Secure RFID through Partnership

SkyeTek and Atmel will partner to create secure HF reader and tag platforms for the RFID market. ...

... "The partnership between Atmel and SkyeTek will provide customers with an ultra-secure option for embedded RFID applications. Resulting solutions leverage CryptoRF's security features and the enterprise-class reliability and price-performance of the SkyeTek ReaderDNA and ReaderWare technology. This combination will provide customers with the ability to adapt RFID technology into existing applications and is well positioned to provide valuable solutions addressing ePedigree, patient safety, consumables authentication, item-level inventory management, and ticketing. SkyeTek's ReaderWare also provides the capability to upgrade the reader to support future tags, protocols, and cryptography via a firmware upgrade. " ...

Via SkyeTek: SkyeTek and Atmel Partner to Offer Industry Leading Secure RFID Technology ...

RFID Drug Authentication eCustoms

IBM announces solution that provides ability to share and analyze real-time RFID sensor data to enable drug authentication and e-customs for clients in the pharmaceutical value chain. ...

... "The new technology, WebSphere RFID Information Center, is based on a recently completed EPCglobal standard called EPCIS, which provides a standard way to securely communicate the data created by sensors and RFID tags, and tie it to existing business information and trading partners. The growing trend of item-level tagging will create exponential growth in sensor data well beyond that generated from conventional barcode technology. This creates a need for a new way to manage this explosion of data in a manner that does not overwhelm a business and its supply chain partners. In addition to managing the massive amount of data RFID creates, two other barriers to widespread RFID adoption to date have been the lack of standards and data sharing capabilities. RFID Information Center solves all of these issues, clearing the way for wider-spread RFID adoption in various industries.

The IBM WebSphere RFID Information Center has already been successfully deployed for a number of early-adopter IBM clients across several industries, including consumer packaged goods company Unilever, the e-customs project ITAIDE in Europe, and Big Three pharmaceutical distributor AmerisourceBergen. " ...

Via IBM: IBM Enables Drug Authentication, E-Customs With Release of New RFID Technology ...

RFID Pharma Supply Chain: Track and Trace EPCIS Pilot

AmerisourceBergen announces innovative Track and Trace Program that will benefit the pharmaceutical supply channel. Its pilot program connects AmerisourceBergen's EPCIS directly to other business partner EPCIS systems and to specific pharmaceutical manufacturer systems. In Q1-2007, VeriSign will provide authentication services and enable visibility across multiple EPCIS systems. ...

... "AmerisourceBergen has been a leader in protecting the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply channel, first by pledging over one year ago to purchase 100 percent of its pharmaceutical and other products directly from the product manufacturer, and now by launching a unique Track and Trace initiative which will utilize RFID and Electronic Product Code Information System (EPCIS) technology to track and trace products throughout the entire distribution process. AmerisourceBergen plans to formally launch the Track and Trace pilot program at its largest distribution center in California by the end of 2006. In the pilot, AmerisourceBergen will use IBM's RFID middleware and embedded software on readers to read RFID tags currently used by certain pharmaceutical manufacturers as those products enter the distribution center. The unique product ID from each RFID tag will be electronically stored in IBM's EPCIS, which will be the platform for secure electronic communications back to the product's manufacturer. This secure information exchange will allow AmerisourceBergen and its trading partners to work collaboratively to share transaction information and further secure the supply channel. As new orders come into the AmerisourceBergen distribution center, the RFID system can monitor product placed in shipping totes as they move through the picking, packing, and shipping processes. As each tote leaves the distribution center the EPCIS software will record the time and location of each unit leaving the premises as well as its intended destination so that AmerisourceBergen has a complete record of the history of all RFID tagged drugs. " ...

Via AmerisourceBergen: AmerisourceBergen Announces Innovative Track and Trace Program for the Pharmaceutical Supply Channel

ClipTag RFID: IBM LIcenses

IBM's Clipped RFID Tag gives privacy protection to the consumer through visual confirmation of the tag modification. ...

... "IBM announced it will license its acclaimed Clipped Tag technology to Marnlen RFiD, who will begin production of the tags and offer availability immediately. The Clipped Tag, developed at IBM's Watson Research Center, allows consumers to tear off the majority of an RFID tag's antenna, reducing the tag's read range to just a few inches, ensuring consumer privacy while maintaining the benefits of the technology, such as product authentication or recalls. " ...

Via IBM: IBM Licenses Clipped Tag RFID Technology to Marnlen RFiD ...

RFID Pharma Fraud: Aegate RealTime Communication System

Item level drug traceability is enabled through RFID technology. Aegate solution automates tracking, authentication, and information visibility. ...

... "Aegate provides drug manufacturers, pharmacists and their patients with a real time communication system that operates at individual item level. Each pack of medicine is given a unique machine-readable identification number, known as unique serialisation. Using one of a number of technologies, including RFID, 1D or 2D barcodes, items are scanned as they are dispensed. The system allows the pharmacist to check expiry dates and recall information, and provide updated patient care advice. This ensures pharmacists receive product safety information more rapidly. Currently, communications are achieved by fax or post and can reach pharmacies after drugs have been dispensed. The system also allows the authentication of the origins of medicines, thereby protecting against stolen and fake drugs. Patient safety is an increasingly important issue and counterfeit drug sales are forecast to reach $75billion globally by 2010 if action is not taken. Aegate provides drug manufacturers, pharmacists and their patients with a real time communication system that operates at individual item level. Each pack of medicine is given a unique machine-readable identification number, known as unique serialisation. Using one of a number of technologies, including RFID, 1D or 2D barcodes, items are scanned as they are dispensed. The system allows the pharmacist to check expiry dates and recall information, and provide updated patient care advice. This ensures pharmacists receive product safety information more rapidly. Currently, communications are achieved by fax or post and can reach pharmacies after drugs have been dispensed. The system also allows the authentication of the origins of medicines, thereby protecting against stolen " ...

Via Qinetiq: QinetiQ awarded GBP 1.6m Aegate secure hosting contract ...

RFID Retail: Apparel Payback ...

Laudis demo planned for RFID conference will show payback in the retail apparel industry ...

... "The RFID Journal and AAFA Summit, held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York Aug. 15-16, is the first event of its kind designed to address RFID-related opportunities and issues in the apparel and footwear industry. Laudis and NCR will demonstrate their collaborative end-to-end RFID solution that allows manufacturers to tag apparel at the source, enabling retailers to verify the location or the receipt of garments anywhere within the supply chain. The demonstration (Laudis AAFA Summit booth #3) will feature the Laudis apparel applications and item-level tracking solutions for clothing and footwear. NCR will provide hardware, such as hang tags, flap tags and RFID-reader technology. NCR is also providing Laudis with consulting services and installation support for its end-to-end clothing solution. " ...

Via NCR: NCR and Laudis Systems Demonstrate End-to-End RFID Solution for Apparel Industry ...

Retail RFID applications are discussed ...

Via CIO Magazine: The RFID Imperative - Retail - prepare systems for RFID technology: "Like most CIOs in the retail industry, he believes that widespread RFID adoption is a sure thing and that the technology—which some day will enable him to track every single product, from manufacture to checkout ... "

ABI has researched the market for retail RFID use ...

The RFID Retail Market Market Research Report from ABI Research: "The retail market is possibly the most talked about in the RFID industry. Although Wal-Mart is not the only retailer that has issued an RFID mandate for its suppliers, it is still the most popular subject. This market is expected to be one of the fastest growing RFID verticals. "

T3CI offers RFID-enabled business intelligence capabilities for the retail industry ...

Via T3CI: RFID Analytics and Application Leadership; Experience Delivering Business Value to Major Retail Suppliers Drive Investment Decision: "T3Ci's software and subscription services are designed for leaders of RFID initiatives at major retail suppliers and pharmaceutical companies to deliver business value from their RFID investments. The company's enterprise-class solutions provide RFID data analysis (only for retailers who allow 3rd party analysis of their EPC data), deductions management and authentication/anti-counterfeiting/e-pedigree – the most comprehensive RFID applications vision. "

Unilever RFID: Open Standard Supply Chain Data ...

Unilever collaborates with IBM and T3Ci to test interoperability of the emerging EPCIS RFID data standard. The standard focuses on the efficient use of real-time data among partners in the supply chain. ...

... "The standard is designed to help better enable retailers, manufacturers and organizations throughout the supply chain to overcome information overload and share information to improve business processes. This milestone marks the first step toward delivering interoperability based on the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) for exchange and query of RFID data. IBM and T3CI are the co-chairs of the EPCglobal EPCIS Working Group. The objective of the Working Group is to create common interfaces among RFID software, allowing organizations to exchange and leverage RFID data independent of the applications in which data is created or stored. For organizations throughout the supply chain, this will deliver greater value by allowing them to inexpensively capture large volumes of detailed data at each stage of the supply chain and share that data among trading partners. While retailers today can provide manufacturers with large amounts of data about RFIDtagged products, until now there has been no simple and standardized way for manufacturers to sort through the volumes of raw data and perform queries to use it to improve product introductions, promotions and distribution of new products.



The new EPCIS standards-based ability to query RFID data will provide organizations with near real-time RFID data from their trading partners, for the first time giving manufacturers access to the precise information they need. Unilever North America, a global manufacturer of foods, home care and personal care products, also announced today its plans to pioneer use of the EPCIS standard to query RFID data provided by retailers. Unilever will conduct a trial using IBM's EPCIS implementation to collect and access information from within the company's manufacturing environment and from trading partners. By leveraging IBM and T3Ci reports and analysis, Unilever is looking to create additional business value in the areas of promotion management, supply chain visibility and metrics, as well as RFID readability. " ...

Unilever RFID: Open Standard Supply Chain Data: Via T3Ci: IBM and T3Ci Successfully Pilot Open Standard to Enable Manufacturers to Leverage RFID Data and Improve Supply Chain Processes: Unilever Among First Manufacturers to Pioneer New Interface to Connect Data Among Trading Partners ...

EPCIS standard ...

Software Action Group: "EPC Information Services (EPCIS) Phase 2: Create one or more normative technical specifications that will facilitate the development of interoperable EPCIS systems. "

Background on Unilever ...

Unilever awards HR outsourcing contract to Accenture: "Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brands including twelve EUR1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as: Knorr, Hellmann's, Flora, Bertolli, Dove, Lux, Pond's, Lynx, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and Domestos. Unilever has around 206 000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated annual sales of EUR40 billion in 2005. "

Info on T3Ci ...

T3Ci: The RFID Analytics and Applications Company: "T3Ci, the leading RFID analytics and applications company, offers a broad range of RFID software and services, representing the most comprehensive RFID vision in the industry. T3Ci develops software and provides enterprise-class solutions for managers of RFID initiatives who are responsible for delivering business value from their company's RFID investment. T3Ci's enterprise-class solutions include RFID analytics as well as a suite of high-value applications for retail suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, and major retailers. Applications include Out-of-Stock Management, Promotions Execution Management, Deductions Management, and Product Authentication. "

RFID Phase Jitter Modulation Technology ...

Zebra licenses Magellan's PJM Phase Jitter Modulation technology to support its RFID produtct development. ...

... "Under the license agreement, Zebra has the right to develop and commercialize RFID reader modules and tags that incorporate Magellan's patented PJM technology. In 2006, Zebra plans on embedding the reader modules in its printer/encoder products to enable more efficient programming of smart labels and tags. Ratified in 2004, PJM is an HF RFID system specified in an existing global standard: ISO/IEC 18000-3 mode 2, RFID for Item Management. Because the technology is optimized for applications where many hundreds of tags are packed tightly or need to be read reliably in dynamic situations, it is an ideal solution for pharmaceutical e-Pedigree, document control, gaming and other applications." ...

RFID Phase Jitter Modulation Technology: Via Zebra Technologies: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES NEW RFID LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH MAGELLAN TECHNOLOGY ...

Magellan Technology Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia, is a technology developer, manufacturer and licensor of advanced read and write 13.56MHz RFID systems. Magellan designs and offers RFID chips, inlets and a complete reader portfolio (multi channel, multi antenna, tunnel, and tray readers) and all operating software. Magellan’s Phase Jitter Modulation (PJM) technology complies with the International Standard ISO/IEC 18000 Part 3 Mode 2. PJM is optimized for applications where many hundreds of tags are stacked tightly or need to be identified reliably in dynamic situations including pharmaceutical authentication, document control, jewelry tracking and gaming management. The technology is also optimized for conveyor fed applications where tags are presented in all orientations. Typical applications are in the airline baggage, postal and courier markets. Magellan develops and licenses its PJM technology world wide to interested parties including other manufacturers and system integrators.

RFID Secure Personal Transactions ...

Broadcom creates secure processor that integrates RFID technology for use in contactless payments. ...

... "Broadcom Corporation introduced the world's first secure processor with integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, as part of the company's Trusted Authentication Initiative. The new device is designed to secure personal authentication transactions associated with physical access, logical access (into a PC or network) and contactless payment applications. The secure processor also enhances the use of currently deployed authentication technologies, such as biometrics and contactless technologies, by eliminating some of their inherent security vulnerabilities. The BCM5890 secure processor features an ARM-based processor that is FIPS Level 3-compliant and can run both secure and non-secure applications. The embedded contactless RFID tag capability enables usage in systems that utilize either the 13.56 MHz (ISO14443 and ISO15693) or 125 kHz frequencies. " ...

RFID Secure Personal Transactions: Via Broadcom: Broadcom Launches World's First Secure Processor with Integrated RFID to Secure Personal Authentication Applications ...

RFID ePassport Authentication ...

Viisage supports the authentication of Australia's ePassports through RFID technology. ...

... "Viisage, a leading provider of advanced technology identity solutions, announced that the Australia Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) has selected the Viisage iA-thenticate(R) Smart Chip/RFID Electronic Document Reader to improve security in more than 25 Australian overseas locations worldwide. This is the third of three consecutive contracts awarded to Viisage from the Australian government. Australia has been a leader in implementing Viisage's innovative document authentication technologies and products, which include one of the world's largest document databases for ensuring the authenticity of standard identity documents.

DIMA plans to use the Viisage iA-thenticate Smart Chip/RFID Electronic Document Reader to improve overall security around the issuance of travel and identity documents, specifically e-passports. The product is designed to ensure that all documents presented as proof of identification are credible and authentic. Following Brazil's implementation, previously announced in March 2006, this marks the second deployment of this unique product since its recent launch. Viisage provides other document authentication products to more than 20 countries including Australia, Canada, Sweden, Hungary, Brazil, Japan, and The United Arab Emirates. " ...

RFID ePassport Authentication: Via Viisage: Viisage's Proven Document Authentication Technology Aids Australian Border Control and Embassy Safety Initiatives Worldwide: Australia's Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Awards Viisage Contract for Authentication of E-passports; Marks Third Consecutive Contract from an Australian Agency ...

RFID Concerns Issues Addressed by AIM ...

AIM president addresses RFID privacy issues ...

... "AIM Global, the professional association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, has published RFID: For the Common Good in RFID Connections. This article, written by Dan Mullen, president AIM Global, highlights RFID's proven benefits for enhancing security, safety and product authentication while addressing concerns expressed about privacy issues. " ...

RFID Concerns Issues Addressed by AIM: Via AIM: RFID: For the Common Good Addresses RFID's Concerns and Benefits ...

RFID Drug Authenticity Pilot at Cardinal Health ...

Cardinal Health begins second wave of RFID testing that supports the safety of the drug supply. RFID technology will enable in-process authentication as drugs make their way through the extended supply chain. Cardinal will also look for ways to achieve operational efficiencies from the RFID-enabled supply chain information. The company is expecting to complete this wave of tests by the 4th Quarter of 2006. ...

... "Cardinal Health, Inc., the leading provider of products and services supporting the health-care industry, announced the next phase of the first end-to-end pilot program to test technology that could improve the safety and efficiency of the nation's drug supply. The pilot program will begin to tag medication with labels carrying unique data that can be captured and read to verify its authenticity at each step of the supply chain. Verifying the authenticity of pharmaceuticals along each step of the distribution path adds an additional layer of security to lessen the chance of counterfeit pharmaceuticals entering the supply chain. In addition, the data gathered could improve efficiency as logistics experts at Cardinal Health will be able to analyze the data to identify bottlenecks, read rates and other opportunities to improve efficiency in the supply chain.

In conducting the end-to-end pilot program, Cardinal Health will use new technology to place radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on the labels of brand-name and generic solid-dose prescription drugs at the company's Printed Components facility in Moorestown, N.J. Next, the company's facility in Philadelphia will encode the electronic product code (EPC) standard data at the unit, case and pallet levels during the packaging process. The products will be then shipped to a Cardinal Health distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, where the data will be read and authenticated as products are handled under normal operating conditions. Normal operating procedures will be enhanced with RFID hardware and software from Alien Technology Corporation and IBM along with project management support from VeriSign. From Findlay, the tagged product will be sent to a health-care provider to further test read rates and data flow using the same technology as the distribution center. The product dispensed to patients will not be in the RFID packaging. The company launched the pilot in February and expects to complete the test in the fall." ...

RFID Drug Authenticity Pilot at Cardinal: Via Cardinal Health: Cardinal Health Announces Next Phase Of RFID Pilot ...

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 Industry Consolidation: Acquire Technology and Expertise ...

Consolidation in the RFID industry continues, as Sirit acquires technology and expertise. ...

... "Through the acquisition, Sirit launched its line of flexible plug and play RFID readers ideally suited to a number of closed loop applications including contactless/cashless payments, asset management, retail and high value product authentication, and inventory management. Sirit also strengthens its technological capabilities through the addition of a highly skilled engineering team and a broad based intellectual property portfolio. " ...

RFID Industry Consolidation: Acquire Technology and Expertise: Via Sirit: Sirit Inc. Completes Acquisition of TradeWind Technologies LLC ...

RFID Tests Pharma Item Tracking ...

Unisys and ODIN Technologies collaborate to develop facts on the performance of RFID tag frequencies for item tracking in the pharmaceutical supply chain. ...

... "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. " ...

RFID Tests Pharma Item Tracking: Via ODIN Tech: ODIN technologies and Unisys Research Reveals RFID HF vs. UHF item-level performance leader for Pharma: The item-level pharmaceutical RFID debate is answered in the scientific Benchmark Report, Pharmaceutical Item Level RFID: Battle of the Frequencies ...

RFID Research Program: Georgia Tech in Ireland ...

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

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

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

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

Additional university-sponsored RFID research programs ...

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