Meru Gets Wi-Fi PatentMeru Gets Wi-Fi Patent

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Meru Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: MERU), the leader in virtualized 802.11n enterprise wireless networking, today announced that it has been awarded a patent for its groundbreaking virtualized wireless LAN (WLAN) architecture. Patent no. 7,826,426 covers Meru's Virtual Port technology, designed to address the problem of a Microcell Wi-Fi Meltdown and wireless network congestion. Meru's newly patented unique technology provides wired switch-like bandwidth optimization and security for enterprises that increasingly need to manage environments with growing density of iPads, iPhones and similar next-generation smartphone mobile devices, such as Android-based wireless devices.

"Increasing client demands will drive infrastructure density in essentially all venues over the next few years, a consequence of Wi-Fi's technological sophistication, its elevation to primary or default access in many venues, the rapidly-growing deployment of handsets, tablets, and related devices featuring integrated Wi-Fi capability, and, of course, user expectations regarding the availability of Wi-Fi service essentially everywhere," said Craig Mathias, principal, Farpoint Group. "It is therefore clear that client density and overall demand for WLAN capacity will absolutely continue to increase no matter what. Meru's virtualization technology is a proven strategy for addressing these density issues and avoiding the bottlenecks and meltdowns that are otherwise difficult to avoid."

Over 80 percent of the Fortune 100 companies are introducing iPads and other smart mobile devices into their networks, leading to a potential tripling of the number of Wi-Fi enabled devices each person carries. To manage this rapid increase in density and wireless network congestion, Meru's Virtual Port uniquely provides switch-like port isolation to devices over the air. Network managers gain fine-grain access control and improved security, while the infrastructure optimizes the allocation of the wireless bandwidth to address the problems of Microcell Wi-Fi Meltdowns caused by Wi-Fi spectrum congestion.

Meru's Virtual Port architecture is designed to provide a dedicated virtual network connection for each mobile device, giving users the performance, reliability and security expected from wired networks. The network architecture also delivers the mobility benefits of wireless and the flexibility of virtualization for mobile applications, all while delivering quality-of-service (QoS) and predictable service levels. Meru's virtualized WLAN solutions are purpose-built to scale and easily handle the highest user density environments created by the use of Wi-Fi enabled devices such as iPads, iPhones, smartphones and laptops accessing voice, video and data content and applications.

Meru Networks Inc.