User's Manual

User Manual
3000 SERIES 3
rd
GENERATION ACTIVE RFID
1 Preface
1.1 What is 3
rd
Generation Active RFID?
First there was conventional active RFID where a battery in the tag permits it to initiate a signal, give
longer range, manage a sensor or otherwise improve on the capability of a passive RFID tag. Second
generation active RFID is the Real Time Locating System (RTLS) where people or things are located
almost continuously from 30-300 meters away, usually by using many emitters. The third generation
of active RFID build on the power of mesh networking – also known as Wireless Sensor Networks
(WSN) – that provide better scalability, self-healing functionalities, increased capabilities and are
affordable. The third generation of active RFID tags combine all functionalities of previous active
RFID systems, identification and localization, and add to it with sensor extensions, file systems, and
so forth.
Ambient Systems, with its 3000 Series product line, provides 3
rd
Generation Active RFID products
that combine check, track, and trace functionalities:
•Check – Monitor the status of objects using e.g. temperature sensors
•Track – Locate your objects using RTLS functionality
•Trace – Maintain history of your objects using e.g. temperature logs and consignment notes.
The 3000 Series 3
rd
Generation Active RFID products are based on Ambient Wireless Sensor Network
(WSN) technology and communicate using IEEE PHY 802.15.4 at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.
1.2 What is Ambient Studio?
Ambient Studio 3000 is PC software that is used in conjunction with the 3000 Series 3
rd
Generation
Active RFID. Ambient Studio is used for deployment and configuration of a 3000 Series network,
data collection and data dissemination. It builds on the Ambient Device Driver Interface (DDI). DDI
allows addressing all nodes in your network as well as their resources in a uniform manner. Ambient
Studio also provides tools for e.g. remotely upgrading your infrastructure, managing the Remote
File System, and so forth.
The 3000-Series network products can operate standalone or use Ambient Studio as an intermediate.
1.3 3000 Series Features
● Easy to install 3
rd
Generate Active RFID
● Conforms to IEEE 802.15.4 PHY
● Benefits from the power of Wireless Mesh Networking
○ Multi-hop
○ Self-configuring
○ Self-healing
● SmartPoints can be used to check, track and trace assets
○ Built-in Temperature Sensor
○ Built-in RTLS 3D Location Engine
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