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Methods
WinProp includes empirical and semi-empirical models (calibration with measurements possible), rigorous 3D ray-tracing models as well as the unique dominant path model (DPM).
Propagation Models
Propagation models differ based on their assumptions, prediction accuracy and computational resources. Select an appropriate propagation model for the application.
Indoor Models
Dominant Paths (DP)
Multipath Propagation in Indoor Environments
Mitigate multipath effects, inaccuracies in the building database and time-variant obstacles for the prediction of indoor wave propagation.

Welcome
Release Notes
See what's new in the latest release.
Get Started
The WinProp Getting Started Guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to get started with WinProp.
Examples
The Altair installation directory contains a collection of examples that shows you WinProp concepts and essentials.
Introduction to WinProp
WinProp is a complete suite of tools in the domain of wireless propagation and radio network planning. With applications ranging from satellite to terrestrial, from rural via urban to indoor radio links, WinProp’s innovative wave propagation models combine accuracy with short computation time.
Typical Workflow in WinProp
View the typical workflows when working with propagation simulations in specific scenarios, how to add a network planning to a propagation simulation, include a receiver pattern, set up a time-variant scenario, include multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) at both the base station and the mobile station, connectivity analysis of sensor networks and optimization.
WallMan
The WallMan component offers a convenient facility to generate and edit vector building databases.
TuMan
The TuMan tool enables you to generate and modify tunnel scenarios.
AMan
Use AMan to generate, edit and analyze a single antenna. Superimpose multiple antennas radiating similar signals to determine the actual antenna pattern while taking into consideration the local environment.
ProMan
The ProMan component includes wave propagation models for different scenarios and network planning simulators for various air interfaces.
Methods
WinProp includes empirical and semi-empirical models (calibration with measurements possible), rigorous 3D ray-tracing models as well as the unique dominant path model (DPM).
- Propagation Models
  Propagation models differ based on their assumptions, prediction accuracy and computational resources. Select an appropriate propagation model for the application.
  - Motivation for Different Propagation Models
  - Terrain Models
    Different models for macro-cellular prediction exist with differing accuracy and computational resource requirements.
  - Urban Models
  - Indoor Models
    - Motivation for Indoor Propagation Models
      Predicting the propagation characteristics between two antennas inside a building is important especially for the design of cordless telephones, wireless local area networks (WLAN), and in some cases, indoor cellular base stations.
    - Required Database
      Categorize buildings into different elements and specify their material parameters for accurate indoor propagation modeling.
    - Modified Free Space Model (MF)
      The modified-free-space model analyzes the building concerning distances between walls and penetration losses of the walls, but the individual positions of the walls and their material properties are not considered.
    - Motley-Keenan Model (MK)
      The modified-free-space model analyzes the distances of the building between walls and penetration losses of the walls.
    - COST-Multi-Wall Model (MW)
      The multi-wall model gives the path loss as the free space loss including losses introduced by the walls and floors in the direct path between transmitter and receiver.
    - Standard Ray Tracing (SRT)
      The standard ray-tracing model (SRT) performs a rigorous 3D ray-tracing prediction which results in very high accuracy but at the cost of a large computational effort.
    - Shooting and Bouncing Rays (SBR)
      The shooting and bouncing rays method (SBR) performs a rigorous 3D ray-tracing prediction which results in high accuracy but potentially at the cost of a large computational effort.
    - Intelligent Ray Tracing (IRT)
      Accelerate ray-optical models by combining the advantages of ray-optical and empirical models.
    - Dominant Paths (DP)
      - Multipath Propagation in Indoor Environments
        Mitigate multipath effects, inaccuracies in the building database and time-variant obstacles for the prediction of indoor wave propagation.
      - Principle of the Dominant Paths
        Group similar rays together based on the sequence of rooms and walls transmitted through.
      - Determination of the Dominant Paths
        The determination of dominant paths and the discarding of non-dominant paths can save time, but also compromise accuracy. Use specific settings to control the accuracy and prediction time.
  - Description of the Output Files and Cell Parameters
  - Literature
Main Applications
In WinProp various air interfaces and applications are pre-defined: broadcasting, cellular, wireless access, WiFi, sensor networks, ICNIRP and EM compliance.
WinProp Utilities
The WinProp utilities consist of the Launcher utility and the Updater.
Appendix
Reference information is provided in the appendix.

Multipath Propagation in Indoor Environments

Mitigate multipath effects, inaccuracies in the building database and time-variant obstacles for the prediction of indoor wave propagation.

In indoor scenarios, there are many possible rays between a transmitter and a receiver, as shown in Figure 1. On the one hand, the computation of all of these rays is time-consuming, on the other hand, these rays are not time-invariant and depend on the accuracy of the database.

If, for example, a door is opened, the determined rays are no longer valid, and the predicted field strength is wrong. Also, people and furniture are time-variant obstacles and can not be included in the database of the building. The second problem is if the positions of the walls and edges are not known exactly (they may vary inside a specified area) some of the determined rays do not reach the receiver. In most databases, the positions of the walls are not known as precisely as they should be for a ray-tracing algorithm.

Therefore a new approach for the prediction of the field strength should not rely on the knowledge of all possible rays between a transmitter and a receiver. Only the representative paths should be determined, and they should be independent of the accuracy of the database and of the time-variant effects. While these effects influence the wave propagation, there are many rays passing the same rooms between the transmitter and the receiver with different reflection and diffraction points. Consequently, changes in these points of interaction do not influence the received power.

Figure 1. Multipath propagation in an indoor scenario and dominant paths.

It is only necessary to know which rooms are passed by the rays and which walls are penetrated. The wave guiding by multiple reflections must not be determined by the computation of all possible reflection and diffraction points. It should be determined independently of the different points of interaction. All these aspects are included in the approach with dominant paths which is described in the next section.