ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004

Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Part 6: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz

ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004 defines the air interface for radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices operating in the 860 MHz to 960 MHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band used in item management applications. Its purpose is to provide a common technical specification for RFID devices that may be used by ISO committees developing RFID application standards. ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004 is intended to allow for compatibility and to encourage inter-operability of products for the growing RFID market in the international marketplace. ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004 defines the forward and return link parameters for technical attributes including, but not limited to, operating frequency, operating channel accuracy, occupied channel bandwidth, maximum EIRP, spurious emissions, modulation, duty cycle, data coding, bit rate, bit rate accuracy, bit transmission order, and where appropriate operating channels, frequency hop rate, hop sequence, spreading sequence, and chip rate. It further defines the communications protocol used in the air interface. ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004 contains one mode with two types. Both types use a common return link and are reader talks first. Type A uses Pulse Interval Encoding (PIE) in the forward link, and an adaptive ALOHA collision arbitration algorithm. Type B uses Manchester in the forward link and an adaptive binary tree collision arbitration algorithm. The detailed technical differences between the two types are shown in the parameter tables.

Technologies de l'information — Identification par radiofréquence (RFID) pour la gestion d'objets — Partie 6: Paramètres de communications d'une interface d'air entre 860 MHz et 960 MHz

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 30-Aug-2004
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Aug-2004
• ICS: 35.040 - Information coding
• ICS: 35.040.50 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31/WG 4 - Radio communications
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Completion Date: 24-Nov-2010

Relations

• Parent: ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004/Amd 1:2006 - Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Part 6: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz — Amendment 1: Extension with Type C and update of Types A and B
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2008
• Revised: ISO/IEC 18000-6:2010 - Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Part 6: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2008
• Amended By: ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004/Amd 1:2006 - Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Part 6: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz — Amendment 1: Extension with Type C and update of Types A and B
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 18000-6
First edition
2004-08-15


Information technology —
Radio frequency identification for item
management —
Part 6:
Parameters for air interface
communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz
Technologies de l'information — Identification par radiofréquence
(RFID) pour la gestion d'objets —
Partie 6: Paramètres pour les communications d'une interface d'air
entre 860 MHz et 960 MHz




Reference number
ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2004

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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
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©  ISO/IEC 2004
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
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ii © ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved

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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. vi
Introduction . vii
1 Scope. 1
2 Conformance. 1
2.1 Interrogator conformance and obligations . 1
2.2 Tag conformance and obligations . 1
2.3 Claiming conformance. 2
3 Normative references. 2
4 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms. 2
4.1 Terms and definitions. 2
4.2 Symbols. 2
4.3 Abbreviated terms. 3
5 Overview. 4
5.1 General. 4
5.2 Parameter tables. 5
6 Common elements of the physical layer for types A and B . 11
6.1 General. 11
6.2 Interrogator power-up waveform. 11
6.3 Interrogator power-down. 11
6.4 Frequency hopping carrier rise and fall times. 12
6.5 FM0 return link . 13
6.5.1 FM0 return link general. 13
6.5.2 Modulation. 13
6.5.3 Data rate. 13
6.5.4 Data coding. 13
6.5.5 Message format. 14
6.5.6 Return preamble. 14
6.5.7 Cyclic redundancy check (CRC). 15
7 Type A. 17
7.1 Physical layer and data coding . 17
7.1.1 PIE (Pulse interval encoding) forward link. 17
7.2 Data elements. 21
7.2.1 Unique identifier (UID) . 21
7.2.2 Sub-UID. 22
7.2.3 Application family identifier. 22
7.2.4 Data storage format identifier (DSFID). 23
7.3 Protocol elements. 23
7.3.1 Tag memory organisation . 23
7.3.2 Support of battery-assisted tags. 23
7.3.3 Block lock status. 24
7.3.4 Tag signature. 24
7.4 Protocol description. 25
7.4.1 Protocol concept. 25
7.4.2 Command format. 26
7.4.3 Command flags. 26
7.4.4 Round size. 27
7.4.5 Command code definition and structure. 28
7.4.6 Command classes. 28
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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
7.4.7 Command codes and CRC .29
7.4.8 Response format.32
7.4.9 Tag states.34
7.4.10 Collision arbitration.36
7.4.11 General explanation of the collision arbitration mechanism.36
7.5 Timing specifications.37
7.5.1 Timing specifications general.37
7.5.2 Tag state storage.37
7.5.3 Forward link to return link handover.37
7.5.4 Return link to forward link handover.38
7.5.5 Acknowledgement time window.38
7.6 Command format examples .40
7.7 Mandatory commands.40
7.7.1 Mandatory commands general .40
7.7.2 Next_slot.40
7.7.3 Standby_round.41
7.7.4 Reset_to_ready.42
7.7.5 Init_round_all.43
7.8 Optional commands.45
7.8.1 Optional commands general .45
7.8.2 Init_round.46
7.8.3 Close_slot.47
7.8.4 New_round.48
7.8.5 Select (by SUID).49
7.8.6 Read_blocks.51
7.8.7 Get_system_information.55
7.8.8 Begin_round.58
7.8.9 Write_single_block.60
7.8.10 Write_multiple_blocks .62
7.8.11 Lock_blocks.64
7.8.12 Write_AFI.66
7.8.13 Lock_AFI.68
7.8.14 Write_DSFID command.70
7.8.15 Lock_DSFID.72
7.8.16 Get_blocks_lock_status.74
7.9 Custom commands.77
7.10 Proprietary commands.78
8 Type B.78
8.1 Physical layer and data coding.78
8.1.1 Forward link.78
8.1.2 Return link.80
8.1.3 Protocol concept.80
8.1.4 Command format.81
8.1.5 Response format.83
8.1.6 WAIT.83
8.1.7 Examples of a command packet.83
8.1.8 Communication sequences at packet level.84
8.2 Btree protocol and collision arbitration.85
8.2.1 Definition of data elements, bit and byte ordering .85
8.2.2 Tag memory organisation .86
8.2.3 Block security status .87
8.2.4 Overall protocol description, Btree protocol.87
8.2.5 Collision arbitration.92
8.2.6 Commands.94
8.2.7 Command types.94
8.2.8 Transmission errors.121
Annex A (informative) Cyclic redundancy check (CRC) .122
A.1 Interrogator to tag CRC-5 .122
A.2 Interrogator to tag and tag to interrogator CRC-16 .123
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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
A.2.1 CRC-16 general. 123
A.2.2 CRC calculation examples. 125
Annex B (normative) Memory mapping for Type B. 128
B.1 Unique identifier (normative) . 128
B.1.1 Unique identifier general. 128
B.1.2 Unique identifier format. 128
B.1.3 Unique identifier according to ANSI 256 . 128
B.1.4 Remaining system memory. 129
Annex C (informative) Tag Memory Map for Type B . 133
C.1 Tag memory map . 133
Bibliography . 134

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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(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.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
ISO/IEC 18000-6 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
ISO/IEC 18000 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — Radio
frequency identification for item management:
 Part 1: Reference architecture and definition of parameters to be standardized
 Part 2: Parameters for air interface communications below 135 kHz
 Part 3: Parameters for air interface communications at 13,56 MHz
 Part 4: Parameters for air interface communications at 2,45 GHz
 Part 6: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz
 Part 7: Parameters for active air interface communications at 433 MHz

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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
Introduction
This part of ISO/IEC 18000 describes a passive backscatter RFID system that supports the following system
capabilities:
• Identification and communication with multiple tags in the field
• Selection of a subgroup of tags for identification or with which to communicate
• Reading from and writing to or rewriting data many times to individual tags
• User-controlled permanently lockable memory
• Data integrity protection
• Interrogator-to-tag communications link with error detection
• Tag-to-interrogator communications link with error detection.
• Support for both passive back-scatter tags with or without batteries.
In this RFID system, the interrogator powers and communicates with the tags that are within range. Tags
receive data as amplitude modulation of the power/data signal from the interrogator. During the time that the
tag responds to the interrogator, the interrogator transmits at a constant radio frequency power level, while the
tag modulates the impedance of its radio frequency load attached to the tag antenna terminals. The
interrogator then receives the data back from the tag as a variation in a reflection of its transmitted power.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
draw attention to the fact that it is claimed that compliance with this document may involve the use of patents
concerning radio-frequency identification technology given in the clauses identified below.
ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity and scope of these patent rights.
The holders of these patent rights have assured the ISO and IEC that they are willing to negotiate licences
under reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions with applicants throughout the world. In this
respect, the statements of the holders of these patent rights are registered with ISO and IEC.
Information on the declared patents may be obtained from:
Affected clause(s) in this part
Contact details Patent number
of ISO/IEC 18000
BTG plc US 5,537,105, US 5,966,083,
ATTN: Mr David Armstrong US 5,995,017, US 5,557,280,
10 Fleet Place US 5,699,066, US 5,519,381,
Limeburner Lane US 5,726,630, EP 0494114B1,
London EC4M 7SB EP 0585132B1, EP 0598624B1,
6, 7
UK WO 98/52142 and WO 99/26081
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.btgplc.com,
Email: [e-mail],


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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
Affected clause(s) in this part
Contact details Patent number
of ISO/IEC 18000
Intercode US 5426423, EP 90909459.1,
12, Rue des Petits Ruisseaux CA 2058 947, US 6177858B1,
Z.I. des Godets EP 96402556.3, CA 2191787,
91370 Verrières le Buisson US 5923251, EP 96402554.8,
7, 8
France CA 21911788, US 5808550,
Tel : + 33-1-6975 2170 EP 96402555.5 and CA 2191794
Fax : + 33.1.60.11.00.31
Email: [e-mail]
Intermec Technologies Corporation US 5942987, US 5521601,
ATTN: Ronald D. Payne, US 5995019, US 5030807,
Vice President, Contracts, US 5828693, US 5850181,
8
6001 36th Ave, West, US 4786907, US 5550547,
Everett, WA 98203 US 5673037, US 5777561
USA and US 5828318
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V EP 1034503B, JP 00-560535,
ATTN: Mr.Harald Röggla Intellectual US 09/352317, WO 00/04485,
Property & Standards, JP 03-502778,
7, 8
Triester Strasse 64 US 2002/0186789A1 and
A-1101 Vienna WO 02/099741 A1
Austria
Matrics Technology US 6002344
ATTN: Mr Kevin J Powell
Senior Director,
Product Development
8850 Stanford Blvd, Suite 3000
7, 8
Columbia, MD 21045
USA
[phone] (Voice)
[phone] (eFax)
[e-mail]
SAMSys Technologies, Inc. US 6617962
ATTN: James Wiley, President, 2525
Meridian Parkway, Suite 60,
Durham, NC 27713, 2
USA
Tel: [phone],
E-mail: [e-mail]
SUPERSENSOR ( Pty ) Ltd ZA 9810199, US 6480143 B1,
ATTN: Mr. Adelhart Kruger, EP 1001366, JP 200230978 and
D.M. Kisch Inc., CN 1255689
P O Box 3668,
6, 7
Pretoria 0001,
South Africa.
Tel: [phone].
E-mail: [e-mail]
TAGSYS Australia Pty Ltd, EP 0578701B1, AU 664544,
ATTN: Alfio R. Grasso, TECHNICAL AU PCT AU/00/01493,
MANAGER WO 01/41043,
212 Pirie Street, AU PCT AU98/00017,
7
ADELAIDE SA 5000 WO 98/32092, US 5523749,
Australia, AU PCT AU01/01676,
Tel: [phone], WO02/054365, FR FR00/01704,
and WO 01/01326
E-mail: [e-mail]

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights other than those identified above. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all
such patent rights.
viii © ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)

Information technology — Radio frequency identification for
item management —
Part 6:
Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to
960 MHz
1 Scope
This part of ISO/IEC 18000 defines the air interface for radio frequency identification (RFID) devices operating
in the 860 MHz to 960 MHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band used in item management
applications. Its purpose is to provide a common technical specification for RFID devices that may be used by
ISO committees developing RFID application standards. This part of ISO/IEC 18000 is intended to allow for
compatibility and to encourage inter-operability of products for the growing RFID market in the international
marketplace. This part of ISO/IEC 18000 defines the forward and return link parameters for technical
attributes including, but not limited to, operating frequency, operating channel accuracy, occupied channel
bandwidth, maximum EIRP, spurious emissions, modulation, duty cycle, data coding, bit rate, bit rate
accuracy, bit transmission order, and where appropriate operating channels, frequency hop rate, hop
sequence, spreading sequence, and chip rate. It further defines the communications protocol used in the air
interface.
This part of ISO/IEC 18000 contains one mode with two types. Both types use a common return link and are
reader talks first. Type A uses Pulse Interval Encoding (PIE) in the forward link, and an adaptive ALOHA
collision arbitration algorithm. Type B uses Manchester in the forward link and an adaptive binary tree collision
arbitration algorithm. The detailed technical differences between the two types are shown in the parameter
tables.
2 Conformance
2.1 Interrogator conformance and obligations
To conform to this part of ISO/IEC 18000, the interrogator shall support both communication types. It shall be
able to switch from one type to the other.
The interrogator shall be locally programmable by the user to switch from one type to the other and to control
the sequence and allocation of the ratio of time between the two types.
The proportion of the total time spent by the interrogator in addressing each type of tag shall be field-
programmable from 0% to 100%.
Interrogators shall be set up to operate within local regulations.
2.2 Tag conformance and obligations
To conform to this part of ISO/IEC 18000, the tag shall support at least one type. It may optionally support
both.
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ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004(E)
The tag shall operate over the frequency range of 860 MHz to 960 MHz.
NOTE Depending on the tag antenna characteris
...