NTIA Report TR-98-353

A Simplified Model for Predicting the Power Delay Profile Characteristics of an Indoor Radio Propagation Channel

August 1998

Christopher L. Holloway, Michael G. Cotton, and Paul McKenna

Abstract: Multipath channels in indoor wireless communication systems exhibit a characteristic power delay profile, which can be a detriment to system performance. In this paper, we present a simplified model for calculating the decay rate of the power delay profile for propagation within rooms. This simplified model provides a time-efficient means of predicting system performance. Predictions of this indoor power delay profile (IPDP) model are compared to results obtained from a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model. Additionally, comparisons of the IPDP model to measured data are presented. The rms delay spread is the second central moment of the power delay profile of a propagation channel and is a measure of the communication link degradation due to multipath. We also show results of the estimated rms delay spread from this model and show comparisons to the measured data. This IPDP model can be used to investigate the effects of variable room size and properties of the surfaces (or walls) on the decay characteristics of the power delay profile.

Keywords: multipath; power delay profile; channel modeling; delay spread; impulse response; finite-difference time-domain modeling

• Complete Report — pdf OCR format

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software are identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.