Detailed Agenda

Day I | Day II

Day - I

[9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.] - The RFID Basics

In this session, learn the basic terminology of RFID technology – various hardware, software and how these parts form a system and operate together. We will cover:

• Birds eye view of RFID system
• Benefits of RFID
• Hardware: tags, readers, antennas and networks
• Software: drivers, middleware, enterprise applications

[10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.] - Tags and Readers

Tags characteristics and standards are very important for RFID's widespread adoption but RFID readers should be evaluated with equal if not greater care. Readers are the engines that make RFID work. They interrogate tags, sift through data and package it up for storage or use by other systems. Whereas tags typically pass through the system quickly, the readers must continue to work within the system for a long time. Topics for this session include:

• Tag Features
• Reader and reader antenna features
• Tag choice and affixing method (issues with materials like metals, liquids)
• Reader/Tag interaction - acceptable reading distances
• Antenna design and spacing - where are the antennas in relation to the package
• Rate of movement and quantity of tags
• Multi-protocol readers
• EPC Gen II standards for UHF tags

[11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.] - Refreshment Break

[11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.] - RFID Demonstration

RFID demonstration in simulated working environments

• Environments like metal, liquid
• Moving Environments
• Stationary Environments
• Orientation demonstrations
• Read Distance Tests
• Write (if applicable) Distance Tests
• Accuracy Reports
• Comparison between passive and semi-active tags

[12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.] - Luncheon

[1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.] - The EPCglobal Network: Future Real-Time Supply Chain

An introduction to the EPCglobal organization, EPC Network, its purpose, core components, and the capabilities it will deliver to supply chain management. This session will cover:

• EPCglobal organization and its structure
• Current and near future standards
• EPCglobal and other tag numbering systems
• EPC Network architecture
  • Electronic Product Code(EPC)
  • ID System
  • EPC Middleware
  • Discovery Services
  • EPC Information Services (EPC IS)

[2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.] - Middleware Requirements for RFID Integration

RFID produces a flood of real-time data - much of it extraneous - which means software must be able to sift through the information for exceptions. Any company evaluating RFID technology must re-evaluate existing software systems to see if they are compatible with the new technology. Moreover, in most cases, a middleware solution is required to bridge the legacy IT system with RFID hardware. This session discusses the role of RFID middleware and its selection and deployment in a RFID solution. We will cover:

• Currently available middleware platforms
• Scalability

Standards under development to share and protect the data across enterprises, customers, and suppliers. [ EPC Information Service, an EPC global working group that focuses on middleware integration and application standards, is expected this summer to debut this first set of standards]

[3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.] - Refreshment Break

[3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.] - RFID Infrastructure Planning

RFID planning should start with infrastructure, process and systems analysis. Understanding your existing infrastructure, processes and systems and how they will be impacted by RFID will help you establish project requirements that will determine your tag and reader selection criteria. You will understand, how to map your existing processes and identify RFID 'touch points

[4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.] - RFID Standards and Mandates

• Why do we need standards?
• Who creates them and how?
  • Standards creating organizations and their structure
  • EPCglobal, EAN.UCC, ISO, DoD
  • Process of creating standards
  • How to participate in standards creation
  • How to obtain standards documents
• Current status of RFID standards
• EPCglobal proposed standards
• ISO standards
• Various Mandates like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, DoD

[4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.] - Questions and Answers

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Day - II

[8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.] - Managing the Data

Just Wal-Mart alone will generate close to 8 million terabytes of data per day if all items in all its U.S. retail stores were tagged. The data gathered by RFID tags is only a portion of the information that will be generated by RFID system, which involves the broader use of sensors. These can include cameras, accelerometers and time and temperature sensors that deliver data about products and corporate assets.

The challenge will be identifying what needs to be stored and analyzed and what data can be safely discarded.

[9:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.] - RFID System Performance Evaluation

Understand how the performance of a RFID system is evaluated. We will cover the following topics in this session:

• Tags' Memory Capacity
• Data Transfer Speed
• Operating Range
• Multiple-Tags-in-Field Capability
• Operating Temperatures
• RF Carrier Frequency of the Tag-to-Antenna Link
• RFID System Connectivity

[10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.] - Refreshment Break

[10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.] - Intelleflex Tags

Understand how Intelleflex semi-active tags work.

• How they work
• Block diagram of its functions
• Various tag states
• Communication protocol
• Read range with various material
• Lab test results
• Specifications

[12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.] - Luncheon

[1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.] - Intelleflex Readers and Antennas

• How they work
• Block diagram of its functions
• Various ports, indicators and switches
• Communication protocol
• Various configurations
• Specifications
• Antenna characteristics and specification

[2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.] - Reader Interface (Software)

Understand how to interface with Intelleflex readers. Learn software commands to configure and control the reader.

• Intelleflex development kit
• Software API
• Development tools required
• Configuration parameters and how to set them
• Commands to read and identify one or more tags

[3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.] - Refreshment Break

[3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.] - Intelleflex Hardware Demonstration (hands-on session)

Intelleflex hardware setup and configuration using Intelleflex development kit

• Use of various ports, switches, and indicators
• Hands on connection and reading of tags

[4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.] - Questions and Answers

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