Cisco builds net foundation for RFID

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: JOANIE WEXLER ON WIRELESS IN THE
ENTERPRISE
09/19/05
Today's focus: Cisco builds net foundation for RFID

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* RFID moves onto the network
* Links related to Wireless in the Enterprise
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Orative
Reach Your Mobile Workforce

Orative develops mobile software that lets employees reach the
right resources, right now. Using innovative presence technology
running on mobile phones, Orative software gives employees the
ability to reach co-workers so that they can ask for help, make
decisions and move business forward. Orative transforms the
mobile phone into a true business phone. Find out more at
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=114594
_______________________________________________________________
SPYWARE SHOOTOUT

Need to defend your network from spyware? Lots of tools and
software have hit the market recently, and network executives
are left to decide which weapon works best. Our Spyware Shootout
2005 suggests the gateway approach might be the best starting
point but is it a long-term strategy? Click here for more:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=114693
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: Cisco builds net foundation for RFID

By Joanie Wexler

I first discussed in April
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir1470> that network-based
radio-frequency identification architectures were right around
the corner to fulfill a looming need to accommodate RFID
deployments on a larger scale.

In fact, last week, the first fruit of Cisco's ambitious
Application-Oriented Networking (AON) initiative, which aims to
tightly couple applications with network infrastructure to
deliver network-wide application interoperability, bloomed. And
it happens to be a network-centric RFID endeavor
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/091305-cisco-rfid.html?rl>
.

The first goal of AON for RFID, to ship next month, is to scale
RFID deployments farther, more easily and less expensively than
the traditional approach of connecting RFID to host computers
via serial ports to support dedicated applications. In the Cisco
RFID architecture, RFID readers, which pull identifying
information from tags affixed to assets over the air so they can
ultimately be viewed by upstream applications, become
Ethernet-attached. They communicate with RFID-aware blades, or
modules, in Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR) and data
center Catalyst 6500 switches.

The blades contain Cisco-developed AON software and RFID
middleware software from Cisco partner ConnecTerra. ConnecTerra
makes software that complies with the EPCglobal
industry-standard Application Level Events (ALE) interface, a
software standard through which an application can indicate
exactly what information it wants from a raw stream of RFID
data.

Combined, the companies' software performs the following
functions, among others, says Chris Wiborg, solutions product
manager in Cisco's AON business unit:
* Filters RFID traffic exiting readers so that each tag is read
just once.
* Helps prevent readers from interfering with one another to
make sure the right tags are being read.
* Checks to ensure that items shipping are the items being
requested.
* Virtualizes requests using load balancing to ensure high
availability of fulfilling RFID requests.

Cisco also seems to be bundling some simple applications into
the AON blades. At the EPCglobal Global U.S. Global Conference
last week, it demonstrated a tag reading indicating a piece of
merchandise not having been paid for, which triggered an IP
telephony application within the blade to place an IP video
phone call to a security guard.

Readers from Intermec and ThingMagic and tags from PanGo have
been certified for interoperability with the AON blades, Wiborg
says, though they must be procured from their respective
vendors.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. McAfee, Omniquad top anti-spyware test
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir6911>

2. Volunteers rebuild Gulf Coast communications with wireless
nets <http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7203>

3. Cell phone tossing contests catching attention abroad
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7204>

4. Supermarket chain freezes Internet access
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir6536>

5. The rise of the IT architect
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7035>

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Joanie Wexler

Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology
writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most
of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer
networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles
published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future
article topics. Reach her at <mailto:joanie@jwexler.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Orative
Reach Your Mobile Workforce

Orative develops mobile software that lets employees reach the
right resources, right now. Using innovative presence technology
running on mobile phones, Orative software gives employees the
ability to reach co-workers so that they can ask for help, make
decisions and move business forward. Orative transforms the
mobile phone into a true business phone. Find out more at
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=114593
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Wireless in the Enterprise newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/wireless/index.html

Wireless research center
Latest wireless news, analysis and resource links
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/wireless.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE

IS IT THE NETWORK OR THE STORAGE THAT'S THE PROBLEM?

Midsize and larger businesses often find their IT topology has
become a complex mix of servers, networks and storage systems.
Many of these companies also route long-haul traffic over
fiber-based networks - metropolitan-area networks, WANs and
private optical networks. Who's responsible when a
storage-related problem occurs on a fiber network? For more,
click here:

<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7036>
_______________________________________________________________
May We Send You a Free Print Subscription?
You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered
at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by
receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply
today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2

International subscribers click here:
http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html
_______________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail
newsletters, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx>

To change your e-mail address, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx>

Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to
this message.

This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com
Please use this address when modifying your subscription.
_______________________________________________________________

Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor,
at: <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>

Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118
Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772

For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of
Online Development, at: <mailto:sponsorships@nwfusion.com>

Copyright Network World, Inc., 2005