The Practical Advantages of a “Smart” RFID Reader

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What makes a reader “smart”?  Well, I wouldn’t exactly call most RFID readers “dumb”, but as far as their capabilities to make intelligent decisions, most readers are definitely not smart.

“Smart” readers, for the purpose of this discussion, have the ability to support business intelligence right on the reader.  Some readers claim to be smart because of the addition of a microprocessor outside of the actual RFID electronics to run software interfaces to back-end software systems.  However, smart readers should have the capability to host complete robust edgeware applications that enable true intelligence directly on the reader platform.

A smart reader with intelligence at the edge of the network has advantages for mission-critical applications and they may be the key to designing robust, cost-effective solutions in particular applications.  The following application examples provide some context around the benefits of a smart reader:

Process Control applications requiring transaction processing close to the read points.

While reader specifications often tout a high read rate in tags-per-second, a more important metric in many applications is transactions-per-second.  RFID readers are not only expected to communicate with multiple tags nearly simultaneously, but the system solution needs to react to the incoming data and process a full transaction with nearly the same performance as reading the  raw tag reads.  Many transactions, such as those that include database authentication, require little or no latency in order to complete a response to the immediate tags being read, such as notifying an operator that a person or item has not been validated to pass the RFID check point. 

Example in practice:  A security checkpoint may require a smart reader because the application may require filtering and processing at the read point to reduce delay and increase efficiency and reliability.

Applications requiring storage of data at the reader for added performance and an additional layer of reliability

Most networked RFID applications are dependent on a reliable network to immediately pass the tag data to another network application to complete the transaction.  In many industrial or harsh environments, network availability is inherently poor.  Smart readers have the capability to store and forward the data either at specified intervals or once the network is restored.  Additionally, a smart reader can be used for a fully closed-loop solution without the need to connect the reader to the enterprise network.  Such a solution is not only cost effective, but processing the data right on the reader reduces or eliminates network security requirements and concerns.    

Example in practice:  A large ski resort may require the “store and forward” capability of a smart reader as a means of overcoming a potentially unreliable outdoor network.

Cost-effective, scalable multiple reader deployments

Smart readers can host distributed applications, empowering customers to deploy RFID without an expensive, stand-alone middleware computer or separate controller device for each RFID reader or each physical location.  To maximize the complete RFID solution’s ROI, a smart reader can be used as a processing hub for other RFID readers including other “dumb” readers that do not have edge processing capabilities. 

Example in practice:  A large postal distribution center may require edge processing but wants to reduce the overall deployment cost for a large number of readers per site.  A smart reader can be used to host the required business process and workflow middleware directly on a single reader.

As shown by the examples above, smart readers can solve some critical requirements and improve the RFID solution’s ROI.  Make sure you consider the benefits of a smart reader in the system design.  In deployments with access to a reliable, secure internal network, dumb readers may be the “smarter”, most cost effective approach for passing RFID data onto middleware or other network applications.