Auto ID System Technology overview

1
Auto ID System(Technology overview Research
Strategy)

• (2003. 12. 19)
• Kyung-Lang Park
• Yonsei Univ.
• Supercomputing Lab.

2
Contents

• Basic scenario
• Core technologies
• Auto Identification
• S/W infrastructure
• Problem
• Research challenges
• Hardware
• Software
• Conclusion

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Basic Scenario
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Overview
It focus on Tracking , whereas the Internet focus
on Sharing
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Adding ID to products

• SuperCola, Inc. adds a RFID tag to every cola can
  
• Each tag is
• cheap (5 cent)
• 400 microns square
• Product code EPC
• The tag includes tiny radio antenna

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Adding ID to cases

• The cans are packed into cases
• Cases also have own RFID tags

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Reading tags

• An RFID reader hits the smart tags with radio
  waves, powering them
• The tags wake up and start broadcasting their
  individual EPCs.
• The reader only allows one tag to talk at a time

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Savant and ONS

• The reader is wired into a computing system
  running Savant
• It send Savant the EPCs its collected
• The system sends a query over the internet to an
  ONS (Object Name Service)
• It receives a number and produces an address
• The ONS server matches the EPC to the address of
  a server which has extensive information about
  the product

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PML server

• Second server uses PML (Physical Markup Language)
  to store comprehensive data about manufacture
  product

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Efficiency in distribution

• Thanks to RFID readers in the unloading area,
  theres no need open packages and examine their
  contents
• Savant provides a description of the cargo and
  the cola

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Efficiency in inventory

• SpeedMarts retail systems are automatically
  updated to include every can of cola that arrived
• SpeedMart can locate its entire can inventory
  automatically, accurately and without incurring
  cost

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Overstocking eliminated

• The shelves understand whats being put in them
• When a customer grabs a six-pack of cola, the
  diminished shelf will route a message to
  SpeedyMart automated replenishment systems

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Consumer conveniences

• Rather than wait in line for a cashier , she
  simply walks out the door with her purchases
• A reader built into the door recognizes the items
  in her cart

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Core technologies
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Automatic identification

• Auto-ID is a technology that are used to help
  machines identify objects
• Include bar codes, smart cards, and RFID
• Comprise of tags and reader
• RFID is widely used to Auto-ID system

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Basics of RFID tags

• RFID Radio Frequency Identification
• Tag is a Microchip that is attached to Antenna
• Active, Passive and Semi-passive
• Active tags have a battery
• Read-write vs. read-only
• Read-write method often use EEPROM

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Why RFID?

• It doesnt require line-of-sight
• Long range according to the used frequency
• But, too expensive and too limited
• Radio waves are absorbed by water and are
  distorted by metal

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RFID reader

• RFID readers use a variety of methods to
  communicate with tags
• Inductive coupling
• Should avoid
• reader collision
• Tag collision
• Read range of a tag depends on the power and the
  frequency
• A typical low frequency has to be read with in a
  foot
• A UHF tag can be read from 10 to 20 feet
• Readers cost 1,000 or more

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RFID in field test
RFID tag
RFID reader in the shelf
RFID reader in front of the door
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Software infrastructure

• Intelligent software infrastructure is needed to
  manage and move information
• Basic server which communicate with RF readers
• Collection server which manages basic servers and
  information from them
• Repository service
• Naming
• Control software is also needed
• Decisions
• Execution

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Problem

• Cost of tags and readers
• Collision
• Combining automatic identification with computer
  systems
• Configuration of management system for global
  service
• Auto-control and auto-decision
• Inter-machine communication
• Standardization

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Whats new in auto-ID center?
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EPC Network architecture
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Whats new?

• Bringing down tag costs
• EPC (Electronic Product Code)
• Agile readers
• Savant
• ONS
• PML

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Bring down tag costs

• Read-only and passive tag
• Small chip size
• Only concern is that tags carry and EPC
• Use of 64-bit EPC
• Reducing the cost of antenna
• Use of a new antenna mady by Rafsec
• Silicon technology

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EPC

• The EPC is a number made up of a header and three
  sets of data
• Adopt the basic structure of the Global Trade
  Item Number (GTIN)
• Support Unifor Code Council and EAN International
• See EPC Tag Data Specification 1.0

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Agile reader

• The reader in Auto-Id system can manage several
  frequencies
• One frequency doesnt fit all !!!
• Avoiding reader collision
• Avoiding tag collision

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Savant

• Savant is middleware software designed to
  process the streams of tag or sensor data
• Distributed architecture
• Data smoothing
• By using algorithms, Savant can correct errors
• Reader coordination
• If the signals from two readers overlay, Savants
  job is to analyze reads and delete duplicate
  codes
• Data forwarding storage
• Task management

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Savant overview
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ONS (Object Name Service)

• Global network for tracking goods requires some
  special network architecture
• translate an EPC into one or more URLs where
  further information on the object may be found
• Similar to DNS (Domain Name Server)
• Operation flow
• When a reader reads EPC, EPC is passed on to a
  Savant.
• The Savant go to an ONS on a local network or the
  Internet to find where information on product is
  stored
• That file can be retrieved by the Savant

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PML

• Provide a common method for describing physical
  objects
• Based on XML

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Research strategy
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Hardware

• Low cost RFID chip
• Depend heavily on the size
• Low power RFID chip
• Embedded system for RF reader
• Circuit board
• System architecture of RF reader
• Memory system
• EPC decoder

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Software

• Definition and standardization of product code
• Middleware design (Savant and ONL)
• Embedded software for RF reader
• Control software
• Efficient configuration of servers