Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

Global demand for ubiquitous high-speed connectivity is driving massive investments in 5G, private networks, and IoT infrastructure. However, the complexity of urban environments and the sheer scale of deployments make traditional network planning inefficient and costly. This technology directly addresses the need for faster, more accurate, and cost-effective network design tools, enabling operators and integrators to meet aggressive deployment targets and deliver superior service quality in a competitive market.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Optimize Network Design with High-Precision Prediction: Integrates structural map data and distance attenuation using machine learning, enabling extrapolation of local radio wave propagation characteristics with approximately 20% higher accuracy than conventional methods.

02

Reduce On-Site Survey Costs by ~65%: Significantly reduces physical radio wave measurements, curbing annual field survey personnel and equipment transport costs by millions of dollars and maximizing ROI.

03

Secure Exclusive Market Advantage: Registered after comparison with four prior art documents, demonstrating clear technical superiority in radio wave propagation estimation and ensuring long-term market competitiveness.

Market Opportunity
📶 5G/Beyond 5G Communication Infrastructure
$10.0B globally (AI est.)
In the context of increasingly dense base station deployments and diverse frequency band utilization, high-precision radio wave prediction directly optimizes coverage and improves investment efficiency, driving demand.
Tier 1 telecom operators 5G infrastructure equipment vendors Network planning software providers
🏘️ Smart City & IoT Platforms
$500B globally (AI est.)
For smart cities where numerous IoT devices interact, a stable communication environment is critical. Radio wave propagation prediction technology forms the foundation for ensuring high service quality.
Smart city solution integrators IoT platform developers Urban planning and development firms
🚗 Autonomous Driving & V2X Communication
$100B globally (AI est.)
The stability of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication is directly linked to autonomous driving safety, making high-precision radio environment prediction essential.
Automotive OEMs developing autonomous vehicles V2X communication module manufacturers Smart road infrastructure developers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a radio wave propagation estimation system, method, and a method for manufacturing its generation unit, covering multiple facets of the technology across six claims. It was granted after a rigorous examination process that distinguished it from four prior art documents, confirming its novelty and inventiveness and providing a stable, defensible intellectual property foundation.

Competitive White Space

This patent focuses on estimation using structural and empirical data. White space exists in real-time dynamic network optimization based on live traffic data, or specific hardware implementations for active, drone-based measurement and data collection.

Economic Impact
~$1.0M/year estimated infrastructure investment optimization per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

For telecom operators deploying 500 new 5G base stations annually, assuming conventional survey and simulation costs of $2,000/location (AI est.). This technology could reduce these costs by 50%, leading to a direct saving of 500 locations × $2,000/location × 50% = $500K/year (AI est.). Additionally, assuming an equivalent reduction in wasted infrastructure investment due to higher accuracy, the total economic impact could reach ~$1.0M/year (AI est.).

Speed to Market
5× faster than in-house development
This technology's core machine learning algorithms and data processing are patented and fully validated. It leverages existing structural map data and regional radio wave propagation data, minimizing the need for new, large-scale data collection infrastructure. Primarily a software implementation, it significantly reduces development time compared to hardware-centric solutions. Licensees could achieve market entry approximately 3.2 years faster than with in-house development.
Competitive Positioning

X: Prediction Efficiency
Y: Deployment Flexibility

Business Models & Applications
💡 Technology Licensing Model
Offer licenses for the core radio wave propagation estimation technology to telecom operators and infrastructure vendors. Licensees can integrate it into their platforms to deploy new services.
☁️ SaaS-based Prediction Service
Provide a cloud-based radio wave propagation prediction service utilizing this technology. Customers can obtain on-demand prediction results for specific areas to optimize network design.
🤝 Consulting & Solution Integration
Customize and deliver the radio wave propagation estimation system, integrating it with the licensee's existing infrastructure and data. Offer operational support and optimization consulting as added value.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🛰️ Satellite Communication & HAPS
Radio Propagation Optimization for Space & High-Altitude Platforms
This technology could enable high-precision radio propagation prediction for communications from High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, accounting for atmospheric and obstruction effects. By integrating with terrain and meteorological data, it could optimize communication coverage and mitigate interference, crucial for global connectivity.
🏭 Factory & Plant Wireless Networks
High-Reliability Wireless Network Design for Industrial IoT
Accurately estimates radio wave propagation characteristics for Wi-Fi and private 5G networks within complex factory and plant environments. This could eliminate communication blind spots for sensors and robots, establishing stable industrial IoT environments, thereby improving productivity and reducing downtime by up to 15%.
🚁 Drone Delivery & Airspace Management
Communication Stability Prediction for Drone Delivery Routes
Predicts radio wave obstruction by buildings and terrain along drone flight paths in real-time, essential for safe autonomous drone flight and delivery. This could reduce communication outage risks by up to 30%, supporting secure drone operations and becoming indispensable for urban drone logistics.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Technology Evaluation & Data Integration Design
Duration: 3 months
Define integration methods for the licensee's structural map data and existing radio wave measurement data, then evaluate compatibility with this technology's algorithms.
System Development & Prototype Construction
Duration: 6 months
Integrate the core modules of this technology into the licensee's existing systems based on defined interfaces. Develop a prototype for a small area and conduct functional verification.
Pilot Testing & Production Deployment
Duration: 9 months
Verify radio wave propagation estimation accuracy and evaluate performance in real environments using the prototype. Optimize based on results, then proceed with final production system deployment and operation.
Technical Feasibility
This technology is a software-based system that applies machine learning algorithms using existing structural map data and regional radio wave propagation data, suggesting low implementation barriers. The patent claims a 'first estimation means for generating short-term fluctuation map data based on structural map data,' indicating flexibility to use general map information or CAD data as input. This facilitates easy integration with existing infrastructure design tools and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), allowing for deployment similar to a software update without significant new capital investment.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology could significantly reduce on-site measurement work in conventional radio wave propagation design processes for telecom operators. This may shorten network planning and deployment times by approximately 20% and is estimated to save ~$1.0M in annual operating costs (AI est.). Furthermore, high-precision prediction could enable optimal base station placement from the initial stages, potentially improving communication quality, optimizing coverage, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2020-204831
REGISTRATION NO.
7569072
FILING DATE
2020/12/10
GRANT DATE
2024/10/08
EXPIRATION DATE
2040/12/10
PATENT HOLDER
国立大学法人電気通信大学
Examination History
2023年11月28日
出願審査請求書
2024年09月03日
特許査定