated cells within the predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell;

determine a maximum wireless signal strength value (MAX STRENGTH) from among the received wireless signal strength values; and

estimate a first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based on a wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells and the MAX STRENGTH, the estimating of the first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell being determined according to: Pr 2 =Pr(max)/(D+d)n, where:

Pr 2 =the estimated first wireless signal strength for the unpopulated cell;

Pr(max)=MAX STRENGTH·F, where F is a predetermined value of adjustment;

D=(Pr(max)/Pr 1 )1/n, where Pr 1 =the wireless signal strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells, and n=a variable corresponding to a topology of the route; and

d=a distance between the unpopulated cell and the identified one of the number of populated cells.