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wilamowski-b-m-irwin-j-d-industrial-communication-systems-2011

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9-4 Industrial Communication Systems<br />

Tags<br />

Biz process<br />

integration<br />

WMS<br />

Reader<br />

Partner<br />

integration<br />

Application<br />

integration<br />

Security<br />

Backend<br />

DB<br />

ERP<br />

system<br />

Reader<br />

Data mgmt<br />

Reader API<br />

RFID middleware<br />

Data<br />

exchange<br />

broker<br />

FIGURE 9.2 RFID middleware architecture. (From Potdar, V. et al., in: Zhang, Q. (Ed.), Automated Data Capture<br />

Technologies: RFID, Hershey, London, U.K., pp. 112–141, Information Science Reference.)<br />

broker is employed in this architecture to share, query, and update the public data structure and schema<br />

of RFID tag data by exchanging XML document. Any update of the data structure will be reflected and<br />

propagate to all involved RFID data items stored in the backend database. From the standardization<br />

view, it enables users to exchange RFID-related data with trading partners through the Internet. From<br />

the implementation angle, it might be a virtual web services consumer and provider running as peers in<br />

the distributed logistics network.<br />

9.3 Item Tracking and Tracing<br />

Item tracking and tracing applications aim to track the movement of items (goods or people) at different<br />

points at different times for a specific reason [HE08], for example,<br />

• Tracking baggage at airports for transferring bags to correct destination<br />

• Tracking patients in hospitals to provide correct treatment<br />

• Tracking passports in the airline terminal to easily find passports in case they are lost<br />

• Tracking newborn babies to distinguish one from another<br />

• Tracking animals in farms to prevent spread of diseases<br />

• Tracking books in library<br />

• Tracking golf ball in the golf court<br />

The advantages of item tracking and tracing applications are very clear: It can provide you with<br />

detailed information about an item’s movement during its entire lifecycle and can help you answer a<br />

number of questions that would assist you to make informed decisions in the future. Consider the scenario<br />

of manufacturing consumer goods like shampoo. The normal process employed to manufacture<br />

shampoo would be<br />

• Picking up the raw materials from the warehouse<br />

• Moving it to the production line<br />

• Transferring it to finished goods section<br />

• Packaging<br />

• Preparing for dispatch<br />

© <strong>2011</strong> by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

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