A Report on NISO's Work on RFID Standards in Libraries

Dr. Vinod ChachraChairman, NISO Standards Committee on Library Applications of RFID

CEO, VTLS Inc.CEO, VTLS Inc.

A Report on NISOA Report on NISO’’s work on s work on

RFID Standards in LibrariesRFID Standards in Libraries

Visionary Technology in Library Solutions

VTLS Products Main VTLS Other In Beta TestProducts VTLS Products

Related to Virtua: 1. FRBR 2. URL Checker 3. SRU/SRW 4. Union Catalogs and Consortium Databases5. Aqua Browser and other partner products

http://www.vtls.com/Products/fastrac.shtml

http://www.vtls.com/Products/vcommerce.pdf

http://www.vtls.com/Products/vortex.pdf

http://www.lib.monash.edu/news/2004/06-partnership.html

http://www.vtls.com/Products/vectors.pdf

http://www.vtls.com/Products/virtua.pdf

http://www.vtls.com/Products/verify.shtml



VTLS is the first spin-off corporation from Virginia Tech

VTLS does business in 36 countries

VTLS has been working with RFID solutions for libraries for over eight years

VTLS RFID library management software is now RFID hardware and tag supplier independent.

www.vtls.com

http://www.vtls.com/


NISO RFID Standards Committee

Following types of organizations are participating in the working group:

1. RFID hardware manufacturers

2. RFID solution providers (software and integration)

3. RFID Library users

4. Book jobbers/ book processors

5. Other related organizations


Focus of NISO RFID Standards

• RFID solutions run at several frequencies –Low – from 125KHz to 134KHz

High – 13.56MHz

Ultra High – 860-960 MHz

Micro Wave – 2.45 GHz

• NISO’s work is limited to Tags used in libraries –that is, tags operating at 13.56 MHz


Focus of NISO Standards Group

Four issues of importance were identified:

1. Privacy Issues and concerns

2. Support of functional capabilities

3. Performance efficiency

4. Cost considerations (total cost of ownership)

Items 2 , 3 and 4 are linked and interdependent.


First of Two Objectives

Interoperability (from Whatis.com)Interoperability (pronounced IHN-tuhr-AHP-uhr-uh-BIHL-ih-tee)

is the ability of a system or a product to work with other systems or products without special effort on the part of the customer. Interoperability becomes a quality of increasing importance for information technology products as the concept that "The network is the computer" becomes a reality. For this reason, the term is widely used in product marketing descriptions.

Yesterday you heard about some of the interoperability concerns from Livia Bitner from Baker & Taylor.


First of Two Objectives

How is interoperability achieved? (whatis.com)

Products achieve interoperability with other products using either or both of two approaches:

By adhering to published interface standards

By making use of a "broker" of services that can convert one product's interface into another product's interface "on the fly”.

The first option is preferred.

http://searchsmb.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid44_gci212363,00.html


Second of Two Objectives

IsolationMore specifically, Vertical Application Isolation

We do not want CDs purchased at a store trigger library security gates and library books to set off alarms at grocery stores.

Application Family Identifiers may be useful here


Approach taken by NISO

Examine existing standards; Adopt what can be adopted

Examine existing data models

Address the four issues previously mentioned keeping the objectives in mind

Create a “Best Practices” document by the end of 2006.


ISO 18000 Standards

18000-1 Part 1 – Generic Parameters for the Air Interface for Globally Accepted Frequencies

18000-2 Part 2 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications below 135 kHz

18000-3 Part 3 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 13.56 MHz

18000-4 Part 4 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 2.45 GHz

18000-5 Part 5 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 5.8 GHz (Withdrawn)

18000-6 Part 6 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 860 to 930 MHz

18000-7 Part 7 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 433 MHz


Scope of ISO 18000-3

““The scope of the ISO 18000The scope of the ISO 18000--3 standard is to provide 3 standard is to provide Physical Layer, Collision management System and Physical Layer, Collision management System and Protocol Values for RFID Systems for Item Protocol Values for RFID Systems for Item Identification operating at 13.56 MHz in accordance Identification operating at 13.56 MHz in accordance with the requirements of ISO 18000with the requirements of ISO 18000--11””

Some library vendors say they are ISO 18000 or ISO Some library vendors say they are ISO 18000 or ISO 1800018000--1 compliant instead of the more specific ISO 1 compliant instead of the more specific ISO 1800018000--3 compliant, but they mean the same thing.3 compliant, but they mean the same thing.


ISO 15693The ISO 15693 specification has three main parts:The ISO 15693 specification has three main parts:

Physical characteristicsPhysical characteristics

Signal Interface and Signal Interface and

Transmission ProtocolTransmission Protocol

It holds the promise of interoperability (at the technical It holds the promise of interoperability (at the technical level as mentioned by Alastair McArthur, TagSys) level as mentioned by Alastair McArthur, TagSys) among different suppliers of RFID solutionsamong different suppliers of RFID solutions

ISO 15693 is not to be confused with ISO 15963 which ISO 15693 is not to be confused with ISO 15963 which is used for is used for RFID for Item Management RFID for Item Management -- Unique Unique Identification of RF TagIdentification of RF Tag (also read 15961 & 15962)(also read 15961 & 15962)


Privacy ConcernsProper caution and concern raised by some privacy Proper caution and concern raised by some privacy

advocates advocates …… including EFF (Electronic Frontier including EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) and by Deirdre Mulligan at the RFID Foundation) and by Deirdre Mulligan at the RFID meeting in Texas.meeting in Texas.

Exaggerated concerns raised by some librarians.Exaggerated concerns raised by some librarians.

Issue is very sensitive for it can Issue is very sensitive for it can potentially cause privacy problems and/orpotentially cause privacy problems and/orpossibly derail or slow down RFID implementations and/or possibly derail or slow down RFID implementations and/or add to the implementation costsadd to the implementation costs

Organizations like BISG, EFF and American Library Organizations like BISG, EFF and American Library Association, Association, Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT Group)Group) are providing leadership in this area.are providing leadership in this area.


Book Industry Study Group (BISG)

RFID Privacy Principles RFID Privacy Principles

(This is a direct quote from the BISG web site)(This is a direct quote from the BISG web site)All businesses, organizations, libraries, educational institutioAll businesses, organizations, libraries, educational institutions and nonns and non--profits that buy, sell, loan, or otherwise make available books profits that buy, sell, loan, or otherwise make available books and other and other content to the public utilizing RFID technologies shall:content to the public utilizing RFID technologies shall:

1) Implement and enforce an up1) Implement and enforce an up--toto--date organizational privacy policy that date organizational privacy policy that gives notice and full disclosure as to the use, terms of use, angives notice and full disclosure as to the use, terms of use, and any d any change in the terms of use for data collected via new technologichange in the terms of use for data collected via new technologies and es and processes, including RFID.processes, including RFID.

2) Ensure that no personal information is recorded on RFID tags 2) Ensure that no personal information is recorded on RFID tags which, which, however, may contain a variety of transactional data.however, may contain a variety of transactional data.


Book Industry Study Group (BISG)

3) Protect data by reasonable security safeguards against interp3) Protect data by reasonable security safeguards against interpretation by retation by any unauthorized third party.any unauthorized third party.

4) Comply with relevant federal, state , and local laws as well 4) Comply with relevant federal, state , and local laws as well as industry as industry best practices and policies.best practices and policies.

5) Ensure that the four principles outlined above must be verifi5) Ensure that the four principles outlined above must be verifiable by an able by an independent audit.independent audit.

This policy has been developed and released by the Book IndustryThis policy has been developed and released by the Book Industry Study Study Group in cooperation with the American Library Association, OffiGroup in cooperation with the American Library Association, Office of ce of Information Technology and the Office for Intellectual Freedom, Information Technology and the Office for Intellectual Freedom, as well as as well as the National Information Standards Organizationthe National Information Standards Organization


Potential exposure from ILS

In my opinion there is potentially greater exposure In my opinion there is potentially greater exposure from ILS systems than from RFID systems from ILS systems than from RFID systems (see (see paper paper ““Personal Privacy and Use of RFID Personal Privacy and Use of RFID Technology in LibrariesTechnology in Libraries”” at www.vtls.com) at www.vtls.com)

This exposure comes when circulation links between This exposure comes when circulation links between book and patron are not erased in order tobook and patron are not erased in order to

a. gather library statisticsa. gather library statisticsb. record unpaid finesb. record unpaid finesc. provide c. provide ““value added servicesvalue added services””

d. support recovery functionsd. support recovery functions


RFID function related concerns

Functions supported by RFID systems in librariesFunctions supported by RFID systems in libraries

Self Checkouts including bulk checkoutsSelf Checkouts including bulk checkouts

Checkins and book dropsCheckins and book drops

Security functions (EAS Gates)Security functions (EAS Gates)

Sortation functionsSortation functions

Inventory functionsInventory functions


RFID Security and Interoperability

Three security methods used todayThree security methods used today

AFI (Application Family Identifier) based securityAFI (Application Family Identifier) based security

EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) bitEAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) bit

Database lookupDatabase lookup

Which method is NISO going to recommend? Which method is NISO going to recommend? (STC)(STC)Allow all three methods to be usedAllow all three methods to be usedInsist on Interoperability RequirementsInsist on Interoperability RequirementsLeave security as a place of differentiation among Leave security as a place of differentiation among vendorsvendors


L ib ra rie s & IS O R F ID S ta n d a rd s Ju n e 2 0 0 6C o p yrig h t p ra x is co n su lta n ts ,2 00 6

T h e A F I: A P o w e rfu l T o o l to S e le c t O n ly R e le va n t T a g s

R e a d e r

Importance of AFI


RFID Security and Interoperability

Requirements for interoperabilityRequirements for interoperability

Standard AFI Code for library applications for Standard AFI Code for library applications for books checked out books checked out -- code assigned by code assigned by

Keep the AFI code unlockedKeep the AFI code unlocked

Standard AFI Code for library applications for Standard AFI Code for library applications for books checked in (checked in books can use a books checked in (checked in books can use a locally assigned (locally as in USA) locally assigned (locally as in USA) –– but standard but standard AFI code)AFI code)


Joint Application for AFI Code

EDItEUR, NISO and Danish National Library are EDItEUR, NISO and Danish National Library are filing a joint application to JTC1/SC31 WG4 for the filing a joint application to JTC1/SC31 WG4 for the assignment and registration for a library specific assignment and registration for a library specific AFI code to be used for books that are checked AFI code to be used for books that are checked out. out.

(Already done earlier this month (Already done earlier this month –– June 2006)June 2006)


The Data Model

How much data should be placed on the RFID tags?How much data should be placed on the RFID tags?There are two schools of thought There are two schools of thought ----

1. As little as possible (just an ID)1. As little as possible (just an ID)2. More in support of efficiency & performance2. More in support of efficiency & performance

-- security data security data -- sorting and shelving datasorting and shelving data-- last use data for weeding and inventorylast use data for weeding and inventory-- book title for finding lost books or for book title for finding lost books or for

checkouts checkouts 3. The more the data the slower the tag read!3. The more the data the slower the tag read!


The Danish Data Model

It is an RFID data model for libraries.

The data model has four parts:

1. Data elements

2. Values and range

3. Encoding and

4. Physical mapping.

Click here to read the model


NISO WG and the Danish ModelCopy of the data model is available on the internetNISO working group is now studying the data model to see if

The model meets the needs of USA RFID applicationsThe models meets the needs of USA applications with some modificationsA new model will have to be developed to meet our needs.

Based on the outcome of the study a course of action for the future will be defined.This project in ongoing.


Outline of NISO report

Click here for Outline


Thanks

• To the conference organizers for inviting me here

• To all of you for being here, being attentive and staying awake!!

Parting thought“Go as far as you can see

for you will be able to see farther when you get there”

Source unknown

A Report on NISO's Work on RFID Standards in Libraries

Business

library solutions

rfid library users

products interface

library books

library vendors

interface standards

mhzvisionary technology

air interface communications