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For your convenience, we've assembled the glossary below that contains
many of the technical terms used to describe the functionality and
performance of in-building wireless systems. Please feel free to
contact us for further information.
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
802.11
802.11 is a set of standards that were developed for Wireless Local Area Network (Wi-Fi) communications, in the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz public spectrum bands. 802.11 standards include over-the-air modulation techniques that use the same basic protocol, such as 802.11a, 802.11 b. 802.11 g and 802.11n.
802.11 a
802.11a uses the same core protocol as the original 802.11 standard and operates in 5 GHz band and yields realistic net achievable throughput in the mid-20 Mbit/s. Due to the high-carrier frequency, the effective overall range of 802.11a is slightly less than that of 802.11b/g.
802.11 b
802.11 b operates in the 2.4 GHz band and is direct extension of the modulation technique defined in the original 802.11 standard. It has a maximum raw data rate of 11 Mbit/s. Devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz band, such as cell phones and microwaves, can cause interference with 802.11 b.
802.11 g
802.11 g operates in the 2.4 GHz band, but operates at a maximum raw data rate of 54 Mbit/s, or about 19 Mbit/s net throughput. 802.11g hardware is fully backwards compatible with 802.11b hardware. Devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz band, such as cell phones and microwaves, can also cause interference with 802.11 g.
802.11 n
802.11n is a proposed amendment which improves upon the previous 802.11 standards by adding multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and many other newer features. InnerWireless is the first in-building wireless provider to provide and 802.11n compatible wireless solution.
Active
Within in-building wireless terminology, active refers to any equipment that utilizes powered electronics to transport (not generate) radio signals. Generally the term relates to systems using fiber.
Active RFID
Wi-Fi enabled Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Active RFID technology utilizes battery powered tags that transmit and report real-time data over the 802.11 infrastructure to help locate, track and manage important assets in an enterprise.
Active RFID Tag
A battery powered tag that can be affixed to assets such as equipment, or can be worn or carried by people. Active RFID tags are Wi-Fi enabled and transmit real-time data such as location, motion, temperature and detachment detection to help locate and manage important assets within the enterprise. This technology is great for important and expensive equipment that must be quickly accounted for and have regular maintenance.
Air Interface
The type of radio transmission protocol used by service providers to transmit and receive their signals. These include analog, TDMA, GSM, iDen, CDMA and newer data overlays such as GPRS, WCDMA and CDMA 2000 1x. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™ also contain their own specialized air interface protocols.
Antenna
Device used to radiate/receive radio waves for/from propagation through the atmosphere.
Attenuation
The effect of natural and man-made materials on the strength (or reduction thereof) of radio signals as they propagate along the intended path. Building exteriors, in particular, can severely limit the strength of radio frequencies received inside, making them unsuitable for reliable communications.
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Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
Typically the equipment owned and operated by a wireless service provider that generates the radio frequencies picked up by subscriber handsets or other mobile devices. Also called a base station, this equipment connects to the in-building wireless system and to high-speed lines providing backhaul to the service provider’s switch.
Battery Back-Up
Large numbers of interconnected batteries that provide temporary power for a service provider’s base station in the event of a primary power outage.
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Cable Tap
A small mechanical device that clamps onto a feeder cable and transfers radio frequency energy from the feeder cable to another cable or antenna. Highly efficient cable taps, such as those designed by InnerWireless, extract only the amount of energy required to provide the targeted level of radio signal within a space.
Capacity
Through traffic segmentation on the layered WLAN infrastructure of Horizon™, InnerWireless is able to optimize wireless capacity by eliminating interference and increasing overall network performance.
C/I Ratio
Carrier-to-interference ratio is the measure of the relative strength of the desired (carrier) signal to all other signals (interference). Modern digital communications systems can operate at much lower C/I ratios than earlier analog systems. C/I ratios are largely determined by the service provider’s macro network frequency re-use plan.
Cisco WLAN on Horizon
InnerWireless is part of a Solutions Incentive Program by deploying Cisco 1200 Series, LWAPP-compliant equipment on the Horizon Converged Wireless Solution.
Coaxial Cable
A type of cable used to carry radio frequencies from one point to another. Coaxial cable consists of a conductive outer tube surrounding a conductive inner core separated by a non-conductive dielectric spacing material. Coaxial cable can be either non-radiating or radiating.
Converged Wireless
The convergence of Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies on one platform – providing the ability to deliver guaranteed wireless voice, data, multimedia and location everywhere in a facility, every time. InnerWireless is the premier provider of Converged Wireless Solutions in healthcare and commercial enterprise markets.
Coverage
InnerWireless guarantees pervasive, signal-strength coverage throughout a facility on every Horizon™ deployment.
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dB
A logarithmic scale used to compare the relative magnitude of two
quantities expressed in a common set of units.
dBm
A common engineering parameter to compare, in dB, an RF signal level
to the specific reference value of 1 milliwatt.
Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
Connecting access points to a network of spatially separated antenna segments via a transport medium (i.e., triplexer) to provide converged wireless services within a large structure such as a hotel or hospital building.
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Fiber
Long, super-thin strands of glass or other material that very efficiently
transport optical signals. When used for in-building systems requiring
radio frequency waves to be transported from one location in a building
to another, the radio frequencies must first be converted to optical
signals for transport over the fiber. Upon reaching their destination,
these optical signals are converted back to radio frequencies for
distribution by antennas.
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Horizon™
A distributed antenna system from InnerWireless that combines both WWAN and WLAN services on a single comprehensive platform to deliver guaranteed mission- and life-critical wireless coverage.
Hybrid
A wireless solution that combines both active and passive components to deliver guaranteed wireless coverage and optimized capacity throughout a facility.
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In-Building Wireless
The ability to deliver guaranteed wireless coverage and applications within a facility regardless of size, stature or building materials.
Interference
Interference results when a desired signal must compete with other
signals at the same or adjacent frequencies in the radio spectrum
causing distortion of the desired signal.
Integrated Access Device
In the InnerWireless in-building system, this device is the point
of demarcation between each service provider’s BTS and the
in-building system. It combines radio signals from each BTS onto
a common riser cable for the uplink, and then splits them out for
the downlink.
Intermodulation
Intermodulation products are the result of two or more desired signals
interacting with each other, due to non-linear effects within generation
or transport equipment, to produce additional undesired frequencies
which become interference for one or more service providers.
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Layered WLAN
A next-generation Wi-Fi architecture designed and deployed by InnerWireless. Through this infrastructure, InnerWireless is able to provide multiple access points in each floor segment to create multiple layers of coverage. Each layer can also be segmented by traffic type to ensure that mission- and life-critical applications can run at optimal speed, without interference.
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Microcell
A smaller-sized BTS used by service providers for in-building applications
or small fill-in areas outdoors.
MIMO
Stands for Multiple-In, Multiple-Out. The use of multiple antennas on the receiver and the transmitter to improve wireless communications. A form of smart antenna technology.
Monitoring
The ongoing measurement and reporting of electrical performance
of a fiber electronics-based in-building system to ensure that it
is operating properly. If a malfunction occurs, a signal is sent
to a call center where on-duty technicians can note and diagnose
the problem.
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Neutral Demarcation
Point
A central and common point where service providers with different
radio frequencies or transmission technologies can introduce their
signals into the in-building wireless system.
Noise Floor
In every environment, there is a certain level of radio “noise”
from a variety of sources that a service provider’s signal
must exceed in power in order to be properly received.
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Optical Conversions
In fiber electronics-based in-building systems, the conversion of
radio frequency to optical signals for transport across a distance
and their conversion back to radio frequencies for delivery to the
end user. As electronic devices, optical converters inherently increase
the noise floor of their transmission path. Optical converters are
usually located in the equipment room on each floor of a building
and must be powered and monitored.
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Passive
The transmission of radio frequency signals without the aid of powered
electronic devices to boost their level, thus providing an unaltered
delivery of the service provider’s signals.
Passive RFID
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology that runs independently of wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) infrastructures. This technology utilizes small, inexpensive tags and passive RFID readers to track assets as they pass by designated readers within a facility. This technology is great for tracking a large quantity of assets that are always on the move.
Passive RFID Tag
A small, inexpensive asset tracking tag that works with a corresponding reader to transmit location data upon signal recognition.
Picocell
One of the smallest increments of BTS equipment, only used to provide
enhanced coverage in very small areas.
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Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
An automatic identification method, that involves extracting and reporting data through the use of RFID tags or transponders.
Real-Time Location System (RTLS)
A combination of wireless hardware and real-time software used to provide the real-time location of important assets that are equipped with corresponding devices.
Riser
The backbone transmission cable or device that delivers radio frequency
from an input device to antenna systems on each selected floor of
a building.
RSSI
RSSI stands for “received signal strength indication”
and is one of the measures a service provider will use to determine
the quality of their signals inside of a building or other structure.
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Unified Asset Visibility
An extensive, scalable platform approach to RFID asset management.
Uplink/Downlink
Uplink is the signal sent from a subscriber radio device to the
BTS; downlink is a signal received by a subscriber radio device
from the BTS.
Uplink/Downlink Conversions
See Optical Conversions.
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WiFi®
A term referring to unlicensed services provided at 2.4 GHz using
the IEEE-802.11 protocols.
WiMax
Stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. Broadband wireless transmission of data, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular-type access, without the use of cables.
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