Modeling the statistical time and angle of arrival characteristics of an indoor multipath channel

TLDR

Indoor multipath channel models have traditionally focused on time of arrival, but spatial diversity systems also require angle of arrival statistics. The study aims to fully characterize the spatiotemporal nature of indoor multipath channels by proposing a clustered double Poisson time‑of‑arrival model. The authors collected simultaneous time and angle of arrival data at 7 GHz in two buildings, processed the data, and used the results to develop a clustered double Poisson model. The measured angular distribution is clustered into uniformly spaced clusters with Laplacian intra‑cluster arrivals, confirming the proposed model.

Abstract

Most previously proposed statistical models for the indoor multipath channel include only time of arrival characteristics. However, in order to use statistical models in simulating or analyzing the performance of systems employing spatial diversity combining, information about angle of arrival statistics is also required. Ideally, it would be desirable to characterize the full spare-time nature of the channel. In this paper, a system is described that was used to collect simultaneous time and angle of arrival data at 7 GHz. Data processing methods are outlined, and results obtained from data taken in two different buildings are presented. Based on the results, a model is proposed that employs the clustered "double Poisson" time-of-arrival model proposed by Saleh and Valenzuela (1987). The observed angular distribution is also clustered with uniformly distributed clusters and arrivals within clusters that have a Laplacian distribution.