Liaison Review of ISO JTC1/SC31/WG5 Real Time Locating System

1. Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) Submission Title: [Liaison Review to IEEE 802.15 of: ISO JTC1/SC31/WG5 Real Time Locating System] Date Submitted: [12 March 2009] Source: [George Cavage] Company [iControl Inc.] Address [] E-Mail:[gcavage@icontrol-inc.com] Re : [] Abstract: [ISO JTC1 SC31 WG5 Real Time Locating System Liaison Report to IEEE 802.15] Purpose: [Provide an ISO JTC1 SC31 WG5 liaison status report to IEEE 802.15] Notice :This document has been prepared to assist the IEEE P802.15. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein. Release:The contributor acknowledges and accepts that this contribution becomes the property of IEEE and may be made publicly available by P802.15. George Cavage, iControl Inc.

2. Liaison Review to IEEE 802.15.4 of: ISO JTC1/SC31/WG5Real Time Locating System George Cavage iControl Inc. 12 March, 2009 2 George Cavage, iControl Inc.

3. ISO JTC 1/SC 31/WG 5 • JTC1 – Information Technology • SC31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques • WG5 Real time locating systems WG 5 scope of work: • To define an air interface protocol(s) and an API (Application Programming Interface) for interoperability of Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) operating at levels consistent with international regulation, either freely available or under site license, in the area of asset identification and management • The standard(s) would initially consist of several areas of work, each in a separate standard:  • An Application Programming Interface (API), serving as a unifying platform for any of the air interfaces and the basis for additional technologies to provide different capabilities that may emerge in the future  • The API enables software applications to utilize an RTLS infrastructure to locate assets with RTLS transmitters attached to them • It defines a boundary across which application software uses facilities of programming languages to collect information contained in RTLS tag blinks received by the RTLS infrastructure • Various air interface protocols specifically suited for Real Time Locating Systems • The proposed RTLS work would align without duplicating, and co-exist with, the approved work of RFID for item management and other International Standards committees George Cavage, iControl Inc.

4. RTLS Definition Real Time Locating Systems arewireless systems with the ability to locate the position of an item anywhere in a defined space (local/campus, wide area/regional, global) at a point in time that is, or is close to, real time. Position is derived by measurements of the physical properties of the radio link. George Cavage, iControl Inc.

5. Part 1: Application Program Interface (API) Approved International Standard Information technology - Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) - Part 1: Application Program Interface (API) • This standard enables software applications to utilize an RTLS infrastructure to locate assets with RTLS transmitters attached to them • It defines a boundary across which application software uses facilities of programming languages to collect information contained in RTLS tag blinks received by the RTLS infrastructure. • The Application Program Interface (API) establishes a technical standard for Real Time Locating Systems • An API is a boundary across which application software uses facilities of programming languages to invoke services • These facilities may include procedures or operations, shared data objects and resolution of identifiers • To be fully compliant with this standard, Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) must comply with this part of ISO/IEC 24730 and at least one air interface protocol defined in ISO/IEC 24730. • This API describes the RTLS service and its access methods, to enable client applications to interface with the RTLS system • This RTLS service is the minimum service that must be provided by a RTLS system to be API compatible with this standard George Cavage, iControl Inc.

6. Part 2: 2,4 GHz Local Area Network Interface Approved International Standard Information technology - Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) - Part 2: Local Area Network interface • Part 2 establishes a technical standard for real-time locating systems that operate at an internationally available 2,4 GHz frequency band and that are intended to provide approximate location with frequent updates (for example, several times a minute) • Part 2 defines a networked location system that provides X-Y coordinates and data telemetry. • The system utilizes RTLS transmitters that autonomously generate a direct-sequence spread spectrum radio frequency beacon • These devices may be field programmable and support an optional exciter mode that allows modification of the rate of location update and location of the RTLS device. • Part 2 specifies the air interface protocol for a system that locates an asset in a controlled area, e.g. warehouse, campus, airport (area of interest is instrumented) to an accuracy to 3 meters • It defines these modes, but does not define the means by which they are accomplished • The method of location is through identification and location, generally through a type of multi-lateration: • Time of Flight Ranging Systems, • Amplitude Triangulation, • Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), • Angle of Arrival George Cavage, iControl Inc.

7. Part 5: 2,4 GHz Personal Area Network (PAN) Air Interface At FCD (Final Committee Draft) Ballot Stage: Information technology - Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) - Part 5: 2,4 GHz Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) Personal Area Network (PAN) air interface • Part 5 defines an air interface which utilizes Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) at frequencies from 2.4-2.483 GHZ. • CSS is a technique for spreading the bandwidth of a digital signal by using chirp pulses • Chirp pulses are pulses with a monotonically increasing or decreasing instantaneous frequency • Originally chirp pulses were used for radar applications and are now used for communication applications • Part 5 of the standard includes ranging and bidirectional communication between tags and infrastructure • Bidirectional communication enables the infrastructure to control the behavior of tags in a timely manner • WG5 has accepted as the artifact a demonstration provided by Identec Solutions in support of ISO/IEC 24730-5 George Cavage, iControl Inc.

8. Part 5: 2,4 GHz Personal Area Network (PAN) Air Interface 802.15.4a Air interface protocol: • Part 5 allows for autonomous infrastructure nodes in which ‘autonomous’ means that there is no requirement for these nodes to be synchronized with other infrastructure nodes • This condition is achieved by specifying bidirectional communication and two-way ranging • Part 5 specifically identifies IEEE 802.15.4a, a PHY amendment to 802.15.4, to take advantage of the communication technology this standard already includes George Cavage, iControl Inc.

9. In Discussion within WG5 • Ultra Wide Band (UWB) as 24730 Part X • May potentially include the use of 802.15.4a • UWB for real time location • Short pulse • Low duty cycle • Two classes • Coherent • Identifies pulse position • Non coherent George Cavage, iControl Inc.