DevCon 2025: Mastering Zebra RFID

Presentation by Suresh Ramamoorthy

Senior Manager Software Engineering, Advanced Location Technologies

Agenda

1. Reader Device Status (Fixed Reader, Sleds)
2. API Overview
3. Real-Time Health Monitoring (IoT Connector for Fixed Readers, IoT Connector for Sleds, Handheld SDK, MDM)
4. Gen2x Extensions
5. Technical Resources
6. Best Practices

Reader Device Status

Fixed Reader Device Status

System: Resource Utilization (CPU, Memory, Flash), Current Time, NTP sync status, Temperature, Up Time, GPO/GPI status, Power (Negotiation, Source).

RFID Radio: Antenna Connection, Active/Inactive, Stats, Resource Utilization (CPU/Memory).

Reader Gateway: Interface Connection (Data), Resource utilization (CPU/Memory), Stats.

User Apps: App Running status, Resource utilization (CPU/Memory), Stats, Up Time.

Health: Antenna, CPU, RAM, Flash, NTP, RFID Radio, Reader Gateway, User Apps.

Errors / Warnings: Antenna, CPU, RAM, Flash, NTP, RFID Radio, Reader Gateway, User Apps.

GPI Events: GPI Pin Status (Low or High), Time Stamp.

Firmware Update Progress: Update Progress Download (%), overall progress (%), details of update.

User App Events: Async Event via Data payload with timestamp.

RFID Sleds Device Status

System: Current Time, NTP sync status, Temperature, Up Time, Power (Source: Cradle, USB, Charger, Battery), Model, API version, Serial Number, Network Info (Wi-Fi, Ethernet), Terminal Connection (Bluetooth, Cradle, eConnex).

RFID Radio: Active/Inactive, Stats.

MQTT: MQTT version, Connection status, Stats.

Health: RFID Radio, Scanner, System.

Errors / Warnings: RFID Radio, Scanner, System.

Config Change: Reports an event when config changed locally.

Update Progress: Firmware/Certs Download Status (%), overall progress (%), Update Status.

Battery: Health, status, charge %.

API Overview

3C Framework: Advance RFID Integration Quickly

Connect: Discover available readers, Establish Connection.

Configure: Setup Region (Persistent), Customize the reader to meet specific needs (Transient), Setup Event Streaming, Settings for optimal functionality, User preferences.

Control: Achieve optimal performance, Control Start/Stop operation, Manage Software Update, Reboot, Factory Reset, Monitor Health Status.

RFID API Structure

Generic Reader: Reading Tags (Inventory), Programming Tags (Tag Access) (Read, Write, Lock, Kill).

Reader Management: Managing Reader, Region Setting, Software Update, Factory Reset, Reboot, Configuration, Monitor.

Real-Time Health Monitoring

IoT Connector - Fixed Reader

Inbound Interface: Management (HTTP/2 REST/cloud - Default), Control (MQTT).

Endpoints:

• REST/MQTT Broker/Azure IoT Hub/AWS IoT Core: WebSocket Client, Azure IoT Hub, AWS IoT Core, TCP/IP Client, HID Keyboard Emulation*.

Events Streaming: Management Events, Status Channel, Tag Data Events, Data Channel 1, Data Channel 2.

Outbound Interface: Monitoring (Configure Endpoint, Subscribe, Consume Events, DA App Events if any).

Connect: Device Provisioning (Reader Web UI/RFID .NET SDK / 123RFID Desktop, End Point Configuration, Management Events, Management Interface), Discover & Connect (FX Series: RM Command EnrollToCloud to /Control (POST), FXR90: Reader automatically connects to IOT Connector Endpoints configured, REST: /Cloud/LocalRestLogin to get JWT Token for session).

Configure: Setup Event Streaming (set_config to enable interested status notifications, Heartbeat (Interval: 60 Sec default), GPI, Firmware Upgrade, Error/Warnings, User App Custom events).

Control:

• Events: Heartbeat (CPU, RAM, FLASH, uptime, NTP sync status, temperature, radio (active), Antennas Connected, Stats, user apps (running, utilization, uptime)), GPI (Port No, High/Low), Firmware Update progress (Download, overall, details, status).
• Disconnect: FX Series: RM Command disconnectFromCloud to /Control (POST), FXR90: REST: Session Timeout, Others: Retries till max timeout and disconnects.

Demo for fixed readers (MQTT): Shows the Zebra RFID Reader Configuration interface for FX9600.

IoT Connector - RFID Sleds

Inbound Interface: Management (MQTT), Control (MQTT).

Endpoints: MQTT Broker.

Events Streaming: Management Events, Status Channel, Tag Data Events, Data Channel 1, Data Channel 2.

Outbound Interface: Monitoring (Configure Endpoint, Subscribe, Consume Events).

Connect: Device Provisioning (Staging) (RFID SDK / 123RFID Desktop / Mobile, End Point Configuration, Management, Events), Discover & Connect (Reader automatically connects to IOT Endpoint (MQTT broker)).

Configure: Setup Event Streaming (config_events to enable interested status notifications, Alerts, Exception, Periodic: Heartbeat (Interval: 60 Sec default)).

Control:

• Events: Alerts, Firmware update, Download Info (Firmware, Certs), Power source (USB, Wall charger, Cradle), Temperature Info (RFID PA, Ambient), Network Status (Interface, network info), System Exceptions, Battery.
• Exception: (RFID, System, Scanner)
• Heartbeat: (Inventory, Battery)
• Disconnect: Retries till max timeout and disconnects.

Device Provisioning - Configure Wi-Fi Profile: Instructions using 123RFID Desktop to connect RFD40/90 device, navigate to Configuration, select Communication, and access WiFi settings.

Device Provisioning - Configure IoT Endpoint: Using 123 Desktop/Mobile application to create IoT endpoints for RFD40/90 devices, with an example for SOTI MDM. Configuration parameters include URL, Protocol, Port, Verification type, MQTT publish & subscription topics.

Device Monitoring - Demo using MQTT client: Demonstrates device monitoring via MQTT client using 123RFID Desktop.

Handheld SDK

Monitoring Handhelds / Sleds

Connect: Discover & Connect (Transport: USB / Bluetooth, Discover Readers.GetAvailableRFIDReaderList(), Connect Connect()).

Configure: Setup Event Streaming (Status Notifications addEventsListener, setReaderDisconnectEvent eventStatusNotify BATTERY_EVENT).

Control:

• API: Battery Statistics (Asset Info, Charge Cycles consumed, Status, state of Health, Config.getBatteryStats()).
• Events: Battery - Cause, Level, Charging status.
• Disconnect: disconnect(), Dispose().

MDM

SOTI Connect

SOTI Connect is a Mobile Device Management (MDM) provider that allows managing multiple device types easily.

The interface shows device details, including Device Type, Device State, Last Update, and connection status for devices like Zebra RFD90 and RFD40.

SOTI Connect Demo: Displays detailed device information within the SOTI Connect platform, including wired and wireless LAN settings, device status, and connection history.

Technical Resources

Resources

IOT Connector, SDK:

• IoT Connector for Fixed Reader: https://zebradevs.github.io/rfid-ziotc-docs/index.html
• Alerts/Events: https://zebradevs.github.io/rfid-ziotc-docs/best_practices/configure_mgmtEvents.html#
• JSON Schema: https://zebradevs.github.io/rfid-ziotc-docs/schemas/async_event_schema/index.html
• Postman Collections for REST: https://zebradevs.github.io/rfid-ziotc-docs/best_practices/resources/index.html

IoT Connector for Handheld Reader:

• SDK/Tool:
• RFID Reader Tech Docs: https://techdocs.zebra.com/dcs/rfid/
• RFID Reader SDK for Windows (.NET) – includes Demo App (Exe, Source), SDK: https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/rfid-software/zebra-rfid-sdk-for-windows.html
• 123RFID Desktop v3.0.0.33 or above: https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/rfid-software/123rfid.html

Contact Zebra for support: https://www.zebra.com/us/en/about-zebra/contact-zebra/contact-tech-support.html

Gen2x Extensions

Gen2 Compatible Feature

• Impinj TagFocus™: Enables capturing of more unique tags by controlling the persistent time of session 1 flag.
• Tag Quieting: Further ability to control Gen2 Session Flags.
• Impinj Protected Mode: Enables customer privacy by making tags invisible to readers.
• Impinj FastID™: Ability to read EPC and TID together.
• Short-range reading: Limits range of tag.
• Impinj Integra™: Ensures tag memory is written properly and confirms how well bits are written.
• Impinj Authentication: Enables tag authentication.

Q2: Android

Practical Use cases

• Impinj TagFocus™: Cycle Count - Reads tags in range, useful for large tag populations.
• Tag Quieting: Package Loading Use case - Reads tags coming into the truck, high and constant reads during loading operations.
• Impinj Protected Mode: Retail Application Example - Item Sale (customer loyalty number associated with tag's PIN, reader makes item invisible after purchase), Item Return (loyalty number used to look up PIN from backend, reader uses PIN to make item visible upon return).

RFID Best Practices

IOT Connector

• Data Usage / Cost control: Subscribe for required notifications, enable required data payloads, restrict reporting intervals, use tag filtering and batching.
• Connection management: REST allows one connection (Management, Control and Events).
• Security: Use secured connection, certificates for secure connection, latest software updates.

Optimal Performance

• MQTT: QoS 0 (Fire and Forget), QoS 1 (At least Once), QoS 2 (Exactly Once).
• Web Socket: Reconnect after timeout.
• Monitor events for thresholds and antenna status.
• Read Memory banks (TID, User) only if needed.
• Set appropriate RF Settings (Operating Environment).
• Batching and Retention for managing network conditions.
• DA Apps to make decisions inside the reader before data flowing out.

Questions?

Thank You

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