Spatio-Temporal Propagation Modeling

Abstract

The evolution of wireless communications from analog to digital led to the enhancement of early propagation models, which provided information about power, in order to also consider time delay information. Further consideration of the space domain either with space diversity or smart antennas or, multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems has pushed the evolution of propagation modeling toward more complex spatio-temporal considerations. The chapter deals with models that were developed in an attempt to describe propagation characteristics for space diversity and smart antenna applications. Deterministic Propagation modeling approach has evolved from Single Input Single Output to single-input-multiple-output and MIMO scenarios, and hence, in the MIMO propagation modeling section, since the last represents the more general approach. In a wireless communication system, the signal arriving at the receiving antenna consists of several multipath components, each of which is the result of the interaction of the transmitted waves with the surrounding environment.