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Product Overview
The Cisco® Context-Aware Mobility solution provides the ability to capture and integrate into business processes detailed contextual information about such things as location, temperature, and the availability of an asset. The integration of contextual information with business process applications is fast becoming the next level of true enterprise mobility. With the Cisco Context-Aware Mobility solution, mobile users can go beyond anytime, anywhere connectivity to automatically having the right device, the right application, and the right environment while on the go. They will now be able to answer business-critical questions about both mobile assets and the users of those assets, to directly improve their organization's profitability.
The Cisco Context-Aware software is a key component of the Cisco's Context-Aware Mobility solution, part of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network. Figure 1 gives an overview of the Context-Aware Mobility solution. The Cisco Context-Aware Software runs on the Cisco 3300 Series Mobility Services Engine and provides the capability to simultaneously track thousands of mobile assets. If the mobile asset is a wireless device like a laptop or a dual-band phone, the contextual information will be directly sent from the device radio module over the Wi-Fi network. When the mobile asset does not have radio capability, wireless tags can be attached to it to collect the parameters needed. Making contextual information available to the rest of the business in a timely and simple manner is crucial to ensuring a fast adoption and allowing corporations to reap the benefits of context awareness for a range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and education.
Figure 1. Context-Aware Software
Cisco Context-Aware Software relies on two engines for processing the contextual information it receives. The context-aware engine for clients processes data received from Wi-Fi clients and the context-aware engine for tags processes data received from Wi-Fi tags. Both engines can be deployed together or separately, depending on business needs.
The Cisco Context-Aware software is available for deployment in indoor, indoor high-ceiling, and outdoor environments. A combination of received signal strength indication (RSSI) technology for indoor environments and time difference of arrival (TDoA) technology for outdoor and indoor high-ceiling environments allows customers to continuously and seamlessly track assets as they move across different environments.
Solution Architecture
The foundation of the Cisco Context-Aware Mobility solution is the controller-based architecture of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, as described in Figure 2. The Cisco Unified Wireless Network includes the following primary components: access points, WLAN controllers, the Cisco Wireless Control System, and the Cisco Mobility Services Engine. The solution uses the same access points that deliver data traffic to also gather contextual information from Wi-Fi clients and Wi-Fi tags. The modular architecture makes it possible to use the processing engines separately for tags and clients.
Figure 2. Architectural View of the Context-Aware Mobility Solution
Features and Benefits
Table 1 lists the features and benefits of Cisco Context-Aware Software.
Table 1. Features and Benefits of Cisco Context-Aware software
Product Specifications
The Cisco Context-Aware software runs on the Cisco 3300 Series Mobility Services Engine. A Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) along with location license must be installed in order to interface with the Cisco Context-Aware software. The WCS interface allows for the control and management of the module.
Cisco Context-Aware Software Compatibility
• Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS): Requires 5.1.xxx or later
• Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC): Requires 4.2.xxx (xxx>112) or 5.0.xxx (xxx>148) or later
• Cisco Aironet 1000 Series Access Points for Context-Aware software are supported only with version 4.2.xxx (xxx>112)
Ordering Information
Table 2 lists ordering information for the Cisco Context-Aware software. To place an order, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/ordering/index.shtml.
Table 2. Ordering Information
Service and Support
Cisco offers a wide range of services programs to accelerate customer success. These innovative services programs are delivered through a unique combination of people, processes, tools, and partners, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction. Cisco services help you to protect your network investment, optimize network operations, and prepare your network for new applications to extend network intelligence and the power of your business. For more information about Cisco services, refer to Cisco Technical Support Services or Cisco Advanced Services. For more information about the Cisco Context-Aware Mobility Solution, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/contextaware or contact your local Cisco account representative.