Cisco has unveiled the first product to come out of its Berlin Internet of Everything Innovation Centre, an entity similar to the one being set up by Cisco in Australia.
The product – now commercially available – is an asset management solution that monitors and controls distributed infrastructure over the Internet. It was developed in collaboration with Berlin-based azeti Networks, a global provider of M2M technology.
According to Cisco, it analyses sensor data via fog computing and shares relevant results via the cloud, and has been released only six months after the centre was announced. (It will officially open later in 2015, and is currently operating in an interim location.)
Cisco says that, thanks to cross-organisational innovation within the centre the two companies were able to accelerate the solution’s development process, bringing it to market much more quickly.
“Sensor and camera data can be analysed in the fog on software running directly on the router and can then be shared over cloud computing. Through this innovative solution, companies can achieve advancements in productivity and safety enhancements as well,” Cisco says.
Cisco says it has adapted azeti’s asset management software to operate on Cisco routers. “In the router, the data from sensors and cameras is analysed through ‘fog” computing. The analysis of that sensor data takes place on the network equipment, where azeti software has been installed,” Cisco says.
Cisco says: “Decisions can be taken and management commands issued rapidly as a result of that capability. As a result, the solution does not require a persistent Internet connection in order to operate, nor does it require a large amount of bandwidth into the router since only the most pertinent data is transmitted back over the wide area network.”
Performing processing on modified routers at the edge of networks is seen as key to managing the massive amounts of data generated by sensors, and is one aspect of IoE that Cisco is targeting, as Cisco ANZ CTO, Kevin Bloch explained to iotaustralia.
The Berlin Innovation Centre is one of eight around the world. Each has a specialisation. At its opening, Cisco said the Berlin centre would focus on manufacturing, transport and logistics. The focus of the Australian centre is resources, agriculture and astronomy.
