RFID: A Guide to Radio Frequency Identification

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

STAFF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS.

1 INTRODUCTION.

1.1 What Is RFID?

1.2 What Explains the Current Interest in RFID Technology?

1.3 Goals of This Book.

2 AN OVERVIEW OF RFID TECHNOLOGY.

2.1 The Three Core Components of an RFID System.

2.2 RFID Tags.

2.3 RFID Interrogators.

2.4 RFID Controllers.

2.5 Frequency.

2.6 Automatic Identifi cation and Data Capture (AIDC) Systems.

2.7 “Smart” Tags vs. Bar Codes.

2.8 RFID Technology in Supply Chain Management.

3 HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF RFID TECHNOLOGY.

3.1 The Convergence of Three Technologies.

3.2 Milestones in RFID and the Speed of Adoption.

3.3 RFID in the Future.

4 RFID MIDDLEWARE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION.

4.1 What Is RFID Middleware?

4.2 The Recent Focus on Middleware.

4.3 Core Functions of RFID Middleware.

4.4 Middleware as Part of an RFID System—The EPC Architecture.

4.5 The Present State of Middleware Development.

4.6 Middleware Vendors.

5 COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT RFID TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS.

5.1 Introduction.

5.2 Effect of the Wal-Mart and Department of Defense Mandates.

5.3 Strategic Dimensions of the Wal-Mart and DoD Mandates.

5.4 RFID Technology for Business Applications.

5.5 RFID and Supply Chain Management.

5.6 The Business Case for RFID.

5.7 Government Use of RFID Technology.

5.8 RFID and the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain.

5.9 RFID Implanted in Humans.

6 RFID TECHNOLOGY IN HOMELAND SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CORRECTIONS.

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 RFID Technology in Homeland Security.

6.3 RFID in Law Enforcement.

6.4 RFID Use in Law Enforcement—Looking to the Future.

6.5 RFID Technology in Corrections.

7 RFID REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS.

7.1 Governmental RFID Regulation.

7.2 World Regulatory Bodies.

7.3 Industrial-Scientifi c-Medical (ISM) Bands.

7.4 Spectrum Allocations for RFID.

7.5 Industrial RFID Standards.

7.6 International Standards Organization (ISO).

7.7 EPCglobal.

7.8 The Wal-Mart and DoD Mandates and EPC.

8 ISSUES SURROUNDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF RFID TECHNOLOGY.

8.1 Introduction.

8.2 Privacy Issues in Applying RFID Technology.

8.3 The Costs of Developing and Deploying RFID Technology.

8.4 The Growth of Global Standards and Regulations.

8.5 Technological Immaturity and Integration with Legacy Systems.

8.6 Lack of Robustness.

8.7 Lack of Knowledge and Experience, End-User Confusion, and Skepticism.

8.8 Ethical Issues.

8.9 Data Management.

9 THE FUTURE PREDICTIONS FOR RFID.

APPENDIX A WAL-MART RFID INITIATIVE.

APPENDIX B DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RFID POLICY OVERVIEW.

LIST OF ACRONYMS.

GLOSSARY.

RFID VENDOR LIST.

POINTS OF CONTACT.

INDEX.