SBIR-STTR Award

The Navy desires to use a large number of wireless communications devices on ships with the constraint that communication is assured on board while meeting EMCON conditions. Since EMCON is specified in terms of spatial power density at 1 nautical mile, the emissions of the wireless devices must be attenuated at range. The solution is to employ a methodology of Access Point (AP) deployment which assures communications, defines the RF coverage area precisely where it is needed, and minimizes EIRP on the horizon. A methodology for design and mounting of AP and client antennas permits the transmit power from each to be radically reduced. Shaped beam and multi-beam smart antennas can improve the communication channel where desired, while minimizing power emissions off-board. Polar and spatial antenna diversity can be exploited to provide diversity gain, which improves the communication channel without increasing EIRP. Finally, a power and channel plan is proposed which permits low power, communications assured, non-interfering cells to be used. Oberon proposes to investigate use and applicability of its integrated shaped and multi-beam antennas, client antennas, antenna diversity technology, and power and channel plans for achieving the desired goal of information assurance on board, while minimizing total RF emissions.

Benefit:
It is anticipated that the technologies to be investigated will permit reliable communications using standards based wireless LAN equipment on naval vessels, while simultaneously meeting EMCON requirements. Commercial applications include enhanced security, improved RF communications.

Keywords:
Wireless Security, Wireless Security, Information Assurance, Wireless LAN, EMCON, Antennas, Smart Antennas, 802.11b

Oberon proposes to use the results of the Phase I investigation to develop the methodology and technology to achieve EMCON emissions capability, substantially using current and emerging standards compliant wireless LAN devices. The method proposed is called the asymmetric power plan or APP. The APP presumes the largest contributor to EMCON emissions will be the multiplicity of client devices, which add logarithmically to the spatial power density at 1 nautical mile. To use the APP, an Active Access Point Diversity Antenna (AADA) needs to be developed. The AADA is envisioned as a device which can be added to any commercial, standards compliant access point. The desirable result of the APP and the AADA (reduced transmit power required) can be enhanced by using a multi-beam, multi-channel AADA, and a Multi-Input, Multi-output (MIMO) AADA. Additionally, software drivers and suitable client antennas must be developed to engage the low power level at the client device required by the APP. Finally, a software module is proposed to work within the emerging 802.11h standard for adaptive power control. This module is expected to be able to actively monitor and control emissions for EMCON compliance. In the Phase II option, Oberon proposes to test these technologies for EMCON compliance in a facility which would be representative of the end-use facility, using a multiplicity of APs and wireless client devices

Benefit:
It is anticipated that Oberon shall demonstrate at the end of Phase II, a cost/performance effective wireless LAN installation capability, which achieves EMCON standards, using an active access point receive antenna, in an asymmetric power plan installation. This antenna component shall be demonstrated as an add-on feature to standards based commercial APs, and shall also be consistent with emerging standards based wireless LAN products, including Multi-Input, Multi-output (MIMO) products. The ability to achieve EMCON emissions levels will permit broader deployment of wireless LANs on Naval ships.

Keywords:
MIMO, Wireless LAN, Sensitivity, EMCON, Antenna, Power control, Emissions