Fast Track RFID Applications Developers Training

This instructor-led course, offered as part of RFID4U's Fast Track series, teaches software application developers how to build the next generation of rich, interactive RFID applications for passive ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID readers and peripherals.

Hands-on exercises provided throughout the course are designed to offer students an opportunity to gain practical experience with the skills and concepts covered in the lectures, and include such topics as how to optimally capture reads in different scenarios, such as conveyor belts, door portals, forklifts and handheld devices. In addition, participants will learn how to make decisions regarding performance and scalability, by selecting native API programming (including vendors SDKs) versus middleware. In addition, participants will understand various structures, such as ROSpec, AISpecs AccessSpec and RFSurveySpec, available via EPCglobal's Low-Level Reader Protocol (LLRP).

The course, a combination of lecture and hands-on lab exercises, will provide various ways to programmatically control RFID fixed and handheld readers, printers and GPIO devices—either directly, or via Open Process Control (OPC) servers. Participants will develop a working understanding of proven methodologies, based on best practices, industry-proven processes and the instructor's practical experiences.

After a brief technical overview of RFID programming concepts related to the design and deployment of RFID solutions, you'll learn how to identify key the architectural components necessary to deploy a scalable RFID solution. You will also learn and use various tools and techniques to design and manage the entire RFID application-development process.

Class participants will be provided with hands-on experience with the latest RFID devices and cutting-edge RFID labs. Attendees will be given sample code examples that may be used “as is,” or that can be modified to jumpstart custom applications.

Agenda

Outline

• Reader protocol landscape
• Standards-based reader protocol
• Proprietary protocols from each hardware vendor
• Advanced reader configuration
• Different configuration options for every reader
• Need to understand how to control a reader manually before trying to write software to control it
• Reader GPIO
• Readers with autonomous mode and IO trigger
• Main features of a reader controller
• Connect/login
• Configure
• Understanding the limitations of the reader you are dealing with
• Read
• Write
• Understanding how write works
• Possible limitations, varying by reader
• Monitoring
• Other devices
• Printers
• Digital IO
• Best practices for how to offer configuration options to a user
• Workflow
• Understanding how to set up workflow utilizing RFID devices and digital IO
• Using RFID middleware to create a common platform
• As an RFID network grows, there will be increased needs and difficulty maintaining existing installations
• Enterprise requirements
• Managing serial numbers across multiple facilities
• Managing EPC-to-asset associations
• Centralized monitoring and reporting

This course is appropriate for expert programmers, as well as for beginners. If you have prior knowledge of C or some other Object Oriented Language, such as Python, Ruby on Rails, Java or C#, it will make learning that much easier. However, participants should already possess certain prerequisite skills, which can be gained from completing the foundational RFID courses available from RFID4U, or through work experience. Participants should have a working knowledge of:

• RFID fundamentals and EPC standards (tag-data standard and Gen 2 air-interface protocol)
• Network-monitoring and -management tools
• Reader interface protocols
• Network or serial communication programming
• Network topology and infrastructure; protocols
• GPIO

These prerequisites are important! Participants arriving without them will likely achieve less than optimal progress during training.

RFID4U (established in March 1999) is an SBA 8(a)-certified, vendor-agnostic RFID implementation and software development company that provides RFID solutions, consulting, training and services, working globally with commercial and government organizations. Clients include DHS, DLA, NSA, NIST, NIH, the Bureau of Census, Northrop Grumman, Unisys, Harris Corp., Lockheed Martin, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Dole Foods and many others. RFID4U's products and services improve business processes in which identification, authentication and automation are key concerns. RFID4U adds value to an organization by way of improved labor efficiency, better inventory management across supply chains, increased product integrity and reduced shrinkage.

See Complete Agenda »

All conference sessions are subject to change, and RFID Journal reserves the right to alter dates, programs and speakers at any time, as circumstances dictate. Sessions without assigned speakers indicate a target topic; every effort will be made to ensure that a program of equivalent standard and value is available.

RFID in High Tech is produced by RFID Journal, the World's RFID Authority.