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IPLAN Team

IPLAN Team Chair

Mark Schnell   Mark Schnell
Device Abstraction and GW Interface Team Chair
 Device Interface Team Chair
Cisco Systems

Cisco:

  • We are the world wide leader in networking equipment. As such, anytime additional applications and uses of the network are developed Cisco benefits.

Technology Center:

  • The Technology Center is a unique group inside Cisco. We are are not a Business Unit (BU). We do not have a P&L to manage. We are a corporate resource. We are a engineering team that is paired with business development team. Our macro goal is to "make the Internet bigger".
  • We do this by...
    • Locating and qualifying new, emerging or changing markets
    • Identifying and seeding relevant new technologies into Cisco
    • Building ecosystems around Cisco products and technology
    • Supporting product development for partners and investment companies
    • Complementing the engineering efforts of Cisco Business Units"
  • We have a 3-5 year time horizon for our large 'focus areas'.
  • We are an experienced, multi-discipline group with broad technical experience. (SW, HW, datacom, telecom, compliers, gaming, video encoding, data bases, encryption, ...)
  • Examples of our work (both big & little projects) include:
    • The 1st VoIP developments in Cisco back around 1997 (partnered with a BU for path to market)
    • DSL & cable modem reference designs
    • TCP/IP stack for Sony PS2
    • Many wireless projects (.11, cellular, GPS, mesh, RFID, ZigBee)
    • Vehicular (i.e. small, robust) routers
    • VoIP call control systems
    • Standards (video, mobileIP, RF link metrics, anti-SPAM, ...)

  • Personal Biography:
    • I have an EE degree (BS & masters)
    • I've spent 14 years in telecom at Nortel and 7 years in datacom at Cisco.
    • My training is HW design. Over the years I have developed numerous boards, chips and systems.
    • I consider my role to be one of system design. Look for general solutions not the specific ones. To see the forest inspire of the trees. To take a half step back to see the real problems, issues & solutions. To see the possible components of a solution and assess their applicability, but to not get lost in all the details (i.e. to be able to scope the appropriate level detail needed in a particular situation.)