WAVE technology consists of software building blocks and development tools designed around a simple and elegant concept: convert all forms of communication to IP packets, use the network to carry those packets between endpoints, and build distributed intelligence and management capabilities at the network edge to connect the endpoints together. The company’s patent-pending technology converts communications from individual users’ devices into group-level IP packets that can be forwarded to other devices and users. Once brought into a WAVE domain, these interoperable communication sessions are subject to management and security controls, and may be bridged, recorded, joined into conferences, or routed to devices outside of the system. WAVE is media agnostic with both voice and data media types currently supported. In addition, status, presence and adaptive transport network management provide for rich collaboration among group communications participants. The result is that groups of people can talk and share real-time data, with full control, regardless of the devices or systems used.

With audio data converted into IP packets and streamed across the network, a new set of devices can directly link together and participate simply and easily in critical communications. Careful use of IP multicast, QoS, and transcoding technology minimizes network bandwidth requirements. All of your devices, endpoints, and configurations are presented in clean, understandable, and manageable user interfaces.

Plus, since all WAVE systems are built from just a few modular components, you can configure them in an infinite number of ways to meet the unique requirements of your organization.

Every WAVE system begins with at least one WAVE Management Server, a web application that configures the system. All WAVE components are administered using the WAVE Management Server, and the collection of WAVE components controlled by a single WAVE Management Server is called a WAVE Domain.

While you must have the WAVE Management Server to setup other WAVE system components, a WAVE Domain can run as a “headless” peer-to-peer system if the WAVE Management Server is disabled for any reason. This feature improves the survivability of WAVE systems in extreme environments, such as combat situations.

Next, the WAVE Media Server acts as a media processing “engine” for the system, performing digitizing, mixing, and audio transcoding. The WAVE Media Server software runs as a service on any Windows PC, and in small WAVE systems, a PC acting as a WAVE Media Server can even pull double duty—also acting as a print server, for example. Large installations may have multiple WAVE Media Servers, which can be located over wide geographic areas and connected via your WAN, the public Internet, or a VPN. The distributed servers enable you to make local dial-in connections to globe-spanning WAVE conferences, or connect geographically dispersed radio transmitters for better coverage.

WAVE Desktop Communicator lets PCs join with phones and radios in a WAVE conference. You need to add only a microphone and a pair of speakers to your PC. The WAVE Desktop Communicator is available in two different versions: a standalone Windows program and a program run in a web browser. Both are lightweight and don’t use significant PC resources, so you can carry on a conversation while getting other work done. The WAVE Desktop Communicator lets you change radio channels, instant message other users, record conversations, see who is talking, adjust audio signals, and speak over WAVE channels.

The WAVE Dispatch Communicator is a powerful front-end interface used by system operators to manage multiple simultaneous communications channels, to route fire trucks, taxicabs, or soldiers, for example. With the WAVE Dispatch Communicator, you can replace an entire hardware dispatch console with a laptop computer and a microphone headset.

WAVE Channels are logical components used to group communications devices in the system. Channels often contain related devices, like “all the police radios” or “all the phones on the second floor.” There are several different kinds of WAVE Channels, each specialized for distinct roles. Most commonly used is the “Standard Channel,” which allows human-operated devices like phones and PC clients to participate in WAVE. “Trunk Channels” connect non-user components, such as the WAVE Media Servers and hardware gateways. Other types of Channels are used for multiplexing, IP phone paging, and various special tasks. Channels have distinct transmit and receive “ends,” identified by unique IP addresses, so they act like throughways for signal traffic.

WAVE Sessions join devices together in an audio conference. Sessions can be used to form tactical associations created on the fly when needed, unlike Channels, which are usually created when the system is initially configured. Sessions are very flexible and can group together different devices, entire Channels, or other Sessions. A session participant can be any type of device, including a WAVE Desktop Communicator, a two-way radio user, or a phone caller.