Changes

* Conclusion

The supply chain is a complex multi-stage process which involves everything from the procurement of raw materials used to develop products, and their delivery to customers via warehouses and distribution centers. Supply chains exist in service, manufacturing and retail organizations.

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.

The first task was to find the relevant U.S. granted patents, and EP granted patents or published patent applications. This was done for all patents published in years 1975 to 2005. This range of years is 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.

Most of the indicators could not be project due to insufficient data.

The aim of this project is to identify IP activity in the area of RFID-Based supply chain applications primarily focused on the application of software in warehouse, distribution, inventory control and also the related applications.

Appropriate patent records were selected for analysis. The selection criteria was based on:

* Type of software used (Middle ware, applications etc.)

Date of search: xyz

The total number of patent records on RFID based supply chain 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) as depicted in below tables:

{|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" width="91%"

|}

{|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" width="88%"

|}

IP landscape over years: Growth in RFID base supply chain applications

IP landscape by region: RFID base supply chain

Competitor landscape - Growth in RFID base supply chain

The present graph and interpretation is based on selected 30 records. The graph indicate SAP as leading and consistent player with 3 patent records. EXAGO seems to be the new entrant in 2005. It is interesting to note that the competitors in 2004 have not shown any activity in the beginning of 2005.

Technology Trend (Main IPC)

(Based on selected 30 records)

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).

(Based on select 30 records)

(Based on select 30 records)

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.

The following graph indicates various subjects that have been covered by various assignee in the area of RFID based supply chain applications. The various subjects are the result of SAO analysis. More granularity on subjects is presented in next slide in the form of clusters.

[[Image:Main_claims.jpg|thumb|center|576px| Classification of patents based on main claims]]

Applications which appeared in analyzed patent records have been listed.

1. The container can be reprogrammed to include updated logic, updated states, and/or updated expected event information. (US20040246130)

{|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" width="80%"

|}

It has been observed that selection of RFID tag depend up on the frequency desirable in supply chain application. Industrial attentions is on passive RFID technology. The integration of software technology with electronic identification system will definitely give new dimensions to the supply chain management.