Cisco Systems has announced the launch of intelligent technology that forms the foundation for implementing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The new Cisco Systems technology will help enterprises implement RFID solutions within the supply chain, providing the ability to more easily read information about products and assets.
This will optimize the flow of business information, and consequently, reduce operating costs.
Cisco’s RFID solution includes the following elements:
– Cisco Application Oriented Network (AON) for RFID – an application prepared specifically for RFID needs, intelligently processes information generated by network applications;
– Cisco Services for RFID — dedicated Cisco Systems services for RFID technology;
– Cisco Wireless Location Service – a mechanism for monitoring devices in real-time;
– Partner products (Connecterra, Intermec, PanGo Networks, and ThingMagic) from Cisco Systems supporting the RFID solution offered by Cisco Systems;
– We believe that RFID technology will revolutionize the entire retail industry – says Zygmunt Miedorf, CIO and member of the board of the METRO chain. – We are pleased with this fact, especially since we are introducing this technology in our organization. We are creating a much better image for the chain by physically eliminating the inventory problem, which, from the point of view of our industry, is one of the key aspects of running a business.
A key element of Cisco’s RFID solutions is the extension of Cisco AON technology with built-in network features — in Cisco switches for data centers and routers for branches — for RFID middleware functions. This increases scalability, reduces implementation costs, and simplifies infrastructure. Cisco AON modules with RFID support can be installed anywhere in the enterprise network; at its edge to record and filter RFID events, and in the data center to authenticate data, perform additional filtering and aggregation, and bridge application protocols. When exchanging data with external business partners, AON modules can also perform tasks such as encrypting outgoing data, handling digital signatures, and content-based routing. Cisco AON technology for RFID enables response to localized events, allowing customers to fully optimize business application performance, as well as increase the value and importance of the network as current and future RFID applications are deployed.
