TC 1/SC 31 Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques

Web Site http://www.uc-council.com/sc31/home.htm

SC 31, Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques, is a subcommittee of ISO/IEC JTC 1. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electro-Technical Commission) jointly sponsor Joint Technical Committee number one, JTC 1, to address subjects of interest to both organizations. JTC 1 in turn created several subcommittees to address specific issues. Among those subcommittees is SC 31.

Area of Work

Standardization of data formats, data syntax, data structures, data encoding, and technologies for the process of automatic identification and data capture.
There are four work groups as follows:

• Data Carriers (WG1)
• Data Syntax (WG2)
• Conformance (WG3)

and

• Work Group on RFID for Item Management (WG 4)

To provide standards for interoperability of wireless, non-contact omnidirectional radio frequency identification devices capable of receiving, storing, and transmitting data while operating at power levels that are in freely available international frequency bands in the area of item level identification and management across the supply chain such as finished good asset management, raw material asset management, material traceability, inventory control, electronic article surveillance, warranty data, production control/robotics, and facilities management. The proposed RFID Item Management work would align, without duplicating and co-exist with the approved work of other International Standards Committees. It is the intent to utilize the prevailing standards, by normative reference, where appropriate.

Details of project status can be obtained on the SC31 website - here.

ISO/IEC 18001 Information Technology AIDC Techniques-RFID  for Item Management – Application Requirements Profiles.

Introduction: The Air Interface Standards of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 are contained in the various Parts of ISO/IEC 18000, Radio-frequency Identification Standard for Item Management -- Air Interface. These are:

Part 1, Generic Parameters for Air Interface Communication for Globally Accepted Frequencies
Part 2, Parameters for Air Interface Communication below 135 kHz.
Part 3, Parameters for Air Interface Communication at 13.56 MHz.
Part 4, Parameters for Air Interface Communication at 2.45 GHz.
Part 5, Parameters for Air Interface Communication at 5.8 GHz.
Part 6, Parameters for Air Interface Communication - UHF Frequency Band

Each of these frequencies have differing operating parameters, and performance considering antenna design, power levels and other parameter are held comparable, including the active/passive nature of the tag. Different RFID technologies within the different parts or frequencies may result in different performance and parameter trade-offs. This may cover the redundancy or reliability to operate as intended under adverse environmental conditions such as noise or interference or other physical environment variations.

To understand the applicability of each frequency or technology it is necessary to understand the applications within which this technology will be used. A profile of the application requirements must be developed.

This Technical Report addresses the Application Requirements Profiles providing the application detail from which one should be able to assess the applicability of the various technologies

Three distinct and separate efforts are included within this Technical Report. AIM circulated a questionnaire in late 1998 to which 29 responses were received. These responses serve as the primary basis for this Technical Report. In early 1999, a United States application standards committee, ANSI MH 10/SC 8 circulated another questionnaire to which 19 responses were received. In 1999, a German University study was released covering retail, RFID industry as well as logistics markets with 82 responses. These responses are consolidated in the present ARP report.

Experts from various fields and from a number of countries participated in the development of this report.

Scope: This Technical Report provides:

1. The result of three surveys identifying the applications for radio-frequency identification in an item management environment and the resultant classification of these applications based on two ( various?) operational parameters as operating range and memory size.
2. An explanation of some of the issues associated with performance data such as i.e. of operating range distance and number of tags within an RFID interrogator’s field-of-view.
3. A means by which classification of RF tags may be accomplished based on the application requirements defined in the survey results.
4. Recommendations for areas of standardization to the parent committee (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31/WG 4) based on the results of these surveys.

ISO/IEC 18000 Information Technology AIDC Techniques-RFID  for Item Management Air Interface

Part 1 – Generic Parameters for Air Interface Communication for Globally Accepted Frequencies

Introduction This Standard has been developed by ISO/IEC SC31 WG4, Radio Frequency Identification for Item Management, in order to provide a framework to define common communications protocols for Internationally useable frequencies for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and, where possible, to determine the use of the same protocols for ALL frequencies such that the problems of migrating from one to another are diminished; to minimise software and implementation costs; and to enable system management and control and information exchange to be common as far as is possible.

Vision Statement This Standard (ISO 18000-1 ) describes the conceptual system architecture for RFID for Item Management and envisions the definition of a common set of Parameters that are necessary (at any frequency) in order to avoid contention or interference with other RFID systems, to establish the highest degree of interoperability as is practicable, and to ease migration between technical solutions and their supporting software. The Standard envisions common methods of determination and description.

Mission Statement The mission of this Standard (18000-1) is to describe a high level Reference Architecture for RFID for Item Logistics and to determine which common parameters are to be determined in an item identification air interface Standard, the method and means of their definition, and to provide a common format for their elaboration and definition. Subsequent Parts of this Standard (ISO 18000 ―2 to ISO 18000 ―n), shall provide the value definitions for each of the approved world wide frequencies by providing parameter values for each of the parameters required by this Standard in accordance with the common format herein determined, and may also, where appropriate, provide regional definitions with geographical constraints. If any parameter defined in this Standard is inappropriate at a particular frequency, it shall be specifically and expressly stated in that Part of the Standard that the named and referenced parameter is not appropriate at that frequency.

This Standard (ISO 18000-1) is intended for use by those requiring to conceptualise an RFID system for item logistics developing the subsequent parameter value Standards and/or associated application Standards, and by those using such Standards wishing to understand the definition methodology and context.

Part 2 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications below 135KHz.
Scope This document specifies 

• The physical layer that shall be used for communication between the interrogator and the tag. The interrogator shall be capable to communicate with tags of both Type A (FDX) and Type B (HDX). 
• The protocol and the commands 
• The method to detect and communicate with one tag among several tags ("anticollision")

Tag types This standard specifies two types of tags: Type A (FDX) and Type B (HDX).

These two types differ only by their physical layer. Both types support the same anti-collision and protocol.

FDX tags are permanently powered by the interrogator, including during the tag-to-interrogator transmission. They operate at 125kHz.

HDX tags are powered by the interrogator, except during the tag-to-interrogator transmission. They operate at 134.2kHz.

An optional anticollision is described in the informative annex D.

Part 3 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 13.56 MHz.
Introduction This Standard has been developed by ISO/IEC SC31 WG4, Radio Frequency Identification for Item Management, in order to provide a framework to define common communications protocols for Internationally useable frequencies for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and, where possible, to determine the use of the same protocols for ALL frequencies such that the problems of migrating from one to another are diminished; to minimise software and implementation costs; and to enable system management and control and information exchange to be common as far as is possible.

This Part (ISO/IEC 18000-3) of the ISO/IEC Standard 18000 has been prepared in accordance with the requirements determined in ISO 18000-1 Definition of Physical Layer, Anti collision System and Protocols to be Standardized.

ISO/IEC 18000-1 provides explanation of the concepts behind this Standard.

This Standard has 2 MODES of operation, intended to address different applications. Section 9 of this report summarises the differences between MODE characteristics. The detailed technical differences between the modes are shown in the parameter tables.

This Standard relates solely to Systems operating at 13.56 MHz

Part 4 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 2.45GHz.
Abstract - ISO 18000, Part 4 defines the air interface for radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices operating in the 2.45 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band used in item management applications. The purpose of this international standard is to provide a common technical specification for RFID devices that may be used by ISO committees developing RFID application standards. This standard is intended to allow for compatibility and to encourage inter-operability of products for the growing RFID market in the international marketplace. This international standard defines the forward and return link parameters for technical attributes including, but not limited to, operating frequency, operating channel accuracy, occupied channel bandwidth, maximum EIRP, spurious emissions, modulation, duty cycle, data coding, bit rate, bit rate accuracy, bit transmission order, and where appropriate operating channels, frequency hop rate, hop sequence, spreading sequence, and chip rate. This standard further defines the communications protocol used in the air interface.

This Standard contains two modes. The first is a passive tag operating as a reader talks first while the second in an active tag operating as a tag talks first. The detailed technical differences between the modes are shown in the parameter tables.

Part 5 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 5.8GHz.

Part 6 - Parameters for Air Interface Communications at UHF

ISO/IEC 15962 Information Technology AIDC Techniques - RFID for Item Management - Data Syntax

Scope: This standard specifies the interface procedures used to exchange information in an RFID system for item management. As there can be no direct communication between the host system and the RFID tag, the protocols established in this standard ensure the correct formatting of data, the structure of commands and the processing of errors in the RFID system.

Purpose and Justification: This standard is to provide a basis of interoperability for current and legacy systems and a migration path to future systems. The need of this work item arises from the fact that no international activity addresses such international standardization and that the absence of such a standard creates the risk of proliferation of incompatible systems. This has the potential for creating confusion for the user and would impede international trade.

ISO/IEC 15961 Information Technology -AIDC Techniques - RFID for Item Management - Host-Interrogator-Tag Functional Commands and Other Syntax Features

Scope: The Standard will determine common functional commands and syntax features (e.g. RFID tag-types, data storage formats, compaction types etc.), independent of transmission media and air interface protocols. The 15961 Standard is intended to be a companion standard to 15962, which provides the overall protocol for data handling. The 15961 standard will comprise a super set of all functional commands and other syntax features appropriate to RFID for Item Management. The 15961 functional commands are at a higher abstract level than those of 18000-n, to enable common data handling rules to be applied for all RFID technology of SC31 WG4. The interrogator-tag commands of 18000-n are at a detailed lower level and are specific to the particular technologies that are part of 18000.

ISO/IEC 15963 Information Technology- AIDC Techniques - RFID for Item Management- Unique Identification of RF Tag and Registration Authority to Manage the Uniqueness

Introduction: ISO/IEC 15963 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information Technology- AIDC Techniques - RFID for Item Management- Unique Identification of RF Tag and Registration Authority to Manage the Uniqueness

• Part 1: Numbering system
• Part 2: Registration procedure and management guidance and rules

The present standard for unique identification of RFID Tag is defined to insure interoperability between RFID tag. This standard permits addressing three main domains of the RFID system:

• the traceability of the Integrated Circuit itself for quality control in their manufacturing process
• the traceability of the RF tag during their manufacturing process and along their life in the applications where they are used
• anti-collision of multiple tags in the reader’s field of view

Scope: This International standard ISO/IEC 15963 specifies the numbering system for the identification of RF Tag, the registration procedure and the use of it.

The numbering system provides to the automatic data capture application based on RFID tag a means to identify uniquely an RF tag and to determine if the integrated circuit contents the necessary information to perform the application. This number is encoded in the Integrated Circuit of the RFID Tag .

ISO/IEC 15418 Information Technology AIDC Techniques-  EAN / UCC Application Identifiers and FACT Data Identifiers + Maintenance

Scope: This International Standard:

- specifies sets of Data and Application Identifiers for the purpose of identifying encoded data;

- identifies the organizations responsible for their maintenance.

ISO/IEC 15434 Information Technology AIDC Techniques - Bar Code Symbology Specification -  Transfer Syntax for High Capacity ADC Media

Introduction: This International Standard defines the manner in which the data is transferred to the high capacity ADC media from a supplier’s information system and the manner in which the data is transferred to the recipient’s information system. This International Standard does not define the internal data storage format for specific high capacity ADC media. This International Standard does not specify the application of data structures provided by a specific data syntax format. The application of the data structure is specified by industry conventions.

Users of automatic data capture (ADC) technologies benefit by being able to receive data in a standard form and by being able to provide data in a standard form. Static ADC technologies such as bar code symbologies, magnetic stripe, optical character recognition, surface acoustical wave (SAW), and Weigand effect typically encode a single field of data. Most applications of these technologies involve the encoding of a single field of datum by the supplier of the medium and the subsequent decoding of the datum field by the recipient. Encoding single fields of data permit the supplier to perform the encodation from a single field within the supplier’s information system. Decoding single fields of data permit the recipient to input this data into a single field into the recipient’s information system, in lieu of key entry.

High capacity ADC technologies, such as two-dimensional symbols, RFID transponders, contact memories, and smart cards encode multiple fields of data. These multiple fields usually are parsed by the recipient’s information system and then mapped to specific fields of data in recipient’s information system. It is the purpose of this International Standard to define the syntax for high capacity ADC media, so as to enable ADC users to utilize a single mapping utility regardless of which high capacity ADC media is employed.

Scope: This International Standard specified a transfer structure, syntax, and coding of messages and data formats when using high capacity ADC media between trading partners, specifically between suppliers and recipients, and where applicable, in support of carrier applications, such as bills of lading and carrier sortation and tracking;

The data encoded pursuant to this International Standard includes:

• That which may be used in the shipping, receiving, and inventory of transport units.
• That which may be contained within supporting documentation, in paper or electronic form, related to unit loads or transport packages.
• That which may be used in the sortation and tracking of transport units.

This International Standard describes the ASCII (ISO 646) data transfer syntax for automatic data capture. Where ASCII is not the transfer syntax of choice for transfer this International Standard does not apply. An example of this is in the case where ASN.1 (ISO 8824-1 through 4 and ISO 8825-1 and 8825-2) is applied for RFID purposes.1

This International Standard does not apply when there is a symbology, standardized by ISO, reserved for a given transfer syntax.

This International Standard does not supersede or replace any applicable safety or regulatory marking or labeling requirements. This International Standard is to be applied in addition to any other mandated labeling requirements.

1 This statement does not imply that ASN.1 is the required syntax for RFID.

ISO/IEC 15459 Information Technology AIDC Techniques - Unique Identification of Transport Units

1.  Technical Standard
2.  Procedural Standard

Published

Introduction: Transport units are often handled by several parties - the sender, the receiver, one or more carriers, customs authorities, etc. Each of these parties needs to identify the unit so that reference can be made to associated information such as address, order number, contents of the unit, weight, sender, etc.

The information is often held on computer systems, and may be exchanged between parties involved via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange).

There are considerable benefits if the identity of the unit is represented in bar code format, or other ADC media, and attached to the unit so that:

- it can be read electronically, thus minimizing errors
- one identity can be used by all parties
- each party can use the identity to look up its computer files to find the data associated with the unit
- the identify code is unique and cannot appear on any other item during the lifetime of the unit.

The unique identifier for transport units defined in this standard and represented in a bar code label, or using other ADC media, attached to the transport unit meets these needs. The transport label defined in ISO 15394 defines the bar code label which should be used for this.

All ADC technologies have the potential to encode the license plate number. It is expected that application standards for transport units, using RFID technologies, will be developed based upon the license plate number.

Scope: This International standard

- specifies a unique, non-significant, number for transport units, represented in a bar code label or other ADC media attached to the transport unit to meet these needs, and known as the license plate number