03 internet-of-things-rfid-systems-and-applications

Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) Systems and Applications
John Soldatos, PhD
(jsol@ait.gr; john.Soldatos@gmail.com)

Overview: Contents
Introductory
RFID Concepts
• The Physics
• Tags
• Electronic
Product Code
(EPC)
RFID
Applications
• RFID Benefits
• Logistics and
Supply Chain
Management
• Other Areas
EPC and RFID
Middleware
• Functions
• Filtering &
Business
Events

What is (not) RFID?
RFID Components
• An Electronic
Product Code
(EPC)
• A NVRAM storing
user data
RFID System
• Comprises tags,
interrogators, and
middleware
• Enables wireless
exchange of ID
and user data
RFID Views
• A distributed
database
• An Internet of
Things Instance

RFID and IoT
•RFID is the forerunner of IoT
•Tags are the most elementary pervasive computers
•Used to (wirelessly) connect objects/things to the
internet
•Tagged Object:
• Internet Connected Object
• Possesses Identity

RFID: The Physics
• Simple RFID system: Reader and a tag
communicating over the air at a certain frequency
• Parts:
• Readers
• Antennas
• Tags
• An RFID solution uses a radio frequency (RF) signal
to broadcast the data captured and maintained in
an RFID chip
• An RFID system is composed of three components:
A programmable transponder or tag, a reader (with
an antenna), and a host
Source: Patrick J. Sweeney, ”RFID
For Dummies” April 2005

RFID Operation
•The reader sends out an
electromagnetic wave at one
specific frequency.
•That wave hits the RFID tag, and
the tag then “scatters back” a wave
at a different frequency with the
chip’s information encoded in those
Backscatter waves.

Antenna & Chip
• Tag = Chip + antenna + packaging substrate
• Readers use radio waves, i.e., non-line-of-sight technology

RFID Tag Types
Type Description
Passive Identity Card Passive Identity Tag/Passive tag containing only the Electronic Product Code (EPC) in an
unalterable form and a CRC for transmission error detection. Also referred to as a “license
plate.”
Passive Functional Tag Broad category that includes any tag with functions over and above the elementary tag.
Examples of such functions or features include user writable memory, sensors, and
encryption.
Semi-Passive Tag Any tag that embeds battery technology to assist with providing power for the tag (i.e., the
battery is not the sole source of energy for the tag.)
Active Tag Any tag where a battery is the sole source of energy for the tag.

RFID Reader
•RFID reader is a radio transceiver that picks up analog
signals
•The reader not only generates the signal that goes out
through the antenna into space, but also listens for a
response from the tag
•Receives analog waves and then turns them into bits
of digital information
•Each reader is connected to one or more antennas

RFID vs. Conventional Barcode
Property Barcode (passive) RFID
Data Modification Not Supported Unlimited
Data Security Limited Secure
Capacity 138 Characters 64 Kbps
Cost < $0.01 < $0.10
Standards EAN, UPC EPC
Reading Distance > 5 m > 10 m
Life Span Short Long

Serialization makes a difference
• RFID identifies
uniquely the
item/product
(serialization)
• Barcode identifies the
product class (unless
serialized barcodes are
used)

Item Level vs. Palette Level Tagging

Benefits of RFID Applications
Serialized data
& traceability
Keep accurate
account of items
and their properties
Know what, where,
and why
Enhanced
traceability
information
Real-time data
collection &
speed
Reduced human
intervention
Do not process one
but many
Higher throughput
supply chains
Security
Secure Information
exchange
Counterfeiting
prevention (e.g., in
pharmaceuticals)
Added value
services
Cold chain
management
Location-based
services
Special tags (e.g.,
sensor tags might be
needed)

Example RFID Deployment (Retail) (1)
• METRO Group's Galleria Kaufhof department
store was the first to implement a breakthrough
item-level tagging retail apparel deployment
(2007).
• The implementation was a milestone for the
retail industry, delivering consumer-facing RFID
applications integrated from the distribution
center to retail smart shelves and cashier
checkout stations.
• Around 30,000 items in the menswear
department have been tagged with RFID
transponder chips.
• RFID readers installed in the receipt area, at all
transition points, as well as inside the dressing
rooms and at the checkout desk, read the EPC
without requiring physical or visual contact.

Example RFID Deployment (Retail) (2)
• The Smart Dressing Rooms and Smart Shelves
in the Gardeur shop have been installed as a
special service for the customers.
• RFID helps enhance the efficiency of business
processes, reduces costs, and offers the
consumer individualized services.
• "With the deployment of innovative
technologies, we are actively advancing the
modernization process in the retail sector"

“Store of the Future” Concept
• Inbound goods receipt
• Back room real-time inventory management
• Fixed and handheld readers tracking real-
time sales floor inventory
• A Smart Mirror showing complementary
clothing choices or accessories
• Smart Shelves with monitors indicating
available garment size and style choices
• In-aisle product information triggered by
scanning items
• RFID-enabled point-of-sale terminals
delivering efficient checkout

RFID Privacy Challenge
Source: Ari Juels, “RFID Security and
Privacy: A Research Survey”, 2005

Electronic Product Code (EPC)
•The tag, including a chip, an antenna and the
packaging substrate
•A numbering scheme that uniquely identifies all
objects
•Incorporates existing EAN.UCC keys, and very recently
US DoD constructs
•Connects physical objects to computer networks

EPC Structure
•Encoded on radio frequency tags in bits
• 0’s and 1’s
•Provides multiple formats:
• Various bit-length tags (64 and 96)
• Accommodates existing identifiers
• All formats support unique EPCs
Source: http://www.gs1.org/epcglobal

EPC: Basic Format (Identifier)
• Header: Identifies the length, type, structure, version, and
generation of the EPC
• EPC Manager Number: Entity responsible for maintaining
the subsequent partitions
• Object Class: Identifies a class of objects
• Serial Number: Identifies the instance

EPC Schemes Defined
• General Identifier (GID) GID-96
• A serialized version of the GS1 Global Trade Item Number
(GTIN) SGTIN-96 SGTIN-198
• GS1 Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) SSCC-96
• GS1 Global Location Number (GLN), SGLN-96 SGLN-195
• GS1 Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) GRAI-96 GRAI-
170
• GS1 Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) GIAI-96 GIAI-202
• DOD Construct DoD-96 96-bit format
• General Identifier (GID)
• GID is not an EAN.UCC format

General Identification Number
• The General Identifier (GID-96) is independent of any known,
existing specifications or identity schemes.
• The General Identifier is composed of three fields:
• The General Manager Number
• The Object Class
• The Serial Number
• Encodings of the GID include a fourth field, the header, to
guarantee uniqueness in the EPC namespace.

Serialized Global Trade Item Number
(SGTIN)

UPC to GTIN Conversion Example
• Start with a UPC:
• 614141 is the UPC Company Prefix
• 00734 is the Item Reference
• 9 is the Check Digit
• 614141 00734 9
• Turn it into a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN):
• Add “0” indicator and “0” number system carrier to build out full 14
digit format
• 614141 00734 9
• 0 0614141 00734 9

Conversion to EPC
• Prepare for EPC™ encoding:
• Move indicator to first digit of Item Reference
• Drop Check Digit:
• 0 06 14141 00734 9
• 0614141 000734
• Encode into 96-bit EPC Tag
• Select header for SGTIN-96 (48)
• Filter Value (3 – shipping unit)
• Partition is determined by the length of the EAN.UCC Company Prefix (0614141 is seven digits, so
the Partition Value is 5)
• Item Reference Number (000734)
• Add the Serial Number (203886)
• Decimal representation:
• 48 3 5 0614141 000734 203886

Use of Filter Values

RFID Middleware: The Drivers
Excess information must
be filtered out
• Wise use of network
bandwidth
• Avoid confusing
information inside your
applications
Readers do not speak
the same language
• Custom integration
logic for each reader
vendor
• Resourceful (in terms
of time and budget)
RFID information passed
to different applications
and data stores
• Local warehouse
management
application
• Supply chain
forecasting solution

RFID Middleware Functionalities
Reader and Device
Management
Scalable Application
Integration
Data and Process
Management
Partner Integration
RFID
Middleware

RFID Middleware Functionalities (1)
Reader & Device
Management
• Configure, deploy,
and issue
commands directly
to readers, e.g.,
“turn off” a reader
• Common interface
Data Management
• Intelligently filter &
route the data to
appropriate
destinations
• Low-level logic and
more complex
algorithms
Application
integration
• Messaging, routing,
and connectivity
features required
reliably integrating
RFID data into
existing SCM, ERP,
WMS, or CRM
systems
• Ideally through a
services-oriented
architecture (SOA)

RFID Middleware Functionalities (2)
Partner Integration
• Share RFID data with
partners to improve
collaborative processes
(e.g., demand
forecasting and vendor-
managed inventory)
• B2B integration
features, e.g., through
the Electronic Data
Interchange (EDI)
protocol
Process Management &
Application
Development
• Orchestrate RFID-
related end-to-end
processes
• Deal with multiple
applications and/or
enterprises
Scalability &
Administration
• Reliably processing
huge amounts of data
• Balance processing
loads across multiple
servers and
automatically rerouting
data (e.g., when a
server fails)

Typical three-tier RFID Middleware
Architecture
Source: Patrick J. Sweeney, “RFID
For Dummies” April 2005

EPC Architectural Framework Overview

EPC Architectural Framework

RFID Reader Trigger
• EPC RFID Reader is not merely an interrogator
• Comprises a set of the following:
• Readpoints (antennas or barcode scanners)
• Sources (readpoint concentrators)
• Reader basic functions:
• Detect RFID tags within its Electro-Magnetic (EM)
field (query function)
• Repeat query sessions periodically (on a triggering
event basis)
• EPC Readers do not depend on external triggers
• Collect the results of multiple query session, filter,
and report them
• Implement a Message Transport Binding

Distributed RFID Reader
RFID sensor
RFID reader
base station
…
warehouse
warehouse
GPS device
Application
Middleware
Applications
AdapterXn
AdapterX1
…
Adapter
Mux/Demux

Command Set
EPC SAMPLE COMMAND SET
selectReadPoints(readPoints: ReadPoint[]): void
removeReadPoints(readPoints: ReadPoint[]): void
addTagSelectors(selectors: TagSelector[]): void
removeTagSelectors(selectors: TagSelector[]): void
getAllTagSelectors(void): TagSelector[]
read(dataSelector: MT_DataSelector, selectors: TagSelector[], triggers: Trigger[]): ReadReport
write(data: TagFieldValue[], selectors: TagSelector[], triggers: Trigger[]): void
setReadCyclesPerTrigger(cycles : integer): void
setMaxReadDutyCycle(dutyCycle:integer): void
removeTagFields(tagfields: TagField[]): void
getAllTagFields(void): TagField[]

Application Level Events
• Data Collection & Filtering
• Source abstraction
• Space Multiplexing
• Logical Reader
• Time Multiplexing
• Event Cycle
• Reads notifications
• Elementary data package
• Produces Reports
• Interoperability with ERP and WM Systems
• The EC Specification

ALE Modes: Poll, immediate, subscribe…

EPC ALE Implementation
Source: https://fosstrak.github.io/

EPC-IS (Information Sharing) Events:
What, Where, When, and Why
• EPC IS Event types:
• Object Event
• Aggregation Event
• Transaction Event
• Quantity Event
• EPC IS Semantics:
• EPC (what: Retrospective)
• Parent EPC (what: Aggregation)
• Read Point ID (where: Retrospective)
• A Read Point is a discretely recorded location meant to identify the most specific place at which an event took place.
• Business Location ID (where: Prospective)
• A Business Location is a uniquely identified and discretely recorded location meant to designate the specific place where an object is
assumed to be following an EPCIS event until it is reported to be at a different Business Location by a subsequent event.
• Business Step ID (why: Retrospective)
• The Business Step of an event specifies its business context (e.g., shipping)
• Disposition ID (why: Prospective)
• The Disposition of an event specifies the business condition of the event’s objects, subsequent to the event
• Event Time (when)

EPC-IS: Foundation for Business
Processes
EPC Time Read Point Business Location
123 7:00 RPDC88-A DC#88.ReceiveStore
123 9:00 RPDC88-K DC#88.ShippingProduct
123 9:30 RPDC88-N DC#88.Transit

EPC-based Warehouse Modeling
Example
• Modeling the company for Warehouse Management:
• Consider the enterprise possessing a number of logical spaces
identified as warehouses (Wn (n = 0, 1, 2,…))
• Warehouses are organized in an hierarchical manner so that
each warehouse is contained within another warehouse
• All warehouses can be collectively aggregated under W0, which
can be considered a physical central warehouse or the company
itself
• Child logical warehouses may correspond to physical
warehouses or other units of storing capacity down the
hierarchy:
• Shelves contained within a physical warehouse space

Warehouse Management: Containers
•Warehouse management processes are based on
tagged containers (Cn (n = 0, 1, 2,…,)).
• Containers typically used: Pallets, carton boxes, carts,
containers, etc.
• Containers are organized in an hierarchical fashion, which
allows containers (e.g., pallets) to contain other containers
(e.g., carton boxes)
• A container is situated in a parent logical warehouse
• A container (Cn) is contained in a warehouse, as soon as
this warehouse contains a parent container of (Cn)

Containers vs. Logical Warehouses
• Both containers and logical warehouses can contain other
containers and/or items
• Key differences:
• When items within a container move, the container moves as
well
• When items within a logical warehouse move, the logical
warehouse does not move
• One logical warehouse typically has one parent object (i.e., the
parent warehouse)
• A container typically has two parent objects (i.e., a parent
warehouse and a parent container)

RFID-based Business Processes
• Elementary Warehouse Management Processes:
• Receiving
• Moving with warehouses
• Pick & pack
• Order shipment
• Inventory
• Each of the above processes is associated with a number of
business events
• RFID events comprising business semantics
• Enhanced EPC-IS events

Shipment Process Overview
• Business process takes place in the scope of the “shipping” warehouse (WS)
• Products that have to be shipped are assembled
• Moving items and containers (with items) out of warehouse WS.
• Assumption
• Containers have been put within carts during order collection (common)
• During shipment process these aggregations are deleted
• Items and containers are moved out of the pick & pack carts.
• New aggregation events signify the creation of packing lists for the shipment process.
• Objects are moved out of the warehouse
• Transaction events are issued to convey and control the status of the process.
• Transaction observed events provide insight into the objects that have been shipped
• A transaction finish event is issued
• The system can automatically check whether the packing list coincides with the shipment
list

Business Process Events for Order
Shipment (1)
Event Description
EventType Time bizStepID dispositionID
AggregationEvent Time Null Null
bizLocationID readPointID EPC parentEPC
Null Null <EPC List> Cn
Action bizTransactionTypeID bizTransactionID
Delete Null null
Aggregation Event denoting that objects are moved out of the cart (Cn) (i.e., aggregation deleted)

Shipment (2)
Event Description
AggregationEvent Time null null
WS WS <EPC List> Cn
Add Null null
Packaging of objects within a container (Cn)

Shipment (3)
Event Description
AggregationEvent Time Null null
Null Null Cm Cn
Delete Null Null
Aggregation Event denoting that a whole group of objects (Cm) (e.g., package) are moved out of the cart
(Cn) (i.e., aggregation deleted)

Shipment (4)
Event Description
EventType Time BizStepID dispositionID
ObjectEvent Time Null Null
bizLocationID readPointID EPC ParentEPC
Null WS <EPC List> Null
Delete Null Null
Objects leaving the Warehouse WS where the shipment is conducted (i.e., Object Event
Delete)

Shipment (5)
Event Description
TransactionEvent Time Dm Dn
Null Null <EPC List> Null
Observed Null BTn
Transaction Event for objects that have been shipped

Shipment (6)
Event Description
TransactionEvent Time Dn Null
Null null <EPC List> Null
Delete Null BTn
Transaction event for concluding the order shipment process
Source: Panos Dimitropoulos, John Soldatos, “RFID enabled fully automated warehouse management: adding the business
context”, IJMTM 21(3/4): 269-288 (2010)

EPC-IS Events for End-to-End Processes
in the Manufacturing Chain
Source: FP7 ASPIRE Project (www.fp7-aspire.eu)

Business Process Management Concept
Object
Event
Aggregation
Event
Transaction
Start
Transaction
Finish
Object
Event
Aggregation
Event
Transaction
Observed
Order Collection
Elementary RFID enabled
Business Process
Business Events
Order
Completed
Order Shipment
Order Fulfillment Process (Intra-Enterprise)
Order Shipment
Object
Event
Aggregation
Event
Transaction
Start
Object
Event
Aggregation
Event
Transaction
Observed
Business Events
Elementary RFID enabled
Business Process
Higher Level Composite
Business Processes
Transaction
Start
Object
Event
Transaction
Observed
Transaction
Finish
Composite RFID enabled
Business Process

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