ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 15963-1
First edition
2020-02
Information technology — Radio
frequency identification for item
management —
Part 1:
Unique identification for RF tags
numbering systems
Technologies de l'information — Identification par radiofréquence
pour la gestion des objets —
Partie 1: Systèmes numériques pour l'identification unique des tags RF
Reference number
ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2020

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ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)

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© ISO/IEC 2020
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ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 2
5 Unique identifiers . 3
6 Unique identification of an RF tag . 4
6.1 Unique identification . 4
6.1.1 General. 4
6.1.2 Virtual ID . 4
6.1.3 Data as a unique ID . 4
6.1.4 Time as a unique ID . 4
6.1.5 Position as a unique ID . 4
6.2 Permanent unique ID . 4
6.2.1 Unique ID . 4
6.2.2 Benefits of permanent unique ID versus virtual ID . 5
6.2.3 Selection of the size of a permanent unique ID . 5
Annex A (normative) Numbering system of a permanent unique RF tag identifier (TID) .6
Annex B (normative) ISO/IEC 7816-6 numbering systems for RFID .10
Annex C (normative) ISO 14816 — Numbering and data structures .12
Annex D (normative) ISO/IEC 18000-63 or ISO/IEC 18000-3 Mode 3 numbering systems for
RFID .13
Annex E (normative) ISO/IEC 15963-2 numbering systems .15
Bibliography .16
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ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(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.
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) or the IEC
list of patent declarations received (see http:// patents .iec .ch).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
This first edition of ISO/IEC 15963-1, together with of ISO/IEC 15963-2, cancels and replaces
ISO/IEC 15963:2009, which has been technically revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— Update to include the addition of part 2 — registration details, and to add new registration
information.
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 15963 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
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ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)

Introduction
ISO/IEC 15963 (all parts) is one of a series of International Standards and Technical Reports developed
by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 for the identification of items (Item Management) using radio frequency
identification (RFID) technology.
This document describes numbering systems for the unique identification of RF tags.
It is intended for use in conjunction with other International Standards developed by SC 31 for
"RFID for item management" and “Real time locating systems”, such as ISO/IEC 18000 (all parts) and
ISO/IEC 24730 (all parts).
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)
Information technology — Radio frequency identification
for item management —
Part 1:
Unique identification for RF tags numbering systems
1 Scope
This document describes numbering systems that are available for the identification of RF tags and
assigns various allocation classes to various agencies that issue manufacturer codes.
The unique ID can be used:
— for the traceability of the integrated circuit itself for quality control in its manufacturing process;
— for the traceability of the RF tag during its manufacturing process and along its lifetime;
— for the completion of the reading in a multi-antenna configuration;
— by the anti-collision mechanism to inventory multiple tags in the reader’s field of view; and
— for the traceability of the item to which the RF tag is attached.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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/IEC 7816-6, Identification cards — Integrated circuit cards — Part 6: Interindustry data elements for
interchange
ISO 14816, Road transport and traffic telematics — Automatic vehicle and equipment identification —
Numbering and data structure
ISO/IEC 15963-2, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management —
Part 2: Unique identification for RF tags registration procedures
ISO/IEC 19762, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary
GS1 General Specifications (GS1, Brussels)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
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ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)

3.1
RF tag unique identifier
number that uniquely identifies an RF tag
3.2
RF tag issuer
company or organization that allocates the RF tags to the items they identify
3.3
IC manufacturer
company that manufactures the RF tag integrated circuit
3.4
RF tag manufacturer
company that manufactures the RF tag in a ready-to-use configuration
3.5
allocation class
8-bit value used to classify companies or organizations allowed to allocate unique tag identification
3.6
IC manufacturer registration number
number allocated to IC manufacturers (3.3)
Note 1 to entry: This number is allocated according to ISO/IEC 7816-6 or ANSI ASC INCITS T6.
3.7
RF tag issuer registration number
number allocated to RF tag issuers (3.2)
Note 1 to entry: This number is allocated according to ISO 6346, ISO 14816, GS1 or ANSI ASC INCITS T6.
3.8
chip ID
CID
DEPRECATED: unique identifier (UID)
unique permanent ID of the integrated circuit in an RF tag
Note 1 to entry: See tag ID, unique item identifier and object identifier in ISO/IEC 19762.
3.9
mask designer identifier
MDID
identification of IC manufacturer (3.3) in TID memory bank of EPC Gen2/ISO/IEC 18000-63 tags,
allocated by GS1 upon request
4 Abbreviated terms
AC Allocation class
AI Application identifier
ANS American National Standard
ANSI American National Standards Institute
ASC Accredited Standards Committee
CID Chip identifier
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ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)

EPC Electronic Product Code
ID Identifier
INCITS InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards
LSB Least significant bit
MDID Mask designer identifier
MSB Most significant bit
OID Object identifier
RFU Reserved for future use
RTLS Real-time locating system
TDS EPC tag data standard
TID Unique tag identifier
UII Unique item identifier
5 Unique identifiers
There are several types of identifiers associated with an RF tag. The most basic form is a chip ID (CID),
which is assigned by the integrated circuit (IC) manufacturer to a specific semiconductor device at the
time of manufacture in a manner that prevents it from being changed. Multiple semiconductor devices
may be associated with a single RF tag, though one IC per tag is common. In such a case, the RF tag (TID)
may simply assume the CID as its identity or it may assume an identifier distinct from the IC. In many
cases, and as a recommendation of this document, the TID is assigned at the time of RF tag manufacture
in a manner that prevents the TID from being changed.
The RF tag is then attached to some item. In some implementations, the TID can then become the unique
item identifier (UII). In others, such as ISO/IEC 18000-63 and ISO/IEC 18000-3 Mode 3, the UII is held
in a separate part of memory and is written subsequent to being attached or associated with a specific
item. The UII may either be locked or available for reprogramming.
Global uniqueness requires a central body (Registration Authority) to either assign manufacturer
identities or to assign unique identities to various agencies that in turn assign manufacturer identities.
Manufacturers then assign unique identification to the chip, tag or item. This document serves as
the central body for assignment of unique identifiers to RF tags. This document assigns various
allocation classes to various agencies that issue manufacturer codes (referred to as issuer codes in
ISO/IEC 7816-6).
Some tags only have identity down to a specific lot, batch or mask identifier. Other tags, and as
recommended by this document, are serialized so that all RF tags are globally unique from all other
RF tags.
The combination of globally unique serialized tag (TID) programmed and locked at the time of
manufacture with the unique item identifier (UII) programmed when attached or associated with
a specific item and trusted trading partner communications are the cornerstones of several anti-
counterfeiting techniques used within the supply chain.
For anti-collision, inventorying, reading from and writing to an RF tag, techniques exist to utilize the
TID, UII or a randomly generated number. Neither the UII nor the randomly generated number provide
life-cycle traceability for the RF tag. A TID does provide for such traceability.
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ISO/IEC 15963-1:2020(E)

6 Unique identification of an RF tag
6.1 Unique identification
6.1.1 General
When unique identification of an RF tag is required, it can be done in several ways. The following
subclauses list and explain some of them.
6.1.2 Virtual ID
A virtual tag ID is a temporary ID based on tag parameters that can vary over the life of the tag. It may
take several forms. A virtual ID is also known as a logical ID or a session ID. Several tags can have the
same virtual ID at different times, but all tags at the same time for the same interrogator should have a
different virtual ID, allowing an unambiguous identification of each tag at any time relative to any given
interrogator.
The technical means to achieve and guarantee such uniqueness are outside of the scope of this
document. However, 6.1.3, 6.1.4 and 6.1.5 discuss possible approaches.
6.1.3 Data as a unique ID
Data is a possible way to implement a virtual ID where the tag contains data that, when read, is unique
in time and location to a single tag. An example is a tag that contains date and time information. The
time information can be unique to a single tag from a manufacturer but is not guaranteed to be unique
over all tags at all times. Another situation is a closed application where tag data describes only one set
of information. Taken globally, the tag bit pattern can be repeated, but in a closed application the tag
data uniquely identifies a single tag.
6.1.4 Time as a unique ID
Time is a possible way to implement a virtual ID where bit patterns alone do not necessarily identify a
single tag unambiguously. Tag response time slot can be part of a uniquely identifying parameter set.
For example, some tags use time slots to differentiate between several tags appearing to a reader at the
same time. If these time slots are fixed for a single interrogation exchange, then the time slot may be
used to help define a single tag at a particular time.
NOTE If the time slots are randomly defined each time a tag responds, then time slots are not suitable for
determining a unique tag ID.
6.1.5 Position as a unique ID
In some applications, tag position may define a unique tag ID at a particular time. For instance, some
tags have a read and write distance of only a few millimetres. In this case, it is difficult to have more
than one or two tags in the interrogation zone at any time. Thus, any tag continually in the reading zone
may be considered unique at that single time and location. A common example of this case is the tag
used for fare collection on public transportation or telecommunication charges.
6.2 Permanent unique ID
6.2.1 Unique ID
When a completely and globally unique ID is required, it shall be programmed into the tag and therefore
become permanent.
The methods for assigning permanent unique identifiers are provided in Tables A.1 to A.6 and shall be
followed.
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6.2.2 Benefits of permanent unique ID versus virtual ID
The advantage of a virtual (session) ID is the reduced number of identification bits required. The
disadvantage is the absence of a unique ID, independent of the reader, application, time or data
configuration used. The virtual ID is unique only at a specific time and location and is sufficient to allow
the identification of a singular tag relative to time and space.
The advantage of a permanent unique ID is th
...