Standards and Interoperability Alan Hopkinson Middlesex University

Tuesday 13 November 2007 - The QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London

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Standards and Interoperability

Alan Hopkinson

Middlesex University



Standards relating to the RFID tag

× Standards which govern the circulation protocols 3M’s SIP2 and NCIP (NISO Circulation Interchange

Protocol (NCIP-Z39.83).



Benefits of standardisation

• Interoperability• Avoid Reinventing the wheel

-- Good ‘model’ data model-- More data there is on the tag the longer it takes to write to the tag,

and the longer it takes to read the tag



Middlesex University applications (1)

Circulation at the counterSelf service circulationStock checking with the wandSearching for lost or reserved books (wand)

Use only the identifier



Middlesex University applications (2)

• Security gate alarm uses the security bit• Circulation sets or resets security bit



RFID for Libraries

Brevity on the tag may be important



Interoperability

Different requirements in different contexts



Interoperability for UK

• Different library management systems process different RFID • Read 12345X not ABCDE& (for example)• Radio Frequency: 13.86 megahertz• Hold enough data



Interoperability in Denmark

Used for interlibrary loanCompatibility between borrowing and lending

libraries’ systems



Interoperability for all systems

• Ability to replace LMS• Ability to replace RFID hardware

BUT keep the same tags



‘Media’ use

Check that a set of items is completeBook with accompanying CDBoxed kit

Standard methodology of achieving this required



Other interoperability issues

• Prevent tags from setting off alarms in wrong environments• Supply chain tagging• Book supplier’s warehouse• Common pads and software



All these requirements can only be achieved by standards.

.



International Organization for StandardizationCommittee ISO/TC 46/SC 4

Working Group for RFID in LibrariesMoved by Danish Standards

“Danish Model”

× Not an international standard



RFID standards mean standardizing processesDeveloping a standard for RFID is taking longer

than had been originally hoped

We would still be in the same position now as four years ago!



Book Industry Communication (BIC)

• Bind RFID tag into each book

• Include ISBN + Copy number



Libraries need more than just IDSecurity bit on tag overcomes delays on the network at the security gate

Tags bound into the books might interfere with other tags for other requirements

BUT proposal was rejected by publishers



Danish StandardsDanish Model includes:

Data ElementsValuesEncodingPhysical Mapping



Extra requirements

• AFI (application family identifier)• Air Interface (includes frequency)• Fixed length encoding v. using data field identifiers• ISO standard 15962



ISO 28560 will be divided into three parts:

General requirements and data elements Encoding based on ISO/IEC 15962 Fixed length encoding



Application Family Identifier (AFI)

EDItEUR, NISO (US) and Danish Standards applied to the appropriate ISO Committee

AFI value C2 (hexadecimal) “Item is a library item”In security systems it means out for loan

AFI value ”07” In library’s security system not to be taken out



Privacy and Security

To have NO standard is safest!



Using standard:• Read the tag• Identify the library• See the name of the borrower ???• Personal data should never be placed on a tag



Security• Inability to change the data on the tag

(for vandalism or to steal the book)• Encryption to prohibit decoding• Locking so that the data cannot be changed



Privacy and Security

An RFID for Libraries standard needs to address the issues and refer to other

standards as necessary



RFID in libraries needs standards

Pioneers in an emerging technology!



Thank you for your attention!

Documents

Standards and Interoperability Alan Hopkinson Middlesex University