RFID Electronic Wallet

Unclonable RFID Chip uses PUF Technology

Verayo introduces the unclonable silicon chip to the market. These silicon chips are enabled by Physical Unclonable Functions (PUF) technology. ...

... "PUF is like a biometrics technology for silicon chips. It extracts a type of electronic DNA or fingerprint that is unique to each silicon chip, and uses it for authentication and security applications. It is effectively impossible to model or copy the electronic DNA in another chip, which makes PUF-based solutions more secure and robust. PUF technology was invented at MIT and Verayo has the worldwide exclusive license to develop and market PUF-based silicon chips. " ...

Via Verayo: Unclonable Silicon Chips

CharlieCard RFID Hacks

MIT students detail subway hack strategies ...

Anatomy of Subway Hack, PDF

Sticky RFID Demo

Sticky RFID

RFID project explores the concept of sticky notes that are smart. ...

... "The project explores how the use of RFID, Artificial Intelligence and ink recognition technologies can make it possible to create intelligent sticky notes that can be searched, can send reminders and messages, and more broadly, can help us to seamlessly connect our physical and digital worlds. " ...

Via Pranav Mistry, MIT Media Lab: Quickies. intelligent sticky notes

Printed RFID Electronics

RFID event tommorrow in Cambridge, Massachusets ...

... "Printed Electronics: the future of RFID: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
6:00 - 6:15 p.m. Networking
6:15 - 7:15 p.m. Panel Presentation
7:15 - 8:00 p.m. Q & A " ...

Via MIT Enterprise Forum: RFID Special Interest Group

RFID Internet of Things at EU Forum 2007

Upcoming European Union Forum on RFID will explore the internet of things. ...

... "13 - 14 March 2007, Brussels, Belgium: The event calls for an identification of research needs from RFID towards the Internet of Things with respect to different application areas. The Forum also act as a platform to continue the dialogue with RFID stakeholders on a European level. The first conference stream is part of a series of meetings of the RFID Academic Convocation, driven by the Auto-ID Labs at MIT and being organised around the world to build collaboration across academic disciplines, institutional and geographic boundaries. " ...

Via European Information Society: The EU RFID Forum 2007

Hospital RFID Applications Discussed ...

MIT Forum will discuss RFID applications in the hospital. ...

... "RFID in the Hospital
Monday June 12, 2006
6:30 - 6:45 Networking & Light Snack
6:45 - 7:45 Panel Presentation
7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Q & A
Location:
Stata Center (Bldg. 32)
Room 124, 1st floor
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA 02139 MAP

In addition to manufacturing and retail marketing, healthcare is considered the next home for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Although in its early stages, RFID technology has great potential in the hospitals to significantly reduce cost, improve patient safety and deliver medical services. Imagine the hospital of the future where unnecessary expenses will be cut and more patient lives will be saved. " ...

Via MIT EF: RFID SIG ...

RFID: RealTime Promotion Execution

OatSystems and ADT combine to deliver a real-time promotion execution process, enabled by RFID technology. RFID applied to the execution of promotions, help track the inventory used in promotions in real-time and create immediate feedback for marketers. ...

... "OATSystems, Inc. and ADT, a unit of Tyco Fire & Security, announced a proof of ROI program designed to validate the return on investment from standards-based RFID-enabled promotions and ignite the next phase of RFID deployments. Together with Intel Corporation, the companies will provide RFID hardware, software and services necessary for a 10 store retail deployment to help retailers track promotional products and provide critical information back to suppliers such as Proctor & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark. To help validate the ROI, an independent academic institution of the retailer's choosing will establish the parameters of the study, monitor control stores and deliver a final report on the ROI.

Trade promotion spending by manufacturers is a massive budget item, representing 12%-15% of sales for most companies. Unfortunately, study after study and the day-to-day experiences of manufacturers and retailers show that the returns on trade promotions are far less than satisfactory. Real-time Promotion Execution (RPE) is a new, RFID-centric business process that can help consumer products manufacturers and retailers to dramatically increase promotion effectiveness which may result in increased promotional sales, decreased execution costs, and greater shopper satisfaction. According to Cheryl Perkins, senior vice president and chief innovation officer for Kimberly-Clark, RFID technology can be used as a business tool to help deliver greater value to K-C and its retail customers.

RPE uses RFID-tagged displays and promotion product cases to measure in-store promotion execution by tracking where and when the displays and promotion inventory are in the store. Manufacturers and retailers can track when the items reach the store, when they're moved to the sales floor, and how long they are there - all in near-real time. This information is then integrated across many stores and manipulated with powerful analytic tools. Illustrated by the recently released MIT study on RFID-based promotions, this enables a new business process that is cost-effective and dramatically increases promotion sell-through, correction of poor in-store execution and promotion intelligence, and lowers the cost of promotions management. " ...

Via OATSystems: OATSystems and ADT Announce Promotions-on-Standards Program to Ignite RFID ROI: Leaders Rally Retailers and Suppliers to Validate ROI in Standards-Based Real-time Promotions Execution ...

RFID Academic Convocation in May ...

Academic convocation on RFID technology is upcoming, this May. ...

... "The RFID Academic Convocation II will be held May 1, 2006, Las Vegas in conjuction with RFID Live! The RFID Academic Convocation brings together Directors of leading RFID research laboratories with executives from lead users in their industries and their RFID platform partners to address underlying research issues surrounding implementation of RFID. This event is part of a series of meetings that are being organized around the world to build collaboration across academic disciplines, institutional and geographic boundaries. " ...

Via MIT Auto-ID Labs: RFID Academic Convocation II ...

RFID Research Program: Georgia Tech in Ireland ...

Georgia Tech starts RFID research program at research enterprise in Ireland. ...

... "The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), the applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology, will establish a research enterprise in Athlone, Ireland to focus on industry research and development needs. GTRI Ireland will be GTRI's first applied research facility outside the United States.

The new institute will focus on four technology areas that mirror Ireland's research strengths — digital media, radio frequency identification (RFID), biotechnology and energy. The research with RFID will center on authentication and identification technologies from acoustics to optics for the commercial sector. For instance, because Ireland has a thriving pharmaceutical industry, some of the institute's research will target pill-tracking accuracy, ensuring authenticity and dosage. " ...

Via Georgia Institute of Technology: GTRI to Open Institute in Athlone, Ireland ...

Additional university-sponsored RFID research programs ...

Information Technology Research Institute: RFID Research Center: "Information Technology Research Institute created its first sub-unit, the RFID Research Center. This new center spans many disciplines including retail, supply chain, industrial engineering, and computer science, among others. The center's base of operations is a lab which models a production warehouse environment in 7000 sq ft. of space donated to the center by Hanna's Candles and located within Hanna's manufacturing and warehouse facility. Collaborators with the RFID Research Center within the Walton College include the UA information systems department, the Supply Chain Management Research Center, and the Center for Retailing Excellence. Leveraging multidisciplinary expertise across the University of Arkansas, the RFID Research Center also has collaborative relationships with the College of Engineering, including the departments of computer science and computer engineering, industrial engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering; the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, including the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies and the department of public policy; the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences, including the department of food science; and the School of Law. "

RFID@WINMEC:RFID Research: "RFID@WINMEC Middleware - The RFID@WINMEC middleware research project involves the development of a middleware stack with sub-stacks that manages r/w functions, abstracts reader and tags, networks readers together, provides hooks to databases and provides a homogeneous interface for application development. We work with sponsoring organizations on developing and studying RFID pilots by using our RFID middleware stack. "

RFID Academic Convocation II: Opportunities for RFID Sponsored Research Collaboration: "The RFID Academic Convocation brings together Directors of leading RFID research laboratories with executives from lead users in their industries and their RFID platform partners to address underlying research issues surrounding implementation of RFID. This event is part of a series of meetings that are being organized around the world to build collaboration across academic disciplines, institutional and geographic boundaries. Participation by qualified academic and industry researchers and governmental agency representatives is invited. "

RFID Wave: Make Business Sense ...

Upcoming RFID event ...

... "Making Business Sense of the RFID Wave: February 23, 2006: Making business sense of the RFID wave will give attendees the opportunity to meet key innovators and leaders of the RFID industry and through a panel discussion, attendees will gain first-hand insight into the technological progress around RFID, where the industry is leading to, what the forecasts are, how can companies make business sense or get ROI from RFID. Panelists will include:

Jamshed Dubash, Director of Technology, Proctor and Gamble (The Gillette Company)
Sanjay Sarma, Professor at MIT and Founder, OAT Systems
Mal Postings, Global Lead for RFID, CapGemini
Robert Steinberg, President, Productivity by RFID
Other speakers expected from Tyco, Think Magic

Time: 6 - 8:30 p.m. Location: Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, World Trade Center West, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA " ...

Via MIT Sloan Alumni: Making Business Sense of the RFID Wave ...

RFID Company: ThingMagic Financing ...

ThingMagic secures financing to support continuing operations. ...

... "ThingMagic, Inc., a leading developer of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, announced it has received additional funding. New investors include Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, and Nicholas Negroponte, Wiesner Professor of Media Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and founding chairman of MIT's Media Laboratory. ThingMagic's private financing totals $21 million, including a line of credit from Silicon Valley Bank. " ...

RFID Company: ThingMagic Financing: Via ThingMagic: ThingMagic Adds Cisco, Others to Close $21M Financing ...

MIT RFID Internet Project

MIT RFID Internet Project: Via Food Production Daily: MIT launches RFID, Internet project

Food Production Daily reports on the RFID Internet project at Massachusets Institute of Technology ...

... "The lab will use the system to predict the flow of data from RFID tags, and to develop data protection and privacy controls. The information will be used to guide the design of the EPCglobal Network. " ...

The Facts on RFID: Benefits and Implications ...

The Facts on RFID: Benefits and Implications: Office of Congressman :: Joe Barton

... "It is our job to cut through the hype, get the facts about RFID, learn more about its applications, and examine the pubic policy issues generated by its use and widespread deployment. The benefits to our homeland security could prove the most beneficial aspect of the technology, Barton, chairman of the full Energy and Commerce Committee, continued. The capability to track imports and containers will enhance our ability to monitor what is coming across our borders and where it goes. Similar applications related to controlled substances and hazardous materials shipped to or within the states will provide an additional layer of security we would all welcome. Hearing witnesses included Linda Dillman, chief information officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Sandra Hughes, global privacy executive for The Proctor & Gamble Company, who each testified to the consumer applications of RFID. Testimony was additionally heard from one of the leading scientists in RFID technology, Dr. Sanjay Sarma, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as witnesses from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, who testified on the possible privacy implications of RFID technology. " ...

RFID Policy Summit DC

RFID Policy Summit DC: Washington, DC RFID Summit Focuses on Business and Policy Issues: Experts Discuss Need for Harmonized Global Standards and Smart Data Security Policies: Global Leader in RFID Applications Aims to Advance the U.S. Policy Dialogue, Educate Washington Policymakers and Influencers ...

SAP sponsors an RFID policy summit in DC in collaboration with the US Chamber of Commerce to educate leaders on the opportunity offered by adoption of RFID technology and to identify policy implications that need to be addressed ...

... "Building on its core commitment to help customers improve efficiency and competitiveness, the world’s leading provider of business software solutions, SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), today co-hosts a global policy summit in Washington, DC, that will focus on the significant opportunities presented by radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, as well as concerns that are hindering its adoption. The summit—cosponsored by SAP and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation—brings together senior leaders of government, business and independent advocacy groups for a high-level discussion of RFID’s business and policy implications, including the many ways that RFID can boost economic competitiveness, global trade and security. The summit will also address the need for harmonized global RFID standards and smart data security and privacy policies that protect consumers and allow rapid innovation. " ...

SAP has been conducting RFID research since 1998 and is a driving force in developing and implementing business applications of RFID technology. The company supports the development of globally harmonized, industry-driven standards such as those set forth by EPCglobal Inc™, an initiative of leading research institutes and global organizations. SAP is an active member of EPCglobal, participating in three action groups. SAP was also a founding member of EPCglobal’s forerunner, the Auto-ID Center at MIT.

Smart Labels RFID Conference ...

Smart Labels USA 2005 Conference ...

... "Smart Labels USA 2005 at a glance: THE WORLDS DEFINITIVE RFID SMART LABELS EVENT! From pallet to item level: How to manufacture, implement and benefit from RFID Smart Labels. Emerging technologies & systems - from tags to middleware, understand all the RFID building blocks and what is coming next - now with World first announcements! Speakers include Hitachi, Deloitte, Impinj, AWID, Samsys, PolyIC, MIT, Alien, TYCO ADT, ..." ...

June 27-30 2005
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
The conference will be held at the Wyndham Baltimore - Inner Harbor Hotel.

RFID EPC Anti-Counterfeit Drug Initiative

Panel 5--Anti-Counterfeit Drug Initiative--Meeting Minutes ...

... "The product of this research was electronic product code or EPC. The Auto-ID Center and its participating sponsor companies conducted extensive pilots on EPC technology to test its performance in real world supply chain applications. Since MIT and Auto-ID Center are research institutions, they wanted to license this technology to an organization that could commercialize the EPC for worldwide use. Since the Uniform Code Council was a founding sponsor and had a 30-year track record in standards, it was a natural next step that the UCC take a leading role in bringing the EPC to market. In May of this year MIT finalized an agreement with the UCC and its global partner, EAN International, to standardize this emerging RFID technology on a worldwide basis. In order to support this effort, the UCC and EAN formed a joint venture called EPCglobal to drive the commercialization of the EPC. In order to move this technology from the research phase to the real world of business, the EPCglobal organization is focused on working with industry users to develop the necessary standards to drive broad adoption. It is a multi-industry focus and the standards will be developed in a user-drive consensus-based process. " ...

P+G EPC Electronic Product Code Enabled by RFID Technology ...

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology: What the Future Holds for Commerce, Security, and the Consumer: Why P&G is investing in EPC ...

... "Procter & Gamble is pursuing the use of Electronic Product Code (EPC) to create efficiencies in the supply chain. As you have heard from Dr. Sarma, EPC is a way to uniquely identify a pallet, case or individual product using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. It's similar to today's bar code, but with many more potential uses and benefits. P&G is a founding sponsor of MIT's Auto-ID Center because we realized the enormous potential to improve processes in the entire supply chain from our plants to retail distribution centers to store shelves. The real time, automated, accurate information that EPC generates will benefit manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and most importantly, consumers. Today's supply chain systems are outdated and not meeting the needs of our consumers. EPC offers potential solutions for problems like out-of-stocks, theft and counterfeiting, as well as reducing inventory levels. We know that out of stock levels are higher than we, our retail partners and our consumers want. It is frustrating when you go to your local supermarket to buy your favorite flavor of Pringles and the shelf is bare. It can result in a lost sale for P&G and for the retailer. To guard against out of stocks, we keep an average of 65 days worth of product inventory, which costs us $3 billion a year. Theft and counterfeiting are growing problems as well. Worldwide theft costs retailers $50 billion a year and counterfeiting is a $500 billion problem. " ...

EPC Electronic Product Code Supports Anti-Counterfeit Drug Initiative ...

Panel 5--Anti-Counterfeit Drug Initiative-- Meeting

... "UCC has launched a new entity named EPC Global. This new organization will lead the worldwide commercialization of the breakthrough electronic product code or EPC that has been researched and developed at the MIT Auto-ID Center. EPC technology will be complementary to our existing standards and provide greater ability to combat counterfeit drugs. While the UPC was originally developed for the U.S. grocery industry, its dramatic success quickly generated interest from other industries both here and around the world. The technology behind the UPC became the basis of the global EAN/UCC system, a system of open, multi-industry supply chain standards. The following information demonstrates the global strength of the EAN/UCC system. Our global standards are used by over 1 million members worldwide, and these would be primarily companies, distributors, et cetera, and other organizations. They are used by 23 major industries including health care to conduct business efficiently in 141 nations. These standards are at work in the hospital setting, pharmacies, health care manufacturers, distributors and stores for over-the-counter health care products today. " ...

UWB RFID Tags Authorized ...

UWB RFID Tags: Multispectral Solutions Receives FCC Certification for Ultra Low ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... issued a Grant of Equipment Authorization for Multispectral Solutions' ultra low power, ultra wideband (UWB) active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. ...

... The FCC has issued a Grant of Equipment Authorization for Multispectral Solutions' ultra low power, ultra wideband (UWB) active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The tag is the fourth in a series of FCC-certified UWB products from the company, and is compatible with the company's PAL650(TM) Precision Asset Location System(TM) product line. The tag measures approximately 1 x 1 x 0.8 inches including battery, and has a range of approximately 650 feet line-of-sight and better than 150 feet in partially obstructed environments. ...

Multispectral Solutions, Inc. (MSSI), established in 1989 in Germantown, MD, is a pioneer and established industry leader in the development of ultra wideband (UWB) systems for communications, radar and precision positioning applications. The company's PAL650 Precision Asset Location system is the world's first FCC-certified, UWB-based, active RFID and tracking system for personnel and asset management.

Additional resources on UWB RFID tags ...

A DC-13GHz LNA for UWB RFID Applications: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat High data-rate: The data-rate of UWB could be as high as 500Mbps, which enable RFID tags contain more information, and enable reading information from a mass ...

Hospital Gets Ultra-Wideband RFID: staff and essential equipment. The Washington Hospital Center will use two types of UWB RFID active tags. Asset tags are 1-inch ...

Intel-SAP UWB RFID Conference Room Pilot: File Format: Microsoft Word 2000 ... test facility. 2) perform system cost evaluation (UWB RFID tag, reader, communication, controlling, installation). 3) determine nature ...

FCC Certifies UWB Positioning Tags: Positioning Tags. December 17, 2004, ... The Federal Communications Commission has certified the UWB (ultra wide-band) technology of a Denver-based developer of RFID ...

RFID: Sanjay Sarma Testimony ...

From The Committee on Energy and Commerce, Dr. Sanjay Sarma, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology states ...

... "In 1999, the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC), a not-for-profit standards making body based in Lawrenceville, N.J., which had spearheaded the adoption of bar code technology, joined with Procter & Gamble and The Gillette Co. in helping establish the Auto-ID (Automatic Identification) Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Sponsorship of the center soon grew to more than 100 global companies, and research spread beyond MIT to five other great research universities around the world: at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom; the University of Adelaide in Australia; Keio University in Tokyo, Japan; Fudan University in Shanghai, China; and the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The center's mission was to develop RFID for use across the global supply chain. The vision was simple: harness the capability of RFID to create a world in which we can effectively track products throughout the supply chain using a single, global network as products move from one company to another, one country to another. The idea behind this vision was to make it as easy for one company to read another company's tags as it is for IBM computers to communicate with Apple machines over the Internet. One focus of the center's work was the development of the identification system for objects in the system -- the EPC. Another was the development of the entire system in which EPC tags could be used -- the EPCglobal Network. " ...

RFID Education: RFID Technology Lecture Series Explores Revolution in Business and ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is revolutionizing the world of inventory and data storage around the globe. ...

Merrimack College sponsors advanced lecture series on RFID technology with exciting roster of presenters ...

... A complimentary three-part lecture series on RFID and its future implications, featuring internationally renowned guest speakers, will be held at Merrimack College. The series will focus on: -- where RFID technology began -- what industries can benefit from RFID, and -- how the technology will modify identification and data collection in the future. ...

Dr. Sanjay Sarma will discuss RFID as a larger class of technology and focus on RFID tags in terms of wireless sensing and the business and economic benefit of those tags. He will also describe the Auto-ID Center (Dr. Sarma is a co-founder of the Center) and address the research MIT and other universities did to bring RFID to reality.

Radianse, Inc., of Lawrence, Mass., provides an active-RFID technology that incorporates an indoor positioning system (IPS) for healthcare to reduce asset shrinkage and labor costs and improve utilization, patient flow-times and overall workflow efficiency. A Radianse IPS combines long-range active-RFID with a patent-pending location algorithm for accurate, continuous location and association of people, places and things. The IPS solution is in use at Mass. General Hospital, Brigham & Women's Hospital, the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, and several other hospitals.

RFID Tracking: The Wireless Road Ahead

From Military Information Technology, MD ... Radio frequency identification (RFID) is already in use in the civilian sector for conducting wireless inventories of livestock, pallet shipments and expensive ...

RFID EAS: Checkpoint Announces Its Contract With CVS/Pharmacy to Install ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... A founding member of the MIT Auto-ID Center and a member of EPCGlobal, Checkpoint's technology solutions include digital RF/EAS and RFID systems, RF source ...

Checkpoint Systems, Inc., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of technology-driven solutions for retail security, labeling, and merchandising. Checkpoint is the leading provider of radio frequency- (RF) based shrink management solutions to the $1 trillion global retail industry, including over half of the world's top 200 largest global retailers. In addition to its shrink management capabilities, Checkpoint's end-to-end supply chain technology helps apparel and consumer product manufacturers and retailers brand, track and secure goods worldwide. Checkpoint has a presence in more than 50 countries and a global network of 30 service bureaus located in the world's apparel manufacturing capitals.

RFID Benchmarks: New RFID reader benchmark report published

From UsingRFID.com, UK ... Odin Technologies has published its first benchmark study of four main EPC-compliant RFID readers, providing an independent assessment of how the devices ...

For the past year, Odin Technologies has been addressing the biggest obstacles enterprises face as they roll out an EPC system. The ODIN technologies EPC Suite, due for completion late ’04 will have every component to make setting up and managing an RFID/EPC system easy. ODIN technologies was formed in August of 2002 as an LLC in Delaware and in July of 2003 converted to Delaware C-Corporation. The principle offices are in Reston, Virginia, with a simulated warehouse lab in Dulles, VA and European office in Dublin, IRL. ODIN technologies is unique in having one of the most extensive RFID laboratories in the world. In early 2003, ODIN labs was set-up using MIT’s Auto-ID Center as a guiding standard. In early 2004, ODIN added a 3,000 square foot warehouse space complete with conveyor belt, dock door, and forklift; specifically for Wal-Mart compliance testing. ODIN’s laboratory has been used by outside firms, from the US Federal Government to Wal-Mart suppliers to perform cost-effective, guaranteed accurate analysis. ODIN technologies has its primary lab at corporate headquarters in Reston, Virginia and secondary “distribution facility” in Dulles, Virginia for testing full pallets and conveyor compliance. Either facility can be used to create specific compliance strategy, saving weeks of time, and reducing overall RFID costs significantly.

RFID Software: ThingMagic Puts RFID Protocols Into Software , Not Circuit Boards

From Information Week ... Radio-frequency identification standards are still unsettled, and that's making it difficult for businesses that need to purchase RFID equipment now. ...

Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems: ThingMagic has developed RFID solutions for a variety of target markets, cost requirements, and performance constraints. Among the RFID efforts are: enabling existing products with low-cost RFID, developing and deploying network-enabled frequency and protocol agile RFID tag readers. ThingMagic has several modules available for licensing. Based in Cambridge MA, ThingMagic was founded in 2000 by five MIT graduates. Since its establishment, ThingMagic has worked with startups, Fortune 500 corporations, and research consortia providing services ranging from custom product design and prototyping to long-term R&D. ThingMagic's team of technologists is uniquely positioned to help customers shape and implement new products.

RFID EAS: Checkpoint Systems to Upgrade CVS to Digital RF-EAS Technology

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... A founding member of the MIT Auto-ID Center and a member of EPCglobal, Checkpoint's technology solutions include digital RF/EAS and RFID systems, RF source ...

Checkpoint Systems, Inc., is a $639.5 million multinational manufacturer and marketer of technology-driven integrated solutions for retail security, labeling, and merchandising. Established in 1969, Checkpoint today is the world's leading provider of radio frequency (RF) based loss prevention systems to the $1 trillion global retail industry. Its products and services help apparel and consumer product manufacturers and retailers brand, track and secure goods worldwide. Checkpoint's new Liberty™ family of antennas is the most advanced EAS solution available to today's retailers. By combining next-generation Digital RF technology with robust communications and remote alarm data-capture capabilities, Liberty antennas deliver superior performance to maximize loss-prevention effectiveness in any store environment. Checkpoint's durable, reusable tags, in a variety of styles, provide maximum protection for high-theft apparel and high-value merchandise. A difficult-to-defeat locking mechanism thwarts shoplifters while allowing easy removal with the POS detacher unit. Checkpoint’s EPC Compliance Center is a dramatic expansion of its well-known RF Source Tagging Design Center. It is focused on emulating the real-world conditions of an EPC implementation and addressing all of the critical design and compatibility requirements necessary for success.

Auto-ID RFID: Printronix is First Printer Manufacturer to Sponsor Auto-ID Labs ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Printronix Shows Further Commitment to Packaging SIG by Donating Two Smart Label Developer's Kits to Facilitate RFID Testing and Demonstration at MIT IRVINE ...

RFID Software: Sun offers new pricing model for enterprises

From InfoWorld, CA ... well as a directory server. -- New Java System software for managing and storing RFID (radio frequency identification) information.

As chair of both the MIT Auto-ID Center'[tm]s Technology Board and the MIT Auto-ID Center's Software Action Group, Sun led industry efforts to drive RFID/EPC standards. Sun continues to participate and drive those efforts today as part of EPCglobal. Sun is committed to delivering the market leading RFID/EPC standards-based infrastructure for deploying enterprise RFID applications. Enterprises are looking for reliable, available, scalable, manageable and secure RFID infrastructure to help drive efficiencies in their business processes and operations. No one understands mission critical enterprise computing better than Sun. Further, by leveraging Sun's iForce Centers, our customers can be confident that their RFID solution will deliver on their particular real-time business requirements. Sun Microsystems has a long history of grabbing technology "disruptions" and turning them into "disruptive" innovations. The company challenges the status quo, blows up some long-held assumptions and creates revolutionary technology to benefit its customers. Java application, Jini network technology, NFS, and Java XML pack are just a few. Now, enterprises will benefit from the disruptive innovations around Auto-ID technology, being developed by Sun.

RFID Career: RFID Luminary Sanjay Sarma to Join OAT as CTO; RFID 'Founding ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Sarma previously led MIT's Auto-ID Center, where he worked closely with early Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) adopters such as Wal-Mart, Target, Gillette ...

Sanjay Sarma: Sanjay is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. In 1999, he co-founded MIT's Auto-ID Center and has served as its Chairman of Research ever since. Sanjay Sarma is credited with defining and developing many of the standards and technologies that form the foundation of the commercial RFID industry...

RFID Solutions: Symbol's Top Exec Touts Enterprise Mobility Architecture At N+I

From CRN ... Nuti, along with both Callagee and McGovern, also spoke briefly about the benefits of improving RFID (radio frequency identification) technology solutions that ...

Radio frequency identification is one of today's most promising technologies, and Symbol Technologies is leading the way with a new generation of RFID solutions. RFID advanced data capture systems are being tested by multiple market-leading companies, to develop Symbol's enterprise mobility reference architecture.

RFID technology is used to mark, identify and track individual objects as they move from the manufacturing floor through the supply chain and into the hands of the buyer or consumer. As the objects move through the supply chain, wireless RFID readers can communicate with an RFID tag on the object, collect information about the object (such as a unique number), and match that number in a database to access a complete record about the object. Symbol views RFID as a subset of the suite of automatic data capture technologies, and includes RFID in the core competencies the company deploys as a leading supplier of enterprise mobility solutions.

Interest in RFID technology is driven by the desire of companies to achieve greater visibility to their supply chains, with the goal of increasing operational efficiency. An efficient supply chain operation helps to ensure that goods can be bought at the place and time consumers are ready to purchase. Potential gains from the visibility RFID generates include lower inventory levels, reduced labor costs and increased sales—the bottom line: increased profitability.

EPC (Electronic Product Code) is the emerging standard for RFID applications in the retail supply chain. It represents an industry consensus on the best technological approach to successful implementation of RFID. The overall EPC concept is designed to work in a range of retail supply chain applications. EPC emerged from the Auto-ID Center, a partnership between almost 100 companies and five of the world's leading research universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Retailers include many globally recognizable names—Wal*Mart®, Target Corporation, Home Depot®, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Tesco plc...

RFID EPC: Atmel Has Joined EPCglobal to Design Worldwide RFID...

From PRNewswire (press release)  ... Atmel Germany GmbH has joined the EPCglobal(TM) Hardware Action Group (HAG), which is developing the standard for the next-generation UHF RFID specification. ...

AtmelGermany GmbH has joined the EPCglobal(TM) Hardware Action Group (HAG), whichis developing the standard for the next-generation UHF RFID specification.Especially the supply chain management market will benefit from this standard,as it will drastically improve the tracking visibility of goods. Founded in October 2003, EPCglobal is a non-profit joint venture of thestandard organizations EAN International(TM) and the Uniform Code Council(UCC(TM)). The worldwide acting group, successor of AutoID/MIT, has more than180 members, including among others such as Wal-Mat(R), Unilever(R), Coca-Cola(R), the US Department of Defense (DOD), Benetton(R) and many majorRFID solution providers. The UHF RFID standard to be developed will include EPC code numbers storedin a tag. The standard specifies that code numbers will be sent via Internetto an ONS (Object Name Service) database that produces an address. The ONSthen can match the EPC to a server providing comprehensive information aboutthe object. This means for supply chain management systems that users will have permanently available, up-to-date tracking information of their goodsmoving through the retail supply chain. Atmel, a pioneer in the RFID area, provided the industry's first read-onlyRFID ICs in the late 1980's. Since 1995, Atmel has also been offering theworld's most flexible read/write RFID ICs. Today, Atmel is a key player forlow-frequency-based 125 kHz RFID ICs for access control systems. The portfolioalso includes ICs addressing the 13.56 MHz, UHF and Microwave frequency range.Atmel has outstanding expertise in UHF RFID link concepts, design knowledgeand ultra low power technology, and will bring this expertise to the EPCglobalgroup to achieve a worldwide accepted, interoperable EPC standard forultra-high frequency RFID technology.

Issues Raised About Building 32 Security

From The MIT Tech, MA ... said. Stallman said he objects to the electronic locks that use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers with MIT Cards. “There ...

Attended Zebra Technologies Webinar presentation today...

Here are the summary notes:

Zebra Technology: RFID Webinar, February 24, 2004 --- Webinar title: An Introduction to RFID and EPC: Streamlining Your Supply Chain

RFID is like a "wireless barcode". How it works = tag, antenna, reader, computer. Advantages of RFID: No line of sight, read through non-metallic objects, Fast = less than 1 millisecond to read, Data is carried in a tag. Is RFID technology ready for prime-time = Yes... 200 million rfid tags are in-use in automotive field. Mobil Speedpass is in-use with near 10 million customers. RFID provides simultaneous identification. RFID inlays combine a tag and antenna in thin form into an RFID smart label. Visual identification only with traditional product label. Bar code adds encoded data label. Smart label includes above, with an RFID inlay within the label form factor.

Opportunity for industry is in billions of dollars in supply chain inefficiencies. 100 sponsors came together with the MIT Auto-id Center to sponsor open standards definitions in the RFID space. Work has transitioned from MIT to the EPCGlobal organization. Metro, Walmart, and DOD are piloting RFID technology. Data capture touch-points exist throughout the supply chain, in manufacturing, distribution, retail, etc. Every touch point costs money in effort and time. RFID eliminates touches and saves time, which translates into money, increased supply chain velocity.

Marks and Spencer pilots have shown dramatic increase in business process performance. Walmart has shown leadership and strong commitment to RFID technology as a game-changing, disruptive strategy. They plan to drive change through their scale. Metro AG, Germany's biggest retailer, is aggressively implementing RFID with suppliers, similar to Walmart. The US Department of Defense is embarking on the same journey. The DOD space is more complex that retail value chain.

Zebra's RFID Solutions: Leadership in the bar code, card imaging, mobile printing, and RFID smart label space. Have 3 million printers in place worldwide. Zebra's RFID strategy: Zebra adds RFID to the on-demand printer. Combines human readable, bar code, and RFID into one converged form factor. Leads the market with 13.56 Mhz and UHF RFID products. UHF products support multi-protocols. Zebra revenues are over $500MM.

Zebra has working RFID printers today and a strong product roadmap. Zebra Alchemy innovation is targeted to optimize the total cost of creating smart labels on-demand at the point of application - these touch-points they have described. Zebra continues to innovate and invest in RFID technology. Are you ready for RFID? You need to consider these questions: What is the business problem. Why use RFID over bar codes. What is the business benefit. What standards should you leverage. What is the scope of your RFID opportunity. Do you want to implement RFID globally. Have you assessed the impact of RFID data on your information systems and infrastructure.

RFID Working Group

A very practical RFID working group is starting up to address best practices for RFID label and tag placement - How to tag pallets, case, items, and other challenging objects. It is called the Packaging and RFID Special Interest Group (SIG) sponsored by MIT's Auto ID Labs.

A consortium of companies will work together on this necessary topic. First meeting is slated for March 4 at MIT. There is an annual company membership which has incentive tiers for early sign-up.