Abstract
Full traceability of products is extremely difficult, although it has been sought after for as long as production, distribution and sales chains exist. Electronic traceability methods, such as RFID technology, have been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. In the specific case of RFID, the number of applications that promote innovative solutions in retail and other areas has been continuous growing. However, RFID tags are mostly placed externally on a surface of products or their packages. This is appropriate for logistics, but not for other applications, such as those involving user interaction. In those, not only is the placement of the RFID tag more complex, but it is also necessary that the tag is not visible or not directly accessible, to prevent accidental damage and intentional abuse. This certainly imposes challenges to manufacturing, but mainly creates new challenges to the development of new products and re-design of existing ones. This chapter presents some insights and what we consider to be the two main approaches to incorporating RFID technology into consumer products.
TopRfid Technology Overview
RFID is a wireless tracking technology that allows a reader to activate a transponder on a radio frequency tag attached to, or embedded in, an item, allowing the reader to remotely read and/or write data to the RFID tag (Das, 2009). Essentially, an RFID system comprises an RFID tag, also called transponder, a reader, also called transceiver, and the supporting IT infrastructure. An RFID tag embodies a built-in antenna connected to an electronic microchip. These tags carry on a unique identifier that relates the tag with the precise tagged object, allowing unique product identification. A tag receives and retransmits signals on a set of predetermined frequencies, in other words, in response, a tag transmits a predetermined message to a predefined received signal.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Modular Architecture: Architecture in which the number of functions is approximately similar to the number of components, where usually the interactions (as well as the interfaces) between components are relatively simple, and where each module is intended to be the main (often the only) responsible for providing a given function or sub-function of the product.
Integral Architecture: Architecture in which the number of functions is considerably larger than the number of components, which implies that some components are involved in delivering multiple functions.
The EPCglobal Network: A computer network used to share product data between trading partners.
Product Architecture: The conceptualization, design, and description of a product, its components, the interfaces between components, and the relationships with internal and external entities, as they evolve over time.
EPC: Electronic Product Code, is the basis for the information in the network. Each RFID tag has a unique EPC.
RFID: Radio-frequency identification is the use of an RFID tag applied to or embedded into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves.