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Asset Tracking using RFID
Introduction
The client provides comprehensive IT solutions exclusively to the financial services industry worldwide.
Their range of solutions includes packaged applications for consumer banking, corporate banking, investor
servicing, funds, insurance, risk management etc, apart from custom application development and IT
consulting services.
As the company is in the business of solution selling and support, to the financial industry worldwide
it has a very large infrastructure comprising of approximately 1 lakh IT assets and additional numbers
of non-IT assets. The company is geographically spread across the country with 8 locations. Thus
tracking such a large database of assets being a critical process, a need for an automated system for
tracking these assets was felt necessary.
The challenge
 To have a log of tagged asset Entry/Exit.
To do Asset audit and keep track of mobile assets
To monitor & restrict the movements of assets.
Transforming asset tracking processes by rolling out Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology
Delivering RFID transponders compliant with emerging EPCglobal standards to advance and support
the worldwide standardisation of RFID technology
The solution
We offered the client a mix of an active and a passive solution to help advance the development
and integration of RFID technology across the enterprise by designing the architecture solution;
A pictorial representation of a floor plan is given below. (This is an imaginary plan
for the purpose of illustration only)
RFID, Radio Frequency Identification, creates an automatic way to collect information about
a product, place, time or transaction quickly, easily and without human error. It provides
a contact less data link, without need for line-of-sight or concerns about harsh
or dirty environments that restrict other auto ID technologies such as bar codes.
RFID technology is a proven object tracking and automated data collection solution with more
than 750 million tags in use in the world today. RFID has been applied to hundreds
of applications in dozens of key industries.
How the solution works:
An RFID system communicates through a reader, which broadcasts a signal through an antenna.
When a transponder (also called tag) enters the antenna field, it receives the signal from the
reader. The transponder is ‘charged’ with enough power to send back a unique identification code
to the reader.
Transponders
The transponders or tags are the backbone of the technology and come in a variety of shapes,
sizes and read ranges to suit different applications. The RFID transponders are more than just an
identification code. The read/write transponders may be used as a data carrier, with information
being written to the tag’s memory and updated on the fly.
Readers
RFID Readers range from low power, short-range microreaders to high-powered fully encased
readers designed for longer lead ranges and also the hand-held readers. These superior
ranges of readers provide quality communication with the transponders.
There are two type of reader
 Reader with embedded Antenna
Reader with external antenna
Mix of Active and Passive solution
As the IT assets comprise of metallic and non-metallic equipments we have decided to offer
a mixed usage of active and passive tags depending on the cost of the IT asset.
Separate passive tags are also available for metallic and non-metallic surfaces which you have
to decide which to use where.
An entire solution using only passive tags could also be provided but the main drawback or
limitation of the solution is the range which is as low as 1 meter and also limitation in
reading not more than 8 tags simultaneously.
Keeping the above limitations in mind we suggest a mix solution using active and passive
solutions together.
Firstly categorize assets into low cost metallic, low cost non metallic, high cost metallic
and high cost non-metallic assets. This has to be done since the cost of each of these types of tags
vary.
Secondly after affixing tags on assets the Tag-ID needs to be captured which can be done using
Passive handheld readers for passive tags and Active hand held readers for active tags.
The next activity is to capture movements in / out of doors. Since there would be passive and
active tags both have to be tracked using different receivers and antennas, due to various
frequencies and range of tags.
For the passive tags to be tracked we would require Walk through antenna and long range
reader, whereas to track active tags we would require High Frequency readers with whip antenna
and power supply.
Hence at every door we would require the following equipments
Active RFID Readers: The Active RS485 / RS232 reader detects and decodes RF transmitted signals
from the tags. Interpreted data is converted into electrical information that is passed down the
RS485 reader Active readers can be used in standalone mode or in multi-drop asynchronous network.
Features
Up to 255 unique receiver address possible
Remote readers are powered via CAT5 cable
Reader status indication by LED’s at RJ45 connectors
Conformance to the RF standards
Whip Antenna: Whip antenna has been designed for optimal RF receiving performance with relevant
reader range. This antenna attaches to the reader via a BNC(M) connector.
The antenna is housed in a rugged waterproof rubber mould that is UV resistant and can be
used outdoors.
Long Range Readers
General features
Long range vicinity RFID reader
High strength and resilience extruded aluminum enclosure
Built-in speaker alarm
Status monitoring LCD with backlight
Standard ESD-protected RS232 serial interface (up to 115.2 Kbaud)
Firmware-upgrade via RS232 port
Real Time Clock with Internal Thermometer function
Transient & over-current protected input power
Easy setup to host minimizes hassle
Walk thru Gate Antennae
Key feature
Simultaneous identification of up to 8 tags
Base and complementary antennas
Read distance up to 90 cms
Active asset tags
An internal battery powers active asset tags. These tags will for the duration of
its life, transmit RF signal at a preset time interval. The tag life is estimated
at 5 years at a transmission time interval of approximately 1.5 seconds. The life span of
the tags ends when the battery life is exhausted. Battery status can be inferred by querying the
internal Tag Age Counter value.
The transmitted tag data includes customer site code, Tag-Id, Tag Age Counter Value,
Movement alarm and Tamper alarm status.
These tags are ideally suited for operating on metallic surfaces or plastics containing a high
metal content.
Key Technologies
Extensive review and definition of the transponders and readers to be procured and deployed to achieve
successful roll-out of asset level RFID tagging
Rigorous testing enabling reliable recognition of RFID transponders at all identification sites.
Delivering the solution
The recommendations were developed at PCSTL’s RFID Innovation Center. Consultants reviewed test
specifications, and provided technical issue identification and resolution for implementing RFID tagging
at the asset level.
PCSTL’s Solution Services managed the introduction of RFID reader scanning gates at the main, exit and
the emergency gates, enabling the information held by RFID transponders to be automatically uploaded
to the asset tracking application, simplifying asset tracking processes and dramatically reducing
operational costs.
From initial RFID tagging at asset level, incoming / outgoing goods will pass through an RFID reader
gate at all gates. Up to 35 tags can be read per second, allowing fast reconciliation between incoming
and outgoing asset and improving the asset flow control system, enabling real-time visibility of assets
and significantly reducing time spent manually inputting product information.
Return on investment...
Leading technology alliances with stakeholder technology vendors ensures seamless integration of RFID
and WLAN technologies with existing infrastructure and business critical applications, maximising
operational efficiency and significantly reducing back- end costs;
Nearly 100% reading rate of RFID transponders for all defined units;
Key Features & Benefits
Manage the system: Remotely administer assets, and monitor asset movement in real time.
Manage Assets out: Track packages (Materials/Parcels) delivered by the employee, through the way of
returnable/Non returnable. Track the materials taken by the vendor through the way of returnable/
Nonreturnable.
Generate emergency reports: Provide critical information (which assets are moved, what floor,which
gate etc.) for security personnel to stop the exit od asset.
Records all the information in a secured database: The database is more secured in this system.
The endorsement can be only through administrators. There is no un-authorized interference.
Work in any environment: The system can be utilizable by any kind of official/factory environment.
The easiness of the system makes the system is been more reliable.
Software intellectual features
Platform: More advanced and innovative DotNet platform is been used for building the application.
Integration: This system could be easily integrated with other applications
Database: Based on necessity it may be SQL Server 2000/MS Access.
Customization possibilities
Access Control: There is scope for integration with Radio Frequency Identification Systems (RFID)
based access control devices to operate doors. The function of this is to restrict the movement of
assets in some tenable areas.
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