ISO/IEC 18000-6:2013

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

ISO/IEC 18000-6:2013 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. It provides a common technical specification for RFID devices that can be used by ISO committees developing RFID application standards. It is intended to allow for compatibility and to encourage inter-operability of products for the growing RFID market in the international marketplace. It defines the forward and return link parameters for technical attributes including, but not limited to, operating frequency, operating channel accuracy, occupied channel bandwidth, maximum effective isotropic radiated power (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 18000-6:2013 together with ISO/IEC 18000-61, ISO/IEC 18000-62, ISO/IEC 18000-63 and ISO/IEC 18000-64 specifies the physical and logical requirements for a passive-backscatter, Interrogator-Talks-First (ITF) or tag-only-talks-after-listening (TOTAL) RFID system. The system comprises Interrogators, also known as readers, and tags, also known as labels. An Interrogator receives information from a tag by transmitting a continuous-wave (CW) RF signal to the tag; the tag responds by modulating the reflection coefficient of its antenna, thereby backscattering an information signal to the Interrogator. The system is ITF, meaning that a tag modulates its antenna reflection coefficient with an information signal only after being directed to do so by an Interrogator, or TOTAL, meaning that a tag modulates its antenna reflection coefficient with an information signal upon entering an Interrogator's field after first listening for Interrogator modulation in order to determine if the system is ITF or not. ISO/IEC 18000-6:2013 contains one mode with four types. The detailed technical differences between the four types are shown in the associated parameter tables. Types A, B and C are ITF. 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. Type C uses PIE in the forward link and a random slotted collision-arbitration algorithm. Type D is TOTAL based on Pulse Position Encoding or Miller M=2 encoded subcarrier.

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

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 15-Jan-2013
• 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
• Start Date: 27-Oct-2025
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revised: ISO/IEC 18000-6:2025 - Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Part 6: General parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 930 MHz
• Effective Date: 02-Dec-2023
• Revises: 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: 23-Apr-2011

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 18000-6
Third edition
2013-01-15
Information technology — Radio
frequency identification for item
management —
Part 6:
Parameters for air interface
communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz
General
Technologies de l'information — Identification par radiofréquence
(RFID) pour la gestion d'objets —
Partie 6: Paramètres de communications d'une interface radio entre
860 MHz et 960 MHz, Général
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2013
©  ISO/IEC 2013
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
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56  CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO/IEC 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword . iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Conformance . 2
2.1 Claiming conformance . 2
2.2 Interrogator conformance and obligations . 2
2.3 Tag conformance and obligations . 2
3 Normative references . 3
4 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 3
4.1 Terms and definitions . 3
4.2 Symbols . 3
4.3 Abbreviated terms . 3
5 Overview . 4
5.1 General . 4
Bibliography . 9

© ISO/IEC 2013 – All rights reserved iii

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.
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.
ISO/IEC 18000-6 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
This third edition, together with ISO/IEC 18000-61, ISO/IEC 18000-62, ISO/IEC 18000-63 and
ISO/IEC 18000-64 replaces the second edition (ISO/IEC 18000-6:2010) by splitting it into parts
ISO/IEC 18000-6, ISO/IEC 18000-61, ISO/IEC 18000-62, ISO/IEC 18000-63 and ISO/IEC 18000-64.
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 General
 Part 61: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz Type A
 Part 62: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz Type B
 Part 63: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz Type C
 Part 64: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz Type D
 Part 7: Parameters for active air interface communications at 433 MHz
iv © ISO/IEC 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This part of ISO/IEC 18000 describes a passive backscatter radio frequency identification (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.
This part of ISO/IEC 18000 provides the overview for a passive-backscatter, RFID system operating in the
860 MHz to 960 MHz frequency range. The system comprises Interrogators, also known as readers, and tags,
also known as labels. The general overview describes four Types called Type A, Type B, Type C and Type D.
Details for each part are defined in the following documents:
 Type A ISO/IEC 18000-61
 Type B ISO/IEC 18000-62
 Type C ISO/IEC 18000-63
 Type D ISO/IEC 18000-64
This part of ISO/IEC 18000 together with ISO/IEC 18000-61, ISO/IEC 18000-62, ISO/IEC 18000-63 and
ISO/IEC 18000-64 specify the physical and logical requirements for a passive-backscatter, RFID system
operating in the 860 MHz to 960 MHz frequency range. The system comprises Interrogators, also known as
readers, and tags, also known as labels.
An Interrogator transmits information to a tag by modulating an RF signal in the 860 MHz to 960 MHz
frequency range. The tag receives both information and operating energy from this RF signal. Passive tags
are those which receive all of their operating energy from the Interrogator's RF waveform. If tags maintain a
battery then they may operate using some passive principles; however, they do not necessarily get all their
operating energy from the Interrogator's RF waveform.
An Interrogator receives information from a tag by transmitting a continuous-wave (CW) RF signal to the tag;
the tag responds by modulating the reflection coefficient of its antenna, thereby backscattering an information
signal to the Interrogator. The system is Interrogator-Talks-First (ITF) for Types A, B and C, meaning that a
tag modulates its antenna reflection coefficient with an information signal only after being directed to do so by
an Interrogator.
Interrogators and tags are not required to talk simultaneously; rather, communications are half-duplex,
meaning that Interrogators talk and tags listen, or vice versa.
© ISO/IEC 2013 – All rights reserved v

This part of ISO/IEC 18000 further contains an optional “tag only talks after listening” Type D, an enhanced
Tag Talks Only (TTO) technique. Type D uses Pulse-Position Encoding (PPE) or Miller encoding in the return
link and does not define a dedicated forward link. In fact, tags may implement one of the types defined in this
part of ISO/IEC 18000 (A, B, or C) besides Type D in order to allow enhanced tag access techniques.

vi © ISO/IEC 2013 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 18000-6:2013(E)

Information technology — Radio frequency identification for
item management —
Part 6:
Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to
960 MHz General
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. It provides a common technical specification for RFID devices that can 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. It defines the forward and return link parameters for technical attributes including, but not limited
to, operating frequency, operating channel accuracy, occupied channel bandwidth, maximum effective
isotropic radiated power (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, together with ISO/IEC 18000-61, ISO/IEC 18000-62, ISO/IEC 18000-63 and
ISO/IEC 18000-64 specifies the physical and logical requirements for a passive-backscatter, Interrogator-
Talks-First (ITF) or tag-only-talks-after-listening (TOTAL) RFID system. The system comprises Interrogators,
also known as readers, and tags, also known as labels. An Interrogator receives information from a tag by
transmitting a continuous-wave (CW) RF signal to the tag; the tag responds by modulating the reflection
coefficient of its antenna, thereby backscattering an information signal to the Interrogator. The system is ITF,
meaning that a tag modulates its antenna reflection coefficient with an information signal only after being
directed to do so by an Interrogator, or TOTAL, meaning that a tag modulates its antenna reflection coefficient
with an information signal upon entering an Interrogator's field after first listening for Interrogator modulation in
order to determine if the system is ITF or not.
This part of ISO/IEC 18000 contains one mode with four types. The detailed technical differences between the
four types are shown in the associated parameter tables.
Types A, B and C are ITF. 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. Type C uses PIE in the forward link and a random slotted collision-arbitration
algorithm.
Type D is TOTAL based on Pulse Position Encoding or Miller M=2 encoded subcarrier.
This part of ISO/IEC 18000, together with ISO/IEC 18000-61, ISO/IEC 18000-62, ISO/IEC 18000-63 and
ISO/IEC 18000-64 specifies
 physical interactions (the signalling layer of the communication link) between Interrogators and tags,
 Interrogator and tag operating procedures and commands,
 the collision arbitration scheme used to identify a specific tag in a multiple-tag environment.
© ISO/IEC 2013 – All rights reserved 1

2 Conformance
2.1 Claiming conformance
To claim conformance with this part of ISO/IEC 18000, an Interrogator or tag shall comply with all relevant
clauses of this part of ISO/IEC 18000, except those marked as “optional”. The Interrogator or tag shall also
operate within local radio regulations, which can further restrict operation.
Relevant conformance test methods are provided in ISO/IEC TR 18047-6.
Conformance can also require a license from the owner of any intellectual property utilized by said device.
2.2 Interrogator conformance and obligations
To conform to this part of ISO/IEC 18000, an Interrogator shall
 support at least one Type of A, B, C or D – it can optionally support two, three or all four;
 implement the mandatory commands defined in this part of ISO/IEC 18000;
 modulate/transmit and receive/demodulate a sufficient set of the electrical signals defined in the signalling
layer of this part of ISO/IEC 18000 to communicate with conformant tags; and
 operate within the applicable local regulations.
To conform to this part of ISO/IEC 18000, an Interrogator may
 implement any subset of the optional commands defined in this part of ISO/IEC 18000, and
 implement any proprietary and/or custom commands in conformance with this part of ISO/IEC 18000.
To conform to this part of ISO/IEC 18000, the Interrogator shall not
 implement any command that conflicts with this part of ISO/IEC 18000, or
 require the use of an optional, proprietary, or custom command to meet the requirements of this part of
ISO/IEC 18000.
2.3 Tag conformance and obligations
To conform to this part of ISO/IEC 180
...