Do you remember Cisco Developer Contest started on October 14, 2008? During this period, nearly 900 registrants from 75 countries have take part to the challange, but only 10 finalist teams are enjoying with the second (last) phase.
Now, during the second phase of the contest, started from May 15, 2009, until August 15, 2009, the top-10 finalists will work with Cisco to bring the applications to maturity using Cisco resources on Cisco virtual AXP blades. After a final judging period, a winner will be announced in October 2009.
These finalists come from four different continents:
- North America: Team Cupertino Systems, Team Service Enabled Networks and Team SNAT
- Europe: Team MADnetwork, Team Bugsbernie and Team RSDevs
- South America: Team Jin Jin and Team Campuser
- Asia: Team Ideate and Team Enhancers
There are two teams of three, three teams of two, and the rest are individuals. They come from diverse backgrounds including many who are entrepreneurs, some are students and others are techies who’ve entered the contest for the fun of it. Their motives range from “taking the family to Disneyland” to “continuing higher education”.
What are the software team features?
Team: Cupertino Systems, USA
Application : Rich Interactive Media Services Platform (RIMS)
RIMS is a proposal targeted at mid-range hotels to provide their guests and clients with a suite of very rich interactive media services by leveraging the AXP platform. These services are delivered on demand, on various devices, and in a secure, personalized way.Services offered include High Speed Internet Browsing (on Kiosk, HDTV controlled via mobile device, Smart R/C), manage Security Cameras, and manage Heating and Ventillation control systems. These applications leverage the network services on ISR and demonstrate the potential of hosting applications on AXP and integrating them with network infrastructure. This solution offers a cost effective, integrated approach to manage rich media services on a single ISR platform.
Team: Service Enabled Network, USA
Application : Live Video Stream Distribution Service
Live Video Stream Distribution Service is a proposal to develop a live stream splitting engine on the Application Extension Platform (AXP). It will use the processing power on the AXP engine to handle the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) traffic and replicate the Rapid Transit Protocol (RTP) packets to all subscribers. The engine will use AXP/ISR API to obtain network topological information and build the live stream distribution tree with other AXP/ISR devices in the network. This solution offers the benefit of reducing hardware necessary for enabling live stream splitting and demonstrates a strong tie-in between applications and the network infrastructure that leverage AXP and the ISR capabilities. It Improves bandwidth utilization by adapting to network conditions, and yields cost efficiency by reducing hardware components otherwise necessary to support this service.
Team: SNAT, USA
Application : Security and Network Assessment Tool
SNAT is is a proposal to deploy a security solution on the Cisco Application Extension Platform. SNAT discovers various network components by using a combination of manual seed devices, Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP), and next hop routing protocol destinations. SNAT also performs data collection on system activity(high CPU usage, errors on interfaces, and high interface utilization) on the network devices. This data is analysed for identifying network problems. SNAT provides the benefit of offering security, easy detection and mitigation of network problems by leveraging the AXP. It simplifies the management of networks and reduces operational costs.
Team: MADNetwork, Spain
Application : Building Automation Service (BAS)
BAS is a proposal for remote monitoring and operating of real estate facilities (HVAC, lighting, plumbing, presence, fire, flooding, and smoke detectors) of all branch offices from the enterprise headquarters. This solution will incur no additional costs, other than the cost for the installation of sensors and actuators for functions that are to be controlled. It manages these devices by a set of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) operations, providing a comprehensive network view to administrators of these control systems.
This solution reduces the need for external servers to manage these disparate facilities, reduces capital and operational costs by integrating the service management capabilities on AXP. In addition, this solution saves energy costs by detecting facilities breakdowns in real-time.
Team: BugsBernie, Germany
Application : Integrated Surveillance System
Integrated Surveillance System is a proposal for fully-integrated surveillance system which leverages Cisco network services on ISR and combines them in a new, smart way to build a security system. With this solution, existing IP phones can be turned on during non-working hours, to monitor any audio signals in the offices. If there are abnormal audio signal patterns, the application notifies external security services or devices such as cell phones, computers, video monitoring systems etc.
It is a simple and cost effective means to enable a security solution in branch office by leveraging existing network infrastructure. This solution improves manageability of security systems by providing an integrated security framework.
Team: RSDevs, Russia
Application : Flash Gateway for Call Processing
Flash Gateway is a proposal that allows users to connect to H.323 and SIP Cisco phones and conferences, using a web browser. It will be also compatible with Cisco Call Manager. Users with Flash plug-ins will be able to call SIP and H.323 phones and join audio and video conferences. PC users with flash plug-ins will be able to establish H.323 and SIP connections without installing any additional software components, such as H.323 or SIP softphone.
This solution increases the efficiency of previously-installed audio and video systems, and improves Return on Investment (ROI). It also demonstrates a strong instance of leveraging ISR services, including VoIP and Quality of Service (QoS), and integrating it with an AXP based application.
Team: Jin Jin, Brazil
Application : Management Platform for IP Based Media Service (IMS) Applications
Resource Management Platform is a proposal to develop an event based platform that leverages AXP, Services Gateway Initiative (OSGI), Jini and JavaSpaces technologies to enable deployment of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) applications based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); more specifically, the Call Section Control Function (CSCF) components. It will have admission control mechanisms to manage Call processing.
This solution improves infrastructure manageability for large scale IMS applications. Such a platform will potentially be useful to enable deployment of high-performance, network-based SaaS (Software as a Service) or Cloud Computing solutions at the network edge by leveraging AXP.
Team: CampUser, Brazil
Application : Locker for IP Telephony
Phone call validation is a proposal to provide a forced authorization mechanism that is integrated with Unified Communications Express on the Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR). The solution will enable users to enter authorization profiles for call validation and manage call processing. This solution improves usability and benefits network administrators to better manage their Unified Communications solutions in the branch office . This solution saves costs by controlling unauthorized calls, provides greater flexibility to administer billing policies and improves operational efficiency.
Team: Ideate, India
Application : Application Suite for IP Telephony (ASIT)
ASIT is a proposal to deploy an application suite for IP telephony on the AXP platform. The applications include:
- Software for validation of IP Phone installations
- Soft Lock for call prevention on IP phones
- Announcement board to manage customized announcements based on IVR
- Monitor status of IP phones
- Load testing software for call processing
These applications leverage the network services on ISR and demonstrate the potential of hosting applications on AXP and integrating them with network infrastructure. This application suite enables savings by blocking unauthorized voice calls, reduces network operational costs by automating telephony installation and verification process.
Team: Enhancers, India
Application : Local Advertising Mesh Network (LAMP)
LAMP is a proposal to create an advertising platform for local ad management. It leverages the Google AdSense network to create a distributed ad-serving platform hosted on the AXP. This platform will reside on routers spread across various branch offices.
The ad-serving platform will enable local advertisers to create and manage targeted ads for distribution on various rich media devices across the branch office network (ex. Retail stores can display ads on their LCD units). This solution offers the benefit of enabling a new revenue stream for businesses to open up their ad-inventory by leveraging existing networking infrastructure.
Mick Scully, Cisco Vice President at the Access Routing Technology group put out a VoD announcing the finalists.
You can follow the contest’s Twitter feed, as well as keep abreast on of updates on the contest Web site.
References: http://www.cisco.com/web/solutions/axpdev/index.html
