ISO 17365:2009

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 17365
First edition
2009-11-15


Supply chain applications of RFID —
Transport units
Applications de chaîne d'approvisionnements de RFID — Unités de
transport




Reference number
ISO 17365:2009(E)
©
ISO 2009

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ISO 17365:2009(E)
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope.1
2 Conformance and performance specifications.1
3 Normative references.1
4 Terms and definitions .3
5 Concepts .3
6 Differentiation within the layer.6
7 Data content.7
8 Data security .12
9 Identification of RFID labelled material.13
10 Human readable information.13
11 Tag operation.14
12 Tag location and presentation .17
13 Interrogator and reader requirements.18
14 Interoperability, compatibility and non-interference with other RF systems.18
Bibliography.19

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ISO 17365:2009(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member 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 shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 17365 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging, in collaboration with
Technical Committee ISO/TC 104, Freight containers.

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ISO 17365:2009(E)
Introduction
The supply chain is a multi-level concept that covers all aspects of taking a product from raw materials to a
final product including shipping to a final place of sale, use and maintenance and potentially disposal. Each of
these levels covers many aspects of dealing with products and the business process for each level is both
unique and overlapping with other levels.
This International Standard has been created in order to ensure compatibility at the physical, command and
data levels with the four other International Standards under the general title: Supply chain applications of
RFID. Where possible, this compatibility takes the form of interchangeability. Where interchangeability is not
feasible, the International Standards within this suite are interoperable and non-interfering. The International
Standards within the complete series of Supply chain applications of RFID include
⎯ ISO 17363, Supply chain applications of RFID — Freight containers,
⎯ ISO 17364, Supply chain applications of RFID — Returnable transport items (RTIs),
⎯ ISO 17365, Supply chain applications of RFID — Transport units,
⎯ ISO 17366, Supply chain applications of RFID — Product packaging, and
⎯ ISO 17367, Supply chain applications of RFID — Product tagging.
These International Standards define the technical aspects and data hierarchy of information required in each
layer of the supply chain. The air-interface and communications protocol standards supported within the
Supply chain applications of RFID International Standards are ISO/IEC 18000; commands and messages are
specified by ISO/IEC 15961 and ISO/IEC 15962; semantics are defined in ISO/IEC 15418; syntax is defined in
ISO/IEC 15434.
Although not pertinent to this International Standard, the work of
⎯ ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques, in
the areas of air interface, data semantic and syntax construction and conformance standards, and
⎯ ISO/TC 104, Freight containers, in the area of freight container security, including electronic seals
(e-seals) (i.e. ISO 18185) and container identification
is considered valuable.
This International Standard defines the requirements for RFID tags for transport units. Transport units are
defined here as either a transport package or a unit load (see ISO 17364:2009, 4.12 and 4.15)
An important concept here is the use cases of such things as unitized loads, pallets and returnable transport
items. How a pallet is used can determine whether it is covered under ISO 17364 as a returnable transport
item or within this International Standard as a transport unit. If ownership title of the pallet remains with its
owner then the applicable International Standard is ISO 17364. If the ownership title of a pallet is transferred
to the customer as part of a unitized load then it is considered an element of that unitized load, then this
International Standard is applicable.
Specific to transport units is the grouping of (packaged) products, in order to make these more suitable for
efficient and effective transport and distribution. The transport unit provides an added value for the product
being sold, mostly in terms of logistics performance. RFID tagged transport units can help further optimize the
supply chain.
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
This International Standard is intended for use by owners and users of transport units, manufacturers and
logistic services providers. It ensures the unambiguous and optimal use of transport units in the supply chain.
In conjunction with the other Supply chain applications of RFID International Standards, a seamless
application of the transport units within the total supply chain is enabled.


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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 17365:2009(E)

Supply chain applications of RFID — Transport units
1 Scope
This International Standard defines the basic features of RFID for the use in the supply chain when applied to
transport units. In particular it
⎯ provides specifications for the identification of the transport unit,
⎯ makes recommendations about additional information on the RF tag,
⎯ specifies the semantics and data syntax to be used,
⎯ specifies the data protocol to be used to interface with business applications and the RFID system,
⎯ specifies the minimum performance requirements,
⎯ specifies the air interface standards between the RF interrogator and RF tag, and
⎯ specifies the reuse and recyclability of the RF tag.
2 Conformance and performance specifications
All of the devices and equipment that claim conformance with this International Standard shall also conform to
the appropriate sections and parameters specified in ISO/IEC TR 18046 for performance and
ISO/IEC TR 18047-6 (for ISO/IEC 18000-6, Type C) and ISO/IEC TR 18047-3 (for the ASK interface of
ISO/IEC 18000-3, Mode 3) for conformance.
When, through trading-partner agreement, other specific ISO/IEC 18000 air interfaces are employed (i.e.
ISO/IEC 18000-2, Type A and ISO/IEC 18000-7) the corresponding part of ISO/IEC 18047 shall be used.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 445, Pallets for materials handling — Vocabulary
ISO 830, Freight containers — Vocabulary
ISO/IEC 15418, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — GS1
Application Identifiers and ASC MH10 Data Identifiers and maintenance
ISO/IEC 15434, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Syntax for
high-capacity ADC media
ISO/IEC 15459-1, Information technology — Unique identifiers — Part 1: Unique identifiers for transport units
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
ISO/IEC 15459-4, Information technology — Unique identifiers — Part 4: Individual items
ISO/IEC 15459-5, Information technology — Unique identifiers — Part 5: Unique identifier for returnable
transport items (RTIs)
ISO/IEC 15961, Information technology — Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management — Data
protocol: application interface
ISO/IEC 15962, Information technology — Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management — Data
protocol: data encoding rules and logical memory functions
ISO/IEC 15963, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Unique
identification for RF tags
ISO 17364, Supply chain applications of RFID — Returnable transport items (RTIs)
ISO/IEC 18000-3, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Part 3:
Parameters for air interface communications at 13,56 MHz
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
ISO/IEC TR 18046, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Radio
frequency identification device performance test methods
ISO/IEC TR 18047-3, Information technology — Radio frequency identification device conformance test
methods — Part 3: Test methods for air interface communications at 13,56 MHz
ISO/IEC TR 18047-6, Information technology — Radio frequency identification device conformance test
methods — Part 6: Test methods for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz
ISO/IEC 19762-1, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary — Part 1: General terms relating to AIDC
ISO/IEC 19762-3, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary — Part 3: Radio frequency identification (RFID)
ISO 21067, Packaging — Vocabulary
ISO/IEC TR 24729-1, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management —
Implementation guidelines — Part 1: RFID-enabled labels and packaging supporting ISO/IEC 18000-6C
ANS MH10.8.2, Data Identifiers and Application Identifiers
EPCglobal, Tag Data Standards, Version 1.3
GS1 General Specifications
ICNIRP Guidelines, Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic
fields (up to 300 GHz)
IEEE 1451, IEEE Standard for a Smart Transducer Interface for Sensors and Actuators
IEEE 1451.7, Smart Transducer Interface for Sensors and Actuators — Transducers to Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) Systems Communication Protocols and Transducer Electronic Data Sheet Formats
IEEE C95-1, IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 445, ISO 830, ISO 17364,
ISO/IEC 19762-1, ISO/IEC 19762-3 and ISO 21067 apply.
5 Concepts
5.1 Supply chain model
Figure 1 gives a graphical representation of the supply chain. It shows a conceptual model of possible supply
chain relationships, not a one-for-one representation of physical things. Although several layers in Figure 1
have clear physical counterparts, some common supply chain physical items fit in several layers depending on
the use case. For example, a repetitively used pallet under constant ownership would be covered by
ISO 17364 as an RTI; a pallet that is part of a consolidated unit load would be covered by this International
Standard as a transport unit; and a pallet that is integral to a single item would be covered by ISO 17366 as
product packaging.
Layers 0 to 4 are addressed within the series of International Standards Supply chain applications of RFID
(see Introduction). Layer 5 is addressed by the work of ISO/TC 204/WG 7.
Layer 2 in Figure 1 and transport units (as defined in the Introduction) are the subject of this International
Standard.

Figure 1 — Supply chain layers
Once tagged, transport unit layer tags can be distinguished from following or preceding layer tags by use of a
group select methodology contained in the RFID interrogator/reader. This group select function allows the
interrogator and supporting automated information systems (AIS) to quickly identify transport unit layer tags.
As indicated in 5.2.2, the group select methodology is further elaborated in ISO/IEC 15961.
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
5.2 Unique identification of transport units
5.2.1 General
Unique transport unit identification is a process that assigns a unique data string to an individual transport unit,
or in this case to an RFID tag that is associated to the transport unit. The unique data string is called the
unique transport unit identifier. Unique item identification of transport units allows data collection and
management at a granular level. The benefits of granular level data are evident in such areas as maintenance,
warranties and enabling electronic transactions of record. This granularity is possible only if each tagged item
has a unique item identifier.
The information on items in the supply chain is often held on computer systems and may be exchanged
between parties involved via electronic data interchange (EDI) and extensible markup language (XML)
schemas. The unique item identifier is intended to be used as a key to access this information.
The unique transport unit identifier described above is a unique identifier as described in ISO/IEC 15459-5.
The unique item identifier (UII) provides granular discrimination between like items that are identified with
RFID tags. The unique tag ID (as defined by ISO/IEC 15963) is a mechanism to uniquely identify RFID tags
and is not the unique transport unit identifier defined in this International Standard.
Transport unit tagging provides unique identification of transport units. The minimum data elements required
for unique identification are an enterprise identifier/company identification number and a serial number that is
unique within that enterprise identifier.
This International Standard uses the following identification mechanisms for unique transport unit
identification:
⎯ unique identifier for transport units (ISO/IEC 15459-1);
⎯ GS1 Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC).
5.2.2 International unique identification of transport units
The unique identifier of ISO/IEC 15459 provides identification schemes for various layers of the supply chain,
from layer 0 (products) up to layer 3 (returnable transport items). The unique identification of transport units
shall use ISO/IEC 15459-4. Unique identification is provided by three components:
a) issuing agency code (IAC),
b) company identification number (CIN),
c) serial number (SN),
preceded by an AFI and Data Identifier (DI). The AFI code assignments table in ISO/IEC 15961:2004,
Annex B, permits identification of the supply chain layer, i.e. product = A1 , transport unit = A2 ,
HEX HEX
returnable transport item = A3 and product package = A5 .
HEX HEX
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
Table 1 — 1736x AFI Assignments
AFI
Assignment International Standard
(HEX)
A1 17367_Non-EPC ISO 17367 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Product tagging
A2 17365_Non-EPC ISO 17365 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Transport units
A3 17364_Non-EPC ISO 17364 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Returnable transport items (RTIs)
A4 17367_HazMat ISO 17367 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Product tagging (HazMat)
A5 17366_Non-EPC ISO 17366 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Product packaging
A6 17366_HazMat ISO 17366 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Product packaging (HazMat)
A7 17365_HazMat ISO 17365 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Transport units (HazMat)
A8 17364_HazMat ISO 17364 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Returnable transport items (RTIs) (HazMat)
A9 17363_Non-EPC ISO 17363 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Freight containers
AA 17363_HazMat ISO 17363 — Supply chain applications of RFID — Freight containers (HazMat)

EPC does not use AFIs; consequently, there are no AFIs used for transport units employed in retail
applications using EPCglobal. AFI A2 may be used for transport units intended solely for commodities
HEX
other than consumer goods.
To define its class (in the ISO/IEC 15459 sense), the unique identifier shall have an associated class identifier,
identified with the Data Identifier “1J, 2J, 3J, 4J, 5J, 6J or J”. A unique identifier of transport units can be up to
20 alphanumeric characters in length (an.2+an.20). See Table 2.
Table 2 — UII element string
Format of the license plate
Data Identifier IAC, company identification number (CIN), serial number
nJ N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N . . . N

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 32

5.2.3 Serial shipping container code (SSCC)
The serial shipping container code (SSCC) is a unique item identifier (UII) capable of providing unique item
identification of transport units.
To define its class, the UII shall have an associated class identifier, which is the Application Identifier “00”.
A logistic unit is an item of any composition established for transport and/or storage that needs to be managed
through the supply chain. The identification and symbol marking of logistic units enables a large number of
user applications. In particular, the SSCC provides a link between the physical logistic unit and information
pertaining to the logistic unit that is communicated between trading partners using electronic data interchange
(EDI).
The SSCC element string AI (00) is used for the identification of logistic units. Each individual logistic unit is
allocated a unique number, which remains the same for the life of the logistic unit. When assigning an SSCC,
the rule is that an individual SSCC number shall not be reallocated within one year of the shipment date from
the SSCC assignor to a trading partner. However, prevailing regulatory or industry organization specific
requirements may extend this period.
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
In principle, the SSCC provides a unique reference number that can be used as the key to access information
regarding the logistic unit in computer files. However, attributes relating to the logistic unit (e.g. ship-to
information, logistic weights) are also available as standardized element strings. See Table 3.
Table 3 — SSCC element string
Format of the element string
SSCC
Application Extension GS1 Company Prefix Serial Reference Check
Identifier digit digit
00 N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
The Application Identifier (00) indicates that the data field contains an SSCC.
The extension digit is used to increase the capacity of the Serial Reference within the SSCC. The company
that constructs the SSCC assigns the extension digit.
GS1 Member Organizations allocate the GS1 Company Prefix to a system user (see GS1 General
Specifications). This makes the SSCC unique worldwide but does not identify the origin of the unit.
The structure and content of the Serial Reference is at the discretion of the system user responsible for its
assignment.
The check digit is explained in the GS1 General Specifications. Its verification, which shall be carried out in
the application software, ensures that the number is correctly composed.
5.3 Other identification requirements
This International Standard does not supersede or replace any applicable safety or regulatory marking or
labelling requirements.
This International Standard is meant to satisfy the minimum transport unit identification requirements of
numerous applications and industry groups. As such, its applicability is to a wide range of industries, each of
which may have specific implementation guidelines for this International Standard. This International Standard
is to be applied in addition to any other mandated labelling requirements.
6 Differentiation within the layer
The layer represented by the transport unit is characterized by the following unique aspects.
⎯ Individual transport units are identified by a shipment control number (SSCC or J-series Data Identifier).
⎯ The transport unit is the source of information about the environmental condition of the unit or package.
This includes data on temperature, humidity, shock, and other physical characteristics.
The RF tag associated with the transport unit is written to or read from as part of one or more of the following
business processes:
⎯ building a transport unit;
⎯ assembly of the next higher level in the supply chain;
⎯ shipment;
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
⎯ in transit;
⎯ cross-docking;
⎯ in-check/receipt;
⎯ de-aggregation of the transport unit.
In conclusion, the transport unit and the system in which it is used are closely intertwined. Additionally, all
variations possible in different supply chains are also observed in the transport unit layer of the supply chain
due to the nature of the transport unit and its usage.
7 Data content
7.1 Introduction
Subclauses 7.2 to 7.8 describe the data content of RFID tags for the transport unit layer. They identify,
amongst others,
⎯ the data elements that shall or may be present on the tag,
⎯ the way in which the data elements are identified (semantics),
⎯ the representation of data elements in tag memory, and
⎯ the placement of data elements in the memory of the tag.
NOTE 1 As specified elsewhere in this International Standard, use is made of ISO/IEC 18000-6, Type C, and
ISO/IEC 18000-3, Mode 3 tags. Where necessary, use is made of the specific (memory) terminology of those tags.
NOTE 2 For the purpose of transport unit tagging only, both write once/read many (WORM) and read-write tags are
used. This is done to enable transport unit owners to assign specific and permanent UIIs to their transport units.
7.2 System data elements
7.2.1 Unique transport unit identification
The first data element on a compliant tag shall be the unique identification described in ISO/IEC 15459-1. The
length and nature of this unique identification is defined in this data element. For an ISO/IEC 18000-6, Type C
compliant tag, the unique identification data element is segregated from any additional (User Data) by the
memory architecture. The unique identification data element shall be stored in UII memory (Bank 01), with any
additional data being stored in user memory (Bank 11). A unique identifier of transport units can be up to 23
alphanumeric characters in length, including the Data Identifier (an3+an.20).
7.2.2 Data semantics
Tags that only encode the unique transport identifier shall conform to ISO/IEC 15961. Tags containing
complex data structures or larger data sets shall include semantics that conform to ISO/IEC 15418,
ISO/IEC 15961 and ISO/IEC 15962.
7.2.3 Data syntax
Tags that only encode identity are considered to have no syntax. Tags containing complex data structures or
larger data sets shall conform to ISO/IEC 15434 and ISO/IEC 15962.
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
7.3 Tag structure (ISO/IEC 18000-6, Type C and ISO/IEC 18000-3, Mode 3)
7.3.1 Tag header
Tag headers should contain the ISO/IEC 15961 AFI for transport units, i.e. A2 , in bits 18 to 1F as
HEX HEX HEX
described in Table 1 and Table 4. Support for ISO standards (including AFIs) is indicated when bit 17 is
HEX
set to “1”. Alternatively, such headers may contain an EPC header as described in EPCglobal, Tag Data
Standards, Version 1.3. Support for EPCglobal coding is indicated when bit 17 is set to “0”.
HEX
NOTE A 96-bit SSCC is represented by EPC header 31 .
HEX
7.3.2 Tag memory
Figure 2 provides a graphical representation of tag memory.
MSB LSB
Data Objects formatted:
Precursor, [OID], length,
-
object
RFU [7:0]
10 1F
- Sensors/battery-assist
HEX
HEX
DSFID [7:0]
00 0F
- See ISO/IEC 15961
HEX HEX
and ISO/IEC 15962
Memory bank
MSB LSB
Bank
USER - MDID
11
2
- Tag model number
Bank
- Serial number
TID 10
HEX TID [15:0] 1F
10
HEX
2
- Burned in or written
00
TID [31:16]
HEX 0F
and permalocked by
Bank HEX
UII IC manufacturer
01
2
MSB LSB
Bank
RESERVED
00
2
220 22F
HEX
Optional XPC_W2 [15:0]
HEX
210 21F
HEX Optional XPC_W1 [15:0] HEX
UII [15:0]
Memory bank is definedy
as follows
UII (may be EPC)
-
UII [N:N-15]
20 2F
00 Reserved HEX HEX
2
- PC (Protocol Control) bits,
StoredPC [15:0]
10 1F
01 UII
2 HEX HEX
including UII length indicator
10 TID 00 StoredCRC-16 [15:0] 0F - CRC confirms content of
2 HEX HEX
UII memory
11 User
2
MSB LSB
- Contains all write lock
and kill passwords
Access Password [15:0]
30 3F
HEX
HEX
20 Access Password [31:16] 2F
HEX
HEX
10 Kill Password [15:0] 1F
HEX HEX
Kill Password [31:16]
00 0F
HEX HEX

Figure 2 — Memory map for segmented memory tags
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ISO 17365:2009(E)
7.3.3 Tag memory banks
Tag memory shall be logically separated into four distinct banks, each of which may comprise one or more
memory words. A logical mem
...