RFID Middleware

1
RFID Middleware
Presenter Ramakrishnan, Sarpiniyar
Krishnasamy Graduate Student, Computer Science
Department, University of Houston, USA
2
Agenda

• Middleware Overview and Functionalities
• Market Leaders
• OAT EPC IS Middleware
• IBM RFID Stack

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
3
RFID System
Backend applications
RFID tags
RFID readers
RF signal
RFID middleware
ERP
WMS
Business processes
SAP
4
What is RFID Middleware ?

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
5
RFID Middleware

• Facilitates communication between RFID hardware
  devices
• and enterprise systems
• Filters, formats and applies logic to the
  captured EPC data
• Then this data can be processed by the
  application / ERP

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
6
Middleware Vendors

• OAT System
• IBM
• Microsoft
• Shipcom Wireless
• Oracle
• Globeranger
• ConnecTerra

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
7
OATSystem RFID Middleware

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
8
OATSystem RFID Middleware

• Major components in OFS 4.5
• OATxpresss Best Practice Scenarios, Device
  Monitoring, EPC
• Management
• OATLogic Designer, rfXML, Software Development
  Kit
• OATaxiom Built-in adaptors, Consistency
  Engine, Analytics and
• Reporting

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
9
Smartshelf Application using OAT Middleware

Stock Replenishment / Misplacement Alert
Event Management System
Store Manager
Abstract XML Data Representation
Query Content of XML representation
Smart Shelf
Tag Commissioning
Data Query Service
Stock Out
POS Point of Sale
Billing
Database
Theft Alert
Non Payment
Security
Exit Door
RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
10
IBM RFID Middleware

• IBM RFID Solution is made up of three different
  elements
• Devices
• Devices such as Readers, Printers can be embedded
  with
• Websphere RFID Device Infrastructure
• IBM WebSphere RFID Premises Server
• This is a middleware product that aggregates,
  monitors, in interprets, and escalates RFID
  events to detect critical operational events
• IBM Integration server
• This allow the customers to fully
  integrate the information flowing
• in from the edge of their business with
  their enterprise operations

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
11
IBM RFID Middleware - Architecture

W B I
E R P
Ctrl.out.Q
Edge.in.Q
Premises Server
Edge.out.Q
Task.Q
Ctrl.in.Q
RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
12
Edge Controller

• Edge Server acts as a Controller
• Edge Controller detects the Signal from RFID
  tags
• It filters and aggregates the tag readings and
  maps it to RFID Case
• Each hardware has an agent connected to the
  Micro Broker
• Micro broker works in Pub Sub Mechanism
• Agents connected to the Microbroker publish and
  subscribe topics
• Premises server collects the data read by the
  Edge Server and
• interfaces with Websphere Business Integration
  Server

RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
13
IBM RFID Stack

WebSphere Connection Server Micro Edition
Intermec
To/from Premises Server
SamSys
Patlite Light Stack
Service Management Framework (OSGi)
WebSphere Everyplace Micro Edition / Custom
Environment
RFID Middleware Presentation, Bauer
College of Business, USA
14
Customer Centric Scenario Flow
DC
Store
Product shipment
Receive and store (Backroom)
Make customer aware of the product
Make the item available at shelf for customer
Guide the customer to the products location
Product replenishment request

• Alternative products / promotions
• Detailed product information
• Customer service companion for Store associates

Help customer in making buying decision

• Inform customers through various touch points
  (Kiosk, Digi-Signage)
• Personalized promotions

Customer Centric

• Verify the deliverables
• Identify direct-to-shelf items

• Handling holes
• Shelf level item tracking

• Notify the store when the truck leaves the DC

Provide shopping details (Loyalty / Last item
purchased / purchase trend) to customer
(Multi-Channel)
Yes

• Product location services (Kiosk, handheld)
• Shopping assistant (Handheld, smart shopping cart)

• Effective stock management based on market
  response

Help customer in faster checkout

• Multi-mode checkout (Self checkout)
• Faster payment options (contactless payment)

Qty below safety stock level / OOS
Analyze Identify customer shopping trend
15
Thank You !!!

RFID Middleware Presentation Bauer College of
Business - 25th June 2008
16
Contact Info Ramakrishnan,
Sarpiniyar Krishnasamy E mail -
skramakrishnan.ece_at_gmail.com Phone - 1 954 802
8119 (USA) 91 98408 77367 (India)