RFID Input

Overview

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) Input acquires data from RFID tags using integrated RFID Zebra mobile computers or Zebra RFID sleds. This feature is only supported on MC3300R, RFD40, RFD90, TC53E and EM45. RFID is another input source to DataWedge - data delivery is similar to other input sources such as Barcode and MSR (Magnetic-stripe Reader). The data acquired is processed and formatted according to the Basic Data Formatting (BDF) and Advanced Data Formatting (ADF) options located in the Keystroke output section of the profile.

Important: For instructions on initial setup, refer to:

MC3300R Integrator Guide in "Setting Up the MC3300R" section.
RFD40 Product Reference Guide in "Setting up the RFD40 RFID Standard Sled" section.
RFD90 Product Reference Guide in "Pairing the Sled with a Mobile Computer" section.

RFID Input from the DataWedge profile provides options to toggle RFID input, specify the trigger mode and configure RFID reader settings.

Enabled - enable/disable RFID tag reading
Reader selection - display the name of the internal RFID reader
Hardware trigger - enable/disable hardware trigger to activate RFID reading. If enabled, set the Trigger mode.
Configure reader settings:

Filter duplicate tags – enable/disable feature to display data read only once instead of duplicating the same data from multiple readings.
Tag read duration – time interval (in milliseconds) that DataWedge waits to read RFID tag(s) before sending them to the output plugin. When the trigger is pressed, data is sent at each interval until the trigger is released. For example, if the interval is set to 50 ms, data accumulates for 50 ms and is then sent at every 50 ms interval until the trigger is released, with formatting applied to the accumulated data. If the trigger is released before the interval expires, the data is sent to the output plugin immediately upon release. If the timeout is set to 0, each tag is sent immediately as it is read, with data formatting applied to each tag individually. The range is 0 to 60000.
Antenna transmit power – amount of signal power to be transmitted by the RFID reader. The higher the value, the further it is able to read the RFID tag. The range is 5 to 30 dBm.
Session - configure the read session. Refer to EPC UHF Gen2 Air Interface Protocol Standard for details. Supported values:
- Session 0 - based on EPC UHF Gen2 Air Interface Protocol Standard Specification
- Session 1 (default) - based on EPC UHF Gen2 Air Interface Protocol Standard Specification
- Session 2 - based on EPC UHF Gen2 Air Interface Protocol Standard Specification
- Session 3 - based on EPC UHF Gen2 Air Interface Protocol Standard Specification
Inventory state – set the inventoried state/flag for tags, indicating whether a tag may respond to an RFID reader. Tags maintain a separate inventoried flag for each of the four sessions; each flag has symmetric A and B values. Within any given session, readers typically inventory tags from A to B followed by a re-inventory of tags from B back to A (or vice versa). Options:
- State A
- State B
- AB Flip
Hardware key – set the RFID trigger to perform RFID readings. Options:
- Default – use the key which the RFID key event is mapped to in Key Programmer app as the RFID trigger. The RFID key event name varies by BSP (OS platform), e.g. SYMBOL_RFID.
- Gun trigger – use the gun trigger as the RFID trigger.
- Scan – use the scan button as the RFID trigger.
Memory bank – configure the memory bank to read. The integrated circuit (IC) on some tags have different bit allocations between the memory banks to allow for more user memory or a longer EPC (electronic product code) number. Refer to the tag specifications to determine the memory bank type needed. Supported values:
- None (default) - no memory bank to read.
- Reserved - store the access and kill password of the tag, 32 bits each. The kill password permanently disables the tag. The access password is set to lock and unlock the write capabilities of the tag. Therefore this is writeable if a password is specified. Can typically be used if an application contains sensitive data.
- EPC - store the EPC code with a minimum of 96 bits of memory.
- User - (optional) extended memory to store more information. This can have various sizes, usually 512 bits and up to 8K of memory. Can be used for additional data that is not suitable or does not fit into the EPC memory, such as temperature or expiration date.
- TID (tag identification) - store the unique tag identifier from the manufacturer, which typically cannot be changed.
Trigger mode – select the mode to activate the RFID reader. Supported values:
- Immediate (default) – tag reading takes place based on when the trigger is pressed.
- Continuous- continually reads tags after pressing the trigger once. Press the trigger again to terminate tag reading.
Feedback – configure audio or visual feedback from an RFID tag read. Options:
- Beeper - audio feedback
- LED - visual feedback
Link Profile – select the profile to be used by the reader from the automatically populated options based on the connected reader. The populated range of values is subject to change based on the reader model.
Dynamic power – enable/disable optimization of RFID reader power consumption.
SL Flag – Choose the selected flag for tags. Tags shall implement a selected flag, SL, which an RFID reader may assert or deassert using a Select command. Options:
- Asserted
- Deasserted (De-asserted)
- All
Pre filters:
- Enable pre filters - enable/disable the tag pattern pre filter options based on standard RFID protocol.
- Tag pattern - specify the hexadecimal character pattern to compare for tag filtering. Pattern matching is based on the Offset value. Maximum characters: 64 byte hexadecimal.
- Memory bank - specify the memory bank on which the filter is to be applied. Supported values: User, TID, EPC.
- Offset - specify the offset from the start of the memory bank in bytes in which to apply the Tag pattern criteria.
- Action - indicate whether matching tags assert or de-assert SL (Selected Flag), or set their inventoried flag to A or to B. Options:
  • INV A NOT INV B or ASRT_SL_NOT_DSRT_SL
  • INV A or ASRT SL
  • NOT INV B or NOT DSRT SL
  • INV A2BB2A NOT INV A or NEG SL NOT ASRT SL
  • INV B NOT INV A or DSRT SL NOT ASRT SL
  • INV B or DSRT SL
  • NOT INV A or NOT ASRT SL
  • NOT INV A2BB2A or NOT NEG SL
- Target - indicate which flag shall be affected when pre filter is applied. Options:
  • SESSION S0
  • SESSION S1
  • SESSION S2
  • SESSION S3
  • SL FLAG
Post filters:
- Enable post filters - enable/disable post filtering performed by DataWedge service.
- Number of tags to read - specify the maximum number of tags to display in a single inventory action. Integer range: 0 to 1000.
- RSSI value - display the overall trend of the RFID signal based on proximity. The closer the value is to 0, the closer in proximity the tag is located. Value range: -100 to 0.

Key mapping

MC3300R consists of multiple triggers, all utilized for Barcode and SimulScan features by default. In order to use the hardware trigger for an RFID action, it needs to be mapped to RFID. Steps to follow:

Manual Instructions:

Open Android Settings.
Tap Key Programmer.
Tap SYMBOL_RFID.

CSP (Configuration Service Provider) Instructions: With CSP, use StageNow for key mapping to be updated during device staging. Refer to KeyMapping Manager for more information.

Data

Important notes regarding RFID data reading:

By default, a newline character is added after each tag read.
A data set returned in one read cycle may include one or more tags.
If applicable, a data set from multiple data reads can be returned if multiple tags are read simultaneously.
If receiving data via Keystroke output, it requires Inter character delay to be set to 50 ms.

RWDemo

RWDemo demonstrates RFID features in DataWedge. This application is pre-installed on supported Zebra RFID devices, such as MC33R, and creates a DataWedge profile associated with RWDemo when launched.

Related guides: