Cisco adds RFID controls
Cisco last week announced its Intelligent Networking Foundation (INF) system to help firms manage RFID wireless tag technology. The move gives a new option to firms wanting to deploy RFID wireless tags in the supply chain and elsewhere.
The main part of the system is AON for RFID Solution – modules to extend Cisco’s Application Oriented Networking (AON) kit to embed RFID middleware into the network on Cisco’s datacentre switches and branch routers.
Cisco said that at the network edge AON can control RFID event capture and filtering, while in the datacentre it controls filtering, data authentication and application protocol bridging.
The AON modules will also take care of outbound encryption, digital signature and content-based routing when connecting with firms’ external business partners.
RFID rollouts sometimes slow critical business applications, but Cisco said that by localising event responses through AON, firms could reduce the impact on applications and the network.
Cisco has teamed up with ConnecTerra for the AON for RFID modules and has collaborated with programme partners In- termec and ThingMagic for RFID reader devices and management tools. For Wi-Fi-enabled real-time RFID tracking applications, Cisco has been working with PanGo Networks to ensure interoperability.
Cisco AON for RFID Solution costs £8,900 + VAT and is due to ship in October. Cisco services for RFID are available now worldwide. Cisco also offers wireless LAN planning and design services.
Cisco’s 2700 Wireless Location Appliance, which can simultaneously track up to 1,500 active RFID tags on IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs, costs £8,220 + VAT and has been shipping since last June.