RadioMap: fine-grained cellular coverage mapping in indoor environments

Abstract

Poor signal quality results in frequent dropped calls, degradation of throughput, and high battery consumption. Coverage maps advertised by cellular operators are very abstract and provide coverage information for outdoor areas. In real-world, most of the cellular phone usage is reported indoors and therefore, call drops are more frequent in these environments. Aiming to provide seamless connectivity indoors, we develop a system RadioMap that uses sensing capabilities of a smartphone to create fine-grained cellular signal maps in indoor environments. These signal maps provide a low-cost and pervasive solution to the cellular operators for finding signal dead spots in indoor environments and accordingly, take rectifying measures such as installing signal boosters, etc.