== Executive Summary ==
IP activity in the area of RFID-based supply chain applications seems to have started in 1991, and peaked in 2004. Most of the action in the integration of electronic identification system (RFID) with software system in supply chain applications has taken place in the last ten years or so.
Around 423 patents have been published in the span of 4.2 years from 2000 till February 2005. The major market in RFID-based supply chain applications appears to be the United States.
'''Technology area focus by key players'''
* Digital Data Processing
* Communication Techniques
* Computing, calculating, counting
* Recognition of data; Presentation of data
* Signaling Or Calling Systems
'''Some of the key players identified are'''
* United Parcel Service
* G.E.
* Silverbrook
* Micron Technology
* NCR Corporation
* SAP AG
* Savi tech.
'''Various software applications cited in patents'''
* Business applications
* UPS Supply Chain Solutions
* Anti-collision software
* Program for correlating the environmental condition data with the location data.
* Software applications (Web application" TagDetect")
* Software applications supporting a client-server system or n-tiered computer system.
* MW (Micro-warehouse) enterprise application
* XML middleware such as Biz Talk software
* ERP system, web ordering system
* BeefLink Software
* Source code, object code, or scripting code.
'''Key application areas identified'''
* Food and pharma industry
* Semiconductors and High-value electronic items
* Asset and materials management system
* Commercial enterprise
* Beef industry
* Airport and shipyard
'''Key RFID Tracking applications'''
* Assets
* Equipment
* Materials
* Orders
* Personnel
* Processes
* Products
* Production
* Quality
* Resources
== RFID - Market Potential ==
* The global forecast RFID hardware, middleware, and IT market was worth $640 million in 2005. In 2006, this number will grow to more than $713 million, and is projected to reach more than $1.0 billion by 2011 at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 8.0% <br>
* The RFID market is anticipated to continue to grow rapidly in these and many other market sectors and industries including the food and drug industry, propelled by United States FDA mandates. The technical issues that have made standardization more challenging are heading toward resolution with the emergence of the second-generation of UHF RFID <br>
* Retail RFID is estimated currently at just under 27% of the overall RFID market, and supply chain management (SCM) applications, when considered as separate from warehouse and distribution and transportation, represents just over 15% of the overall RFID market. These distributions will undoubtedly change rapidly, and should be reconsidered at regular time intervals as the RFID technology and established and emerging markets mature (Source - BCC Research)
==Introduction to RFID technology in supply chain==
RFID will bring a new dimension to supply chain management by providing a more efficient way of being able to identify and track items at the various stages throughout the supply chain. It will allow product data to be captured automatically, and therefore be more quickly available for use by other processes such as ASN, stock management and real time billing.
===Search approach and project scope=RFID - Market Potential == * The first task was to find the relevant U.S. granted patentsglobal forecast RFID hardware, middleware, and EP granted patents or published patent applications. This IT market was done for all patents published worth $640 million in years 1975 to 2005. This range of years is In 2006, this number will grow to more than sufficient; but almost all of the action has taken place in the last ten years or even considerably lesser time in some categories. Identified patents in RFID-base supply chain applications category using a patent search filter. Filter development $713 million, and testing is usually the most difficult and time-consuming part of a patent analysis, and that was certainly not the case in this research. Patent search filters are sometimes relatively simple, but projected to reach more often complexthan $1. Combinations of patent invention art classifications and keywords in titles, abstracts and claims were targeted for search. Because I was working with a combination of US and EP documents, I used classifications based on the International Patent Classification 0 billion by 2011 at an average annual growth rate (IPCAAGR) system. Details on the approach of search is given in search strategy. Since the scope of project is limited to test, therefore only 30 patent records were selected for quantitative analysis and 15 for qualitative analysis8.0% <br> Most of the indicators could not be project due to insufficient data. ===Objective:=== * The aim of this project RFID market is anticipated to identify IP activity continue to grow rapidly in the area of RFID-Based supply chain applications primarily focused on the application of software in warehouse, distribution, inventory control these and also the related applications. ===Data Interpretation:=== Appropriate patent records were selected for analysis. The selection criteria was based on: * Type of RFID tags (Active, Passive, Microwave or Chipless) * Type of receiver (Mobile, Handheld, fixed) * Tag system (Read-only/WORM (Write once read many times)/Read-Write tags) * Type of reader (Interrogator) * Type Sensor other market sectors and RFID frequency * Receiver link industries including the food and software * Applications drug industry, propelled by where United States FDA mandates. The technical issues that have made standardization more challenging are heading toward resolution with the event takes place (Airport, shipyard, factory, warehouse etc.) * Process involved (Shipping, receiving, inventory etc.) * Type emergence of software used (Middle ware, applications etc.) ===Search strategy:=== Date the second-generation of search: Jan 2005 Database used: USPTO, EPO and PatFam Keywords used for searching are listed below: {|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" width="92%"|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Device term'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Action term'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Application term'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Other important terms'''</font>|-|UHF RFID|Data Track<nowiki>*</nowikibr>|Supply chain|Software|-|Electronic identification|Data Captur<nowiki>*</nowiki>|Distribution|Program|-| |Data Collect<nowiki>*</nowiki>|Warehouse|Computer|-| |Data Read<nowiki>*</nowiki>|Inventory| |-|} The total number Retail RFID is estimated currently at just under 27% of patent records on the overall RFID based market, and supply chain management (SCM) applications sourced through search was 212, but only 30 records were selected for analysis. An additional broad search conducted (database: PatFem) to understand the actual IP activity (based on keywords and assignees) when considered as depicted in below tables: ====Search based on keywords separate from warehouse and relevant hits:==== {|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" width="91distribution and transportation, represents just over 15%"|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''S. No'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Key words'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Search scope'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''No. of records available'''</font>|-|1|the overall RFID|1975-2005|6147|-|2|RFID AND WAREHOUSE|1975-2005|444|-|3market.|RFID These distributions will undoubtedly change rapidly, and (SUPPLY CHAIN)|1975-2005|212|-|4.|should be reconsidered at regular time intervals as the RFID technology and transportation|1975-2005|573|-|5.|RFID established and distribution|1975emerging markets mature (Source -2005|1141|-|6.|RFID and SOFTWARE|1975-2005|2301|-|} ====Search based on assignees with relevant hits:==== {|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" width="88%"|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''S. No'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Assignee'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''Search scope'''</font>|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFFF">'''No. of records available'''</font>|-|1|3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY|1975-2005|146|-|2|SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION|1975-2005|66|-|3|HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY|1975-2005|63|-|4|NOKIA|1975-2005|58|-|5|PHILIPS ELECTRONICS|1975-2005|54|-|6|SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC|1975-2005|49|-|7|AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION|1975-2005|24|-|8|KIMBERLY CLARK|1975-2005|19|-|9|SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD|1975-2005|19|-|10|UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA INC|1975-2005|16|-|11|IBM|1975-2005|15|-|12|SAP|1975-2005|14|-|13|SAMSYS TECHNOLOGIES|1975-2005|11|-|14|MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION|1975-2005|8|-|15|DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED|1975-2005|8|-|16|SAVI|1975-2005|6|-|17|MICROSOFT|1975-2005|5|-|18|WESTVACO CORPORATION|1975-2005|5|-|19|SENSITECH|1975-2005|3|-|20|UNITED SECURITY APPLIC ID INC|1975-2005|3|-|21|GAP INC|1975-2005|2|-|22|SEMBCORP|1975-2005|1|-|23|SHAW IP PTY LTD|1975-2005|1|-|24|EXAGO PTY LTD|1975-2005|1|-|}BCC Research)
==Patent analytics==
[[Image:IP_by_technology1.jpg|thumb|center|576px| Technology landscape (Main IPC) - Growth in RFID base supply chain]]
The present graph and interpretation is based on selected 30 records. It is evident from graph that '''G06F('''(Electric Digital Data Processing) Technology is widely used in RFID based supply chain applications showing continues progress through out. The progress indicates key technology area targeted by many players and having market potential. Followed by '''G08B''' (Signaling), '''H04Q''' (Electric Communication Technique ) and '''G06K''' (Recognition of data; Presentation of data; Record carriers; Handling record carriers).
====Technology Trend (Sub-class)====
|-
|'''G01N033569'''
| Measuring, testing or investigating or analyzing material by determining their chemical or physical properties for microorganisms.
|-
|'''G06F00700'''
| Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled.
|-
|'''G06F01760'''
|-
|'''G08B00522'''
| Visible calling system, e.g. personal calling systems remote indication of seat occupied using electric or electromagnetic transmission.
|-
|'''G08B01314'''
|-
|'''H04Q00100'''
| Electrical comm. Techniquecommunication technique, details of selecting apparatus or arrangement.
|-
|'''H04Q00522'''
| Selecting arrangements where one or more subscriber stations are connected by the same line into the exchanges. The subordinate center not permitting interconnection of subscriber connected thereto.
|-
|}
[[Image:IP_by_technology3.jpg|thumb|center|576px| Technology landscape – Assignee wise]]
According to the present data, most of the leading players have focused on building sound: Administration, commerce, management, supervision and forecasting (electronic cash registers other than digital data processing) aspects for RFID-base supply chain applications.
==Qualitative Analysis==
|colspan = "3"|[[Image:SAO.jpg|center|800px]]
|-
|colspan = "3"|'''Note:''' Number in ( ) indicates occurrence in more that one patent or main claims.
|-
|}
|-
|[[Image:ra6.jpg]]
|colspan = "2"|INVENTORY ALONG A DISTRIBUTION CHAIN.
|-
|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFCC">'''Place of events'''</font>
|-
|[[Image:ra10.jpg]]
|colspan = "2"|MATERIALS HANDLING.
|-
|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFCC">'''Place of events'''</font>
|-
|[[Image:ra11.jpg]]
|colspan = "2"|COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE (PERSONNEL AND ASSET RETENTION SYSTEM (PARS)).
|-
|bgcolor = "#808080"|<font color="#CCFFCC">'''Place of events'''</font>