Overview

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications and Radio Frequency ID (RFID) together represent a means of direct communication between connection hardware and the object that needs monitoring: the information about its status of performance is directly sent to a computer system without the need for human intervention.  This makes automation of processes or consumer action possible.

The technology that utilized originates largely in the manufacturing and industrial processes industry, where physical assets networking have been done for decades. The goal of M2M-RFID is exactly as of a plant-floor automation systems or remote-monitoring solutions: it evolves getting information from sensors in a device and transmitting it to an IT network.

This report evaluates the working aspects of M2M along with the details of RFID, provides deep insights into telecommunication technologies, reviews the latest developments within M2M, and provides further analysis through in-depth case study examples. The report includes a listing of recent M&A activity.

The report includes:

M2M Standards for RFID
Security issues for M2M RFID
Explanation of Risk & Security Analysis
An evaluation of the available Technologies and its Products
An overview of the applications of RFID
Evaluation of RFID application in Healthcare, Defense, etc
Information about M2M Companies and Takeovers
A detailed explanation and evaluation techniques of Fault Analysis
A brief evaluation of an M2M Telecom Company
Assessment of technology used in many real life case studies
Future and Roadmap of M2M with special focus on RFID
RFID Company analysis in Europe, Asia and United States
 

Target Audience

This is a must-have resource for anyone engaged in business or technology planning and engineering involving M2M
Investors, analysts, and consultants in the M2M industry will find that this report provides all they need to know about M2M
RFID hardware, software, and solution vendors and related professional services companies
Managed services providers, outsourced RFID solutions and application providers, and RFID service bureau operators
Personnel responsible for automating Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other business processes
Healthcare management personnel responsible for tracking patients, staff personnel, equipment, inventory, and other critical resources
Retailers and personnel responsible for merchandise inventory and ordering processes, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Merchandise tracking and fraud prevention
Providers of value-added applications and services such as metering, telemetry, telematics, and sensor applications, inventory control and tracking such as merchandise control, asset tracking and recovery such as computing equipment monitoring, tracking parts moving through a manufacturing process, tracking goods in a supply chain, and payment systems
RFID and/or M2M Hardware Manufacturing companies
Companies interested in optimizing their RFID and/or M2M business process strategies
Venture Capitalist and Startup companies interested in funding RFID and/or M2M companies

Table of Contents

Introduction   9
M2M Evolution   11
RFID in a Nutshell  12
M2M-Telecommunications  14
Wireless Service Technology and Protocols  19
The Technologies  22
GPRS (General Purpose Radio Service)23
1xRTT or CDMA2000  23
iDEN Packet24
Advantages of SMS  27
Interactive Two-Way  27
Simultaneous Transmission with Voice  27
Confirmation of Delivery  27
Store and Forward Method  27
Use Of Phone Number As The Address  28
High Degree of Encryption  28
Transmission At Higher Power Than The Voice Channel28
Analog Control Channel28
Wireless Technology Recommendation for M2M    30
GSM-SMS and GPRS  30
CDMA-1xRTT   30
iDEN Packet  30
Technology Strategy of M2M    31
Hardware Budget31
Scope of Deployment-Domestic or International31
Ease of Creating the Application  32
Wireless Service Options  32
Wireless Access Costs  32
Further Technology Considerations  32
Back-end Server Technology  34
Gateway to Wireless Carrier or Service Provider  34
Delivery of SMS to the Internet35
Applications of M2M    39
RFID-A Brief Outlook   40
Types of RFID Systems  42
Types of Tags  42
Passive Tags  42
Semi Passive RFID Tags  42
Active RFID Tags  43
Active Tags with Sensors/GPS  43
Application Field  43
Difference between Active and Passive RFID   45
RFID Comparison Matrix  46
M2M Standards for RFID   47
Standardization Organizations and Processes  48
Basic Organizations  48
Standard development organizations  49
Commercial organization  50
Standardization Business Models  51
Standardization of the Radio Frequency Spectrum   53
Low Frequency Band  54
Short Wave Band  54
High Frequency Band  55
UHF Band  56
Microwave Frequency Band 2.45 GHz  57
Radar& HIPERLAN Frequency Band  58
Standards and Inter-Operability Issues  59
Recent Trends and Issues  60
Company Takeovers  62
Security Issues  64
Types of Attacks  64
Spoofing Attacks  65
Insert65
Replay Attack  66
Flood Attack  66
Un-authorized Tag Data Manipulation  66
Middleware Issues  67
Backend Database Corruption  68
Blended Attacks  68
Man in the Middle Attack  68
Fraud at Chip Level69
M2M Risk and Security Management  71
M2M Risk Analysis  72
System Security & System Policies  74
Risk & Attack Management75
M2M RFID Applications  77
M2M RFID in Healthcare  78
RFID on  Humans  80
Other Applications  82
Advanced M2M Applications  88
M2M Monitoring-Passport  90
M2M-Smart Appliances  92
M2M in Personalization   93
M2M RFID Next Generation   94
Tomorrows RFID Technology   94
Tags  95
Readers  97
System Technology  98
RFID Deployment Fault Analysis  99
Basics of RFID Deployment Monitoring Principles  100
Efficiency Monitoring   103
Tag Read Error  103
Standard Monitoring Procedure  106
M2M Company Analysis  108
Product and Services  109
Mobile Solutions  109
Key Features & Benefits:110
Elephant Talk M2M Value Proposition  110
Key Features & Benefits:112
Two Stage Dialing  114
Key Features & Benefits:114
Additional Services and Offerings  115
Methodology  115
Research & Development and Engineering  116
Quality Assurance  116
M2M Case Studies  117
RFID Implementation at Rittal  117
Client Details  117
Issue  117
Solution Provider  117
Briefs  118
Asset Tracking at US Air Force Base  119
Client Details  119
Issue  119
Solution Provider  119
Briefs  119
RFID at the Department of Energy-US  121
Client Details  121
Issue  121
Solution Provider  121
Briefs  121
Item Tracking at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel  127
Client Details  127
Issue  127
Solution Provider  127
Briefs  127
Mississippi Blood Services Banks on RFID   130
Client Details  130
Issue  130
Solution Provider  130
Briefs  130
RFID implementation at Special Olympics, US  135
Client Details  135
Issue  135
Solution Provider  136
Briefs  136
Vehicular Collision Prevention at Australian Mine  139
Client Details  139
Issue  139
Solution Provider  139
Briefs  139
RFID in Fashion   145
Client Details  145
Issue  145
Briefs  145
German Publisher Adoption of RFID   149
Solution Provider  149
Briefs  149
Palette Tracking in Japan   153
Solution Provider  153
Briefs  153
Future & Roadmap   158
M2M adoption with time  158
Pre 2000 Segment158
2000-Mobile and Telecommunication  159
2003-Inventory Monitoring and Tracking  159
2005-HealthCare and Medical160
2007-Defense and Homeland Security  160
2010-Now   161
2010 and Beyond  161
Growth Factors of M2M from 2010 and Beyond  162
Telecommunication  163
M2M Wireless and Consumer Products  164
Asset Tracking and other M2M RFID Applications  165
M2M & RFID Company Analysis  167
RFID Companies in Europe  167
RFID Companies in Asia/Asia Pacific  184
RFID Companies in the United States of America   195
Conclusion   208

Table of Figures

Figure 1. M2M and its components  10
Figure 2. M2M and Telecommunication components  14
Figure 3. Schematic of Field Deployed Unit  15
Figure 4. Functional Segments of an Interface Board   16
Figure 5. Block Diagram of a Processor Module  18
Figure 6. Components of the Architecture  18
Figure 7. Wireless Service Protocols for Telecommunication   19
Figure 8. Technology Perspective  21
Figure 9. Standards and their components  22
Figure 10. Standards vs Bearers comparison   23
Figure 11. Advantages of 3G   24
Figure 12. Advantages of SMS  26
Figure 13. Technology Strategy of M2M    31
Figure 14. Typical M2M server integration to a 3G Network  35
Figure 15. Back-end Server Functions  36
Figure 16 . Frequency Bands  53
Figure 17. Advanced M2M Application Schematic  88
Figure 18. Schematic of a Smart Device  92
Figure 19. A schematic of the Smart Refrigerator  92
Figure 20. Mobile Solutions  110
Figure 21. M2M solution components  112
Figure 22. M2M Application Examples  113
Figure 23. Location Based Service  114
Figure 24. Additional Services  115
Figure 25. Growth of M2M    162
Figure 26. M2M and Telecommunications  163
Figure 27. Stats and Components  163
Figure 28. M2M Wireless and Consumer Products  164

List of Tables

Table 1. Applications of M2M... 39
Table 2. Differences between RFID Types. 45
Table 3. RFID Comparison Matrix. 46
Table 4. Growth Prediction Table. 165
Table 5. M2M-2010 and Beyond.. 166