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An RFID Primer An RFID Primer by: Craig K. Harmonby: Craig K. Harmon

Mississippi Valley State UniversityMississippi Valley State University

19 November 200219 November 2002

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Craig K. Harmon • President • Q.E.D. SystemsCraig K. Harmon • President • Q.E.D. SystemsVisit our web sites: Visit our web sites: http://www.qed.orghttp://www.qed.org and and http://www.autoid.orghttp://www.autoid.org

Standards Development and Data Collection Education, Consulting, & Systems Design

Past 2-Term Chairman U.S. TAG to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31/WG 2 “Data Structure” Chair, ANSI NCITS T6 (Radio Frequency Identification) - ANSI NCITS 256:’99, ‘01, ‘03 Chair, U.S. TAG to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31/WG 4 “RFID” Chair, ANSI MH 10/SC 8/WG 4, RFID for Returnable Containers Chair, ISO TC 122/WG 4 (Shipping Labels) & ISO TC 122/WG 7 (Product Packaging) Chair, ISO TC 122/104 JWG - Supply Chain Applications of RFID Senior Project Editor ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31/WG 4/SG 3 (RFID - Air Interface - ISO 18000) JTC 1/SC 31 Liaison Officer to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R) JTC 1/SC 31 Liaison Officer to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) JTC 1/SC 31 Liaison to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) ISO TC 104 (Freight Containers / RFID) Liaison Officer to JTC 1/SC 31 Project Editor, ISO 18185 (Freight Containers - eSeals) Project Leader, ISO 23389 (Freight Containers - Smart Containers) Chairman & Project Editor, ANSI MH10.8.2 (Data Application Identifiers) U.S. Expert IEC TC 91 (Packaging of Electronic Components) Charter member, AIDC 100 Vocabulary Rapporteur to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 Project Editor, American Trucking Association (ATA) ADE Work Group AIAG Bar Code, Applications, 2D, Tire, Returnables, and RFID Committees Project Editor, EIA Shipping Label, Product, Product Package, & Component Marking Advisor, U.S. Department of Defense Migration to Commercial Standards U.S. Delegate, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Author, Reading Between The Lines Author, Lines of Communication — Bar Code & Data Collection Technology for the

90s

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What is RFID?What is RFID?

• RFID is an ADC technology that uses radio-frequency waves to transfer data between a reader and a movable item to identify, categorize, track...

• RFID is fast, reliable, and does not require physical sight or contact between reader/scanner and the tagged item

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What Constitutes an RFID System?What Constitutes an RFID System?

• One or more RF tags

• Two or more antennas

• One or more interrogators

• One or more host computers

• Appropriate software

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Insert

Antenna Reader

Firmware

Customer’sMIS

Host

ApplicationSoftware API

TCP/IP

Power

~

Asset

Asset/Tag

RFID System ComponentsRFID System Components(block diagram)(block diagram)

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RESPONSES

COMMANDS

Tag Physical Memory

APPLICATIONRESPONSES

APPLICATION INTERROGATOR RF TAG

APPLICATIONCOMMANDS Command /

ResponseUnit

PHYSICALINTERROGATOR

DATA PROTOCOL PROCESSOR

ISO/IEC 15961 ISO/IEC 18000

Encoder

Logical Memory

AIR

INTERFACE

ISO/IEC 15962 ISO/IEC 15962 Annexes

Logical Memory

Map

Note: The Logical Memory Map in the Tag Physical Memory is given by the Tag architecture and the mapping rules in the Tag Driver. All the information in the Logical Memory is represented in

the Logical Memory Map

Decoder

Tag Driver

andMapping

Rules

Ap

plication

Program

Interface

Ap

plication

Program

Interface

DEVICECOMMANDS

DEVICERESPONSES

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RFID OperationRFID OperationSequence of Communication• Host Manages Reader(s) and Issues Commands• Reader and tag communicate via RF signal• Carrier signal generated by the reader (upon request from

the host application)• Carrier signal sent out through the antennas• Carrier signal hits tag(s)• Tag receives and modifies carrier signal

– “sends back” modulated signal (Passive Backscatter - FCC and ITU refer to as “field disturbance device”)

• Antennas receive the modulated signal and send them to the Reader

• Reader decodes the data– Results returned to the host application

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RFID OperationsRFID Operations

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What is RFID? -- The TagsWhat is RFID? -- The Tags

• Tags can be read-only or read-write

• Tag memory can be factory or field programmed, partitionable, and optionally permanently locked

• Bytes left unlocked can be rewritten over more than 100,000 times

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• Tag ID Only

• Programmable Database Pointer

• Mission Critical Information

• Portable Database

• Read Only (Factory Programmed)

• WORM - Write Once, Read Many times

• Reprogrammable (Field Programmable)

• Read/Write (In-Use Programmable)

RFID System BasicsRFID System Basics

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• Tags can be attached to almost anything:– pallets or cases of product– vehicles– company assets or personnel– items such as apparel,

luggage, laundry– people, livestock, or pets– high value electronics such

as computers, TVs, camcorders

What is RFID? -- The TagsWhat is RFID? -- The Tags

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Are All Tags The Same?Are All Tags The Same?

Basic Types:Active

• Tag transmits radio signal• Battery powered memory, radio &

circuitry• High Read Range (300 feet)

Passive• Tag reflects radio signal from reader• Reader powered• Shorter Read Range (4 inches - 15 feet)

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• Variations:– Memory

• Size (16 bits - 512 kBytes +)• Read-Only, Read/Write or WORM• Type: EEProm, Antifuse, FeRam

– Arbitration (Anti-collision)• Ability to read/write one or

many tags at a time– Frequency

• 125KHz - 5.8 GHz– Physical Dimensions

• Thumbnail to Brick sizes – Price ($0.50 to $250)

Are All Tags The Same?Are All Tags The Same?

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RFID System BasicsRFID System Basics

• How far?

• How fast?

• How many?

• How much?

• Attached to and surround by what?

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What is RFID? -- The ReadersWhat is RFID? -- The Readers

• Readers (interrogators) can be at a fixed point such as– Entrance/exit– Point of sale– Warehouse

• Readers can also be mobile -- tethered, hand-held, or wireless

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Advantages• Uses normal CMOS processing —

basic and ubiquitous • Relative freedom from

regulatory limitations• Well suited for applications

requiring reading small amounts of data at slow speeds and minimal distances

• Penetrates materials well (water, tissue, wood, aluminum)

<150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz ) <150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz )

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Disadvantages:• Does not penetrate or transmit around metals

(iron, steel)• Handles only small amounts of data• Slow read speeds• Large Antennas -- compared to higher frequencies• Minimal Range

<150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz ) <150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz )

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Disadvantages:• Tag construction:

is thicker (than 13.56 MHz) is more expensive (than 13.56 MHz) more complex

(requires more turns of the induction coil)

<150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz ) <150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz )

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13.56 MHz13.56 MHz

Advantages

• Uses normal CMOS processing--basic and ubiquitous

• Well suited for applications requiring reading small amounts of data and minimal distances

• Penetrates water/tissue well

• Simpler antenna design (fewer turns of the coil); lower costs to build

• Higher data rate (than 125 kHz--but slower than higher MHz systems)

• Thinner tag construction (than 125 kHz)

• Popular Smart Card frequency

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Disadvantages• Government regulated frequency

(U.S. versus Europe)• Does not penetrate or transmit around metals

(unless very thick)• Large Antennas (compared to higher

frequencies)• Larger tag size than higher frequencies• Tag construction: requires more than one

surface to complete a circuit• Reading Range of ≈ 0.7 m

13.56 MHz13.56 MHz

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RFID Primer…FrequenciesRFID Primer…Frequencies

Electromagnetic Field

Coupling: UHF

>300 MHz <3 (<1) GHz

(862-928 MHz ANSI MH10.8.4, ISO 18185, B-11 & GTAG)

(433.92 MHz ISO 18185)1000 MHz

Cell Phone

RFID:Toll Roads

DataTerminal

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>300 MHz <1GHz>300 MHz <1GHz Advantages• Effective around metals • Best available frequency for

distances of >1m• Tag size smaller than 13.56 MHz • Smaller antennas• Range: licensed to 20-40' with

reasonable sized tag (stamp to eraser size)

• Good non-line-of-sight communication (except for conductive, "lossy" materials)

• High data rate; Large amounts of Data

• Controlled read zone (through antenna directionality)

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Disadvantages

• Does not penetrate water/tissue

• Regulatory issues (differences in frequency, channels, power, and duty cycle)

• Regulatory issues in Europe (similar band 869 MHz requires frequency agile chip)

>300 MHz <1GHz>300 MHz <1GHz

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RFID Primer…FrequenciesRFID Primer…Frequencies

Electromagnetic

Field Coupling:

2.45 GHz

RFID: Item Management

MicrowaveEAS

2.45 GHz

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2.45 GHz2.45 GHz

Advantages• Tag size smaller than inductive or UHF (1"x 1/4") • Range: greater range than

inductive w/o battery• More bandwidth than UHF

(more frequencies to hop)• Smaller antennas than

UHF or inductive• High data rate

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Advantages

• Good non-line-of-sight communication (except for conductive, "lossy" materials)

• Can store large amounts of Data

• Controlled read zone (through antenna directionality)

• Effective around metals with tuning/design adaptations

2.45 GHz2.45 GHz

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Disadvantages• More susceptible to electronic noise than

UHF• Shared spectrum with other technologies--

microwave ovens, RLANS, TV devices, etc.

• Requires non-interfering, "good neighbor" tactics like FHSS

• Competitive requirement: single chip--highly technical; limited number of vendors

• Regulatory approvals still "in process"

2.45 GHz2.45 GHz

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RFID Primer…FrequencyRFID Primer…Frequency

>5.8 GHz (European Road

Telematics Frequency)

Advantages:• Less congested band/less interferenceDisadvantages: • Not available in U.S. or many other

countries (5.9 now in FCC review)• Must orient antennas carefully• Range limited (due to scaling

issues/wavelengths)• Chip difficult to build• Expensive

RFID:European Tolls

300 GHz

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Spectrum RegulationSpectrum Regulation

• The radio frequency (RF) spectrum is a scarce and shared resource, used nationally and internationally, and subject to a wide range of regulatory oversight. In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission is a key regulatory body that allocates spectrum use and resolves spectrum conflicts. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which plays the same role internationally.

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Regulations - ITURegulations - ITU

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Regulatory DifferencesRegulatory Differences

• Usage of channel– Primary service– Secondary service

• Cannot interfere with primary service• Cannot claim protection of interference from primary

service• Can claim protection of interference from other

secondary users

– Industrial, Scientific, & Medical (ISM) Bands • Narrowband or Spread Spectrum• Power level• Duty cycle

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Spectrum RegulationSpectrum Regulation

• Not all portions of the spectrum are subject to licensing and regulation. Some portions are unlicensed. The Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands available for unlicensed use are:

130± 5 kHz

6.78± .015 MHz

13.56±.007 MHz

27.12±.163 MHz

40.68±.02 MHz

915±13 MHz

2450±50 MHz

5800±75 MHz

24.125±0.125 GHz

61.25±0.25 GHz

122.5±.5 GHz

245±1 GHz

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)ApplicationsApplications

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Portal ApplicationsPortal Applications

Bill of LadingMaterial Tracking

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Portal ApplicationsPortal Applications

Limited number items at forklift speeds8’ X 10’ doorwaysElectronic receipt & dispatchWrong destination alertElectronic markingPallet/container item tracking

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Conveyor / Assembly LineConveyor / Assembly Line

Read / Write OperationsHigher Accuracy than Bar Code

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Conveyor / Assembly LineConveyor / Assembly Line

Up to 450 fpm60+ items per containerInexpensive tunnelsLonger tunnel more itemsElectronic receiptSortingElectronic marking

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Hand Held Application CategoriesHand Held Application Categories

Wireless Batch

Fixed Station

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Application ExamplesApplication Examples

Wireless / Batch

Inventory Management Material HandlingBy Destination

Material HandlingInspecting / Maintaining

Material HandlingAggregate / De-aggregate

Where is it? What is it?What is inside the box?

Where is it going? Where has it been?Should it be here?

What have I assembled or disassembled?How many do I have? Do I have enough?

Has this been repaired?Is this under warrantee?Has this been inspected?Is this complete? What is the asset’s status or state?

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Shipping ValidationShipping Validation

Tote/Box/Unit Level Inventory

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Intelligent LabelsIntelligent Labels

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The HazMat LabelThe HazMat LabelSHIP TO: SHIP FROM:

COMMANDING OFFICER

DDSP

SUSQUEHANNA, PA 15230

CHEMICAL SUPPLIER

CHEMICAL COMPANY

INSTITUTE, WV 23456

TCN:

NSN:

CAGE:

MSDS #:

GTIN:

HCC:

AHRIST DATA:

AWHGEAA$0F00090XX

5310011987585

AWHGE 00098756100013

CHEM WT:

ABCDE 10000A1

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HazMat Smart LabelHazMat Smart Label

Low power > long range 1024 bit memory Read/write/lock on 8 bits Advanced protocol

Efficient multi-id Lock data permanently

12 ms/8 byte read 25ms/byte write Group select Broadcast write 40 tags/second Anti-collision

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)StandardsStandards

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

IEEE INCITS

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Standards OrganizationsStandards Organizations

International TelecommunicationsUnion (ITU) (United Nations)

TC 104Freight Containers

TC 8Ships & Marine Tech

SC 31Automatic Data Capture

ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1(JTC 1)

ITU-T (fka CCITT)Telecommunications

ITU-R (fka CCIR & IFBR)Radio-frequency Issues

ITU-D (fka BDT)Telecommunications Development

ECMAComité Européen Normalisation(CEN)

Comité Européen NormalisationElectrotechnique (CENELEC)

Comité Européen Postal &Telegraph (CEPT)

TC 122Packaging

International

Regional

NationalStandards Australia

(SAA)AFNOR

Deutches Institutfur Normung (DIN) JISCANSIBritish Standards

Institution (BSI)

AIMMHI UCC EIA

Industry

Other

CompTIA ATA EIA AIA HIBCC AIAG UCC Other

WG 1 - Symbology

WG 2 - Data Content

WG 3 - Conformance

WG 4 - RFID

United Postal Union (UPU) (United Nations)

T6 B10

SC 17IC Cards

VDA

ODETTE

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Data Content (DIs, AIs, Syntax) Conformance (Print Quality, Test Specifications) Application Standards (Ship Label, Product Package)

Types of StandardsTypes of Standards

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Movement Vehicle(truck, airplane, ship, train)

Layer 5ISO TC 204 (None)AIAG B-15

Container(e.g., 40 foot Sea Container)

Layer 4ISO TC 104 (None)

Unit Load“Pallet”

Unit Load“Pallet”

Layer 3ISO TC 122/WG 4 (15394)ANSI MH10.8.1AIAG B-10/14EIA 556-BUCC 6

TransportUnit

TransportUnit

TransportUnit

TransportUnit

Layer 2ISO TC 122/WG 4 (15394)ANSI MH10.8.1AIAG B-10/14EIA 556-BUCC 6/EAN Genl Spec

Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg

Layer 1ISO TC 122/WG 7 (22742) ANSI MH10.8.6AIAG B-4 (TBD)EIA 621/624 & IEC TC 91 UCC 1 /EAN Genl Spec

Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item

Layer 0ISO TC 122 (TBD)ANSI MH10.8.7AIAG B-4EIA SP-3497UCC 1 /EAN Genl Spec

The Layers of Logistic Units The Layers of Logistic Units (Optically Readable Media)(Optically Readable Media)

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Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item

Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg

TransportUnit

TransportUnit

TransportUnit

TransportUnit

Unit Load“Pallet”

Unit Load“Pallet”

Container(e.g., 40 foot Sea Container)

Movement Vehicle(truck, airplane, ship, train)

Layer 5ISO TC 104 (ISO 14816)ISO TC 204IATA ISO TC 8AAR

Layer 4 (UHF)ISO TC 104 (ISO 10374)ISO TC 104 (ISO 18185)ISO TC 104 (ISO 23389)ISO TC 104 (ISO 14816)ISO TC 122/104 JWG

Layer 3 (UHF)ISO TC 122/104 JWG ANSI MH10.8.4AIAG (TBD)EIA (TBD)EAN.UCC GTAG

Layer 2 (UHF)ISO TC 122/104 JWG ANSI MH10.8.8AIAG (TBD)TCIF (TBD)

Layer 1ISO TC 122/104 JWG

Layer 0 ISO TC 122/104 JWG AIAG B-11

The Layers of Logistic Units The Layers of Logistic Units (Radio Frequency Identification - RFID)(Radio Frequency Identification - RFID)

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International StandardsOrganization (ISO)

International ElectrotechnicalCommission (IEC)

ISO/IEC Joint TechnicalCommittee 1 (JTC 1) - IT

ISO/IEC JTC 1Subcommittee 31

WG 1Data Carrier

SecretariatUniform Code Council (UCC)

Technical Committee (TC)122 (Packaging)

WG 4(Transport Labels)

National Body (NB)Technical Advisory Groups (TAG)

U.S. TAG AdministratorMHI

Shipping Labels

Product Package Marking

Dimensions & Layout

Symbology Recommendations (Linear & 2D)

Print Quality Level

Label Materials

License Plate Recommendations

Database / EDI Issues

WG 2Data Structure

WG 3Conformance

ConvenerS. Ackley (US)

ConvenerE. Boonet (BE)

ConvenerC. Swindin (UK)

Code 39

ITF

MaxiCode

Data Matrix

EAN/U.P.C.

Code 128

PDF417

DAI

Data Syntax

Symbology Identifiers

Linear Print Quality

2D Print Quality

Printing Specs

Test Specs BC Printers

Test Specs BC Readers

Test Specs BC Verifiers

WG 4RF Tags

ConvenerH. Barthel

License Plate

Supply Chain Applicationsof RFID

Air Interface

Unique RF Tag ID

Defs. Logical Mem Map

ASN.1 Commands

Application Profiles

QR Code

WG 7(Package Labels)

RFID Performance

RFID Conformance

Technical Committee (TC) 104 (Freight Containers)

RFID Focused ISO Standards RFID Focused ISO Standards

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AIAG B-11 Tire TagAIAG B-11 Tire Tag

ANSI INCITS 256 (T6) and ISO/IEC 18000, Part 4 & Part 6 compliant 902 - 928 MHz for U.S. / 869 MHz for Europe 2450 MHz for Japan

Molded into tire, applied with adhesive, or label 1024 bits ISO 15418/MH10.8.2 Data Identifiers Successfully demonstrated in the U.S. & the E.U.

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ISO 18185 & IMOISO 18185 & IMO

• The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a United Nations Treaty organization.

• Maritime Safety Commission (MSC) MSC 75/17/32 (12 April 2002)“With all of the above in mind, the United States proposes that new regulations for container security be added to Chapter XI of SOLAS as follows (It should be noted that two options are provided for seals, one for a mechanical seal and another for an electronic seal, depending upon whether or not the ISO 18185 standard for electronic seals is adopted in time for the IMO conference in December 2002.):

Option One for electronic sealsThe shipper shall ensure that before a loaded container is offered for shipment on board a ship, the container is sealed with an electronic seal* that records the seal’s unique identification number, the container number to which it is affixed and the status of the seal.

Reference is made to ISO Standard 18185, Freight Containers - Radio Frequency Communication Protocol for Electronic Seal.

Option Two for mechanical seals The shipper shall ensure that before a loaded container is offered for shipment on board a ship, the container is sealed with a mechanical high security seal* that is uniquely numbered.

Reference is made to American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) Standard F832, Classification for Security Seals, Level D. NOTE: The United States is not aware of an ISO mechanical seal standard. If one does exist, it should be referenced here, in lieu of the ASTM standard.”

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Bolt Seal Security Tag• Electronically secures ocean

containers, air cargo ULD containers, trailers,

• Monitors presence and integrity of bolt seal, generates alarm upon bolt removal or breakage

• Re-usable tag• Reduces manual inspections• Minimizes theft, loss and tampering

Sealing and anti-tamper capabilitySealing and anti-tamper capability

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ISO 23389 (ISO TC 104)ISO 23389 (ISO TC 104)

Smart Container(Supply Chain meets Security)

• ISO 23389 - Freight Containers - Read-Write Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

• Project Approved 18 January 2002

• CD Status by the first quarter of 2003

• Sensor interface (shock/vibration, temperature, light)

• Seal communication

• External communication

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MIT AutoID CenterMIT AutoID Centerhttp://www.autoidcenter.org/http://www.autoidcenter.org/

Officially began 1 October 1999 Initially funded by Uniform Code Council, The Gillette

Company and Procter and Gamble Software components

Object Naming Service (ONS) Savant Physical Markup Language (PML)

Air interface protocols 860 - 930 MHz 13.56 MHz

Supply chain impact studies Field trials

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ePC - How it worksePC - How it works

Transmitting ePC Codes

Creating ePC Codes

Graphics supplied from MIT AutoID Center

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Object Naming Systems (ONS)Object Naming Systems (ONS)

Graphics supplied from MIT AutoID Center

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The 5¢ TagThe 5¢ Tag

• Predicated on Alien model• Fluidic Self Assembly (FSA)• Cost of any RF tag is the

bonding of the Antenna• Does not consider newer

techniques (e.g., antenna in silicon)

• Does not address I.P.• While the 500 billionth tag may

cost $.05, what will the 1,000th tag cost

• Where is 5¢ cost effective• $1 and $2 and $50 tags are

cost effective today

Graphics supplied from MIT AutoID Center

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Instant Checkout…A Dream Come True??Instant Checkout…A Dream Come True??

“Chip to remove shopping blues”—Post-Courier, January 1994

“Tiny microchip identifies groceries in seconds.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Checkout in one minute”

—The Times, London

“Scanning range of four yards”

—NY Times

“1.5¢ electronic bar code announced”

—San Francisco Chronicle

Lads, Dads, & GranddadsLads, Dads, & Granddads

??????

Thank You!Thank You!