ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)

Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Report for CESI-ETSI RFID PlugtestsTM event to investigate the interoperability of interrogators and tags manufactured by different vendors in a postal environment

DSR/ERM-TG34-007

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Aug-2009
• Technical Committee: ERM TG34 - ERM RF Identification Devices
• Current Stage: 12 - Completion
• Due Date: 31-Aug-2009
• Completion Date: 19-Aug-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
Special Report


Electromagnetic compatibility
and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM);
Report for CESI-ETSI RFID PlugtestsTM event to investigate
the interoperability of interrogators and tags manufactured
by different vendors in a postal environment


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2 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)



Reference
DSR/ERM-TG34-007
Keywords
radio, SRD, testing
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© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 2009.
All rights reserved.

TM TM TM TM
DECT , PLUGTESTS , UMTS , TIPHON , the TIPHON logo and the ETSI logo are Trade Marks of ETSI registered
for the benefit of its Members.
TM
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GSM® and the GSM logo are Trade Marks registered and owned by the GSM Association.
ETSI

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3 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 5
Foreword . 5
Executive Summary . 5
Introduction . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 References . 7
2.1 Normative references . 7
2.2 Informative references . 7
3 Definitions and abbreviations . 7
3.1 Definitions . 7
3.2 Abbreviations . 8
4 General . 8
4.1 Test schedule . 9
4.2 Interoperability Test Sessions. 9
5 Result Summaries . 10
5.1 Pre-test 1: DRM spectrum mask . 10
5.1.1 Summary . 10
5.1.2 Exceptions. 10
5.1.3 Results . 11
5.1.4 Recommendations . 11
5.2 Pre-test 2: Multi-interrogator environment . 11
5.2.1 Summary . 11
5.2.2 Exceptions. 11
5.2.3 Results . 12
5.2.4 Recommendations . 12
5.3 Pre-test 3: Four channel plan . 13
5.3.1 Summary . 13
5.3.2 Exceptions. 13
5.3.3 Results . 13
5.3.4 Recommendations . 14
5.4 TD_MAIL_1: Tests with Mail Container . 14
5.4.1 Summary . 14
5.4.2 Exceptions. 14
5.4.3 Results . 14
5.4.4 Recommendations . 15
5.5 TD_MAIL_2: Tests with Mail cases on a Mail Cart . 15
5.5.1 Summary . 15
5.5.2 Exceptions. 15
5.5.3 Result . 16
5.5.4 Recommendations . 16
5.6 TD_MAIL_3: Conveyor Tests with Mail Cases . 16
5.6.1 Summary . 16
5.6.2 Exceptions. 17
5.6.3 Results . 17
5.6.4 Recommendations . 18
5.7 TD_MAIL_4: Conveyor Tests with Mail Bags . 18
5.7.1 Summary . 18
5.7.2 Exceptions. 18
5.7.3 Results . 18
5.7.4 Recommendations . 19
5.8 TD_MAIL_5: Tests with with Mail Cases on a Mail Cart . 19
5.8.1 Summary . 19
ETSI

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4 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
5.8.2 Exceptions. 19
5.8.3 Results . 19
5.8.4 Recommendations . 20
5.9 TD_MAIL_6: Tests with with Mail Cases on a Mail Cart . 20
5.9.1 Summary . 20
5.9.2 Exceptions. 20
5.9.3 Results . 20
5.9.4 Recommendations . 21
5.10 TD_MAIL_7: Tests with with Mail Cases on a Mail Cart . 21
5.10.1 Summary . 21
5.10.2 Exceptions. 21
5.10.3 Results . 21
5.10.4 Recommendations . 21
5.11 TD_MAIL_8: Tests with with Mail Cases on a Mail Cart . 21
5.11.1 Summary . 21
5.11.2 Exceptions. 22
5.11.3 Results . 22
5.11.4 Recommendations . 22
6 Non-interoperbility(NO) reasons resolved during test . 22
6.1 TD_MAIL_1: Tests with Mail Container . 22
7 Main non-interoperability reasons during test . 22
7.1 Tari Value . 22
8 Recommendations to China Post . 23
8.1 Two tags per mail case . 23
8.2 Dense interrogator mode . 23
TM
Annex A: Test Descriptions for CESI-ETSI RFID Plugtests event . 24
Annex B: Bibliography . 25
History . 26

ETSI

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5 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (http://webapp.etsi.org/IPR/home.asp).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
TM
This Special Report (SR) has been produced by CESI-ETSI RFID Plugtests event cooperation with support from
ETSI Technical Committee ERM TG34 and CPST; and with sponsorship from Tektronix.
TM
This and other Plugtests events are sponsored by the European Commission.
Executive Summary
TM
The CESI-ETSI RFID Plugtests event, to investigate the interoperability of interrogators and tags manufactured by
th
different vendors in a postal environment, was conducted at CPST's premises in Beijing between the 20 to
th
24 April 2009.
A total of 13 interrogators from 7 manufacturers and 18 different tag types from 9 manufacturers were tested. Among
the tags 6 different types of metal tags were used in one of the tests.
The test results revealed that reliable high performance UHF RFID systems can meet the needs of certain operations in
the Postal sector using combinations of equipment from different vendors. Further that systems with different UHF air
interface protocols (ISO/IEC 18000-6C [i.1], TOTAL [i.1] and IPICO IP-X [i.2]) showed no evidence of interfering
with each other. This widens choice for the use of different RFID systems at the same location. Further the test
demonstrated the possibility for China to consider a UHF channel plan similar to that deployed in Europe, which would
improve the performance and reliability of UHF RFID systems operating in close proximity to each other. Additional
late scheduled tests indicated that Chinese tagged goods with tags optimized for Chinese UHF regulations were capable
of being read equally well in Europe with interrogators working in compliance with European UHF radio regulations.
The test results showed that there is a need for China to remain vigilant in order to prevent the introduction of
non-Chinese compliant UHF RFID devices. There was evidence of partial and complete failure of some equipment to
meet Chinese radio regulations with consequential interference to other radio devices and services. Three interrogators
TM
were shown not to comply with Chinese radio regulations. These devices participated in the RFID Plugtests event
where they had no influence on other compliant interrogators and tags. Additionally the results recorded during tests of
non Chinese compliant devices have been excluded from the post Plugtest analysis to ensure that the results from these
devices did not unfairly reflect upon the general conclusions.
TM
In conclusion the China RFID Plugtests event was very successful for all participants. Vendors had the opportunity to
gather valuable information on the interoperability of their devices in Postal scenarios. China Post advanced their level
of comprehension of the UHF RFID market and their confidence that the performance of passive RFID would meet a
number of their favored applications. CESI and ETSI shared a new heightened level of understanding and cooperation
TM
with respect to UHF RFID, regional RFID radio spectrum matters, compliance and Plugtests event.
ETSI

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6 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
Recommended follow-on actions include the repeat testing of some poorly performing metal optimized tags to
determine if the results were due to systematic or non systematic failure of the devices under test. All other tests
TD_MAIL_2 to 4 should be repeated with representative material in order to establish a higher level of confidence in
the appropriate selection of devices . It is recommended to carry out further tests with a view to the introduction of a
UHF RFID spectrum channel plan. These spectrum related tests should simulate a dense reader environment in a
representative application scenario in order to highlight the possible advantages to Chinese UHF RFID applications.
Vendors with devices which were unable to meet Chinese radio regulations are recommended to revise their products
and carry out further compliance tests. CESI and ETSI are able to assist vendors with such repeat testing.
Interestingly the series of interference tests highlighted no evidence of any interference between
ISO/IEC 18000-6C [i.1] and TOTAL [i.1] or IPICO I-PX [i.2] air interface protocols operating at the same frequency.
The only interference demonstrated whether operating at Chinese or European UHF frequencies was between two out
of six of the interrogators compliant with ISO/IEC 18000-6C [i.1].
Introduction
TM th
This document decribes a RFID Plugtests event that was performed at CPST in Beijing, China during the period 20
th
to 24 April 2009, which was co-organized by European Telecomunication Standards (ETSI) and China Electronic
TM
Standardization Institute (CESI). The purpose of the RFID Plugtests event was to investigate interoperability when
tags and interrogators manufactured by different vendors and complying with different standards were used under
TM
different postal scenarios defined by China Post Science & Technology Company (CPST). The RFID Plugtests event
also explored the capability for any combination of simultaneously operating interrogators (supplied by the participating
vendors) when located in the vicinity of each other (referred to 'dense reader mode') to maintain their performance.
These interference tests were completed with different combinations of UHF interrogators under both Chinese and also
European UHF radio regulations. Other tests investigated if there was any evidence of a reduction in performace when
China UHF tags were read by European UHF interrogators.
Since RFID postal applications would be a national or global business, interoperability is crucial. It was therefore
considered necessary to carry out a series of tests at the earliest opportunity to determine whether there any problem
existed. The tests simulated a number of real life scenarios in which tags and interrogators manufactured by different
vendors might be present simultaneously in the same interrogation zone. The tests are described in a test plan which
was reviewed and approved by ETSI, CESI and CPST and is available at annex A of the present document.
All of three pre-tests and eight scenario-tests were performed at CPST and comprised the following:
• Determining compliance with the Chinese radio regulation.
• Reading RFID tags in a multi-interrogator environment using just 2 channels at Chinese UHF frequencies.
• Reading RFID tags in a multi-interrogator environment using just 2 channels at European UHF frequencies.
• Reading an RFID tag which is mounted on the top of a metal mail container.
• Reading RFID tags which are attached to 60 mail boxes.
• Reading RFID tags which are attached to mail cases on a conveyor.
• Reading RFID tags which are attached to mail bags on a conveyor.
Tests were carried out with interrogators set to the designated European UHF frequency (865 MHz to 868 MHz). Tests
were also carried out with ISO/IEC 18000-6C [i.1] tags mixed with TOTAL [i.1] tags, and ISO/IEC 18000-6C [i.1] tags
mixed with IPICO IP-X [i.2] tags. These tests showed that equipment in the EU and China were compatible.
TM
Nine RFID manufacturers (interrogators and tags) took part in the RFID Plugtests event. They all participated on the
basis that the results of the tests on their equipment would remain confidential. The present document therefore only
provides an overall summary of the results recorded for each of the tests. In addition all of the participants in the tests
had completed the ETSI Non-disclosure Agreement.
ETSI

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7 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
1 Scope
The present document provides a description of the event, the test results, and some technical proposals for Postal
applications.
2 References
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific.
• For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
• Non-specific reference may be made only to a complete document or a part thereof and only in the following
cases:
- if it is accepted that it will be possible to use all future changes of the referenced document for the
purposes of the referring document;
- for informative references.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
http://docbox.etsi.org/Reference.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
2.1 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of the present document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For non-specific references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
Not applicable.
2.2 Informative references
The following referenced documents are not essential to the use of the present document but they assist the user with
regard to a particular subject area. For non-specific references, the latest version of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
[i.1] 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".
[i.2] IPICO's IP-X™ RFID Air-interface Protocol
3 Definitions and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the following terms and definitions apply:
inventory mode: mode in which interrogator is configured to re-read the tags in its reading zone continuously
NOTE: Identification of individual tags may be reported multiple times.
ETSI

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8 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
3.2 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
CESI China Electronics Standardization Institution
CPST China Post Science & Technology Company
CW Continuous Wave
dBch Decibels referenced to the integrated power in the reference channel
ERP Effective Radiated Power
f Frequency of operating field (carrier frequency)
c
f Offset frequency used in pre-test 1
o
NOTE: See clause 4.
ID IDentifier
R Term used to denote 2.5/Tari bandwidth centred at f
BW c
RFID Radio Frequency IDentification
RSSI Received signal strength indicator
S Term used to denote 2.5/Tari bandwidth centred at (n x f ) + f
BW o c
SMA Subminiature A
Tari Reference time interval for a data-0 in interrogator-to-tag signalling
TNC Threaded Neill-Concelman
TOTAL Tag only talks after listening
UHF Ultra High Frequency
4 General
TM
Nine manufactures participated in the RFID Plugtests event. They were ZTE, Motorola, Sense, WPG, IPICO,
INVENGO, Silion, NXP and Impinj. Seven of them provided the UHF interrogators. They were ZTE, Motorola, Sense,
IPICO, INVENGO, Silion and Impinj. All of the nine manufactures provided UHF RFID tags. Also Alien RFID tags
that were provided by CPST were tested.
For all of the test scenarios pre-programmed tags were attached to each of the objects under test. Each interrogator was
also assigned a reference number as were the tests. The objects were divided into groups with tags assigned by tag type
to each group. An electronic record was made of the pre-programmed number in the tag, the object and the test group.
In addition there were additional groups comprising items that included tags compliant with different standards. This
made it possible to compare the performace of tags by type against the performance of a mixed population of tags.
There were four test scenarios in the original test plan specification (see below) but in fact with the agreement of all
parties another four test scenarios were added at the end of the test. These additional tests were selected in order to
explore the potential for tags optimized for use under Chinese UHF regulations to operate satisfactorily at European
UHF frequencies. These tests included both the fixed frequency mode and FHSS mode. Tests were carried out at both
Chinese and European UHF frequencies using FHSS even though this is not permitted under existing European UHF
regulations.
Three pre-tests were carried out. Pre-test 1 tested the output power, frequency and spectrum mask of each interrogator
to make sure that they are conform to the Chinese 920 MHz to 925 MHz regulations. Pre-test 2 tested a dense
interrogator environment under Chinese UHF regulations. Pre-test 3 tested the European 4-channel plan.
ETSI

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9 ETSI SR 002 787 V1.1.1 (2009-08)
4.1 Test schedule
th th
The event was held during 20 to 24 April 2009.
Date Time Test Location Place
Pre-test 1: DRM spectrum mask
Monday
09:00 - 18:00 TD_MAIL_1: Tests with Mail Container Testing Hall CPST
20 April
TD_MAIL_2: Tests with Mail Cases on Cart
TD_MAIL_2: Tests with Mail Cases on Cart
Tuesday
08:30 - 19:00 TD_MAIL_3: Conveyor Tests with Mail Cases Testing Hall CPST
21 April
TD_MAIL_4: Conveyor Tests with Mail Bags
Wednesday Pre-test 2: Multi-interrogator environment Basketball
08:30 - 19:00 CPST
22 April Pre-test 3: Four channel plan Court
TD_MAIL_1: Tests with Mail Container
TD_MAIL_2: Tests with Mail Cases on Cart
TD_MAIL_3: Conveyor Tests with Mail Cases
Thursday TD_MAIL_4: Conveyor Tests with Mail Bags
08:30 - 19:30 Testing Hall CPST
23 April TD_MAIL_5: Tests with Mail Cases on
...