Measurement-Based Stochastic mmWave Channel Modeling

Emerging mmWave technology will require new channel models. Compared to the lower frequency bands, mmWaves will be more reflected and absorbed but less diffracted. Hence, placement of individual physical structures in the environment will affect the propagation much more than before, providing a challenge for channel modeling. At the same time, however, an increasing amount of information about the topology of the physical environment, in particular for buildings, is made available through better measurement equipment and services for obtaining 3D data. We propose a Monte-Carlo approach for channel modeling where interactions between mmWaves and the surrounding small-scale environment can be included, given a stochastic representation. This method is not only suitable for assessment of basic effects such as material reflection and absorption, but can also in the future be extended to various additional effects such as weather, traffic, foliage, etc. The framework is verified against 15 GHz measurements from an urban environment, demonstrating how major reflection paths can be replicated by modeling the closest buildings.