XXCDMA X

Software Tools_MapInfoContents

11 Overview

11.1 Brief Introduction

21.2 Software Installation & Operation

52 Software Function Menu Configuration Overview

52.1 Software Function Interface Configuration

72.2 Common Menu Function Description

193 Network Planning Optimum Application Scenario

193.1 Station Layer Created via Excel

193.1.1 Excel Import

223.1.2 Sector Layer Creation

243.2 New Station Planning

253.2.1 Create New Layers

253.2.2 Input Information

263.2.3 New Station Export

273.2.3.1 Method 1recommendedGlobal Mapper adopted

273.2.3.2 Method 2Coordinate Extractor adopted

293.3 Inquiry & Statistics

293.3.1 SQL Inquiry

313.3.2 Statistics

333.3.3 Statistics Example

353.3.4 Other Applications

363.4 Map Scaling in MapInfo

373.5 Coordination with Google Earth

383.6 Functions of Relevant Plugins

383.6.1 Sector Layer Creation

403.6.2 MapInfo2Google Plugin

413.6.3 Google Earth Link Plugin

433.6.4 Create Hexagons via the Plugin Create Line by Length

463.6.5 Create Search Ring via the Function of Buffer

474 Network Planning & Optimization Application Example

474.1 Network Planning Application

474.1.1 Planning Information

484.1.2 Create Station Layers

484.1.3 Create New BSC Boundary Layers

484.1.4 Modify the Structure of the Base Station Layer Form

484.1.5 Draw BSC Boundary

494.1.6 Input the information of BSC Boundary into Base Station Layer

494.1.7 Render Base Station Layers

504.2 Network Optimization Application Example

504.2.1 Create Sector Layers

514.2.2 Create and Render

55Appendix A Reference

1 Overview

Graphical Information System (GIS) is an information system responsible for collecting, saving, managing, describing as well as analyzing data related to surface of the earth and graphical distribution in space. Depending upon the graphical space database and supported by the computer hardware and software environment, this computer application system collects, manages, operates, analyzes, simulates and displays space-involved data and meanwhile, furnishes with abundant space and dynamic graphical information through the graphical model analysis method to serve a range of purposes like graphical research, comprehensive appraisal, management, quantitative analysis and decision making.

A list of widely accepted GIS software includes the software products developed via 3 US GIS developers as ESRI, Intergraph and MapInfo as well as other three domestic software as MapGIS, GeoStar and Citystar, where MapInfo is an application program used frequently in the wireless communication network planning. Functions and operations about this program, especially application in the wireless network planning & optimization, are described below. 1.1 Brief Introduction

MapInfo Professional: A leading commercial map solution in the industry that presents relation between data and geographical information in a direct way so as to facilitate decision marking. With MapInfor Professional, you can:

Create precise and accurate maps as the best way to present data;

Provide comprehensive location service solutions and manage information based on geographical locations such as service facilities, population, assets and so on;

Offer powerful data analysis tools to search for data, facilitate decision making, formulate emergency plans and strengthen business management capabilities.

MapInfo provides simple and convenient development methods, a built-in Basic development language MapBasic and the integrated development environment as well as many powerful clauses to assist users to customize map application, extend the functions of this software, develop tools that can be used repetitively and incorporate map application into others. In addition, it is also able to team up with other common languages such as Visual Basic, C++, Power Builder, Delphi and so on to develop map applications.

As for other specific functions used while planning wireless network, please refer to as follows:

Use Excel to create station layers;

Plan new stations;

Make inquiries and statistics;

Formulate thematic maps;

Coordinate with Google Earth;

Scale;

Others

MapInfo MapX is an OCX component of the MapInfo product family that is characterized by convenience and formidable capabilities. The development of MapX based upon ActiveX control provides real object linking and embedding controls and enables development personnel to use standard programming languages like VB, VC++, Delphi or PowerBuilder and so on so as to incorporate map objects into various new or existing systems in accordance with special requirements made by several users in the enterprise. New we employ MapX4.5 while developing network planning & optimization software. The release of MapX extends the application range of the MapInfo products. More and more users can share the advanced technologies of MapInfo through MapX.1.2 Software Installation & Operation

Since being released in 1986 for the first time, MapInfo Professional has come in many versions. The latest version MapInfo9.5 was released in May 2008. As for system requirements, they differ from one version to another. Generally speaking, all the foregoing versions are able to run in a stable way in Windows XP and incompatibility arises when it comes to Windows 2003 server. In respect of this version, please refer to the table below.

Table 11 Operating System Requirements

Operating SystemsMemoryDisk SpaceGraphic CardMonitor

Windows 2000 Professional SP 4256/512 MB ofFast EIDE 2Mid to High 2D/3DGreater than

Windows Vista UltimateRAM with a minimum of aor SCSI Interface withcard with 128MB or better1024x768 resolution or

Windows XP Professional SP 2 Windows XP Home SP 2Pentium PC or better2GB or better Data 450 MBbetter

Windows XP (64-bit)

Windows 2000 Server SP4 Windows 2003 Server SP 1 with Terminal Services/Citrix 4.0Same, PLUS memory sufficient to support each connected userFast EIDE 2 or SCSI Interface with 2GB or better Data 450 MBServer: Same Client: Choose based on resolution/speed requirementsGreater than 1024x768 resolution or better

* For Window Vista, MapInfo has not been authenticated yet.

* For Windows 2003 server, parts of functions are restricted.

It is similar to other software in terms of installation procedures. If choosing Typical Configuration, some default components, such as certain features in the Tools that are required to be selected otherwise, wont be installed. You can also choose Customer Configuration Interface to select plugin as required and for the main contents of configuration, please refer to as follows:

MapInfo Program Files

Tools (which refer to the MapInfo Utility Tools, Crystal Reports and so on.)

Translators (Universal Translators, ArcLink and so on.)

Help Files

Documentation

2 Software Function Menu Configuration Overview

2.1 Software Function Interface Configuration

When MapInfo Professional is initiated, the system reminds whether to recover last data.

Figure 21Quick Start

Following login, the interface below pops up.

Figure 22Interface Overview

The Box 1 outlines function menus, Box 2, 3 and 4 some common tool buttons, Box 5 information in the operation area such as region size, scale and latitude & longitude of the location pointed by the cursor and Box 6 layers being edited and Box 7 information concerning selected points or areas.

Among the function menus, both Options and Map are in connection with system and interface configuration. To execute software configuration, open Preference in the Options.

Figure 23System Setup Preference

Except Unit that needs frequent change as a matter of convenience, other items can be set according to individual preference.

Open Options in the Map and adjust map-related settings in line with display requirements.

Figure 24Map Options

2.2 Common Menu Function Description

Lets briefly introduce the drop-down menus on the top of the MapInfo Professional main window in combination with commonly used functions.

FileOperation files;

Figure 25File Menu

The red box above mainly outlines commends to save current layer information into formats of image, table and so on, and through this way you can open many layers quickly.

ToolsSelect tools and check the corresponding toolboxes in the Tools Manager to activate required functions.

Figure 26Tools Manager

You can use Universal Translator to convert some formats.

ObjectsContain some operations to be executed upon chosen object such as rotate, convert, combine and so on.

Figure 27Objects Menu

QueryMainly execute some functions related to query like find, locate and so on that are in compliance with certain conditions.

Figure 28Query Menu

The boxes in the Figure 2-8 outlines some common functions that are used to search for information that complies with certain conditions and as for how to use Select, please refer to as follows:

Figure 29Selection Function

When inputting conditions, you can select from Assist and then verify. While selecting browse results, display search hits in the form of table first of all and then the points or regions that comply with search conditions are highlighted on layers. Finally, operate or save tables that contain search hits.

Use Find to search for the points or regions that are in accordance with certain conditions and once found, the point centers the view window immediately. The function of Find is capable of drawing a specific symbol on the Cosmetic Layer and we are allowed to define the type of this symbol as well as other attributes for the purpose of being found easily.

Figure 210Find Function

TableAdjust tables.

Figure 211Table Menu

Update Column is a common function. Refer to the related contents in both tables and update information in a certain table. For example, define different region attributes according to population density and mark the proposed stations that pertain to various regions so as to indicate the type of region they cover. At this moment, you can update the region type in the base station information table.

Figure 212Update Column

The following table is created when being confirmed. Categorize and then alter attributes in line with the same population density following export.

Figure 213Plan Site Table after Update

Create Points is frequently used during planning and you can use it to convert the information contained by excel opened through File into points in the layers.

Import & Export are usually deployed to convert formats or output results. Take MIF files as a example, they can be imported in the format of Table.

Figure 214Import Function

Maintenance mainly functions to carry out some operations upon tables such as table structure modification, adjustment, deletion and so on, and while using Find, it is required to add index to the designated column in the inquired object data table. Under most circumstances, manual adding is necessary. Click Maintenance -> Table Structure to call out the window shown in the Figure 2-10 from which the inquired data column can be chosen.

Figure 215Table Structure Edit

OptionsOperate to display lines, fonts and so on, and make some adjustments towards the displayed contents in the window.

Figure 216Options Menu

MapThis menu contains some commands that can be used to operate layers. For example, Layer Control is a common basic operation, Create Thematic Map is employed to display related information on layers for categorization, Create Legend is used to create layers and image examples for better understanding of layer observation and Options to edit and adjust map information.

Figure 217Map Menu

Through creating thematic Layers, it is convenient to display categorized information contained in layers such as displaying various regions, traffic, call-drop rate and so on during the process of network planning and optimization at different levels and so on.

Create image examples depending upon the actual situations and make description for information about critical ground objects and so on

Figure 218Create Legend

You can also edit, increase created image examples and meanwhile, add layers and image examples or edit the contents to be displayed.

WindowsOperate windows as shown below:

Figure 219Windows Menu

Table can be accessed through New Browser Window for better understanding.

Through New Layout Window, you can reorganize window layout to cater for printing. For details,

please refer to as follows:

Figure 220New Layout Window

Put the image example in a proper position for better comprehension.

Figure 221Output with Legend

OthersStatistics and Information are common functions in the figure operation.

Figure 222Main Button

During layer control, you can adjust the displaying method of tables.

Figure 223Layer Control

Select a certain layer for editing. Use Display to adjust the color of layers and Label to edit remarks.

Figure 224Display Edit

Figure 225Label Edit

3 Network Planning Optimum Application Scenario

3.1 Station Layer Created via Excel

3.1.1 Excel Import

No special requirements are compulsory for Excel but at least containing information of latitude and longitude. However, it is recommended to apply the following principles: The title line is only one line, latitude and longitude are expressed in digits rather than letters or not calculated through formula so as to avoid full-width characters. For examples, please refer to as follows:

Figure 31Excel File

Open this Excel sheet in MapInfo and the type of files to be opened should be xls. It is recommended to check Create Only in MapInfo Format for Read/Write or the tab files formed by MapInfo are read only and not editable. (For the versions that are before the version 8.5, this option does not exist and for those foregoing versions, it is recommended to save them as tab files in the procedure shown in the Figure 3-2.)

Figure 32Open Options

The following dialogue box pops up:

Figure 33Excel Information

Designate range in the Named Range. As MapInfo considers the first line of Excel (ABCDEFG.) a line, change it to A2. Meanwhile, check Use Row above Selected Range for Column Titles to import the title column.

For the versions after V7.5, click OK and the window shown in Figure 34 pops up. Through this window, you can further modify the attributes of each character section. Please note that latitude and longitude correspond to 2 character sections and Type must be Float or the following Create Point is unable to form correctly.

Figure 35Character Section Attribute Setup Window

Latter MapInfo loads in data and presents them in the form to table as shown below:

Figure 36Open Table

Create Station Layer: The station list pops up when being opened up and execute the command Create Points in the menu of Table as shown below:

Figure 37Create Points Options

Then appoint Symbol and what is important is to bind the columns of latitude and longitude to X and Y.

Following confirmation, press F3 (New Mapper) or click to see the effects. If the layer created just now has problems such as stations listed in rows and columns or no stations being created and so on, the underlying reasons might consist in incorrect configuration of the character section corresponding to latitude and longitude or the fact that latitude and longitude in the original Excel sheet are calculated via formula. If the latter is the case, remove the formula immediately.

3.1.2 Sector Layer Creation

The station layer created by the foregoing procedures has one obvious disadvantage that it contains on information about azimuth, thus not facilitating to design topological structure. If required to contain sector information, it needs to use plugin.

Site See and Cell Make are options for selection.

To use a certain plugin, load it in first. Execute the commend Tool Manager under the menu of Tools to call out the window below:

Figure 31Tool Manager Window

MapInfo incorporates many plugins and we can configure this software to load and auto load those plugins. As for external plugin, click Add Tool to import. Following Site See being loaded, an extra option WFI Site See turns up in the menu of Table as shown below:

Figure 32SiteSee Menu Options

Run the command Create Site Boundaries to call out the dialogue box below:

Figure 33Create Site Boundary Window

In this window, it is required to bind latitude & longitude, coverage radius, horizontal field angle and azimuth. When configuration is done, a sector layer is created. Each sector is an individual element that can be rendered or undertake other operations.

For the example of forming a sector via Site See, please refer to as follows:

Figure 34 Cell Maker Example

3.2 New Station Planning

New station planning is defined to determine stations on the map while combining input information like electronic maps, population distribution, link budget result, capacity budget results and so on

3.2.1 Create New Layers

In MapInfo, each layer is actually a 2D data table presented in the form of image and has its own table structure. For example, if opening a road layer for a certain city, you can find special character sections for roads in the table structure such as ID, Street Name, District and so on

Before creating layers, we have to taken the following into consideration: To build new stations, what information is necessary and required to be recorded during the process of station distribution? Therefore, it is compulsory to record the information like ID, Name, Station Type and so on as character sections. As what is shown in the Figure 2-12, Site ID and Site Name must be contained and it is recommended to take ID and Name as index for the purpose of using Find.

Figure 38New Layers

3.2.2 Input Information

When new stations are built, click in the Tools Bar to distribute.

One FAQ is how to add labels like name, ID and so on to those newly-increased stations in MapInfo.

Actually, you can click to name each station. This approach leads to many troubles like

difficulty in place adjustment, inconvenience in font change together and irrelevance between labels,

stations and so on. As long as the number of stations is in large quantities, it would be disastrous if

adopting the approach mentioned before.

Unfortunately, the standard and reasonable method is to use rather than to edit the

contents in the table. Click the newly-added stations and the window shown in the Figure 2-12 turns

up. Its paragraph structure is identical with the table structure defined in the Figure 2.2.1 and we can

make entry to each item directly. Through this way, the information is related to the corresponding

station.

If the window contents are not editable, please refer to the Footnote 2.

Figure 39Site Information

When finishing editing information of all newly-added stations, enable Label, select ID or Name in the

Layer Control and the corresponding Label displays and you are also enabled to adjust the location of

display, font and color as well.

3.2.3 New Station Export

Following planning, we need to obtain the latitude and longitude information of those stations so as to

make Excel-based base station information table and get ready for the following simulation and so on.

3.2.3.1 Method 1recommendedGlobal Mapper adopted

Open the tab files via Global Mapper and then execute the command Export Vector Data->Export csv

from the File menu. You can also use Excel to open the csv files directly.

3.2.3.2 Method 2Coordinate Extractor adopted

This problem can be solved via Coordinate Extractor.

After loading the Coordinate Extractor of MapInfo, a line of Coordinate Extractor appears in the Tools

menu.

The interface is as follows:

Figure 310Coordinate Extractor Interface

In the event that 2 character sections are reserved respectively for latitude and longitude when

creating .tab files, X and Y are assigned to those 2 columns or click Create New Columns to Hold

Coordinates to extend it into 2 lines. The projection format is default. For instance, we only set up 2

character sections as SITEID and SITETYPE when adding new layers, and they turn into 4 character

sections following extension like SITEID, SITETYPE, Latitude and Longitude.

Click OK to fill out the last 2 character sections automatically according to current information

concerning latitude and longitude.

For examples, please refer to as follows and there is a newly-built layer on which total 9 stations

distribute.

Figure 35Planning Example

The contents in the table turn into as follows after using Coordinate Extractor.

Figure 36Data Table following Extension via Coordinate Extractor

Latter export the said data table into the format of text or DBF that can be opened via Excel.

Shortcomings about this method are operations to be complicated and accuracy low as only 4 digits

are kept following dot.

3.3 Inquiry & Statistics

3.3.1 SQL Inquiry

The inquiry function of MapInfo is so powerful that it almost supports all the SQL clauses. Through

SQL inquiry, you can sift out points that are in compliance with certain conditions, change their

attributes or save as independent files. Moreover, it is also feasible to realize related inquiry between

multiple layers.

The SQL clause is easy to learn and only basic grammar is required.

For instance, a certain project consists of 500 stations that are divided into 5 business regions. All the

information concerning stations is carried via an Excel sheet and we desire to color-code each region

(rendering as a preferred option and for details, please refer to 2.4.2). There is another example: A

certain business region comprises stations in 3 types like S111, S222 (2000) and S222 (2500) and we

can use SQL inquiry to single out a certain station type and assign color and symbol as well to it.

Before inquiry, the Tab layer must encompass information for inquiry such as Region, Site Type and

so on.

Execute the command SQL Select from the Query menu and the following window pops up.

Figure 311SQL Select Window

You can write SQL clauses through this window. For example,

Select * from Site_List where Freq=450MHz And Region=FTR

When all the stations of 450MHz in the FTR business region are chosen, switch to the Map window to

change the attributes of Symbol. As revealed by the figure below, SQL inquiry designates different

colors and signs for stations with different capacities.

Figure 312SQL Inquiry Example

Additionally, to make statistics about the quantity of stations in various types in the FTR region on the

Border layer, use the SQL clause below:

Select Count(*), Site_List.Site_Config, Border.Region from Site_List, Border

Where Site_List.Obj Within Border.Obj And Border.Region="FTR"

Group by Site_List.Site_Config Order by Site_List.Site_Config

Where Site List and Border are the names of 2 layers of site and region information and Site_List.Obj

within Border.Obj stands for the corresponding base station in the relevant region within the Border.

Use Group by to group in accordance with appointed character section of Site Config. Make statistics

of all the items sharing the same Site Config and then put out a line of record.

The following results are obtained once command execution is over.

Figure 313SQL Compound Inquiry Results

3.3.2 Statistics

Use in the Tools Bar to sum each character section of chosen elements and also calculate the

average value as well. Execute the command Query->Calculate Statistics to make statistics of more

information involving designated table and character section such as standard tolerance and so on.

Of cause, use the function of SQL inquiry to complete more complicated statistics.

There is a trick to combine and as a whole to make statistics of information concerning

appointed regions effortlessly. For example, layer A is a region layer and layer B a station layer. Use

to pick up regions and to obtain statistics information of stations in the layer B that are

also situated in the chosen region of the layer A.

Take the figure below as an example, the green boundary is a layer of normal urban area and the blue

points are the base stations in the base station layer. How to count the number of stations inside the

green boundary quickly? Just use Boundary Select and Show/Hide Statistics to accomplish this task.

Figure 314Boundary Selection Statistics

There is a green hole in the middle of the green boundary in the figure above that stands for the dense

urban area.

3.3.3 Statistics Example

A common statistics scenario is as follows: Draw circles in the number of N on the border layer and

those circles stand for normal urban areas. Please calculate the total area of those circles. There are 2

layers, one is the base station information and expressed via blue points and the other entitled CQ_SU

region boundary, in the figure below.

Figure 315Region Statistics Example

Write the following clauses into the SQL inquiry window.

Figure 316SQL Inquiry of Region Statistics Example

Click OK to obtain result, namely, the area in total in the green region.

Once obtaining the total area, write the following clause into the SQL inquiry window to make

statistics of the number of points in the region.

Figure 317SQL Inquiry of Region Statistics Example

The example above involves layer interlock operation and MapInfo automatically determines which

points fall into which areas and then works out the result of statistics. There is no need to put in

conditions into Where Condition manually and when selecting 2 different layers from the drop-down

box of Tables, the software constructs interlock conditions automatically.

Click OK to obtain the following result, in other words, there are 201 base stations situated inside the

boundary of the green region.

3.3.4 Other Applications

Similarly, we can make various KPI thematic maps so as to analyze network conditions in a direct

manner and find out hidden network irregularities. Combine pie chart and column diagram as well to

get more information for the purpose of facilitating our planning and optimization work. Reference

[11] is teemed with detailed description and a large quantity of examples.

3.4 Map Scaling in MapInfo

During network planning, absence of electronic maps constitutes a common situation into which we

usually run. Under such circumstances, it is required to scan local maps and then scale via MapInfo.

The scaling principle is simple: Find out 3 or more characteristic points such as hospital, shop, road

entry and so on on the scanned map, figure out their latitude and longitude via visiting the site or

Google Earth and then put into MapInfo for scaling. Following scaling, an image-based tab file

containing the information related to latitude and longitude is created.

The scaling procedures of MapInfo are as follows:

Open image files directly (jpg, gif, bmp, tif and other formats are acceptable) and please note that make sure the type of files to be opened is Raster Image.

MapInfo reminds to use as background or for scaling and select the latter.

Put in the scaling points and then input latitude and longitude (at least of 3 points that scatter over).

The following image is a scanned image for scaling.

Figure 318Scanned Image Scaling Example

3.5 Coordination with Google Earth

Google Earth considerably simplifies our planning and optimization work and also enables us to check

out the terrain and building distribution in the business region without expensive electronic map. Take

the figure below as an example, the network of a certain city comes into the following topological

figure.

Figure 319Google Earth Example

Google Earth is capable of providing high resolution satellite images involving large cities. Depending

upon those images, you can get a clear view of surroundings and buildings distribution of those cities

and distinguish dense urban city, normal urban area, suburban area and villages accurately.

Cooperation between MapInfo and Google Earth mainly consists in:

Convert base station information layers of MapInfo to Google Earth layers

Convert Google Earth layers to the layers that are recognizable for MapInfo.

Global Mapper is able to open kmz/kml files of Google Earth directly and then export them into mifs.

Meanwhile, it is also able to open tab layers and export them into kmz/kmls.

3.6 Functions of Relevant Plugins

3.6.1 Sector Layer Creation

The station layer created by the foregoing procedures has one obvious disadvantage that it contains on

information about azimuth, thus not facilitating to design topological structure. If required to contain

sector information, it needs to use plugin.

Site See and Cell Make are options for selection. To use a certain plugin, load it in first. Execute the

commend Tool Manager under the menu of Tools to call out the window below:

Figure 320Tool Manager Window

MapInfo incorporates many plugins and we can configure this software to load and auto load those

plugins. As for external plugin, click Add Tool to import. Following Site See being loaded, an extra

option WFI Site See turns up in the menu of Table as shown below:

Figure 321SiteSee Menu Options

Run the command Create Site Boundaries to call out the dialogue box below:

Figure 322Create Site Boundary Window

In this window, it is required to bind latitude & longitude, coverage radius, horizontal field angle and

azimuth. When configuration is done, a sector layer is created. Each sector is an individual element

that can be rendered or undertake other operations.

As for an example of Site See-created sector, please refer to as follows:

Figure 323Cell Maker Example

3.6.2 MapInfo2Google Plugin

Use the plugin of MapInfo2Google to turn base station layers and boundary layers into Google Earth

layers. The effects as shown in the Figure 2-28 are realized via this plugin. As for the procedures

involving how to realize the effects mentioned before, please refer to as follows:

Create a sector layer in the way as described in 2.1.4.

Adjust the window (maximization not possible), zoom in and out layers so as to ensure all the stations are contained in the window.

Execute the commend MapInfo2Google->Convert Map Window to KML File and then select directory for export.

Make another base station information table that contains no information concerning sector (e.g. deploy the incorporated plugin of Delete Duplicates to retain only one line of record for each station in the original base station information table).

Create base station layers in the method as described in 2.1.3 and make them visible through Label and meanwhile, superpose text compulsorily.

Repeat the Procedure 2~3.

Open both kml files generated via the Procedure 3/6 via Google Earth.

3.6.3 Google Earth Link Plugin

The plugin of Google Earth Link is incorporated into MapInfo v8.5 or above. Even if unable to

generate information concerning sector, it still has the following merits:

Able to snapshot current window, turn it into a scaled image and then place on top of Google Earth directly.

Able choose designated elements, export them into kml files and designate element attributes.

Once the program is loaded, the option Google Earth Link shows up in the Map menu.

Select the information that is required to be exported in the first place, execute the commend

Map->Google Earth Link->Export to Google Earth if selected all the stations and the following

dialogue box pops up immediately.

Figure 324GE Link Dialogue Box1

The 1st option takes current window as an image with information involving latitude and longitude.

Once opened via Google Earth, you can see an image superposed upon the surface of the earth.

The 2nd option is to export station elements and click Next to pop up the following dialogue box.

Figure 325GE Link Dialogue Box 2

In the said dialogue box, you can select labels in Google Earth that display as default, choose built-in

character sections of attributes via Choose Columns and set the height of elements above the ground

and so on. The Figure 2-29 represents effects of the exported KML layers opened in Google Earth.

Click with each visible point and a message box indicating corresponding information of the said point

pops up right away, which forms a pragmatic function during the process of network planning.

Figure 326GE Link Output Effects

Putting aside station information export, the plugin of MapInfo2Google and Google Earth Link are

also able to export boundaries.

3.6.4 Create Hexagons via the Plugin Create Line by Length

At the initial stage of cell network topological structure design, we can work out an approximate

coverage radius through link budget and then use right hexagons to cover target areas. How to draw

size-designated right hexagons is a very important question. The plugin Create Line by Length

comes out to solve this issue.

Execute the commend Tool Manager under the menu of Tools to call out the window below:

Figure 327Tool Manager Window

Select to load and auto-load this plugin. An extra button pops up in the Tools Bar.

Built a new editable layer and click this button, select a start-point, click the Right Button to call out

the following interface.

Figure 328Create Line Window

And length is the link budget radius. Input 60, 0, 300, 240, 180, 120 in the angle field to form a right

hexagon. Select all the 6 straight lines and click the Right Button to select Edit Objects->Combine to

unify them into a Polyline. Click Polyline to convert it to Regions. Just paste and drag from now on.

As for the example planned through the above-mentioned method, please refer to as follows:

Figure 329Topological Structure Planning Example

3.6.5 Create Search Ring via the Function of Buffer

For details, please refer to the Reference [7].

Besides the method stated in the Reference [7], MapInfo v8.5 incorporates a new plugin entitled

Concentric Ring Buffers that is deployed to create multiple Search Rings for each point and make

statistics as well.

4 Network Planning & Optimization Application Example

4.1 Network Planning Application

4.1.1 Planning Information

The requirements are as follows: Obtain the information in respect of current network distribution in a

certain business region, carry out BSC division upon the existing base stations, define BSC boundaries

and color-code them as well to indicate their category. The final output is as shown below:

Figure 41Comprehensive Example Output Result

Here comes a brief description involving procedures used to realize the abovementioned output result.

4.1.2 Create Station Layers

Create base station layers in accordance with the method as set forth in the Section 3.1 and the dots

used stand for base stations.

BSC division only concerns station locations and the reference signification concerning azimuth is less

considerable. As a result, it is unnecessary to generate sector layers.

4.1.3 Create New BSC Boundary Layers

The newly-built layers contain at least one character section, BSCName, for example, the data type is

Character and the width is more than 4 and so on.

4.1.4 Modify the Structure of the Base Station Layer Form

Modify the table structure that corresponds to base station layer and increase a character section, BSC

for example, the data type is identical with that of the BSC boundary layer. Following modification,

MapInfo shuts down the said table automatically and re-open is required.

4.1.5 Draw BSC Boundary

Introduction of principles concerning BSC division is omitted and assume that BSC division adopts

administration boundary as boundary.

Open the boundaries of regions and towns of a national electronic map in the first place. Use the tool

of Polygon (Notes: When it comes to drawing lines along boundary, Polygon rather than Polyline

constitutes the preferred choice as lines drawn by Polyline are hard to fuse together, thus jeopardizing

following operations) to draw lines along administration boundary in accordance with the function of

Trace described in 2.7.3.

Use to add name for each BSC boundary when completing line-drawing. You can name from

BSC1 to BSC3.

4.1.6 Input the information of BSC Boundary into Base Station Layer

Use Update Column to fill out BSC character sections of all the base stations in BSC X with BSC X.

The key window is below:

Figure 42Update Column

4.1.7 Render Base Station Layers

Render BSC character sections in the base station layer and the type of this character section is

Character. As the Ranges rendering is not appropriate, it is therefore recommended to render via the

template in Individual as shown below:

Figure 43Rendering Template Selection

Information concerning stations being planned displays following creation and export results in base

station information table.

4.2 Network Optimization Application Example

4.2.1 Create Sector Layers

As thematic maps render traffic of each sector, the base station information table must contain

information in connection with sector and traffic. Figure 4-4 reflexes an example. Generally speaking,

the sequence of stations in the traffic statistics statement in the background is quite different from that

in the base station information table. Therefore, Excel requires the function of vLookup to realize

accurate match-up and update. You can, of cause, import both tables into MapInfo and then execute

the commend Table->Update Column to extend a line for the base station information table as well as

realize correlation and update. We finally obtain a base station information table with information in respect of traffic and then adopt

the method as described in 2.1.4 to generate sector layers. (Please note that the data type

corresponding to ERL is Float)

Figure 44Base Station Table with Telecommunication Traffic Information

4.2.2 Create and Render

Use the commend Map->Create Thematic Map to create rendering figures. The window below turns

up:

Figure 45Thematic Map Dialogue Box

Here we pick up the theme of Ranges and then select an appropriate built-in template, click Next to input the Step 2 as shown below and choose a target character section for rendering.

Figure 46Thematic Map Dialogue Box 2

Latter MapInfo divides it into 5 sections evenly according to the value corresponding to ERL automatically. We can use Ranges to change ranges, Styles to change colors and Legend to change display of image examples.

Figure 47Thematic Map Dialogue Box 3

A thematic map is generated following confirmation.

Figure 48Schematic Map Example

Appendix A Reference

[1] MapInfo Professional Version 8.5 Guide Book

[2] Wanghui, MapInfo Professional Upgrade v5

[3] Zhang Xifeng, SiteSee Tools Operation Summary

[4] Zhao Haifeng, User Guide to MapInfo Plus-In CellMaker

[5] Liu Xianzheng, Methods Involving Google Earth Base Station Layers Creation via MapInfo plugin (060519)

[6] Weiwei, Guide to Traffic Distribution Figure Creation via MapInfo 6.5 and GCIMaker

[7] Ma Huiyu, Create SearchRing via MapInfo

[8] Ouyangxi, Information Transfer between Internal Layers of MapInfo

[9] Xueao, How to use Mapinfo to Assist the Village Access Planning Simulation

[10]Qin Fuxin, Application of MapInfo in CNS

[11]Wanghui, Scheme Figure Formulation in Network Optimization Analysis

[12]Pan Chunjin, Base Station Cell Creation Template

[13]Liu Xianzheng, Application of Simulation Drawings in Google Earth

[14]Pan Chunjin & Liu Xianzheng, New Application of Google Earth: A Gadget to Convert Standards like RxPower, FFER and StrEc/Io in CNA1 to Google Earth Layers

1ii