Cognio, Inc. builds RF (radio frequency) spectrum analysis solutions that find and solve wi-fi channel interference problems on wireless networks and in wireless applications, such as RFID. Designed for the frequency bands in common use today (802.11a/b/g and RFID), Cognio's product, Spectrum Expert, helps network engineers analyze, diagnose, and locate sources of 802.11 interference within the enterprise's RF environment. Cognio was acquired by Cisco Systems in 2007.

Company overview

Cognio has been shipping the Spectrum Expert WiFi management software since the spring of 2005 and has built a base of over a thousand customers. Cognio sells its wireless Internet connectivity solutions directly, through resellers, and through OEM partnerships with companies such as AirMagnet, Fluke Networks, and WildPackets. Cognio is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland (near Washington, D.C.), USA, and is privately held with investments from North Bridge Venture Partners, ABS Ventures, and Avansis Ventures. The company currently has 35 employees. Cognio has been granted 12 patents, and has submitted 172 patent applications for its RF analysis technology. Cognio's Market: Spectrum Analysis Software for Enterprise Communications Cognio sells its WiFi spectrum analyzer products primarily to network engineers and field service engineers responsible for security for wireless networks or applications that run on wireless networks. These engineers need to be able to troubleshoot an RF interference pattern or problems that hamper wireless communications.

In a wireless network, devices communicate by transmitting radio waves. Each type of network operates in a specific range of radio wave frequencies. This range is called a spectrum.

IEEE 802.11 wireless networks operate in an unlicensed spectrum. That is, their frequency bands are not licensed by the FCC or other organizations exclusively for 802.11 traffic. Instead, the spectrum is shared with many other types of devices, such as cordless phones and Bluetooth devices. Because it was designed for use in a shared spectrum, 802.11 technology checks to see if the airwaves are sufficiently clear before transmitting messages. This means that if the airwaves are crowded with other radio signals, an 802.11 device will shut itself out of communications.

There are many possible sources of RF interference for 802.11 networks. First, other nearby 802.11 WLANs may cause wi-fi channel interference. Second, other communication devices that share the same spectrum—devices such as Bluetooth headsets—may cause 802.11 interference. Third, interference may originate from the radio energy given off by other electronic devices, such as video cameras and microwave ovens.

RF interference may result in slow network performance and dropped connections. Devices such as RF jammers and certain types of video cameras can prevent WLANs from communicating at all.

Most WLAN management tools do not measure or analyze RF interference problems. They monitor only Layers 2 and up in the OSI model. They might report that performance is slow, but they are typically unable to report that slow performance is caused by WiFi interference. Consequently, WLAN network engineers detecting poor connectivity in wireless internet areas are often left without any WiFi tools for analyzing RF interference, for measuring the effects of RF interference on specific channels of a network, and for identifying the type and location of sources of interference.