Electronic product code

The electronic product code ( EPC ) is an internationally used key and code system for a unique identification number with which products, logistical units (outer packaging, transport pallets, etc.), systems , service relationships, documents , reusable transport containers and locations (e.g. buildings (parts ) or warehouse locations) can be clearly marked and identified worldwide. In combination with RFID technology, objects that are provided with a transponder with EPC can be recorded and tracked without visual or physical contact.

EPC enables objects to be uniquely identified by class or type (e.g. a GTIN ) and instance (in this case a serialized GTIN) (e.g. trade items , logistic units or transport containers). For this purpose, the EPC is saved on a data carrier that is attached to the object to be identified. An RFID chip according to ISO 18000-6C is usually used as the data carrier , which stores and transmits this code. Alternatively, encoding the EPC in a barcode is also common.

standardization

The EPC was developed by MIT on behalf of the US industry and is now maintained in cooperation with Auto-ID Labs and EPCglobal , incorporated into GS1 . GS1 International is an international industrial interest group based in Brussels, which is involved in the international standardization of ISO .

The industrial standardization organization GS1 (former Uniform Code Council (UCC)) and EAN International (renamed GS1 since February 18, 2005) had founded the consortium EPCglobal Inc. to define the necessary standards, marketing and public relations work for the EPC code. GS1 International in Brussels has reorganized these activities internationally. In Germany, this task is carried out by GS1 Germany , formerly CCG, based in Cologne .

In order to ensure compatibility with other international norms and standards, the radio propagation for electronic product codes is configured according to the rules of the various ISO standards ISO / IEC 18000 -6C etc. Further ISO standards determine the compatibility with other code and key systems, for example the numbering system follows the international standard ISO / IEC 15418.

functionality

various RFID transponders

In addition to the conventional barcode one is for storing RFID - transponder ( R adio F requency Id entification) used. It is rather unusual if an object only has an RFID transponder but no barcode. The EPC reads out contactlessly and, unlike optical codes, electronic codes without direct visual contact. On the other hand, the radio technology view, i.e. bridging the reading distance, must be achieved. The spatial separation of other labels is also decisive for a clear reading success. Such an identification error would not be compatible with the carrier's legal obligation to provide evidence.

It is unlikely that the EPC in combination with RFID will replace the identification numbers such as Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), EAN or number of the shipping unit (NVE / SSCC) based on barcodes for optical detection in the medium term: If the RFID tag were to fail the object without an optical code then without its own identification and the carrier or the consumer without the possibility of identification. Such an identification error would not be compatible with the manufacturer's statutory labeling requirements.

Numbering system

The detailed numbering follows the industrial standards of GS1. The coding that deviated from the EAN in the EPC that was first drafted is specified in the GS1 / EPCglobal Tag Data Standard. In contrast to the original number identification system (for example "EAN.UCC system" from GS1 ), which only marks products in classes and types (e.g. CD player type abc from manufacturer xyz ), the EPC has the option of uniquely identifying each end product identify (e.g. CD player type abc from manufacturer xyz serial number 1234567 ). For this reason, some number identities such as B. A serial number is attached to the GTIN (14-digit EAN number) , and this is called SGTIN ( Serialized Global Trade Item Number ).

Structure of the number codes

The EPC is a sequence of digits with a length of at least 64 bits (EPC-64, uncommon), 96 bits (EPC-96) further expanded (GS1-128) or longer (depending on the number identifier used, up to 204 bits). The number identifiers currently used are based on the international location number Global Location Number (GLN for short) of type 2 assigned by GS1 and were mapped in the EPC. The different EPC versions should be upwardly compatible.

The basic structure of the EPC digit sequence is as follows (here EPCGlobal Tag Data Standards Generation 1):

• Header : Identification of the following EPC number identifier ( SSCC -96, SGTIN-96). The following breakdown may vary depending on the number identifier shown.

• Filter value: Indicates what type of unit it is (e.g. article, sub-box or box)

• Partition: Indicates where the EPC manager number and the object class number must be separated (the two fields mentioned only have a fixed length in total and vary in their delimitation from one another)

• Company Prefix: Identification of the distributor . The company prefix corresponds to the so-called basic number of the GLN (German: ILN) type 2.

• Object class number (Item Reference / Asset Type): contains the number of the product (e.g. 1 liter milk bottle, 1.5% fat, Tetra-Pak ). The EPC Object Class corresponds to the article number.

• Serial number: contains a sequential number of the article (e.g. each individual milk bottle from a specific producer of a specific article)

The previously used check digits (last digit in a GTIN) are no longer used in the EPC, as the checking procedure of the RFID tag or the barcode works with characters outside the code specified by the user.

evaluation

The evaluation of the complex code structure of the EPC requires a network and a server function for an economically sensible use.

Object Name Service

The Object Name Service (ONS) from GS1, which is accessible worldwide via the Internet, can be used to evaluate a read EPC . ONS uses the proven Domain Name System (DNS ) to assign one or more Naming Authority Pointers (NAPTRs) to an EPC . A NAPTR indicates where information about the object referenced by EPC is stored and which methods can be used to access this data. ONS can be understood as a distributed database system. The ONS servers and services are to be operated by the respective country organizations of GS1. The root servers for the ONS service are operated by the US company VeriSign .

Physical Markup Language

The Physical Markup Language (PML) is a file format (similar to XML ) for describing physical objects. PML enables the information on the objects to be saved in a structured manner. This creates a hierarchical tree structure that can be processed by both humans and machines. PML files are stored on so-called PML servers, which can be operated by the individual participants in the logistics chain.

criticism

The use of the Electronic Product Code EPC is less common outside of the distribution of goods. In industrial assembly, for example, parts are rarely identified via EPC, where other numbering systems remain an economical form of identification. Furthermore, individual products are seldom identified by codes at the consumer due to the lack of a reader; there the plain text remains a common form of labeling.

Durable markings over the product life cycle

In connection with the identification by optical codes or by means of RFID labels, marked movable objects can technically not only be guided from production to logistics to retail, but also to the consumer (in the case of clothing, for example, long after purchase ) are tracked. For this last stage, no concept with the EPC is known to be economically known or generally accepted.

Indicator for the take-back obligation

In addition to the distribution of goods, products or product packaging can also be labeled for the legally required return. In connection with any take-back obligation, particularly long-lasting code carriers are useful. The design of the code content does not play a decisive role. So far, no concept with the EPC is known or generally accepted for this long period of use.

An integration in uses of the EPC is usually not the case, for example, the following procedures are not integrated in the procedures for labeling GS1

• A separate figurative mark is used in the Grüner Punkt return system for taking back empty packaging. No labels are used for collection of commercial packaging.
• Separate figurative marks are used in Europe for the obligation to take back batteries . The GRS take-back system (Common Take-Back System) is not integrated into the GS1 procedures.
• Separate figurative marks are used for the return promises of returnable bottles in Germany, although the legislature does not specify any requirements.
• There are no suitable product labels on the product itself for the obligation to take back electronic devices according to the UN rules RoHS and WEEE ; the type labels used do not differentiate the products.
• For the return of drugs bought in or outside of pharmacies , the GS1 proposal for labeling with EPC on the product provides just as little as the previous label with pharmaceutical central number .

Fuse properties

The EPC has no authenticity features or security properties for the code. In particular, GS1 does not give any references to the application or fulfillment of international standards of secure information technology, such as the international standards ISO / IEC 15446 (profiles), ISO / IEC 15408 and 15446 (evaluation), ISO / IEC 18405 and ISO / IEC 20004 (software), but only refers to secure access and transmission methods.

Each EPC can be counterfeited or be counterfeited. Only the code or the RFID label can be referred to as authentic via its inherent identification number via a server function as a way of checking recognized codes. For product labeling that is secure against falsification, other methods must also be used.

Customer information

The EPC code shows the customer the identity of the product as a type or as an instance. The use of an electronic RFID label on the product is indicated on various occasions by another figurative mark.

The vision of the so-called automatic transponder checkout has been known from GS1 since 2005, but has not yet been introduced except in demonstration facilities. However, interactive solutions using common code systems have proven their worth.

The deposit labels for beverage bottles that are common in Germany are not integrated into the GS1 procedure; other figurative marks are used.

Marking living beings as products

The labeling of living beings as products using EPC would be technically possible, but has not yet been observed. The labeling of livestock and pets follows other requirements that are not compatible with the EPC code system. Appropriate special chips can be implanted in living beings. A special reader is then able to read out the data without contact.

Personal identification

Labeling people with EPC would be technically possible, but has not yet been suggested. For such purposes, at least three different numbering systems exist in Germany so far ( personal identification number of the Bundeswehr , tax identification number and insurance number of the pension insurance), which do not match the internationally standardized passport numbers or ID numbers that have not been standardized in Europe and which are not compatible with the EPC code system are.

literature

• N. Bartneck, V. Klaas, H. Schönherr: "Optimizing processes with RFID and Auto-ID" ISBN 978-3-89578-319-7
• RFID / EPC compendium from GS1 Germany
• E. Schuster, S. Allen, D. Brock: Global RFID. The Value of the EPCglobal Network for Supply Chain Management ISBN 3-540-35654-1
• Markus Hansen, Sebastian Meissner: Identification and Tracking of Individuals and Social Networks using the Electronic Product Code on RFID Tags (PDF; 56 kB), IFIP Summer School, Karlstad, 2007, transparencies (PDF; 294 kB).

Web links

• German language website of the EPC standardization organization
• German-language website of the EAN standardization organization
• Austrian website of the EPC standardization organization
• international EPC standardization organization
• Auto-ID Labs research network
• EPC-Gen2: Information on the next generation EPC
• EPC converter: Online creation of an EPC

credentials

1. ↑ SGTIN ( Memento of the original from July 3, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ Auto-ID Labs
3. ↑ EPCglobal in GS1
4. ^ GS1 International
5. ↑ GS1 is a new company for EAN International ( Memento of the original from February 22nd, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
6. ^ GS1 International Office in Brussels
7. ↑ Information technology - Radio frequency identification for item management - Part 6: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz
8. ↑ Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - GS1 Application Identifiers and ASC MH10 Data Identifiers and maintenance
9. ↑ EPC Tag Data Standard ( PDF )
10. ↑ Handling of returnable bottles ( Memento of the original from June 26, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF file; 100 kB)  
11. ↑ GS1 Glossary: ​​no hit on the topic of security features ( memento of the original from July 5, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
12. ^ GS1 US Security Statement
13. ↑ GTIN Intelligence
14. ↑ Customer information at GS1 Austria
15. ↑ Transponder checkout ( Memento of the original from September 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF file; 333 kB) 
16. ↑ Ikea wants to introduce self-service checkouts in Germany ( Memento from April 11, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
17. ↑ Glossary GS1 Germany  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
18. ↑ Regulation No. 2629/97 etc. (PDF file; 51 kB)