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Press Release: World's First 64KByte High-Capacity FRAM RFID Tag
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Tokyo, Japan, Jan 9, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited today announced the development of the world's first 64 kilobyte (KB) ultra-high frequency (UHF)-band radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with high-capacity FRAM[1], featuring memory capacity sufficient to store large volumes of aircraft part and maintenance history data, while supporting a number of different radio frequencies to enable traceability worldwide. Fujitsu anticipates that this 64KB UHF-RFID tag will transform global aircraft maintenance operations.
Equipped with 64KB FRAM memory, the world's highest capacity to date, Fujitsu's new RFID tag will enable highly efficient global aircraft maintenance operations by ensuring precise and rapid management of each aircraft part. The tag complies with the EPCglobal[2] Class 1 Generation 2 standard supporting a variety of radio frequencies, which vary by region, and thus provides for global traceability.
Fujitsu's new UHF-RFID tags will deliver high-speed data writing capability and high durability, while also offering state-of-the-art security functions, such as password management for each part of the memory area.
In recent years, the aviation industry has striven to raise the quality and efficiency of aircraft maintenance by improving traceability of parts. In line with this trend, a need has arisen for high-capacity RFID tags which can store not only part identification codes but also product and part maintenance history data.
To satisfy these needs, Fujitsu developed a 64 KB high-capacity RFID tag memory for the aviation industry. Fujitsu's new RFID tag will increase the quality and the efficiency of aircraft maintenance operations by enabling the traceability of various products and maintenance information for parts exchanged between companies and across nations around the world. Overall, customers will realize improved supply chain management through shorter cycle times and lower costs.
Sales of the RFID tag are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 (April - June 2008).
Key Features
1. World's highest-capacity RFID tags
- Featuring 64KB high-capacity FRAM, Fujitsu's RFID tags deliver high-speed data writing capability and high durability. The tags also offer state-of-the-art security functions, such as password management for each part of the memory area.
Compatible with different frequencies used around the world
2. The new RFID tag can be implemented globally as a result of compliance with the -- EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 standard, supporting a variety of frequencies used in different countries. Furthermore, the tag can be mounted on metal surfaces and meets fire retardancy standards by satisfying the testing requirements for SAE AS5678[3] specifications, which are required to be met for high-quality aviation parts.
3. Highly efficient aircraft maintenance
- The high memory and overall capability of Fujitsu's 64KB RFID tag will enable numerous automated data exchange and data management processes by providing a robust, point-of-use information source, resulting in significant cycle-time and cost reduction opportunities for airline maintenance operations and supply chain management.
Key Specifications:
1. Standards:
EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2* / ISO/IEC 18000-6 Type C*
*Class 1 Generation 2:
A transmission standard instituted by EPCglobal, for data transmission between readers/writers and UHF-RFID tags. This is a second-generation standard specification that improves performance of the EPC Class 1 specification.
*ISO/IEC 18000-6 Type C:
An international standard for UHF-RFID tags, defined by ISO and based on EPCglobal's "EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2" standard.
2. Memory size:
65,536Byte (System Memory: 1,280Byte, User Memory*: 64,256Byte)
*User Memory:
Refers to the memory area of the RFID tag in which the user can freely read/write, which some low-cost RFID tags do not feature. The user memory size of conventional RFID tags is usually a few hundred bits.
3. Tag dimensions*:
2 x 1 inch (Width: 50.8mm, Depth: 25.4mm, Height: 6.22mm)
*Fujitsu plans to develop smaller and lighter RFID tags.
4. Weight:
13.6 g
5. Frequency:
860-960 MHz
Notes:
[1] FRAM: Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (also referred to as FeRAM). Memory that uses ferroelectric film as a capacitor for storing data. Featuring advantages of both ROM and RAM devices, FRAM features high-speed access, low power consumption, and high endurance for numerous rewrites.
[2] EPCglobal: EPCglobal is a non-profit organization established by GS1 (formerly known as EAN International), which promotes the international standardization of barcodes, and GS1 US(TM) (formerly the Uniform Code Council, Inc.).
[3] SAE AS5678: Issued by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in December 2006, SAE AS5678 is a standard defining environmental specifications and test methods for passive RFID tags used in aviation applications. SAE has categorized and defined environmental specifications for RFID tag use, for the three environmental categories of "Standard," "Robust" and "Harsh."
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Equipped with 64KB FRAM memory, the world's highest capacity to date, Fujitsu's new RFID tag will enable highly efficient global aircraft maintenance operations by ensuring precise and rapid management of each aircraft part. The tag complies with the EPCglobal[2] Class 1 Generation 2 standard supporting a variety of radio frequencies, which vary by region, and thus provides for global traceability.Fujitsu's new UHF-RFID tags will deliver high-speed data writing capability and high durability, while also offering state-of-the-art security functions, such as password management for each part of the memory area.
In recent years, the aviation industry has striven to raise the quality and efficiency of aircraft maintenance by improving traceability of parts. In line with this trend, a need has arisen for high-capacity RFID tags which can store not only part identification codes but also product and part maintenance history data.
To satisfy these needs, Fujitsu developed a 64 KB high-capacity RFID tag memory for the aviation industry. Fujitsu's new RFID tag will increase the quality and the efficiency of aircraft maintenance operations by enabling the traceability of various products and maintenance information for parts exchanged between companies and across nations around the world. Overall, customers will realize improved supply chain management through shorter cycle times and lower costs.
Sales of the RFID tag are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 (April - June 2008).
Key Features
1. World's highest-capacity RFID tags
- Featuring 64KB high-capacity FRAM, Fujitsu's RFID tags deliver high-speed data writing capability and high durability. The tags also offer state-of-the-art security functions, such as password management for each part of the memory area.
Compatible with different frequencies used around the world
2. The new RFID tag can be implemented globally as a result of compliance with the -- EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 standard, supporting a variety of frequencies used in different countries. Furthermore, the tag can be mounted on metal surfaces and meets fire retardancy standards by satisfying the testing requirements for SAE AS5678[3] specifications, which are required to be met for high-quality aviation parts.
3. Highly efficient aircraft maintenance
- The high memory and overall capability of Fujitsu's 64KB RFID tag will enable numerous automated data exchange and data management processes by providing a robust, point-of-use information source, resulting in significant cycle-time and cost reduction opportunities for airline maintenance operations and supply chain management.
Key Specifications:
1. Standards:
EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2* / ISO/IEC 18000-6 Type C*
*Class 1 Generation 2:
A transmission standard instituted by EPCglobal, for data transmission between readers/writers and UHF-RFID tags. This is a second-generation standard specification that improves performance of the EPC Class 1 specification.
*ISO/IEC 18000-6 Type C:
An international standard for UHF-RFID tags, defined by ISO and based on EPCglobal's "EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2" standard.
2. Memory size:
65,536Byte (System Memory: 1,280Byte, User Memory*: 64,256Byte)
*User Memory:
Refers to the memory area of the RFID tag in which the user can freely read/write, which some low-cost RFID tags do not feature. The user memory size of conventional RFID tags is usually a few hundred bits.
3. Tag dimensions*:
2 x 1 inch (Width: 50.8mm, Depth: 25.4mm, Height: 6.22mm)
*Fujitsu plans to develop smaller and lighter RFID tags.
4. Weight:
13.6 g
5. Frequency:
860-960 MHz
Notes:
[1] FRAM: Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (also referred to as FeRAM). Memory that uses ferroelectric film as a capacitor for storing data. Featuring advantages of both ROM and RAM devices, FRAM features high-speed access, low power consumption, and high endurance for numerous rewrites.
[2] EPCglobal: EPCglobal is a non-profit organization established by GS1 (formerly known as EAN International), which promotes the international standardization of barcodes, and GS1 US(TM) (formerly the Uniform Code Council, Inc.).
[3] SAE AS5678: Issued by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in December 2006, SAE AS5678 is a standard defining environmental specifications and test methods for passive RFID tags used in aviation applications. SAE has categorized and defined environmental specifications for RFID tag use, for the three environmental categories of "Standard," "Robust" and "Harsh."
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Labels: aviation, fram, fujitsu, rfid, tag
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RFID in Supply Chain Environment (Part 2)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
by Jack Tay
There is little question that RFID is fast becoming a critical component in the new world of supply chain management, especially in fast growing Asian economies. This is especially so for Asian companies that do import and export business with large Western nations such as the United States and greater Europe. However, even as RFID is necessary, it is important to determine carefully just what needs to be done, and who can help make RFID a success within the company.
When the crucial steps of an RFID implementation project have been carefully integrated, the reliability of system performance can be guaranteed. A dynamic "feedback loop" approach is essential to any ability to provide such guarantees. RFID-services vendors with the requisite experience and expertise to take this approach will have no difficulty offering a performance guarantee with the systems they implement.
Automotive manufacturing and RFID
Increasingly, Asia Pacific is fast becoming the new automotive region, given that manufacturing and labor costs are far lower than the United States and Europe. For example, region-specific models of Chevrolet are manufactured in South Korea (such as the Optra), while Volkswagen and Skoda now has shared manufacturing in China, catering specifically to the mainland Chinese market with the popular VW Passat and Skoda Octavia (and now Superb) models. Even mainstream Japanese car manufacturers are relocating some of their manufacturing of region-specific models (such as Altis and Corolla) to lower-cost locations such as Thailand.
Some manufacturers have used RFID to keep track of the most critical (and sometimes most expensive) item of a car, the engine block. RFID tagging can help reduce misplaced engines (which must be scrapped due to the sensitivity of such products). It is possible that RFID tagging can become important in keeping track of major parts within a car, including the drivetrain assembly, in the near future.
Recommended approach to implementing RFID
Before implementing RFID, it is important to conduct a feasibility analysis of the supply chain environment. Setting out to do a conceptual model, with the right definitions, you should then analyze the process within your entire supply chain (all the way to your ultimate customer and include all stakeholders).
After creating a budget with an invitation to your vendor for demonstrations and any small scale tests, you need to conduct an analysis of your sites, and then have some of your personnels to gauge the usability of the RFID system.
You should attempt to launch your RFID installation in phases, with a test or pilot site, running for perhaps a reasonable length of time, to iron out any kinks in the system. Once you are assured that it will work enterprise-wide, then roll out the system to the entire site. It is also important to re-visit every step of this process of implementation, to ensure that you can improve or tweak the system as necessary.
Outsourcing to a partner
In an ideal scenario, or at least a very small implementation, it may be possible to roll out your RFID system entirely by your in-house team. However, there may be a wisdom to outsource the implementation to a professional services partner, to reduce possible problems during implementation, and also to create accountability and reduce your own exposure to risk. Why is it so?
Researchers have advised that unless you happen to be a data integration specialist, it is entirely possible that your information architecture will break, or affect the corporate ROI.
RF is also an esoteric science whereby specialized skills may be needed to diagnose the RF environment for a site, and to install readers and testing tag performance.
And since RFID expertise is usually not in-house, it may require an outside professional to ensure a solid hardware configuration that will provide better reliability and performance. Nothing beats real world deployment experience, and so for good professional services partners, they would bring to the table real experience that can solve deployment problems, even for pilot runs. Of course, it is important to ensure that your potential partner does indeed have such real world experience, and not simply a portfolio of clients who were "sold" the RFID hardware and other third-party software.
The writer is the Regional Marketing Manager of Intermec Asia Pacific.
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: business, china, project, rfid, scm, tag, technology, tracking
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RFID in Supply Chain Environment (Part 1)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
by Jack Tay
While RFID (radio frequency identification) technology is no longer a new or emerging technology, its adoption in Asia Pacific is sporadic, with pockets of accelerated adoption in certain economies, and certain industries. Against the backdrop of regulatory requirements and internal audit controls which put more stringent demands on operating enterprises, whereby more accountability and traceability must be accomplished, the RFID technology adoption situation would theoretically imply that RFID systems would become commonplace everywhere in Asia.
Some countries, such as China, South Korea and Japan, have successful and more widespread adoption of RFID than other countries in Asia Pacific. Many RFID adoptions come from established sites which have other forms of supply chain implementations, and therefore, are considered retrofitted RFID adoptions. While RFID implementations from scratch would be considered the easiest from a technological point of view, we must not discount that many sites would require a phased-in approach of RFID, starting perhaps with test sites to ensure compatibility with enterprise and back-end software.
What makes RFID great for the modern supply chain environment?
Unlike traditional barcode systems, RFID readers do not require a visual line of sight. This can be useful for proximity scanning of RFID tags on tagged items, rather than demanding personnel to be positioned visually within the logistics items to check their availability. Therefore, RFID systems can be extremely useful for supply chain environments that use optimized storage planning, where items can be stacked back to back. And because of proximity scanning rather than line of sight requirements, more data collection along the entire supply chain can be set up easily, without dramatic process changes.
With RFID tags, whether passive or especially active tags, more information can be stored on the tags, compared to traditional barcodes. For active RFID tags, data can be updated enroute (read/write capability), which provide even more flexibility for supply chain backend systems and their interaction.
Increasing adoption of RFID
RFID is also more practical than ever before, with clear business cases being demonstrated for asset management and supply chain operations alike. For example, TNT Logistics reduced its truck load verification time 24 percent by using RFID to automatically record goods loaded onto its trailers. Hundreds of other companies around the world are also implementing RFID-based shipping, receiving and inventory visibility applications.
A sub-trend behind RFID adoption for inventory, warehouse and distribution operations is the use of vehicle-mounted and other mobile RFID readers to enhance or replace stationary models. With a mobile infrastructure, companies don’t need to purchase, install and maintain a separate RFID reader for each dock door. Forklift-mounted and handheld readers can cover multiple docks, and be used in warehouse aisles and elsewhere throughout the facility, further reducing the required RFID investment. Plus, they put information directly in the user’s hands, so they can prevent errors, rather than just record them after they occur.
Container tracking and RFID
With the global struggle against terror or theft, it is imperative that any component of the entire supply chain must be secured, and authenticated, so that there is no breakdown in the process. With RFID tagging, containers, and pallets, can all be adequately tracked and authenticated, along every step of the process from manufacturing to the ultimate client’s location, however remote the location may be. This is not merely a customer requirement (often to comply with internal controls and procedures), but also increasingly a governmental requirement in many locations (especially in the United States and Europe). With adequate tracking through RFID tags, shippers and manufacturers can account to governments and customers, but also build in a "shield" to protect their brands, given that brands these days can break easily due to some lapses in accountability.
The second part of this article will discuss the RFID adoption in automotive manufacturing and a recommended approach to implement RFID.
The writer is the Regional Marketing Manager of Intermec Asia Pacific.
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: business, china, japan, mobile, reader, rfid, scm, tag, technology, tracking
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HDB Introduces RFID Season Parking Ticket
Thursday, November 01, 2007
by Lay Peng TAY
Housing & Development Board (HDB) Singapore is continually finding ways to leverage on technology to improve its services for customers. Recently, we have introduced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to replace the current paper Season Parking Ticket (SPT).
Following a successful pilot, HDB called 2 tenders in 2006 to implement RFID to replace the paper SPT at all our car parks. The successful tenderers have distributed RFID tags to SPT holders since March 2007. They will complete the distribution by February 2008.
The HDB RFID tag has a Unique Identification (UID) number tied to the vehicle’s registration number. Like the existing paper SPT, the tag is displayed on the windscreen for cars or near the road tax disc for motor-cycles.Once the season parking charges are paid by the motorists, the updated information is downloaded to our Electronic Handheld Terminal (EHT). This information will be encrypted in the EHT and not stored in the RFID tag. Our parking enforcement staff will then use the EHT to scan the tag and retrieve the UID which is matched against the information of the vehicle such as its registration number and validity of season parking.
There is no middleware used for this system. The RFID tag brings more convenience for SPT holders as they would no longer need to replace the paper SPT each time they renew their season parking. For those who renew electronically such as GIRO, internet and AXS or SAM self-service kiosks, they do not need to wait for the SPT to be sent to them. The feedback from the motorists on RFID is positive.
Our parking enforcement staffs are also happy with the system as it increases their productivity when carrying out enforcement action especially at night. There is no change to the mode of renewal with the implementation of the RFID, i.e. motorists can continue to renew their season parking through Giro, internet, self service kiosks or at our Branch Offices.
The writer is the Estates Officer of Housing Administration Department, Housing & Development Board (HDB) Singapore.
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Labels: hdb, rfid, singapore, spt, tag, technology
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Frontline-Ngee Ann Enterprise Visibility Centre
Monday, October 22, 2007
by Eunice Sari
About a month ago, a new RFID Enterprise Visibility Centre was opened in Singapore. This joint initiative between Frontline Technologies Corporation Ltd and Ngee Ann Polytechnic aims to introduce active RFID technology in Singapore.
Different from other RFID centres in Singapore, this privately-funded centre only focuses on research and development projects that can add values and leverage the active RFID solutions provided by Frontline using Real-Time Location System (RTLS) platform from Aeroscout, an American-based company providing enterprise visibility solutions.
Ng Chee Keong, the Sales Manager of Frontline, further said that this initiative intends to provide a mini environment for industries to try out and prove their RFID vision and concept before spending million of dollars on RFID deployment in a real environment. He also mentioned that with a significantly lower cost compared to a normal R&D organisation, an enterprise can build a prototype or demo, try it out in its actual environment and see whether the solution is suitable and workable for their organisation. Built with an investment of more than US$200,000, the centre was still largely a work-in-progress when RFID Asia recently visited the centre. Two workstations, a couple of active RFID tags, an access point, a location receiver and an exciter were the equipments available in the centre. In addition, there were several posters of RFID projects that were previously carried out by the students of Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
The collaboration between Frontline and Ngee Ann Polytechnic has actually started a year back, including several Singapore Government projects in human tagging using active RFID technology. Within a framework of three to six month RFID projects, Ngee Ann Polytechnic's students and lecturers can gain some experience in several realistic industrial projects, while Frontline can readily tap the expertise of the academics.The writer is an ICT Consultant and Researcher with various affiliations to academic and industry organizations. Her current research interest includes ICT4D, m-Learning, e-Learning, Web 2.0, healthcare, wireless and mobile technology.
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Labels: 2.0, aeroscout, frontline, mobile, rfid, singapore, tag, technology
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Case Study: RFID Applications for Digital Campus (Part 2)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
by Toni Anwar and Chua Teong Kiat
The digital campus project focuses on the design and implementation of RFID system, which will serve as a guideline for upgrading the Universiti of Sains Malaysia network systems in the future. There are five locations taken into consideration in the RFID design and implementation, which are the library, the health unit (clinic), the entrance/guard house, the hostel, the school and lecture halls.
1. Library
The RFID applications for the library include:
a. Entrance access control - The door will only unlock if it detects correct IDs.
b. Visitors Counter - Automatic counter system to count the number of daily library visitors
c. Anti-theft - Alert system to alarm the librarians if there is any book taken from the library without registration and daily books check-in/out system.
d. Book Location Checking System - Using portable reader, we can set the book's ID we are looking for and set the read coverage to find out the books' location.
Currently USM Engineering Campus library has already had a contactless smart card reader at its counter. When a student library card is pointed near the reader, the reader will get the library ID and transfer it to a host PC to access the database and check loaned book status. At the same time, the profile of the student is also updated.
The benefits from RFID implementation are the followings:
1.Enhance library security
2.Replace the guard's work for checking out book status and counting daily visitors
3.Prevent missing books
4.Find lost books inside library
2. Health Unit (Clinic)
The RFID application for health unit at USM is for medicine monitoring and management. The Auto-ID system will update medicine’s data at an interval of time, to make sure their availability, expiry date and location. It can alert the nurse to process an application form and order a new medicine if there is any shortage of medicine or if the medicine is expired. This system will update the medicine data into database automatically and improve the management system of medicine at health unit. We eliminate the patient tracking application because it is an unnecessary application for health unit in our campus.
Currently, USM Engineering Campus Health Unit has already had a contactless smart card reader at its counter. When a student card is pointed near the reader, the reader will get the student's IC number, transfer the information to host PC, access to student database, then check or update student's clinic record.
The benefit from RFID implementation is improved operations and saving time. Accurate and automatic data capture coupled with intelligent control leads to better security of medicine control.
3. Guard House
The RFID applications for the entrance gate at USM include:
a. Entrance access control - The gate will only unlock if it detects a correct tag ID.
b. Asset/Item tracking and tracing – Anti-theft detects whether an asset or item has an authorization to be brought out of campus. If it is not, several actions, such as guard alert, alarm activation and gate/barrier closing can be performed.
c. Vehicle verification – Unique ID for all students', staff' and visitors' vehicle. If there is any unknown vehicle, the guard can do necessary actions. If any vehicle parks at a forbidden area, the guard can record time, date and location of violation and the owner will get a fine.
Currently, USM Engineering Campus has two formal gates, one main gate and one side gate opened for entrance. There are 2 barriers with contactless smart card readers at the main gate, which function from 10:30 pm until 6:30am. Anyone crossing the barriers needs to confirm ID with a reader. The system replaces manual registration for student or staff at USM with auto-ID data recording to the database.
The benefits from RFID implementation are the followings:
1. Enhance campus security
2. Improve operation and management system for guard
3. Anti-theft, reduce criminal
4. Trace unknown vehicle
5. Fine the vehicle rules breaker effectively
4. School, DU (Main Hall) and DK (Lecture Hall)
At school or lab, we can also implement RFID technology to track and trace assets or equipment for a room or lab, to prevent theft or missing equipment, and improve the registration process.
5. Others
For USM hostel, six engineering schools, DU (Main Hall), and DK (Lecture Hall), RFID application like door lock system and auto attendance record system can be implemented using a contactless smart card system. But it is not a cost-effective application that can benefit much from RFID technology. As a result, we eliminate the RFID application on these locations.
In spite of the current excitement, RFID may not be suitable for everyone. There are some hurdles we need to consider seriously before embarking on a real implementation of RFID network system for digital campus, including:
* Price
* Complexity
* Existing solutions
* Advantages
* Applicability
The current state of RFID technology based on a collection of comments and observations is:
* Confusing
* Lacking of expertise
* Still in learning state
Toni Anwar is the Coordinator for Software Systems Engineering Programme at the Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut Institute Technology North Bangkok (KMITNB), Bangkok, Thailand.
Teong-Keat Chua is a Design Verification Engineer at Spansion Penang Design Center, Malaysia.
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: card, malaysia, project, reader, rfid, security, tag, technology, tracking
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RFID in China: 7000 Years of Innovation
Monday, August 27, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
Yesterday was the last day of a 3-month exhibition about scientific discoveries and technological inventions made by the Chinese for the past 7000 years. The exhibition held in Singapore Science Centre covers eleven areas of Chinese invention, i.e. astronomy, compass, gunpowder, printing, mechanics, architecture, weaving, ceramics, paper making, bronze casting and traditional medicine. It was interesting to find RFID technology being used to demonstrate Acupuncture associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Acupuncture is a well-known medical technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Seeing a human body as a delicate balance between two opposing and inseparable forces: Yin and Yang, Qi or Chi (vital energy) is believed to circulate throughout body along meridians influenced by the balance between Yin and Yang. In a healthy body, Chi flows freely through meridians without blockage, stagnation or weakening. Xue (acupuncture points) are the locations where Chi of the Meridians rise close to the surface of body. It is believed that a human body consists of 12 main meridians, 8 secondary meridians and more than 2,000 acupuncture points (See reference 1, 2 and 3 for more information).
One of the exhibition highlights is an Interactive Acupuncture Chart. The main part of the system is a human body model illustrated with meridians and acupuncture points. This model gives visitors an opportunity to learn about different meridians and acupuncture points available throughout human body. Some key acupuncture points are tagged with small black coin-shaped passive RFID tags with a diameter of 14 mm and thickness of 3.2mm.Another important part of the system is a flashlight-shaped RFID reader connected to a host computer. The 125kHz RFID reader serves as a probe to the human body model. Whenever a visitor points a key acupuncture point that is tagged with an RFID tag, a touch-screen display located nearby the human body model will give a corresponding information.
The system was interactive and easy to use for the visitors of all ages. The visitors explored and played with the system without realising the technology complexity. Some visitors who are interested to find the key acupuncture points related to their illness explored the human body model with the RFID reader easily.
Interestingly, during my exploration with the system, I accidentally discovered one of the RFID tags on the floor nearby the human model. Instead of examining all the key acupuncture points on the human body model to find the origin of the tag, I scanned the RFID tag and read the corresponding information on the touch-screen display. I easily located the exact location of the tag where the tag originated on the human body model. I put back the tag where it belongs and I was satisfied that the system functions as it should be.
Thanks to Cheong Hee Kiat for his generosity and recommendation.
The writer is the Founder of RFID Asia - The Prominent RFID Community in Asia.
References
1. Wikipedia. Acupuncture. Wikipedia. Retrieved on 27th August 2007.
2. NCCAM (December 2004). Acupuncture. NCCAM. Retrieved on 27th August 2007.
3. ICBS, Inc. Channels or Meridians in Acupunture. ICBS, Inc. Retrieved on 27th August 2007.
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Labels: china, reader, rfid, singapore, tag, technology
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How to Choose RFID Tag
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
The variety of RFID tags available in the market often confuses the end-users in deploying RFID systems. Many end-users go from one RFID vendor to another and compare RFID tags based on specifications and prices. For the last couple of years alone, more than 90% of the RFID end-users contacting RFID Asia basically asked the same thing: Tell us about RFID products! When you are in the process of choosing the right RFID tags, the following excerpt from "RFID Asia Guidelines for Choosing RFID Tags" may be valuable for you.
While RFID Asia does not sell or manufacture RFID products, we do provide RFID professional services through Consulting, Research, Business Representation and Advertising. We help companies make the best investment decisions on RFID technology and products. We also plan to open a new RFID kiosk that will become one-stop RFID store to help companies across various industry verticals, government agencies, research organisations and universities in Asia Pacific to learn, select, try out and buy a range of RFID products and services from various RFID vendors. The kiosk will link up RFID vendors and consumers alike to conduct trading and training on RFID products and services.
If you are one of the end-users planning to embark on RFID system deployment, the following guidelines may ease the process of choosing RFID tag:
1. Define Your Goal and Requirements Clearly
Without a properly defined goal, you will be easily distracted by many tempting offers and marketing gimmicks. If you need RFID tags for pilot, define your pilot project goal clearly. Your pilot project goal may solve the attendance problem at your office, secure a certain area of your warehouse, or only to know how a wireless automatic identification technology works. After you clearly define your goal, the next thing to remember is to keep your requirements simple. For example, when your application only requires read-only (RO) RFID tags, do not be tempted to choose Read-and-Write (R/W) RFID tags only because they have more “features”, unless you already know that you will need them later.2. Source Carefully
There are thousands of RFID vendors in the market. Some are good, some are bad. Some are reliable, some are not. It is good if you can get a vendor referral from a source you can trust. If you cannot get any referral and unfamiliar with a vendor, ask relevant questions to the vendor upfront. Make sure details such as pricing, delivery, payment, dead tags, return policy, tag life time, etc. are not left out. The more you know in advance, less surprises you will experience.3. Standard is The King
As an evolving technology, the change of RFID standards is inevitable. As standards evolve, RFID tags and related hardware could become perishable. Upgrade option is always the best solution. Look for vendors who offer tag upgrade for reusable RFID tags. The good news is that almost everyone in the RFID community agrees that the harmonization of global RFID protocol and spectrum allocation is as important as regional harmonization. When you deploy an RFID system, make sure that your system conforms to the regional regulation and interoperable with other systems that interact with your RFID system. Whatever standard you use, make sure it is ISO-compliant.4. Price is Not Everything
The lure of low RFID tag price often results in a disappointment at the end. Many will find out sooner or later that 5-cent RFID tags do not exist in the market. If your RFID application is based on the 5-cent price assumption, it is better to postpone your project indefinitely or find another business case that can justify your RFID application on different price level.5. Try and Evaluate
Before your RFID tags arrive, you need to prepare a try-out system in place to evaluate your RFID tag performance. It is the best if you can set up a test environment in the actual site where the RFID tags will be used. Depending on the sophistication of your application, budget and time, you can simply set up a simple read and write test or set up a sophisticated test environment using a real-time spectrum analyzer.The writer is the Founder of RFID Asia - The Prominent RFID Community in Asia.
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: business, payment, project, rfid, tag, technology
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Bluetooth + NFC = Future?
Monday, August 13, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
The most popular technology used to pair mobile phones and headsets is undoubtedly Bluetooth. However, it is also a common knowledge that pairing mobile phones and headsets using Bluetooth can be cumbersome. When Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), a trade association behind Bluetooth, approved Bluetooth version 2.1 + EDR specification a couple of weeks ago, it is of no surprise that the specification includes an improvement for inter-device pairing process and a support for Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Among a myriad of wireless technologies, why does the new Bluetooth specification support NFC technology?
The Bluetooth SIG claims on its website that NFC will "take ease of use to the next level". While this assertion may sound like a marketing jargon, NFC does have a potential to exploit two well-known physical interaction styles, i.e. waving and touching/tapping, in various short-range contactless applications. The familiarity with waving and touching is expected to ease the use of NFC-enabled devices and thus improve the overall user experience of NFC-enabled devices.
Beside the improvement in user experience, NFC also has a potential to bridge the change of paradigm in logical bond or connection among physical objects. When the on-going work on NFC's Host Controller Interface (HCI) specification is completed by 2008, the HCI is expected to cover all NFC operational modes, including reader/writer, peer-to-peer and card emulation.Imagine your NFC-enabled mobile phones that can act both as a credit card and a personal payment terminal. Imagine showing your digital photos and videos from your NFC-enabled camera on your friend's NFC-enabled television only by putting your camera next to the television. Imagine many other logical connection among physical objects that may be possible with NFC technology.
While the logical connection among physical objects is quite attractive, the technology may face some interoperability problems if there is no single technology standardization widely accepted by technology providers and end-users alike. The recent announcement of the NFC tag specification has shown that the NFC Forum has learnt from the RFID industry experience and built its NFC tag specification on the existing standards, such as: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) / International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 14443 and Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) X 6319-4/FeliCa.
The fact that NFC technology can ride on the popularity of mature technology such as Bluetooth shows the confidence in the future of NFC technology. However, similar with any other new and emerging technology, NFC will find its challenges along the way. Some of the challenges already identified include unreliable NFC infrastructure and insecure applications. We will see in the next 5 years whether NFC technology can overcome the challenges and find its niche application as Bluetooth did with its pairing feature.The writer is the Founder of RFID Asia - The Prominent RFID Community in Asia.
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Labels: bluetooth, card, mobile, nfc, payment, reader, rfid, tag, technology
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Case Study: Malaysian Smart Shelf
Monday, July 23, 2007
by Rohisyam Abdul Rahman
Smart Shelf is a device that can pinpoint the exact location of books in a library. The device, communicating in High Frequency (HF) band, can detect whether a book placed in different tier levels is being misplaced, missing or rented. The device was launched on 9th February 2007 at MMU in Cyberjaya. The Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato' Mustapa Mohamed was present to officiate the event, which was attended by librarians from all over Malaysia.
Telekom Research & Development Sdn. Bhd. (TMR&D) has developed a Smart Shelf harnessing the RFID technology working on HF band (13.56 MHz). The Smart Shelf exploits the short-range RFID technology that can automatically identify books within a distance of 30 cm relative to the shelf.
The innovation began in 2005 when we received feedbacks from the patrons of the Multimedia University (MMU) library who faced a difficulty in physically locating catalogued books. The difficulty has prompted the idea to begin with our research on Smart Shelf.
The Smart Shelf research was conducted to facilitate library search and enable multiple book tracking in real time. The RFID tag technology with 128-byte storage capacity has made this goal possible.
At first, we tested the RFID technology working in UHF band to track books on a shelf. We found out that we could not control the signal spectrum to automatically identify books in a pre-defined area. Furthermore, we also found a number of invalid identification.After we tested the RFID technology working in HF band, we got more accurate results and we only had to tune the strength of signals using a vector network analyzer for achieving a specific working distance from a shelf.
We also learnt that several frequency bands may not be suitable for RFID systems. Any vacant space in the frequency spectrum for wireless systems is limited. In addition, the available license-free or Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM) frequency bands vary substantially from country to country in terms of regulations. In our case, the frequency range of 13.553 – 13.567 MHz suits our application that requires a small amount of data reading at low speed over a short distance.
Our Smart Shelf was launched on 9th February 2007 at MMU in Cyberjaya. The Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato' Mustapa Mohamed was present to officiate the event, which was attended by librarians from all over Malaysia.The writer is Researcher/Project Leader at Telekom Research & Development Sdn. Bhd., a company that provides customized solutions through leading edge designs, fabrication and state-of-art technologies.
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Labels: hf, malaysia, project, rfid, tag, technology, tracking
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Sustainable Growth of RFID Supply Chain Markets
Saturday, July 14, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
The steadily growing demand for RFID solutions in the Asia Pacific region is inevitable, particularly in the supply chain markets. However, a threat is looming that the current growth will not be sustainable. A fair cost-sharing mechanism, rational motives and justified returns from RFID technology investments are the key ingredients to achieve long-term and sustainable RFID technology adoption.
With the number of contactless smart card unit shipments in the Asia Pacific region at approximately 230 million cards and the Asia Pacific RFID supply chain market that earned $170.3 million in 2006 (Frost & Sullivan 7 Jun 2007, RFID versus Contactless Smart Card and Frost & Sullivan 30 Jun 2007, Asia Pacific RFID Supply Chain Markets), it is hard to ignore the steady growing demand for RFID solutions in the region.
Heating up the emerging markets, METRO Group – the world's fourth largest retailer located in Germany has launched an initiative called Advanced Logistics Asia program since last year. The aim of the program is simply to improve the flow of goods along the supply chain between China (Hong Kong) and Germany with the use of RFID technology.
Speaking to FoodProductionDaily.com, Christian Maas - a METRO Group spokesperson, recently gave a comment on the pressure on its suppliers for adopting RFID and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technology: "Suppliers doing without the innovative technology (RFID and EDI – ed.) will bear the higher process costs resulting from a lower efficiency. Suppliers participating in the RFID roll-out will benefit from a preferred treatment."The remark implies that METRO Group believes in 3 things:
- The technology used by METRO Group, including RFID, is innovative.
- RFID will help suppliers achieving lower process costs as a result of higher process efficiency.
- A preferred treatment is an incentive for suppliers to participate in the RFID roll-out.
Faced with the requirement for RFID technology compliance, suppliers should ask the following question: Is there any rational motive that can justify the adoption of RFID technology further into internal business processes? The answer to the question is crucial for any supplier to take a strategic decision whether to implement RFID technology only for the sake of compliance or integrate the RFID technology further into internal business processes.The answer from the 26 METRO Group's industry partners from Asia (not 30 suppliers or partners as published previously in various media) participating in "Tag it easy" pilot project has already been decided: compliance.
As a part of the Advanced Logistics Asia program, the "Tag it easy" pilot project was launched in late May 2007. The project aims to enable consumer good industry partners in Hong Kong to apply RFID labels on the shipments to Unna, Germany.
Basically, there are only 3 things that the Asian suppliers participating in the project need to perform:
- Use Metro Link portal to order pre-printed RFID labels for packages exported to Unna, Germany.
- Manually attached the RFID labels to the export packages.
- Manually read the data on the RFID labels affixed to the outgoing goods using a handheld reader.
Judging from the manual labour-intensive processes that are still heavily involved in the project, it will be difficult for suppliers to justify that RFID is an innovative technology that can help them to achieve lower process costs and higher process efficiency. The suppliers involved in the project may get a preferred treatment from the METRO Group and detailed proof of good delivery, nevertheless, it is still questionable whether the preferred treatment and detailed proof of good delivery can actually justify the additional operational costs and process waste.On the other hand, METRO Group can benefit tremendously from data quality improvement, process efficiency improvements along the supply chain, and real-time asset visibility & control, while the third-party RFID vendor - Checkpoint Systems, Inc. can profit from the use of their Check-Net® products and services.
The situation confirms the results of our previous study on RFID adoption in Supply Chain Logistics and Retail Logistics, in which a fair cost-sharing mechanism between retailer (METRO Group) and consumer good suppliers is essential for a sustainable RFID adoption to take place. In addition, it is also necessary for consumer good suppliers to be able to justify their investments in RFID technology with rational motives and justified returns. A specific business case for each unique consumer goods supplier and a customised solution to RFID system integration challenges are no longer nice-to-have. It has already become a fundamental requirement for a sustainable RFID adoption and sustainable growth of RFID supply chain markets.
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Labels: business, card, china, project, reader, rfid, scm, tag, technology
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RFID Agnosticism: More Sophisticated RFID Industry
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
From the recent comments and statements, it seems like technology agnostic is the latest trend in the RFID industry. The RFID industry has become more sophisticated and provided more values from RFID technology.
Read the following comments and statements:
"... truly frequency agnostic company" (UK)
"... frequency agnostic – write tags at HF and UHF frequencies" (USA)
"... tag agnostic (Gen 1 & Gen 2)" (USA)
"... reader agnostic ..." (USA)
"... technology and frequency agnostic. Our main objective is to ensure that we have common data structures and command sets to make it easier and less costly to implement." (President of EPCglobal)
"... frequency agnostic, advocating that the optimal tag should be used for various applications" (UK)
"... will develop new RFID solutions with a frequency agnostic approach, as wireless frequency ranges are assessed and recommended based on the exact needs of the individual application." (Netherlands)
The use of the word "agnostic" itself is a kind of stretch from the original meaning that comes from the Greek words of "a" (not) and "gnostos" (known), which literally means unknown. A person who believes in neither God's existence nor God's non-existence can be called an agnostic. If you have no commitment in an opinion, you can also be called an agnostic.
The earliest account of the word "agnostic" in use within the RFID industry dates back to May 2006, when EPCglobal started to look into HF RFID technology and formed HF Air Interface Working Group.
"EPCglobal is happy to begin work on extending the very successful EPCglobal Gen 2 standard to support the healthcare industry" said Chris Adcock, president of EPCglobal. "EPCglobal is technology and frequency agnostic. Our main objective is to ensure that we have common data structures and command sets to make it easier and less costly to implement."
The statement came out after a reality check of UHF technology performance on item-level tagging in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The result is clear: HF technology performs better than UHF technology for item-level tagging in the pharmaceutical supply chain. This harsh reality has forced EPCglobal, who has been very aggressive in promoting UHF technology, to embrace HF technology rather than ignoring the global pharmaceutical industry worth of US$492 billion, in which the United States has become the major market for drugs, accounting for almost half of all global drug sales (*).So now, EPCglobal is officially technology and frequency agnostic.
In the real world, each application usually has its own unique needs. RFID systems designed for Access Control applications may not easily be adapted for Supply Chain Logistics applications. RFID systems working for Supply Chain Logistics may not give an optimal performance for Retail Logistics applications. Even for the same area of applications, as demonstrated in the pharmaceutical supply chain, the unique environment, different standards and regulations have made RFID applications more complicated. This reality has created an awareness in the RFID industry that one size does not fit all.
On the other hand, some RFID vendors that always follow the latest fads are a little bit carried away. They have stretched the use of the word "agnostic" even further. The stretch ranges from support for dual frequency equipments to anything under the sun that operates on frequency, i.e. tag agnostic, reader agnostic, etc. At one extreme, some RFID vendors are racing to produce RFID products that support multi-spectral RFID applications. At another extreme, some vendors who are cautious with multi-spectral RFID products only recommend specific frequency solutions based on the assessment of each individual RFID application and call their approach frequency agnostic.
While both extremes propose different values to different markets, these agnostic phenomena have shown an important trend, i.e. The RFID industry has become more sophisticated and provided more values from RFID technology.
Yet, a question remains: Has the RFID market become more mature during the course of time?
(*) Industrial Surveys, Global Pharmaceuticals, reportSURE, December 2004).
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Labels: epcglobal, reader, rfid, scm, tag, technology
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Guidelines for Securing RFID Systems
Friday, April 27, 2007
Like any information technology (IT), radio frequency identification (RFID) presents security and privacy risks that must be carefully mitigated through management, operational, and technical controls in order to realize the numerous benefits the technology has to offer.
When practitioners adhere to sound security engineering principles, RFID technology can help a wide range of organizations and individuals realize substantial productivity gains and efficiencies. These organizations and individuals include hospitals and patients, retailers and customers, and manufacturers and distributors throughout the supply chain.
RFID is a form of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology that uses electric or magnetic fields at radio frequencies to transmit information. An RFID system can be used to identify many types of objects, such as manufactured goods, animals, and people. Each object that needs to be identified has a small object known as an RFID tag affixed to it or embedded within it.
The tag has a unique identifier and may optionally hold additional information about the object. Devices known as RFID readers wirelessly communicate with the tags to identify the item connected to each tag and possibly read or update additional information stored on the tag. This communication can occur without optical line of sight and over greater distances than other AIDC technologies. RFID technologies support a wide range of applications—everything from asset management and tracking to access control and automated payment.
Every RFID system includes a radio frequency (RF) subsystem, which is composed of tags and readers. In many RFID systems, the RF subsystem is supported by an enterprise subsystem that is composed of middleware, analytic systems, and networking services. RFID systems that share information across organizational boundaries, such as supply chain applications, also have an inter-enterprise subsystem.
Each RFID system has different components and customizations so that it can support a particular business process for an organization; as a result, the security risks for RFID systems and the controls available to address them are highly varied. The enterprise and inter-enterprise subsystems involve common IT components such as servers, databases, and networks and therefore can benefit from typical IT security controls for those components.
Source: Karygiannis, T., Eydt, B., et al. (2007). Guidelines for Securing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems. Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Special Publication 800-98.
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When practitioners adhere to sound security engineering principles, RFID technology can help a wide range of organizations and individuals realize substantial productivity gains and efficiencies. These organizations and individuals include hospitals and patients, retailers and customers, and manufacturers and distributors throughout the supply chain.
RFID is a form of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology that uses electric or magnetic fields at radio frequencies to transmit information. An RFID system can be used to identify many types of objects, such as manufactured goods, animals, and people. Each object that needs to be identified has a small object known as an RFID tag affixed to it or embedded within it.
The tag has a unique identifier and may optionally hold additional information about the object. Devices known as RFID readers wirelessly communicate with the tags to identify the item connected to each tag and possibly read or update additional information stored on the tag. This communication can occur without optical line of sight and over greater distances than other AIDC technologies. RFID technologies support a wide range of applications—everything from asset management and tracking to access control and automated payment.
Every RFID system includes a radio frequency (RF) subsystem, which is composed of tags and readers. In many RFID systems, the RF subsystem is supported by an enterprise subsystem that is composed of middleware, analytic systems, and networking services. RFID systems that share information across organizational boundaries, such as supply chain applications, also have an inter-enterprise subsystem.
Each RFID system has different components and customizations so that it can support a particular business process for an organization; as a result, the security risks for RFID systems and the controls available to address them are highly varied. The enterprise and inter-enterprise subsystems involve common IT components such as servers, databases, and networks and therefore can benefit from typical IT security controls for those components.
Source: Karygiannis, T., Eydt, B., et al. (2007). Guidelines for Securing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems. Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Special Publication 800-98.
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Labels: business, payment, privacy, rfid, scm, security, tag, technology, tracking
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Press Release: Confidex Ironside Gen2 RFID tag completed certification testing in Aerospace Industry
Monday, March 26, 2007
Edited Press Release.
Nokia, Finland - March 26, 2007 – Confidex, a company with expertise in RFID design, manufacturing and engineering, and the Sun Microsystems APT/RFID Test Lab in Longmont, Colorado, today announced that the Confidex Ironside passive UHR RFID Tag has passed the testing requirements for the Aerospace Standard AS5678 specification.
This patent pending tag solution by Confidex, currently in use supporting a number of industrial on-metal applications around the globe, is now available for use in the Aerospace industry.
"The Confidex Ironside Tags have passed all the tests for environmental extremes such as temperature, shock, vibration, pressure, altitude and others as outlined in the AS5678 specification." Said Brian McGrane, Business Development Manager for the Sun Microsystems APT/RFID test lab.
"We are pleased to work with Confidex as they deliver unique tagging solutions that have proven to survive the rigorous aerospace testing requirements we put them through in our lab." "The RFID market has several products offered for on-metal use. With Ironside we want to put a benchmark to the market for an industrial tag that is truly designed for heavy industrial use. The compact IP 68 housing combined with uncompromised read distance of 15 feet helps to find a higher return on RFID investment for on-metal applications", comments Jarkko Miettinen, VP Business Development at Confidex.
In the aerospace industry, passive UHF RFID brings an attractive technology to securely identify metal parts or transit items in an industry known for its extreme environmental conditions and mechanical durability requirements. In addition to Aerospace applications, Ironside's size and performance has received high interest in industrial tracking applications such as transportation and logistics. The product has also been successfully used to identify rail carts, trucks and reusable transit items in motion from arctic to subtropical regions.
For More Information contact:
Jarkko Miettinen
Confidex
+358 3 341 5927
Jarkko.Miettinen@confidex.fi
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Nokia, Finland - March 26, 2007 – Confidex, a company with expertise in RFID design, manufacturing and engineering, and the Sun Microsystems APT/RFID Test Lab in Longmont, Colorado, today announced that the Confidex Ironside passive UHR RFID Tag has passed the testing requirements for the Aerospace Standard AS5678 specification.
This patent pending tag solution by Confidex, currently in use supporting a number of industrial on-metal applications around the globe, is now available for use in the Aerospace industry.
"The Confidex Ironside Tags have passed all the tests for environmental extremes such as temperature, shock, vibration, pressure, altitude and others as outlined in the AS5678 specification." Said Brian McGrane, Business Development Manager for the Sun Microsystems APT/RFID test lab."We are pleased to work with Confidex as they deliver unique tagging solutions that have proven to survive the rigorous aerospace testing requirements we put them through in our lab." "The RFID market has several products offered for on-metal use. With Ironside we want to put a benchmark to the market for an industrial tag that is truly designed for heavy industrial use. The compact IP 68 housing combined with uncompromised read distance of 15 feet helps to find a higher return on RFID investment for on-metal applications", comments Jarkko Miettinen, VP Business Development at Confidex.
In the aerospace industry, passive UHF RFID brings an attractive technology to securely identify metal parts or transit items in an industry known for its extreme environmental conditions and mechanical durability requirements. In addition to Aerospace applications, Ironside's size and performance has received high interest in industrial tracking applications such as transportation and logistics. The product has also been successfully used to identify rail carts, trucks and reusable transit items in motion from arctic to subtropical regions.
For More Information contact:
Jarkko Miettinen
Confidex
+358 3 341 5927
Jarkko.Miettinen@confidex.fi
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: business, confidex, ironside, rfid, tag, technology, tracking
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Opinion: Revitalize RFID Industry
Monday, February 19, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
This is the time of the year when we start reading and listening to RFID technology yearly forecasts and slogans such as 1.71 billion tags will be sold, the total RFID market will be $4.96 billion, RFID will change everyday life, RFID is here to stay, 5-cent RFID tag has arrived, etc. The similar things we heard last year, or probably for the past several years, from those who try to sell reports and events in a quiet month.
Don't get me wrong – I applaud the work of credible people and organisations to disseminate knowledge around RFID technology and promote RFID business - but we need to understand that any change or transformation in the real world is evolutionary. There is no such thing as RFID revolution or RFID magic.
Forecasts are probably good to give a sense of direction and motivation, but the real change or transformation lies in wise actions. RFID players who are not aware of this reality have tasted some loss or about to find out the harsh reality of the RFID industry. VeriChip has had a slow sales and its stock has been struggling since its initial public offering. U.S. Homeland Security is abandoning the plans for using RFID tags. EPCglobal Gen 2 UHF tag has failed to meet its 5-cent tag vision. Wal-Mart is yet to succeed in reducing labour and inventory costs using RFID technology.RFID technology is now at the Slope of Enlightenment in the sense of Gartner's Hype Cycle. RFID community has just started the process of understanding the benefits of practical RFID applications. There is a huge need to bridge RFID knowledge gap and find the right partners for the right RFID projects and applications, particularly in Asia. The emerging markets in Asia, such as Indonesia, have started to show some active signs and enthusiasms.
In the beginning of the new year, I would like to use the opportunity to thank all the RFID Asia Community Members for your continuous support and active participation.
Have a Wireless and Prosperous Lunar New Year.
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Labels: business, epcglobal, indonesia, rfid, security, tag, technology
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Digestible RFID Tag: an Alternative for Your Internal Body Monitoring
Thursday, February 15, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
Healthcare RFID applications have often triggered mixed reactions due to their strong links with ethical issues, particularly the plausible intrusive applications of the technology for people. One of such applications is the implantable RFID tags on human beings.
How about digestible RFID tags?
The potential of digestible RFID tags to obtain internal physiological information, such as reaction to medicine ingestion and absorption into body can be useful. Different from some methods, such as physical body probing, body imaging, biological sample collection and ingestible cameras, the use of digestible RFID tags is expected to accurately monitor a patient's ingestion and digestion of medicine, without the use of permanently embedded equipment or cost prohibitive RFID solutions.
Regarding the digestible RFID tags, Eastman Kodak Company has filed two patent applications for monitoring ingestion of medicine comprises forming a digestible RFID tag.
More info on the patent applications is available at:
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF
&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&p=1
&S1=20070008112&OS=20070008112&RS=20070008112
and
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1
&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01
&s1=20070008113&OS=20070008113&RS=20070008113
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Labels: healthcare, rfid, tag, technology
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Press Release: RFID Field Trial in Japan for Cosmetics
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Mitsukoshi, Ltd., Shiseido Company, Ltd, and Fujitsu Limited today announced that as part of a project sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, the companies will jointly implement a "futuristic department store" field trial in Japan from January 26 to February 12 to test the expanded use of RFID tags in department stores. For the first time in Japan, RFID tags will be used in a field trial for cosmetics. The field trial is part of a METI-sponsored project commissioned to the Japan Department Stores Association, known as the 2007 Field Trial for Improving Distribution and Logistics Efficiency through the Use of Electronic Tags.
RFID tags have been used in the past at department stores in Japan for inventory control of women's shoes and apparel, but this test is the first time such tags will be affixed to cosmetics.
The field trial will be held at Shiseido counters on the first floor of the Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store, and Sakae (Nagoya) branch of Mitsukoshi department store, a major department store in Japan. RFID tags will be affixed to Shiseido's Clé de Peau Beauté products (a prestige brand), product testers and some samples. A multi-sample display trial will enable customers to view detailed product information on a touch-screen terminal by waving a tagged product over a RFID tag reader. Other trials will be conducted for such aspects as customer consultation, product assortment, and distribution, with the purpose to evaluate the efficiency in using RFID tags in supply chain management of cosmetics, the impact on increasing purchase intent when the customers themselves handle products with RFID tags, and effect on purchasing related products.
Overview of the field trial
Trial Period:
Mitsukoshi Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store: January 26 to February 11, 2007
Mitsukoshi Sakae (Nagoya) branch: January 30 to February 12, 2007
Sites:
Shiseido and Clé de Peau Beauté counters on the first floor of Mitsukoshi department store's Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store, and the Shiseido counter of the Sakae (Nagoya) branch.
Field trial details
The following five aspects will be tested as part of the "futuristic department store" trial of the Field Trial for Improving Distribution and Logistics Efficiency through the Use of Electronic Tags, sponsored by METI.
1. Multi-sample display (skincare products)
Seven types of product testers for skincare (lotions, serums, etc.) will be affixed with RFID tags. Customers can wave the tagged products over an electronic tag reader to view detailed product information on a touch-screen terminal. (Site: Shiseido counter)
2. Tester demand forecasting system (makeup products)
Tester stands (receptacles for holding the tester containers) for makeup products (lipsticks, mascaras, etc.) will be embedded with RFID tag readers, so that the number of times that customers sample each tagged makeup tester (49 items) can be counted. This will make it possible to accumulate informative marketing data, such as by ranking which products customers showed most interest in. (Site: Shiseido counter)
3. e-Counseling
Cosmetics counter sales staff will have tablet PCs to view a customer's counseling and purchasing history. The tablet PCs will be equipped with tag readers, which can be used to register product purchases (10 items) and sample distributions (7 types of samples) for a customer by waving the products over the tablet PC, thereby updating the customer's history. 50 customers will be included in this trial. (Site: Clé de Peau Beauté counter)
4. Source tagging/SCM system
Shiseido will affix RFID tags to products (10 items) at its stock center, to be used for packing-list checking and in-store inventory. (Sites: Shiseido Stock Center in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, and Clé de Peau Beauté)
5. RFID tags @ home
As it is anticipated that in the future in some instances some customers may wish to take home products with RFID tags attached to view detailed product information at their leisure while at home, home uses for RFID tags will also be tested. In the test, virtual home environments equipped with PCs and tag readers will be set up in the stores and 50 customers will gather product information from tagged samples. (Site: In-store virtual home environment)
The following two supportive trials will also be held during the field trial period:
A. Cosmetic information
"Cosmetic Information" terminals with touch-screen displays and RFID tag readers will be installed. Customers will be able to view word-of-mouth information about the products (31 products at the Ginza store, 41 products at the Sakae store) from other customers, by waving tagged testers over the tag readers.
*As the purpose of this trial is to create the impression of an “electronic concierge” that offers information on the entire cosmetics floor, for this test only, RFID tags will be affixed on products from other companies besides Shiseido's Clé de Peau Beauté line.(Site: Near the entrance of the cosmetics floor)
B. Virtual Real-Time Makeup System
A kiosk with a camera, display, and RFID tag reader will be installed that will enable customers to view on the display how particular products would look on their face ("virtual real-time makeup") by waving tagged cosmetic products such as lipsticks or eyeshadows (19 items) over the tag reader. (Site: Shiseido counter)
*Mitsukoshi's Sakae store will participate in the aforementioned trials "1", "5", and “A“only.
Anticipated effect of the field trial:
• Provide more detailed product information to customers and enhance customer service to increase customer satisfaction, and promote sales and purchase of related products
• Improve efficiency of inventory control and increase productivity by using retail space effectively
• Reinforce product line through deeper analysis of products
• Raise consumer awareness of RFID tags
Corporations participating in or supporting the field trial:
Mitsukoshi, Ltd.:
Overall coordinator of field trial.
Shiseido Company, Ltd.:
Provides Clé de Peau Beauté products, testers, samples and trial sites for aforementioned trials "1" through "5". Also provides the Virtual Real-Time Makeup System in aforementioned trial "B".
Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Shikoku Systems Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd., and PFU Limited:
Developed the system and provides devices for the aforementioned aspects "1" through "5", provides "Cosmetic Information" touch-screen terminals, and conducts overall hypothesis testing for the field trial.
Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.:
Provides RFID tags for the entire field trial.
Central Engineering Co., Ltd.:
Provides RFID tag readers for aforementioned trial "2", Tester Demand Forecasting System.
i style Inc.:
Provides "Cosmetic Information" content in aforementioned supportive trial "A".
Send your comments and discuss.
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RFID tags have been used in the past at department stores in Japan for inventory control of women's shoes and apparel, but this test is the first time such tags will be affixed to cosmetics.
The field trial will be held at Shiseido counters on the first floor of the Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store, and Sakae (Nagoya) branch of Mitsukoshi department store, a major department store in Japan. RFID tags will be affixed to Shiseido's Clé de Peau Beauté products (a prestige brand), product testers and some samples. A multi-sample display trial will enable customers to view detailed product information on a touch-screen terminal by waving a tagged product over a RFID tag reader. Other trials will be conducted for such aspects as customer consultation, product assortment, and distribution, with the purpose to evaluate the efficiency in using RFID tags in supply chain management of cosmetics, the impact on increasing purchase intent when the customers themselves handle products with RFID tags, and effect on purchasing related products.
Overview of the field trial
Trial Period:
Mitsukoshi Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store: January 26 to February 11, 2007
Mitsukoshi Sakae (Nagoya) branch: January 30 to February 12, 2007
Sites:
Shiseido and Clé de Peau Beauté counters on the first floor of Mitsukoshi department store's Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store, and the Shiseido counter of the Sakae (Nagoya) branch.
Field trial details
The following five aspects will be tested as part of the "futuristic department store" trial of the Field Trial for Improving Distribution and Logistics Efficiency through the Use of Electronic Tags, sponsored by METI.
1. Multi-sample display (skincare products)
Seven types of product testers for skincare (lotions, serums, etc.) will be affixed with RFID tags. Customers can wave the tagged products over an electronic tag reader to view detailed product information on a touch-screen terminal. (Site: Shiseido counter)
2. Tester demand forecasting system (makeup products)
Tester stands (receptacles for holding the tester containers) for makeup products (lipsticks, mascaras, etc.) will be embedded with RFID tag readers, so that the number of times that customers sample each tagged makeup tester (49 items) can be counted. This will make it possible to accumulate informative marketing data, such as by ranking which products customers showed most interest in. (Site: Shiseido counter)
3. e-Counseling
Cosmetics counter sales staff will have tablet PCs to view a customer's counseling and purchasing history. The tablet PCs will be equipped with tag readers, which can be used to register product purchases (10 items) and sample distributions (7 types of samples) for a customer by waving the products over the tablet PC, thereby updating the customer's history. 50 customers will be included in this trial. (Site: Clé de Peau Beauté counter)
4. Source tagging/SCM system
Shiseido will affix RFID tags to products (10 items) at its stock center, to be used for packing-list checking and in-store inventory. (Sites: Shiseido Stock Center in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, and Clé de Peau Beauté)
5. RFID tags @ home
As it is anticipated that in the future in some instances some customers may wish to take home products with RFID tags attached to view detailed product information at their leisure while at home, home uses for RFID tags will also be tested. In the test, virtual home environments equipped with PCs and tag readers will be set up in the stores and 50 customers will gather product information from tagged samples. (Site: In-store virtual home environment)
The following two supportive trials will also be held during the field trial period:
A. Cosmetic information
"Cosmetic Information" terminals with touch-screen displays and RFID tag readers will be installed. Customers will be able to view word-of-mouth information about the products (31 products at the Ginza store, 41 products at the Sakae store) from other customers, by waving tagged testers over the tag readers.
*As the purpose of this trial is to create the impression of an “electronic concierge” that offers information on the entire cosmetics floor, for this test only, RFID tags will be affixed on products from other companies besides Shiseido's Clé de Peau Beauté line.(Site: Near the entrance of the cosmetics floor)
B. Virtual Real-Time Makeup System
A kiosk with a camera, display, and RFID tag reader will be installed that will enable customers to view on the display how particular products would look on their face ("virtual real-time makeup") by waving tagged cosmetic products such as lipsticks or eyeshadows (19 items) over the tag reader. (Site: Shiseido counter)
*Mitsukoshi's Sakae store will participate in the aforementioned trials "1", "5", and “A“only.
Anticipated effect of the field trial:
• Provide more detailed product information to customers and enhance customer service to increase customer satisfaction, and promote sales and purchase of related products
• Improve efficiency of inventory control and increase productivity by using retail space effectively
• Reinforce product line through deeper analysis of products
• Raise consumer awareness of RFID tags
Corporations participating in or supporting the field trial:
Mitsukoshi, Ltd.:
Overall coordinator of field trial.
Shiseido Company, Ltd.:
Provides Clé de Peau Beauté products, testers, samples and trial sites for aforementioned trials "1" through "5". Also provides the Virtual Real-Time Makeup System in aforementioned trial "B".
Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Shikoku Systems Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd., and PFU Limited:
Developed the system and provides devices for the aforementioned aspects "1" through "5", provides "Cosmetic Information" touch-screen terminals, and conducts overall hypothesis testing for the field trial.
Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.:
Provides RFID tags for the entire field trial.
Central Engineering Co., Ltd.:
Provides RFID tag readers for aforementioned trial "2", Tester Demand Forecasting System.
i style Inc.:
Provides "Cosmetic Information" content in aforementioned supportive trial "A".
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: japan, project, reader, rfid, scm, tag, technology, trial
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Partnership Invitation for Mobile RFID 2.0 Project
Friday, January 19, 2007
During the RFID Asia Meeting in Jakarta last December 2006, we presented the Mobile RFID 2.0 project to the RFID community for the first time.
Utilising mobile and RFID technologies, we have outlined several guidelines and concepts that characterize the Mobile RFID 2.0 ubiquitous network architecture. One of the concepts, the blur distinction between RFID tags and readers, suggests for RFID applications that require logical bond or connection among physical objects.
Interestingly, a European semiconductor manufacturer, EM Microelectronic, has also started to look into some RFID applications beyond traditional transportation, access control and animal identification markets. In their projects, physical objects are logically paired together using passive RFID communication technology. The company further illustrates the benefits of RFID pairing applications through smart refills and automatic identification of wireless device pairs.
After the public presentation, we have received some interesting feedbacks from the RFID community that sum up the positive interests and responses for Mobile RFID 2.0. Based on the feedbacks received from the RFID community, RFID Asia has envisioned the development of Mobile RFID 2.0 open platform and interoperable Mobile RFID 2.0 open standards and protocol.
Prospective partners interested to participate in the Mobile RFID 2.0 project are invited to contact RFID Asia for further information.
Further Info
Adi Tedjasaputra
PT. RFID Centre Asia
Singapore Representative Office
9 Temasek Blvd
#31-02 Suntec Tower Two
Singapore 038989
E-mail: firstname.lastname@rfidAsia.org
firstname: adi
lastname: tedjasaputra
Send your comments and discuss.
Read more »
Utilising mobile and RFID technologies, we have outlined several guidelines and concepts that characterize the Mobile RFID 2.0 ubiquitous network architecture. One of the concepts, the blur distinction between RFID tags and readers, suggests for RFID applications that require logical bond or connection among physical objects.
Interestingly, a European semiconductor manufacturer, EM Microelectronic, has also started to look into some RFID applications beyond traditional transportation, access control and animal identification markets. In their projects, physical objects are logically paired together using passive RFID communication technology. The company further illustrates the benefits of RFID pairing applications through smart refills and automatic identification of wireless device pairs.
After the public presentation, we have received some interesting feedbacks from the RFID community that sum up the positive interests and responses for Mobile RFID 2.0. Based on the feedbacks received from the RFID community, RFID Asia has envisioned the development of Mobile RFID 2.0 open platform and interoperable Mobile RFID 2.0 open standards and protocol.
Prospective partners interested to participate in the Mobile RFID 2.0 project are invited to contact RFID Asia for further information.
Further Info
Adi Tedjasaputra
PT. RFID Centre Asia
Singapore Representative Office
9 Temasek Blvd
#31-02 Suntec Tower Two
Singapore 038989
E-mail: firstname.lastname@rfidAsia.org
firstname: adi
lastname: tedjasaputra
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: 2.0, mobile, partnership, project, rfid, singapore, tag, technology
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More Than 5 Cents
Friday, January 12, 2007
by Adi Tedjasaputra
The aggressive marketing campaign for RFID standards led by EPCglobal has been successful. At least, many who have heard about RFID, most likely have also heard about Electronic Product Code (EPC), EPCglobal standards or EPCglobal. Some even falsely identify RFID with EPC. There is no doubt that the EPC branding is in the mind of many people, for better or for worse.
5-Cent RFID Tags
Ideally, a marketing power should come with a responsibility to fulfil promises advertised in the marketing campaign. Unfortunately, in the real world, promises do not always come true in time and people often get disappointed, and sometimes confused and frustrated.
How many times have you heard or read people talk about 5-cent RFID tags?
Here, instead of discussing whether the 5-cent tag is a myth or a feasible vision, it is necessary to point out that 5-cent price target was originally introduced by Sanjay Sarma and his colleagues, who are also involved in the development of EPC. Riding the 5-cent buzz, EPC, a unique numbering scheme endorsed by EPCglobal, has gained popularity in the recent years, at the expense of RFID technology and industry in general.
We quickly determined that if RFID tags were ever going to have a shot at being widely used, a 5-cent price target was important for both psychological and commercial reasons. In return, though, the volumes would have to be very high—for example, more than 5 billion bar codes are scanned daily today. The problem with RFID tags at the time was that the industry was "stuck" in a higher-margin, lower-volume mind-set. At the Auto-ID Center, we set about flipping it to a high-volume, low-margin approach. (Integrating RFID, Sanjay Sarma, ACM Queue vol. 2, no. 7 - October 2004)
There is no doubt when Sanja Sarma and his colleagues envisioned 5-cent RFID tags, they were comparing RFID tags with barcode labels and referring only to retail supply chain item tagging, instead of the general RFID tags and applications.
Nevertheless, when the news of 5-cent RFID tags was published in the media, many became excited and over-enthusiastic. Some unrealistic expectations started to be unfolded. Many people easily forget or ignore the underlying assumption that an initial large volume purchase is necessary to achieve the 5-cent RFID tag vision.
Is Gen 2 the Silver Bullet?
Realising the shortcomings of the Class 0 and Class 1 UHF Air Interface Protocol Standard, EPCglobal began its work on the second generation of UHF air interface protocol mostly known as Gen 2. The standard was later ratified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) last year.
When EPCglobal later realised that the strengths of UHF RFID technology comes with its weaknesses and limitations, the organization started to look into HF RFID technology and formed HF Air Interface Working Group. The Working Group currently works toward the extension of Gen 2 into HF band.
The less known facts are actually the cost for involvement in the EPCglobal and the cost of adopting EPCglobal standards. If you are an end user, you have to pay at least US$750 (EPCglobal North America) for the initial subscription fee, in addition to other fees. Solution providers will have to pay more. The subscription fee schedule for companies outside the United States is less transparent, but since EPCglobal is a joint-venture between GS1 and GS1 US, one may expect similar fees to be collected as well.
Beside the high organisational and infrastructure costs, the design of current Gen 2 protocol standard ironically does not reflect any breakthrough towards the vision of 5-cent RFID tags, especially with added security feature extensions for RFID Supply Chain item-level tagging that will increase the total tag manufacturing cost.
The result of unrealistic expectations is predictable: disappointment. RFID vendors will fail to meet unrealistic expectations already generated by aggressive and unrealistic marketing campaign, including the demand for 5-cent tags. RFID technology and industry will get more bad press, in addition to the current opposition from already flourishing privacy groups. Wait-and-see attitude towards RFID implementations will become more common among potential RFID adopters, including the ones outside the retail supply chain industry. The expectation of large volume purchase that can decrease general RFID tag price will happen in a very slow pace, along with various setbacks.
Fortunately, there are hundreds of RFID applications that are independent from the need to adopt EPCglobal standards. These RFID applications are primarily unrelated to the supply chain industry. Nevertheless, we still urgently need a healthy dosage of marketing campaign that is balanced with rational and realistic expectations and actions to move beyond the current hype. We need to prevent one drop of indigo to stain the whole cauldron of milk (*).
(*) "One drop of indigo stains the whole cauldron of milk" is an Indonesian proverb that means one minor ill behaviour can ruin the whole good things or efforts.
Send your comments and discuss.
Labels: 2.0, epc, epcglobal, iso, privacy, rfid, scm, security, tag, technology
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RFID Tag Attachments
Monday, December 18, 2006
by Adi Tedjasaputra
Last week, the article the Art and Science of RFID Tagging introduced several factors that can influence the performance of air interface UHF RFID passive tags and the RFID tagging positions, i.e. R-Spot, L-Spot and D-Spot.
This week, we will continue the theme of RFID tagging and introduce three different kinds of RFID tags based on their attachment with identified objects, i.e. attachable, implantable and insertion tags. Depending on their nature of use, these tags are either reusable or disposable. Understanding the basic design of different RFID tag attachments can help the evaluation of different RFID tags available in the market for specific purposes or applications.
More than eighty five percent of the RFID tags available in the market are attachable tags. Attachable tags are popular due the broad and diverse RFID applications that require flexible and different types of attachments. The tags are designed to be attached on the surface of identified objects with permanent, semi-permanent or temporary attachment means. The most popular form of attachable tags is pressure-sensitive label, commonly known as smart label.
Implantable tags or embedded tags are usually aimed for permanent or long-term implantation, such as animal traceability and machine readable travel documents (MRTD). The ultimate benefit of implantable tags is the unity between the tags and their identified objects. Beside some ethical issues on human RFID tagging, the usage problems on human or animal implants may be tissue irritation and tissue migration problems.
Insertion tags, on the other hand, are designed to have little contact or no contact with identified objects. The main purpose of the tags is to enable identification for certain objects without specific attachment process and without tampering the identified objects, thus preserving the original state of the objects. Most of the inser