RFID Container Monitoring Creates Asset Visibility

Australian logistics firm, Townley Group, chooses Wavetrend RFID technology to create visibility into its assets in the supply chain. The RFID technology will be deployed on a number of challenging logistical scenarios for the companies. ...

... "The combination of high-performance fixed infrastructure and mobile handheld device field technology combined with asset monitoring software made Wavetrend the clear choice for Townley Group and its customers in the region. The ability of Wavetrend’s active RFID network to deliver unprecedented asset visibility and perform at a high-level under harsh conditions ensures that it will meet all requirements for Townley Group’s applications. " ...

Via Wavetrend: International Container Monitoring and Security with Australia's Townley Group

Apparel RFID Finland

RFID Enabled by Dynamic Infrastructure

Networking leaders embrace a vision of dynamic networking to enable the requirements of the edge devices and information flows. As network complexity increases, the support requirements are expected to stay low, improving productivity. ...

... "RFID / wireless to virtualization and even cloud computing will require more network innovation as network infrastructure supports more fluid systems and endpoints, more complexity and yet increasingly larger portions of business operations. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Networking Industry Dynamic Infrastructure

RFID Healthcare Installation in Israel

Wavetrend Technologies implements an active RFID project for the new Ashdod Medical Center in Israel, that creates the largest active RFID installation in the Middle East. ...

... "In the interest of achieving the best possible monitoring of equipment, personnel and high-risk patients, Ashdod Medical Center required full RFID coverage for all six operational floors of its facility. To meet this objective, Ardan will install a vast infrastructure of active RFID supplied by Wavetrend. Readers will be strategically positioned throughout the hospital, and an extensive array of tags designed to track multiple assets will be deployed. The real-time tracking capabilities that the system offers will allow the hospital to locate critical equipment and personnel in the event of an emergency, and also monitor the whereabouts of high-risk patients in real time so that medical staff can react to an alert immediately. " ...

Via Wavetrend: Largest Healthcare RFID Installation in Israel

Oracle RFID Integration at the Edge

Reva Systems and Oracle collaborate to support the capture and utilization of RFID data in the Oracle E-Business Suite. ...

... "Reva TAPs are purpose-built RFID Network Infrastructure appliances that provide RFID device control and data processing. TAPs install at a facility level to optimally manage the operations of RFID readers and other equipment from many leading providers, collect the raw tag data, process the data for accuracy and then pass only relevant RFID information to the Oracle E-Business Suite. Reva also provides a set of enterprise RFID management tools which Oracle users can rely on to remotely operate RFID infrastructure and devices across global sites." ...

Via Reva Systems: Integration of RFID Data for the Oracle E-Business Suite

RFID Retail Checkout

Freedom Shopping has launched a solution that plugs into existing cash registers and point-of-sale terminals to enable RFID checkout, inventory tracking and security. ...

... "The core of the solution is a software wedge (Freedom-ID) that operates on the point-of-sale (POS) terminal. It communicates with a counter-top RFID reader pad (EasyRead Pad) and/or other readers in the checkout lane. Inventory is monitored with mobile RFID readers and security gates also are RFID-enabled. Data is passed to existing cash registers and POS infrastructure at all points in a SKU format so it can be instantly integrated. Consumer privacy is protected using a variety of technical safeguards. " ...

Via Freedom Shopping: Offering for Retail RFID Checkout & Security

RFID Partnership Provides Infrastructure Services

GlobeRanger partners with Winston Joseph to provide full infrastructure service to its customer base. ...

... "GlobeRanger's iMotion software platform is deployed across multiple industries throughout the world including retail, government, healthcare and perishables supply chains. With the addition of the infrastructure services capability, GlobeRanger can now offer end-to-end, global and scalable RFID solutions to its customers. GlobeRanger is partnering with Winston Joseph to deliver these services. Winston Joseph has delivered infrastructure solutions to over 250,000 sites in over 80 countries worldwide. " ...

Via GlobeRanger: RFID Infrastructure Services Capability

RFID Retail Solution Named Enterprise Best

Portuguese fashion retailer, Throttleman, is recognized by the EHI Retail Institute, a global retail trade association, as the Best Enterprise Solution for its use of RFID technology to drive efficiencies in its supply chain logistics. ...

... "Integrating an RFID infrastructure has enabled Throttleman to increase the efficiency of its distribution center by 60% and ensures that stock is quickly and accurately routed to the appropriate stores. Affixed with Avery Dennison RFID labels, items are shipped from Throttleman's manufacturing plant in India to their distribution center in Portugal. Upon arrival, TAGSYS' UHF RFID tunnel identifies and counts the content of each box with scan rates of up to 18,000 articles per hour. Comparing the list of scanned items to the packing slip, TAGSYS' UHF RFID tunnel automatically identifies discrepancies and generates an alert to check content. This reduces the amount of time items remain in Throttleman’s distribution center from 4.9 days to less than 24 hours, thereby quickly and accurately replenishing a store's inventory. Systems integrator, Creative Systems, was chosen by Throttleman to define and install an RFID system to improve efficiencies throughout their supply chain. Creative Systems selected TAGSYS for its expertise in item-level RFID infrastructure systems, and Avery Dennison to supply the RFID labels. " ...

Via TAGSYS RFID: BEST ENTERPRISE SOLUTION

RFID Medical Transportation Implementation Based on Microsoft Sharepoint Server

B.O.S. Better Online Solutions Ltd will implement solution of strategic customer involved in medical transportation industry. ...

... "The system is based on BOS PointAct infrastructure enhancements to Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS). The first phase of the implementation will enable the customer, on a daily basis, to monitor, analyze, audit, manage and control its services, costs, pricing lists and other business aspects. In subsequent phases, new features for monitoring the customer's vehicles and equipment will be introduced, using BOS RFID and AVL technologies. Following the completion of this project, the Company and the customer intend to establish a Joint Venture that will offer the system to potential new customers. " ...

Via BOS: RFID SharePoint based logistics project

Solar RFID Reader Powers Asset Tracking System

Savi Technology deploys solar-powered Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers and signposts that lower energy usage and costs and enable real-time asset tracking. In many cases, Army bases may be in remote locations with limited power. Solar energy is being used more frequently in remote RFID networks. ...

... "Solar energy provides an energy efficient and environmentally friendly power source for users' RFID hardware, and also eliminates the need to install electrical infrastructure in remote areas where there is no fixed reader infrastructure. Savi engineers mounted solar panels and RFID signposts on poles located at a major U.S. Army supply facility in Kuwait. The solar-powered signposts activate RFID tags attached to vehicles or pieces of equipment. The tags then report the assets' positions to nearby RFID readers, which relay the information to Savi Site Manager software that automatically updates the assets' latest location. These tools enable the facility to track more than 25,000 tags per day. " ...

Via Savi Technology: RFID Asset Tracking Uses Solar Power

Microsoft RFID Biztalk Release 2

Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2, which includes radio frequency identification (RFID) infrastructure improvementa, is now generally available. Core components include a device abstraction framework and tools that support the creation of Microsoft .NET-based RFID and sensor applications. ...

... "This product includes advancements for radio frequency identification (RFID) and electronic data interchange (EDI), and extended interoperability such as Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) Guidance and Line of Business Adapters. Together, these capabilities make it easier for companies to connect systems within their own organizations and across those of trading partners. The availability of BizTalk Server 2006 R2 underscores Microsoft's long-term commitment to deliver extensive SOA and BPM capabilities as part of the overall Microsoft application platform. The platform spans products and technologies to develop, deploy and manage applications and IT infrastructure across the organization locally and worldwide. " ...

Via Microsoft: New product advancements enable customers to extend enterprise connectivity through real-world solutions for BPM, SOA.

RFID World March 2007

RFID World is coming up in May 2007. ...

... "Now in its 5th year, RFID World 2007 spotlights successes in all aspects of the market - from the core applications and business process improvements driving RFID demand, to the latest innovations in hardware, software and infrastructure needed for deployment. Produced by CMP Technology, the show expects to attract a record attendance of enterprise users, manufacturers and systems integrators to the world's largest RFID trade event from March 26-28, 2007 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas). " ...

Everything RFID at 5th Annual RFID World 2007

Honda RFID Assemply Line: Critical Component Traceability

Honda Italia partners with IBM to implement RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology and infrastructure in production processes at its plant located in Atessa, Italy. The solution will enable Honda Italy to increase efficiency and accuracy in managing its motorcycle production in Italy. ...

... "IBM Global Business Services will support Honda Italia in the design and development of the RFID implementation, which will enable the real time, automatic identification of each vehicle along the entire production chain. The RFID tags will also be used on micro-lots of critical components, such as engines. IBM business and technology consultants have been collaborating for a long time with Honda Italia engineers in the design of the new processes and in the identification of the best solution. The RFID technology will be then completely integrated with Honda's existing IT systems through an open standards-based, Linux and Java (J2EE) application built on the IBM WebSphere Application Server to track inventory and to monitor ways to improve efficiency.



The first phase of the project, completed earlier this year, simultaneously with the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Honda Italia, calls for the transformation of Honda's large-displacement bikes (Hornet 600, CBF1000/600/500) assembly line. The RFID tags were used to monitor the traceability of critical components, WIP (Work In Progress) management and inventory replenishment. In the future, RFID tags will also be applied to Honda's scooter production line, starting with the European best seller SH150i/125i and the bigger SH300i. " ...

Via IBM: Honda Italia and IBM Revolutionize Motorbike Production With RFID: Innovation Project at Honda's Plant in Italy Expected to Improve Efficiency and Accuracy ...

RFID Reader Module: Small Form Factor

WJ Communications introduces a low cost, small form factor Gen2 UHF RFID module, the WJM3000, which is based on its WJC200 reader chipset. The WJM3000 is the size of a compact flash card and uses almost 60% fewer discreet components, compared to currently available modules on the market. This RFID module will exceed industry benchmarks for fast inventory time and longer read and write range with worldwide Generation-2 RFID tags. ...

... "Utilizing WJ's RF expertise and leadership in wireless infrastructure and radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, WJ has developed the WJM family of UHF RFID Reader Module products to enable OEMs to offer RFID functionality in mobile devices while maintaining key parameters such as low cost, light weight and extended battery life. The data connectors provide an easy snap on PCB or a cable connection allowing for easy integration.

The main applications for WJM3000 include: RFID enabled Mobile Devices, RFID Enabled Handheld Readers, RFID Enabled Fork Lift Readers, and RFID Portal Reader. " ...

Via WJ Communications: WJ Communications Revolutionize the UHF Gen2 RFID Reader Module Market ...

RFID Shipment Tracking and Detection

Pliant implements IBM-designed RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) platform pilot program, that tracks shipments between technical centers and customer sites. The RFID system detects tampering in shipped products and enables workforce mobility using handheld devices to track products. Potential tampering can be identified and addressed in real-time. ...

... "IBM Global Business Services consultants collaborated with Pliant to develop a comprehensive RFID technology roadmap, helping Pliant prepare and validate the RFID equipment in its labs. Pliant's IBM software and solution, which has been in place since December 2005, leverages IBM's Data Collection Server software and WebSphere RFID Device Infrastructure. The software installed on Pliant's network helped to create RFID labels which were printed and deployed on pallets and the pallets were tracked as they moved between the two Pliant technical centers in Newport News, Virginia and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. IBM consultants worked with Pliant to create Web pages on a network database to track the content and movement history of each pallet so that its location was always known.



A wireless handheld RFID reader loaded with the WebSphere RFID Device Infrastructure used to scan the pallets within the plants to immediately look up pallet content information. With the support provided by the IBM Global Business Services team, Pliant now has a proven product concept to access to real-time tracking information for shipments between its two facilities. This setup allowed Pliant to download and monitor critical information which helped protect business-critical applications. " ...

Via Pliant Corporation: IBM Helps Pliant Design and Implement RFID System to Track Shipments and Detect Tampering ...

Hospital RFID Realizes Patient Benefits

HP and Precision Dynamics implement patient management system based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in Taiwan at the Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH). The hospital CIO sees the hospital realizing benefits through a reduction in medical errors, from root causes such as manual processes, compliance to standard operating procedures, and visibility to real-time patient status and medical process exceptions. The system is architected with PDC's RFID wristbands and HP's mobile and fixed RFID infrastructure. Privacy is managed by storing confidential patient information on the RFID chip rather than printing the information on the wristband. ...

... "CGMH implemented the RFID system in its operating rooms to improve patient safety by verifying and positively identifying patients, gathering real-time data, reducing risk of wrong-site and/or wrong-patient surgery, and ensuring compliance with hospital patient safety procedures or standard operating procedures. Since the implementation, CGMH has achieved 100% accuracy in patient ID in the OR. The new RFID system automates many manual functions of the previous operating room processes. The system helps verify that the five rights of medication safety are met - right patient, medication, dose, time, and route - as well as right surgery and surgical site. Automating patient data verification processes has saved CGMH medical staff an average of 4.3 minutes per patient. Also, automated data collection has helped prevent common manual data entry mistakes, which if gone undetected could lead to medical errors." ...

Via HP: Precision Dynamics Corporation and HP Provide Chang Gung Memorial Hospital with RFID System for Patient Management

RFID Company Merger, Private Placement

InfoLogix expands through private placement and merger to accelerate its growth strategy in the RFID healthcare market. ...

... "2006 has been a monumental year for InfoLogix, said David Gulian, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of InfoLogix. We have been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as the sixth fastest growing company in the nation, and have reached significant milestones in installing over 1,900 customer solutions and 1,100 solutions specifically for hospitals. With $17 million of equity financing behind us, we can confidently execute our growth strategy as a public company. Gulian noted that the market for healthcare and RFID-based solutions continues to witness exceptional growth. Our RFID-based software, infrastructure, and services solution portfolio is poised to take advantage of this market opportunity. " ...

Via InfoLogix: InfoLogix, Inc. Completes Over-Subscribed $17 Million Private Placement and Merger with Publicly Traded New Age Translation, Inc., Creating Newly Public RFID & Healthcare Technology Company ...

RFID Context Aware Location Services

Sybase enhances its RFID Anywhere solution to support advanced services that enable context-aware locating capabilities. Location information is given a business context in applications that support asset management, access control, resource management in industries, such as logistics, healthcare, and other supply chain environments. Location information will integrate sensor technology data associated with assets. Assets will be identified and associated with fixed locations and temporal information to provide location and timing insights. Conditions can be monitored and alerts will be provided based on events. ...

... "RFID Anywhere 3.0 breaks new ground with the delivery of a context-aware Location Information System. Using RFID Anywhere, businesses can not only track assets from a range of data collection points [such as passive RFID, active RFID, real-time location systems (RTLS), barcode, global positioning systems (GPS) and environmental sensors], but can dramatically enhance the value of this data by associating environmental inputs (e.g., temperature) along with the location data. In addition, the RFID Anywhere 3.0 Location Information System exposes its complete feature set via a rich service oriented architecture (SOA) web services layer allowing organizations to easily transform static business information into business-aware intelligence. " ...

Via Sybase: Sybase iAnywhere Pioneers Context-Aware Location Information System with RFID Anywhere 3.0 ...

RFID Anywhere simplifies the development, deployment, configuration and management tasks for highly distributed, multi-site, intelligent sensor networks, and abstracts the interaction with the physical network of devices. With support for over forty devices, this powerful infrastructure enables the creation of intelligent sensor networks out-of-the-box. By using RFID Anywhere, sensors are able to work together as an intelligent network by combining, organizing and coordinating these technologies through a common management structure, advanced feature set and event-driven development framework.

RFID Passport: Vicinity Read Technology Not Recommended

Smart Card Alliance responds to the State Department's October 17th Federal Register notice, recommending that the U.S. government reconsider using vicinity read RFID technology for its passport card implementation program. The Alliance sees advantages in leveraging contactless smartcard technology for the ePassport. ...

... "In its response to the State Department's notice, the Alliance provides details of its concerns with the passport card decision to use vicinity read RFID technology, and gives recommendations for measures that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State could implement to improve the passport card program.

The Alliance states many advantages to using contactless smart card technology for the passport card program, including the ability to support electronic verification of authenticity to prevent counterfeiting and to use secure, encrypted communications to thwart eavesdropping and replay attacks, and ensure privacy protection for cardholders. A passport card based on contactless smart card technology can also leverage the infrastructure that is being put in place by DHS and the Department of State to support the new ePassport. " ...

Via Smart Card Alliance: Smart Card Alliance Urges U.S. Government to Reconsider Proposed Passport Card With Long Range RFID Technology

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

RFID Supports Nissan Continuous Improvement Initiative

Nissan implements a continuous improvement initiative to target vehicle labor cost reduction, increase logistics throughput accelerating customer service, and enhance vehicle quality through defect elimination early in the product lifecycle. The initiative will be enabled by a wireless architecture and active RFID technology in the Nissan Canton MS manufacturing facility, supplied by WhereNet. ...

... "As part of a continuous improvement initiative at its four-million square foot assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, Nissan will leverage a single wireless architecture to run multiple WhereNet applications, including the WhereSoft Yard Management System (YMS) and Vehicle Tracking and Management System (VTMS), to improve production velocity and throughput, labor productivity, and vehicle quality. Nissan's Canton assembly plant has the capacity to produce 400,000 vehicles per year, including the Altima sedan, Armada full-size sport utility vehicle, Infiniti QX56 full-size sport utility vehicle, Quest minivan, and Titan full-size pickup truck.

Deploying the WhereNet single wireless infrastructure over the entire Canton complex will take less than 90 days. The hardware consists of 1500 active RFID WhereTag transmitters, which are temporarily attached to new vehicles as they roll off the assembly line as part of the WhereNet VTMS system; 700 WhereTag transmitters that are permanently fixed to trailers belonging to Nissan's dedicated suppliers or temporarily attached to others as part of the WhereSoft YMS application; 120 WherePort magnetic exciters positioned between gates and at key choke points across the complex; and a local infrastructure of 80 wireless WhereLAN locating access points.

Nissan also plans to deploy the WhereNet automated gate check-in/out solution known as Fast Gate that supports 24x7 sequenced parts deliveries from Nissan suppliers. Fast Gate senses when a truck is approaching the gate; cross-references detailed information about the truck in a database; and, if authorized, automatically opens the gate to grant entry. Then, based on business rules loaded into the WhereSoft yard management application, the system instructs drivers and yard personnel to deliver the inbound load to the appropriate dock door for just-in-time sequencing of parts based on the assembly line build plan for that work shift.



When new vehicles roll off the Nissan assembly line, each vehicle is assigned an active RFID WhereTag transmitter that is married to the vehicle identification number (VIN). The WhereTag remains on the vehicle until it has been processed and is ready to ship to its final destination. Nissan uses the WhereNet VTMS in off-line areas to manage post-assembly verification and test processes, as well as quality repair, containment and shipping zones. The system includes a logical hierarchy of rules that manages the processing of every vehicle in accordance with its assigned status so that critical orders are processed before lower-priority units. " ...

Via Wherenet: NISSAN SELECTS WHERENET'S LOCATABLE, ACTIVE RFID SYSTEM TO AUTOMATE INBOUND SUPPLY CHAIN AND OUTBOUND DELIVERY CHAIN ...

Philips RFID: Healthcare Assets

Philips RFID technology is focused on the healthcare market combined with services. The first customer to deploy the Philips asset tracking solution is the University Medical Center (UMC) in Tucson, Ariz. Philips installation at UMC is one of the healthcare industry's largest Wi-Fi-based asset tracking projects. This RFID implementation covers eight floors and a million square feet with 2,300 RFID-tagged assets in use throughout the hospital. The hospital workforce will use the Philips RFID solution to track and manage medical equipment, such as infusion pumps, beds, monitors, wheelchairs and other portable devices. ...

... "Helping hospitals to focus on the patient, Philips' asset tracking solution helps locate hospital assets through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The solution is designed to work within existing wireless infrastructure, allowing hospitals to leverage investments they have already made in wireless technology. Philips' asset tracking solution consists of a suite of services to maximize the solution's benefits, including wireless tags, a location engine and the MobileView user interface. Product tracking information is fed into the location engine and the asset's position can then be portrayed on a map, in a table, or in a report format for any networked hospital user. In addition to pinpointing lost equipment, the information gathered from the asset tracking solution can help improve asset utilization and work flow efficiencies.

The Philips asset tracking solution is designed around each hospital's specific use cases to help solve problems such as productivity, regulation requirements, utilization, theft, and loss. With an understanding of the unique requirements that the healthcare environment demands, Philips has an advanced solution that can enable hospitals to make facility-wide improvement. The Philips asset tracking solution utilizes technology that includes wireless tags, a location engine, and the MobileView user interface. The tags, which can be attached to most mobile assets, transmit to the hospital’s existing 802.11 infrastructure. This information is fed into the location engine and the asset's position can then be portrayed on a map, or in a table or report format for any networked hospital user. " ...

Via Philips: Philips Delivers New Radiology Products At 2006 RSNA That Present Clinicians with a Clear View of Patient Data and a Clear Path to Patient Care

Solar RFID: RPI Pilot

RPI pilots solar-powered RFID readers to collect traffic data and monitor flow. The portable RFID reader has the potential to decrease traffic congestion and enable travel time estimation in real-time, using intelligence dynamically about work zones, events, etc. When fully networked, the RFID-enable database can recommend the best driving routes and avoid construction zones and accidents. ...

... "In the coming months, the units will be deployed to collect traffic data during the morning commute on busy Capital Region roads. The portable units, which are based on the same technology as E-ZPass tag readers, could eventually be used to provide valuable data for a variety of applications, from decreasing congestion in work zones to assisting emergency evacuations. A portable, solar-powered tag reader that collects data to monitor traffic flow. The research is funded through a $3.9 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to the Center for Infrastructure and Transportation Studies (CITS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. " ...

Via Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Portable, Solar-Powered Tag Readers Could Improve Traffic Management

RFID Switch Infrastructure Convergence ...

Symbol integrates radio frequency switch to enable convergence of multiple technologies under centralized management solution, including RFID. This supports the consistent management of the radio frequency infrastructure for an enterprise, as most companies strive to implement RF devices for supply chain, wireless zones for mobility and flexible office work. ...

... "The RFS7000 RF Switch leverages Symbol's Wireless Next Generation (Wi-NG) architecture, and is designed to support and consolidate Wi-Fi and emerging RF technologies such as RFID, 802.11n, mesh, Voice over Wireless LAN (VoWLAN) and WiMAX. Businesses will now be able to efficiently and cost-effectively deploy and centrally manage wireless voice, data and infrastructure devices throughout the RF spectrum.

The RFS7000 RF Switch provides robust, highly scalable support for enterprise mobility, and is ideal for manufacturing facilities, hospitals, warehouse and supply chain industries, educational and government institutions, and service providers with high-bandwidth requirements and mission-critical applications.

The RFS7000 RF Switch is 802.11n-ready, capable of supporting up to 256 802.11a/b/g access ports, and enables a new switch clustering concept, providing redundancy and high-performance scalability for more than 2,000 access points. Symbol's new RF Switch is designed to support value-add, optional add-on modules such as fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) to provide seamless persistent connectivity for dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handheld devices. The RFS7000 Switch also enables Layer 3 roaming, without additional external applications and third-party servers, to handle multi-floor or large-scale campus-wide deployments, allowing mobile users to maintain a persistent connection to high-bandwidth applications as they roam throughout the enterprise. " ...

Via Symbol Technologies: Symbol Technologies Unveils the Industry's First RF Switch to Drive the Next Generation of Enterprise Mobility

HP RFID: DataCenter Asset Tracking ...

Meijer, a large privately held retailer, tests HP RFID solution for the tracking of assets in the data center. HP is investing in RFID technology to help retailers and manufacturers optimize their supply chain costs while accelerating the speed to market. ...

... "HP announced its researchers have created a radio frequency identification (RFID) asset tracking technology for data centers and successfully tested it at a major retailer. The technology was developed by HP Labs, the company's central research facility, and tested at Meijer Inc., a retailer with more than 170 grocery and specialty stores in the midwestern United States. The solution could automatically monitor data center assets, providing real-time tracking and auditing of servers, networking equipment, server and storage enclosures and other technology using RFID.

The technology uses RFID readers and RFID tags to monitor the location of individual components within the data center, including the addition of new devices and device movement to other areas. The sensing infrastructure creates a high-resolution view of devices throughout the data center. The system also can provide historical data related to additions, changes and moves of servers and server-related equipment. " ...

Via HP: HP Creates RFID Technology for Tracking Data Center Assets:

RFID Enterprise Service Upgrade ...

BEA WebLogic RFID product family is a component of the BEA's service oriented architecture. RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 is available for download. The RFID system's event repository is interoperable with the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standards. ...

... "A core component of the BEA WebLogic RFID product family, BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server is designed to help enable central management of RFID data collected at the edge of an enterprise, i.e. inside a retail store, warehouse or data center. With enhanced support for industry standards and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), the 2.0 release of BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server provides a suite of six services that can help manage and coordinate RFID data and edge operations globally. BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 complements the BEA WebLogic Edge Server and BEA WebLogic Compliance Express products, and is designed to make it easier to bridge the gaps between people, processes, applications and systems across enterprise and trading partners. BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 can provide customers unprecedented visibility into product movement data, and is designed to help enable them to derive business value more quickly from RFID data collected at the edge. " ...

Via BEA Systems: BEA Strengthens RFID Infrastructure Software for Enterprise-Grade Deployments ...

RFID Reader Korean Market ...

WJ Communications certifies its RFID reader module for the Korean market. The reader supports a number of mobile form factors. ...

... "WJ Communications, Inc., a leading designer and supplier of RF products and solutions for the wireless infrastructure and RFID reader markets, announced that it has successfully achieved certification from the South Korean government Ministry of Information Communication (MIC), for its RFID UHF WJR7090 reader module and is now approved for sale in Korea. The recently developed WJR7090, is a highly scalable, high-performance, and easy to integrate Gen2 UHF RFID reader module ideally suited for the Korean handheld and mobile market. Packaged in a PCMCIA Type II PC card format, the WJR7090 is compact in size and is ISO18000-6B, ISO18000-6C (Gen2) and Class 1 compliant. The WJR7090, is designed to offer maximum RFID read-range in applications such as handhelds, printers, forklift readers, portal readers, and other mobile devices enabled for RFID functionality. " ...

Via WJ Communications: South Korea Certifies WJ Communications RFID UHF Reader Module ...

RFID Port Security: Container Shipping ...

Savi Networks will implement RFID container shipping to improve port security at Virginia ports. ...

... "Savi Networks announced that it is installing Radio Frequency Identification-based (RFID) technology information services at Virginia Port Authority terminals to further enhance the security and efficiency of cargo container shipments. Under an agreement signed August 22, with the VPA, Savi Networks will deploy a system compatible with international standards (ISO18000-7) at Norfolk International Terminal, Newport News Marine Terminal and Portsmouth Marine Terminal. The network automatically tracks the location and security status of RFID-tagged containers. SaviTrak, the company's web-based managed information service, also will be utilized to deliver real-time information collected by the network infrastructure. " ...

Via Savi Technology: SAVI NETWORKS TO DEPLOY CARGO SECURITY AND TRACKING NETWORK AT VIRGINIA PORT AUTHORITY TERMINALS ...

RFID Wireless Toll Payment

Transcore receives expanded order for RFID tags that enable the Jamaican wireless toll payment system. ...

... "Jamaica's Highway 2000 expands toll collection infrastructure with opening of Portmore gateway, completing the first phase of a three-tiered project. Jamaican Infrastructure Operator, which operates the roadway for the TransJamaican Highway Ltd., increases order for TransCore radio frequency identification (RFID) eGo tags. The paper-thin windshield sticker tag, which operates at 902-928 MHz frequency band, expands global use providing an economical RFID tag technology that can increase patrons' migration to wireless payment of tolls and speed traffic throughput. " ...

Via Transcore: Jamaica Highway2000 Expands Toll Collection System, Increases RFID Sticker Tag Use Worldwide ...

RFID: Alien Tech World Tags ...

Alien introduces RFID tags that will operate across the world. ...

... "Alien World Tags enable companies to manufacture products on one continent and ship them worldwide utilizing a single RFID tag that exhibits uniform behavior and delivers consistent performance regardless of its destination. When used with Alien Enterprise RFID Readers, this enables companies to deploy a common RFID infrastructure worldwide, thus reducing the number of infrastructure designs, software interfaces, development projects and equipment models they need to ensure accurate, reliable tag reads across their global supply and delivery chains. Consequently, upfront implementation and ongoing maintenance costs are minimized, overall RFID effectiveness is maximized, and returns on RFID investment can be accelerated. " ...

Alien Technology Expands Gen2 RFID Tag Family

SAP Cisco RFID Investment

SAP and Cisco invest in Reva Systems through investment, industry collaboration, and strategic relationships. ...

... "Reva Systems, an emerging leader among radio frequency identification (RFID) network infrastructure providers, announced $13.5M in second-round venture funding that includes a capital contribution and technology standards collaboration with Cisco Systems, Inc.; a capital investment and strategic relationship with SAP Ventures, a division of SAP AG (NYSE: SAP); and follow-on investments from Reva's original venture backers and individual investors, including North Bridge Venture Partners and Charles River Ventures. Today's announcement brings Reva's total funding to $20M including the original Series A financing in April, 2004. The investments will fund Reva's growth in a time of intensifying global RFID market expansion. The company is well-positioned with a robust RFID appliance to satisfy network management and scalability challenges that the RFID community now recognizes as the key to widespread RFID deployment.



Reva's approach and its product development are aligned with Cisco's expectation of the proliferation of RFID and the resulting demand for innovative solutions and network management to support RFID deployments. Reva is leading industry standards committees to help define network-to-reader protocols and other standards that will streamline RFID network integration, and its approach is becoming the practical model for managing readers and collecting data across any RFID implementation." ...

Via Reva Systems: Reva Secures Investments from Cisco Systems and SAP Ventures: Funding accelerates RFID network integration effort ...

RFID Middleware: Automate Integrate ...

Reltronics Technologies has made their system, SmartInstrument, a versatile middleware for automatic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems, widely available in the marketplace. Reltronics strengths lie in automation and identification using remote RFID technology. The SmartInstrument middleware system plays a role in supporting interoperability and integration of multiple, potentially incompatible, solutions. ...

... "One of Reltronics Technologies' fortes is in creating and supporting RFID systems that assist in automating asset and inventory management, identifying drug pedigrees, etc. and which rely upon storage and remote retrieval of data using RFID hardware (Readers, Antennas, Tags or Transponders). Retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target have whole-heartedly accepted the RFID concepts to implement efficiencies in their workflow and to limit inventories in their warehouses and they have subsequently initiated mandates to their vendors to implement RFID technology in their supplies within set timelines. These mandates are allowing shorter timelines and the industry not only needs many new deployments but also sustain existing deployments. SmartInstrument is a step forward to facilitate transparency in the RFID systems deployment thereby bringing commonality between various RFID protocols and hardware technologies (reader, antenna, and transponders or RFID tags), irrespective of the technology being new or old.

For instance, SmartInstrument enables end-users to deploy new RFID systems while seamlessly supporting all existing RFID systems and eliminating the need for single- sourcing thereby achieving a better return of investment. It fills the need by interpreting any RFID system utilizing any reader (Active, Passive), working on any frequency (LF, HF, VHF, UHF), with any communication protocol (Ethernet, WiFi, RS-232, RS-485), any transponder (Active, Passive), and any standard (EPCGlobal, ISO, AIMGlobal) bringing the much needed commonality into the RFID infrastructure. Reltronics Technologies' focus on bringing interoperability and sustainability into the RFID technology environment is the result of industry satisfaction with the RFID initiative, to enable overcoming the customer perception of which RFID technology to deploy, to enable commonality between the various RFID protocols, to enable a more cost-effective RFID system deployment, and finally to allow the end-users to start small with one RFID system and expand at their own financial pace without having to worry about the RFID system being antiquated. " ...

Via Reltronics: A Novel Idea to Harmonize Automatic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems ...

RFID Cargo Terminal Operational: Chain of Custody ...

Savi implements RFID-enabled chain of custody process at the Port of Felixstowe (PFL) in the UK. The system, called SaviTrak, automates the tracking of cargo as it is processed through the supply chain, while monitoring security. ...

... "Network infrastructure, including SaviTrak software and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, are now installed and operational at PFL's Trinity Terminal, the largest cargo-handling facility in the United Kingdom. The readers, which are placed on dockside cranes and at entry and exit gates, automatically capture chain of custody handoff points for containers equipped with international standards-based RFID tags. The real-time data is routed to the web-based network software, which transforms it into actionable information that enables SaviTrak customers to make better supply chain decisions. The SaviTrak information service is offered via an open technology platform, which accommodates multiple and interoperable Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) technologies, such as barcodes, EPC-compliant passive and active RFID technologies, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) used to track ships and trucks that transport ocean containers. Active RFID technologies used are compatible with the ISO 18000-7 standard, and sensor seals are compatible with the ISO 18185 draft standard. " ...

Via Savi Technology: SAVI NETWORKS EXTENDS SAVITRAK REAL-TIME INFORMATION NETWORK TO UNITED KINGDOM'S PORT OF FELIXSTOWE ...

RFID Seamless Mobility: Moto Acquires Mobile Technology Leader, Symbol ...

Motorola makes strategic acquisition of wounded-prey Symbol Technologies with an eye towards the convergence of digital and mobility as an engine for future growth. ...

... "Symbol is a leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and servicing products and systems used in end-to-end enterprise mobility solutions featuring rugged mobile computing, advanced data capture, radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless infrastructure and mobility management. The company's products and services help customers increase workforce productivity, improve customer service and enhance operational efficiencies by delivering information in real-time, as people, information and assets are on-the-move. " ...

Via Moto: Motorola to Expand Enterprise Capabilities Through Acquisition of Symbol Technologies ...

RFID Security: NSF Funds Smart Tag Research ...

National Science Foundation, NSF, provides funding to increase the privacy and security of RFID smart tags, through better cryptographics.

... "Strengthened security for smart tags - the wireless devices that allow drivers to zip through automatic tollbooths or pass a security desk with the flash of a card - is the aim of a new initiative that has received $1.1 million from the National Science Foundation. Led by Kevin Fu of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the researchers are developing much-needed cryptographic protocols, hardware and applications for the increasingly common devices. Millions of consumers already use smart tags—wireless devices that use radio waves to identify and authenticate people and things - and they will become more numerous, says Fu.



Smart tags - which include Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags—are already used to track items from library books to merchandise to cattle. Increasingly, they are replacing the magnetic stripe cards used in security badges and mass transit cards, sometimes also serving as electronic cash. The tags will soon be incorporated into documents such as passports; their use is being explored for tracking medical records and prison inmates. But the tags, which also include contactless smart cards and low-resource sensors, are a technology that has crept in from the edge of the Internet and they present new challenges in terms of security and privacy issues, says Fu.

The unique environment presented by smart tags - they can operate without human intervention and without a physically connected power source - presents unique security concerns, says Fu. Smart tags automatically respond to the device that reads them, so human users don't have the traditional means of giving or denying consent to the reader. This infrastructure of untrusted readers and tags requires an approach that preserves privacy while maintaining the flexibility and convenience that the tags offer.

The new consortium, dubbed the RFID ConsortiUm for Security and Privacy (RFID-CUSP), takes these operating conditions into account and is designing new cryptographic definitions, algorithms and models that will lay the solid foundation on which secure applications can be built. As part of their project, the researchers are working with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). The project will result in the first completely open, publicly available software for experimenting with RFID security and privacy. " ...

UMass Amherst: UMass Amherst-Led Research Will Protect Consumers by Ramping Up Security for Smart Tags

Kevin Fu: "Open cryptanalysis of existing RFID protocols will give assurance in the soundness of reliable RFID technology. At UMass, we are investigating how to build secure RFID-based systems. "

The Sensor Revolution: Industry & Commerce: "Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stands among the fastest-proliferating sensor technologies. RFID systems combine electromagnetic sensing with radio communications. RFID tags and interrogators can be used to track inventory in a warehouse or collect tolls from moving cars. "

Understanding Contactless Smart Card Technologies and Some of the Leading Reader/Card Product Providers (PDF): "That transmission could then be replayed to a reader to gain access illicitly at some time in the future. In contrast, today’s secure contactless cards and readers (such as XceedID ISO-X and HID iCLASS) employ a myriad of cryptographic techniques. These techniques encrypt data in ways that render it useless to an illicit user. Thus, traditional proximity cards and readers provide inferior communication security when compared to secure contactless smart cards and readers. "

RFID Plastic Pallet Real-Time Tracking ...

Plastic pallet with RFID enables real-time tracking in the supply chain. ...

... "Under the agreement, Xterprise will use both its RFID Asset Management application—which is built on it's TraX Application Server (TAS)—and it's AnalytiX RFID business intelligence application for iGPS' plastic pallet pool. Xterprise will be responsible for RFID-centric software applications, RFID best practices and RFID infrastructure integration. Xterprise will supply iGPS with Electronic Product Code (EPC) passive RFID tags, using the recently released EPC Reusable Transport Item (RTI) standard tag data format. As part of this long-term relationship, Xterprise will work closely with iGPS' other industry-leading partners such as Ryder System, Inc.

The agreement will enable iGPS to respond to demand from industries such as beverages, consumer electronics, grocery/consumer packaged goods, home improvement/do-it-yourself, pharmaceutical, produce/meat and raw ingredients. The powerful advantages of iGPS' edge-rackable plastic pallets include their greater durability, consistent size, shape and quality, superior hygiene and traceability. iGPS is the only large-scale pallet supply service to provide RFID in every pallet to track shipments in real time, which reduces the logistical cost of shipping and allows companies to verify food and drug safety, as well as to address security issues. iGPS offers the ability to rent plastic pallets and avoid the ongoing expense of owning and maintaining wood pallets." ...

RFID Plastic Pallet Real-Time Tracking: Via Xterprise: iGPS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH XTERPRISE INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE BUILT-IN RFID-TRACKING CAPABILITY FOR ALL-PLASTIC PALLET POOL ...

SAP RFID Solution: Acsis Link ...

SAP and Acsis deliver offering to help customers comply with RFID mandates, while creating a scalable end-to-end RFID architecture for the enterprise. ...

... "Utilizing the SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure, built on SAP NetWeaver, and Acsis Data-Link Enterprise platforms, a Certified for SAP NetWeaver solution, these two leaders in RFID and supply chain solutions provide a complete package for both SAP and non-SAP customers. Further, their integrated solution provides the foundation needed to quickly scale and derive value as mandates expand. With the End to End approach, Acsis and SAP will combine Acsis's Tag/Reader recommendation for hardware, Acsis and SAP process design, software, and complete implementation in 30 days to help customers achieve their immediate compliance needs. The offering can be delivered either fully integrated with SAP back office systems or as a completely standalone system. Further, the offering can be integrated with any ERP and WMS solution using SAP's Exchange Infrastructure and Acsis Data-Link Enterprise integration capabilities. The integrated offering provides complete device orchestration, data collection, and the transformation of RFID data into business context for commissioning, packing, loading, shipping, tracking, and analytics for RFID. " ...

SAP RFID Solution: Acsis Link: Via Acsis: ACSIS and SAP LAUNCH END TO END OFFERING FOR RFID COMPLIANCE ...

RFID Library Applications: Shenzhen and NOLA ...

TAGSYS delivers library RFID applications in New Orleans and Shenzhen, China with local development / deployment partners. ...

... "TAGSYS and Integrated Technology Group (ITG), an established developer and provider of cutting-edge library RFID systems, have combined forces to donate a fully-automated, item-level RFID infrastructure to the Alvar branch of the New Orleans Public Library located in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. The branch, which was completely destroyed in the Katrina disaster, will officially reopen its doors on Sunday, June 25, 2006 in conjunction with the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference.

Traditionally, libraries have relied on employees manually scanning each item as it went through the book handling process. As a result, valuable staff resources were directed to time-consuming checkout and inventory management procedures, while patrons faced long lines and moderate customer service due to the demands placed on library staff. RFID-based library material handling systems provide library staff with the ability to computerize the entire material handling process. With the RFID system in place, staff can be relieved of checkout duties, and can spend more time providing other services to library patrons. " ...

RFID Library Applications: Shenzhen and NOLA: Via TAGSYS RFID: TAGSYS and ITG Donate Fully Automated, Item-Level RFID Infrastrusture To New Orleans Public Library ...

... "TAGSYS, announces that it has been awarded the largest library RFID project in China at the Shenzhen Library. By the end of June, nearly two million TAGSYS RFID tags will be integrated and installed on books, CDs, VHS tapes, patron cards, and other library materials by TAGSYS' local integration partner, Shenzhen Seaever Enterprise Co. Ltd. The complete and fully automated RFID system is the second largest in the world – second only to the system developed by TAGSYS for the Seattle Public Library in Seattle, WA. It includes security gates, automatic self check out and return stations, as well as programming and circulation stations.

The Shenzhen Library has been recognized worldwide for its technological and architectural innovations. The 50,000 square meter library features an open space, partition-free design and has the capabilities to store over four million books, service 8,000 patrons and circulate 50,000 volumes per day. Scheduled to open to the public in July 2006, it will serve as the documentation and information service center and regional library network center for Shenzhen. " ...

RFID Library Applications: Shenzhen and NOLA: Via TAGSYS: TAGSYS Equips China’s Shenzhen Library With Fully Automated RFID Infrastructure ...

RFID: NCR Symbol Technologies Collaborate ...

NCR and Symbol collaborate to deliver RFID technology solutions based on Generation 2 standards. ...

... "As leaders in the retail market, Symbol and NCR provide deep industry expertise and high-performance solutions that can help retailers capitalize on next generation data capture technology to significantly improve the customer experience by reducing labor costs, accelerating material handling and increasing visibility within the supply chain. Symbol is a leading global provider of enterprise mobility solutions comprised of advanced data capture products, mobile computers, wireless infrastructure, services, and RFID - including high-performance RFID fixed and mobile readers that are compliant with the EPCglobal Generation 2 standard. NCR delivers end-to-end, global RFID solutions that help businesses solve real business problems. The NCR TransitionWorks portfolio of RFID solutions encompasses thoughtware, hardware, tags, services and software, including data warehouse solutions from Teradata, a division of NCR. " ...

RFID: NCR Symbol Technologies Collaborate: Via NCR: NCR and Symbol Technologies Collaborate to Sell Generation 2 RFID Systems ...

RFID Printer SAP AutoID Certified ...

Printronix RFID print solution achieves AutoID certification with SAP infrastructure. ...

... "Printronix Inc., the leading integrated supply-chain printing solutions manufacturer, announced that its radio frequency identification (RFID) label printing solution has achieved SAP certified integration. SAP has certified the Printronix XML Forms Module 1.0 for integration with the Device Controller Interface of SAP(R) Auto-ID Infrastructure Release 2.1 and the SAP NetWeaver(R) platform in Printronix's 5r Multi-Technology Thermal Printing Platform. With this certified solution, Printronix customers can expect low-cost, rapid integration of RFID label printing into SAP solution-based environments. The pre-designed label templates, XML test files and label-design software yield the dual benefits of lower maintenance and increased reliability. This scalable solution grows with users' information-processing needs, eliminating need for costly middleware. SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure 2.1 enables RFID-based supply chain management (SCM) and supply chain execution processes across the enterprise. Printronix worked with SAP to enable smart label creation within SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure 2.1 on the industry's best-selling RFID printers and encoders. " ...

RFID Printer SAP AutoID Certified: Via Printronix Printers: Printronix RFID Label Printing Solution Achieves SAP Certified Integration ...

RFID Research Pharma Industry Frequency for ePedigree ...

Unisys and ODIN Tech collaborate on RFID frequency research for pharmaceutical industry ePedigree applications ...

... "Sponsored by Unisys, who collaborated with ODIN in the design of testing protocols and use cases, the benchmark addresses the industry's heated debate over which frequency, high (HF) or ultra-high (UHF) works best for item-level pharmaceutical tracking and authentication. The testing focused on scientific evaluation of various tags and then pinpointed several popular applications or use-case testing scenarios. Significant collaboration with pharmaceutical clients and partners, including manufacturers and distributors, made the tests particularly salient to a broad audience in the pharmaceutical world. All of the testing was conducted with hardware and tags that are available in production quantities to end-users today. No prototype or hand-built artifacts were allowed in the research as they are untested in production environments and prototype demonstrations are often misleading.

After completing scientific tag testing, ODIN technologies and Unisys extended this study to include RFID use cases typical in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The team used standard pill bottles, liquid filled bottles and blister packs for the testing. These use cases uncover the core requirements of RFID as an e-Pedigree and product authentication tool in the pharmaceutical supply chain. This step goes beyond mere demonstration or theoretical analysis to provide direct evidence of HF and UHF RFID performance in a real world setting. Since there is a wide variety in RFID tag and reader performance, multiple UHF and HF tags and readers were utilized throughout the process. The final performance analysis was based on the best performing reader and tag combinations in each frequency. " ...

RFID Research Pharma Industry Frequency for ePedigree: Via Unisys: Unisys & ODIN technologies' Research Reveals RFID High- vs. Ultra-high Frequency Leader for Pharmaceutical Industry

ODIN technologies is the leader in the physics of RFID infrastructure testing, deployment and software. ODIN technologies leverages its team of RF engineers, physicists and software developers combined with its laboratory facilities to provide RFID consulting services to major retailers, pharmaceutical companies, consumer goods manufacturers, United States government agencies and other RFID adopters. In addition to client deployment services, ODIN technologies is also the publisher of the RFID Benchmark Series, the industry's first and most referenced head to head performance analysis of leading RFID components. ODIN's President and CEO, Patrick J. Sweeney II is also author of RFID for Dummies published by John Wiley & Sons. ODIN technologies is privately held and has labs and offices in Dulles, VA.

RFID Company Acquisition ...

NCR acquires RFID company and increases its RFID customer footprint. ...

... "NCR Corporation, a global leader in end-to-end RFID solutions, announced it has acquired the assets of IDVelocity LLC, a privately held company based in Greensboro, N.C. With more than 200 implementations of its infrastructure and process management software, IDVelocity helps companies collect, move and utilize data from millions of RFID and other Auto-ID transactions each day. IDVelocity's pioneering technology dramatically reduces the effort to create, deploy and support fixed and mobile solutions using all forms of RFID and other Auto-ID technologies. One component of NCR's RFID solution is the Teradata database. IDVelocity technology supports the ability of a Teradata Warehouse to provide actionable analytics by tracking and evaluating item movements at a detailed level and to see those movements at more frequent points in the supply chain. " ...

RFID Company Acquisition: Via NCR: NCR Acquires IDVelocity ...

IDVelocity is a global leader in RFID infrastructure and process management software. ADC, IDVelocity's pioneering technology platform, dramatically reduces the effort to create, deploy and support fixed and mobile solutions using RFID and all other forms of Auto-ID. Using the efficiency of Design, Draw and Deploy techniques, IDVelocity has hundreds of live, in-production implementations with major corporations around the world producing significant, documented return on investment.

RFID Location Management Solution ...

RFID location management solution leverages WIFI networking. ...

... "With PanGo Network's 802.11-based active RFID location management solution distributed over the MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network, companies can reliably extend location-based services on a facility-wide basis. This capability enables operations executives at hospitals and other large enterprises to leverage their wireless infrastructure investment to quickly locate critical equipment and improve staff efficiency. It also provides the peace of mind that comes from buying from trusted technology providers. " ...

RFID Location Management Solution: Via PanGo Networks, Inc.: MobileAccess and PanGo Team to Add Location-Aware Capability to Enterprise Wireless Networks ...

WIFI RFID System on Chip ...

G2 Microsystems introduces RFID system on a chip that supports WIFI networking standards. ...

... "G2 Microsystems Inc., a developer of integrated circuits for the Mobile Resource Management (MRM) market, announced an ultra low-power, active radio frequency identification (RFID) System-on-a-Chip (SoC) that leverages the widely-deployed Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) network infrastructure. By using this existing infrastructure, G2 Microsystems SoC enables businesses to install asset tracking systems at a fraction of the cost of today's solutions resulting in at least a 75% reduction in total cost of ownership. Additionally, the chip's integrated support for multiple location technologies and environmental sensing coupled with ultra low-power consumption enables a new class of tags that will open the door for global MRM services in many enterprise applications.

Mobile resource management is a fast-growing market that uses RTLS to track and monitor assets both inside and outside of facilities. The Yankee Group forecasts the global RTLS market will grow to $1.6B by 2010, fueled by deployments in healthcare, manufacturing and logistics. Targeted at the RTLS market, G2 Microsystems' G2C501 Wi-Fi Active RFID SoC is a very flexible solution that enables a broad range of customer types to tailor systems to their specific application at a very low total cost of ownership. The chip is currently being incorporated into leading RTLS solutions including those from Ekahau and PanGo Networks. " ...

WIFI RFID System on Chip: Via G2 Microsystems: G2 Microsystems Significantly Reduces Cost of Asset Tracking Systems with Industry's First Wi-Fi RFID System-on-a-Chip: Leading Real-Time Location System (RTLS) Providers, Ekahau and PanGo Networks, Plan to use G2 Microsystems' Chip ...

RFID Real-Time Demand Insight

Blue Agave partners to provide RFID-enabled real-time insight into product demand. ...

... "Blue Agave Software, Inc., a provider of software solutions for improving replenishment, demand management and fulfillment execution, and VeriSign, the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks announced a strategic relationship to promote the benefits of integrating real-time RFID product movement data and Point-of-Sale (POS) data from VeriSign's Intelligent Supply Chain Services platform into Blue Agave's Retail Channel Execution applications. The combined solution can provide consumer goods manufacturers with real-time insight into actual consumer demand down to the most granular levels of store and product (SKU) sales, along with the predictive execution capabilities necessary to respond effectively to variability in consumer demand. In the $800 billion retail marketplace, consumer goods manufacturers are continuously seeking to improve visibility and collaboration around critical sales and operational processes. Advancements in technology are driving new levels of information availability to both consumer goods companies and their retail partners, including product movement data from RFID and POS data. Retail Channel Execution applications make this data actionable, enabling decision-makers to respond rapidly to changes in consumer demand in order to preempt revenue-impacting issues like out of stock, excess inventories, forecast variances, promotion variances, and store-level anomalies. " ...

Via Blue Agave Software: Blue Agave Software and Retail Solutions Team Up ...

European RFID Reader

Symbol launches European RFID reader compliant with ETSI standards and based on Microsoft Windows CE OS. ...

... "The XR480 reader builds on Symbol's commercially proven XR400 RFID reader platform and supports the European ETSI 302-208 standard reliable read performance for today's industrial-scale RFID implementations. The XR480 also delivers Generation 2 (Gen 2) dense-reader mode operation which enables the flexibility to support the European standard as it evolves. The XR480 is the only commercially available EPC-compliant RFID reader approved for use in Europe to provide support for up to eight read points which helps decrease deployment complexity and increases flexibility. The Symbol XR480 is also the first commercially available EPC-compliant RFID reader in Europe based on the Windows CE operating system. By utilizing Microsoft's Windows CE operating system, the XR480 RFID reader enables seamless integration and interoperability with existing IT infrastructure while reducing the support costs associated with multi-platform environments. " ...

European RFID Reader: Via Symbol: Symbol Launches RFID Reader for Europe

RFID Reader Tag Interoperability: Class 3 Tags ...

WJ Communucation establishes reader interoperability with Class 3 RFID tags. ...

... "WJ Communications, Inc., a leading designer and supplier of RF solutions for the wireless infrastructure and RFID reader markets, announced that it has successfully completed interoperability testing of its multi-protocol UHF Reader Platform with Class 3 RFID tags from Intelleflex Corporation. This expands the capability of WJ's high performance reader platform to include Class 3 RFID tags in addition to EPCglobal Gen1, and C1G2 tags. " ...

RFID Reader Tag Interoperability: Class 3 Tags: Via WJ Communications: WJ Communications' UHF C1Gen2 RFID Reader Platform Stakes Lead With Semi-Active Support: Successful Interoperability Testing With Class 3 Tags From Intelleflex Demonstrated ...

Intelleflex Corporation: Intelleflex Corporation Announces Class 3 RFID Developers' Training: "Intelleflex's semi-active, battery-assisted RFID products offer long range (up to 100 meters in free space) and high read/write reliability ( > 99% in real-world environment), together with a large user memory. These features open up a whole new set of applications that bring tremendous business value, beyond mere identification through unique serialization of good and assets. "

Intelleflex is a Silicon Valley company focused on the next-generation of RFID systems. Intelleflex will bring to market high-performance, high-reliability, EPC-compliant transponders and readers. Intelleflex tags will have the capability of interoperating with all EPC-compliant readers, and are targeted to provide the longest read range and the highest read/write reliability available in the industry. In addition, Intelleflex offers value-added features such as application-specific security, long battery life, and the capability to add sensors.

RFID Network Management: Real-Time Tracking ...

Savi offers network management of RFID devices so that real-time tracking of assets can be enabled. ...

... "RFID Network Management: Savi's SmartStart's RFID Network management includes device configuration, monitoring and management. Readers can be monitored to reduce reader network management costs and the required labor and time to manage the local business rules associated with those readers. Users set up real-time alerts so that network device problems are identified immediately. SmartStart's RFID Network Management reports include: Site Infrastructure Report, List of Devices Report, SmartChain Site Manager Downtime Report, Reader Uptime Report, and Low Tag Battery Report. " ...

RFID Network Management: Real-Time Tracking: SAVI SMARTSTART RFID SOLUTION REDUCES TIME AND COST TO DEPLOY REAL-TIME TRACKING OF SUPPLY CHAIN ASSETS ...

RFID: Sun SAP Collaborate ...

Sun and SAP collaborate to enable seamless RFID solutions ...

... "Sun Microsystems, Inc. expanded its relationship with SAP AG to integrate and standardize RFID technology based on the SAP(R) Auto-ID Infrastructure component of SAP NetWeaver(R) and the Sun Java System RFID Software. This collaboration will enable RFID data network communication between Sun and SAP RFID technology (part of the mySAP Business Suite solutions), allowing for seamless data flow from any RFID-enabled device to the mySAP Business Suite. The technology integration has been tested and certified by SAP. Customers in a broad range of industries, including retail and manufacturing, are looking to RFID technology to help them gain insight into multiple facets of the logistics process, including maintaining inventories, interacting with suppliers, improving customer service and tracking orders. The collaboration between SAP and Sun will help speed time to deployment for customers looking to integrate RFID data into their back-end systems. The Sun Java System RFID Software provides centralized monitoring and management capabilities for large numbers of distributed RFID devices and delivers Jini technology-based dynamic networking capabilities, which help ensure that RFID data can continue to be transmitted to the SAP applications under demanding production environments. " ...

RFID: Sun SAP Collaborate: Via Sun: Sun and SAP Collaborate to Simplify Deployment of RFID Solutions on SAP NetWeaver ...

Additional references on SAP and RFID ...

Via SAP - Components & Tools of SAP NetWeaver: SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure: "SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure, the key component of SAP NetWeaver that provides RFID capabilities, provides SAP applications with a gateway into RFID data. "

Via SAP: SAP RFID Rollout Signals Major Savings for Midsize Flag-Maker: "SAP NetWeaver provides companies with a powerful platform to manage, integrate and leverage RFID data within their SAP and non-SAP business applications. By integrating a combination of SAP NetWeaver components with core business applications, such as enterprise resource planning or supply chain management, customers can RFID-enable their business processes. The implementation of SAP RFID technology was facilitated by Annin's implementation partner CIBER Novasoft. The integration of SAP RFID technology and the pre-existing SAP IT infrastructure means information captured from the RFID tags for the more than 500,000 master cartons shipped annually can be accessed directly in the enterprise SAP system. Retailers can track and report on the movement of Annin's inventory tagged with RFID through warehouses and stores. By creating this real-world aware network, Annin has laid the groundwork for shipping items using RFID and developing an integrated and scalable approach to the technology, providing benefits beyond merely meeting the Wal-Mart requirement. "

Via SAP: SAP Forges Next Generation of RFID-Enabled Business Solutions with Kimberly-Clark: "SAP and Kimberly-Clark will continue to leverage EPCglobal efforts to promote standards based solutions to the marketplace. SAP is bringing to bear the state-of-the-art Auto-ID, analytical and event-driven technologies provided by the SAP NetWeaver platform to collect, analyze and act on EPC (electronic product code) data shared among Kimberly-Clark and its trading partners. Kimberly-Clark has already deployed SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure as the system of record of enterprise-wide EPC information and as the interface that controls all EPC information flowing into mySAP ERP. "

Via SAP: SAP Enables Fraport AG to Reduce Maintenance Costs and Increase Safety at Frankfurt Airport with Mobile Asset Management: "Before the mobile deployment, service engineers had to fill out lengthy forms during equipment checks, then enter the data manually into the central ERP software. Service technicians now use PDAs to access daily maintenance plans and carry out work orders. The PDAs read maintenance-relevant information from the RFID tags installed on ventilation shutters and act as clients to the ERP software for reporting and archiving. Because the PDAs can read tags only at a distance of three centimeters or less, the mobile scenario confirms that service technicians duly checked each vent on their work orders. In addition to safeguarding maintenance processes and generating reports in compliance with federal regulations, the solution helps the company maintain a complete view across the entire asset life cycle and more quickly locate reoccurring faults. "

RFID Drives Supply Chain Efficiency ...

RFID implementation will drive supply chain efficiency for pharmaceutical manufacturer ...

... "Roex Inc. and Pro-X Pharmaceuticals announced that they have engaged ODIN technologies to deploy RFID to enable greater supply chain efficiency and quality control in its manufacturing processes. Led by the innovations of founder Rod Burreson, Roex Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality nutritional supplements. Pro-X Pharmaceuticals, a division of Roex Inc., is an independent contract manufacturer that produces Roex products and also provides manufacturing and packaging services for other leading nutritional companies. " ...

RFID Drives Supply Chain Efficiency: Via ODIN Technologies: Roex / Pro-X Select ODIN technologies for RFID Deployment: Roex Inc. and Pro-X Pharmaceuticals to leverage RFID to drive Supply Chain Efficiency and Quality Control ...

ODIN technologies is the leader in the physics of RFID infrastructure testing, deployment and certification. ODIN technologies leverages its team of RF engineers, physicists and software developers combined with its laboratory facilities to provide RFID consulting services to major retailers, consumer goods manufacturers, United States government agencies and other RFID early adopters. In addition to client deployment services, ODIN technologies is also the publisher of the RFID Benchmark Series, the industry’s first and most referenced head to head performance analysis of leading RFID tags and readers. ODIN’s President and CEO, Patrick J. Sweeney II is also author of RFID for Dummies published by John Wiley & Sons. ODIN technologies is privately held and has labs and offices in Dulles, Virginia.

RFID Gen2 Item Level Tags ...

Impinj extends RFID Gen2 solution to item-level tagging ...

... "Impinj, Inc., the fabless semiconductor company whose patented Self-Adaptive Silicon technology enables its high performance radio frequency identification (RFID) products, announced the extension of its GrandPrix Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Gen 2 solution to include item-level tagging capability. Responding to increased demand from the global retail supply chain and other high-growth markets, Impinj has enhanced GrandPrix for tracking pharmaceuticals, apparel, CD/DVDs and many other high-value products. Conforming to EPCglobal's Gen 2 standard, GrandPrix is the first RFID system to provide a single infrastructure suitable for tagging items, cases and pallets, thus simplifying RFID installations and reducing system implementation costs without sacrificing system performance or functionality. Powered by Impinj's industry-leading Monza Gen 2 tag chip and Speedway reader with monostatic antenna technology, the GrandPrix item-level tagging solution also comprises a suite of patented, small-footprint tag antennas optimized for challenging item types or stocking conditions. For example, GrandPrix includes customized tag antennas for garments, DVDs and other stackable items, and items containing liquid or metals. " ...

RFID Gen2 Item Level Tags: Via Impinj: Impinj Extends GrandPrix™ Gen 2 RFID Solution to Item-Level Tagging ...

Hospital RFID Asset Tracking ...

Infologix implements RFID asset tracking for hospitals ...

... "InfoLogix, a market leader in Healthcare Information Technology total solutions announces HealthTrax, their new solution for Real-Time Location Tracking and management of medical devices. HealthTrax was developed with InfoLogix partner AeroScout, the leader in the field of Wi-Fi based Active RFID solutions. The first demonstration of the integrated solution will be in San Diego at HIMSS 2006, the top Healthcare Informatics Conference for the year. Also at HIMSS, InfoLogix and AeroScout will discuss performance and ROI of HealthTrax for Asset Tracking and for Patient Location Tracking.

HealthTrax is a complete solution for tracking assets and people within hospitals, and includes both RFID asset tags and enterprise software that can be used with standard wireless networks. The HealthTrax RFID tag is 802.11 Wi-Fi-based and leverages the existing wireless infrastructure; hospitals will not need a separate or redundant wireless network for Asset Tracking. Once the tags are attached to desired items, hospital staff can quickly locate what they need and when they need it on an easy-to-use Web-based electronic floor plan. This tagged hospital equipment can also provide security benefits by triggering an alarm if hospital assets are taken from designated areas. " ...

Hospital RFID Asset Tracking: Via Infologix: InfoLogix Announces HealthTrax RFID Asset Tracking Software for Management of Hospital Mobile Assets in Real Time ...

RFID Forklift of the Future ...

Intermec and Cascade collaborate to develop an RFID technology-enabled forklift ...

... "There's more to a forklift than first meets the eye. In the emerging world of RFID-enabled inventory tracking, the forklift can become a powerful supply-chain information tool. Intermec Inc., an RFID pioneer and leading supplier of Gen 2 RFID technology and equipment, and Cascade Corp., the world's largest manufacturer of forklift attachments, are teaming to develop a forklift system that incorporates RFID technology into a forklift's very infrastructure, replacing today's cumbersome and inefficient bolt-on approach to data collection.

Forklifts envisioned by Cascade and Intermec incorporate powerful dashboard computers positioned for maximum safety and efficiency, easy-to-reach RFID controls assimilated into the lift's control mechanisms, wireless real-time location tracking and navigational LEDs for optimal routing, and easy-to-adjust RFID readers designed into the frame of forklift attachments for flexible and accurate use with a wide range of goods and supplies. The system, designed specifically for the rugged environment of daily warehouse use, also engineers in a sophisticated cable management system, state-of-the-art wireless scanning capabilities and a built-in camera for cargo documentation. Cascade and Intermec unveiled a prototype future forklift today at Intermec's 2006 Global Partner Conference in Dallas. " ...

RFID Forklift of the Future: Via Intermec: Intermec and Cascade Collaborate to Create RFID Forklift of the Future to Enhance Warehouse Worker Productivity and Efficiency ...

Hospital RFID Asset Management ...

PanGo's RFID technology to be used for hospital asset management ...

... "PanGo's turnkey location management solution includes an intuitive end-user application for asset monitoring and reporting, true Wi-Fi active-RFID tags and a location management platform that integrates location data into third-party and custom healthcare and business applications. PanGo Locator is the only active RFID solution available today that leverages any Wi-Fi access point infrastructure as its reader network, eliminating the need for a separate and costly overlay of proprietary hardware and wiring. Implementation Scheduled at El Camino Hospital: The IT leadership at El Camino Hospital, a full-service acute care facility, is recognized throughout the industry for a vision that consistently sets new standards in leveraging innovation. The team turned to long-time information solutions partner Eclipsys for new ways to boost response time and improve efficiency using El Camino Hospital�s existing Wi-Fi network. A wireless networking team from Eclipsys will lead the implementation of PanGo's active-RFID technology, scheduled to begin in March. " ...

Hospital RFID Asset Management: Via PanGo Networks, Inc: Eclipsys and PanGo Form Strategic Partnership to Deliver Advanced Radio Frequency Identification Solutions to Healthcare Organizations: Partners Sign El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, CA as First Customer ...

Gen2 RFID Reader Firmware Upgrade ...

WJ launches Gen2 firmware upgrade for MPR RFID readers ...

... "WJ Communications, Inc., a leading designer and supplier of RF solutions for the wireless infrastructure and RFID reader markets announced the availability of a firmware upgrade to support the EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 standard for its MPR series PCMCIA type II reader cards(TM). Generation 2 RFID technology provides significantly better read range and performance and can be used anywhere, worldwide. The MPR series are designed for UHF Gen 2 functionality and are FCC certified. These readers represent a new level for size, standards-based compatibility, ease of use and performance. WJ is the first company to offer the industry's smallest solution with Gen 2 capability for compact RFID form factors, such as handhelds and printers. " ...

Gen2 RFID Reader Firmware Upgrade: Via WJ Communications: WJ Communications Announces Generation 2 Firmware Upgrade to Support MPR Reader Modules ...