Europes Perspective on Radio Frequency IDentification

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Europes Perspective on Radio Frequency
IDentification
Technical Press Briefing on RFID, 6th March 2006
Gérald SANTUCCI Head of Unit Information
Society and Media Directorate-General ICT for
Enterprise Networking
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AGENDA

• Real space and Cyberspace
• What RFID is - components of an RFID system
• RFID How it works
• The promise of RFID Examples of current
  applications
• Global status on RFID
• Role of the European Commission
• European Commissions roadmap on RFID

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Real- and Cyber-space
Cyber Space
RFID
Bar code
Manually data input
Internet going beyond Cyberspace into real space
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Radio Frequency Identification

• Is an automatic way to collect information or
  data on
• Products
• Places
• Times
• Transactions
• Enables identification performed in milliseconds
• No line of sight required
• Contactless
• Works in a harsh environment
• Uses ID tags that can
• Store unique ID information
• Read and write data to the tag
• Maintain historical information

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Components of an RFID System

• Tag
• Chip contains information about the item to
  which it is attached
• Antenna transmits information from chip to
  reader using radio waves
• Tags can be passive (no onboard power source),
  semi-passive (have batteries allowing the tag to
  perform certain functions), or active (have
  onboard power to initiate communication)
• Reader
• Uses its own antenna to communicate with the tag
• Mobile (handheld devices that scan pallets,
  cases, etc.) or stationary (POS devices)
• Can process multiple items at once
• Database
• Tracks and stores information about the tagged
  object
• Information can include item identifier,
  description, manufacturer, movement of the item,
  and location type of information will vary
  according to the application
• Can be linked into other networks (e.g. LAN) for
  connection of the database to the Internet

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RFID How it works
RFID Tag

• The RFID tag is
• Powered by the RF Energy
• Interrogated by the Reader via the Antenna
• Data is read from, or written to, the Tag

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• The Promise of RFID

• Global shipments of RFID systems are growing
• From 2.5 billion in 2006 to 10 billion in
  2010 and more than 20 billion in 2016
• Number of tags delivered in 2016 will be over
  450 times the number in 2006!
• More accurate location information
• Improved data security and integrity
• More efficient markets productivity gains
• Improved customer service
• Expedite processing
• Tighter control of supplies
• ? RFID fosters innovation, commerce, economic
  growth, and competitiveness

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RFID Enables End-to-End Real-Time Visibility
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Examples of RFID Current Applications

• Drug Safety, e.g. tags on pill bottles
• Quality assurance anti-counterfeiting
• Reduce potential for unauthorised access and
  expedite drug recalls
• Healthcare, e.g. blood tracking to ensure
  correct blood type
• Patient tracking for location identification of
  Alzheimers patients and babies
• Food Safety
• Temperature sensors attached to fresh food and
  on perishable goods
• Food tracking from point of origin (e.g. meat
  products)
• Transportation Safety
• Planes Airbus A-380 aircraft will have passive
  RFID chips on removable parts such as passenger
  seats, life vests, and brakes, which will aid in
  maintenance of those parts
• Cars designed to broadcast at regular intervals
  the temperature and pressure of each tyre to the
  driver ? passenger safety fuel saving

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Global Status on RFID

• Key RFID issues are international
• RFID tags affixed in one country should be
  readable easily by readers in other countries
• Regulatory issues standards decisions spectrum
  allocations privacy legislations
• ? Need of harmonisation at international level
• Rising international dialogue
• EU-US Summit Joint Declaration (June 20, 2005)
• Encourage deployment of key innovative
  technologies such as broadband and radio
  frequency identification devices, without
  prejudice to consumer and data protection
• OECD/ICCP RFID Forum (Paris, October 5, 2005)
• Contacts with Asian countries (China, Korea,
  Japan )

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Role of the European Commission

• Research Development (RD)
• Technology From RFID to the Internet of Things
  
• Applications Retail, Automotive, Aerospace,
  Healthcare, Transport logistics, e-Inclusion,
• Radio spectrum
• Need to ensure the timely availability of
  adequate radio spectrum resources
• Protection of personal data and privacy
• Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC
• Article 29 Working Party
• Minimal requirements in certain sectoral
  applications?
• e-Privacy Directive 2002/58/EC
• Up to review in 2006
• Interoperability and standards
• How tags are being interrogated how data is
  represented on the tag how the tags information
  is linked to remote databases and applications
• Cross-sectoral standards (e.g. frequency
  spectrum)
• Sector-specific standards (e.g. supply chain,
  pharmaceuticals)

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Roadmap Towards a RFID policy in Europe
October - November 2006 Communication from the
European Commission on RFID / Possible
legislative action
December 2006
March 9, 2006 at CeBIT Commissioner Viviane
Reding announces the launch of a Europe-wide
public consultation on RFID
September 2006 Drafting of the Communication
September 2006
March 2006
August September 2006 Analysis of the input
received through the consultation.
March June 2006 Series of 5 thematic workshops
on RFID
June July 2006 Public online consultation on
Your Voice in Europe
June 2006