Although HF RFID air-interface protocols operate at a single global frequency, a number of factors hinder the ability of HF tags and readers to achieve interoperability.
By John Schroeter
Feb. 12, 2007—While the many high-frequency (HF) RFID air-interface protocols enjoy global operation at a single frequency (13.56 MHz), the problem is that none of them are compatible, let alone interoperable. These protocols include ISO 14443A, ISO 14443B, ISO 15693, ISO 18000-3 Mode 2 and EPCglobal HF Class 1. And, as one might expect, each has its own data structures, requires infrastructures that are incompatible, and often operates on readers with nonstandard features and functionality. This results in a proprietary platform rather than a standards-based model. Continue reading HF Protocols’ Distant Dream
During a recent webinar, the retailer’s RFID solutions architect explained his company’s criteria for successful item-level tagging.
By Mary Catherine O’Connor
Mar. 30, 2006—Speaking yesterday to an audience attending RFID Journal’s webinar entitled “Item-Level Tagging Using UHF Gen 2, Richard Ulrich, solutions architect on Wal-Mart Stores’s RFID strategy team, laid out a number of requirements his company has identified as being crucial to the success of item-level tagging. There is a need for low-cost tags and infrastructure that benefit from economies of scale, he said, and a tag used to identify goods at the item level must have a narrow read range to ensure that interrogators built into point-of-sale terminals read only those tags on items being purchased. At the same time, tags on stacked items must be readable so goods sitting on shelves can be read simultaneously. Continue reading Wal-Mart Seeks UHF for Item-Level
Andrew Nathanson, of the market research firm Venture Development Corp., says the pharmaceutical industry will increasingly adopt hybrid HF-UHF RFID solutions over the next five years, followed by near-field UHF technology.
By Claire Swedberg
Oct. 3, 2006
The pharmaceutical industry will migrate toward hybrid HF-UHF RFID solutions for the medication supply chain in the next five years, then shift to near-field UHF technology, according to Andrew Nathanson, practice director for AIDC and RFID technologies at market research firm Venture Development Corp. Nathanson addressed RFID’s future for the pharmaceutical industry at the RFID Journal Industry Summits conference on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Continue reading A Shift to UHF Near-Field Predicted for Pharma
End users need a standard for high-frequency EPC tags, and EPCglobal is close to delivering it.
Jan. 22, 2007
Toward the end of this month, EPCglobal’s Hardware Action Group (HAG), which helps develop Electronic Product Code (EPC) standards, will meet in Sydney to discuss, among other things, a consensus proposal for a high-frequency air-interface protocol. The goal is to have a ratified HF EPC standard by the middle of the year. I hope EPCglobal will move forward and meet this timeline, and that the vendor community will support the standard by creating tags and interrogators based on the protocol. Continue reading Moving Forward on an HF EPC Standard
The RFID Alliance Lab tested four commercially available EPC Gen 1 UHF tags and found that each had limitations. By Daniel Deavours
Many companies are anticipating the time when they will tag unique items, but they are not sure about the performance of UHF tags that conform to Electronic Product Code specifications. One such company in the Kansas City area asked the RFID Alliance Lab, a not-for-profit facility, to test the tagging of cell phones. Our tests revealed some startlingly large differences in performance among the tags, with no clear winners or losers. The tag’s size, read distance and orientation with the interrogator all affect performance. (For a discussion on whether HF is a better technology for item-level tagging, see sidebar at end of article.) Continue reading Are Item-Level Tags Up to the Job?
Leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) Implements RFID to Meet Department of Defense Mandate and Maximize Visibility and Efficiency
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 27 / — Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), The Enterprise Mobility Company(TM) and Tacit Solutions, Inc., a Symbol Solution Partner, today announced that AmeriQual Group, LLC, a leader in the production, packaging, assembly and distribution of shelf-stable food products, has deployed Symbol mobile computers, RFID, and wireless technology to track cases and pallets of MREs as they move from packaging through delivery. As the largest supplier of MREs to the United States Department of Defense (DoD), AmeriQual plans to ship more than one million cases by the end of 2006 using the RFID solution.
Following a contract win from the DoD, AmeriQual began working with Tacit Solutions, a systems integrator specializing in developing turnkey mobile data collection solutions, to implement an end-to-end system that would meet the DoD’s specified RFID requirements. Tacit Solutions provided project management, hardware selection and application development for the AmeriQual solution that would help meet the DoD mandate for the top 500 suppliers to tag their goods with passive UHF RFID tags at case and pallet level.
“Tacit was able to implement the Symbol RFID solution and help us achieve compliance seamlessly, without interfering with the existing business processes and systems we have in place,” said Ben Klipsch, AmeriQual’s assistant general manager and director of operations. “Symbol’s high- performance RFID technology offers increased inventory control and visibility, and allows faster decision-making at the point of data capture.”
AmeriQual deployed Symbol MC9000-G RFID mobile computers along with Symbol MC9060-G mobile computers, XR400 RFID fixed readers and the WS2000 wireless switch to track and trace cases and pallets tagged with RFID.
“Using RFID to provide secure, reliable and immediate access to business- critical information can help improve business operations and increase productivity,” said Anthony Bartolo, vice president and general manager of Symbol’s Wireless Infrastructure and RFID Divisions. “Through its mandate, the DoD has made clear that they recognize the value of the speed, reliability and efficiency improvements generated by RFID, as well as the increased accuracy and lower labor costs that result.”
“In a short timeframe we were able to deploy a fully functioning RFID solution that met all requirements and exceeded expectations,” said Dan Howell, president of Tacit Solutions. “This high-performance RFID solution also allowed AmeriQual to improve data integrity and efficiency with real-time access to inventory information.”
For more information on Symbol’s RFID product offerings visit: http://www.symbol.com/rfid.
About Symbol Technologies Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company(TM), is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture, move and manage information in real time to and from the point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio frequency identification technology, mobile computing platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and world-class services programs. Symbol enterprise mobility products and solutions are proven to increase workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the world’s leading companies. More information is available at http://www.symbol.com/.
For Symbol Technologies:
Source: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Christine Kearney of Symbol Technologies, Inc., +1-631-738-4722, christine.kearney@symbol.com
Joey Marquart EdelmanPublic Relations for Symbol Technologies, +1-212-704-8133, joey.marquart@edelman.com
Lori Chaitman or Nancy Coco +1-631-738-5050 lori.chaitman@symbol.com
Shirley Schroedl +1-631-738-4823 shirley.schroedl@symbol.com all of Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Company Information: Name: Symbol Technologies, Inc. Address: 1 Symbol Plaza City: Holtsville State: NY ZIP: 11742 Country: USA Phone: 866-416-8545 FAX: 631-738-4645 http://www.symbol.com
An RFID system set up correctly can result in a “seamless” tracking of goods from one area to another. The technology can also cut down on human errors that result when workers forget to sign out tools or scan a bundle of goods — such as utility poles — as they leave a warehouse. Continue reading Bye-Bye Bar Codes, Hello RFID
A growing number of companies are jumping into the market with solutions that filter RFID data and pass it to back-end systems. Here’s a sampling of the major players in the different market segments. By Bob Violino
ERP Vendors Oracle: Early this year, Oracle announced a new version of its Oracle Warehouse Management software, which is designed to help companies comply with the tagging mandates from Wal-Mart and the U.S. Department of Defense. This new version will include built-in integration with the middleware component in the Oracle Application Server. The company will release the software by midyear; pricing has not been set.
SAP:In January, the German software giant introduced an RFID package that includes middleware that integrates RFID-generated data with SAP’s enterprise resource planning applications. Software “connectors” will be offered for SAP R/3 (version 4.6c or higher) and mySAP ERP. The company declined to disclose pricing, other than to say the package is priced per site (warehouse, distribution center, retail store and so on).
Third-Party Vendors GlobeRanger: Launched in July 2002, GlobeRanger’s iMotion Edgeware Platform was designed to link mobile devices and RFID readers to back-end systems. iMotion aims to make it easier to develop and deploy applications by enabling companies to design their own workflow rules. Pricing is set by the company’s distributors.
OATSystems: This startup offers Senseware, an RFID software suite that includes the Senseware Platform, which collects data from RFID readers, converts it into intelligent business objects and integrates it into warehouse management, transportation management and other applications. The software suite is being used by Gillette in its Fort Devens trial (see “Gillette Sharpens Its Edge,” page 12). Pricing is based on the functionality required.
Application Vendors Manhattan Associates: Manhattan unveiled middleware to link RFID readers to its PkMS warehouse management system in January 2003. The software has been improved to work with third-party supply chain applications. The company declines to disclose pricing but says it has several models.
RedPrairie: In December, supply chain applications vendor RedPrairie debuted RFID Accelerator, which uses software agents to integrate RFID data with ERP, legacy-host and supply chain execution systems from different vendors. A typical implementation costs $250,000 to $500,000, depending on the size of the project.
Large Integrators Accenture: The consulting and systems integration firm provides RFID-to-ERP integration as part of a suite of services involving RFID. It has developed a Silent Commerce platform for linking readers to the back end and enabling disparate systems to share data. Pricing is based on the complexity of the project.
IBM: As part of its integrated technical services offering, IBM provides RFID-to-ERP integration. Most solutions are based on the company’s robust WebSphere middleware. Costs vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project.
Boutique Integrators Mobilexe: This is one of a growing number of smaller supply chain systems integrators that have added RFID integration services. The cost of a typical RFID project ranges from $30,000 to $100,000 per site, plus an initial evalution fee of $7,000 to $10,000.
Tacit Solutions: Tacit has been integrating wireless technologies and auto-ID systems for 15 years. It provides legacy-host interfacing, RFID middleware, software, hardware and installation services for manufacturing and supply chain applications. Pricing depends on the scope of the project.
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