Geolocation propagation modeling for cellular-based mobile positioning

The aim of this paper is to present a geolocation propagation model for use within an AFLT (advanced forward link trilateration) hardware-in-the-loop laboratory test system for the verification of E911 Phase II mobile location compliance. The novelty of this approach is that the AFLT hardware-in-the-loop laboratory test system integrates a realistic area-specific propagation model simulator into the cellular network emulator, thereby allowing us to reduce the number (and therefore the cost) of conducting field trials. In order to provide a propagation model that is suitable for E911 mobile location verification procedure, we have developed an area-specific channel model that is based on the use of area-specific 3D building database information, a deterministic ray tracing simulator and a short-term stochastic fading model. Finally, we provide simulation results that illustrate the multipath and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) channel propagation model for a selected urban propagation environment.