1. Europe’s Perspective on Radio Frequency IDentification
Technical Press Briefing on RFID, 6th March 2006
Europe’s Perspective on Radio Frequency IDentification
Gérald SANTUCCI – Head of Unit
Information Society and Media Directorate-General
ICT for Enterprise Networking
Technical Press Briefing on RFID, Brussels, Belgium, March 6, 2006

2. AGENDA What RFID is - components of an RFID system RFID: How it works
“Real space” and Cyberspace
What RFID is - components of an RFID system
RFID: How it works
The promise of RFID – Examples of current applications
Global status on RFID
Role of the European Commission
European Commission’s roadmap on RFID
Technical Press Briefing on RFID, Brussels, Belgium, March 6, 2006

3. Internet going beyond Cyberspace into “real space”
Real- and Cyber-space
Cyber Space
RFID
Manually data input
Bar code
Internet going beyond Cyberspace into “real space”

4. Radio Frequency Identification …
Is an automatic way to collect information or data on:
Products
Places
Times
Transactions
Enables identification performed in milliseconds:
No line of sight required
Contactless
Works in a harsh environment
Uses ID “tags” that can:
Store unique ID information
Read and write data to the tag
Maintain historical information

5. Components of an RFID System
Tag
Chip: contains information about the item to which it is attached
Antenna: transmits information from chip to reader using radio waves
Tags can be passive (no onboard power source), semi-passive (have batteries allowing the tag to perform certain functions), or active (have onboard power to initiate communication)
Reader
Uses its own antenna to communicate with the tag
Mobile (handheld devices that scan pallets, cases, etc.) or stationary (POS devices)
Can process multiple items at once
Database
Tracks and stores information about the tagged object
Information can include item identifier, description, manufacturer, movement of the item, and location – type of information will vary according to the application
Can be linked into other networks (e.g. LAN) for connection of the database to the Internet

6. RFID: How it works The RFID tag is: Powered by the RF Energy
The host is a computer system, which can be a personal computer, mainframe, hand held or other type of computer.
The host’s primary responsibility in this configuration is to run the software application that issues instructions to and gathers tag data from the reader/interrogator.
RFID
Tag
The RFID tag is:
Powered by the RF Energy
Interrogated by the Reader via the Antenna
Data is read from, or written to, the Tag
Technical Press Briefing on RFID, Brussels, Belgium, March 6, 2006

7. The Promise of RFID Global shipments of RFID systems are growing
From ~2.5 billion € in 2006 to 10 billion € in and more than 20 billion € in 2016
Number of tags delivered in 2016 will be over times the number in 2006!
More accurate location information
Improved data security and integrity
More efficient markets; productivity gains
Improved customer service
Expedite processing
Tighter control of supplies
 RFID fosters innovation, commerce, economic growth, and competitiveness
Technical Press Briefing on RFID, Brussels, Belgium, March 6, 2006

8. RFID Enables End-to-End Real-Time Visibility
Manufacturer
Intn’l Truck
Intn’l Sea Port
Trans-oceanic ship
EU Sea Port
Rail Line
EU Truck
Retailer
Global Visibility Server
Satellite Communications and GPS
Internet

9. Examples of RFID Current Applications
Drug Safety, e.g. tags on pill bottles
Quality assurance & anti-counterfeiting
Reduce potential for unauthorised access and expedite drug recalls
Healthcare, e.g. blood tracking to ensure correct blood type
Patient tracking for location identification of Alzheimer’s patients and babies
Food Safety
Temperature sensors attached to fresh food and on perishable goods
Food tracking from point of origin (e.g. meat products)
Transportation Safety
Planes: Airbus’ A-380 aircraft will have passive RFID chips on removable parts such as passenger seats, life vests, and brakes, which will aid in maintenance of those parts
Cars: designed to broadcast at regular intervals the temperature and pressure of each tyre to the driver  passenger safety + fuel saving

10. Global Status on RFID Key RFID issues are international
RFID tags affixed in one country should be readable easily by readers in other countries
Regulatory issues: standards decisions; spectrum allocations; privacy legislations
 Need of harmonisation at international level
Rising international dialogue
EU-US Summit Joint Declaration (June 20, 2005)
Encourage deployment of key innovative technologies such as broadband and radio frequency identification devices, without prejudice to consumer and data protection
OECD/ICCP RFID Forum (Paris, October 5, 2005)
Contacts with Asian countries (China, Korea, Japan …)

11. Role of the European Commission
Research & Development (R&D)
Technology: From RFID to the ‘Internet of Things’
Applications: Retail, Automotive, Aerospace, Healthcare, Transport & logistics, e-Inclusion, …
Radio spectrum
Need to ensure the timely availability of adequate radio spectrum resources
Protection of personal data and privacy
Data Protection Directive – 95/46/EC
Article 29 Working Party
Minimal requirements in certain sectoral applications?
e-Privacy Directive – 2002/58/EC
Up to review in 2006
Interoperability and standards
How tags are being interrogated; how data is represented on the tag; how the tag’s information is linked to remote databases and applications
Cross-sectoral standards (e.g. frequency spectrum)
Sector-specific standards (e.g. supply chain, pharmaceuticals)

12. Roadmap “Towards a RFID policy in Europe”
October - November 2006: Communication from the European Commission on RFID / Possible legislative action
December 2006
March 9, 2006 at CeBIT: Commissioner Viviane Reding announces the launch of a Europe-wide public consultation on RFID
September 2006: Drafting of the Communication
September 2006
March 2006
August – September 2006: Analysis of the input received through the consultation.
March – June 2006: Series of 5 thematic workshops on RFID
June – July 2006: Public online consultation on ‘Your Voice in Europe’
June 2006