Federal Communications Commission Workshop on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

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Federal Communications CommissionWorkshop on
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

• October 7, 2004
• SAMSys Technologies

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RFID Today

• Current focus is on logistics
• Industry Standards
• Engineering Resources
• UHF band

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RFID Today

• Other applications are being envisioned
• Access control
• Emergency evacuation accounting
• Document security and anti-counterfeiting
• Vehicle tracking
• Baggage Handling

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RFID Today

• SAMSys currently offers readers that operate
  under FCC Part 15 rules
• 902 928 MHz
• 13.56 MHz
• 125 KHz
• Other companies have also offered products at
  2.45 GHz, at 140 KHz, and at 433 MHz.

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Logistics Challenges

• Material Handling equipment
• Forklifts
• Clamp trucks
• Positioning systems
• Printers
• Converters
• Applicators
• Smart Shelves
• High Speed Conveyors
• Dock Door Portals

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Logistics Challenges (continued)

• Material Handling equipment
• Power levels higher than Part 15 allows are
  needed in some cases

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Logistics Challenges (continued)

• Printers and Converters
• Fixed frequency operation would improve
  performance

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Logistics Challenges (continued)

• High Speed Conveyors
• Higher data transfer rates enhance performance,
  but would require more bandwidth.

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Logistics Challenges (continued)

• Dock Door Portals
• Many readers operating in close proximity
• Frequency coordination would minimize
  interference

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Flexibility in Solutions

• The variety of applications requires a variety of
  solutions
• Not all solutions fit within the current Part 15
  framework
• Some need higher power
• Some need a fixed frequency device but low power
• Some applications could benefit from an
  operationally detachable antenna

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Flexibility in Solutions

• It should be possible to accommodate some
  requirements without fundamentally changing the
  nature of Part 15 requirements.
• Additionally, a licensed service could be
  established under Part 90, similar to Subpart M
  (Intelligent Vehicle Tracking) to accommodate
  higher power requirements