RFID Inventory Management And Tracking System Greg McDaniel Hashem Garner Adam Kesner Thomas Harris

Presentation Agenda Project Overview Hardware Prototype Checkout System Database & Web Reporting Tools Please hold all questions until the end of the presentation.

Greg 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

Adam 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 V cc 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

Hashem 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 FileRFReader Data Parsed Data Formatted Data Sent to Viewer

Database Item Lookups ▫Price ▫Brand ▫Product Finalize Transaction ▫Insert New Transaction/Sales  Transaction Number  Totals

Database Design

Thomas 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

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?