Information (including product prices, product specifications, details of services, launch dates, inquiry information, and URLs) contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press release but is subject to change without notice. Please note that details may differ from those effective on the search date.

Hitachi, Ltd. (hereinafter Hitachi, based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, under President Etsuhiko Shoyama) and Hitachi Cable, Ltd. (hereinafter Hitachi Cable, based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, under President Norio Sato) have jointly developed Hitachi AirLocation(TM) , a wireless LAN-based positioning system, and will begin providing this new system on November 20. AirLocation(TM) works both indoors and outdoors, and has a small error range of one to three meters, thus achieving highly accurate positioning of information terminals equipped with IEEE802.11b-based wireless LAN functionality.

Due to the increasing demand for detecting the current location of movable objects, including ships, airplanes, cars, and pedestrians, such wireless navigation systems as GPS*1 and PHS were developed and have become widely used. These wireless technologies are used not only in the navigation systems for movable objects, but also as the solution for location information in various industries. In warehouses and factories, for example, the needs for accurate positioning available indoors, which is a function difficult for existing wireless technologies to provide, have been increasing regarding the management of forklifts and pallets within facilities.
Conversely, as the use of ubiquitous spots*2 that provide users higher accessibility to necessary information from anywhere within a facility have spread, the use of wireless LAN has also grown. By implementing wireless LAN, offices seek to improve work efficiency, while shops and public facilities intend to attract more people by improving customer satisfaction.

Based on this market trend, Hitachi focused on wireless LAN, the key infrastructure in our ubiquitous information society, conducted research on positioning technology with high accuracy by utilizing wireless LAN, and has succeeded in developing the base technology at its Central Research Laboratory in October of last year. The announced system was developed based on this base technology. Hitachi AirLocation(TM) is provided as the product of cooperation between two companies: Hitachi, an IT solution vendor for servers and terminals in charge of developing the location detection program, and Hitachi Cable, an Ethernet solution vendor for network devices and wiring systems in charge of developing the wireless LAN base station.
This system can pinpoint locations not only outdoors, but also indoors, which GPS cannot support. While existing GPS provides positioning accuracy of 10 meters, this system achieves highly accurate detection with an error range of 1 to 3 meters. This is made possible by using trilateration based on TDOA*3 measurement.

The announced system will be sold by such solution partners as Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. (based in Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan, under President Kiyohiko Shiiki) that provides GPS solutions, as well as by both Hitachi and Hitachi Cable.

The Hitachi group will continue marketing activities for this system to expand the systems applicable to Hitachi AirLocation(TM), and developing and providing new solutions for location detection in ubiquitous spots.

*1	GPS = Global Positioning System
*2	Ubiquitous spot = A term coined by Hitachi. A ubiquitous spot is space considered normal living space, but by utilizing a network, can also be extended for use as a business space. This would include, for example, hotels, chain stores such as coffee shops, such public spaces as stations and airports, inside cars on the road, and homes.
*3	TDOA = Time Difference of Arrival

Price and shipping date of the new product

System name Price Shipping date Hitachi AirLocation(TM) Estimated individually 20-Nov

[Reference] Suggested price (for basic configured system): 5 million yen or more

Item Description Quantity Hardware Management server A server for managing the system 1   Location detection server A server for calculating terminal location AirLocation(TM) base station A dedicated wireless LAN base station equipped with a function for detecting location 5 Wireless LAN terminal A PC and PDA equipped with wireless LAN functionality (applicable to IEEE802.11b) 10 Location application terminal A terminal that uses location information 1 Software AirLocation(TM) engine Management server program Location detection program(with a 10-client license) Operation check utility Sample client program Client development kit 1 Services AirLocation(TM) system solution service  Consultation for implementation Installation of the base station Operation check service User data creation service 1 AirLocation(TM) system inquiry service Inquiry service for operation Inquiry service for setup and configuration changes Inquiry service for troubleshooting Free upgrade of AirLocation(TM) engine 1

AirLocation(TM) base station

System configuration

Features of the new product

Hitachi AirLocation(TM) performs trilateration by using wireless LAN signals transmitted between five base stations and a terminal, and has the following features:

(1)	Detects locations even indoors While existing GPS only supports outdoor application, the new system enables positioning both indoors and outdoors.
(2)	Provides highly accurate positioning with a small error range of 1 to 3 meters The management server controls timing and performs calculation to detect terminal position with accuracy within three meters.
(3)	Enables positioning in long-distance use Positioning in long-distance use is possible; the measurement range is from 30 to 50 meters in an office, and from 60 to 100 meters in a factory.

Main purposes

Location Purpose Distribution and Warehouses Managing the incoming and outgoing of pallets, pallet locations, and forklift location Company offices Filtering by managing a terminal's access position Stations, airports, and underground arcades Providing pedestrians navigation services by using public wireless LAN

Notes on trademarks

Product information

Contact for business activities

Person in charge: Akabane
Marketing Dept., Ubiquitous Solutions Operation, Ubiquitous Platform Systems
Hitachi, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3 -5471-2942 (dial-in)
E-mail: airlocation@ebina.hitachi.co.jp

Person in charge: Fujimaki
Sales Dept. 2, Information Systems Sales Management Div., Information Systems Group
Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-5252-3688 (dial-in)

Person in charge: Henmi
Marketing Dept., Information Systems Group
Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-5252-2408 (dial-in)
E-mail: airlocation@mail.hitachi-cable.co.jp

Contact for media

Person in charge: Uchiyama
Public Relations Dept., Ubiquitous Platform Systems
Hitachi, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-3506-1573 (dial-in)

Person in charge: Koakutsu
Corporate Communications Section, Administration Dept., Human Resources & Administration Group
Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-5252-3261 (dial-in)