RFID Technology July, 2004 David Wertheimer Product Manager WMS & MSCA Applications.

RFID TechnologyJuly, 2004

David WertheimerProduct Manager

WMS & MSCA Applications

Can I use RFID to locate an object anywhere, anytime …

RFID is most cost effective for event-based tracking through a limited number of portals

Method Implications Uses

GPS: Tag on object broadcasts is position

Low infrastructure costs. High tag costs. Transportation

RTLS: Triangulate position of tag using special tags and reader hardware.

Med/high infrastructure cost to flood entire area with RF field. Medium cost tags.

Asset Tracking

RFID: Track movements in and out of zones. Location is assumed to be last zone.

High infrastructure costs (at least one reader per zone). Low cost tags.

Goods in Supply Chain

RFID TagsRFID Tags

& Systems& Systems

Antenna

IC (0.5mm)

Substrate

Connection

RFID Basics – A Passive Tag

RFID Tag contains RFID chip, power source (inductive or battery) and antennae.

Sends back identifier upon power up

Reader communicates with the tags in range to read all tags identifiers and memory (payload).

Antenna receives power and analog signal from reader

Converts radio signal to and from analog electrical signals

Edge Server collects observations and drives readers.

Forwards events to database tier for distribution

Chip holds the memory that stores the actual identifier

Implements the wireless protocol

Application receives transient messages and has to react immediately.

Event Queue Most implementations uses a simple transient queue to communicate with applications

Database serves as a “better bus”. In addition, data archiving and aggregation

now can be done in an application neutral level

RFID Basics – The System

Oracle RFID Integrated StrategyMaximize RFID ROI through Top-to-Bottom Integration

ApplicationApplicationServerServer

Data BaseData Baseand Toolsand Tools

ApplicationsApplications

Deliver a robust, hardware agnostic RFIDDeliver a robust, hardware agnostic RFIDplatform which elevates the application platform which elevates the application development interface to standard technologydevelopment interface to standard technologyand the processing of true business eventsand the processing of true business events

Leverage data base extensibility, scalabilityLeverage data base extensibility, scalabilityand event management capabilities to supportand event management capabilities to supportthe data and transaction volumes associatedthe data and transaction volumes associatedwith this technologywith this technology

Leverage the above technology to deliverLeverage the above technology to deliverfunctionality with realistic ROI and to createfunctionality with realistic ROI and to createplatform for future expansionplatform for future expansion

This presentation does not reflect a commitment to deliver.Product directions can be modified without explicit notice.

Different Tags for Different NeedsPassive vs. Active

Active PassivePower Source Internal battery on tag Powered by radio waves

Life Limited by battery Unlimited

Operating Temp More limited Wide range (-40°-185°F)

Range Longer Shorter

Memory Capacity Larger Smaller

Feature Set Additional sensors, alarms, GPS Identity, basic data

Cost $10-$100 15¢ - $1s

Different use cases– Active can tracking large assets and additional information about asset– Passive can be for single use or open-loop supply chain

Some use cases require both– Active tag & passive reader on container, passive tag on items in container– “Active backscatter” combine technologies from both

LF

30-300KHzRange: 1cm – 1.5m

HF

3-30MHzRange: 1cm – 0.7m

VHF

30-300MHzRange: 1 – 3m

UHF

300-1000MHzRange: 1 – 3m

Microwave

1GHz and upRange: 1 – 10m

Considerations– Directionality– Anti-collision

Identifying multiple tags at once– Data capacity– Data rate– Reflection & interference

– Regulations & standards Reader-to-tag Tag data Supply chain partners International availability

– Tag cost

Different Tags for Different NeedsVariety of Frequency Ranges

Different Tags for Different NeedsSample uses for some of the frequencies

LF: 125-134kHz – Cross borders frequency– Relatively good penetration– Slow read speed, larger antennas ($)– Minimal range– Sample use case: Cattle tracking

HF: 13.56 MHz– Penetrates water and tissue– Simpler antenna (lower cost)– Range is ~ 0.7m– Sample use case: Smart Card Access

UHF: 865-928 Mhz– Effective around metals (but not water/tissue)– Best frequency for >1m range– High data rate– Sample use case: EPC Labels

Microwave: 2.4Ghz– Small tag size (1”x0.25”)– High data rate– Easier to be affected by noise– Sample use case: Asset location with 802.11 network

Radio Frequency Spectrums

US & Canada• 125 kHz• 13.56 MHz• 915 MHz• 2.4 GHz

Australia• 125 kHz• 13.56 MHz• 918-926 MHz

South Africa• 125 kHz• 13.56 MHz• 913-915 MHz

Europe• 125 kHz• 13.56 MHz• 865-868 MHz• 2.4 GHz

Korea• 125 kHz• 13.56 MHz• 910-914 MHz

Japan• 125 kHz• 13.56 MHz• 850-856 MHz

Standards Bodies & International IssuesS

ensi

tivi

ty /

Re

spo

ns

e

Frequency

915MHz

868MHz

EPCglobal & ISO defining standards– ISO & EPCglobal both define air-to-reader interface; convergence expected– EPCglobal defines tag data standard, EPC network, ALE– Oracle is a member of EPCglobal

EPCglobal focusing on UHF tags– Currently different frequencies in different regions– EPCglobal working with governments to set aside band for RFID– In meantime, use tags that can respond to multiple frequencies

Ran

ge

915MHz Intermec Container Tag

Tag Range Depends on Physics

Pla

stic

Met

al

Met

al w

/ 1/8

” Sp

acer

Gla

ss

Car

dbo

ard

Fre

e S

pace

Ply

woo

d3’

6’

9’

12’

Source: Intermec Tag Selection Guide, 2003

Other Factors– Directionality– Antenna location– Liquids– Direct contact with other tags– Spacer size (for metals)– Antenna tuning– Multiple antennas– Tag packaging– Tag mounting location– Time in field

Tag Selection: No “best” tagBut Oracle is hardware & tag agnostic


Many issues going into tag selection– Be aware of these issues and educated about the factors to consider

Avoid recommending specific hardware– Tag frequency, vendor selection, tag placement, antenna positioning

Leave to system integrators & experts in the field– Pragmatyxs, Intermec, R4, …

Hardware selection is irrelevant to Oracle– Oracle has the infrastructure to integrate to any reader hardware– Applications do not care about the tag frequency– It’s about the data management

Myth of the 1¢ tag Non-trivial cost – but business need can justify

Tag cost depends on variety of factors– Frequency & packaging– Active vs. passive– Memory capacity & additional sensors

Cost in excess of $100 for sophisticated active tag Passive tags used for tagging pallets (UHF, label)

– Single roll of labels: 60¢– In volume: estimated 35¢

Cost components– Silicon chip, copper antenna, conversion

Tag Accuracy Incredibly accurate – when scanned & working


Manufacturing quality problems on current UHF tags– As many as 10-30% of tags are DOA– Some – but not all – problems caught before tag embedded– Label printers catch these and void the label– Label providers guarantee a certain number of good tags per roll

Actual scanning of RFID tag highly accurate– Perhaps on par with barcodes (one error in 300,000 characters)

Need to ensure that the tag was scanned– Easy to ensure one tag per pallet read by using proximity / other sensors– If 1000 tags/pallet and 99.99% accuracy, 10% of pallets fail– Acceptable “threshold” at which assume pallet is complete

Current focus is on ID-only tags (96 bit) so …

Can I store all the data I want on an RFID tag and read it anytime …

Tag cost and read time increases with data size so …

The ID must be a standard key of a business object and …

Used to access the data of the object …

Which may be anywhere in the network so …

We need a central “name service” to find the data and …

A standard format for returning the data

Class 1 Tags, EPC, PML/XML , ONS

What about Data on the Tags?ID-Only vs. Data Store Tags

ID-Only Tags “Hot” Cheaper, Faster Standardized (e.g. Class 1) Requires network access

(inter-, or intra-enterprise) May need ONS-type service

to flexibly share information Open-Loop Supply Chain

– Mandates from Wal-Mart, DoD and others …

Data Store Tags More history Longer Reads, More $$ Less focus on standards Allows disconnected

operations Read-Write will need special

controls and capabilities Closed-Loop applications

– Service, Assets, Internal Logistics, …

Types of ReadersFixed vs. Mobile

Different use cases demand different reader types– Process pallet shipment– Packing verification– Verify correct pallet loaded to fork lift

Fixed readers– Typically support several antennas per reader– Interface via serial or ethernet– “Smart shelving” is a fixed reader with multiplexed antennas

Mobile readers– Handheld device with built in reader– Reader often has adjustable range because user cannot trust line of site– Embedded into shopping carts or forktrucks

Programming Tags

Read-only vs. read/write tags– Read-only pre-branded with identifier & payload– Read-only cheaper but more difficult for some business processes– One time programmable can be written once and in short range– Read/write are flexible field writable tags

Tag writing done by RFID reader– Mobile reader on hand-held for field service / field updateable tags– Fixed reader at dock door as material is shipped out– Embedded reader in printer as label or other format produced

EPC NetworkEPC Network

& Standards& Standards

RFID Concept Map“The Internet of Things”

Oracle Confidential: This presentation does not reflect a commitment to deliver. Product directions can be modified without explicit notice.

RFID Concept PurposeInternetAnalog

EPC

Electronic Product Code

Replacement to UCC / GTIN numbering scheme for identifying objects.EPC codes (stored as the ID on the RFID tag) will be used as generic handles to any Application Object.

URL

ONS

Object Name Service

Lookup service to resolve RFID/EPC number to the location of its associated object. Requires X-Reference capabilities (internal lookup) and LDAP-like services (external lookup).

DNS

EPC IS

EPC Information Services

Represent and publish physical objects using standardized XML-based language.

HTML / XML

SavantRFID Controller

RFID controller, to filter events, store and forward data, and to publish events.

Application Server


User or application requestinginformation about EPC

ONSVeriSignTell me where to go to find informationon where this EPC has been seen

EPC Discovery ServicesMultiple ProvidersPoint me to everyone who has seen theEPC in question

EPC Information ServicesMultiple ProvidersDeliver details about that EPC userqualified to see, in a common language

Manufacturer Retailer

Considerations– Security & access rights

“EPC Trust Services”

– Information sharing concerns– Existing sharing schemes– Cost / cost distribution– Other alternatives

EPC Network“The Internet of Things”

Assign by item & org.

Managing EPC AssignmentAutomating Unique Assignment

Store on your “Organization” record. Also store next available Object Class number.

Assign next number from above, then store that number on your Item record. Also on the Item record, store the next available Serial.

Scheme to map existing numbering standards to EPC GTIN, SSCC, GLN, GRAI, GIAI, … Unlike those schemes, however, EPC meant to be parsed

Unlike SSCC, EPC intended to be parsed Requires flexible enablement in your Item Master (PLM) system Used for filtering & facilitates routing with ONS


EPC Tag Standards Classes

– Current EPCglobal focus– Class 0

Read-only passive tags– Class 0+ (non-standard)

Read/write passive tags– Class I & C1 - Generation 2

Read/write passive tags

Objective– Cross-manufacturer communication between tags & readers

Reality– Interoperability is problematic– Multi-protocol readers / writers help alleviate problem– Lawsuit between Intermec & Matrics

– Class II Writeable passive tags with additional

functionality– Class III

Semi-passive, but still only reader initiated– Class IV

Active tags, potentially support peer-to-peer

– Class V Essentially readers themselves, can

communicate with other tags of any class

EPCglobal http://www.epcglobalinc.org– Previously Auto-ID Center, now chapter of EAN.UCC

ISO– ISO 14443 - Proximity cards (smart wallet security)– ISO 15693 – Vicinity cards (ID-cards only)– 18000-1 to 7 – Passive tag protocol

Ubiquitous ID Center (Japan) http://www.uidcenter.com

Standards

EPC Tag Standards

(i.e.: Class I, II, …)

EPC Tag Protocol EPC Reader Management

EPC Reader Protocol

EPC Encoding

Application Level Events

What is “Savant”?


EPCglobal Savant– Terminology replaced by Application Level Event / ALE– Savant still used to describe the middleware that interacts with readers– Distributed software to smooth & filter data from readers– Defines communication protocol between middleware & applications– Savant specification not yet finalized by EPCglobal

Oracle Edge Server is a Savant or ALE– The CAPTURE in “Capture, Analyze, Access, Monitor, and Respond”– Configurable filters can perform all filtering required of a Savant– Can produce data in all formats required of a Savant– Can do all that a Savant can do and more

Oracle committed to supporting standards

Managing Privacy & SecurityPersonal Privacy and Commercial Security

Co

st of A

dop

tion

Point of Sale

Retail

Distribution

Manufacturing

CommercialSecurity

PersonalPrivacy

Broad adoption at POS is in the future– Need standards, education and shared value proposition– Service has good value proposition, but also privacy concerns

Important current concern is Commercial Security– Syndication - Who has access to which data?

Becomes most critical with open-loop systems

Item / Shelf

Pallet /Dock Doors

Oracle Committed to Supporting Standards


EPC Generation– Compliance Assistance Package– Future: Native support for EPC generation & parsing in DB– Future: Compliance support in Oracle Warehouse Management

EPC Network– Complex distributed DB issues only a company like Oracle can address– Intend to support as customers demand, issues resolved & benefit clear

Other information sharing systems as well– ASNs / EDI supported by Oracle– Other peer-to-peer, rather than hierarchical, systems also emerging

AQ&Q U E S T I O N SQ U E S T I O N S

A N S W E R SA N S W E R S

RFID Technology July, 2004 David Wertheimer Product Manager WMS & MSCA Applications.

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