Three choices for RFID Software

In 2011 there are three primary choices for deploying an RFID system. They are:

• A reader based RFID Operating System (OS) creating "smart readers" with no RFID middleware
• A network based or cloud based intelligence layer leveraging "thin readers"
• Traditional Generation 1.0 RFID middleware adding servers and a thick enterprise application to your enterprise

The first two methods are what ODIN has leveraged across 500 deployments in 50 countries. RFID software and intelligence on devices. It's low risk and proven because it addresses the most fundamental challenges of deploying RFID.

The third method of deploying RFID software is why many companies are slow to adopt RFID. Most CIO's are trying to eliminate servers from their network and reduce thick enterprise applications. Traditional RFID middleware vendors would have you pay $50,000 to $500,000 per location no matter how many readers you have. They have attempted to redesign asset tracking, workflow automation, and other applications you already likely have, rather than just specialize in RFID software. ODIN took a different approach to RFID software.

Physics First for 99.9% Accuracy

If you want 99.9% read accuracy you need RF engineers who know the deepest inner workings of an RFID reader. Software developers must be sitting next to those RF Engineers to learn the details of automating reader commands, and then writing and continually testing code for highly accurate RFID software. To make RFID software easy to adopt it should be embedded on the RFID readers, to get the highest read accuracy RFID software should leverage all the deep commands automatically.

ODIN is unique in having the world's only RFID lab that compares RFID equipment head-to-head to find out which readers, tags, printers and systems work the best. Having PhDs from MIT, Stanford, GW and other RF engineers and physicists on staff meant ODIN learned how to make RFID readers work better than any other company. That is the foundation for the world's most accurate RFID software. In fact four of the top five RFID reader companies have hired ODIN. This deep knowledge base of accuracy could be automated.

RFID Operating System: an RFID Reader's Heartbeat

ODIN knew after deploying nearly every type of first generation RFID middleware that the devices needed intelligence on them. ODIN's founder often uses the mobile phone analogy to explain the evolution in RFID software. Five years ago the cellular call you could make was no better than on a 2011 iPhone, but you couldn't book a hotel, video conference with friends, play online games etc. because there was no intelligence on the device.

RFID followed the same evolution, but not all RFID software vendors kept up with the times. With intelligence built on the RFID reader in the form of an Operating System (OS) like EasyEdge™ costs were cut by as much as 80% and enterprises could get more value from existing investment in applications like Maximo, HP Asset Manager, BMC/Remedy, and other enterprise apps.

EasyEdge™ is the only true RFID Operating System designed to replace RFID middleware. At $1,500 per reader for a perpetual RFID software license it is much cheaper than server based thick client RFID software while providing 80% of the functionality and is much better in ensuring accuracy since it leverages every configuration parameter on the leading RFID readers. Award winning RFID deployments like Vail Resorts, Johnson & Johnson, and other all have deployed ODIN's RFID software - EasyEdge with tremendous results and high scalability. Read more about EasyEdge here.

An RFID Central Nervous System

When is a Smart RFID Reader not enough? There are times when having an Operating System on the RFID reader is not enough to meet the business process or get the most value from RFID. Tracking high value assets like servers & laptops, patients in a hospital or work in process requires location details, intelligence about RFID reader read times, dependencies on order of read zones (going from point A to B to C has different meaning than A to D to G) and other sophisticated processing. This requires a differnt RFID software. In this instance an RFID network needs a central nervous system.

ODIN's EasyTAP™ is a patent intelligence layer that can be appliance based, run on a virtual machine (VM) or sit in a public cloud. Over $35 million dollars of R&D was invested to create the EasyTap and more than ten patents have been granted on the sophisticated algorithms of this RFID software. The most demanding clients like Disney Cancer Center, Metro Stores, DHL, Boeing, and many others have leveraged the EaysTAP™ RFID software to scale up to thousands of readers connected together with real-time intelligence.

Read more about the EasyTAP^™ here.

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