RFID:TechnologyandApplications

SridharIyer
IITBombay
sri@it.iitb.ac.in
www.it.iitb.ac.in/~sri

Outline
OverviewofRFID
ReaderTag;Potentialapplications

RFIDTechnologyInternals
RFcommunications;Reader/Tagprotocols
Middlewarearchitecture;EPCstandards

RFIDBusinessAspects
SecurityandPrivacy
Conclusion
RFID2005

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Product Marketing 75 years ago

You can have

any color,
as long as its
black !

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Product Marketing - Today

Add
consumer
flexibility,
courtesy of
robotics,
computers
Customer
window into
final stage of
manufacturin
g

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Effectonmanufacturing
Needtoensureerrorfree,customassembly
Needinventoryofcomponentsforthevarious
customizationoptions
CriticalIssues

Assemblyprocesscontrol
Inventorymanagement
Supplychainintegration
Customerinsight

Onesolution:RFID
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IITBombay

WhatisRFID?
RFID=RadioFrequencyIDentification.
AnADC(AutomatedDataCollection)technology
that:
usesradiofrequencywavestotransferdatabetween
areaderandamovableitemtoidentify,categorize,
track..
Isfastanddoesnotrequirephysicalsightorcontact
betweenreader/scannerandthetaggeditem.
Performstheoperationusinglowcostcomponents.
Attemptstoprovideuniqueidentificationandbackend
integrationthatallowsforwiderangeofapplications.

OtherADCtechnologies:Barcodes,OCR.
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IITBombay

Ethernet

RFIDsystemcomponents

RFID
Reader

RFID Tag

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RF Antenna

IITBombay

Network

Workstation

RFID systems: logical view

11
et
rn
e
t
In

ONS
Server

Internet

Product
Information
(PMLFormat)

Antenna
Writedata
toRFtags

Itemswith
RFTags

RF

Read
Manager

Reader

Transaction
DataStore

Antenna

Application
Systems

7
Tag/Item
Relationship
Database

Tag Interfaces
RFID2005

RFID Middleware
IITBombay

EDI/
XML

Trading
Partner
Systems

10
9

Other
Systems
8

12

RFIDtags:Smartlabels
A paper label
with RFID inside

an antenna,
printed, etched
or stamped ...
on a substrate
e.g. a plastic
foil ...

and a chip
attached to it

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Source:www.rfidprivacy.org

SomeRFIDtags

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Source:www.rfidprivacy.org

RFIDtags
Tagscanbeattachedtoalmostanything:
Items,casesorpalletsofproducts,highvaluegoods
vehicles,assets,livestockorpersonnel

PassiveTags

DonotrequirepowerDrawsfromInterrogatorField
Lowerstoragecapacities(fewbitsto1KB)
Shorterreadranges(4inchesto15feet)
UsuallyWriteOnceReadMany/ReadOnlytags
Costaround25centstofewdollars

ActiveTags

Batterypowered
Higherstoragecapacities(512KB)
Longerreadrange(300feet)
TypicallycanberewrittenbyRFInterrogators
Costaround50to250dollars

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Tagblockdiagram
Antenn
a

Power
Supply
Tx
Modulator
Rx
Demodulato
r

Control
Logic
(Finite State
machine)

Memory
Cells

Tag Integrated Circuit (IC)

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RFIDtagmemory
Readonlytags
TagIDisassignedatthefactoryduringmanufacturing
Canneverbechanged
Noadditionaldatacanbeassignedtothetag

Writeonce,readmany(WORM)tags
Datawrittenonce,e.g.,duringpackingormanufacturing
Tagislockedoncedataiswritten
SimilartoacompactdiscorDVD

Read/Write
Tagdatacanbechangedovertime
Partorallofthedatasectioncanbelocked
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RFIDreaders
Readerfunctions:

Remotelypowertags
Establishabidirectionaldatalink
Inventorytags,filterresults
Communicatewithnetworkedserver(s)
Canread100300tagspersecond

Readers(interrogators)canbeatafixedpointsuchas
Entrance/exit
Pointofsale

Readerscanalsobemobile/handheld

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SomeRFIDreaders

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Source:www.buyrfid.org

Readeranatomy
Digital
Signal
Processor
(DSP)

Network
Processor

RFID2005

Power
Supply

915MHz
IITBombay
Radio

13.56MH
z

16

RFIDapplicationpoints

AssemblyLine
Wireless

HandheldApplications
BillofLading
MaterialTracking

ShippingPortalsIITBombay

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RFIDapplications
ManufacturingandProcessing
Inventoryandproductionprocessmonitoring
Warehouseorderfulfillment

SupplyChainManagement
Inventorytrackingsystems
Logisticsmanagement

Retail
Inventorycontrolandcustomerinsight
Autocheckoutwithreverselogistics

Security
Accesscontrol
CounterfeitingandTheftcontrol/prevention

LocationTracking
Trafficmovementcontrolandparkingmanagement
Wildlife/Livestockmonitoringandtracking

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Smartgroceries

AddanRFIDtagtoall
itemsinthegrocery.
Asthecartleavesthe
store,itpassesthrough
anRFIDtransceiver.
Thecartisrungupin
seconds.
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Smartcabinet
Readerantennasplacedundereachshelf

Passive
read/writetags
affixedtocaps
ofcontainers
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1.

Taggeditemisremoved
fromorplacedin
SmartCabinet

1.

SmartCabinet
periodically
interrogatestoassess
inventory

1.

Server/Databaseis
updatedtoreflectitems
disposition

1.

Designatedindividuals
arenotifiedregarding
itemsthatneed
attention(cabinetand
shelflocation,action
required)

20

Source:HowStuffWorks

Smartfridge

Recognizeswhatsbeenputinit
Recognizeswhenthingsareremoved
Createsautomaticshoppinglists
Notifiesyouwhenthingsarepasttheirexpiration

Showsyoutherecipesthatmostcloselymatch
whatisavailable

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Smartgroceriesenhanced

Trackproducts
throughtheirentire
lifetime.

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Source:HowStuffWorks

Somemoresmartapplications
Smartappliances:
Closetsthatadviceonstyledependingonclothesavailable.
Ovensthatknowrecipestocookprepackagedfood.

Smartproducts:
Clothing,appliances,CDs,etc.taggedforstorereturns.

Smartpaper:
Airlineticketsthatindicateyourlocationintheairport.

Smartcurrency:
Anticounterfeitingandtracking.

Smartpeople??
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RFIDadvantagesoverbarcodes
Nolineofsightrequiredforreading
Multipleitemscanbereadwithasinglescan
Eachtagcancarryalotofdata(read/write)
Individualitemsidentifiedandnotjustthecategory
Passivetagshaveavirtuallyunlimitedlifetime
Activetagscanbereadfromgreatdistances
Canbecombinedwithbarcodetechnology
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Outline
OverviewofRFID
ReaderTag;Potentialapplications

RFIDTechnologyInternals
RFcommunications;Reader/Tagprotocols
Middlewarearchitecture;EPCstandards

RFIDBusinessAspects
SecurityandPrivacy
Conclusion
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RFIDcommunications

Power from RF field

Reader
Antenna

Reader->Tag Commands
Reader
Tag->Reader Responses

Tags
RFID Communication
Channel
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RFIDcommunication
HostmanagesReader(s)andissuesCommands

ReaderandtagcommunicateviaRFsignal
Carriersignalgeneratedbythereader
Carriersignalsentoutthroughtheantennas
Carriersignalhitstag(s)
Tagreceivesandmodifiescarriersignal
sendsbackmodulatedsignal(PassiveBackscatteralsoreferredto
asfielddisturbancedevice)

Antennasreceivethemodulatedsignalandsendthemtothe
Reader
Readerdecodesthedata
Resultsreturnedtothehostapplication
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Antennafields:Inductivecoupling

ICormicroprocessor

Transceiver
TagReader

RFID
Tag
antenna

antenna

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Antennafields:Propagationcoupling

ICormicroprocessor

Transceiver
TagReader

RFID
Tag
antenna

antenna

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Operationalfrequencies
Frequency
Ranges

LF
125KHz

HF
13.56MHz

UHF
868915
MHz

Microwave
2.45GHz&
5.8GHz

TypicalMax
ReadRange
(PassiveTags)

Shortest
112

Short
224

Medium
110

Longest
115

TagPower
Source

Generallypassive
tagsonly,using
inductivecoupling

Generallypassive
tagsonly,using
inductiveor
capacitive
coupling

Activetagswith
integralbattery
orpassivetags
usingcapacitive
storage,
Efieldcoupling

Activetagswith
integralbatteryor
passivetagsusing
capacitivestorage,
Efieldcoupling

DataRate
Abilitytoread
near
metalorwet
surfaces

Slower

Moderate

Fast

Faster

Better

Moderate

Poor

Worse

AccessControl&
Security
Identifyingwidgets
through
manufacturing
processesorin
harshenvironments
Ranchanimal
identification
EmployeeIDs

Librarybooks
Laundry
identification
AccessControl
EmployeeIDs

supplychain
tracking
Highwaytoll
Tags

HighwaytollTags
Identificationof
privatevehicle
fleetsin/outofa
yardorfacility
Assettracking

Applications

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Reader>Tagpowertransfer
Reader
Antenna

Tag

Reader
Separation
distance d

Q: If a reader transmits Pr watts, how much power Pt

does the tag receive at a separation distance d?
A: It dependsUHF (915MHz) : Far field propagation : Pt 1/d2
HF (13.56MHz) : Inductive coupling : Pt 1/d6
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LimitingfactorsforpassiveRFID

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Reader transmitter power Pr (Govt.

limited)
Reader receiver sensitivity Sr
Reader antenna gain Gr (Govt. limited)
Tag antenna gain Gt (Size limited)
Power required at tag Pt (Silicon process
limited)
Tag modulator efficiency Et

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Implications
SincePt1/d2,doublingreadrangerequires4X
thetransmitterpower.
Largerantennascanhelp,butattheexpenseof
largerphysicalsizebecauseG{t,r}Area.
MoreadvancedCMOSprocesstechnologywill
helpbyreducingPt.
Atlargedistances,readersensitivitylimitations
dominate.
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RFeffectsofcommonmaterials
Material

Effect(s)onRFsignal

Cardboard

Absorption(moisture)
Detuning(dielectric)

Conductiveliquids
(shampoo)

Absorption

Plastics

Detuning(dielectric)

Metals

Reflection

Groupsofcans

Complexeffects(lenses,
filters)
Reflection

Humanbody/animals
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Absorption,Detuning,
Reflection
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Communicationprotocols
Listenbeforetalk
Mandatorylistentimeof>5msecbeforeeachtransmission
Max4secTXthenrelistenfor100msec
TransmissionfromotherReaders

865MHz

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200KHz

IITBombay

867MHz

35

ETSIEN302208standard
Sharedoperationinband865.0868.0MHzattransmit
powersupto2WERP.
Operationin10subbandsof200kHz.
Powerlevelsof100mW,500mWand2WERP.

Mandatorylistenbeforetalkandlookbeforeleap.

865.0MHz

865.6MHz

867.6MHz

100mW

2W

500mW

FT

FT

LT

600kHz

LT

600kHz

LT

600kHz
867.7MHz

865.5MHz

RFID2005

FT

FT

LT

865.1MHz

868.0MHz

865.7MHz

867.5MHz

IITBombay

867.9MHz

36

Source:www.etsi.org

ReaderCollisionProblem
ReaderReaderInterference
ReaderTagInterference

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ReaderCollisionandHiddenTerminal
Thepassivetagsarenotabletotakepartinthecollision
resolutionoravoidance,asinotherwirelesssystems
Consider:RTSCTSforhiddenterminalproblemin802.11
rfid:TisnotabletosendaCTSinresponsetoanRTSfromR

Incasemultiplereaders
trytoreadthesametag,
thetagcannotrespond
selectivelytoaparticular
reader
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TDMAbasedsolution
Assigndifferenttimeslotsand/orfrequenciesto
nearbyreaders
Reducestographcoloringproblem(readersform
vertices)

Onlyreadertoreaderinterference
Assigndifferentoperatingfrequencies

Onlymultiplereadertotaginterference
Assigndifferenttimeslotsforoperation

Bothtypesofinterference
Firstallotdifferenttimeslots,thenfrequencies
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Beaconbasedsolution
Areaderwhilereading
tag,periodicallysendsa
beacononthecontrol
channel
Assumptions
Separatecontrolchannel
betweenreaders
Therangeinthecontrol
channelissufficientfora
readertocommunicate
withallthepossible
readersthatmightinterfere
inthedatachannel
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Beaconbasedsolution(contd.)

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MultipleTags
Whenmultipletagsareinrangeofthereader:
Allthetagswillbeexcitedatthesametime.
Makesitverydifficulttodistinguishbetweenthetags.

Collisionavoidancemechanisms:
Probabilistic:
Tagsreturnatrandomtimes.

Deterministic:
Readersearchesforspecifictags.
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TagCollisionProblem
Multipletagssimultaneouslyrespondtoquery
Resultsincollisionatthereader

Severalapproaches

Treealgorithm
Memorylessprotocol
Contactlessprotocol
Icodeprotocol

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TreeAlgorithm
Readerqueriesfortags
Readerinformsincaseofcollisionandtags
generates0or1randomly
If0thentagretransmitsonnextquery
If1thentagbecomessilentandstartsincrementing
itscounter(whichisinitiallyzero)
Counterincrementedeverytimecollisionreported
anddecrementedeverytimeidentificationreported
Tagremainssilenttillitscounterbecomeszero
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TreeAlgorithmExample
Readerinformstagsincaseofcollisionandtagsgenerate0or1
If0thentagretransmitsonnextquery,elsetagbecomessilentandstartsacounter.
Counterincrementedeverytimecollisionreportedanddecrementedotherwise.

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TreeAlgorithmComplexity

TimeComplexityO(n)wherenisnumberof
tagstobeidentified
MessageComplexity
nisunknown(nlogn)
nisknown(n)

Overheads
Requiresrandomnumbergenerator
Requirescounter
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MemorylessProtocol
Assumption:tagIDstoredinkbitbinarystring
Algorithm
Readerqueriesforprefixp
Incaseofcollisionqueriesforp0orp1

Timecomplexity
RunningtimeO(n)
WorstCasen*(k+2logn)

MessageComplexityk*(2.21logn+4.19)

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MemorylessProtocolExample
Readerqueriesforprefixp
Incaseofcollision,readerqueriesforp0orp1
Example:considertagswithprefixes:00111,01010,01100,10101,
10110and10111

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ContactlessProtocol
Assumption:tagIDstoredinkbitbinarystring
Algorithm
Readerqueriesfor(i)thbit
Readerinformsincaseofcollision
Tagswith(i)thbit0becomesilentandmaintaincounter
Tagswith(i)thbit1respondtonextqueryfor(i+1)thbit

TimecomplexityO(2k)
MessagecomplexityO(m(k+1)),wheremis
numberoftags
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ContactlessProtocolExample
Readerqueriesfor(i)thbit
Readerinformsincaseofcollision
Tagswith(i)thbit0becomesilentandmaintaincounter
Tagswith(i)thbit1respondtonextqueryfor(i+1)thbit
Example:tagswithprefixes:01,10and11

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ICodeProtocol
BasedonslottedALOHAprinciple
Algorithm
ReaderprovidestimeframewithNslots,Ncalculated
forestimatenoftags
Tagsrandomlychooseaslotandtransmittheir
information
Responsespossibleforeachslotare
Empty,notagtransmittedinthisslotc0
Singleresponse,identifyingthetagc1
Multipleresponses,collisionck

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ICodeProtocol
Newestimateforn:lower
bound
lb(N,c0,c1,ck)=c1+2ck
Usingestimaten,Ncalculated
Nbecomesconstantaftersometime
UsingthisNcalculatenumberofreadcyclesstoidentifytagswithagivenlevelofaccuracy

Timecomplexityt0*(s+p)
t0istimeforonereadcycle
pnumberofreadcyclesforestimatingN

Messagecomplexityn*(s+p)

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Outline
OverviewofRFID
ReaderTag;Potentialapplications

RFIDTechnologyInternals
RFcommunications;Reader/Tagprotocols
Middlewarearchitecture;EPCstandards

RFIDBusinessAspects
SecurityandPrivacy
Conclusion
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Howmuchdata?
ConsiderasupermarketchainimplementingRFID:
12bytesEPC+ReaderID+Time=18bytespertag
Averagenumberoftagsinaneighborhoodstore=700,000
Datageneratedpersecond=12.6GB
Datageneratedperday=544TB
Assuming50storesinthechain,
datageneratedperday=2720TB
StanfordLinearAcceleratorCentergenerates500TB
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RFIDmiddleware

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Source:ForresterResearch:RFIDMiddleware

Middlewareframework:PINES
Data Collection & Device Management Engine
Device
Management
Engineand
UI

Movementand
DeviceEmulator
Engine

Layout Management Engine

Layout
ManagementUI

Layout
Store

Product
InformationStore

Event
Store

EISData
Connectr

Decision
Support
Engine

Realtime
QueryEngine
andUI

Notification
Engineand
UI

RFID2005

Action
Rule

Graphical
Dashboard

IITBombay

Automatic
Actionable
Rules

PML
Server

Automated
Actuation
Engine
56
Source:PersistentSystems

Retailcasestudy:Enablingrealtimedecisions

12.Lastthreehour
promotionaloffer
alertonproductX

1.Raw
eventdata

11.Promotional
offeralert

2.Logdata

3.Queryo/pdata

10.Promotional
offerupdate
4.Offtakedata
onXproduct

5.Fourhourstocloseof
retailsstoresandproduct
Xsalestargetfortheday
notmet!
6.Notificationsforapprovalof
promotionalofferonproductX

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9.Promotional
offerupdate

8.Approval
alert

7.Approval

57
Source:PersistentSystems

RFID2005

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Source:PersistentSystems

Layout Management Framework

Site Layout Configuration and Location

Management

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Source:PersistentSystems

Click to
modify
parameter
s

Specify the layout for a reader and antenna

setup by means of locations and junctions
Ability to continuously modify/update the
layout
Provide access to reader and antenna
RFID2005 configuration from visual layout
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Source:PersistentSystems

Site
Definition

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One site = Many floors

61
Source:PersistentSystems

Floor
Definition

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Zone
Definition

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One site = Many zones

62
Source:PersistentSystems

Location
Definition

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One zone = Many

locations

63
Source:PersistentSystems

Device Management Framework

Remote monitoring and configuration

of RF Sensor network elements
Readers and Antennas

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Source:PersistentSystems

Click to
view reader
and
antenna
properties

Click to
administer
reader and
antenna

Status view for all readers at a glance

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Source:PersistentSystems

Reader
definition

One reader = Multiple

antennas

Reader and Antenna configuration and

status view for specific reader
Ability to remotely monitor and configure
Reader and Antenna parameters

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Source:PersistentSystems

Sophisticated Query Processing

Stream based event store for incessant,
high performance querying

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Source:PersistentSystems

Application
Query
Builder

Ability to configure queries for continuous

execution on event store
Incorporates querying on PML information
Programmable querying interfaces
Provides data filtering abilities

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Source:PersistentSystems

Snapshot of
all Queries

Access configuration panels of specific

queries
View tabular and graphical outputs for all
queries

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Source:PersistentSystems

Dashboards
Corporate dashboards for enhanced decision
making

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Source:PersistentSystems

Query
definition

Query result
snapshot

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Source:PersistentSystems

Query
definition

Query result
snapshot

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Source:PersistentSystems

Acceptable
Inventory
Threshold
Monitored
Daily

Daily
Monitor
Indicates
Need for
Action

Daily
Monitor
Reflects
Result of
Action

Flash promotions application as reflected

in a corporate dashboard

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Source:PersistentSystems

Graphical
dashboard
builder to
provide visual
view over query

Choose from multiple types of graphs

Configuration panels for visualization effects
Configuration panels for drilled down views

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Source:PersistentSystems

Drill-down view
of Query result

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Source:PersistentSystems

Snapshot of all
application
dashboards

RFID2005

Access configuration panels of specific dashboard

View tabular and graphical outputs for all dashboards

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Source:PersistentSystems

Notifications
Notifications for enhanced decision making

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Source:PersistentSystems

a
Configuration
panel for
notification

Specify alerts via email and SMS

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Source:PersistentSystems

NotificationsonDesktop

Notification
Event
Subscriber

Notification
Message
instance

Email message in outlook

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Source:PersistentSystems

Virtual Test Bed

Scenario emulation prior to deployment

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Source:PersistentSystems

 Ability to configure event generation for

an emulated reader setup
Specify movement and time intervals
across various functional units

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Source:PersistentSystems

TheEPCmodel:InternetofThings

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Source:www.epcglobalinc.org

EPCandPML
EPCElectronicProductCode

Headerhandlesversionandupgrades
EPCManagerProductManufacturerCode
ObjectClassClass/TypeofProduct
SerialNumberUniqueObjectIdentity

PMLPhysicalMarkupLanguage
ExtensionofXML
RepresentationofTaggedObjectInformation
InteractionofTaggedObjectInformation

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SavantandONS
Savants
ManagetheflowofEPCdatafromRFIDreaders

Datasmoothing
Readercoordination
Dataforwarding
Datastorage

InteractwiththeONSnetwork

ONSServers
DirectoryforEPCinformation,similartoInternetDNS
UsestheobjectmanagernumberoftheEPCtofind
outhowtogetmoreinformationabouttheproduct
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SuppliersInternalSupplyChain

EPCcompliant
RFIDtagsare
placedon
products,
casesorpallets
during
distributionor
manufacturing

CustomersInternalSupplyChain

EPCprocessflow
CustomersRFIDsystem
readstheEPCinformation
andrequestsadditional
datafromtheEPC
Network

TheEPCenabled
productisreceivedatthe
customersite

TheproductentersthesupplychainwiththeEPCinformationattached
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EPCTags
64and96bitEPCtagshavebeendefined
010000A2100015E000189DF0
Header EPCManager ObjectClass SerialNumber
835bits 3956bits
8Bits
6095bits

AllowsforuniqueIDsfor268millioncompanies
Eachcompanycanthenhave16millionobjectclasses
EachobjectorSKUcanhave68billionserialnumbers
assignedtoit
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TheEPCNetwork
EPC Network

Manufacturer

Retailer

1.EPClifecyclebeginswhenaManufacturertagstheproduct

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Source:VerisignInc

TheEPCNetwork
EPC Network
Electronic Product Code
urn:epc:sgtin:47400.18559.1234
Identification on Bar Codes
Identification for Serialized Information

Synt
ax
Dom
ain
Name
Manufacturer
EPC

4thlevel

3rdlevel

2ndlevel

Toplevel

ds .

vnds
.

verisign
.

com

18559
.

47400
.

Retailer
.
onsepc

com

1.EPClifecyclebeginswhenaManufacturertagstheproduct

Manufacturer ID identifies supplier as Gillette

Object (product) Class identifies as Mach 3 razor (12 pk)

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TheEPCNetwork
EPC Network

Manufacturer

Retailer

1.EPClifecyclebeginswhenaManufacturertagstheproduct
2.Manufacturerrecordsproductinformation(e.g.,manufacturedate,expirationdate,
location)intoEPCInformationService
3.EPCInformationServiceregistersEPCknowledgewithEPCDiscoveryService
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TheEPCNetwork
EPC Network

Manufacturer

Retailer

4.ManufacturersendsproducttoRetailer
5.RetailerrecordsreceiptofproductintoEPCIS
6.RetailersEPCISthenregistersproductknowledgewithEPCDiscoveryService

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TheEPCNetwork
EPC Network

Retailer
Application

7
8

Manufacturer

Retailer

7.IfRetailerrequiresproductinformation,RootONSisqueriedforlocationof
ManufacturersLocalONS
8.ManufacturersLocalONSisqueriedforlocationofEPCIS

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TheEPCNetwork
Total
Transaction
Time:

EPC Network

<10

milliseconds

Retailer
Application

Manufacturer

Retailer

9.RetailerqueriesManufacturerEPCISfordesiredproductinformation(e.g.,
manufacturedate,expirationdate,etc.)

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Outline
OverviewofRFID
ReaderTag;Potentialapplications

RFIDTechnologyInternals
RFcommunications;Reader/Tagprotocols
Middlewarearchitecture;EPCstandards

RFIDBusinessAspects
SecurityandPrivacy
Conclusion
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BusinessimplicationsofRFIDtagging

CumulativeValue

Consumer

Supply
Chain
Management

Non
Resaleable
Management

Truck/Asset

RFID2005

Customerinsight
Shelfavailability
Selfcheckout
Newpaymentmechanisms
Returnmanagement
Maintenance

QualityControl
DistributionProductivity
Track&Trace
Inventorymanagement
Assetmanagement
Shelfmaintenance
Highvaluegoodsmgmt

Track&Trace
Inventorymanagement
Assetmanagement
Pallet/Case

Tote/Package

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LevelofTagging/Time
94

Source:www.accenture.org

RFIDdeploymentchallenges
ManageSystemcosts
Choosetherighthardware
Choosetherightintegrationpath
Choosetherightdatainfrastructure
HandleMaterialmatters
RFTaggingofproducedobjects
DesigninglayoutsforRFInterrogators
TagIdentificationSchemeIncompatibilities
Whichstandardtofollow?
OperatingFrequencyVariances
LowFrequencyorHighFrequencyorUltraHighFrequency
BusinessProcessRedesign
Newprocesseswillbeintroduced
Existingprocesseswillberedefined
TrainingofHR
CostROIsharing

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Usingtagswithmetal
Tagsplaceddirectlyagainstmetalwill
negativelyaffectreadability
Offsettagfromsurface

Spacetagfromsurface

Coupleone
endofthe
antennato
themetal

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GettingreadyforRFID
Identifybusinessprocessimpacts
Inventorycontrol(acrossthesupplychain)
Manufacturingassembly

DetermineoptimalRFIDconfiguration
WhereamIgoingtotagmycomponents/products?
Surfaces,metalenvironmentandhandlingissues

WhereamIgoingtoplacethereaders?
Movingfromthelabenvironmenttothemanufacturingor
distributioncentercanbetricky

WhenamIgoingtoassembletheRFIDdata?

IntegratewithERPandothersystems
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RFIDservicesvaluechain
Strategy/
Consulting

Hardware

Middleware/
DeviceMgmt

EPC
Network
Services

Enterprise
Data
Application
&Information
Management Integration

Business
Applications

SystemIntegrationandSolutionDelivery
Business
Process
Integration
Solution
Framework
Network
Setup
RFaspects

RFID2005

Tags
Readers
Label
Printers

Product
ETL
Catalogand Services
Attribute
Managemnt Legacy
Datafiltering Discovery
Application
Services

Data
Integration
Reader
Synchro
coordination Authorization
nization
/
Authenticatn
Policy
Management Framework
Event
Monitoring

Directory
Services

SupplyChain
Execution
ERP
Warehouse
Management
Store
Management
Distribution
Management

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Source:AMRResearch

Privacy:TheflipsideofRFID

Hiddenplacementoftags
Uniqueidentifiersforallobjectsworldwide
Massivedataaggregation
Unauthorizeddevelopmentofdetailedprofiles
Unauthorizedthirdpartyaccesstoprofiledata
Hiddenreaders
Justincaseyou
wanttoknow,shes
carrying700Euro

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Source:www.rfidprivacy.org

TheBlockerTagapproach
Treewalkingprotocolforidentifyingtags
recursivelyasksquestion:
Whatisyournextbit?

Blockertagalwayssaysboth0and1!
Makesitseemlikeallpossibletagsarepresent
Readercannotfigureoutwhichtagsareactually
present
Numberofpossibletagsishuge,soreaderstalls

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Moreonblockertags
Blockertagcanbeselective:
Privacyzones:OnlyblockcertainrangesofRFIDtag
serialnumbers
Zonemobility:Allowshopstomoveitemsintoprivacy
zoneuponpurchase

Example:
Blockerblocksallidentifierswithleading1bit
Itemsinsupermarketcarryleading0bit
Oncheckout,leadingbitisflippedfrom0to1
PINrequired,asforkilloperation
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TheChallengeResponseapproach

Tagdoesnotgiveallitsinformationtoreader.
Thecloserthereader,themoretheprocessing.
Tagrevealshighestlevelofauthenticatedinformation.

1. Readerspecifieswhichlevelitwants.
2. Tagspecifieslevelofsecurity,and/oramountof

energyneeded.
3. Readerproceedsatthatlevelofsecurity.
4. Tagrespondsifandonlyifitgetsenergyand
securityrequired.
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Somemoreapproaches

TheFaradayCageapproach.
PlaceRFIDtagsinaprotectivemesh.
Wouldmakelocomotiondifficult.

TheKillTagapproach.
Killthetagwhileleavingthestore.
RFIDtagsaretoousefulforreverselogistics.

TheTagEncryptionapproach.
Tagcyclesthroughseveralpseudonyms.
Gettingagoodmodelisdifficult.

Noonesizefitsallsolution.
Securityhingesonthefactthatintherealworld,an
adversarymusthavephysicalproximitytotagsto
interactwiththem.

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Outline
OverviewofRFID
ReaderTag;Potentialapplications

RFIDTechnologyInternals
RFcommunications;Reader/Tagprotocols
Middlewarearchitecture;EPCstandards

RFIDBusinessAspects
SecurityandPrivacy
Conclusion
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RFID:Thecompletepicture

TagsandReaders
IdentifyingReadPoints
Installation&RFTuning
RFIDMiddleware
Connectors&Integration
ProcessChanges
CrossSupplyChainView
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PointstonoteaboutRFID
RFIDbenefitsareduetoautomationandoptimization.
RFIDisnotaplug&playtechnology.
Onefrequencyfitsallisamyth.
Technologyisevolvingbutphysicshaslimitations.
RFIDdoesnotsolvedatainconsistencywithinand
acrossenterprises.
ManagementofRFIDinfrastructureanddatahasbeen
underestimated.
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RFIDSummary
Strengths

Advancedtechnology
Easytouse
Highmemorycapacity
Smallsize

Opportunities

Weaknesses
Lackofindustryandapplication
standards
HighcostperunitandhighRFID
systemintegrationcosts
Weakmarketunderstandingof
thebenefitsofRFIDtechnology

Threats

Couldreplacethebarcode
Ethicalthreatsconcerning
EnduserdemandforRFID
privacylife
Highlyfragmentedcompetitive
systemsisincreasing
Hugemarketpotentialinmany
environment
businesses
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SomeLinks

http://www.epcglobalinc.com/
http://www.rfidjournal.com/
http://rfidprivacy.com/
http://www.rfidinc.com/
http://www.buyrfid.com/

ThankYou

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