ISO/IEC 18046-4:2015

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 18046-4
First edition
2015-12-15
Information technology — Radio
frequency identification device
performance test methods —
Part 4:
Test methods for performance of RFID
gates in libraries
Technologies de l’information — Méthodes d’essai des performances
du dispositif d’identification par radiofréquence —
Partie 4: Méthodes d’essai de la performance des portes à RFID dans
les bibliothèques
Reference number
ISO/IEC 18046-4:2015(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2015

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ISO/IEC 18046-4:2015(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO/IEC 2015, Published in Switzerland
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ISO/IEC 18046-4:2015(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 6
4.1 Symbols . 6
4.2 Abbreviated terms . 7
5 Conditions applicable to the test methods . 7
5.1 Number of interrogators to be tested. 7
5.2 Test environment . 7
5.3 RF environment . 7
5.4 Pre-conditioning . 7
5.5 Default tolerance . 8
5.6 Total measurement uncertainty . 8
5.7 Test result reporting . 8
5.8 Test communication parameters . 8
5.9 Test equipment limits . 8
5.10 Human exposure to EMF . 8
6 Required auxiliary means for performance tests . 8
6.1 Movement apparatus . 8
6.2 PC with test software . 8
6.3 Reference blocks . 9
6.3.1 General. 9
6.3.2 Tags . 9
6.3.3 Tag block . 9
6.3.4 Tag bundle .10
6.3.5 Media stack .11
6.4 Active interferer .13
6.5 Passive Interferer .14
7 Performance tests .14
7.1 General remarks .14
7.2 Measurement of transmitter carrier H-field level .14
7.3 Detection field homogeneity .17
7.4 Reliability of detection .18
7.4.1 General.18
7.4.2 Procedure (on the basis of AFI) .19
7.4.3 Procedure with increased walking speed .19
7.4.4 Procedure with 6 tags and read data of 34 bytes, walking speed (only on
the basis of AFI) .20
7.4.5 Procedure with 6 tags and read data of 34 bytes, increased walking speed
(only on the basis of AFI) .20
7.5 Stack performance .20
7.6 Immunity to interferences .22
7.6.1 General.22
7.6.2 Analysis 1 (active interferer) .23
7.6.3 Analysis 2 (passive metallic interferer) .25
8 Assessment of the complete product test .26
9 Certificate .26
Annex A (normative) Test Record (AFI) .27
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Annex B (informative) Media stack .41
Bibliography .42
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ISO/IEC 18046-4:2015(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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for
the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
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. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the
Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, Subcommittee
SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
ISO/IEC 18046 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — Radio
frequency identification device performance test methods:
— Part 1: Test methods for system performance
— Part 2: Test methods for interrogator performance
— Part 3: Test methods for tag performance
— Part 4: Test methods for performance of RFID gates in libraries
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ISO/IEC 18046-4:2015(E)

Introduction
This part of ISO/IEC 18046 covers test methods for the performance of HF RFID gates in libraries. The
term HF RFID gate refers to an HF RFID interrogator that supports an arrangement of several HF RFID
antennas utilizing multiplexers or splitters. Antenna pairs are usually placed on opposite sides of a so-
called passage way through which tags are moved and captured. The positioning of such HF RFID gates
at entrances, exits and transit positions within buildings thus permits the capturing of access and/or
outward movement of objects/media or media stacks.
At the same time, the possibility of stack (bundle) detection permits the simultaneous recognition of
several tags. HF RFID gates are available as permanently installed or mobile variants. The reading
range of HF RFID gates is limited but can be set in the range of 0,5 m to 2 m for 13,56 MHz (inductive
coupling) systems based on the size and number of antennas and/or of the tag properties.
The main purpose of the gates within a library lies in anti-theft protection of media using simple
reading of security bits (AFI or EAS) on a tag. Aside from that, they also permit the capturing of the
specific medium by reading out extended information that can be additionally stored in a tag. There are
also hybrid systems, which additionally allow capturing of so-called EAS magnetic strips.
HF RFID gates within libraries are frequently used in combination with visitor counters (e.g. light
barriers) which permit direction-dependent capturing of gate use. These visitor counters can be
installed optionally or can alternatively be a fixed part of the gate.
Current gates can recognize tags in horizontal and vertical as well as diagonal positions. A few possess
auto-tuning functions that automatically correct the magnetic field if there is a drop in performance.
The selected operating mode (AFI) is constant throughout the entire individual tests.
Figure 1 shows four essential processes that could be identified for HF RFID gates in libraries. These
are, on the one hand, the registration of media security at the time of access/outward movement of
objects and therewith the alarm functions. Then, there is the pure detection of media information of
the tags that have been moved. Furthermore, there is the optional counting of visitors and finally, the
communication with the backend systems of the library, though this is not compulsory. In its main
function of media security, a gate should also function offline.
Procedures in
gates
Request of
Detection of Communication Registration of
media information
media protection with backend visitor low
Alarm
Figure 1 — Typical process flow at a gate
By increasing service demands in the area of opening times and increasing cost pressures at the same
time, public and academic libraries increasingly rely on the use of automated accounting systems based
on radio frequency technology. In addition to posting the media for lending and return, the technology
also provides an anti-theft device. Core components for preventing burglary are sensor systems, which
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are installed in the form of pass gates at the entry and exit. Prior to this part of ISO/IEC 18046, there
were no requirements and test specifications that describe the performance of these sensor systems
uniformly. With the present test methods for standardization of performance evaluation of HF RFID
gates for use in libraries, this gap will be closed.
The RFID performance of the gates can be impaired if objects that have an influence on the magnetic
fields are present in the direct vicinity of the gates. Materials such as metals, water and substances with
a high density can influence transmission here. In libraries, it is mostly due to constructional and/or
architectural reasons that such objects are present in the direct vicinity of HF RFID gates. These can
be metallic door frames, staircase railings, floor heating as well as sign plates or metallic furniture. In
many cases, it is not possible to maintain a minimum distance, resulting in possible performance losses
of the antennas. Special influence is also exerted by power lines with high output or lines with power
line telecommunication within the building which are laid into the floor or in the walls and are not
visually identifiable as sources of interference.
Influences can be caused by active and passive sources. These include the RFID components themselves.
The passive sources of interference include all kinds of furniture of a library composed of or containing
metal which can possibly have an interfering influence and can distort the detection field. This also
includes tags disposed in the vicinity of the gates which are positioned in a secured variant within the
library. All kinds of electrical devices and machines that can exert an electro-magnetic influence on the
gate in libraries, and/or buildings, in general, can be summed up as active interferers.
In this part of ISO/IEC 18046, references to HF RFID gates, interrogators, and tags usually assume HF
RFID gates, HF interrogators, and HF tags.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 18046-4:2015(E)
Information technology — Radio frequency identification
device performance test methods —
Part 4:
Test methods for performance of RFID gates in libraries
1 Scope
This part of ISO/IEC 18046 defines test methods for performance characteristics of HF RFID gates in
libraries for item management and specifies the general requirements and test requirements for HF
RFID gates in libraries which are applicable to the selection of the gates for an application. The summary
of the test reports form a unified tag datasheet. It does not apply to testing in relation to regulatory or
similar requirements.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
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 18046-3, Information technology — Radio frequency identification device performance test
methods — Part 3: Test methods for tag performance
1)
ISO/IEC 19762 , Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques
— Harmonized vocabulary
EN 300330-1 V 1.8.0:2014-06, Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Short
Range Devices (SRD); Radio equipment in the frequency range 9 kHz to 25 MHz and inductive loop systems
in the frequency range 9 kHz to 30 MHz; Part 1: Technical characteristics and test methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762 and the
following apply.
3.1
walking speed
at a speed of 1 m/s
3.2
increased walking speed
at a speed of 2 m/s
3.3
direction of movement
direction in which a gate is passed by persons in normal
operation
1) To be published.
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3.4
system interface
describes the interface, over which the system “Gate” exchanges information with a higher level IT system
Note 1 to entry: The system interface is accessible from outside the object. Often, a proprietary, interrogator-
specific, communication protocol is applied here.
3.5
rate of detection
represents the average number of detected tags per test set-up over three repetitions per distance
travelled
3.6
travel distance
testing instruments such as tag, tag bundles or media stacks are moved on the travel distance through
the gate (DUT)
Note 1 to entry: Its length is 3 m. At the same time, the centre point of the travelling distance lies at half depth of
the gate. In cases, where the gate has an especially large depth, the travelling distance is extended such that its
start and its end are securely at a distance at which no tag can be detected.
3.7
reference plane
plane to which all measures of altitude refer as shown in Figure 2
1
2
Key
1 antenna
2 reference plane
Figure 2 — Reference plane
Note 1 to entry: The reference plane corresponds to the plane on which persons pass through the gate when it is
actually mounted. The gate is directly mounted on this plane. The reference plane is a part of the measurement
apparatus. For ensuring stability, the gate is directly mounted on the mounting plate of the movement apparatus.
It is at the height of the reference plane.
3.8
gate width
width that is of relevance for the persons passing through the gate as shown in Figure 3
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1
2
1 m
Key
1 antenna
2 gate width
Figure 3 — Gate width
Note 1 to entry: The passage width refers to the distance between the antennas which is of relevance for the
passage of persons through the gate. The gate width is measured at 1 m height above the reference plane.
3.9
detection range
right-angled slice plane of the passage way (route) between two gate antennas
Note 1 to entry: The detection range is restricted
— to the gate width of the gate in terms of width, and
— to the upper limit of the detection range (h) specified by the manufacturer or, if this information is missing,
to the upper limit of the gate housing, and to the lower limit of the detection range (m) specified by the
manufacturer or, if this information is missing, to the fixed dimension of m = 25 cm above the reference plane,
in terms of height.
Note 2 to entry: The dimensions of the acquisition range are defined once and are identically applicable to
all analyses.
3.10
operating mode
DUT is operated in the same operating mode during the tests
Note 1 to entry: That means that the detection is based on the AFI principle during all individual tests.
3.11
tag state “secured”
AFI byte possesses the value 07 (0x07)
Note 1 to entry: The address data refers to the data sheet of the chip used.
3.12
tag state “borrowed”
AFI byte possesses the value 194 (0xC2)
Note 1 to entry: The address data refers to the data sheet of the chip used.
3.13
tag Orientation
A plane of the tag antenna parallel to the planes of the gate antennas, main dimension of the tag
antenna in walking direction
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Figure 4 — Tag orientation A
B planes of the tag antenna rectangular to the planes of the gate antennas, main dimension of the
tag antenna vertical
Figure 5 — Tag orientation B
C plane of the tag antenna horizontally, main dimension of the tag in walking direction
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Figure 6 — Tag orientation C
D analogue to A, plane of the tag antenna 30° raked at the longitudinal axis of the main dimension
Figure 7 — Tag orientation D
E analogue C, plane of the tag antenna 30° raked at the axis in the antenna plane rectangular to
the main dimension
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Figure 8 — Tag orientation E
F planes of the tag antenna parallel to the plans of the gate antennas, main direction of the tag
antenna vertical
Figure 9 — Tag orientation F
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms
4.1 Symbols
For the purposes of this part of ISO/IEC 18046, the symbols found in ISO/IEC 19762 and the
following apply.
b gate width (in m)
e travel plane spacing (in m)
f frequency (in Hz)
g antenna width (in m)
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H magnetic field intensity (in A/m)
h upper limit of the detection range (in m)
k plane distance (in m)
l travel distance (in m)
m lower limit of the detection range (in m)
n distance from the antenna plane to the first measurement points (in m)
p workstation height (in m)
s distance between interferer and gate (in m)
u distance between the antennas of a tag (in m)
4.2 Abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this part of ISO/IEC 18046, the symbols found in ISO/IEC 19762 and the
following apply.
AFI application family identifier
DUT device under test
EAS electronic article surveillance
UID unique identifier
NOTE  ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 31, in general, uses the term UII; however, as ISO/IEC 18000-3 Mode 1 directly
refers to ISO/IEC 15693, the term UID applies in this case.
UII unique item identifier
5 Conditions applicable to the test methods
5.1 Number of interrogators to be tested
Unless otherwise specified, testing shall be performed on 1 randomly chosen interrogator or gate.
5.2 Test environment
Unless otherwise specified, testing shall take place in air environment of temperature
23 °C +/- 3 °C (73 °F +/- 5 °F) and of relative humidity 40 % to 60 %.
5.3 RF environment
The tests shall be performed in a known RF environment.
For measurement with operating frequencies below 30 MHz a typical laboratory environment is
sufficient, where consideration is given to minimize the impact of electromagnetic sources that may
influence the results.
5.4 Pre-conditioning
Where pre-conditioning is required by the test method, the identification tags to be tested shall be
conditioned to the test environment for a period of 24 hours before testing.
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5.5 Default tolerance
Unless otherwise specified, a default tolerance of +/- 1 % shall be applied to the quantity values
given to specify the characteristics of the test equipment (e.g. linear dimensions) and the test method
procedures (e.g. test equipment adjustments).
5.6 Total measurement uncertainty
The total measurement uncertainty for each quantity determined by these test methods shall be stated
in the test report.
NOTE Basic information is given in ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008.
5.7 Test result reporting
Test result reporting is specified for each test in the test description.
5.8 Test communication parameters
All the tests may be done for various communication parameters (forward and return link) as selected
by the vendor of the DUT. The tests conditions shall be recorded in the test report.
5.9 Test equipment limits
It shall be ensured that the test equipment is not limiting the performance of the measurement.
5.10 Human exposure to EMF
High magnetic or electromagnetic field strength may exceed the limits of maximum permissible
human exposure to EMF, which should be considered accordingly. FCC guidelines for MPE and SAR or
EC 1999/519/CE are examples for relevant documents.
6 Required auxiliary means for performance tests
6.1 Movement apparatus
This shall be an apparatus that permits the translatory movement of testing instruments within the
gate at variously defined speeds. The vertical (height) and horizontal position for the movement shall
be adjustable. In this way test movement tracks can be “traced” one after the other at defined positions
in direction of travel. The length of the travel distance shall be at least 3 m. The speed shall be adjustable
and it shall at least support 1 m/s and 2 m/s. The movement apparatus shall be essentially composed of
non-metallic material.
6.2 PC with test software
The test software shall at the minimum visualize the UII (or UID as applicable) (unique item identifier
according to ISO/IEC 1800
...