ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)

ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
Technical Report


Electromagnetic compatibility
and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM);
RFID Plugtests to investigate the interoperability of tags
manufactured by different vendors;
Part 2: Test plan and preliminary tests

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2 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)



Reference
DTR/ERM-TG34-006-2
Keywords
SRD, radio, testing
ETSI
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© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 2009.
All rights reserved.

TM TM TM TM
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for the benefit of its Members.
TM
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ETSI

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3 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 5
Foreword . 5
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 References . 6
2.1 Normative references . 6
2.2 Informative references . 6
3 Abbreviations . 7
4 Influences On Tag Interoperability . 7
4.1 Preface . 7
4.2 Application Scenario . 7
4.3 Protocol Parameters . 8
4.4 Individual Tag Characteristics . 9
5 Definition of Tag Interoperability Tests . 10
6 Tag interoperability tests executed in application scenarios (RFID Plugtests) . 11
6.1 Introduction . 11
6.2 Purpose . 11
6.3 Arrangements . 11
6.4 Test Site . 12
6.5 Supervisors . 12
6.6 Confidentiality . 12
6.7 Sponsors . 12
6.8 Conduct of Tests . 13
6.9 Preparations . 13
6.10 Applications and Tests . 13
6.10.1 Application Set-up 1: Portal - Moving Pallet . 13
6.10.1.1 Application Overview and Purpose . 13
6.10.1.2 Application Set-up . 13
6.10.1.3 Test Preparation . 14
6.10.1.4 Test Procedure . 15
6.10.2 Application Set-up 2: Conveyor - Moving Case . 16
6.10.2.1 Application Overview and Purpose . 16
6.10.2.2 Application Set-up . 16
6.10.2.3 Test Preparation . 17
6.10.2.4 Test Procedure . 18
6.10.3 Application Set-up 3: Rack of DVDs - Shelf Reader . 18
6.10.3.1 Application Overview and Purpose . 18
6.10.3.2 Application Set-up . 18
6.10.3.3 Test Preparation . 19
6.10.3.4 Test Procedure . 20
6.10.4 Application Set-up 4: Retail Store - Handheld Reader . 21
6.10.4.1 Application Overview and Purpose . 21
6.10.4.2 Application Set-up . 21
6.10.4.3 Test Preparation . 22
6.10.4.4 Test Procedure . 23
6.11 Result Logging and Evaluation . 24
6.11.1 Final Report . 24
6.11.2 Real Time Result Evaluation (Local Result Monitoring Screens) . 24
6.11.3 Result Database . 24
6.11.4 noFillis CrossTalk Platform . 25
6.11.5 Reader Log Files . 26
ETSI

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4 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
7 Reader independent Tag Interoperability Tests (Preliminary TESTS) . 26
7.1 Introduction . 26
7.2 ASIC Specific Tests . 26
7.2.1 General . 26
7.2.2 Goal . 26
7.2.3 Tag ASICs under Test. 26
7.2.4 Test Setup . 27
7.2.5 Metrics . 30
7.2.6 Test Method . 30
7.2.7 Control Reader Configurations (Test Cases) . 31
7.3 Tag Specific Tests . 32
7.3.1 General . 32
7.3.2 Goal . 32
7.3.3 Tags under Test . 32
7.3.4 Test Setup . 33
7.3.5 Test Method . 34
Annex A: Bibliography . 36
History . 37

ETSI

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5 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (http://webapp.etsi.org/IPR/home.asp).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This Technical Report (TR) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio
spectrum Matters (ERM).
The present document is part 2 of a multipart deliverable covering RFID Plugtest that was performed at the MGI centre
in Neuss and at the VanDerLande premises in Veghel during the period 11th - 15th June 2008.
Part 1: "RFID Plugtests report";
Part 2: "Test plan and preliminary tests".
Introduction
Different applications, like conveyor belts or dock door portals, are characterized by different properties such as field
characteristics, tag population, speed and tag/reader density. These properties impose different requirements such as
read or write sensitivity and resistance to mutual coupling. When exposing tags of various types from different vendors
to application specific conditions, some tags might influence the operability of others, thereby being mutually
incompatible.
The goal of tag interoperability tests is to investigate issues of potential incompatibility that arise due to the use of tags
of various types from different vendors in application specific conditions.
The result is the test report made publicly available via the ETSI web-page. Prior to the RFID Plugtests, preliminary
tests were conducted using a well documented, dedicated test reader with one antenna port and special measurement
equipment for extended evaluation options (referred to as the control reader). In order to gain the best understanding of
possible anomalies these preliminary tests were conducted using two different set-ups. The ASIC specific test set-up
focused on the inventory of multiple tags hard wired to the control reader, (i.e. eliminating the influences of the RF
field). The tag specific test set-up focused on the inventory of multiple tags under application specific conditions (using
an antenna to generate a RF field instead of hard wiring the tags to the control reader).
In the second step the ETSI RFID Plugtests were executed in application scenarios using commercially available
equipment. As the results of the preliminary tests merely provide a basis for understanding potential issues, only the
results of the ETSI RFID Plugtests are included in Part 1 of TR 102 644 [i.6].
ETSI

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6 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
1 Scope
The present document defines a test plan for tag interoperability tests. The main objective of such tests is to confirm that
mixed populations of tags (tags of different types and/or from different vendors) can be identified correctly. The tests
are defined in a two-step approach.
The present document identifies the main factors influencing tag interoperability including application scenarios,
protocol parameters and individual tag characteristics. Each of these aspects is addressed in detail with the aim of
providing a test plan and evaluation matrices for tag interoperability tests. Protocol specific issues in the present
document are focused on the EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 (C1G2) air interface specification [i.2] and the air
interface specification ISO/IEC 18000-6 Type C [i.3].
The present document served as basis for carrying out ETSI Plugtests (RFID Interoperability Event) in June 2008.
2 References
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific.
• For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
• Non-specific reference may be made only to a complete document or a part thereof and only in the following
cases:
- if it is accepted that it will be possible to use all future changes of the referenced document for the
purposes of the referring document;
- for informative references.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
http://docbox.etsi.org/Reference.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
2.1 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of the present document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For non-specific references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
Not applicable.
2.2 Informative references
The following referenced documents are not essential to the use of the present document but they assist the user with
regard to a particular subject area. For non-specific references, the latest version of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
[i.1] ETSI TS 102 237-1: "Telecommunications and Internet Protocol Harmonization Over Networks
(TIPHON) Release 4; Interoperability test methods and approaches; Part 1: Generic approach to
interoperability testing".
TM
[i.2] EPCglobal: "EPC Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols; Class-1 Generation-2 UHF RFID;
Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz - 960 MHz", Version 1.1.0.
NOTE: Available at http://www.epcglobalinc.org/standards/uhfc1g2/uhfc1g2_1_1_0-standard-20071017.pdf.
ETSI

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7 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
[i.3] ISO/IEC 18000-6: "Information technology - Radio frequency identification for item management
- Part 6: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz".
[i.4] Void.
[i.5] ETSI EN 302 208-1 (V1.2.1): "Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM);
Radio Frequency Identification Equipment operating in the band 865 MHz to 868 MHz with
power levels up to 2 W; Part 1: Technical requirements and methods of measurement".
[i.6] ETSI TR 102 644-1: "Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); RFID
Plugtests to investigate the interoperability of tags manufactured by different vendors;
Part 1: RFID Plugtests report".
[i.7] CEPT/ERC REC 70-03: Relating to the use of Short Range Devices (SRD).
3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit
EUT Equipment Under Test
RFID Radio Frequency IDentification
QE Qualified Equipment
4 Influences On Tag Interoperability
4.1 Preface
The main factors influencing tag interoperability are the application scenario, protocol parameters, and individual tag
characteristics. Each of these factors is addressed in detail in the following clauses. However due to the large number of
variables associated with application scenarios and protocol parameters, it is only possible to cover the main factors
influencing tag behaviour. Since there could be issues in assigning interrogator related characteristics either to the
application scenario or to the protocol parameters, the following convention is adopted: software definable
characteristics are assigned to the protocol parameters while all others are assigned to the application scenario.
4.2 Application Scenario
The application scenario describes the set-up in which an RFID interrogator and tags are used. The main characteristics
of an application scenario include:
• Environment:
- All aspects that have a certain influence on an application but are not part of the application itself (like
surrounding material, noise sources of any kind e.g. mobile phones).
• Reader antenna arrangement:
- Position and orientation of the reader antennas in a set-up.
- Number of reader antennas.
- Type of reader antennas.
• Tag arrangement:
- Position and orientation of the tags in a set-up.
- Number of tags.
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8 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
- Type of tags (different vendors/models).
• Relative movement between reader antennas and tags:
- Speed.
- Path:
E.g. pallet moving through portal (tags moving).
E.g. handheld reader (reader antenna moving).
• Pallet / Case / Item characteristics:
- Materials.
- Arrangement.
4.3 Protocol Parameters
The protocol parameters describe the protocol settings, as well as other software options associated with a particular
application set-up. The main protocol parameters are (C1G2 specific where applicable):
• Link rates:
- Forward link.
- Return link.
• Modulation/Encoding:
- Modulation type (forward link).
- Modulation depth (forward link).
- Duty cycle (forward link).
- Encoding (return link).
• CW:
- Power.
- Frequency.
• Link timing:
- In most cases not selectable!
• Protocol flow:
- Command sequence.
- Collision-arbitration concept (Q protocol).
- Function:
Selection/inventory only.
Access - write.
• Session usage:
- Session flag.
- Selected flag.
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9 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
- A B, B A inventory.
• TRext usage:
- Pilot tone.
- No pilot tone.
• Reader antenna switching:
- Sequence.
- Timing.
- Interrelation with protocol concepts (e.g. inventory round).
4.4 Individual Tag Characteristics
The individual tag characteristics describe attributes that, due to variations between different tags, may influence tag
interoperability. Some of these attributes are defined for the RFID Plugtests and assume tags operating under
ISO/IEC 18000-6 [i.3].
• Read range:
- The sensitivity of a tag typically expressed as forward link range for a given transmit level.
• Orientation tolerance:
- The sensitivity of a tag in terms of its read range if it is rotated away from its preferred orientation.
• Frequency tolerance:
- The sensitivity of a tag in terms of its read range at various carrier frequencies from 860 MHz to
960 MHz.
- Tags with high frequency tolerance typically show less variation in sensitivity if attached to different
materials.
• Interference tolerance:
- Describes the degradation in read range of tags from interference generated by other nearby interrogators
(e.g. dense interrogator environment).
• Backscatter range:
- The strength of a backscatter response from a tag for a given downlink field level in terms of return link
range.
- The range of the return link for passive tags typically is greater than the range of the forward link.
- The efficiency of the hardware design for generating the backscatter signal.
• Backscatter timing:
- The interval between the instant that the interrogator ceases transmitting its modulated signal and the
instant that the tag starts to transmit its backscatter response.
• Write range:
- The write sensitivity of the tag, i.e. the maximum forward link range at which it is possible to write data
into a tag.
• Write time:
- The time taken to write x bits into a tag.
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10 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
• Tag proximity:
- Describes the degradation in read range of a tag when positioned in proximity to another tag / other tags.
- Detuning immunity.
- Mutual coupling.
• Tag flags persistence time:
- Persistence time of the S1, S2, S3 and SL flags.
• Tag RNG probability:
- Probability of a tag's RNG to roll a 1 in a specific time slot.
5 Definition of Tag Interoperability Tests
Tag Interoperability Test: ETSI defines interoperability as the "ability of two systems to interoperate using the same
communication protocol" ([i.1], p.8). Furthermore, the purpose of interoperability testing is identified as to "prove that
end-to-end functionality between (at least) two communicating systems is as required by the standard(s) on which those
systems are based" ([i.1], p.9). ETSI clearly highlights that each interoperability test configuration includes one, and
only one, subject of test called the Equipment Under Test (EUT) ([i.1], p.13).
For the purposes of the RFID Plugtests tag interoperability is defined as the ability of an RFID interrogator (Qualified
Equipment - QE) to interoperate with a population of RFID tags (Equipment Under Test EUT) using the same
communication protocol, wheras.
Figure 1 shows the architecture for a tag interoperability test based on this approach (this is modified from figure 7 of
[i.1]) where the QE is an RFID interrogator. The EUT comprises a number of tags (two or more) typically of mixed
types and/or from different vendors. Thus individual tags can be treated as components of the EUT and interoperability
issues will be seen as the inability of the QE to communicate with one or more of these components.

Figure 1: Tag Interoperability Test Setup
This clause introduces the structure of tests for tag interoperability. The tests have in common that they are performed
for homogenous tag populations (all tags of the same type) and mixed tag populations (different types of tags are used).
The outcome of the tests is assessed mainly by comparing the results for the homogenous and mixed tag populations.
The tests are sub-divided into two steps:
1) Tag interoperability tests that are interrogator independent (preliminary tests) focus solely on issues that
influence tag-to-tag interoperability. In particular these tests are executed using a control reader (as described
in clause 6). The aim of these tests is to gain knowledge about potential tag-to-tag interoperability issues.
2) The ETSI RFID Plugtests are tag interoperability tests that are performed under various application scenarios.
The tests are performed with a range of commercially available interrogators and tags. Further details are
defined in clauses 6 and 7.
ETSI

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11 ETSI TR 102 644-2 V1.1.1 (2009-03)
6 Tag interoperability tests executed in application
scenarios (RFID Plugtests)
6.1 Introduction
This clause defines tag interoperability tests that are performed in a series of real life scenarios, which are representative
of applications in the logistics and retail industries. The tests include the movement of tagged cartons on pallets moving
through dock doors and the movement of tagged objects on conveyors. In addition tests use both shelf readers and hand
held readers. For the tests commercially available interrogators and tags are used.
th
The tests were carried out at an ETSI Plugtests event (RFID Interoperability Event), which took place from 11 to
th
15 June 2008 at the Metro Group - RFID Innovation Center in Neuss (Germany) and at VanDerLande Industries in
Veghel (The Netherlands).
Details are discussed below.
6.2 Purpose
The purpose of the Plugtests described herein is to investigate if there is a satisfactory level of interoperability between
RFID equipment (interrogators and tags) supplied by different vendors. The main objective of the tag interoperability
tests is to confirm that mixed populations of tags (tags of different types and/or from different vendors) can be identified
correctly by interrogators provided by different manufacturers. This information is of major strategic importance to
those end-users who wish to use RFID on a global basis.
The results from the Plugtests is published in TR 102 644-1[i.6], which is documented in a way that avoids disclosure
of the performance of individual manufacturer's equipment (tags and interrogators).
6.3 Arrangements
The Plugtests took place from 11-15 June 2008. The deadline for registratio
...