Home
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
Intelligent Ray Tracing (IRT)
Accelerate ray-optical models by combining the advantages of ray-optical and empirical models.

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.
      - Preprocessing
        Divide each wall into tiles and each edge into segments. Use these tiles and segments to determine the visibility relations between these elements for the propagation paths in the prediction.
      - Prediction
        Use a visibility tree and building database for fast prediction.
    - Dominant Paths (DP)
  - 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.

Intelligent Ray Tracing (IRT)

Accelerate ray-optical models by combining the advantages of ray-optical and empirical models.

Motivation for the Intelligent Ray Tracing (IRT)

Ray-optical models are time-consuming because all possible rays must be tracked. A new approach to the acceleration of ray-optical models reduces the computation time to that of empirical models. This method combines the advantages of both ray-optical models and neglects their disadvantages. It is based on a single preprocessing of the building database. All walls of the buildings are subdivided into tiles, and all wedges are subdivided into segments. The visibility relations between all tiles, segments and receiving points in the database are computed in the preprocessing stage because they are independent of the transmitter location.

Propagation Paths

This deterministic model allows a very accurate rigorous 3D ray-tracing prediction because many interactions can be taken into account. The selection of propagation paths is similar to the method for standard ray-tracing (SRT). As a result, rays can either be selected by using a selection file (.sel file) and choosing the option, Only user defined propagation paths or the option Number of interactions. Therefore each transmission through a wall, each reflection at a wall and each diffraction at an edge counts as an interaction. Due to a preprocessing of the database, the IRT model has a very short computation time.

Computation of Each Ray’s Contribution

For the computation of the rays, not only the free space loss has to be considered but also the loss due to the transmission, reflection and (multiple) diffraction(s). This is either done using a physical deterministic model or using an empirical model similar to the method for the standard ray-tracing (SRT) mentioned.

Note: This does only affect the determination of the transmission, reflection, and diffraction coefficients. The prediction itself always remains a deterministic one. Thus the same rays are taken into account.