EPC Network Architecture

Abstract

The concept of a “Networked Physical World” originated from the Auto-ID Center, now called the Auto-ID Labs [1]. Such a “World” can be realised with the combination of an automatic identification technology and a ubiquitous computer network that will glue the physical world together. Low cost RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology can automate identification of physical objects by providing an interface to link a vast number of objects to the digital domain. Thus, RFID as the enabling technology has paved the way forward for the creation of a “Networked Physical World”. The ability to form a ubiquitous item identification network has a wide range of applications including automation of manufacturing and supply chain management. The previous chapter provided a brief overview of RFID systems. This chapter describes the backend system components formulating a distributed ubiquitous item identification network enabled by the development of automatic identification provided by RFID technology, and examines the flow of tag data, once obtained by an interrogator. The implementation of such an architecture using a web services based model, as well as the impact of the network on supply chain applications, is also investigated