Standards

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• Standards

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• My own lesson in RFID standardization

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Technology Standards

• Two types of RFID Standards
• Technology Standards
• ISO 15693
• ISO 18000
• EPCglobal
• Application Standards
• GTAGTM - Supply Chain (EAN/UCC)
• ANSI MH10.8.4 - Returnable Containers and
  Pallets
• ANSI MH10.8.8 - Parcels, Packages, and Flat
  Mail.
• ISO 18185 Freight containers/ electronic seals
• AIAG - Automotive Industry
• UPU - Universal Postal Union
• IATA- Airlines

10A10E01810 01601D00F11
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RFID Technology Standards
Standard Committees
Applications
Members
International Standards Community Key Vendors
Intermec, Philips, TI, TAGSYS, Magellan etc.
All applications
ISO 18000
MIT Research initiative. Key Sponsors include
PG, Gillette, Coca-cola, Walmart, Pepsi, Target,
UPS, Johnson Johnson. Then GS1 (EAN UCC) -
1million member companies.
RFID Chips Tags
Retail, HLS Logistics
EPCglobal
Animal Tagging
ISO 11784/5
International Standards Community
Vicinity reading
ISO 15693
International Standards Community
Contactless cards
Proximity Reading Ticketing
International Standards Community
ISO 14443
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RFID Operating Frequencies
Any application
ISO 18000
RFID chips/tags
Retail, HLS Logistics
EPCglobal
Animal Tagging
ISO 11784/5
Vicinity Reading (Access Control)
Contactless cards
ISO 15693
Proximity (Ticketing)
ISO 14443
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RFID Operating Frequencies
Any application
ISO 18000
RFID chips/tags
Retail, HLS Logistics
EPCglobal
RFID frequency used by libraries
Animal Tagging
ISO 11784/5
Vicinity Reading (Access Control)
Contactless cards
ISO 15693
Proximity (Ticketing)
ISO 14443
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RFID Operating Frequencies
THE RFID standard
ISO 18000
Incorporated in 18000-6 Part C
RFID chips/tags
Retail, HLS Logistics
EPCglobal
Animal Tagging
ISO 11784/5
Incorporated in 18000-3 Mode 1
Vicinity Reading (Access Control)
Contactless cards
ISO 15693
Proximity (Ticketing)
ISO 14443
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RFID Operating Frequencies
THE RFID standard
LIBRARIES
ISO 18000
Incorporated in 18000-6 Part C
RFID chips/tags
Retail, HLS Logistics
EPCglobal
RFID frequency used by libraries
Animal Tagging
ISO 11784/5
Incorporated in 18000-3 Mode 1
Vicinity Reading (Access Control)
Contactless cards
ISO 15693
Proximity (Ticketing)
ISO 14443
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ISO 18000 Is the  key  RFID technology
standard

• The global home for standards is the
  International Standards Organisation (ISO).
• Although the ISO process is by its nature long,
  involving six stages and several rounds of voting
  that are conducted on an international level, it
  does have the positive side that when a standard
  has completed these phases it truly does have an
  international acceptance.
• ISO18000 describes the standard communication
  interface between an RFID tag and reader. (The
  Air Interface)
• ISO18000 is very broad in its coverage. It has
  several parts, each covers different RFID
  frequencies. Part 3 covers 13.56 MHz and Part 6
  covers UHF.
• ISO18000 covers all Classes of RFID tag Read
  only, WORM, Read/write etc.

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ISO 18000 relevance to Libraries
Parts 18000-2 (135 kHz) 18000-3 (13.56
MHz) Mode 1 Mode 2 18000-4 (2.45 GHz) 18000-5
(5.8Hz) 18000-6 (UHF) Type A Type B Type C
(EPCglobal Gen2)
RFID Standard dominantly used by libraries
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Considerations re standards
Standards change/evolve. Where possible select
flexible RFID infrastructure/hardware solutions.
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RFID Technology Standards ISO18000What IS
standardized ?

• defines 3 things
• Physical Layer
• Commands
• Anti-collision

All these relate to the Air Interface between
the reader and the tag
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Physical Layer
Must standardize frequency coding (whats a
0 whats a 1) data rate
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Commands
Must standardize Commands read tag lock
tag write tag wake up retire
10010001110 00001100111
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Anti-collision (Multi-read)
11111111000
10010001110
01110001001
Must standardize Algorithm used to
handle dialogue with many tags at once.
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RFID Technology Standards ISO18000What IS NOT
standardized ?

Security (EAS) not specified in ISO18000 Data
structure not defined Memory size not defined
Additional proprietary commands
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Library application standards Future work -
Security ?

• Library Security (EAS on tags)
• Defines the security mechanisms.
• Should this be standardized?
• What levels of security are
• necessary?

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Library application standards Future work -
Data Structure

• Data Specification
• Defines the length, structure and position of
  Library data on the tag.

DATA STRUCTURE
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Example EPCglobal data structure

• Version 1.1 specification completed
• Option of 64 bit or 96 bit EPC Codes
• Data includes
• Header defines length and identifier type -
  allows compatability to other numbering schemes,
  GTIN (global trade item number), GLN (global
  location number) etc.
• EPC Manager a code signifying the company or
  organisation managing the numbers in the
  subsequent fields.
• Object Class a code signifying the product
  type.
• Serial Number a unique identifier for each item
  within a product type
• In addition to the EPC unique identifier, some
  tags will have more memory space for User-defined
  data.

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Some considerations re memory size

Bigger is more expensive Bigger can be slower
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IC complexity drives tag cost
Chip (IC) less than 0.04 of the area, but 60
of the cost, of a tag
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Strive for efficient memory use.

With 64 bits of memory, which is a very modest
size of memory, you could program
18,446,744,073,709,551,616 different tags all
with a particular unique number. Or with 96
bits of memory, you could program
79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,336
different tags all with a particular unique
number.
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Considerations when working on Data Standards

• Simple Message THE BIGGER THE HOUSE, THE MORE
  COST, THE MORE MAINTENANCE.
• The same is true for Tag ICs
• Complexity/Memory size is not free

• Carefully evaluate how much memory you really
  need

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TAGSYS with its Partners offers full RFID Library
Automation solutions Tags, Readers, Reader
Stations.
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• Thank You

Alastair McArthur Chief Technology
Officer TAGSYS alastair.mcarthur_at_tagsys.net