With the widespread adoption and scale of RAIN RFID, updates are underway regarding the rules and regulations for tags and readers operating in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band. According to the latest news, a new version of the GS1 Electronic Product Code (EPC) Global Gen2 specification (Gen2v3) will be launched in the fall of 2023 to further improve the speed and accuracy of RAIN RFID deployment.
This new version was introduced to adapt to the evolving trend of RFID technology. Early RAIN RFID deployments were relatively straightforward, typically consisting of a single reader and a small number of tagged items. However, over time, RAIN RFID solutions have become more complex, involving multiple readers and thousands of tagged items, both stationary and moving.
Once approved, the GS1 EPC Gen2v3 will be the latest version of the passive RAIN RFID air interface protocol. These specifications provide rules and guidelines for communication between RAIN tags and readers, developed by the international standards platform GS1 in conjunction with RAIN RFID industry leaders and experts, and reviewed and standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
As the industry evolves, it is necessary to update the guiding standards. The last update to the Gen2 protocol (Gen2v2) took place in 2013 and included card reader security and privacy features.
The changes in Gen2v3 are designed to improve communication between RAIN RFID tags and readers. Some of the important changes include:
Reduced tag clutter: Tag clutter becomes an issue due to the increasing number of items using RAIN RFID tags. Gen2v3 solves the problem of tag confusion by ensuring that only target tags are read when commanded.
Improved read rate: Gen2v3 enables RAIN readers to send power to RAIN tags to generate a response by optimizing read rates, and ignore tags that cannot complete a response until the power is exhausted. This helps to reduce the drop in read rates due to edge tags being outside the read area, thereby improving inventory accuracy.
Facilitating Multi-Reader Deployments: As the complexity of RAIN RFID solutions increases, multiple reader deployments become the norm. Gen2v3 solves the problem of misread tags by simplifying tag data collection in multi-reader deployments.
During the development of Gen2v3, GS1 partnered with more than 30 RAIN RFID solution providers, manufacturers, logistics organizations, and retailers to meet business needs. As Gen2v3 enters its final stages of development, the project editors will ensure that the content is finalized and extensively peer-reviewed. Over the next few months, Gen2v3 will go through a community review process and will eventually be released by GS1.
Once Gen2v3 is released, manufacturers will begin to implement the new specification in their RAIN RFID products. In order to be Gen2v3 compliant, RAIN RFID tag chip and reader manufacturers will need to update their products. Solution providers can update their deployments to support the new features of Gen2v3. It is important to note that switching to the Gen2v3 protocol will not have an impact on existing applications, as Gen2v3 is compatible with older versions, so deployments running under the Gen2v2 protocol will still work.
