Extended Capability RFID

Extended Capability RFID . is a marketing category for RFID. The term suggests the impression to go beyond the basic capabilities of standard RFID. However, evolution of RFID technology is steadily going on, whereas demand hides behind the looking for the ultimate improvements. What has been extended yesterday will be common denominator tomorrow. The limiting factor for RFID will always be physics and regulation for radio frequency applications and technologies.
Extended capability RFID is said to provide the ability to read at longer distances and around challenging environments, to store large amounts of data on the tag, to integrate with sensors, and to communicate with external devices. Such combinations are fairly available on the markets, but under all conditions have respective prices. On the other hand, for example longer reading distances is equivalent to lesser object discrimination capability: The remaining challenge remains to define the appropriate solution and to select from existing offerings, instead of waiting for the next improvement.
Examples of extended capability RFID tag technologies include EPC C1G2 with extended memory (e.g. 64Kb), battery-assisted passive, and active RFID. Battery-assisted passive, also known as semi-passive or semi-active, has the ability to extend the read range of standard passive technologies to well over 50 meters., to read around challenging materials such as metal, to withstand outdoor environments, to store an on-tag database, to be able to capture sensor data, and to act as a communications mechanism for external devices. Also, battery-assisted passive only transmits a signal when interrogated, thus extending battery life. Active RFID, which can have some of the features of battery-assisted passive, is commonly used for even longer distances and real time locating. It also actively transmits a signal, which often results in shorter battery life.
The recently published ISO/IEC 18000-6:2010 Standard addresses Battery Assisted Passive RFID in Chapter 11.5 of the standard.
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Common applications of extended capability RFID include Yard Management, Parts Maintenance and Repair Operations, Cold Chain for Perishable Foods and Biopharmaceuticals Management, Reusable Transport Items tracking, High Value/High Security Asset tracking, and other applications where extended capabilities are needed.

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