MDE-3664B TRIND® Start-up, Service, and Parts Manual · June 2013
Page A-11
Wireless Communication and Air Interface
Appendix A - Radio Frequency Identification Defined
RFID System Categories
RFID systems may be roughly grouped into four categories:
• EAS systems
• Portable Data Capture systems
• Networked systems
• Positioning systems
EAS systems are typically a one-bit system used to sense the presence/absence of an item. The
large use for this technology is in retail stores where each item is tagged and large antenna
readers are placed at each exit of the store to detect unauthorized removal of the item (theft).
Portable data capture systems are characterized by the use of portable data terminals with
integral RFID readers and are used in applications where a high degree of variability in
sourcing required data from tagged items may be exhibited. The hand-held readers/portable
data terminals capture data which is then either transmitted directly to a host information
management system via a Radio Frequency Data Communication (RFDC) link or held for
delivery by line-linkage to the host on a batch processing basis.
Networked systems applications can generally be characterized by fixed position readers
deployed within a given site and connected directly to a networked information management
system. The transponders are positioned on moving or moveable items, or people, depending
upon application.
Positioning systems use transponders to facilitate automated location and navigation support
for guided vehicles. Readers are positioned on the vehicles and linked to an on-board
computer and RFDC link to the host information management system. The transponders are
embedded in the floor of the operating environment and programmed with appropriate
identification and location data. The reader antenna is usually located beneath the vehicle to
allow closer proximity to the embedded transponders.