Product Detection and Metadata Extraction

The Cisco Support Assistant Extension is designed to enhance the support experience on Cisco product portals by detecting relevant product information and streamlining user interactions with Cisco support. This page outlines how the extension detects products and extracts metadata to provide a tailored experience.

Ensuring Compliance and User Privacy

The extension adheres strictly to the Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle (CSDL), ensuring it operates in compliance with established security and privacy standards. To maintain this compliance:

• Targeted Operation: The Cisco Support Assistant Extension is engineered to function exclusively on Cisco product portals. It identifies these portals through a combination of signature matches, including URL patterns and specific HTML parameters. This selective operation not only ensures that the extension functions within its intended scope but also protects user privacy by not interacting with non-Cisco websites.

Debugger Pop-up Functionality

Product Portal Debugging

When the Cisco Support Assistant Extension is enabled on a supported product page, it activates its debugging tools to gather essential product metadata. This process is indicated by a debugger pop-up at the top of the screen.

• Pop-up Notification: Upon activation on a supported product, a pop-up will appear indicating that the extension has commenced debugging. This pop-up is designed to inform the user that the extension is extracting metadata such as the product’s serial number, version, and features enabled.

Benefits of Metadata Extraction

The data collected through the debugging process enables the extension to:

• Customize Support: Tailor tips, alerts, and support features to the specific product, enhancing the relevance and efficacy of the support provided.
• Seamless Support Features: Facilitate features like seamless case opening and file uploads directly linking the product to Cisco support mechanisms.

Managing the Extension

Enabling and Disabling the Extension

• Default Enabled: The extension is configured to be enabled by default, ensuring that users have immediate access to its features upon signing in.
• User Control: Users have the option to disable the extension temporarily via a toggle in the pop-up window. This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where the user prefers a browsing experience uninterrupted by the extension’s functionalities.

Reversible Deactivation

• Temporary Deactivation: Disabling the extension deactivates all its supplemental features but does not remove or uninstall the extension. Users can reactivate all features by toggling the power button back to the "on" position at their convenience.

The design of the Cisco Support Assistant Extension ensures that it is both effective in its support role and respectful of user preferences and privacy. Users can manage the extension easily, enjoying an optimized experience on Cisco product portals while maintaining control over the extension’s operation on their browsers.