RFID Tracking Devices: The Master Unit
Tracking Innovations Inc. developed a Real Time Tracking System which utilizes an active RFID reader known as a Master Unit.
What is a Master Unit?
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The Master Unit is the brains and communications center for Tracking Innovations’ Real Time Tracking System (RTTS). In traditional RFID
systems an integrator (reader) is mounted at a choke point such as a loading dock door and RFID tags are read as they pass through the choke point.
Tracking Innovations RTTS Master Unit takes the integrator to the next level by making the device mobile, self-powered, and adding triple
redundancy communications along with GPS, cellular and Wi-Fi triangulation for location. This next generation device gives near
real time visibility into the logistics supply chain from end to end.
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Power Source
The Master Unit is powered by a custom manufactured Lithium Ion battery pack. This pack is rechargeable and has been tested and certified to UN 38.3.
Configuration Option
Every master unit can be paired with up to forty aRFID tags. The aRFID tags come in options which include: temperature only, temperature and humidity,
and temperature and shock/vibration. The tags can be used interchangeably for a shipment. Each shipment can have a maximum of five master units associated with it
for a total of two hundred aRFID tags.
How it Works
While a master unit is in transit, it provides reports to the tracking service at the data center based on the selected transmitted interval. During the communication,
the data is transmitted in a secure SSL tunnel. The tracking servers are custom written (.NET) and utilize eXtensible Markup Language (XML) for the communication tunnel.
When the data is collected and received at the data center, it is stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database.
How does the Master Unit Send the Data?
The master unit transmits data to the tracking service through one of the following: local network (also known as Wi-Fi), cellular network, and the Iridium satellite
network. The Master Unit will first attempt to connect to a local wireless network. If no wireless network is detected, it will then try to connect to a cellular network.
Finally, if the Master Unit cannot encounter a cellular network, it will then link to the Iridium satellite network. If none of the networks are
detected, the Master Unit will repeat the process until a connection has been made.
Master Unit and Active RFID Tag Communication
The Master Unit(s) is “paired” with the aRFID tags, and the benefit of this pairing is twofold: it allows the for the inventory of associated tags during the life
cycle of a shipment in transit to monitor for shrinkage and the Master Unit will only communicate with devices (aRFID Tags) in its internal
inventory which keeps the system closed and secure.
Alerts
Upon an alert being present, the master unit will connect with the tracking servers at the data center within two minutes. An alert is generated if a shipment becomes
out of range (geofence) or if the temperature, humidity, or shock of the package goes above or below the selected threshold.
Certifications
FCC, Industry Canada, CE, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria