  Millimeter wave (mmW) communication is a promising solution for providing
high-capacity wireless network access. However, the benefits of mmW are limited
by the fact that the channel between a mmW access point and the user equipment
can stochastically change due to severe blockage of mmW links by obstacles such
as the human body. Thus, one main challenge of mmW network coverage is to
enable directional line-of-sight links between access points and mobile
devices. In this paper, a novel framework is proposed for optimizing mmW
network coverage within hotspots and in-venue regions, while being cognizant of
the body blockage of the network's users. In the studied model, the locations
of potential access points and users are assumed as predefined parameters while
the orientation of the users is assumed to be stochastic. Hence, a joint
stochastic access point placement and beam steering problem subjected to
stochastic users' body blockage is formulated, under desired network coverage
constraints. Then, a greedy algorithm is introduced to find an approximation
solution for the joint deployment and assignment problem using a new `size
constrained weighted set cover' approach. A closed-form expression for the
ratio between the optimal solution and approximate one (resulting from the
greedy algorithm) is analytically derived. The proposed algorithm is simulated
for three in-venue regions: the meeting room in the Alumni Assembly Hall of
Virginia Tech, an airport gate, and one side of a stadium football. Simulation
results show that, in order to guarantee network coverage for different
in-venue regions, the greedy algorithm uses at most three more access points
(APs) compared to the optimal solution. The results also show that, due to the
use of the additional APs, the greedy algorithm will yield a network coverage
up to 11.7 % better than the optimal, AP-minimizing solution.
