ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 19762-3
First edition
2005-03-01


Information technology — Automatic
identification and data capture (AIDC)
techniques — Harmonized vocabulary —
Part 3:
Radio frequency identification (RFID)
Technologies de l'information — Techniques d'identification
automatique et de capture de données (AIDC) — Vocabulaire
harmonisé —
Partie 3: Identification par radiofréquence (RFID)




Reference number
ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2005

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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
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©  ISO/IEC 2005
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
Scope. 1
Classification of entries. 1
Terms and definitions. 1
Abbreviated terms. 35
Index . 37

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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 19762-3 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
ISO/IEC 19762 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — Automatic
identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques — Harmonized vocabulary:
— Part 1: General terms relating to AIDC
— Part 2: Optically readable media (ORM)
— Part 3: Radio frequency identification (RFID)
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
Introduction
ISO/IEC 19762 is intended to facilitate international communication in information technology, specifically in
the area of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques. It provides a listing of terms and
definitions used across multiple AIDC techniques.
Abbreviations used within each part of ISO/IEC 19762 and an index of all definitions used within each part of
ISO/IEC 19762 are found at the end of each document.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)

Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture (AIDC) techniques — Harmonized vocabulary —
Part 3:
Radio frequency identification (RFID)
Scope
This part of ISO/IEC 19762 provides terms and definitions unique to radio frequency identification (RFID) in
the field of automatic identification and data capture techniques. This glossary of terms enables the
communication between non-specialist users and specialists in RFID through a common understanding of
basic and advanced concepts.
Classification of entries
The numbering system employed within ISO 19762 is in the format nn.nn.nnn, in which the first two numbers
(nn.nn.nnn) represent the “Top Level” reflecting whether the term is related to 01 = Common to All AIDC
Techniques, 02 = Common to All Optically Readable Media, 03 = Linear Bar Code Symbols, 04 = Two-
dimensional Symbols, and 05 = Radio Frequency Identification. The second two numbers (nn.nn.nnn)
represent the “Mid Level” reflecting whether the term is related to 01 = Basic Concepts/Data, 02 = Technical
Features 03 Symbology, 04 = Hardware, and 05 = Applications. The third two or three numbers (nn.nn.nnn)
represent the “Fine” reflecting a sequence of terms.
The numbering in this part of ISO/IEC 19762 employs “Top Level” numbers (nn.nn.nnn) of 05.
Terms and definitions
05.01.01
air interface
conductor-free medium, usually air, between a transponder and the reader/interrogator through which data
communication is achieved by means of a modulated inductive or propagated electromagnetic field
05.01.02
alignment
orientation of the tag relative to the reader antennas, in terms of pitch, skew, and tilt
NOTE See 02.01.35, Figure 1.
05.01.03
amplitude modulation
modulation in which the amplitude of a periodic carrier is a given function, generally linear, of the
instantaneous values of the modulating signal
[IEC 60050-702 702-06-17]
05.01.04
antenna polarization
〈antenna system〉 focus of the tip of the vector of the electrical field strength in a plane perpendicular to the
transmission vector
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.05
anti-clash
anti-contention
anti-collision
term describing a facility for avoiding contention at the reader/interrogator receiver for responses arising
from transponders simultaneously present within the read or interrogation zone of a radio frequency
identification system and competing for attention at the same time without producing an error report or
blocking transaction
05.01.06
authentication(1)
message exchange between two elements, which verifies that further communication between the two items
is proper
05.01.07
authentication(2)
〈security〉 act of verifying the claimed identity of an entity
05.01.08
automatic equipment identification
AEI
system of identification for equipment that uses the surface transportation infrastructures by means of
transponders and interrogators combined with an unambiguous data structure
05.01.09
automatic repeat request
ARQ
protocol consisting of error detection and following repetition of the transmission for correcting if necessary
05.01.10
awake
state at which the tag’s receiver is powered, and able to receive and respond to a transmission from a
compliant interrogator
05.01.11
backscatter
process whereby a transponder responds to a reader/interrogation signal or field by modulating and re-
radiating or transmitting the response signal at the same carrier frequency
05.01.12
bandwidth times time
term to specify the product of bandwidth and time used for 1 bit
NOTE Bandwidth times time implicitly specifies the occupied bandwidth for a given data rate.
05.01.13
baud
unit of modulation rate equal to the number of signal elements per second where all such elements are of
equal length and each element represents one or more bits
NOTE For some modems operating at or above 1200 bit/s, the modulation rate, expressed in bauds, is usually less
than the bit rate because more than one bit is conveyed per signal element.
[ISO/IEC 2382-9 09.05.20]
05.01.14
binary phase shift keying
BPSK
modulation scheme of phase modulation where only two points in a constellation diagram are used
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.15
differential binary phase shift keying
DBPSK
binary phase shift keying where the data is differential pre-processed
05.01.16
gaussian minimum shift keying
GMSK
gaussian pulse shaped MSK
05.01.17
minimum shift keying
MSK
form of two-condition frequency shift keying with modulation index equal to 0, 5, in which variations are
continuous
[IEC 60050-702 702-06-49]
05.01.18
bi-phase-mark
format for encoding digital data in which a logical “1” has a transition in the beginning, middle and end of the
bit, and a logical “0” has a transition at the beginning and end of the bit
05.01.19
memory capacity
measure of the data, expressed in bits or bytes, that can be stored in a transponder
NOTE The measure may relate simply to the bits that are accessible to the user or to the total assembly of bits,
including data identifier and error control bits.
05.01.20
carrier sense multiple access(1)
CSMA
multiple access protocol that allows the tag to "sense" whether another tag is using the channel prior to
transmitting itself
05.01.21
carrier sense multiple access(2)
CSMA
multiple access technique where data stations mediate their own use of the common resource based upon
presence or absence of a carrier from another user
05.01.22
carrier sense multiple access with collision detection
CSMA/CD
multiple access protocol that allows the tag to "sense" whether another tag is using the channel prior to
transmitting itself; and to detect a collision, if one occurs
05.01.23
chip
〈digital radio communication〉 time part of the signal which represents one character, transmitted with
characteristics which are distinct from those of the other parts of the same signal, in accordance with a
specified rule
NOTE Adapted from IEC 60050-713 713-07-04.
05.01.24
chip rate
frequency at which the spreading sequence modulates the carrier
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.25
code division multiple access(1)
CDMA
technique in which each transmission is broken into packets, a unique code is assigned to each packet, all
coded packets are then combined mathematically into one signal, and each intended receiver extracts only its
data packets depending on the assigned code
05.01.26
code division multiple access(2)
CDMA
multiple access that depends upon the use of independently coded modulations within a single channel
05.01.27
collision(1)
simultaneous communication by two or more tags in the field of view of an interrogator, which results in an
error or lost transmission
NOTE Such communication may be inseparable without some means of anti-collision or contention management.
05.01.28
collision(2)
condition that results from concurrent transmissions on the transmission medium
05.01.29
collision(3)
〈hashing〉 occurrence of the same hash value for two or more different keys
05.01.30
compatibility
suitability of products, processes or services for use together under specific conditions to fulfil relevant
requirements without causing unacceptable interactions
EXAMPLE Interchangeability, interoperability, and non-interference are differing levels (or degrees) of compatibility.
05.01.31
interchangeability
condition that exists between devices or systems that exhibit equivalent functionality, interface features and
performance to allow one to be exchanged for another, without alteration, and achieve the same operational
service
05.01.32
equivalent isotropically radiated power
effective isotropically radiated power
equivalent isotropical radiated power
effective isotropical radiated power
EIRP
product of the net radiated RF power of a transmitter and the gain of an antenna system in one direction
relative to an isotropic source
EXAMPLE 36 dBm EIRP equals 4 W transmitted into an isotropic antenna, or 1 W transmitted into a 6 dB antenna.
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.33
electromagnetic field
field characterizing the electric and magnetic conditions of a material medium or of vacuum, defined by the
following set of four vector quantities:
E: electric field (vector)
D: electric flux density (vector)
H: magnetic field (vector)
B: magnetic flux density (vector)

Figure 1 — Electromagnetic field
NOTE Adapted from IEC 50 (705):1995 705-01-07.
05.01.34
data transfer rate
average number of bits, characters, or blocks transferred per unit time between two points
[ISO/IEC 2382-9 09.05.21]
NOTE 1 The rate at which data is communicated between transponder and the reader/interrogator.
NOTE 2 Typical units are bits per second or bytes per second.
05.01.35
electromagnetic interference
EMI
degradation in the performance of an equipment transmission channel or system caused by an
electromagnetic disturbance
[IEC 600500-161-01-06 (702-08-29]
05.01.36
false activation
result of a ‘foreign’ or non-assigned transponder entering the interrogation zone of a radio frequency
identification system and effecting a response, erroneous or otherwise
05.01.37
family of tags
group of tags with differing capabilities which are nevertheless capable of communicating ID numbers and/or
data with a common interrogator
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.38
far field region
region of an electromagnetic field of an antenna wherein the predominant components of the field are those
which represent a propagation of energy and wherein the angular field distribution is essentially independent
of the distance from the antenna
[IEC 50 (712):1992 712-02-02]
NOTE 1 In the far field region, field distribution is unaffected by the antenna structure and the wave propagates as a
plane wave.
05.01.39
field strength
transmitter field intensity
〈radio transmitter〉 magnitude of the electromagnetic field created at a given point by a radio transmitting
system operating at a specified characteristic frequency with specified installation and modulation conditions
[IEC 50 (705):1995 705-08-31]
05.01.40
forward link
down-link
communications from reader/interrogator to transponder
cf. up-link, down-link
05.01.41
frame(1)
〈time division multiplexing〉 repetitive set of consecutive time-slots constituting a complete cycle of a signal or
of another process in which the relative position of each time-slot in the cycle can be identified
[IEC 60050-704 704-14-01]
05.01.42
frame(2)
〈data communications〉 transmission frame is a data structure that consists of fields, predetermined by a
protocol, for the user of data and control data
NOTE The composition of a frame, especially the number and types of fields may vary according to the type of
protocol.
[ISO/IEC 2382-9 09.06.08]
05.01.43
frequency hop rate
frequency at which a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) system moves between transmission
frequencies, equal to the reciprocal of the dwell time at an FHSS center frequency
05.01.44
frequency hop sequence
pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) determining the hopping frequencies used in frequency hopping
spread spectrum (FHSS) systems
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.45
absolute gain
isotropic gain
〈antenna〉 ratio, generally expressed in decibels, of the radiation intensity produced by an antenna in a given
direction to the radiation intensity that would be obtained if the power accepted by the antenna were radiated
equally in all directions
NOTE 1 If no direction is specified, the direction of maximum radiation intensity from the given antenna is implied.
NOTE 2 If the antenna is lossless, its absolute gain is equal to its directivity in the same direction.
[IEC 50 (712):1992 712-02-43]
05.01.46
magnetic field
constituent of an electromagnetic field which is characterized by the magnetic field strength H together with
the magnetic flux density B [221-01-01 MOD]
NOTE In French, the term “champ magnétique” is also used for the quantity magnetic field strength.
[IEC 60050-121 121-11-69]
05.01.47
half-duplex transmission(1)
data transmission in either direction, one direction at a time
[ISO/IEC 2382-9:1995 09.03.07]
05.01.48
half-duplex transmission(2)
data transmission in either direction, one direction at a time, in which the information is communicated after
the transceiver has stopped transmitting the activation field
cf. full-duplex transmission
NOTE 1 Adapted from ISO/IEC 2382-9:1995 09.03.06.
05.01.49
harmonics
power output at integer multiples of the primary frequency of a transmitter invariably exhibiting lower
amplitudes
NOTE Harmonics can be generated as a result of circuit non-linearities associated with radio transmissions resulting
in harmonic distortion.
05.01.50
in-use programming
ability to read from and write to a transponder while it is attached to the object or item for which it is being
used
cf. factory programming, field programming
NOTE Tags and systems with this capability are called read/write tags and systems.
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.51
radio frequency interference
RFI
degradation of the reception of a wanted signal caused by a radio frequency disturbance
[IEC 60050-713:1998 713-11-05]
NOTE Unwanted electromagnetic signals, where encountered within the environment of a radio frequency
identification system, that cause disturbance in its normal operation, possibly resulting in bit errors, and degrading
system performance.
05.01.52
radio frequency disturbance
any electromagnetic phenomenon having components in the radio frequency range, which may degrade the
performance of a device, equipment or system, or adversely affect living or inert matter
NOTE A radio frequency disturbance may be a radio frequency noise, an unwanted signal or a change in the
propagation medium itself.
[IEC 60050-713:1998 713-11-04]
05.01.53
interlaced half duplex
full-duplex transmissions by the interrogator; half-duplex operation by the tag
05.01.54
interrogation zone
region in which a transponder or group of transponders can be effectively read by an associated radio
frequency identification reader/interrogator
05.01.55
memory module
read/write or re-programmable transponder
05.01.56
pulse duration modulation
PDM
pulse time modulation in which the pulse duration varies in accordance with a given function of the value of
the modulating signal
[IEC 60050-702 702-06-57]
05.01.57
radio noise
radio frequency noise
time-varying electromagnetic phenomenon having components in the radio frequency range, apparently not
conveying information and which may be superimposed on or combined with a wanted signal
[IEC 60050-713:1998 713-11-03]
05.01.58
electromagnetic noise
time-varying electromagnetic phenomenon apparently not conveying information and which may be
superimposed on or combined with a wanted signal
[IEC 600500-161-01-02]
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.59
frequency range
〈equipment〉 set of frequencies over which equipment can be adjusted to operate satisfactorily
NOTE The frequency range of equipment can be subdivided into switched sub-ranges which may or may not be
contiguous. [IEC 60050-702 702-09-68]
05.01.60
orientation sensitivity
〈transponder〉 sensitivity of response expressed as a function of angular variation or orientation
05.01.61
packet(1)
block of data sent over a communication link
NOTE 1 Each packet may contain sender, receiver, and error control information, in addition to the actual message.
NOTE 2 Packets can be fixed- or variable-length, and they are reassembled, if necessary, when they reach their
destination.
05.01.62
packet(2)
〈data communications〉 sequence of bits arranged in a specific format, containing control data and possibly
user data, and that is transmitted and switched as a whole
05.01.63
penetration(1)
ability of electromagnetic waves to propagate into or through materials
NOTE 1 Non-conducting materials are essentially transparent to electromagnetic waves, but absorption mechanisms,
particularly at higher frequencies, reduce the amount of energy propagating through the material.
NOTE 2 Metals constitute good reflectors for freely propagating electromagnetic waves, with very little of an incident
wave being able to propagate into the metal surface.
NOTE 3 Low frequency tagging systems are said to have good penetrative properties as their tag can be read when
behind or encased in other materials.
NOTE 4 Microwave tagging systems, while having greater ranges, are less capable of penetration of materials.
05.01.64
penetration(2)
unauthorized access to a data processing system
05.01.65
phantom transaction
report of a non-existent tag
05.01.66
phase shift keying
PSK
angle modulation in which each significant condition in a discretely timed modulating signal is represented by
a specified difference between the phase of the modulated signal and the phase of the carrier in the absence
of modulation
[IEC 60050-702 702-06-40]
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.67
pick rate
percentage detection rate for an RF system
NOTE Pick rate is a function of the speed of throughput, tag orientation, number of tags present, etc.
05.01.68
polarization
〈electromagnetic wave〉
attribute of an electromagnetic wave characterized by the curve described with time by the extremity of the
electric flux density vector at a fixed point, and by the direction of this curve
[IEC 50(705) 705-01-13]
05.01.69
power gain
in a given direction, the field intensity radiated by a transmitting antenna referenced to the field intensity that
would be radiated by an isotropic antenna provided the same input power
NOTE 1 Power gain includes dissipative loss, in contrast to directive gain.
NOTE 2 Power gain does not include losses resulting from polarization mismatch.
05.01.70
programmability
ability to enter data and to change data stored in a transponder
05.01.71
projected life
〈transponder〉 estimated lifetime based upon battery life expectancy and, as appropriate, read/write activity
NOTE Often expressed in terms of read and/or write cycles or, for active transponders, years.
05.01.72
proximity
closeness of one system component to another
EXAMPLE The proximity of a transponder to a reader.
05.01.73
Q factor
quality factor
ratio of center frequency to bandwidth
05.01.74
query(1)
electronic request of information from one or more sources
05.01.75
query(2)
request to extract data directly or to derive them from a database, based on specified conditions
EXAMPLE A request to a reservation system for availability of a seat on a specific flight.
05.01.76
read only
transponder in which the data is stored in an unchangeable manner and can therefore only be read
cf. factory programming
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.77
return link
up-link
communications from tag to interrogator
05.01.78
separation
operational distance between two tags or between a tag and the interrogator
05.01.79
shadowing
condition in which an object located between an interrogator and a tag obscures the signals, thus preventing
a successful transaction
05.01.80
sinusoidal carrier
fundamental waveform, characterized by a single frequency and wavelength, used to carry data or information
by modulating some feature of the waveform
cf. modulation
05.01.81
spreading sequence
pseudo-random sequence of data coding elements chips used to encode each logical bit
05.01.82
technical basis for regulation
TBR
subset of ETSs (specifications and tests) developed by ETSI, which serve as the basis for the common
technical regulations (CTR)
05.01.83
vector(1)
quantitative component that exhibits magnitude, direction, sense, and origin
05.01.84
vector(2)
directed line segment quantity usually characterized by an ordered set of scalars
05.01.85
identify
process of tag segregation and isolation, resulting in a uniquely addressable means to communicate with a
tag (tag ID)
NOTE Application data has not been accessed.
05.01.86
read
process of tag transaction to retrieve information from identified tag population
NOTE The read process will include both single byte and multiple byte transactions.
05.01.87
identification range
range at which an RFID system may reliably identify desired tags under defined conditions
05.01.88
identification rate
rate at which an RFID system may reliably identify desired tags under defined conditions
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.01.89
read range
range at which an RFID system may reliably read from desired tags under defined conditions
05.01.90
read rate
rate at which an RFID system may reliably read desired tags under defined conditions
05.01.91
write range
range at which an RFID system may reliably write to desired tags under defined conditions
05.01.92
write rate
rate at which an RFID system may reliably write to desired tags under defined conditions
05.01.93
write
process of tag transaction to write information into identified tag population
NOTE 1 This process will include both single byte and multiple byte transactions.
NOTE 2 Write with verification will be available.
05.01.94
rate
quantity of tags per unit time
NOTE 1 This includes impulse and steady state.
NOTE 2 Tag population will be both static and dynamic.
05.01.95
range
distance (minimum and maximum) between interrogator antenna and tag(s)
NOTE For multiple tags, the range will be measured to the geometric centroid of the tag population.
05.01.96
interoperability
condition that exists between systems, from different vendors, to execute bi-directional data exchange
functions in a manner that allows them to operate effectively together
NOTE 1 Interoperability is a guarantee of a certain level of compatibility between different implementations of the same
standard. The desired level of compatibility is specific to a given standard, and can be limited to basic services.
NOTE 2 Interconnection and interoperability are the main objectives of standardization.
05.01.97
non-interference
condition that exists when standard-compliant components of various types or of different vendor origins co-
exist within the same space without serious detrimental effect on one another’s performance
NOTE Components are not required to communicate with one another as a part of a common infrastructure, but only
to peacefully co-exist.
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ISO/IEC 19762-3:2005(E)
05.02.01
asynchronous tag
RF tag whose timing is derived from an internal, independent oscillator
cf. synchronous tag
NOTE In such systems data rates are independent of and not aligned with the reader’s carrier cycles.
05.02.02
asynchronous transmission(1)
method of data transmission that does not require timing or clocking i
...