Integrating RFID with your Mainframe November 2004
Agenda RFID Review Integrating RFID The Lightyear Solution Demonstration Slide 2
RFID Timeline RFID developed in WWII to uniquely identify aircraft Wal-Mart declares that top 100 suppliers must prepare to implement RFID Top suppliers of Wal-Mart and DoD must now use RFID 1940 s Jun 2003 Jan 2005 Slide 3
What is RFID? Radio Frequency Identification Tag (with an antenna) Reader Host computer Tag is programmed with information Reader automatically picks up the information when the tag is within range Slide 4
Tag Classes Class 0 Read only, 96 bit Class 1 Read/Write, 96 bit Class 2 Read/Write, 256 bit Class 3 Read/Write, with battery Class 4 Read/Write, active transmitter Slide 5
EPC Code Electronic Product Code Global standard Example of Type 1, 96 bit (as required by Wal-Mart) Header (2 bits) EPC Manager (28 bits) Object Class (24 bits) Serial Number (36 bits) Slide 6
RFID Impact 70% of large companies with at least $5 billion in annual sales will begin RFID timelines and initiatives within the next 18 months 25% of those will spend between $500,000 and $10 million on RFID adoption in 2004 (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu) RFID will generate a large volume of new transactions It must be integrated with existing supply chain and other critical business applications as part of a complete end-to-end solution Some customers have a perception that it will be difficult to integrate RFID with mainframe legacy systems. Slide 7
Integration is the Key Without integration RFID will create another vertical silo that impedes the flow of information within an organization. An enterprise whose business processes - integrated end-to-end across the company and with key partners, suppliers and customers - can respond with speed to any customer demand, market opportunity or external threat. Sam Palmisano Slide 8
Comprehensive Integration Any RFID device to any backend system. Any RFID Device Handheld (Palm or Windows CE) Fixed Any Any Communication Communication Format Format XML, XML, ECI,Text ECI,Text Any Backend CICS, DB2, IMS Linux/Unix/AIX AS/400 Windows Slide 9
Lightyear s Strengths Lightyear s work with RFID builds upon our significant experience with; Mainframe software including CICS, IMS, DB2 and MQ Wireless technologies and wireless connectivity to the mainframe Integration of data and applications across multiple platforms Slide 10
Architecture (Development) CICS CICS application information (Copybook) Database Synchronization Designer (Workbench) Mapping Database End user CICS Connector runtime and mapping database on handheld devices Slide 11
Architecture (Runtime) Wireless communication CICS (CTG on z/os) CTG on a distributed platform Mapping Database End user CICS Connector runtime and mapping database on handheld devices Slide 12
V2.1 Enhancements Copybook Smart Label LCWC Runtime Module Wireless application Generation Palm OS Mapping Database in Palm DB Workbench Mapping Database Database Synchronization (HotSync) Slide 13
Features and Requirements No programming required on the handheld device Map and transaction attributes will be generated by the workbench Communicate with CICS Transaction Gateway CICS Transaction Gateway is used to communicate with CICS TS 2.2 customers have the option to run ECI over TCP/IP No modifications to the server applications No additional S/W on the handheld device communication security (SSL, VPN) is provided on the handheld OS User authentication and authorization can be handled on the runtime module Mapping database is reusable for the various handheld devices no need to regenerate for each different device (Palm, PocketPC...) Supports various devices RFID reader, Barcode scanner, MS card reader Slide 14
Product Packaging Map Workbench (Designer) Runs on any Java platform Currently Java stand-alone application (Java SDK V1.4 required) WSAD Plug-in is in development (4Q 04) Build map tables and ship them to the user Runtime (User) - Consists of data synchronization module and handheld application - Palm device Available now Contains runtime and utilities -Windows CE device Under development now (4Q 04) Slide 15
Workbench - Features Map generation utility Create, manage, and export GUI interface Focus on usability, reusability, efficiency Designer can create the menu navigation Wizard driven COPYBOOK parsing Can define input sources (Bar code, RFID,...) Tool designed for a map designer Most platforms are supported Independent of LCWC runtime Slide 16
Runtime - Palm Device Consists of Palm application and Conduit Emulate maps using Palm UI elements on the fly No additional S/W required Uses Palm database Security S/W based on customer requirements Provides local user authentication (optional) Features Input save and automatic retrieve Screen save with or without the data Create menu navigation based on the designer definition Provides exit code to handle exceptions Can modify host connection information Can select external devices such as Bar Code, RFID devices Slide 17
Define a RFID device Define RFID fields Define a Host Message (Copybook) Read EPC data Send EPC data to Mainframe RFID interface LCWC runtime RFID driver RFID device platform Mapping Database RFID reader or controller Slide 18
Utilities Install/Remove utility Standard windows installer Prepare Hotsync for the runtime module and sample database Requires HotSync twice for the module and sample data User set up utility Sets up a LCWC environment for the user Transparent Specify a user Table Copy utility Pushes table data (database) to the HotSync folder of the selected user Transparent Specify location of table source and a user Then HotSync to refresh the database in the Palm device Slide 19
Setup Utility Utilities User Setup Utility Table Copy Utility Slide 20
Customer Scenario Distribution company is implementing RFID Mission critical CICS inventory application on z/os Additional important applications on AIX and AS/400 platforms Plan to use hand-held readers to scan incoming pallets at the receiving dock Need to integrate the information captured by RFID with the existing CICS application Slide 21
Demonstration Development Define relationship between RFID and CICS Automatically parse I/O messages using Cobol Copybook Create GUI objects for the RFID device Export the database Runtime Demonstrate the RFID reader connecting to the CICS backend Slide 22
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Next Steps Analysts recommend a 2 phase plan; Start simple and address a single requirement Leverage your success by enabling additional applications and extending the integration Slide 31
Pilot Projects Lightyear can help you implement a pilot project to evaluate RFID connectivity to your mainframe or other backend systems You may be a candidate to participate in our beta program to evaluate and help set the direction for our RFID tools... ask us how you can take part in this exciting opportunity Slide 32
Conclusions RFID will have a major impact For some customers it will be a necessity, for others it represents an opportunity to improve efficiencies and reduce costs Integration is the key to a successful RFID implementation Lightyear has the tools and experience to help you Slide 33
To Contact Us Brian Lee (403) 208-6415 brianlee@lightyr.com Steve Hunn (480) 515-1498 shunn@lightyr.com Slide 34