A Wideband Satellite-to-Indoor Channel Model for Navigation Applications

In indoor environments the accuracy of positioning by global navigation satellite systems suffers significantly from signal blockage, reflection and diffraction. To develop advanced receiver position algorithms working in harsh propagation environments, accurate channel simulators are necessary. In this contribution, we propose a novel and accurate wideband satellite-to-indoor channel model for testing and validating range estimation algorithms for positioning. Compared to the state of the art, the proposed channel model is able to reproduce the spatial characteristics of the wideband propagation channel for a moving receiver. The model is based on a hybrid approach combining physical-deterministic and stochastic methods. In this perspective, waves diffracted and transmitted by walls, windows and doors are considered by using physical-deterministic near field methods. For indoor originated paths occurring due to reflections on walls, a hybrid approach is used. The random behavior of scattered waves is stochastically modeled. Finally, the outcome of the proposed channel model is compared to measured channel sounder data. This comparison reveals that the proposed channel model accurately models satellite-to-indoor propagation effects.