October 07, 2005
The EPC Gen 2 system – part 2
The Gen 2 EPC systems have their range decided by user requirements. The user requirements vary with the position of the user in the supply chain, for example, the range requirements of a distributor may vary from that of a dealer or a warehouse. There are no range requirements specified in the Gen 2 standards because of the multiple factors that can affect the range. These factors include interference, power output, duty cycle, etc. As these factors differ over geographical locations, it is important that the equipment is evaluated for compliance with regional regulations.
The flexibility of the Gen 2 specifications allows vendors to take advantage of the spread spectrum radio transmission that facilitates efficient use of the bandwidth and higher power output. EPC tags maintain security by encryption and by allowing tag-reader communication only after the establishment of a secure link between the two. The Gen 2 standards also support the disabling of the tags, which is an important consideration in the retail environment to maintain consumer confidence regarding the security of their privacy.
The tags can be disabled only after the authentication requirements have been fulfilled. The Gen 2 tags can be “cloaked” so that they communicate only with authentic readers. A password is supplied by the readers before communication can be initiated. Users have to validate the supplemental data so that it too gets the same level of security as the original EPC number. However, not all Gen 2 products will feature write protection and password requirements. Even though value is paramount, the tags have to be cost effective and the Gen 2 standards have been developed to facilitate the production of tags in a cost-effective manner.
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