ISO/IEC 18000 - RFID Air Interface Standards

ISO/IEC 18000 is a series of standards being created by ISO/IEC/JTC 1/SC31/WG4/SG3. They are creating RFID air interface standards for the item identification world.

ISO/IEC 18000 has been published. You can visit the ISO web site to get more details and order the documents or you can get them from your local National Body. Visit ISO.

The IS)/IEC 18000 series of standards are currently in revision to make them more up-to-date and bring in new information. The update is in two main areas:

• An update to 18000-6 to add the EPCglobal Generation 2 specification as Type C as well as fix any issues with Types A and B. This will be published as an Amendment to the standard. The Amendment should be available 2nd quarter of 2006 from ISO.
• A revision to all the parts of 18000 will include fixes to the standards based on actual issues discovered during the use of the standards along with the addition of the capabilities to use batteries and sensors with the existing technologies. Work has started on this area at the end of 2005.

For more information on this and any other RFID standard, contact steve@hightechaid.com

The standard is a seven part (currently) standard with the following parts:

ISO/IEC 18000 Information Technology AIDC Techniques-RFID for Item Management - Air Interface

• 18000-1 Part 1 – Generic Parameters for the Air Interface for Globally Accepted Frequencies
• 18000-2 Part 2 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications below 135 kHz
• 18000-3 Part 3 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 13.56 MHz
• 18000-4 Part 4 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 2.45 GHz
• 18000-5 Part 5 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 5.8 GHz (Withdrawn)
• 18000-6 Part 6 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 860 to 960 MHz
• 18000-7 Part 7 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 433 MHz

As can be seen, each of these parts deals with a different aspect of RFID. The first part is the defining document that explains how the standard works and the rest are divided by frequency.

18000-1 Part 1 – Generic Parameters for the Air Interface for Globally Accepted Frequencies

This Standard limits its Scope to transactions and data exchanges across the air interface at Reference Point Delta. (See Section 4, fig 1. below). The means of generating and managing such transactions, other than a requirement to achieve the transactional performance determined within this Standard, are outside the scope of this Standard, as is the definition or specification of any supporting hardware, firmware, software or associated equipments.

18000-2 Part 2 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications below 135 kHz

1. Tag types

This standard specifies two types of tags: Type A (FDX) and Type B (HDX).

These two types differ only by their physical layer. Both types support the same anti-collision and protocol.

FDX tags are permanently powered by the interrogator, including during the tag-to-interrogator transmission. They operate at 125kHz.

HDX tags are powered by the interrogator, except during the tag-to-interrogator transmission. They operate at 134.2kHz.

An optional anticollision is described in the informative annex D.

2. Compliance rules
1. Tag

To claim compliance with this standard, a tag shall be of either Type A or B.

NOTE Nothing in this standard prevents a tag to be of both types, although for technical reasons, it is unlikely that such tags are ever marketed.

2. Interrogator

To claim compliance with this standard, an interrogator shall support both Types A and B.

Depending on the application, it may be configured as Type A only, Type B only or Types A and B.

When configured in Types A and B, and when in the Inventory phase, the interrogator shall alternate between Type A and Type B interrogation. See Annex C.

18000-3 Part 3 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 13.56 MHz

18000-4 Part 4 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 2.45 GHz

Scope

18000-5 Part 5 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 5.8 GHz

The scope of this Standard is to provide Physical Layer, Anti collision System and Protocol Values for RFID Systems for Item Identification operating at 5.8 –5.9 GHz in accordance with the requirements of ISO 18000-1

This Standard provides Parameter Value for each MODE determined in the Requirements Section below.

In This version of the Standard, 2 non contending MODES are defined.

None of the MODES are interoperable

All of the MODES whilst not interoperable, are non contending.

Some of the MODES require a licence from the owner of the Intellectual Property, which shall be available on terms in accordance with ISO Policy. Details of Intellectual property are shown at the end of each mode

MODE 1 in this version of the Standard may be used without a licence

HTA Comment: This part has been withdrawn, due to lack of global acceptance

18000-6 Part 6 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 860 to 930 MHz

Scope

• the physical interactions between the interrogator and the tag

• the protocols and the commands,

• the collision arbitration schemes

18000-7 Part 7 – Parameters for Air Interface Communications at 433 MHz

Scope
1.1 Frequency
Information Technology AIDC Techniques - RFID for Item Management - Air Interface, Part 7 – Parameters for an Active RFID Air Interface Communications at 433 MHz. This standard is intended to address RFID devices operating in the 433 MHz frequency band.

1.1.1 Interface Definitions.
This standard supports a standard API (ISO/IEC 18000-1) and standard air interface implementations for wireless, non-contact information system equipment for Item Management applications. Typical applications operate at ranges greater than one meter.

1.1.1.1 RFID System Definition
The RFID system shall include a host system and RFID equipment (interrogator and tags). The host system runs an application program, which controls interfaces with the RFID. The RFID equipment shall be composed of two principal components: tags and interrogators. The tag is intended for attachment to an item, which a user wishes to manage. It is capable of storing a tag ID number and other data regarding the tag or item and of communicating this information to the interrogator. The interrogator is a device, which communicates to tags in its field of view. Additionally, the interrogator can use its transmitted RF carrier to power the tag. Systems, which rely on the transmitted interrogator carrier for powering the tag, are typically referred to as passive tag systems. The interrogator controls the protocol, reads information from the tag, directs the tag to store data in some cases, and ensures message delivery and validity.

1.1.1.2 Minimum Features
RFID systems defined by this standard provide the following minimum features:
• Identify tag in range
• Read data
• Write data or handle read only systems gracefully
• Selection by group or address
• Graceful handling of multiple tags in the field of view
• Error detection

One Mode, long distance capability, active tag system

• RFID Standards from SC31
• An explanation of how ISO standardization works
• RFID Standards (Two Presentations - Jan 2002, April 2002)
• Standards Update

(Data Correct as of Mar 2, 2006)