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Supply Chain Resources |
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EPC and RFID FAQ
What is an Electronic Product
Code (EPC)?
An EPC is a unique number that corresponds
with an individual product (or container of products). EPCs are embedded
in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag attached to each unit,
and with an EPC and a distributed EPCglobal Network, an individual can
look up detailed information about a product or package, such as its
manufacture date and expiration date.
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What is Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology?
You may be familiar with EZ-Pass or SmartTag, the systems that debit your account by reading the
transponder on your vehicle as you pass through a toll gate. These systems
use RFID. This technology has two components: tags and readers. RFID
tags are small chips with antennas that contain an EPC ("Electronic
Product Code"), a "license plate" which uniquely identifies
that particular item. RFID tags can be read automatically, without the
line-of-sight limitation of today's common bar-codes.
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What is the EPCglobal Network?
The EPCglobal Network is a system that leverages
the existing Internet infrastructure to create a low-cost, standards-based
set of services for finding and sharing information about products in
the supply chain. Collectively, the system enables the benefits of a
richer product data set to be shared by all parties in the supply chain.
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What is the recent announcement
regarding VeriSign and the EPCglobal Network?
VeriSign has been selected by EPCglobal to
operate the authoritative root directory for the EPCglobal Network,
a system which leverages the existing Internet infrastructure to create
a low-cost, standards-based set of services for trading partners to
discover product information enabled through the use RFID technology.
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What is VeriSign's role with
the EPCglobal Network?
As previously noted, VeriSign has been selected
by EPCglobal to operate the authoritative root directory for the EPCglobal
Network. Additionally, we have announced plans to offer managed services
that that work in conjunction with RFID technology and the EPC root
directory to facilitate the secure sharing of product data across today's
diverse supply chains. These will include managed ONS, EPC Information
Services and EPC Discovery Services.
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What is the "Authoritative
Root Directory" for the EPCglobal Network?
The EPCglobal Network is made up of three main
elements: an Object Naming Service (ONS), the EPC Information Services
and the EPC Discovery Service. The awarding of the "root"
for the EPCglobal Network refers to the "root" ONS. That is,
the authoritative directory of information sources that are available
to describe products in the supply chain.
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What are the other elements
of the EPCglobal Network?
In addition to ONS, the EPCglobal Network includes
EPC Information Services and EPC Discovery Services. EPC Information
Services are the actual data repositories that are used to store and
distribute information about unique items in the supply chain.
The EPC Discovery Service provides chain of
custody services as their movement is recorded across multiple instances
of EPC Information Services. It does this for a particular product by
managing a directory for all third party EPC Information Services (e.g.,
logistics companies, warehouses, shipping companies, etc) that have
"seen" and contain information about a particular EPC.
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What is the benefit of the
EPCglobal Network (and related services) to business?
By using the EPCglobal Network, supply chain
members can convert their investments in RFID from cost centers to profit
centers. By taking RFID beyond the four walls (which can only be done
successfully through an interoperable and standards-based solution)
they can enhance their ability to share product data with trading partners.
A network solution that enables trading partners to conduct secure,
real-time discovery and sharing of product data will fundamentally change
the ability to identify inefficiencies and respond to exceptional situations
(e.g., product recall, counterfeiting) within the supply chain.
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Who is EPCglobal?
EPCglobal is a not-for-profit joint-venture
formed by The Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC) and EAN
International that will develop and oversee the commercialization and
technical standards for the Electronic Product Code (EPC)™ Network.
The EPC™ Network, based on research conducted by the Auto-ID Center
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), uses radio frequency
in combination with a network system to allow items or products to be
identified. This technology will enable companies to have true visibility
of their supply chains in real time, in any industry, anywhere in the
world.
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Do you run the EPCglobal Network?
No, not entirely. The EPCglobal Network is
really an umbrella term for the set of technology that enables RFID-based
tracking to track products in the supply chain. VeriSign is running
a portion of this system (the "root" ONS) and will be offering
other related managed services on a cost-competitive basis.
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Does VeriSign
offer EPC-related services other than the Root ONS?
Yes, we have announced plans to offer managed
services that that work in conjunction with RFID technology and the
EPC root directory to facilitate the secure sharing of product data
across today's diverse supply chains. These will include managed ONS,
EPC Information Services and EPC Discovery Services.
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Do I need to work with a third-party
technology integrator?
VeriSign's EPCglobal Network services are a
set of managed services designed to enable our customers to utilize
the EPCglobal Network with minimal cost and resources. You may decide
to work with a Systems Integrator to develop a full internal EPC solution
that will enhance your current supply chain infrastructure. VeriSign
is currently working with several Systems Integration partners that
can help with these efforts.
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Are there opportunities for
Supply Chain Management companies to partner with VeriSign?
The EPCglobal Network encompasses a set of
technologies that will integrate with a broad array of hardware, software
and services. As a result, there are several partnering opportunities
for companies currently servicing the supply chain.
VeriSign is seeking partnerships with, and
welcomes inquiries from such companies. If you'd like to discuss partnering
opportunities, please contact us by email at supplychain@verisign.com.
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Where can I get more information
about the EPCglobal Network?
EPCglobal's Web
site has a wealth of up-to-date information on this topic.
You can find more information about VeriSign and our EPCglobal Network
services here on our Web site or by sending an e-mail to supplychain@verisign.com.
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