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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Cognio Announces Breakthrough Location Technology for WLAN Deployments
WALTHAM, Mass. – November 3, 2003 ¯ Cognio, the leading provider of intelligent hardware and software spectrum management solutions that enable mission-critical wireless applications, today introduced the industry’s first integrated Wireless LAN (WLAN) location capability based on Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) positioning techniques. This marks the first time that TDOA, in use in outdoor applications such as GPS and military radar, has been applied to solve the location challenge in indoor applications. TDOA measures short high speed radio signals to triangulate the actual location of any RF emitter. With this technology integrated into Cognio’s patent pending Intelligent Spectrum ManagementTM (ISM) solutions, enterprise IT managers can enhance network security, optimize network performance and visibility and deliver real-time information on wireless user/device location and activity.
Current methods for solving the WLAN location problem use an approach called “Receive Signal Strength Indicator,” (RSSI) which attempts to infer locations through measurements of RF energy levels. Such approaches require frequent re-calibration of the environment to address the highly variable and dynamic nature of indoor RF conditions (multi-path, signal loss etc.). The approach also has shortcomings in accuracy and reliability of location measurements.
Cognio has shattered a critical barrier in location determination by capturing TDOA concepts and leveraging them within its ISM framework. It can deliver location accuracy to within one meter, regardless of wireless protocol in use, and without making any changes to the access point or client devices. Cognio’s approach adapts to the conditions of the RF spectrum and does not require any calibration of the environment. The depth of information Cognio’s system can provide will improve network efficiency and security without requiring costly network upgrades, specialized client gear and cumbersome radio environment mapping and calibration.
“Position-location technology is destined to become a standard feature on future wireless LANs,” said Craig Mathias, a Principal with the wireless advisory firm Farpoint Group (Ashland, MA). “Cognio's use of TDOA technology is an intriguing and important
development, and one that will broaden both the appeal and awareness of WLANs in location and tracking applications.”
“It is simply not enough to detect unsanctioned devices. Whether they are rogue devices or interferers, network administrators need to know precisely where they are. Only then can they take appropriate measure to secure and optimize the network,” said Kurt Hoff, CEO, Cognio. “We are providing the ability to layer this capability into an existing network without retrofitting existing devices, or requiring a homogeneous network deployment.”
Cognio’s ISM technology operates as a complement to existing WLAN offerings. The first product suite, AstraTM, provides a complete hardware and software reference solution for ISM, delivering comprehensive spectrum level visibility, including detection, location and mediation of any RF transmission in the 2.4 and 5 GHz spectrum. Cognio is delivering prototypes of the Astra platform to early engagement partners in Q4 2003.
About Cognio, Inc.
Founded in November 2000, Cognio is a leading provider of intelligent hardware and software spectrum management solutions that enable mission-critical wireless applications in the unlicensed band. Its advanced spectrum processing chip, SAgE, provides real-time snapshots of the RF environment to enable the discovery, location, and classification of RF interference. Its Astra product suite embeds the SAgE technology to manage wireless networks in order to provide improved security and quality-of-service. Cognio is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. with engineering design centers in Gaithersburg, MD and an affiliated office in Ottawa, Canada. Cognio is privately held with venture investments from North Bridge Venture Partners and ABS Ventures.
Cognio’s technology solves the critical challenges with current wireless systems, including high cost-of-ownership, and limited manageability. Cognio’s products are applicable to a wide range of unlicensed band communications standards, including 802.11.
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Cognio, ISM and Astra are trademarks of Cognio, Inc.
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