RFID system cuts across standards

The device can help manufacturers save on the costs of storing a variety of readers and writers using different standards. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is helping to transform logistics by providing a means of tracking and tracing individual products throughout the supply chain.

However, there are many different products and types of equipment using a variety of technological standards. For each type of tag, a reader/writer corresponding to that specific type is required.

While international efforts are underway to set common standards, manufacturers currently are having to cope with a variety of RFID tags flowing in and out of their operations. Industry has identified the issue as one slowing down the technology's wider adoption.

RFID technology can be used to distinguish items by attaching tags and specific codes to them. Tag data is written or read using radio waves, thus allowing for the management of processing and distribution flows.

Selecting the appropriate reader and writers for each tag is cumbersome. The cost of storing different reader/writers in addition to operations and maintenance for replacement becomes quite significant, says NEC System Technologies. The company believes it has solved the problem with its FlexReaderWriter.

NEC's system consists of a management system made up of an RFID reader/writer along with server software. With the software the device can read and write to a variety of RFID tags utilizing various frequencies and protocols, as well as for server software that manages all RFID reader/writers.