The RFID roadmap : the next steps for Europe

RFID is a key technology for Europe. Today there is a noticeable shift away from the days of RFID pilot projects, and towards a time where organisations are looking to RFID to drive efficiency and innovation. Although Europe is a leading player in the world of RFID technology, several challenges which are preventing RFID from reaching its full potential need to be addressed.

To further the advancement of this technology, coordinated European efforts need to be promoted, specifically in the areas of standardisation, user guidelines, legislation, technology development, and research and development. These themes have been analysed, and clear recommendations have been derived, stating what the different RFID stakeholders can do to support the technology. This book is aimed at decision makers in all fields of society, e.g. in companies, politics, business associations, etc.

The publication is a summary of the results of the coordination action CE RFID - "Coordinating European Efforts in the RFID Value Chain" - and is a network of European RFID technology providers, vendors and end users. It aims at promoting the use of RFID technology and supporting further development. The project was funded by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme.

1 Introduction	p. 1
1.1 The Technology Diffusion of RFID and Specific Challenges	p. 4
1.2 Outline of the Book	p. 6
2 Framework for the Classification of RFID Applications and Stakeholders	p. 9
2.1 The RFID Reference Model	p. 9
2.2 The RFID Stakeholder Model	p. 12
3 Standards	p. 15
3.1 Standardisation Organisations and Processes	p. 16
3.1.1 Basic Rule Setting Organisations	p. 16
3.1.2 Standard Development Organisations	p. 17
3.1.3 User and Industry Organisations	p. 18
3.1.4 Business Models of Standardisation Organisations	p. 18
3.2 Radio Spectrum Framework	p. 20
3.3 Interoperability of Standards	p. 26
3.3.1 Product Codes	p. 27
3.3.2 The Internet of Things	p. 28
3.3.3 Data Exchange and the Object Name Service (ONS)	p. 29
3.4 Analysis of the Need for Application Specific Standards	p. 31
3.4.1 Logistical Tracking and Tracing of Goods	p. 32
3.4.2 Production, Monitoring and Maintenance of Goods and Processes	p. 34
3.4.3 Product Safety, Quality and Information of Goods and Processes	p. 36
3.4.4 Access Control Systems, Personal Tracking, Rental Systems	p. 38
3.4.5 General Assessment of Current RFID Application Standards	p. 39
3.4.6 General Recommendations on RFID Application Standards	p. 40
3.5 Need for Standards for RFID Sensor Tags	p. 40
3.6 Privacy and Security Standards	p. 41
3.6.1 Privacy	p. 41
3.6.2 Security	p. 42
3.6.3 Data Security Measures in Air Interface Standards	p. 43
3.6.4 Recommendations on Privacy and Data Security	p. 44
4 Implementation and Application Guidelines	p. 47
4.1 Requirements of Guidelines	p. 48
4.1.1 The RFID Reference Model	p. 48
4.1.2 The RFID Implementation Checklist	p. 48
4.2 Analysis of Existing Guidelines	p. 51
4.2.1 Method	p. 51
4.2.2 Initial Categorisation	p. 53
4.2.3 Definition of RFID Guidelines	p. 54
4.2.4 Process of Analysis	p. 55
4.2.5 List of Guidelines Analysed	p. 56
4.3 Quantitative Analysis of Guidelines	p. 64
4.3.1 Formal Categories	p. 64
4.3.2 Addressees of Guidelines	p. 66
4.3.3 Consideration of Stakeholders	p. 70
4.4 Establishing Guidelines Using the RFID Implementation Checklist	p. 72
4.5 Conclusions	p. 77
4.5.1 Relevance of Existing RFID Guidelines	p. 77
4.5.2 The RFID Implementation Checklist - next Steps	p. 78
5 Regulatory Framework	p. 81
5.1 Privacy	p. 81
5.1.1 Legal Framework	p. 82
5.1.2 Data Protection Principles and the Definition of Personal Data	p. 84
5.1.3 RFID and Data Protection Legislation: a Case Specific Approach	p. 88
5.1.4 Conclusions	p. 96
5.2 Health and Environmental Effects	p. 100
5.2.1 Health Effects	p. 100
5.2.2 Environmental Effects	p. 101
5.3 Radio Spectrum	p. 103
5.3.1 EC Legislation and other Policy Texts	p. 103
5.3.2 Analysis	p. 106
5.3.3 Conclusion	p. 107
5.4 The Intellectual Property Rights Framework	p. 108
5.4.1 Policy Approaches	p. 108
5.4.2 Industry approaches	p. 111
5.4.3 Open Source Approach: OpenPCD	p. 113
5.4.4 Conclusions	p. 113
5.5 RFID Governance	p. 115
5.5.1 Observation of Current Debate on Internet Governance	p. 115
5.5.2 Legal Framework and Approaches to RFID Governance	p. 117
5.5.3 Conclusions	p. 119
6 Technological Research Needs	p. 121
6.1 General Technology Challenges	p. 121
6.2 Technology Requirements	p. 123
6.2.1 Tags	p. 123
6.2.2 Readers	p. 125
6.2.3 System Technology	p. 126
6.3 RFID Technology Roadmap	p. 127
6.3.1 Packaging	p. 129
6.3.2 Chip Design	p. 129
6.3.3 Energy Aspects	p. 130
6.3.4 RF Technology	p. 131
6.3.5 Manufacturing	p. 132
6.3.6 Systems	p. 133
6.3.7 Readers	p. 134
6.3.8 Non-Silicon Technologies	p. 135
6.3.9 Bi-stable Displays	p. 136
6.3.10 Sensors	p. 136
6.3.11 Cryptography	p. 137
6.3.12 ICT Architectures	p. 138
6.3.13 Environmental Aspects	p. 138
7 R&D Environment	p. 141
7.1 Outline and Approach	p. 141
7.1.1 Assessment Criteria of R&D Support Programmes	p. 142
7.1.2 Methodology used for the Analysis	p. 143
7.1.3 Programmes and Countries Considered	p. 144
7.2 Analysis of National Programmes	p. 145
7.2.1 Germany	p. 145
7.2.2 France	p. 148
7.2.3 UK	p. 151
7.2.4 The Netherlands	p. 151
7.2.5 Italy	p. 153
7.2.6 Spain	p. 153
7.2.7 Austria	p. 154
7.2.8 Finland	p. 156
7.2.9 New Member States	p. 158
7.3 Transnational Programmes with National Funding	p. 159
7.3.1 Nordite	p. 159
7.3.2 Eureka	p. 159
7.4 Transnational Programmes with Joint National and EU Funding	p. 161
7.5 European Programmes	p. 161
7.6 R&D Programmes & the RFID Reference Model	p. 164
7.7 Conclusions of RFID R&D Funding Programme Assessment	p. 165
7.7.1 Thematic Focus of Funded Programmes	p. 165
7.7.2 Funding Structures	p. 166
7.8 Recommendation for a Future European R&D Policy	p. 168
8 Conclusion: The Next Steps for Europe	p. 175
8.1 The Fields of Activities	p. 175
8.2 The Stakeholder Perspective	p. 179
References	p. 187
Index	p. 197

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