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A World where Everything is Automated: The Challenges and Opportunities of the Robust RFID Infrastructure that will make It a Reality

Abstract

To achieve the full benefits of RFID implementation in any industry requires that organizations develop and carefully manage complicated RFID networks. A robust RFID network platform will be necessary to support the different devices and software that will lead to an event-driven environment. In place of the familiar process-driven approaches, RFID networks will allow enterprises to build event-driven applications that will react to real-time information that are then used to make intelligent business decisions. Managing the data from RFID tags and readers still remains one of the major challenges that impede the diffusion of this technology. Building scalable and secure data and information infrastructure are among the problems identified by early adopters. This paper will present an overview of industry (individual companies and partnerships) and government activities aimed at solutions for a robust RFID infrastructure. This paper will also discuss efforts at the Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) program at James Madison University to expose students to the various aspects of this technology.

Introduction

The road to ubiquitous computing has taken many paths in the past, but it has always bordered on the use of intelligent wireless connections. For this reason, RFID technology holds a very real promise of being a silent technology – one that is so pervasive that one is not aware of its use. A robust RFID network platform will be necessary to support the different devices and software that will lead to an event-driven environment. In place of the familiar process-driven approaches, RFID networks will allow enterprises to build event-driven applications that will react to real- time information, that are then used to make intelligent business decisions. This will be a fundamental shift for a lot of organizations, but its benefits will be equally enormous. An intelligent, event-driven RFID and sensor Network will: Integrate different devices under a user-friendly common environment – broad hardware support for many hardware families of passive and active RFID readers, RFID printers, barcode scanners, mobile devices, location tracking systems, etc. Integrate RFID, location, and sensor tracking data at different locations in the enterprise; and offers a configuration that supports edge processing Possess a runtime environment that can host multiple business processes Support multi-protocol RFID tags – support across many product features for EPC, ISO, and custom tags.

A major cause for excitement in RFID technology is the high levels of efficiency gains expected in enterprise supply chain management – real-time inventory data, real-time supplier information, and benefits from sharing business data along the value chain. Most of the early adoptions of RFID technology are for this application, but an even greater benefit will come when the control capabilities of this technology are fully implemented. One of the defining

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Egekwu, O. (2008, June), A World Where Everything Is Automated: The Challenges And Opportunities Of The Robust Rfid Infrastructure That Will Make It A Reality Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--4453