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RFID Tutorial for 802
Enterprise use of RFID Ongoing
Activities Challenges Radio Standards Issues
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RFID

• What is it?
• Where is it in technology life cycle?
• Challenges
• Issues
• Radio Issues
• What can IEEE and 802 do?

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Simple passive RFID tag

• Low cost tag with pre-defined id
• Logically mapped to tracked asset
• Radio Field Excites Tag
• 4W Burst
• EPCGlobal Frequencies
• 857MHz Europe (3MHz wide)
• 915MHz US (26MHz wide)
• 960MHz Japan (3MHz wide)
• Location
• Last known Location
• Benefits
• Reusable (can be re-assigned)
• Zero production costs (purchased ready-to-use
  from vendor)
• Boeing examples
• Employee badge
• proximity chip id ? bemsid
• Wichita
• Passive tag id ? order number
• Philadelphia

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Active Tag RFID

• Battery
• Last 3-5 years
• Motion activated tags
• 802.11 Versions
• Real Time Location Services (using WLAN Access
  Points)

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Passive Tag RFID Life Cycle

• Promotion by Wal-Mart and DoD
• Consumer product emphasis
• 2 cent tags
• Valley of Despair
• Been through the hype
• Been through the heights
• Radio issues put it in the valley of despair

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Active Tag RFID Life Cycle

• Valley of Despair
• Little hype
• Expensive tags (50)
• Radio advantages over passive (no burst of power)
• RSSI issues put it in the valley of despair for
  factory applications
• Minimally requires TDOA to be usable

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Simple RFID Architecture
Asset Mapping
Business Rules
(Pre-defined RFID tag)
Tag

• Tag Id

Vendor s/w
Message Parser
RFID application
Reader/ Antenna
(variation 2)

• XML message
• Tag Id
• Antenna
• Date/Time

• Tag Id
• Antenna

RFID Application can be used to determine what
needs to be delivered where and how
Business Application(s)
(variation 1)
Vendor
Enterprise
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Badge Access Management System (AMS)
AMS Application
Verification request
delivers proximity chip id
Local Control Panel (upon verification, opens
door)
Proximity Reader
BIT
Badging Application
Bems ID Translator
The proximity (badge) reader communicates with a
control panel that resides locally. The panel
keeps a local copy of badges that have previously
accessed the building along with some other data.
If the badge being scanned is not in the panel,
a request is sent to the AMS host to validate the
badge. The AMS host executes the proximity chip
id ? employee BEMSID look-up as appropriate.
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RFID Architecture Logical View
RFID Hardware
Tag ID Assigned by Matrics
Unprocessed Tag Data
Tag ID
Matrics
Shop Orders
Antenna
Reader
RFID Tag (Matrics format)
Web based Management Visibility screen
RFID Oracle Database
Tag Data
Database Loader
DC/MRC I/F to ERP
Parsed Tag Data
User Screens
HEI
VAX
Applications
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RFID Across an Enterprise
Legend
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Challenges

• Establishing standards within an evolving
  industry for a multi-dimensional systems
  (passive, active, semi-passive, etc)
• Retail versus Manufacturing requirements
  (EPC??)
• Minimize proprietary if/when possible
• Successful implementations of suitable RFID
  product to business application
• Defining data/tag and collection requirements
• Security issues
• Satisfying frequency management, etc. (avoiding
  conflicts, redundancy)
• Providing enterprise-wide resources for
• Current past RFID lessons learned
• Technical expertise
• Common approach for evaluation, implementation,
  etc.

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Electronic Product Code (EPC)
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Finding the ROI in RFID

• From an AMR Research, Inc publication ( Report
  16660, October 2003)
• RFID must be business case/business process
  driven
• The Bottom Line In order for companies to find
  value in RFID, it needs to be viewed as more than
  a bar code replacement successful companies have
  overhauled their business processes to take
  advantage of the process automation capabilities
  it offers
• RFID will not cure a bad business process.
  Achieving the transformational potential of this
  technology requires creative thinking, often from
  cross-functional areas of your enterprise.
• Infrastructure is a major consideration in RFID
  implementations
• The back end is the key there is too much
  focus on tags and readers and not enough on the
  impact on the software infrastructure and systems
  integration required to support RFID. Our
  research shows that this is the area that present
  the most risk of unexpected cost and project
  overrun.

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Contract Tools
What Problem(s) are we Trying to Solve?
Hazardous Material
Phones
Critical Components
Legal Documents
How We Got Started
How can we use RFID?
In-Transit Materiel
Computing Assets
Technical Documents
Large Assemblies
Inventory
Calibrated Measuring Tools
Shipments
Receipts
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RFID Project Approval Process
Network Support (Local)
Use Case Definition
Frequency Management Council (Local)
IT Interfaces
Lean Assessment
Process Identification
Approval
Safety Health Environmental Affairs (Local)
Business Case (TCO)
Non Standard Justification
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Value Proposition and Customers

• Tooling tracking
• Inventory tracking
• Government property
• Shipping Labels
• Part tracking and reliability

• Life Cycle Data Management
• Emergency Equipment

Sustainment
Legacy OEM, Birth record, Certs/Specs
Reliability Recurring Maintenance Actions,
Failure Patterns
Collaboration on Business Value
Unstructured Data OEM feedback, Helpful
observations
Authenticity Validation of authenticity
Authorizations for Repair and custody
Logistics Chain of custody, Movement history
Maintenance Task manning/tooling/ requred certs)
OSD Spend is over 250M/year on RFID technology
BCA estimates 1M value increase of RFID enabled
A/C
Engineering Curious, life limited or Unique
repair Control documents
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RFID at the RF Layer
RFID is a user of the unlicensed RF spectrum
resource. Due to current and legacy technology
and licensing constraints, this is a limited
resource. The Boeing RF
The Boeing RF resource must be used in accordance
with established company RF management processes
and priorities. The priorities for the use of the
unlicensed spectrum resource were established at
a company-wide wireless summit in St. Louis in
May, 2001.
Processes
Priorities
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Boeings Wireless Priorities
1. Product
2. Process that support product
3. General purpose WLAN
4. Single purpose

• Try to satisfy priority 2 and 4 requirements with
  services added to the general purpose wireless
  service.
• CNO should team with Engineering to maximize
  compatibility and synergy between e-enabled
  products and facilities.

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Standards Required

• Tag data standards (EPCGlobal)
• Schema Form factor
• Air-interface protocols
• Encryption (IEEE 802.11)
• Re-broadcast
• Location (IEEE 802.11k, 802.11y)
• Waveform
• Frequency (expanding with 802.11y)
• Reflection (i.e. backscatter)
• Reader Protocol
• Content of Reader/Host
• Exchanges (abstract syntax)
• Message formatting
• Message framing
• Message syntax
• Error information
• O/S-provided network facility
• Network/application integration

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RFID Boeing RF Priorities
Passive Tag RFID
Passive tag RFID systems will in most cases be
priority 4, single purpose users of the RF
spectrum. Proposed applications must be reviewed
with Boeing Frequency Management for
compatibility with existing uses of the Boeing RF
spectrum resource.
Active Tag RFID (RTLS)
Requirements for active tag RFID systems in most
cases will be satisfied by a Boeing Network
Location Service (BNLS) and its WLAN coverage.
Requirements for a standalone non-standard RTLS
are by definition priority 4, single purpose
users of the RF spectrum. Proposed applications
must be reviewed with Boeing Frequency Management
for compatibility with existing uses of the
Boeing RF spectrum resource.
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RFID Standards Big Picture

• Tag data standards Boeing Standards (Kathryn
  Chalfan/Susan Jordan/Ken Porad/Steve
  Georgevitch/Dave McCoy/Craig Dupler)
• Form factor
• Schema (maybe more than one)
• Air-interface protocols EPCGlobal/ETSI/IEEE?
• Encryption
• Re-broadcast
• Etc.
• Waveform EPCGlobal/ETSI/IEEE?
• Frequency
• Reflection (i.e. backscatter)
• Reader Protocol EPCGlobal/ETSI/IEEE?
• Content of Reader/Host
• Exchanges (abstract syntax)
• Message formatting
• Message framing
• Message syntax
• Error information
• O/S-provided network facility
• Network/application integration Boeing
  Network/Applications

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RF Perspectives

• Bar Coding anywhere using IEEE 802.11 for
  communication to network (relatively close range
  laser bar code range at 10s of feet)
• RFID Passive Tag gates and docks (receiving and
  transportation)
• Away from other RF at same frequency (902-928MHz)
• Confined RF location
• Work on Good Neighbor protocols at PHY/MAC
• RFID Active Tag anywhere using the existing
  infrastructure (IEEE 802.11)

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Security Requirements for RFID Tag Data
Data collected from RFID tags, including either
the tags or tagged items identifier may be
subject to rules for both sensitive data and
data integrity.

• Data that is sensitive to disclosure (e.g.
  proprietary) should not be stored on tags.
• Any sensitive data to be stored on tags must be
  encrypted using an approved standard before being
  transmitted and written to the tag.

SensitiveData

• Tag writing and storage must use measures to
  detect tampering and provide non-repudiation of
  the originator commensurate with the value of the
  data (e.g. HMAC or digital signature).

Integrity
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125KHz and 2.4GHz Analysis
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Zigbee Coexistence Map
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2005 Wireless Application (WAG)

• RFID Active Tags
• RFID Passive Tags
• Asset Tracking (Location)
• Supply Chain
• Cable Replacement
• VoWLAN and Data
• Sensors
• Line-of-Sight (LOS) Directional Delivery of
  Communications
• Emergency Lighting

WLANs can handle the application classes in
black Red applications not able to use
WLANs Green can use either WLAN (SMA) or Zigbee
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Network Principles

• Leverage what is Intranet equipment (almost
  ubiquitous 802.11 WLANs)
• Do not interfere with 802.11 WLAN installed
  network 2.4GHz (ISM) and 5GHz (UNIIEUWRCJapan)
  deployments
• Standardize unlicensed frequencies within the
  enterprise to optimize unlicensed wireless usage

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WAG Principles

• Principle 1 Underlying Wireless Communications
  Used by Wireless Applications Must be Secure
• Principle 2 Information on the Tags and Sensors
  Must be Capable of Being Secure
• Principle 3 Use Standards-Based specifications
  IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee), etc for
  Data Backhaul in Sensor Applications
• Principle 4 Use IEEE 802.11 Active Tags for
  RFID
• Principle 5 Develop a 850-960MHz Passive Tag
  Standard for Portal or Reader Point Passive Tag
  RFID

RED Work in Progress BLACK Work
Accomplished
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WAG Principles (Contd)

• Principle 6 Frequency Management/ Wireless
  Network Operations will do a baseline scan before
  a wireless application deployment.
• Principle 7 Allow for Confinement of the
  Passive Tag Reader Energies to Confined Handheld
  Readers, Portals, Faraday Cages, and Gateways
• Principle 8 Transition of 915MHz Serial Cable
  Replacements to Zigbee or 802.11.
• Principle 9 Use of IEEE 802.11a/b Ethernet
  Extensions for Autonomous Wireless Devices AWDs
  or Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Using Secure
  Mobile Communications Methods

RED Work in Progress BLACK Work
Accomplished
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WAG Principles (Contd)

• Principle 10 An Enterprise Wireless Management
  Council be Established to Determine Spectrum
  Policy
• Principle 11 An Enterprise Wireless Technical
  Council be Established to Advise the Spectrum
  Management Council
• Principle 12 Maintain Railroad Charts for
  Wireless Technologies Futures

RED Work in Progress BLACK Work
Accomplished
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• WAG 2007 UNLICENSED WIRELESS STANDARDS EFFORT

(RFID Other Wireless Applications)
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Boeing Directions

• Active Tags
• Real Time Location Service (RTLS)
• Active Tags
• Network Connected Devices
• Passive tag for airplane Line Replaceable Units
  (LRUs)
• Passive tag for receiving supply chain parts
• Boeing Worldwide Wireless Requirements
• 2.4GHz
• 5GHz
• EPCGlobal (Japan, Europe, US)

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Traditional Active and Passive Tag Roles
Transportation/Supply/Theater Depots/TDCs
Manufacturers/Suppliers
Customers
Distribution Centers/Depots
POEs/PODs
PASSIVE
PASSIVE
PASSIVE
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
ACTIVE
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Actual Active and Passive Tag Roles
Transportation/Supply/Theater Depots/TDCs
Manufacturers/Suppliers
Customers
Distribution Centers/Depots
POEs/PODs
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
PASSIVE
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Boeings Wireless Applications Group (WAG)

• Principles and Architecture Published in 2005
• Preserve 2.4GHz for WLANs
• Preserve 5.15GHz for WLANs
• Late 2006 to Present Standards for Other
  Unlicensed Frequencies
• 125KHz
• 13.56MHz
• 433MHz
• 860MHz (Europe)
• 902MHz (US and others)
• 960MHz (Japan)
• 1.9GHz
• 3.1-10.6GHz (UWB)
• 3.65GHz
• 2.4GHz (other than WLAN)
• 5.15GHz (other than WLAN)

Candidates for Global Passive Tag RFID Standards
Development Organization (SDO)
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902-928MHz Testing in the Boeing Facilities
CLEAN ROOM TESTING OF 902-928MHz
FACTORY TESTING OF 902-928MHz
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902-928MHz Testing Conclusions

• Devices interfere with each other (8 different
  devices tested)
• Need for 902-928MHz radio and media access
  standards
• Need for global radio and media access standards
  for passive tag RFID
• Need for Boeing global access of all unlicensed
  frequencies
• Aircraft move worldwide
• Boeing military products move worldwide
• Need standards for all unlicensed radios and
  media access

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IEEE Possibilities

• Do nothing for a many billion industry
• IEEE 802.15.4 for Passive Tag RFID
• Mike McInnis from Boeing leading RFID Study Group
  in 802.15
• IEEE 802 for 902-928MHz
• Contention-Based Protocol
• IEEE 802 for all unlicensed frequencies
• Contention-Based Protocol
• IEEE 19XX for all unlicensed frequencies