Glossary

ALE

Application Level Event. Whenever an RFID tag is read, it creates an event in a middleware instance. This event triggers data collection, filtering, and recording activities by an IT system. Click here for more information about logicAlloy's ALE Server application.

ALE Server

An open source RFID middleware application developed by logicAlloy

Active RFID Tag

An active RFID tag has its own power source and does not rely on the energy of an RFID reader's RF signal to power the microchip and antenna.

Auto-ID Center

The now defunct consortium that formed to specify standards for hardware, tags, and architecture. Auto-ID has evolved into EPCglobal (the current standards body for electronic product codes) and Auto-ID Labs (a consortium of academic institutions performing research and development).

BI / BIS

Business Intelligence (System). An enterprise software application that tracks customers, orders, products, shipments across a business supply chain.

EPC

Electronic Product Code. An extension of the UPC, EPC is object-specific, specifying not only the manufacturer and product, but also a serial number for each product. Current versions of the EPC have 64bits of user-definable information; future versions will have 96, 128, and 256 bits.

EPC-IS (Electronic Product Code - Information System)

A collection of business workflow processes and software applications used to effectively collect, manage and distribute meaningful EPC business events.

EPCglobal, Inc.

After the break-up of the Auto-ID Center, EPCglobal was formed to organize and manage EPC standards. EPCglobal is the current standards body for the handling of electronic product codes. For more information about EPCglobal, click here.

ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning. A business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing.

IC

Integrated Circuit. A small electronic device made out of a semi-conductor material that is typically the combination of microscopic transistors organized to do a set of logical instructions.

Instance

One case or occurrence of a running software program. For example, you may run the same middleware application several times on the same server in order to track different areas of your warehouse. Each instance could have differing settings and record differing information while achieving a cost savings from being located on the same computing equipment.

IT

Information Technology. A general term for computer systems and applications.

logicAlloy

An open source software company that develops standards-compliant RFID middleware.

Middleware

Software that connects two separate applications. For logicAlloy, our middleware connects RFID hardware with existing supply chain management IT systems.

ONS

Object Naming Service. A standard used to resolve an EPC code to its manufacturer and a specific computer on the internet that will have data about that EPC code in PML format.

Open Source

A software distribution method where the entire source code of a software package is made available to the public, usually with a zero-cost license. This generally creates a more reliable, easier to modify product, as there is a usually a larger testing base and more development than with traditional closed-source products. In addition, there is generally a large cost savings for users of the software, as they can download and use the software for no upfront cost.

Passive RFID Tag

A passive RFID tag does not have its own power source and therefore does not transmit on its own will. It must use the energy of an RFID Reader's RF signal to power its internal IC and transmissions.

PML

Physical Markup Language. A computer language composed in XML (Extensible Markup Language) used to describe the business-important characteristics of physical objects. PML is used by enterprises to exchange data about objects read by RFID readers. Some characteristics include:

• GPS location
• Manufacturer name
• Product name
• Serial Number
• Trace history (the locations that the product has been read at)
• Age

RadioActive Foundation

A non-profit foundation dedicated to the furthering of open source RFID software. logicAlloy is currently the sole code contributor for the RadioActive Foundation.

Reader Manager

A software tool designed to make it easy to set up, configure, and maintain your RFID readers.

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification. Radio frequencies are broadcast from a reader in the 915 MHz range, used to charge an RFID tag that retransmits a modified version of the original signal.

Savant

Savants are distributed software servers that manage EPC data. Savant was the Auto-ID Center's precursor version of logicAlloy's ALE Server product, however, unlike ALE Server, it never reached a commercially viable status.