The Management of RFID

The Management of RFIDThe Management of RFID

Wang WenfengWang WenfengRFID Research EngineerRFID Research EngineerChina Electronics Standardization InstituteChina Electronics Standardization InstituteOct 29, 2008Oct 29, 2008

Main ContentsMain Contents

RFID and Internet of ThingsRFID and Internet of Things Analysis of Several Coding SystemsAnalysis of Several Coding Systems ConclusionConclusion

RFID Is Widely UsedRFID Is Widely Used

RFID has played an important role in many RFID has played an important role in many industrial fields, such as production control, assets industrial fields, such as production control, assets management, Electronic Toll Collection, luggage management, Electronic Toll Collection, luggage sorting, animal tracking, and books management.sorting, animal tracking, and books management.

RFID has greatly facilitated the daily life for people, RFID has greatly facilitated the daily life for people, such as ID cards, e-passports, the “one-card-for all” such as ID cards, e-passports, the “one-card-for all” resident’s cards, and mobile payment.resident’s cards, and mobile payment.

RFID has demonstrated its great potential in RFID has demonstrated its great potential in numerous fields.numerous fields.

The Use of RFID Requires The Use of RFID Requires Network SupportNetwork Support Actually, RFID has to be used in connection with network to Actually, RFID has to be used in connection with network to

really demonstrate its advantage. really demonstrate its advantage. – Due to cost consideration, the memory of RFID label has a Due to cost consideration, the memory of RFID label has a

limited capacity;limited capacity;– The memory only stores the unique code of an item or The memory only stores the unique code of an item or

communication-related technical parameters;communication-related technical parameters;– The detailed information of the item will be stored in the The detailed information of the item will be stored in the

database of the related company or a local datacenter;database of the related company or a local datacenter;– The user needs to use the network to search for the The user needs to use the network to search for the

specific information of the item.specific information of the item.

The Application of RFID is Still Limited to The Application of RFID is Still Limited to the Internal Users of a Systemthe Internal Users of a System

Although many industries and sectors in the world have Although many industries and sectors in the world have deployed the RFID, these RFID systems currently do not have deployed the RFID, these RFID systems currently do not have direct or indirect links between them, and individual RFID direct or indirect links between them, and individual RFID systems are still isolated islands at present. systems are still isolated islands at present.

The current situation is mainly the result of the siloed The current situation is mainly the result of the siloed operation of different industries and sectors, and they didn’t operation of different industries and sectors, and they didn’t communicate with each other in implementing RFID; the lack communicate with each other in implementing RFID; the lack of unified planning & management as well as the lack of of unified planning & management as well as the lack of standards and information exchange networks is the standards and information exchange networks is the fundamental reason. fundamental reason.

Especially, there is a lack of the Especially, there is a lack of the Coding StandardsCoding Standards used for used for labeling products and services as well as the labeling products and services as well as the Network Network PlatformPlatform used for the exchange of information for products used for the exchange of information for products and services.and services.

Code and Network Decoding Has to bCode and Network Decoding Has to be Solved ASAPe Solved ASAP With the development of the RFID technology and tWith the development of the RFID technology and t

he continuous expansion of the application scope, the continuous expansion of the application scope, the combination of RFID and the Internet is inevitablhe combination of RFID and the Internet is inevitable.e.

As there are no management solutions for code and As there are no management solutions for code and network decoding that can be recognized worldwide,network decoding that can be recognized worldwide, the data formats and codes used by different indust the data formats and codes used by different industries and sectors in implementing the RFID project aries and sectors in implementing the RFID project are not consistent. This problem will become increasire not consistent. This problem will become increasingly serious with the widespread adoption of the RFngly serious with the widespread adoption of the RFID technology, and will become a major barrier to thID technology, and will become a major barrier to the promotion and application of the RFID technology.e promotion and application of the RFID technology.

The EPC of EPCglobalThe EPC of EPCglobal

Coding System

TypeHeader Fiel

dEPC Manag

erObject Clas

sification

Serial #

epc-64 Type1 2 21 17 24

Type2 2 15 13 34

Type3 2 26 13 23

epc-96 Type1 8 28 24 36

epc-256 Type1 8 32 56 192

Type2 8 64 56 128

Type3 8 128 56 64

The ONS of EPCglobalThe ONS of EPCglobal

The uCode of the Ubiquitous ID The uCode of the Ubiquitous ID Center in Japan (1)Center in Japan (1)

The uCode of the Ubiquitous ID Center (UID) in Japan The uCode of the Ubiquitous ID Center (UID) in Japan developed the uCodes. The basic length of a uCode is 128 developed the uCodes. The basic length of a uCode is 128 bits, which can be expanded to 256 bits, 384 bits and 512 bits. bits, which can be expanded to 256 bits, 384 bits and 512 bits. UID claims that uCodes can be compatible with all the existing UID claims that uCodes can be compatible with all the existing coding standards.coding standards.

Field Name

Ver. Top Domain Code

Type Code Domain Code Identification Code

Length 4 16 4 Variable Variable

The uCode of the Ubiquitous ID CentThe uCode of the Ubiquitous ID Center in Japan (2)er in Japan (2)

uCode can contain the original codes of the existing uCode can contain the original codes of the existing coding systems, and can be compatible with multiplcoding systems, and can be compatible with multiple codes, including JAN, UPC, ISBN, IPv6 address, e codes, including JAN, UPC, ISBN, IPv6 address, and even telephone numbers. and even telephone numbers.

The labels that can use uCode have many different The labels that can use uCode have many different forms, including barcode, RFID, IC card, and active forms, including barcode, RFID, IC card, and active chips.chips.

UID has designed a UID system based on uCode. TUID has designed a UID system based on uCode. The system consists of four parts: uCode, informatiohe system consists of four parts: uCode, information system server, ubiquitous communicator, and uCn system server, ubiquitous communicator, and uCode decoder. ode decoder.

The mCode of KoreaThe mCode of Korea

Korea began to implement an RFID application Korea began to implement an RFID application program based on the mobile terminals. The program based on the mobile terminals. The program, dominated by several mobile operators in program, dominated by several mobile operators in Korea, is a mobile service with which a user can Korea, is a mobile service with which a user can obtain information by using the RFID reader of obtain information by using the RFID reader of his/her mobile phone to read an RFID label. In his/her mobile phone to read an RFID label. In order for this service to be used in every corner of order for this service to be used in every corner of people’s life, the program has defined coding people’s life, the program has defined coding systems for different types of industries. The coding systems for different types of industries. The coding systems include three kinds: mCode, mini-mCode, systems include three kinds: mCode, mini-mCode, and micro-mCode.and micro-mCode.

The mCode of KoreaThe mCode of Korea

TLCTLC ：： Top Level CodeTop Level Code ， ， CCCC ：： Company CodeCompany Code ICCICC ：： Item Category Code ICItem Category Code IC ：： Item CodeItem Code SCSC ：： Serial CodeSerial Code

mCode Remarks

TLC(12 bits)

Types(4 bits)

CC+ICC+IC+SC

Length(bit)

Types16 bits 16 bits 16 bits 16 bits 16 bits 16 bits 16 bits

000H Reserved N/A

001H~

EFFH

0H IC 48 A

1H CC IC 64 B

2H~3H Reserved 64 C,D

4H CC IC SC 96 E

5H CC IC SC 96 F

6H CC ICC IC 96 G

7H~EH Reserved N/A -

FH Reserved for type expansion N/A -

F00H~

FFFH

Reserved for other code structures N/A -

EPC, uCode and mCodeEPC, uCode and mCode

The limitations of coding objects The limitations of coding objects 。。– ， ， EPC coding system is a coding system for use in the commodity circulEPC coding system is a coding system for use in the commodity circul

ation field. uCode system is only adopted within Japan. Other systems aration field. uCode system is only adopted within Japan. Other systems are coding systems within logistics companies. e coding systems within logistics companies.

Registration & management feeRegistration & management fee 。。– The registration and management of all these coding systems are not in The registration and management of all these coding systems are not in

China. Domestic registration organizations are the agent organizations. If China. Domestic registration organizations are the agent organizations. If a domestic company wants to use EPC and uCode, it needs to pay a signa domestic company wants to use EPC and uCode, it needs to pay a significant fee each year, especially for EPC, of which the fee is almost prohibificant fee each year, especially for EPC, of which the fee is almost prohibitorily high for a country as big as China. itorily high for a country as big as China.

The security issue associated with network decoding and managementThe security issue associated with network decoding and management– 。。 The root servers of the Internet of Things based on EPC and uCode arThe root servers of the Internet of Things based on EPC and uCode ar

e located in the United States or Japan. This management model is very e located in the United States or Japan. This management model is very unfavorable in terms of the economic information security of other countriunfavorable in terms of the economic information security of other countries. es.

““ISO/IEC 15459-Information TechnoloISO/IEC 15459-Information Technology-Unique Identifiers”gy-Unique Identifiers”

““ISO/IEC 15459-Information Technology-Unique Identifiers” hISO/IEC 15459-Information Technology-Unique Identifiers” has six parts. This Standard, by registering each code issuance as six parts. This Standard, by registering each code issuance organization, allocates an code for each code issuance organiorganization, allocates an code for each code issuance organization called IAC, to realize the unification of different coding szation called IAC, to realize the unification of different coding systems. This code consists of a number from 0 to 9 and letterystems. This code consists of a number from 0 to 9 and letters from A to Z. Depending on the number of the users registeres from A to Z. Depending on the number of the users registered with a code issuance organization, different levels of codes d with a code issuance organization, different levels of codes are allocated. are allocated.

Any company can make an application to the International StaAny company can make an application to the International Standard Organization (ISO), which is headquartered in Holland. ndard Organization (ISO), which is headquartered in Holland. According to the application regulations issued by this organizAccording to the application regulations issued by this organization, each applicant organization needs to pay an application ation, each applicant organization needs to pay an application fee and an annual maintenance fee. Applying for the registratifee and an annual maintenance fee. Applying for the registration of one IAC code needs to pay 400 Euros, the IAC code caon of one IAC code needs to pay 400 Euros, the IAC code can be used for two years, and after that a maintenance fee of 1n be used for two years, and after that a maintenance fee of 125 Euros is required. 25 Euros is required.

The Object Identifiers on the Internet The Object Identifiers on the Internet of Thingsof Things

Unique codes have been used in e-commerce of various appliUnique codes have been used in e-commerce of various applications. In e-commerce, what that need unique codes are not cations. In e-commerce, what that need unique codes are not only goods, there are also various services and applications aonly goods, there are also various services and applications as well as the identifiers for other abstract objects. The identifies well as the identifiers for other abstract objects. The identifiers for these objects must be unique. rs for these objects must be unique.

Therefore when developing codes for goods, we must considTherefore when developing codes for goods, we must consider their uniqueness on networks; these codes for goods are ner their uniqueness on networks; these codes for goods are no longer simple codes—they already have the network attributo longer simple codes—they already have the network attributes. To ensure that the codes for various applications and servies. To ensure that the codes for various applications and services can be unique on networks, we need to adopt an internatices can be unique on networks, we need to adopt an international standard processing method, and only this way can we eonal standard processing method, and only this way can we ensure that the identifiers are globally registered, globally uniqunsure that the identifiers are globally registered, globally unique, and internationally recognized. e, and internationally recognized.

IAC Registered and Managed by IAC Registered and Managed by ISO/IEC 15459ISO/IEC 15459

Code Issuance Organization’s Code

Code Issuance Organization

0~9 GS1

ND DHL

UN Dun & Bradstreet

J UPU

D NATO AC/135

Coding System Based on Object Coding System Based on Object Identifiers Identifiers

ITU Telecommunication Unit (0)

ISO (1) ISO and ITU (2)

Standards(0)

8571

Abstract syntax (2)

Member Body (2)

China (156)

Specifications (0)

nid(27)

Root

ConclusionConclusion

The development of technologies including The development of technologies including RFID and sensors network will enter a new RFID and sensors network will enter a new stage—the Internet of Things.stage—the Internet of Things.

The development of unique identification syThe development of unique identification systems needs to take specific objects and abstems needs to take specific objects and abstract objects into separate considerations.stract objects into separate considerations.

Adopting a distributed approach to code regiAdopting a distributed approach to code registration and network decoding is the trend.stration and network decoding is the trend.

Thanks!Thanks!

Wang WenfengWang [email protected]@cesi.ac.cn