WLAN warfare goes to court

Motorola announced today that its subsidiary companies, Symbol Technologies and Wireless Valley Communications, have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Aruba Networks.

The lawsuit, filed on August 27, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, concerns Aruba's alleged infringement of patents related to wireless local area network (WLAN) communication technologies.

Motorola, Symbol and Wireless Valley currently hold many patents directly related to WLAN technologies.

Symbol introduced the market's first modern wireless switch architecture, a breakthrough WLAN architecture that can significantly lower the cost of deploying network infrastructure and drive down the cost of managing, maintaining and upgrading wireless systems.

Two of the patents in this lawsuit relate to WLAN switching architecture technology.

Wireless Valley introduced the concept of using a predictive design approach, a three dimensional representation of an environment, and site-specific information in the design, implementation and management of wireless networks in and around buildings. Two of the patents in the lawsuit relate to WLAN site planning and RF management.

The companies are seeking a permanent injunction against Aruba's use of the patented technologies and monetary damages for infringing use.