Age of intelligent RFID gets closer

Embeddable software components are now available from iAnywhere, a subsidiary of Sybase, to enable RFID hardware manufacturers to build ‘smart’ readers with, for example, security, multiple comms, on-device logic support, as well as remote management and upgrade capabilities. With the RFID Anywhere Appliance Edition, engineers can cut the cost of building intelligent RFID readers. For instance, with remote management, reader configurations can be automatically restored, slashing downtime and admin overhead. Similarly, on-device logic can be implemented to filter and smooth data generated by a reader, ensuring that only useful information is transmitted, thus reducing network data. “As RFID implementations move to production mode and begin to expand, there will be increasing demand for more intelligence and scalability at the reader level,” says Martyn Mallick, director of product management, iAnywhere. “We meet this need by enabling hardware manufacturers to cost effectively embed advanced functionality and management within RFID devices, thereby increasing their competitiveness in the market.”