Emerging standards and software canhelp RF-enable businesses of any sizeBY JAMES R. BORCK

ESPITE THE HYPE, THE TRUTH IS THAT RFID

deployments made little headway in 2005.

New standards, prohibitive costs, and the lack

of upper-level business context left most com-

panies tuned out to this much-ballyhooed technology.

Larger companies that have rolled out RFID have done so pri-

marily in experimental, proof-of-concept deployments. These

pioneers have quickly learned that RF-enabling the enterprise

takes more than mere tags and interrogators. Deriving true

business value demands tuning out the noise from RFID dis-

cussions and channeling their insights into the business logic

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running your enterprise.But hope is here. Middle-

ware revisions from key ven-dors and the relatively recentavailability of low-cost hardwarebased on tbe new Gen2 RFID stan-dard (see "Tbe Long Road to Interop-erabilityr page 33) bave pushed RFIDback onto the table for many compa-nies. This new generation of productsallows companies to move beyond gen-eral asset management and inventorytracking and blend this newfound eventstream into actual business processes.

Catching the Radio WaveFor tbe uninitiated, an RFID networkcan be broken down into tbree prima-ry ingredients: hardware, includingreaders, tags, and RF-related com-ponents; tbe middleware connectionand processing engines; and tbe APItbrough whicb enterprise applicationstap data. Tbe intricacies of hardwarenotwithstanding, RFID's is most com-plex in the middleware layer.

To diminish network latency, pro-cessing engines should be located asclose to RFID readers as possible—intbe warehouse rather tban in a back-office datacenter, for example, whichmeans eacb warebouse should baveits own, independent engine. Enginesmust be scalable, robust, and capableof interpreting a variety of readerswbile parsing and managing a floodof streaming data at bigh burst rates.

Next, an events management sub-engine winnows nuance from noise.By providing basic rules and pattern-matcbing tbat aggregates and filtersdata, it can minimize the barragebefore it hits the corporate network.

Finally, tbe interface API makes itpossible to move RFID data betweenstorage, enterprise applications, pro-grammable logic devices and automa-

tion controllers, and tbe sundry otherI/O systems and controllers tbat pro-duction-grade systems employ.

Tbe primary means for interfacingtbese devices is the ALE (ApplicationLevel Events) specification. Initiallydeveloped as part of tbe Massachu-setts Institute of Technology Auto-ID Center's Savant application, ALEbas become the de facto standard bywbich most vendors can enable mid-dleware applications for RFID. TodayAI.E falls under tbe wing of EPCglobal,a consortium of standards bodies andsupply cbain interests, and is part ofthe EPCglobal Network plan for inter-connecting low-level EPC (ElectronicProduct Code) data with bigber-levelenterprise systems.

At its core, ALE is based on SOA. Itabstracts an interface of services, simi-lar to how SQL abstracts the internalmachinations of relational databases.Apphcations can query tbe enginetbrough the ALE without concern fornetwork protocols or device specifics.

In addition to consolidating multi-ple EPC read sources, this fianctionalitybrings a number of benefits. For exam-ple, tbe ALE makes it easy to weed outtags from a particular manufacturer orarea on a warehouse fioor. Time-basedand delta cbange criteria are also use-ful in exception handling, such as iso-lating a tag that's passed a given pointonce and tben later regains focus.

Most importantly, ALE isolatesagainst hardware and vendor changes,smootbes scalability problems, and

resolves the complex program-matic synchronization tbat

would otberwise be necessaryto share muitiple reader resources

among back-end applications.

Processing the Event StreamALE isn't tbe only tool needed to roundout a complete RFID infrastructure,however. Making higher-level sense outofthe flood of low-level RFID data is notan easy task, and not something tbat youcan entrust to the post-mortem latencyinherent in traditional BAM (businessactivity monitoring) software.

A solution, tbough, can be foundin ESP (event stream processing) andCEP (complex event processing) soft-ware. Although CEP-based solutionshave been around for a while, primar-ily in government or military applica-tions, within the past few years viablecommercial deployments have begunto appear.

When viewed as a single category,complex event stream processingmines low-level data to infer high-level patterns and trends developingin real time across multiple systemsand sources. By collecting event dataand infusing it with additional scope— such as details on location, state,causality, and time reference — theseapplications can rake superchargedevents across complex rule sets, iso-lating exceptions and uncoveringseemingly unrelated cause-and-effectrelationships in real time.

It's one tbing to isolate an error, butit's entirely more relevant to see thewhole causal relationship leading upto that error. This is easily achievableusing CEP/ESP, and tbe software canthen direct alerts and triggers back intoyour enterprise systems — ERP, man-ufacturing execution, or warehousemanagement systems, for example.

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As Gen2 has become the single RFIDstandard to rally around, it's received

widespread vendor support.

Sophisticated ESP products, such asProgress for RFID from Progress Soft-ware and StreamBase Systems" StreamProcessing Engine platform, can tapRFID and additional enterprise sys-tems to build a more thorough eventprofile. For example, these solutionscan easily correlate historic data, suchas service-level issues or intrinsiccustomer value, with real-time RFID-based insight — say, a purchase orderthat's been picked but is stuck on theshop floor. Alerts from the ESP systemcan notify managers that an importantorder is about to be screwed up againand then display stock that's availableon another loading dock, allowing it tobe diverted to the higher priority.

Traditional methods of analyzingdata — with polled and scheduledreporting — impose latencies toogreat to withstand the real-time surgeof data in RFID. Using ESP's in-mem-ory pattern matching and native tem-poral services, the enterprise is alertedto overarching patterns as they occur.Whether it's perishable fruit rottingin a stalled loading dock or detectingshopping patterns on a retail floor,ESP offers the chance to adjust busi-ness rules with real-time agility.

Perhaps ESP's most alluring qualityis that its deployments do not requirealterations to existing systems. ESPtypically runs alongside transactionprocessing systems, eommunieating

into the enterprise by way of a mes-saging service or custom adaptor.

Specific to RFID, ESP can improvedata validity by scrubbing out theinevitable glitches, collisions, and par-tial reads. And it's capable of address-ing many early-game RFID anomalies,such as flow direction by consolidat-ing added data from motion control-lers into discrimination analysis.

As RFID implementation costs dropand tag data becomes increasinglysmarter, appUcation sophisticationwill rise. Accounting for future RFIDimperatives — for example, environ-mental data or tag updates along asupply-chain route — will necessitateefficient correlation and analysis. So,

The Long Road to InteroperabilitySOFTWARE ISN'T THE ONLY FACTOR DRIVING WIDER ADOP-

tion of RFID. Perhaps the largest single enabler has been theemergence of Cen2 — officially known as the EPCglobal Class-1Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocol for Communications — whichis the standard protocol for EPC (Electronic Product Code) tagtransmissions.

Although the Gen2 standard was ratified late in 2004, itwasn't until mid-2005 that hardware prototypes began tosurface. Only months later would production-grade equipmentstart trickling onto the streets, long after the first wave of earlyRFID adopters had begun piloting programs using the earlierClass 0 and Class 1 hardware.

Tbeoretically, the benefits of Gen2 are many. In addition toproviding a common standard to get everyone on the samepage. Gen 2 offers increased read speeds — 4.5 times that of theClass 1 standards — and better range, wbich belps to ensuremore complete polling even in difficult environments. Gen2 alsoemploys new anti-collision algorithms to improve read accuracyand data reliability.

Gen2 tags can contain more onboard data. Tbeir flexiblememory sizes, user-defined spaces, password security, and killfunctions that can remove tags from circulation at the readeroffer tremendous opportunities for future RFID applications.They also support international power and bandwidth regula-

tions, enabling worldwide interoperability and helping to satisfyregulatory requirements and garner ISO ratification.

With new equipment readily available, if you haven't begunpiloting your RFID program yet or are just getting underway, you should plan to use Gen2. Early adopters of previousstandards, stuck with outdated equipment that in some casesis not firmware updatable, bave found themselves needing toupgrade. New customers should learn from this mistake andpurchase only enterprise-grade, upgradable equipment fromseasoned pros such as Intermec and Zebra Technologies.

As Gen2 has become the single RFID standard to rally around,it's received widespread vendor support. For consumers, thiswill hopefully translate to increased competition, with lowerhardware prices to follow.

Still, even Gen2 is unlikely to be the last word in EPC stan-dards. The U.S. Army bas already requested yet another next-generation tag, for example, and there will likely still remainvarying degrees of standards compliance among vendors. Speci-fications sucb as EPCglobal's ALE (Application Level Events) willaiso need to be updated to take full advantage of new data andtagging opportunities in Gen2, so even new customers shouldbe prepared to grow. Nonetheless, the rise of Gen2 shouldfinally help smooth the runway for companies looking to launchRFID in 2006.-/.R.B.

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The RFID-Enabled EnterpriseBeyond basic asset management, RFID brings a wealth of useful data that can be harnessed to the henefit ofJIT (just-in-time) manufacturing and business process optimization.

Middleware engine Providing an inter-face to readers and printers is only half thetask of RFIO middleware. Onboard eventprocessing limits the raw data hitting theenterprise, ALE (Application Level Events)API provides the application interface.

EPC-IS/ONS/tradIng partners Infomiationservices and discovery networks proposed byEPCgiobal wiil heip keep RFiD-tagged items in lockstep with trading partners, suppiiers, and transports.

Trading partners/suppliers

Man ufactunna/Wa rehouseComplex event stream processingMaking sense of raw data is no match forhumans or traditional BAM toois. Eventstream engines infuse reievance andtemporai insight that minimize impact ofdetected anomalies and benefit automation

Device ConnecfivityConveyer beltRFID reader

T I ITWMS ERP EAI WS

nsportationRFID reader

f I De>̂ ce connectivity

• • • • IEvent manager

CustomerRFID reader

KHD-enabled company

In-house asset backing

Transportation/customers RRDaijtomationstreamiines ASN {Advanced Shipping Notification)and delivery confirmation that can be trackeddirectly to purchase orders back at headquarters.

Service bus and connectionstack Enterprise applications arefed by RRD data lo stiort-cyclebiiimg and repienishment delays.

In-house asset tracking Multiple middlewareengines are deployed to manage localized RFID imple-mentations. Keeping processing close to the sourceminimizes latency for zero-downtime requirements.

although complex event stream pro-cessing may not be a requirement forRFID today, it is a smart approach formaintaining insight into tomorrow'shighly distributed, real-time networks.

inside the Broadcast BoothBuilding an RFID infrastructure meansprogramming not only custom soft-ware using ALE but also tbe hardwareinterfaces of RFID readers. Thus, for allbut the smallest of deployments, this isno easy task. A much better option forstreamlining integration and ensuringdata integrity is to use the variety of

middleware tools and platforms nowavailable from a number of vendors.

On the forefront of RFID networkmanagement. Sun Microsystemsreleased a major update in Febru-ary: Sun Java System RFID Software3.0. The package comprises Sun JavaSystem RFID Event Manager, Sun JavaSystem RFID Information Server, a de-veloper kit, and a management con-sole module.

Tbe Information Server providesreader support and application queryservices, while Event Manager tacklesevent processing to filter and smooth

data input. Most importantly, the pack-age delivers excellent distributed fail-over, something that's crucial to tbezero-downtime tolerance of RFID.

The new version includes APIs thataddress reader and printer functional-ity. Anotber highlight is the additionof Java ME (formerly J2ME) support,for embedding intelligent process-ing directly onto devices, an excellentnext-step advance into building smartreaders and appliances capable of in-terconnecting with automation devic-es throughout the warehouse withoutcentralized server control. In addition.

34 I N F 0 W 0 R L D . C O M 0 4 . 1 7 . 0 6

RFID Infrastructure Vendors -Aligning RFID initiatives with experienced vendors is crucialto future-proofing your investment. Seek out standards-iaasedmiddleware and upgradable hardware capable of supportingdeveloping standards via firmware updates.

Sun has included supportfor both ALE and tbe EPC-IS (EPCglobal InformationServices) interface for RFIDdata excbange among trad-ing partners, as well as sup-port for SAP's All (Auto-IDInfrastructure).

A component of SAP'sNetWeaver application. Alloffers mySAP BusinessSuite customers straigbt-through integration of RFIDdata, which is useful in sup-ply-cbain, warebouse, andinventory management app-hcations. AJI includes goodevent management featuresand support for tbe range oflegacy and modern devices,including bar codes, PLCs{programmable logic con-trollers), and Bluetootbdevices. Otber tools, sucbas tbe Auto-ID Cockpit, helpwarehouse managers drilldown into active processesto monitor state and loca-tion status of orders.

Support for SAP's Auto-IDInfrastructure is also avail-

Intermecinfcworli).ciJm/4O15

Maker of RFID prnter/encoding equipment; EasyCoder series istops in its class; Gen2 promotionai offerings available

Paxar Respected manufacturer cf bar-code and RFID encoder printers;irfcwohd,com/4017 offers gratis onsite consultations and read-rate performance

guarantees

Zebra Technologies Good variety of firmware upgradable printer/encoder;infoworld.com/4O16 integrated reader support from partner.ThingMagic

necTerra, recently acquired byBEA — and IBM, witb its Web-Sphere RFID Premises Serverand device-embeddable layer{see "RFID Infrastructure Ven-dors," page 36).

Allen Technology Speciais inciude free Gen2 readers wiUi RHD tag purchases;infoworld.com/4018 opened Dayton, Ohio, soiution center in February

SjnHbolinfowofid.com/4019

Fuli spectrum of hardware, including handheld and fixed positionreaders; good fast-start kit available for SMBs

Mercury series of readers are Gen2-ready and backward-compatible; good breadth of s^les meet varying deploymentscenarios

WebLo^c RFID Product Famiiy brings good edge processing/device management, event management, and oompiiancejump-start packages

WebSphere RFID Premises Server 1.1 connects devices wttn goodmonitodng; embedded ciient opportunity; supports EPC-IS.

I nloworld.com/4020

MIDDLEWARE

BEAinfoworid.com/402 7

IBMinfoworid.com/4O21

Savlinfoworld.com/4022

Weli-integrated software/hardware point soiutions; SmartChainpiatform provides quick, localized soiutions for SMB SCM

Sun Microsystemsinfoworld.com/4O23

Java System RFID Software 3.0 provides good API to device, eventmanagement, monitoring, and deveiopment

OMPLEX EVENTSTREAM PROCESStNG

Process Softmreititoworld.com/4024

Progress for HFID event stream processing with in-memorycompiex event management; highiy scaiabie; ALE adapter

StreamSase Systems Enterprise-class event stream processing softwareinfownrld.com/4028

able in the recently updated RFID Any-where 2.0 package from iAnywhere,a Sybase subsidiary. This packagedelivers a middleware platform simi-lar to tbat from Sun, including botbSite Manager and Component Man-ager modules, altbough it lacks tbecapability for on-device deployment.

Tbis basic offering will be insuffi-cient for enterprise-grade projects,however. These customers will need toupgrade to tbe full Sybase RFID Enter-prise 2.0 package, whicb bundles theRFID Anywbere software with toolsfor event management, data analysis,and ftill-on business process integra-

tion. This SOA-supporting combodelivers good developer perks, such asMicrosoft Visual Studio extensions forgenerating sbell code, RFID networksimulation tools, and the capabiUty tointerface with a variety of interrogatorinterfaces, proximity sensors and con-trollers, and legacy technologies.

Looking to broaden its install base,SAP recently announced a partnershipwith Intermec, an RFID device manu-facturer, to target small and midsizecustomers witb affordable RFID solu-tions. There are a number of otber keymiddleware players in tbe market aswell — sucb as early trailblazer Con-

Mixed SignalsDespite tbe growing listof hardware and softwaretools, make no mistake:RFID is still very mucb anemerging market. Don'tlet any vendor's marketinggimmick convince you oth-erwise. If you're planning todeploy RFID today, prepareto face device compatibilityissues, buggy software andfirmware, global numberingstandards tbat still need tobe ironed out, and securitytbreats in need of redress.

With respect to middle-ware, most of tbe first genera-tion of interrogator hardwarewas pretty dumb. As next-genreaders and printers beginto add more edge-process-ing functionality, a fixed mid-dleware layer will become

less crucial. Focus will shift entirely tobridging tbe RFID infrastructure withBI (business intelligence) and creativelyapplying data from tbat infrastructureto business processes — for example,using complex event steam processing.

Until RFID becomes as ubiquitousas the bar code, plan to take stepsto future-proof your RFID blueprint,ratber than simply meeting mandatedcompliance. By investing in scalable,extensible platforms tbat can adapt tofuture usage models, you'll ensure thatyour investments today will retaintbeir value in the next RF wave andbeyond. *"•

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