RF Code

Presentation

To

T-20 Standards Committee

Presentation Outline

• RF Code Overview & Product

• RTLS Markets

• RTLS Technology Comparison

• Summary & Proposal

RF Code Product Family

TagTracker Softwareo Real-time data collectiono Scalable system

architectureo Standards based

Readero Wireless connectivityo High tag throughput

Tago Low Costo Small

Handheld Locator o Mobile Platform for finding assets

Example RF Code Customers

RTLS Vendors

• Over the last few years there has been a dramatic growth of RTLS vendors each with distinct technology and product features.

… and there are more…

Current RTLS Technologies• Location derived through:

– Beacon– Beacon with Location Reference Devices– Location Transponders– Differential Time of Arrival– Space Time Focusing Systems– More coming on line:

• Narrow pulse• UWB

• Functionality tradeoffs:– Tag Cost– Location accuracy– Ability to detect movement through threshold or portal– Tag density– Infrastructure complexity– Infrastructure cost– Bidirectional communications

Active Beacon Tags

• Tag Cost Good (<$5 in quantity; <$3 achievable)

• Tag Density Good (100,000’s tags/location; 1-10 second beacons)

• Threshold Detection Poor (Dictated by resolution)

• Resolution Medium +/- 25 feet common +/- 10 feet achieved Resolution is algorithm dependent

• Other attributes:– Inexpensive and simple infrastructure– Handheld locators allow for improved resolution (+/-18 inches)– No ability to write to tag

Reader

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

100m

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

To “System”

T3

High Frequency Range:0 – 300m

Tags

Reader

Location Reference

Device

Low Frequency Range :0 – 3.5m

T1

T2 To Server

Active Beacon Tags With Location Reference Device

• Tag Cost Good (<$5 in quantity; <$3 possible)

• Tag Density Good (100,000’s tags/location; 1-10 second beacons)

• Threshold Detection Excellent (Using H field LRD’s)

• Resolution Good (Two modes: Coarse +/- 10-25 feet, Fine: +/- 18 inches)

• Other attributes:– Inexpensive infrastructure– Handheld locators allow for improved resolution in coarse zone areas (+/- 18 inches)– Ability to write to a tag– Long range

Location Transponders

Reader

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

100m

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

To “System”

• Tag Cost Poor (<$20 in quantity; <$10 possible)

• Tag Density Medium (10,000’s tags/location; 10-60 second beacon rate)

• Threshold Detection Poor (Requires +/- 6 inch resolution; beyond current state of the art & FCC limits)

• Resolution Good (+/- 10 feet practical; +/- 3 feet achievable)

• Other attributes:– Single antenna yields a distance– Expensive infrastructure but not as complex as DTOA– Ability to write to tags long range– Handheld locators not practical– Range versus resolution tradeoff

DTOA Systems

Reader

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

100m

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

To “System”

• Tag Cost Poor (<$20 in quantity; <$10 possible)

• Tag Density Poor (1,000’s tags/location; 5-10 minute beacons)

• Threshold Detection Poor (Requires +/- 6 inch resolution; beyond current state of the art & FCC limits)

• Resolution Good (+/- 10 feet practical; +/- 3 feet achievable)

• Other attributes:– Expensive & complex infrastructure– No ability to write to tags (at least not long range)– Handheld locators not practical– Range versus resolution tradeoff

Space Time Focusing Systems

Reader

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

1000m

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

TaggedAsset

To “System”

• Tag Cost Good (<$5 for Passive)

• Tag Density Good (100,000’s tags/location; 5-10 second beacon rate)

• Threshold Detection Good (+/- 18 inches)

• Resolution Medium (+/- 18 inches)

• Other attributes:– Targeted for outdoor use– Handheld locators not practical

RTLS Technology Comparison

Legend: 1 is Bad10 is Good

Tag Cost

64

108

35

1

02468

1012

Imple

men

tatio

n A

Imple

men

tatio

n B

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men

tatio

n C

Imple

men

tatio

n D

Imple

men

tatio

n E

Imple

men

tatio

n F

GPS

Tag Resolution

10

68

56

42

02468

1012

Tag Density

53

78

56

10

02468

1012

Threshold Detection

10

4

89

43

1

02468

1012

Imple

men

tatio

n A

Imple

men

tatio

n B

Imple

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Imple

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Imple

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Imple

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tatio

n F

GPS

The RTLS Markets

Asset TrackingManufacturing

Supply ChainTheme Parks

What does that mean to the marketplace?

ThemePark

Implementation B

Implementation C

Implementation D

Implementation E

Implementation F

GPS

Implementation A

Manufacturing

WIPSupplyChain

AssetTracking

Legend: Technology is an excellent fit to the applicationTechnology has some issues for the applicationTechnology has major issues for the application

State of RTLS Market

RTLS ENCOMPASSES A RANGE OF APPLICATIONS BEST SERVED THROUGH A RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES

Proposal

High PrecisionRTLS

Low PrecisionRTLS

Current RFIDStandardsGPS

Common API, Address And Data FormatCommon API, Address And Data Format

ASP’sIndependent

SoftwareVendor Solutions

Customer SpecificSolutions

WinWinCECE PalmPalm WAPWAP PCPC

Summary & Proposal• Summary

– There are multiple technology approaches• Each makes a tradeoff in key functionality areas

– The market has not selected a clear leader– The market is likely to select multiple technologies based on

application

• Proposal– Segment the technologies to reflect the applications– Bridge the gap between current RFID standards and RTLS

• API• Address Level• Data Level