RFID Inventory Management And Tracking SystemGreg McDanielHashem GarnerAdam KesnerThomas Harris

Presentation Agenda•Project Overview•Hardware•Prototype Checkout System•Database & Web Reporting Tools

Please hold all questions until the end of the presentation.

Project OverviewGreg McDaniel

RFID Inventory Management System•Prototype System

▫Replace UPC Barcodes ▫Uses RFID Tags

Passive RFID•Benefits

▫Enhanced Inventory Tracking▫Simplified Checkout

Project Background•Current Systems

▫Universal Product Codes ( UPCs)•Limitations

▫Shoplifting▫In-Store Inventory Tracking▫Inefficient Checkout

•Alternative▫Radio Frequency Identification Tags

(RFIDs)

What are RFIDs?•Radio Frequency Identification Tags•Common Uses

▫E-ZPass▫Passports▫Security Badges

Benefits of RFIDs•Faster Checkout

▫Speedy▫Fewer Complications

•Numerous Other Potential Applications▫Improved Inventory Tracking▫Anti-theft▫Expiration Dates (grocery stores)

Project Components•Hardware

▫RFID Reader•Software

▫Checkout System▫Database▫Stored Procedures▫Web Reporting Tools

HardwareAdam Kesner

Hardware•RFID Operation•Types of RFID Tags•Required Capabilities

▫Major Objectives▫Minor Objectives

•RedBee RFID Reader•Interference

RFID Operation•Necessary Components

▫Interrogator▫Antenna▫RFID Tag▫PC▫Power Supply

RedBee RFID Scanner

Types of RFID Tags• Active

▫Contains Battery▫Transmits Signal Autonomously▫Range of up to 100 Meters

• Battery Assisted Passive (BAP)▫Requires External Source to Wake Up▫Significant Higher Forward Link▫Greater Read Range

• Passive▫Energy Transferred Using RF from Reader▫Range of 3-5 Meters; Usually Less

RFID Button, Credit Card, Key Fob and Reader

Major Objectives•Accurate Identification

▫System is Useless Otherwise•Cost Efficient

▫Prototype Cost: $150•Remote Scanning

▫Ideal Functionality, Not Achieved•Near Instantaneous Operation

Minor Objectives•Filter Foreign Tags

▫Handled Effectively•Read Tags at Various Orientations

▫Parallel Orientation Offers Best Range▫Functions at all Orientations

•Operate in Store Environment▫Repetitive Use

RedBee RFID Reader•Interfaces with EM4001 IC

▫Key Fobs, Capsules, Cards, Buttons etc.▫125 KHz Low Frequency

•Receives 32-bit ID▫Utilizes 24 bits for Our Products▫8 Bits for Brand, Product, Unique ID

•Sufficient Read Range▫Roughly 10 cm

RedBee RFID Reader•Power Supply Options

▫Via USB▫Regulated 12V Barrel Connector▫Supply 5V to Vcc Pin

•Tag ID Transmitted via USB▫Stream of Serial Data▫Read from COM Port as a File

Interference•Foreign Tags in Range of RedBee

▫HF Tags do not Interfere▫125 kHz Tags Handled by Software

•Valid Tag and Foreign Tag in Range▫Reliable Data Received▫Valid Tag Recognized

•Multiple Valid Tags in Range▫Unreliable Operation ▫Unpredictable Results

Prototype Checkout SystemHashem Garner

Software Architecture•Basic Components

▫Viewer GUI

▫RFReader Hardware Interface

▫Database Database Interactions

Code Conventions•Based on Oracle/Sun Recommended Best

Practices▫Camel-Case▫Small Files

Less than 2000 lines One class with specific purpose

▫Comment Conventions▫Indentation and Whitespace Usage

Viewer•Handles User Interactions

▫Display Current Order▫Select/Remove Item▫Finalize Transaction

•Custom Panel▫Display Order Item

Align Columns▫Aesthetically Pleasing

RFReader•Reads Data from RedBee Reader

▫Parses Data▫Formats Data

RedBee Reader

Buffer File

RFReader

Data Parsed

Data Formatt

ed

Data Sent to Viewer

Database•Item Lookups

▫Price▫Brand▫Product

•Finalize Transaction▫Insert New Transaction/Sales

Transaction Number Totals

Database Design

Database Web Reporting ToolsThomas Harris

The Database•IMS Requires Tracking Large Amounts of

Data▫Current Inventory Levels▫Inventory Orders▫Sales Transactions▫Pricing History

Stored Procedures•Used to Access Data in the IMS

Databases•Database Gatekeeper

▫Select ▫Insert▫Update

•Security•Change Localization

Database Testing• Test Data Generation

▫ Automated▫ Pseudo-Random Data▫ Simulate Inventory

Flow• Verified Basic Database

Design▫ Table Structure▫ Stored Procedures

• Provided Test Data for Web Reporting Tools

Web Reporting Tools•Honors Component•IMS Trending and Summaries

▫Current Inventory▫Price Trending▫Purchase Order History▫Sales Summary

Software Architecture•Web Presentation Layer

▫Custom Data Presentation•Business Layer

▫Shared Methods▫Data Abstraction

Stored Procedures Data Objects

Conclusion

Current Project Status•Working Prototype Checkout System

▫RFID Scanning Implemented▫Functional GUI▫Itemized Receipt

•Stored Procedures▫Standard, Secure Database Interface

•Web Reporting Tools▫Displays Useful Statistics▫Basic Model for Future Reports

Future Plans• Improve Hardware

▫Tags▫Reader

• Investigate Secondary Applications▫Loss Prevention▫Locating Misplaced Items▫Real-Time Store Inventory Tracking

• Address Limitations▫Chicken and Egg Problem

Industry Initiative?▫Cost of Implementation

Questions?