Electronic Product Code
Encyclopedia
The Electronic Product Code (EPC) is designed as a universal identifier that provides a unique identity for every physical object anywhere in the world, for all time. Its structure is defined in the EPCglobal
Tag Data Standard http://www.epcglobalinc.org/standards/tds, which is an open standard freely available for download from the website of EPCglobal, Inc.
. The canonical representation of an EPC is a URI
, namely the 'pure-identity URI' representation that is intended for use when referring to a specific physical object in communications about EPCs among information systems and business application software. The EPCglobal
Tag Data Standard also defines additional representations of an EPC identifier, such as the tag-encoding URI format and a compact binary format suitable for storing an EPC identifier efficiently within RFID tags (for which the low-cost passive RFID tags typically have limited memory capacity available for the EPC/UII memory bank). The EPCglobal
Tag Data Standard defines the structure of the URI syntax and binary format, as well as the encoding and decoding rules to allow conversion between these representations. The EPC is designed as a flexible framework that can support many existing coding schemes, including many coding schemes currently in use with barcode
technology. EPC identifiers currently support 7 identification keys from the GS1
system of identifiers, as well as a General Identifier and EPC identifiers that can be used for encoding supplies to the US Department of Defense
.
EPCs are not designed exclusively for use with RFID data carriers. They can indeed be constructed based on reading of optical data carriers, such as linear bar codes and two-dimensional bar codes, such as Data Matrix symbols. The 'pure identity URI' canonical representation of an EPC is agnostic to the data carrier technology that was used to attach the unique identifier to the individual physical object.
The EPC is designed to meet the needs of various industries, while guaranteeing uniqueness for all EPC-compliant tags. Some of the existing GS1
identification keyshttp://www.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/id_keys (such as the Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI
)) already provide for unique identification of individual objects. However, the Global Trade Item Number
(GTIN) only identifies the product type or stock-keeping unit (SKU) rather than an individual instance of a particular product type. To ensure that an EPC always uniquely identifies an individual physical object, in the case of a GTIN, the EPC is constructed as a serialised Serialised Global Trade Item Number
(SGTIN) by combining a GTIN product identifier with a unique serial number.
It should be noted that both the Universal Product Code and EAN 13 identifiers that are still found on many trade items can be mapped into a 14-digit GTIN identifier, by padding to the left with zero digits to reach a total of 14 digits. An SGTIN EPC identifier can therefore be constructed by combining the resulting GTIN with a unique serial number and following the encoding rules in the EPCglobal Tag Data Standard.
The EPC accommodates existing coding schemes and defines new schemes where necessary. Each coding scheme within the EPC identifier framework is distinguished through the use of a separate namespace. In the URI notations, this is indicated using a URI
prefix such as urn:epc:id:sgtin or urn:epc:id:sscc
In the compact binary encoding of an EPC identifier, the namespace is instead indicated using a compact binary header (typically the first 8 bits of the binary encoding of an EPC identifier). The EPCglobal Tag Data Standard provides details of the URI prefixes and corresponding binary header values.
Low-cost passive RFID tags were designed to uniquely identify each item manufactured. In contrast, bar codes for trade items and consumer products have limited capacity and typically only identify the manufacturer and class of products. Although RFID tags are currently still more expensive than a simple optically readable label, they offer additional capabilities such as the ability to be read by radio waves, without requiring 'line of sight' between the reader or interrogator and the tag; this enables individual items within a large cardboard box (case) to be read without first unpacking each individual item from the box. Some RFID tags offer additional read/write user memory that could be used for storage of additional information, such as an expiry date or date of manufacture.
The EPC tag will never entirely replace both plain text and barcoding, as liability obligations for the producer require durable and sufficiently fail-safe labels. Currently (2010) no one application is reported, where RFID tags completely replaced other labeling.
The EPC was the creation of the MIT
Auto-ID Center
, a consortium of over 120 global corporations and university labs. EPC identifiers were designed to identify each item manufactured, as opposed to just the manufacturer and class of products, as bar codes do today. The EPC system is currently managed by EPCglobal, Inc.
, a subsidiary of GS1
. The specifications for the EPC identifiers can be found in the EPCglobal, Inc.
Tag Data Standard, which is an open standard, freely available for anyone to download.
The Electronic Product Code is one of the industrial standards for global RFID usage, and a core element of the EPCglobal Network
http://www.epcglobalinc.org/standards/architecture, an architecture of open standards developed by the GS1 EPCglobal
community. Most currently deployed EPC RFID tags comply with ISO/IEC
18000-6C for the RFID air interface standard.
- the 'pure-identity URI' that is intended for use when referring to a specific physical object in communications about EPCs among information systems and business application software.
Each coding scheme within the EPC identifier framework is distinguished through the use of a separate namespace. In the URI notations, this is indicated using a URI prefix such as urn:epc:id:sgtin or urn:epc:id:sscc
In the compact binary encoding of an EPC identifier, the namespace is instead indicated using a compact binary header (typically the first 8 bits of the binary encoding of an EPC identifier). The EPCglobal Tag Data Standard provides details of the URI prefixes and corresponding binary header values.
This namespace indicator (URI prefix or compact binary header value) in turn dictates the length, type and structure of the EPC. EPC encoding schemes are used to uniquely identify one object. Most EPCs include an element within their structure that corresponds to a serial number.
EPC Version 1.3 supports the following alternative coding schemes:
From Version 1.4 these new coding schemas are also additionally supported:
As of September 2010, the current version of the Tag Data Standard is v1.5, which additionally defines the formatting of the Tag Identifier (TID) memory bank and how to use Packed Objects for the formatting of additional data within the user memory bank.
EPCglobal
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1 and GS1 US .It is an organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology....
Tag Data Standard http://www.epcglobalinc.org/standards/tds, which is an open standard freely available for download from the website of EPCglobal, Inc.
EPCglobal
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1 and GS1 US .It is an organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology....
. The canonical representation of an EPC is a URI
Uniform Resource Identifier
In computing, a uniform resource identifier is a string of characters used to identify a name or a resource on the Internet. Such identification enables interaction with representations of the resource over a network using specific protocols...
, namely the 'pure-identity URI' representation that is intended for use when referring to a specific physical object in communications about EPCs among information systems and business application software. The EPCglobal
EPCglobal
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1 and GS1 US .It is an organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology....
Tag Data Standard also defines additional representations of an EPC identifier, such as the tag-encoding URI format and a compact binary format suitable for storing an EPC identifier efficiently within RFID tags (for which the low-cost passive RFID tags typically have limited memory capacity available for the EPC/UII memory bank). The EPCglobal
EPCglobal
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1 and GS1 US .It is an organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology....
Tag Data Standard defines the structure of the URI syntax and binary format, as well as the encoding and decoding rules to allow conversion between these representations. The EPC is designed as a flexible framework that can support many existing coding schemes, including many coding schemes currently in use with barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
technology. EPC identifiers currently support 7 identification keys from the GS1
GS1
Founded in 1977, GS1 is an international not-for-profit association dedicated to the development and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across multiple sectors...
system of identifiers, as well as a General Identifier and EPC identifiers that can be used for encoding supplies to the US Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
.
EPCs are not designed exclusively for use with RFID data carriers. They can indeed be constructed based on reading of optical data carriers, such as linear bar codes and two-dimensional bar codes, such as Data Matrix symbols. The 'pure identity URI' canonical representation of an EPC is agnostic to the data carrier technology that was used to attach the unique identifier to the individual physical object.
The EPC is designed to meet the needs of various industries, while guaranteeing uniqueness for all EPC-compliant tags. Some of the existing GS1
GS1
Founded in 1977, GS1 is an international not-for-profit association dedicated to the development and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across multiple sectors...
identification keyshttp://www.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/id_keys (such as the Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI
Global Returnable Asset Identifier
The Global Returnable Asset Identifier is part of the GS1 system of standards. It is a simple tool to identify assets by type and can uniquely identify assets where required.‘The GS1 Identification Key used to identify Returnable Assets...
)) already provide for unique identification of individual objects. However, the Global Trade Item Number
Global Trade Item Number
Global Trade Item Number is an identifier for trade items developed by GS1...
(GTIN) only identifies the product type or stock-keeping unit (SKU) rather than an individual instance of a particular product type. To ensure that an EPC always uniquely identifies an individual physical object, in the case of a GTIN, the EPC is constructed as a serialised Serialised Global Trade Item Number
Global Trade Item Number
Global Trade Item Number is an identifier for trade items developed by GS1...
(SGTIN) by combining a GTIN product identifier with a unique serial number.
It should be noted that both the Universal Product Code and EAN 13 identifiers that are still found on many trade items can be mapped into a 14-digit GTIN identifier, by padding to the left with zero digits to reach a total of 14 digits. An SGTIN EPC identifier can therefore be constructed by combining the resulting GTIN with a unique serial number and following the encoding rules in the EPCglobal Tag Data Standard.
The EPC accommodates existing coding schemes and defines new schemes where necessary. Each coding scheme within the EPC identifier framework is distinguished through the use of a separate namespace. In the URI notations, this is indicated using a URI
Úri
Úriis a village and commune in the comitatus of Pest in Hungary....
prefix such as urn:epc:id:sgtin or urn:epc:id:sscc
In the compact binary encoding of an EPC identifier, the namespace is instead indicated using a compact binary header (typically the first 8 bits of the binary encoding of an EPC identifier). The EPCglobal Tag Data Standard provides details of the URI prefixes and corresponding binary header values.
Low-cost passive RFID tags were designed to uniquely identify each item manufactured. In contrast, bar codes for trade items and consumer products have limited capacity and typically only identify the manufacturer and class of products. Although RFID tags are currently still more expensive than a simple optically readable label, they offer additional capabilities such as the ability to be read by radio waves, without requiring 'line of sight' between the reader or interrogator and the tag; this enables individual items within a large cardboard box (case) to be read without first unpacking each individual item from the box. Some RFID tags offer additional read/write user memory that could be used for storage of additional information, such as an expiry date or date of manufacture.
The EPC tag will never entirely replace both plain text and barcoding, as liability obligations for the producer require durable and sufficiently fail-safe labels. Currently (2010) no one application is reported, where RFID tags completely replaced other labeling.
The EPC was the creation of the MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
Auto-ID Center
Auto-ID Labs
The Auto-ID Labs network is a research group in the field of networked radio-frequency identification and emerging sensing technologies. The labs consist of seven research universities located on four different continents. These institutions were chosen by the former Auto-ID Center to design the...
, a consortium of over 120 global corporations and university labs. EPC identifiers were designed to identify each item manufactured, as opposed to just the manufacturer and class of products, as bar codes do today. The EPC system is currently managed by EPCglobal, Inc.
EPCglobal
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1 and GS1 US .It is an organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology....
, a subsidiary of GS1
GS1
Founded in 1977, GS1 is an international not-for-profit association dedicated to the development and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across multiple sectors...
. The specifications for the EPC identifiers can be found in the EPCglobal, Inc.
EPCglobal
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1 and GS1 US .It is an organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology....
Tag Data Standard, which is an open standard, freely available for anyone to download.
The Electronic Product Code is one of the industrial standards for global RFID usage, and a core element of the EPCglobal Network
EPCglobal Network
The EPCglobal Network is a computer network used to share product data between trading partners. It was created by EPCglobal. Basis for the information flow in the network is the Electronic Product Code of each product which is stored on an RFID tag....
http://www.epcglobalinc.org/standards/architecture, an architecture of open standards developed by the GS1 EPCglobal
EPCglobal
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1 and GS1 US .It is an organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology....
community. Most currently deployed EPC RFID tags comply with ISO/IEC
IEC
-Organisations:* Independent Electoral Commission * Independent Electrical Contractors, a U.S. national trade association.* Institut d'Estudis Catalans , a Catalan academic institution....
18000-6C for the RFID air interface standard.
Structure
The canonical representation of an EPC is a URIUniform Resource Identifier
In computing, a uniform resource identifier is a string of characters used to identify a name or a resource on the Internet. Such identification enables interaction with representations of the resource over a network using specific protocols...
- the 'pure-identity URI' that is intended for use when referring to a specific physical object in communications about EPCs among information systems and business application software.
Each coding scheme within the EPC identifier framework is distinguished through the use of a separate namespace. In the URI notations, this is indicated using a URI prefix such as urn:epc:id:sgtin or urn:epc:id:sscc
In the compact binary encoding of an EPC identifier, the namespace is instead indicated using a compact binary header (typically the first 8 bits of the binary encoding of an EPC identifier). The EPCglobal Tag Data Standard provides details of the URI prefixes and corresponding binary header values.
This namespace indicator (URI prefix or compact binary header value) in turn dictates the length, type and structure of the EPC. EPC encoding schemes are used to uniquely identify one object. Most EPCs include an element within their structure that corresponds to a serial number.
EPC Version 1.3 supports the following alternative coding schemes:
- General Identifier (GID) GID-96
- a serialized version of the GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) SGTIN-96 SGTIN-198
- GS1 Serial Shipping Container CodeSerial Shipping Container CodeThe serial shipping container code is an 18-digit number used to identify logistics units. The SSCC is encoded in a barcode, generally GS1-128, and used in electronic commerce transactions....
(SSCC) SSCC-96 - GS1 Global Location NumberGlobal Location NumberThe Global Location Number is part of the GS1 systems of standards. It is a simple tool used to identify a location and can identify locations uniquely where required.The GS1 Identification Key used to identify physical locations or legal entities...
(GLN), SGLN-96 SGLN-195 - GS1 Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) GRAI-96 GRAI-170
- GS1 Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) GIAI-96 GIAI-202 and
- DODUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Construct DoD-96
From Version 1.4 these new coding schemas are also additionally supported:
- Global Service Relation Number (GSRN) GSRN-96
- Global Document Type Identifier (GDTI) GDTI-96
As of September 2010, the current version of the Tag Data Standard is v1.5, which additionally defines the formatting of the Tag Identifier (TID) memory bank and how to use Packed Objects for the formatting of additional data within the user memory bank.
External links
- EPCglobal Tag Data Standard
- EPCglobal Tag Data Standard Version 1.5
- EPCglobal Tag Data Standard Version 1.4
- EPCglobal Tag Data Standard Version 1.3
- EPCglobal Tag Data Translation Standard
- ManningRF Info Center -- Contains reviews and information concerning EPC-compatible RFID devices and software. Also contains a list of primers and FAQs concerning EPC compatibility issues.
- Global RFID. The Value of the EPCglobal Network for Supply Chain Management -- Contains a lot of information by some MIT people involved in the development of EPC.
- RFID and EPC Explanations-- Discover the benefits of using RFID