EPC code is a new generation of product coding system launched by the International Barcode Organization. The original product bar code is only a code for product classification. EPC assigns a globally unique code to each single product. The EPC code uses a 96-bit (binary) method. Encoding system. The 96-bit EPC code can code 268 million companies, each company can have 16 million product categories, and each type of product has 68 billion independent product codes.
RFID electronic label is a mature technology, EPC electronic label is characterized by a global unified standard, and the price is very cheap. The electronic tag using RFID technology is composed of an electronic chip smaller than 1/5 of a rice grain and a soft antenna. The electronic tag is as thin as paper and can be made into the size of a postage stamp or smaller. EPC electronic tags, through the characteristics of unified standards, greatly reduced prices, and Internet information exchange, have made RFID electronic tag applications surging. In 2006, the global electronic tag application reached 60 to 80 billion pieces per year.
The RFID radio frequency identification system includes an EPC electronic tag and an RFID reader. The EPC electronic tag is a number carrier. The EPC electronic tag information can be read through the RFID reader. The information is transmitted to the Internet of Things middleware through the RFID reader. After processing, it will be stored in a distributed database.
The EPC information network system is mainly composed of three parts: EPC information service, EPC middleware and discovery service:
1. EPC information service (software support system of EPC system), used to realize end users interacting EPC information in the Internet of Things environment.
2. EPC middleware is the link between the RFID reader and the information system. It is used to realize the standardization of each small application environment or system and the communication between them. A common platform and interface are set up between the background application software and the RFID reader, which is usually called middleware. EPC middleware realizes the information interaction between the RFID reader and the back-end application system, captures real-time information and events, or uploads it to the back-end application database system and ERP system, or downstream to the RFID reader.
3. The discovery service obtains EPC data access channel information based on the electronic product code. The EPC information discovery service mainly includes Object Name Resolution Service (ONS) and supporting services.
An EPC IoT system architecture should mainly consist of EPC codes, EPC tags and RFID readers, middleware systems, object name resolution (ONS) servers and EPC information services to realize the global Internet of Things.
The EPC code has enough coding capacity, from the total population of the world (more than 6 billion) to the total number of rice grains in the world (roughly estimated 100 million grains), the EPC code has enough space to identify all these objects. In order to ensure the uniqueness of the EPC code, EPC Global distributes the EPC code of the country through the global coding organization, and has established a corresponding management system.
EPC code is composed of version number, product domain name management, product classification part and serial number. At present, the coding types used in the EPC system are mainly 64-bit, 96-bit and 256-bit.
EPC coding has the following characteristics:
1. Comprehensiveness
EPC codes can be used in the full application of supply chain links such as production, circulation, storage, settlement, tracking and recall.
2. Scientific
The structure is clear, easy to use and maintain.
3. Compatibility
The EPC coding standard is compatible with the currently widely used EAN.UCC coding standard. GTIN is an important part of the EPC coding structure. The widely used GTIN, SSCC, GLN, etc. can be successfully converted to EPC.
