 | Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Issue 845 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
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Editor's Note: Today's top story is the new Cisco Motion solution designed to simplify integration of mobility technologies in the enterprise. The centerpiece is the Mobility Services Engine, which can supplement RTLS location data with sensor information about an item's status and condition. RTLS, RFID, and enterprise IT companies are supporting the initiative with software development.
Inlay manufacturer Avery Dennison announced that its AD-222 inlays will be used to track meat products as part of German retailer METRO Group's ambitious RFID roll-out. Labels to house the inlays were specially designed to meet food safety requirements, as well as ensure readability when stacked in a freezer. The labels will be applied to the foam meat packing trays.
RFID engineering firm Confidex has established an office outside Munich, Germany. It also appointed Florian Jungmeier as director of sales & business development for the EMEA region, and added over ten European solution providers to its reseller program.
Lastly, RFID asset tracking solutions provider Fluensee has opened a new office in Ontario, California, which contains an RFID laboratory to test the company's applications. |
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| Training & Certification | | - CORFIDA sponsors OTA's RFID Training, June 3-6 - Denver, CO (site) | | | RTLS & Active RFID | | 
Sponsored by Ekahau | |
| | - Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how! (site) | | | Products & Services | | - PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks (site) | | - Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers (site) | | | RFID Tags & Labels | | - Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal! (site) | | | Employment | | - RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting (site) | | | Upcoming Events | | - AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL (site) | | - AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China (site) | | - SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China (site) | | | Research & Whitepapers | | - RFID Marketing Strategies Report (site) | |
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New System Marries RFID Location Data With Item Info
By John Burnell
A new mobility initiative from Cisco Systems includes support for features that enable real-time locating systems (RTLS) to go beyond just reporting location to include information about a tagged object's work status, motion alerts, temperature, and input from other sensors.
The Cisco Motion vision that the Silicon Valley giant announced today includes the Cisco 3300 Series Mobility Series Engine (MSE), a network appliance that supports software for adding sensor input and other "contextual" information to location data for WiFi-standard RTLS tags and other mobile devices. The MSE includes the AeroScout Location Engine developed by AeroScout of Redwood City, California, for its own RTLS solutions. The integrated AeroScout product has been re-branded as Cisco's "Context-Aware Software" and enables a single MSE appliance to provide location and other data for up to 18,000 active RFID tags.
The MSE supports both the received signal strength indication (RSSI) and time difference of arrival (TDOA) methods of location calculation, which are advantageous for indoor and outdoor use, respectively. Many RTLS systems use only one of the technologies, and thus are best suited for either indoor or outdoor use, not both. The tags can also receive input from integrated sensors or those that communicate via telemetry technology.
"What this product means is organizations can go one step broader for location," AeroScout director of marketing Josh Slobin told RFID Update. "Companies are getting a broader set of information about their assets."
Many hospitals use RTLS systems to track IV infusion pumps. AeroScout said customers report that about 25 percent of the time a technician goes to collect a pump for service, the pump can't be removed because it is being used. Functionality supported in Cisco's MSE can solve this problem by using a sensor to report whether the pump is on or off when giving its location.
"We've been seeing a lot of incremental interest, particularly in manufacturing healthcare, to have sensor data and input for their RTLS systems," Chris Kozup, Cisco's senior manager of mobility solutions, told RFID Update. "They want the ability to source intelligence from the network. For us the question became: 'How do we make that intelligence available in a consistent way?'"
The company responded by developing the Cisco Motion vision and Cisco MSE product. The MSE appliance includes an open application programming interface (API) to encourage application development by software firms, integrators, and device makers. Cisco said several of its partners are already developing new applications for the MSE. These companies include IntelliDOT and OATSystems in the RFID space, and HP, Nokia, and Oracle at the enterprise level. Cisco is offering an API toolkit for application developers, according to Kozup.
"Cisco should not be the only company providing applications," he said.
No third-party applications have been released. The Context-Aware Software is one of four software packages Cisco is originally releasing with the MSE. The others are:- Mobile Intelligent Roaming -- which lets wireless devices switch between WiFi and cellular networks.
- Adaptive Wireless IPS -- a wireless network security program that provides intrusion detection, authentication, network analysis, and performance monitoring.
- Secure Client Manager -- which centralizes and simplifies mobile device provisioning.
The Mobility Services Engine has a list price of $19,995, exclusive of application software. The appliance and Context-Aware Software are scheduled for release in June. Cisco plans to release the roaming and network security software in the second half of 2008, and the Secure Client Manager in the first half of 2009.
The unifying theme to the Cisco Motion vision is to make networks easier to integrate and manage, and to support more functions. Kozup said RTLS and RFID systems are evolving from niche, standalone uses and must be supported by enterprise IT structures.
"If you look at the user organizations out there, they tend to have siloed networks and siloed applications for RFID, RTLS, wireless LAN, etc.," he said. "To really enable broad-based solutions for our customers, we have to deliver them the tools to unify these networks and break these silos."
Cisco and AeroScout already jointly marketed RTLS systems before they co-developed technology for the Mobility Services Engine (see Cisco, AeroScout Team to Market WiFi RFID). AeroScout said it has certified its WiFi tags and MobileView application software to work with the MSE through the open API. These supporting products will be available to Cisco's channel through Cisco, and through AeroScout's existing distribution channels.
See AeroScout's announcement
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| Training & Certification | CORFIDA sponsors OTA's RFID Training, June 3-6 - Denver, CO
The Colorado RFID Alliance (CORFIDA) has partnered with OTA Training, LLC. to address the statewide shortage of RFID trained workers. The two entities have arranged a series of training sessions to be held at Sun's APT test lab from June 3rd through June 6th. Learn more. | | | RTLS & Active RFID | Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how!
Ekahau RTLS (Real-Time Location System) automatically tracks assets and people via your existing Wi-Fi network. Control costs and improve asset management with Ekahau. For more information, visit us at www.ekahau.com. | | | Products & Services | PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks
Off-the-shelf solution provides automated real-time visibility and complete electronic pedigree for traceability on parts and WIP providing real-time dashboards, alerts and reports for shop-floor management. The pedigree information is automatically programmed into Texas Instruments' RFID tag for access to critical data without the need for connection to a back-end database. Learn more. | Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers
the American Management Association reports. 95% of businesses are victimized by employee theft. Managers are reluctant to ask questions, because trusted employees may feel offended, leaving business owners in a difficult situation. What can you do? Nox: Intelligent Perimeter Defense from Simply RFID provides advanced security and protection for business assets. | | | RFID Tags & Labels | Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal!
Ferroxtag is a new family of HF RFID tags suitable for operation on metallic surfaces. Ferroxtag's special ferrite antenna was developed using Ferroxcube's years of experience in ferrite technology. The high performance antenna means longer read range with a smaller tag. Visit www.ferroxtag.com | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Upcoming Events | AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL
AWA is organizing the Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008 on September 11-12 in Chicago, IL. The event includes presentations and panel discussions with brand owners, legal authorities, associations, converters and suppliers; also networking sessions, a supplier forum, a social program and more. Find more on the program here. | AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China
AWA presents the Asian Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008, to be held on 4 & 5 December in Hong Kong, China. PABS08 Asia focuses on the threats specific to the Asia Pacific region, various elements of IP Theft, and leading-edge solutions. Find more on the program here. | SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China
As one of the earliest, most specialized and authoritative exhibitions in China, approved and supported directly from State Ministry, the 8th SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008 will present you the impressive up-dated development and market of RFID technology in rising China. To know more, please go to www.scan-china.com. | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now |
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