8 - Deployment considerations for active RFID systems

Summary

In transitioning from the analysis of RFID systems technology to actual deployment considerations of specific sites, the first area confronting project managers is the need to assess the range of other RF applications that may be operating at the same unlicensed frequencies.

A critical part of preparing for RFID system implementations is planning to support the various RFID applications infrastructures that may be implemented. Specifically, the opportunity to leverage a common IT infrastructure for supply chain, pedigree-tracking, and location-tracking RFID services promise higher return from investments in these technologies. One example is to consider levera-ging a wireless data (WiFi) network as the back-haul for RFID readers. Another would be to analyze the costs and benefits of combining RTLS applications with the same WiFi infrastructure, rather than using stand-alone systems for both. At a minimum, a gap analysis is required, in order to assess systems operating across the unlicensed spectrum that might interfere with the performance of RFID systems, or vice versa.

Introduction

Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense's announcement in 2003 mandating their suppliers to implement RFID tagging for all goods supplied to them caused a flurry of panic and speculation on how best to implement this requirement. Other agencies, including the FDA and corporations, have followed suit, with varying timelines and deployment plans. The area of passive RFID is more mature than that of active RFID with respect to the level of standardization and test data.