CE RFID continues work in the European network RFID-in-Action

The new network "RFID in Action" has been founded by the members of the EU-funded research project CE RFID (Coordinating European Efforts for Promoting the European RFID Value Chain - www.rfid-in-action.eu), which was successfully completed in September 2008. The new network "RFID in Action" invites other European RFID stakeholders to join the network und support these goals:

• Disseminate the results and recommendations of CE RFID to the RFID community,
• Discuss and develop common positions among European RFID users, manufacturers and solution providers regarding current RFID topics,
• Identify opportunities to improve the European approach towards RFID from an industrial point of view, and
• Propose and foster respective activities by standardisation organisations, business associations and policy makers in Europe.

AIM Germany is a member of this network together with these members of the original research project and further organizations:

• AIM members: Feig Electronic, Siemens, NXP, RF-iT Solutions, ADT.
• Others: Metro Group, Deutsche Post, EADS, AIDA Centre, UPM Raflatac, Pleon, VDI/VDE/IT

Contacts to the network (more details see www.RFID-in-Action.eu/network):

Speaker: Dr. Gerd Wolfram, MGI METRO Group Information Technology GmbH
Co-Speaker: Wolf-Rüdiger Hansen, AIM-D e.V.
Coordination: Dr. Birgit Gampl, MGI METRO Group Information Technology GmbH
... and: Peter Gabriel, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH

Documents produced by the project (downloads below):

The RFID Reference Model developed by CE RFID
The term "RFID technology" refers to a vast field of applications. When people talk about RFID technology they might talk about simple anti-theft devices, about animal identification systems, or also about smart objects finding their destined way within logistic applications.

When an application field is so wide it is obvious that publications are accordingly dispersed. Therefore, it is difficult to classify findings of other authors and to realise which of these findings are relevant for someone's own business or research field.

The RFID Reference Model (63 pages, see downloadable PDF below) aims at structuring the wide spread application areas of RFID. As the first step when developing the RFID Reference Model, a list of RFID applications has been created and discussed with various RFID experts. The idea was to create a list of applications that is as comprehensive as possible. In the next step these applications have been merged to these RFID Application Fields.

• Logistical Tracking & Tracing
• Production, Monitoring and Maintenance
• Product Safety, Quality and Information
• Access Control and Tracking & Tracing of Individuals
• Loyalty, Membership and Payment
• Health Care
• Sport, Leisure and Household
• Public Services

The RFID Implementation Checklist:
Furthermore, CE RFID has shown that most RFID guidelines are of scarce practical value for companies and other users planning to use RFID technology. The major problem is that, due to the vast diversity of RFID applications and technological solutions, even industry-specific guidelines can be too broad to be useful for specific applications on company level.

CE RFID has therefore elaborated an "RFID Implementation Checklist" (1 page, PDF for download below) which lists the typical enterprise functions which might benefit from or get in touch with RFID projects and their specific requirements in keywords. This checklist serves as the basis for the elaboration of new application-specific guidelines for a RFID project within a company or other user entities. The AIM European RFID Expert Group (EREG; chairman is Eldor Walk, Feig Electronic) will regularly discuss the topics on the list and update it. If you have comments concerning the topics on the list please contact AIM: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! Sie müssen JavaScript aktivieren, damit Sie sie sehen können.

The RFID Implementation Checklist:

• Gives guidance for companies or organisations when implementing an RFID system
• Serves as a basis for drafting application specific guidelines
• Helps to ensure that all relevant aspects are covered
• Can easily be updated and adapted to future guidelines needs

RFID Standards and Radio Regulations
Final Report of CE RFID Work package 3 (257 pages, PDF for download below.)

This report deals with the RFID standardisation. Its main objectives are collection and analysis of all kinds of RFID concerning standards. This especially includes: frequencies and radio regulations, communications, data, network, safety and applications. The analysis of these standards was conducted with respect to overlaps, inconsistencies, sector specific standards and gaps within standards. At the end European RFID standardisation activities are suggested.

The above described documents are available for download below. Furthermore, the project has released this book:

• Dr. G. Wolfram, P. Gabriel, Dr. B Gampl (Hrsg.): „The RFID Roadmap: The next Steps for Europe", Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008, 200 pages, ISBN 978-3-540-71018-9

Documents for download (PDF):

RFID Standards and Radio Regulations
The RFID Reference Model developed by CE RFID
The RFID Implementation Checklist