RFID means Radio Frequency IDentification. It is a technology to remotely identify objects and people. Reading distances are limited by regulations and physical conditions. An RFID system contains the following parts:

1. Tag / label / transponder / smart label: This part of the system consists of a chip with attached antenna to receive and send radio signals. Usually the chip is covered by a label or industrial housing. The chip receives its operating power from radio waves. Usually only a (unique) number is stored in the chip. All accessory data is stored in a separate database. Some tags contain a battery to increase the reading distance. These are so called active tags.
2. Antenna: This part of the system broadcasts a radio signal on a certain frequency. It also receives back the radio signal from the tag.
3. Reader/scanner: The antenna is attached to a reader (radio). The reader is able to translate data into radio signals that will be sent through the antennas. Signals returned from the tag will be translated into usable data for the database.
4. Middleware: This part conatins the layer between the reader environment and the ERP, WMS or MES system. Extra information can be added to the RFID reads from the tags. For example: time stamps and machine operator. The middleware is also able to buffer and filter data. Even if a tag is read multiple times the backbone system will receive the unique box number only one time.
5. ERP: This is the backbone systeme and is in most cases the existing ERP system.

RFID frequencies and standards