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1. System Components
A Mojix STAR system is a single network element at the enterprise edge. Based on Mojix’s innovative distributed
architecture, a single system consists of one or more STAR receivers managing up to 512 low-cost Mojix eNode
transmitters. Mojix eNodes provide energy to all passive RFID tags within their specified interrogation spaces, while
the centralized, high-sensitivity Mojix STAR receiver reads the resulting tag signals from across the system’s potentially
vast coverage area - up to 250,000 sq. feet.
1.1. Mojix eNodes: Distributed Transmitters
Each Mojix eNode excites all passive RFID tags within its designated interrogation space and can be fixed, wireless or
handheld, and can be deployed as needed to shape discrete, overlapping or contiguous interrogation spaces, as well as
to create virtual fences for securing tagged items.
Mojix eNodes are reliable, autonomously operated RF repeaters designed to excite all EPC UHF Gen2 RFID tags within
their designated interrogation spaces with an excite range – depending on the tag being used - of over 30 feet and a
coverage area of more than 2,500 square feet. Up to 512 eNodes are controlled by a single Mojix STAR Receiver, able
to manage a mixed population of single and multi-port eNodes, as well as sensors in support of numerous concurrent
business processes.
1.2. STAR Receiver: Centralized Read and Control point
The STAR Receiver functions as a single point of data collection, provisioning, command and control, and integration
with enterprise systems. With the ability to detect extremely faint signals and free from conventional RFID’s line-
of-sight restrictions, the STAR receiver works in concert with its satellite eNodes to support one or many business
processes across the entire coverage. The STAR-1000 Receiver contains a 1 x 4 array assembly, and digital and RF
processing assemblies. The STAR Receiver utilizes classical, fully active, phased array antennas for enabling the
visibility into the space dimension. The smart array approach adopted by Mojix is based fully on digital processing
techniques, thereby providing very high resolution for estimation of direction of arrival of the signal of interest (SOI),
enabling the system to provide accurate location information on the tag position in the three dimensional Euclidean
space. The STAR Receiver hardware overview is shown in the following figure:
a) RF / IF sub system
b) Digital Subsystem – including ADC, DAC
c) Digital Signal Processing subsystem
d) Ethernet
interface
Figure 2: STAR Receiver Hardware overview
