RFID How It Works

RFID Vending Contactless Payment

SkyeTek and IsoChron partner to deliver RFID enablement of vending machines with contactless payment ...

... "Isochron selected SkyeTek's M2 contactless payment module as the embedded RFID reader to enable secure, cashless payment at cold-drink vending machines. With robust read performance, onboard security, and contactless payment support, the M2 is the clear leader in performance, reliability, and security protection among contactless payment reader modules. " ...

Via SkyeTek: Link

RFID Noisy Lab Tests ...

HP Noisy Lab will use ODIN tech's RFID tag testing technology ...

... "Recently ODIN announced European and Japanese support for the EasyTag testing tool. By adding the European and Japanese frequencies and power requirements to the mix, ODIN has created the only tool capable of testing RFID tags worldwide in multiple UHF bands. EasyTag works using ODIN's proven methodology of using the key metrics of Power Effectiveness and Orientation Sensitivity to arrive at an overall number of how well a tag and location perform on a SKU. After conducting thousands of SKU tests on behalf of clients, ODIN scientists knew that simplified testing and visualization of results was needed by end users and labs alike. ODIN first released it's highly acclaimed Trifecta RFID tag testing software in 2004 and EasyTag represents the next generation of automated scientific tag testing. Yuichi Murano, President of ODIN Japan added: Noisy Lab chose ODIN's EasyTag because it is the industry's leading scientific RFID testing software and because it can test tags in all UHF frequencies worldwide. Backed by HP, IDEC, Toyo Kanetsu and WL Solutions, HP Noisy Lab is a leading innovator in Japan's RFID market. " ...

RFID Noisy Lab Tests: Via ODIN Technologies: Noisy Lab (of Japan) Selects ODIN's Scientific RFID Tag Testing Software: HP Noisy Lab is a Consortium of HP, IDEC Controls, Toyo Kanetsu Solutions and WL Solutions ...

IBM RFID ResearchTriangle Park ...

IBM RFID ResearchTriangle Park: Via Local Tech Wire: Original Settler IBM To Add New Wireless Center to RTP Legacy ...

Rick Smith, LocalTechWire, provides update on IBM committment to Research Triangle Park and its emphasis on RFID technology and wireless capabilities at a new center of excellence ...

... "The wireless center will open in early October with an emphasis on demonstrating how wireless technology works. A key point of emphasis is radio frequency identification (RFID) for use in tracking of shipments. " ...

RFID Pilot Produce SupplyChain

RFID Pilot Produce SupplyChain: Via RedTail Solutions, Inc.: University of Florida Research Center Launches RFID Pilot to Improve Fresh Produce Supply Chain

Univ of Florida CFDR is sponsoring RFID pilot in the produce supply chain to determine impact of increased material visibility ...

... "The University of Florida IFAS's Center for Food Distribution and Retailing (CFDR), Gainesville, FL announced the launch of a research pilot featuring RFID technology and network-based information exchange to improve the distribution of fresh produce. The pilot, named Visibility Validated (V2), will measure the impact of improved supply chain visibility between suppliers and retailers. The V2 project is focused on the publishing of observation events to a virtual test bed simulation of the EPCglobal NetworkTM. It is the hope of the V2 project participants to show how EPCglobal-based RFID technology will and can provide valuable supply chain visibility. The V2 project is being conducted in cooperation with its participating members; suppliers, a retailer, and technology providers. " ...

RedTail Solutions, Inc. is a privately held company that was formed in 2000 and is located in Westborough, MA outside of Boston that provides internet EDI (electronic data interchange) and other managed services for electronic trading designed expressly for middle-market businesses. RedTail handles the EDI mapping and exchange of thousands of purchase orders, invoices, and shipping transactions every month between suppliers and their large customers in retail, grocery and industrial segments. RedTail’s simple-to-use, cost-effective EDI solution works directly with the most popular back-office accounting systems used by middle-market manufacturers and distributors enabling them to fully participate in the global electronic supply chain.

RFID Informational Forum Panel

Berkeley Public Library

... "The Berkeley Public Library announces a New Date for the Community Informational Forum on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): RFID: What's It All About? Berkeley Public Library is holding a Community Informational Forum on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis Street, Berkeley, on Monday, August 1, 2005, 6:30-9:00 pm. For accessibility questions and more information, call (510) 981-6121, TTY 510-548-1240. Come learn how RFID works, in general, and how it functions in a library setting. One group of expert panelists will address issues of RFID technology such as: What It Is, Uses & Experience; Software Technology; and Public Health and Ergonomic Issues. A second group of expert panelists will address RFID policy issues such as: Privacy; Security; Best Practices. There will be time set aside for questions and comments from the community. " ...

Radio Frequency Identification Workshop Report ...

FTC Releases Radio Frequency Identification Workshop Report

... "The report and workshop continue the Commission's work on consumer privacy and technology issues, exploring how RFID works, its various applications, and its anticipated uses. RFID involves tiny tags embedded with computer chips that communicate with devices called readers, which are capable of scanning information stored on multiple tags from a distance. A tag can contain information that uniquely identifies the item to which it is attached, such as an electronic product code. As the report describes, RFID technology has important implications for businesses, consumers, and policymakers. Companies are turning to RFID to manage warehouse inventory and to stock retail shelves. Consumers are using RFID tags when they travel on highways, purchase gas and groceries, and protect their pets. RFID also has significant potential for government use as a public safety and anti-counterfeiting tool. " ...

Healthcare Active RFID Location Tracking ...

Healthcare Active RFID Location Tracking: Bronson Healthcare Group Gives Airespace WLAN a Clean Bill of ...

From Market Wire (press release) ... tracking. Bronson is in the process of deploying Airespace active RFID tags to complement ACS' location tracking capabilities. This ...

... Airespace, Inc.® announced today that Bronson Healthcare Group, a community-owned, not-for-profit healthcare system in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has standardized on the Airespace Wireless LAN (WLAN) system to deliver wireless voice and data services throughout its multi-site facility. By deploying a comprehensive wireless network, Bronson Healthcare Group is able to leverage the best in Information Technology (IT) to deliver the highest quality clinical services, including real-time order administration, mobile asset tracking, and interactive voice services. ...

Bronson Healthcare Group is a not-for-profit tertiary healthcare system serving southwest Michigan. The organization's vision is to be a national leader in healthcare quality. Bronson Healthcare Group includes Bronson Methodist Hospital, Bronson Vicksburg Hospital, Bronson Medical Group, Bronson Home Health Care, Bronson Staffing Service, Bronson Lifestyle Improvement & Research Center, Bronson Advanced Radiology Services, IBA Health Plans and the Bronson Health Foundation.

Additional resources on active RFID location tracking in healthcare ...

Radianse active- RFID technology to power real-time asset: can extend the potential of active-RFID for practical application in healthcare. ... are located, a Radianse IPS provides location information to ...

PanGo Networks, Inc.: How does an 802.11 based Active RFID location based service ... and tracking things in a healthcare environment ... hospital environment when you have location awareness ...

Wi-Fi, RFID Team To Ease Enterprise Asset: wireless infrastructure for real-time location, messaging, telemetry ... "Combining active RFID with Wi ... whether your business is healthcare, education, government ...

Pharma RFID Symposium on RFID Enabling Secure Drug Supply ...

Pharma RFID Symposium on RFID Enabling Secure Drug Supply: Pharmaceutical Technology Congress Highlights Discussion of ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Three pre-conference symposia focus on RFID: Maintaining secure drug supply through systems integration, information security and regulatory compliance, ERP ...

... On March 14-16, hundreds of business process owners from sales and marketing, supply chain, clinical development, and IT professionals from around the world will meet in Philadelphia to discuss how they will address the upcoming regulatory scrutiny. Senior IT and business process technology users benchmark integrated platform and technological tools to improve pharma and biotech compliance programs across the enterprise. New discussion topics include which regulatory mandates are on the horizon and how major pharmaceutical companies are gearing up their compliance efforts. ...

The Institute for International Research (IIR) is the world's leading knowledge and skills transfer company with a global network of 44 companies and 109 operating units. IIR works with more than 600,000 business executives annually, providing them with knowledge and skills through training, conferences, seminars, e-learning, blended solutions, publications, exhibitions, consulting and mentoring.

Additional resources on a secure drug supply enabled by RFID technology ...

Comparing HF and UHF RFID technologies: that can keep the drug supply safe and secure. ... a built-in anti-collision feature that enables multiple simultaneous ... Data is stored on the RFID tag instead of ...

Track and Trace Solutions for the Life Sciences Supply Chain: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat ... Building track-and-trace systems with secure bar code and RFID labeling techniques enables companies to benefit from their marking efforts. ...

Drugmaker Ships RFID Tags With OxyContin: group charged with monitoring RFID adoption within ... for IT Changes Tripwire software enables organizations to ... Provides speedy, secure remote PC access, dynamic ...

RFID in Surgery: FDA Clears New Surgical Marker; Uses RFID to Protect Patients

From FDA ...

... "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared for marketing an external surgical marker tag intended to minimize the likelihood of wrong-site, wrong-procedure and wrong-patient surgeries. The device is the first such surgical marker to utilize radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to mark an anatomical site for surgery. It is intended to offer additional protection for patients who are undergoing surgery. The product is the SurgiChip Tag Surgical Marker system, manufactured by SurgiChip Inc., of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. It consists of the tag, which is a smart label with an integrated passive transponder, along with a printer, an encoder and a RFID reader. Here's how it works: The patient's name and surgical site are printed on the SurgiChip tag. The inside of the tag is encoded with the date of surgery, type of procedure and name of surgeon. The tag is scanned with a desktop RFID reader for confirmation by the patient and is then placed in the patient's hospital file. On the day of surgery, the tag is removed from the file and scanned again, and the encoded information is verified by the patient. The tag, which has an adhesive backing, is then placed on the patient's body near the surgical site. In the operating room, the tag is again scanned and the encoded information is verified with the patient's chart. The tag is removed just before surgery and returned to the patient's hospital file. FDA cleared the device for marketing based on a review of safety, effectiveness and software validation information submitted by the manufacturer. " ...

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

RFID LifeCycle Issues: OFEE and EPA Host Meeting on Recycling Impacts of RFID Tags

From Office of the Federal Environmental Executive ...

... "OFEE and the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste co-hosted a meeting on the impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on packaging materials reuse and recycling. Participants included representatives of the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, the industrial drum recyclers, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the paper, steel, aluminum, glass, and plastic packaging industries. The intent of the meeting was to provide the potentially affected recyclers and users of recycled materials with an understanding of what RFID tags are, what constituents they contain, and how they are and will be used. Wal-Mart is requiring its top 100 suppliers to place RFID tags on product cases and pallets by January 2005, beginning in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The use of RFID tags is intended to improve inventory control and logistics. The Department of Defense also will require the placement of RFID tags on specified products going to specified depots beginning in January 2005. Other users of the tags are Target Stores, Best Buy, and the Albertsons grocery store chain. RFID tags also could be used in the future to meet new Food and Drug Administration requirements to label medications." ...

Under Executive Order 13101, the Federal Environmental Executive (FEE) chairs the White House Task Force on Waste Prevention and Recycling. The Task Force works to provide clear national direction for federal agencies and track government's progress for waste prevention, recycling, and the purchase of recycled-content and environmentally preferable services and products, including biobased products. The Task Force is directed by a Steering Committee composed of the FEE, the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the Administrator of the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

The Task Force advises and assists the Steering Committee and the Federal agencies, makes recommendations concerning policy, facilitates implementation, provides a centralized focal point for assistance and direction, and helps educate and train people in the requirements of the Executive Order. The Steering Committee members are among the President's chief advisors on environmental and acquisition issues, underscoring that successful integration of environmental and energy considerations into an agency's daily operations requires close coordination by environmental, acquisition, and facilities staff.

Momentum Builds with Manhattan Associates' Integrated Logistics ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... management, transportation management, distributed order management, reverse logistics and trading partner management along with RFID, performance management ...

Manhattan Associates' Integrated Logistics Solutions (ILS) goes beyond the base functionality delivered by traditional supply chain execution (SCE) software, supporting the full spectrum of execution processes and enabling a holistic approach to supply chain management.

Integrated Logistics Solutions views the supply chain as an individualized ecosystem-not a series of separate functions. It targets the business drivers specific to a particular organization and industry, enabling companies to alleviate industry-specific pain points and realize increased value.

Manhattan Associates' Integration Platform for RFID provides an extremely scalable and robust RFID integration platform for our RFID in a Box™ solution. Built on a foundation of integration with high-speed, high-volume systems—such as conveyors, advanced material handling systems and voice recognition technology—this platform can integrate RFID into any supply chain execution (SCE) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) application. By enabling the integration of RFID data into multiple applications, regardless of platform, data format or communications protocol, our platform provides a single toolset for RFID integration within the enterprise.

As the first supply chain execution provider to join the Auto-ID Center (now EPCglobal), Manhattan Associates has pioneered efforts in helping to drive standards industry-wide. We understand RFID technology and how it works, and we've formed partnerships with the top RFID hardware vendors, so our clients can equip themselves with everything they need from one place—tags, readers and all. We've also added RFID to our industry-first Retail Compliance Guarantee, meaning we can ensure compliance for your business with the requirements of Wal-Mart, the Department of Defense and other enterprises as they continue to announce their RFID initiatives to their suppliers.

Walmart RFID Compliance: Provia's WMS Chosen to Power Sun's RFID Test Center

Texas-Based RFID Test Center to Help Suppliers Meet RFID Compliance Requirements from Wal-Mart

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Provia Software, a leading provider of supply chain execution software solutions, announced today that the company's ViaWare warehouse management system (WMS) is the supply chain execution system being currently utilized at Sun Microsystems' new, state-of-the-art RFID Test Center in Dallas, Texas. Sun's facility brings together a complete end-to-end RFID solution designed to help quell the fears of companies looking to initiate an RFID compliance program and quickly help them achieve compliance status.

Sun's RFID Test Center, a 17,000-square-foot warehouse facility, is slated to open May 5, 2004 with a large open house celebration. The center is fully equipped to meet the EPC standards and RFID compliance requirements for tagging and testing of products at the pallet and case level.

"The idea of RFID implementation can seem insurmountable. Provia and Sun are here to demonstrate the actual tangible process to companies, and help them build a map to RFID compliance," said Paul Crist, vice president of sales and marketing for Provia. "This is truly the first RFID test center of its kind -- a working warehouse where companies can test how the entire system works before they invest in RFID technology. Companies can use the test center to evaluate how they can incorporate RFID into their manufacturing, warehouse and distribution environments, develop production of a full scale product tagging plan and come away with an end-to-end architecture for the implementation at their site."

Corporations and government agencies around the world recognize RFID's potential to cut supply chain costs, increase operational efficiencies, speed delivery time, and minimize theft and waste.

"We are excited to have Provia as an integrated partner into our Test Center offering. Together we will provide suppliers to Wal-Mart and others with a facility and the technical expertise to get their RFID implementations achieved correctly the first time," said Julie Sarbacker, director of the Auto-ID Business Unit at Sun Microsystems. "Suppliers should contact us today to get started."

In addition to showcasing a state-of-the-art warehouse environment equipped with RFID readers installed at dock doors and warehouse forklift portals, the test center contains material handling pallet conveyers and high speed conveyor station products for advanced tagging and testing of RFID tagged products. Integration with Provia's warehouse management system (WMS)
will allow for automated processing of Advance Ship Notifications (ASNs). The initial use for the test center will be for pallet acceptance into the center via dock doors, but will quickly be expanded to the tracking of products to various test stations such as pallet conveyors, high speed tracks and pallet racks.

Executives from Sun, Provia and other companies will participate in the event. The grand opening of the Test Center would be of interest to consumer product companies, manufacturers and suppliers, who are required to comply with RFID mandates from Wal-Mart, Target, Albertsons, HDMA or the US Department of Defense. To register to attend, please visit http://www.avim.com/sun/index.html . Inquiries about the Grand Opening should be sent to
rfid-testcenter@sun.com . About Provia Software - Provia Software, a viastore Company, delivers The Power of Delivery(TM) for customers like Gillette, Menlo Worldwide, Graybar Electric, US Freightways, Spencer Gifts, Lanier Worldwide, and Owens Corning and third-party logistics (3PL) customers like, Menlo Worldwide, Total Logistic Control and Conestoga Cold Storage. Provia's Supply Chain Execution solutions include RFID-enabled warehousing, transportation, order and yard management products seamlessly integrated together with web-based visibility tools to create a real-time, end-to-end supply chain execution solution. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc., in the US and other countries.

RFID Lab: ACNielsen Opens RFID Learning Lab

Business Wire (press release) ... ACNielsen US, an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU business, today announced that it has opened a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology learning ...

BOCA RATON, FL — 15 April 2004 — ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU business, today announced that it has opened a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology learning lab at its Schaumburg, Illinois, office.

The announcement was made here during the annual Consumer 360 Conference hosted by ACNielsen, Spectra, and other business units of VNU Marketing Information. Conference attendees can visit ACNielsen's on-site RFID Learning Center to see a live demonstration of how the technology works.

With RFID technology, retailers and manufacturers hope to gain new efficiencies in managing their products throughout the supply chain using microchips on RFID tags that are attached to pallets, cases and potentially specific products. Many believe the technology will eventually replace bar codes.

According to Ted Fichuk, senior vice president, Retail Measurement Services, ACNielsen Global Marketing, "RFID technology has the potential to bring many positive changes to our industry. We're taking a proactive stance, making sure we'll be ready to process information generated by the technology should it gain widespread acceptance. We also want to serve as a source of information about the technology for our clients."

According to Scott Medford, vice president, Business Development, Intermec, one of the primary RFID technology suppliers and a partner in both ACNielsen's Schaumburg Learning Lab and the Consumer 360 conference Learning Center, "As a leader in the marketing information industry, ACNielsen has positioned itself to be to be at the forefront of RFID technology. We are pleased to be providing a complete set of RFID hardware, software and integration support for the ACNielsen demos and look forward to working with the company as it learns more about the technology and its potential applications to the consumer packaged goods industry."

RFID technology is being tested by numerous industries to help track everything from airline baggage to cattle. Several major consumer packaged goods retailers and the U.S. Department of Defense have issued mandates to their vendors, requiring that all product pallets and cases bound for their distribution centers be RFID tagged within the next one to three years.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Auto-ID Center has been the driver of this technology over the past three years and will continue to enhance RFID with Auto-ID Centers in six different regions around the world. The Center's former executive director and co-founder, Kevin Ashton, is a keynote speaker at this year's Consumer 360 conference. As of November 2003, the commercialization of RFID has been turned over to EPCglobal, a joint venture between the Uniform Code Council and EAN International.

ACNielsen, a VNU business, is the world's leading marketing information provider. Offering services in more than 100 countries, the unit provides measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics and consumer attitudes and behavior. Clients rely on ACNielsen's market research, proprietary products, analytical tools and professional service to understand competitive performance, to uncover new opportunities and to raise the profitability of their marketing and sales campaigns.

RFID Fibers in Currency Notes

An example of RFID Technology that can be woven into currency notes is the RFID Fiber... This vendor, INKode, has RFID technology that could be applied in the RFID currency tracking... Here is an explanation of how their technology works:

By embedding INKODE’s microscopic structured resonators into materials, then using extremely low power to energize them, these resonators will respond when excited by Radio Frequency waves. The resonators respond in a pre-determined manner.

These resonators can be embedded in paper products, glass, rubber, plastics and numerous other manufactured materials. The amount of RF energy needed to excite these truly passive devices is less than the amount of energy emitted by a keychain pocket flashlight.

This technology opens the door to a new perspective in automatic identification systems. INKODE calls the responses from these structures “Resonant Signature™." The use of these Resonant Signatures™ creates an unlimited variety for automatic identification.

This opens the door for RFID currency tracking through the use of RFID Fiber technology...

Other vendors are involved in the field of RFID fibers that could be applied to currency tracking:

Bsecure - anti-counterfeit, anti-diversion and brand protection: Bsecure turns MT amorphous microwire — Authentifiber — into a low-cost chipless RFID fiber for "smart" labels.

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.