[Product Launch] Embuilded Intelligence connects building processes with the use of internet of things (IoT) technologies

The Embuilded Intelligence connects building processes with the use of internet of things (IoT) technologies. 

Embuilded Intelligence was launched in 2020 by Hong Kong RFID ltd, a pioneer and a  leading provider of construction-related IT tools in the region. Embuilded Intelligence’s best selling products have already been used by over 90% of the contractors, evolved in the over 10000 stories of the housing projects. 

EI’s software and hardware help digitalizing site daily activities, connecting fields and factories to site offices, providing actionable information, improving asset management, and maximizing productivity. 

Embuilded Intelligence includes the following; 

• Digital Works Supervision System (DWSS), a Web UI and App interface for site records digitalization.

• Asset Management System for Plants and Lifting Gears (AMS, LGMS)

• Building Component Management System (BCMS)

• Worker Registration System (WRS)

• Support various IoT sensors by “Imprezz” portal, provides dashboard and alerts/alarms

• Support GXBIM for 3D awareness and drone surveying.

For more, please visit www.embuilded.com

[Product Launch] GXBIM - A Collaborative Working Plaftorm on Web for Geo-tagging Multimedia and BIM Data

Hong Kong RFID, with over 15 years of experience providing IoT (internet of things) for smart construction sites, has now been partnering with a GIS data expert GEOXPERT, to deliver a "Collaborative Working Plaftorm on Web for Geo-tagging Multimedia and BIM", namely GXBIM. 

GXBIM, as a part of Smart Site Supervision System (SSSS), is a visualization module to display geo-tagged data; such as 

• Drone survey video, 360 cameras, time lapse photo 
• Photos from smartphones during inspection or CCTV cameras
• IoT Sensors for people; such as GPS position, people counting, worker smart-tag (helmet beacons), proximity sensors, heat stress/temperature sensing, etc.   
• IoT Sensors for machinery; such as machine GPS position, vibration and fuel consumption, door/gate opens, lift/crane position, flood sensors, etc. 
• IoT Sensors for the environment; weather station data, toxic gas detection, groundwater level detection, noise level, seismic vibration, etc. 
• Data from RFID and building components management system  (CITF pre-approved PA20-046) 

Entitled to up to 75% grant from CITF

This GXBIM is successfully admitted in the pre-approved list by CITF (Construction Innovation and Technology Fund), a fund established by the government to support technologies with proven effectiveness in boosting productivity and uplifting building quality.

(Quote CITF Application number : PA-162)

• Download our GXBIM Brochure
• More about Geoxpert : https://www.geoxpert.com/
• More about GXBIM :  https://www.gxbim.net/
• More about CITF : https://www.citf.cic.hk/

[Product Preview] AI Camera for Safety Helmet Detection

[Product Preview] Safety Helmet Detection Using Automatic Video Recognition. 

Hong Kong RFID provides a smart TV box to connect with cameras in construction site entry, to detect safety helmet. Workers who pass through the camera will be alerted with visual LED and buzzer triggered. Sending photo-records to site owner is optional but the records are definitely be saved locally with a time-stamp.    

Product Features:

• A low cost smart TV box with human body detection algorithm based on deep learning
• Plug and Play with minimal settings; 
• provide alarm/alert for workers NOT wearing a helmet
• Offline operable, supports resumable transmission when network was down. 
• Low power consumption, Max 8W. 
• Support H.265/H.264 real time video decoding. 
• Embedded database and web-service
• Support a wide range of camera IPTV models that already installed on site. 
  

For More information:  product catalog downloadable.  

Email to :  sales@hk-rfid.com

Or contact here.

BLE Beacon as a Contact History Recorder Social Distancing Solution for COVID-19

According to WHO, one of the worst characteristics of COVID-19, is the incubation period (also known as the pre-symptomatic period, is the time between exposure to the virus and symptom onset) is on average 5-days and can be up to 14 days.

This makes every confirmed case difficult to trace the origin of infection. And dramatic measures such as completely locking down the whole premises and test or isolation of people far more than necessary are done.   

Business runners, such as offices and factories are looking for ways to ensure safe social distance and also the solution of contact tracking.  Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transponder can be of great help.


KEY Features

• A lightweight battery-powered a beacon that automatically warns staff when they get too close (less than 2m), by light and by buzzer
• Provide an anonymous ID for the staff or the wearer
• Record up to 34000 records of the encountered ID (less than 2m), downloadable with gateway or smartphone app.
• Provide traceability of contact history if a COVID-19 case the confirmed.

PROS:

• The proximity warning DOES NOT rely on any network or smartphone.
• Continuous 6-month operation (light ON, buzzer off, non-stop), with an ON/OFF button to extend the battery life.
• Replaceable CR2477 lithium coin

For more on product specification - BLE Tag Social Distancing Solution HKRAT-BLE-M52, Contact Sales@hk-rfid.com, 

Non-contact infrared thermal imagers for mass fever screening (Part 3 of 3)

How accurate is Thermal Imaging?

For a thermal imaging instrument with NETD about 50 mK; a typical temperature measurement accuracy: 

±0.3℃ with blackbody    (a rough estimation by 0.05 times 6 to include 99% )
±1℃ without blackbody 

Absolute Accuracy is expensive to acquire and maintain

A blackbody radiator is basically a scientistic instrument that requires careful installation and calibration. The power cables and mounting racks have put too many restrictions on the scene and limited the applications. 

In a black-body installed system, the result of getting a false absolute accuracy is a catastrophe. 

With big data, deep learning and human sciences, the system can learn over time to become smarter and even more accurate in setting the new threshold, reducing False Negative primary and False Positives. 

It is not about accurate temperature reading, it is about how to screen out the fever population among the crowds.

Independent on the environmental change, an A.I. algorithm can always pick out the outlier and the febrile population without absolute temperature data, even though there will be a portion of false-positive (especially for female in ovulation period, there will be a ~avg 0.5-degree Celcius). 

Visitors who raised the alarm will be directed to another counter or quarantine section for further inspections. 

How large traffic can thermal imaging cope with?  

An affordable thermal imaging system can easily achieve over 250 people/mins still or moving, even though for a better flow management consideration, it is controlled to about 120 people per minute in real practice.


Who to contact?

For Chinese's material, installation in China : https://www.purpleriver.cn/
For HK and overseas : https://www.hk-rfid.com/contact-us-c5pg

Mask saves life. Disposable ordinary-use face mask order available

Please go to follow link to order protective mask.

Surgical Mask, disposable 3-ply, adult, 50pcs/box, 75 box/carton

• Brand: Defencom
• Country of origin: China
• Produced by automated production line under hygiene control
• T/CTCA 7-2019, Ordinary protective mask
• BS EN 149:2001+A1:2009, Respiratory protective devices: filtering half masks to protect against particles.
• Bacterial filtering efficiency: more than 95%
• Particle filtering efficiency: more than 80%
• CE, CMA, CCT test reports
• Ship from Warehouse: Hong Kong

Order Link:
https://bit.ly/2UAZT0i

Non-contact infrared thermal imagers for mass fever screening (Part 2 of 3)

How to tell whether the infrared thermal imager system is a good one?

Thermal imager system is comprised of following components:

• Thermal imager (Infrared), usually the one with a smaller lens.
• Visual camera (RGB), usually the one with a larger lens.  
• An image processing unit, similar to a DVR/NVR in CCTV system 
• Black body radiator (or black body radiation source) is a box-size powered device which provides a constant K number for thermal imager to compare and provide a close to accurate absolute reading
• A display and alert system is same as what a security system should have.

Technology is evolving fast, components manufacturers are competing with each other by keeping upgrading their resolution, processing speed and shrinking the size. Each component has its own core technologies. 

Thermal Imager 

For commercial applications, uncooled thermal imager is commonly used, graded by a number called NETD (sensitivity, the lower the better) and the resolution pixel number; e.g. 160 x 120 or 320 x 240 pixels, the higher number gives higher cost. 

NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference), in mK unit (1000th K), is the number correlates to the distribution of background noise (standard derivation); the smaller number means smaller  +/- tolerance of measured temperature. 

The K measurement from thermal imager refers to the K compares with the background environment which is also changing. That is why they need a known temperature as a reference in order to provide an absolute temperature reading. This reference can be provided by a Black body radiator. 

This black body radiator source provides a very simple function, a steady K usually set at 37.5C in real practice, yet comes with a very expensive price which is almost the same as the thermal camera. 

Image processing unit

Image process unit (IPU) is just a small computer with a combo of hardware and software to processes the digital signals from thermal and RGB cameras, recognizes the human parts, performs thousands of IR data statistics on each pixel per second, encode/decode, and correlate both images together. 

The best option is to have this program can be running on an embedded system placed inside the camera body with conventional digital video outputs directly to display, but there are lower-cost systems that run on a rugged PC outside. The former is more reliable, plug and play and independent on the PC environment.

The cost of a thermal image system is way more expensive than an IP CCTV camera system is because of this IPU. It requires super-fast processing power and a mathematical model to process these two digital signals. The complexity is far beyond the typical encoding/decoding function of what typical video chipsets provide. 

To deal with this vast amount of temperature and pixel data and patterns, each manufacturer of this system has its own IPs as the core technology. And here comes the novel use of machine learning. 

CPU, GPU, and now NPU (Neural Processing Unit)
Since the outbreak of SARS in 2003, manufacturers have been developing a proprietary machine-learning algorithm or deep learning by NPU or infrastructure developed by Intel, Huawei, etc. Having the intelligence developed in the camera, so-called edge computing, can save a lot of cost by using entry-level PC. It does not rely on a powerful external PC with expensive high-end CPU/GPU to provide an acceptable response time. This is a very important concern especially for multiple cameras with high-res dual-lens (IR and RGB) cameras.

(to-be-continued)

Non-contact infrared thermal imagers for mass fever screening (Part 1 of 3)

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus, people have been advised to refrain from work or school, and minimize social contact, wear masks and be vigilant to hand hygiene. Other than those health workers and medical professionals, there is a lot of people taking risks going to their workplace to keep this city running.

Early detection of fever people (febrile people) and segregation is a must to prevent the spread of infectious diseases (COVID-19 or influenza) in workplaces or schools.

The best method will be a test kit per person, to perform an accurate screening, daily before going to work. However, it wouldn't be possible in any future.

According to the news reports and CDC reports, coronavirus cases come with high fever and dry cough, though not all. Elevated body temperature is one of the possible warnings of coronavirus.

How to enforce a body temperature check in your premise?

How to enforce a body temperature check for every visitor before they are entering public transports, buildings, factories, and schools?

There are different methods to check the temperature; they also come with different "normal body temperature".

1. Mercury thermometer
2. Infrared ear probe thermometer 
3. Infrared forehead thermometer  
4. Infrared thermal imaging 

Guideline of thermometers
https://www.mdd.gov.hk/english/emp/emp_gp/files/thermometer_eng.pdf

What temperature you are measuring?

Fevering people have a higher core (body) temperature which simply refers to the blood temperature in brain and heart. While the mercury thermometer (oral method) remains the most accurate method and best reference to body core temperature of all, it is impossible to use this as a screening measure.

Infrared ear probe thermometer is simply not an effective way due to the close-contact of operators, the use of consumable, and the lack of accuracy due to many reasons.

Skin temperature can be measured at a distance by using infrared sensors in both handheld and camera settings. Infrared forehead thermometer measures forehead skin temperature may provide a slightly better accuracy reading if it is performed by a well-trained staff and regular black-body calibration.

Still, it is still far from practical to have students/workers lining up in rush hours for a forehead scanning; exposing the staff to have close contact is also a problem.

The final solution goes to Infrared Thermal Imaging

Infrared thermal imaging is widely adapted since the SARS outbreak in 2003, it measures multiple points of skin temperatures, at a distance up to 5-10m. The sensitivity has been greatly improved by both using better sensors and better algorithms or models since the data captured is huge.

By passing through a thermal camera, without stop by any counter or even slow down, hundreds of data points samples are taken on visitor's forehead, face, hands, legs, and any exposed skin. It is unnoticeable by visitors.


Infrared Thermal Imaging is well-proven and reliable

An uncooled infrared thermal imager can easily take over 50 readings/sec over 384 x 288 pixels, which is a 5.5M data/sec.

More data points mean machine intelligence can work out all the statistics throughout the whole human body to provide the best estimate to the true core body temperature.

The A.I. training model can be trained by the numerous sample on both body readings and surroundings at every minute to offset any change in environments.

Surveillance camera companies are now providing a wide range of infrared thermal imaging solutions to the market.

This is why Infrared Thermal Imaging counters are commonly seen in airport arrival halls during the outbreak of the diseases.




(IMPORTANT NOTE: You can only ever measure the temperatures of the surfaces with a thermal imager; you cannot look into something or through something.)

(To-be-continued)

Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products

In the past, general consumers always feel indifferent about RFID system for consumer products because they are not benefited from any of this IT investment on this from the brand owner.

It is because the RFID system that commonly used for logistics and industrial environment are UHF (ultra high frequency, which features a long range and multiple tag reading capability in RFID technologies)  which is also restricted by regional RF-regulation (check here) and highly dependent on infrastructures; it requires a proper industrial reader with a specific program to read.

(Photo shows the RFID price tag which will no longer be useful after leaving the shop)

Besides, there are many systems established for the logistics between suppliers, brand owner, warehouse, 3rfd Party Logistics (3PLs), retail shops. One single system that can connect all these 5 parties can be a solution but it is very expensive and required a lot of support and training.

Above problems can easily be fixed by NFC, which store websites easily accessible with the use of an NFC-enabled android smartphone without any app. Industrial NFC readers are generally much cheaper than UHF counterpart as well.

Now the rise of UHF & NFC hybrid tag opens a whole new opportunity for brand-owner to reconsider how they can connect with suppliers and interact with the general customers, instead of using 2 separate labels, now with the use of ONE single label, the product data is now accessible by consumer and all parties of the supply chain. 

The hybrid label is a standard ISO18000-6C UHF label and it is also a NFC-forum type II tag, which is recognizable by any NFC smartphone.

Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products. It provides more engagement with end-users.

Case A
A luxurious mechanical wristwatch brand can now have a multi-purpose warranty card that
i) readable by NFC smartphone for warranty and product registration; and
ii) readable by retail shop desktop interactive mirror with plays marketing video if the warranty card with 1m reading range to the UHF reader device.

Case B
A famous brand liquor can now have bottle label that using NFC for anti-counterfeit and UHF for production.

Case C
A professional camping tent brand can make use of the NFC to interact with the consumer and instruct the users step by step how to setup and get the tent back to the bag. And the same tag is also being used as product ID which associates with the model number in the manufacturing.

Case D
A luxurious ladies fashions and hang-bags brand can use the hybrid label for its raw materials logistics to control their trademarked leather material stock control. Their international supplier can all use easy-access NFC for data input, whilst the brand owners warehouse can use UHF for bulk scanning for better effectiveness.

Case E
Baggage tag ID can now be detectable in their conveyor belt to x-ray. It is also accessible through NFC smartphone for pictures upload and boarding information updates by the operators.

For more information, please check the ProductoID solution page; Q&A about Dual Frequency label

Hybrid RFID Tag fights Baggage Loss in Cruise-line Business (Business case sharing)

"The cruise ship has set sail, and I still haven't received my luggage." This complaint is the worst nightmare for any cruise ship hotel director. "It may take weeks or more to recover the lost luggage, or never." A hotel director of a luxury megaton cruise ship reported.

To find one lost-baggage may seem challenging enough. However, the embarkation is even more challenging; during each embarkation process, their staff has to load up to 6000 pieces of checked baggage on board and deliver them to the correct rooms within just 2 hours, all taking place behind the sight of the boarding passengers.

How to deliver passenger's the "checked-luggage" into the correct cabin (100% correct with zero lost) during a short-embarkation time? It is a big question which troubles all cruise lines.

A cruise line in Hong Kong has recently made the best uses of NFC and UHF combined card (dual frequency tag), to keep track on all passenger's "checked-luggage" (the baggage to-be-delivered to rooms by porters and cruise staffs).

During the embarkation, all luggage will be attached with a dual-frequency tag on, with a listing of the guest's name and cabin room number using re-writable ink.

Hundreds of UHF RFID readers and thousands of IP cameras has been installed on the ceiling on board to monitor the whole process of baggage delivery starting from port-side check-in, loading on a trolley, boarding by staff, and individual delivery to the cabin, to prevent any loss of baggage.

(Photo shows Luggage pictures are captured by smartphone app and stored in the system.)

Dual-frequency tags provide the best mix of equipment on the ship. Stationary RFID readers use UHF (ultra high frequency) for long range reading, they are strategically positioned inside the cruise ship, such as shell door luggage lobbies, halls, aisles/passageway and lift lobbies; sensitive enough to capture the passage of any tagged luggage.


On the other hand, HF (high frequency, NFC is one of the HF) is used in check-in and staff's delivery confirmation because HF/NFC is a very common feature on staff's handheld terminals. These staff's multi-function handheld terminals are always installed with numerous apps for other business flow such as voice-com, tasks-assignment or reporting, which would be very expensive and bulky to equip UHF features.

All baggage-delivery staff will use HF mobile android handheld for 1-to-1 baggage scanning, and also record the room number after they have delivered them, simply by tapping the handheld on the door tag. The baggage's image is also recorded in the system, just in case.

In case there are lost-baggage reported, this baggage tracking system will tell the baggage location whether it is on the ship or still on the port. It is very common due to the overloaded x-ray machines or detained by security, and the passengers on board weren't notified.

The system owner has soon found this system really does pay off by reduced luggage lost and late departure penalty from the port;  It also rebuilds the confidence of passenger to use checked-luggage service; Faster embarkation does boost the income from other entertainment business on board. And finally, the improved cruise line brand image is also invaluable.

The comprehensive UHF RFID reader system installed on board will further extend their functions to the SCM (supply chain management) in cargo loading, hotel-asset tracking such as uniform or linen tracking (prevent the loss of hotel towels) and personnel location tracking, etc.

For any inquiry, please send email to sales@hk-rfid.com

www.hk-rfid.com

Material testing labs use RFID to trace specimen progress and release certificate (Business Case Sharing)

Hong Kong RFID ltd has installed a RFID-enabled specimen tracking system (RFID-TSDS) for a commercial construction material testing laboratory in Hong Kong. The testing lab wants to improve their professional corporate image and specimen traceability, so they are now using RFID as a tool to trace the process from collection til the printing of reports.

During the on-site sampling, the gathered sample will be given a specimen ID, with the GPS location and staff  ID recorded using a mobile android terminal. The samples will then be shipped to laboratory by a league of vehicles. The ID will be associated with a series of measurement equipment, environmental conditions measurement, and the testing results/photos by automatic data acquisition, with the least human interruption. And finally, the lab manager can review the data and sign the report with their professional judgments or comments.

The installed RFID system supports 2 types specimen; steel rebar, and concrete sample cube. The far-range UHF technology provides continuous ID-reading during sample measurement, even when doing disruptive compression test or elongation test. This system ensures a 100% association of Sample ID with the measurement data and avoids manual tempering the testing results. And of course, the UHF has it's unique innate ID being recorded and memory being well-protected from copying and overwrite.

Equipment that supports RFID. 

• Compression test equipment (INSTRON)
• Bending and elongation test
• Weight measurement
• 3D size measurement

For more information, please direct contact: Sales@hk-rfid.com

LPG Cylinder Management using RFID (Business Case Sharing)

A Hong Kong liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier has recently installed our RFID system to the management of LPG cylinder. We have provided a total RFID solution includes all software and hardware needed.

RFID instead of Barcode
Instead of using barcode as the method to identify and manage LPG cylinder, RFID has been suggested to the clients as its abilities to survive under harsh environment, store larger amount of information and its characteristics of longer lifespan, enhanced reading range and speed.

Besides, using RFID enables the client to have a better and convenient ongoing management and maintenance record. Information and status can easily be updated by tapping the tag with a handheld reader (or android smartphone).

Activity and Maintenance Record can work with CRM
With this RFID-enabled management system, every LPG cylinder will be tagged with a RFID tag as a unique tracking identifier. Within the workflow, every cylinder must be identified each time when they are sent out, consumed and returned. Each LPG cylinder, after returned, will undergo inspection and condition monitoring. These processes will be performed by different parties (the manager, the worker, the driver....) at different locations with RFID readers and those records will be updated to the same web-based platform.

Web-based Management System 
The web-based management system provides a convenient path for different users to access and update the workflow and the history record of each LPG cylinder. Item lists, user lists, history records and etc. are all available to retrieve on web. Besides, the instant location of each cylinder can also be traced by GPS and synchronised through 4G data cellular.



For details, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com OR visit http://www.hk-rfid.com/asset--management-system

Bakery Shop uses Washable RFID to ensure Uniform Hygiene (Business Case Sharing)

A 50-year-old Japanese bakery (the client) in Hong Kong uses washable RFID tag for uniform tracking. This specialized system will assist the company through the entire life cycle of each individual uniform from purchasing to daily use, cleaning, and disposal.

Hygiene is very important for food industry, from production to retail shop front; The client has newly set up centralized laundry-house, deployed latest system, to manage employee's uniform;

The system works by embedding a UHF tag inside each uniform before distributing to each employee. The UHF tag is specially designed to endure laundry washing cycles. Each UHF tag also carries a unique ID so that the company can sort out different uniforms and know that where the uniform comes from (which shop) and who it belongs to (employee).

Each tag can withstand over 200 cycles of dry-cleans; and more for standard washing.

With this solution, we can see how a centralized uniform laundry can improve their process efficiency by easier sorting using RFID, i.e. fully utilize the wash drum space by mixing different origins of uniforms; and sort the uniform effectively before delivery.

It also helps companies to better control the hygiene and condition of employee's uniform and hence they can present a neater, higher quality and more professional image to customers.

Step 1 Tagging: iron the washable RFID tag, 200C for just 10sec
Step 2 Associate: link the clothes with labor ID or retail shop location
Step 3 Trace: start washing count, and monitor through website

Overall, this customized laundry tag solution can help the company to achieve:
1. Enhanced uniform laundry efficiency and down-costing
2. More accountable and visible distribution network
3. Loss and damage reduction, and most importantly
4. Effectively control uniform hygiene standard and present a better brand image

(photo shows the ironing process to adhere heat sealable RFID tag on uniform)

Keyword: Gym, hotel, linen, hospital, uniform, washable, fabric, RFID

For details, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com OR visit http://www.hk-rfid.com/asset--management-system

Asset Management and Maintenance of Casino Furniture using RFID (Business Case Sharing)

A casino in Macau has recently deployed our RFID solution into the management of their furniture and equipment. It has been told that the traditional management method, used by the casino, was inefficient. As there are wide varieties of furniture and equipment inside the casino, ranging from tiny objects to bulky objects, it was difficult for the casino to maintain a clear management system with detailed activity record and repair history.

Not traditional, Not Barcode, It's RFID
We have provided a tailor-made RFID AMS solution to the casino for specifically managing furniture and equipment. Every furniture and equipment are tagged with a RFID tag and therefore each of them possesses a unique ID. Using RFID can ensure the casino a more stable, secure and enduring method to identify and manage all assets. Besides, RFID provides a relatively longer reading range than other method like the barcode. It is far more efficient and effective for the casino to manage large quantities of a bulky object.

Specialised web-based management system
The management system is based on the webpage to ensure a wide adaptability.  All RFID readers are connected to the system and all data read from the tag will be collected and stored. A full record of activity and repair history of each asset will be available on the web-based system. A multi-party log-in function is also made available in this case as to provide access to other parties (other than the casino) to record the repair history.

Integratable with 3rd party AMS software
Besides using the AMS software provided by us, clients can also integrate our RFID system (tags & readers) with their current using AMS software like IBM Maximo or any other desired AMS software outside. Flexibility is greatly enhanced through the improvement on the compatibility.

For details, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com OR visit http://www.hk-rfid.com/asset--management-system

Hussar Card Tag is used for School Attendance in Singapore (Business Case Sharing)

A primary school in Singapore has recently implanted our RFID technology to the campus management of student attendance. 

With this new generation campus management system, the school has no longer needed to manually track and manage student attendance. They can now easily capture the time and attendance for classes and school automatically with the ability to access attendance history on the computer or through other smart devices.

This RFID campus management system mainly consists three parts.

1. RFID readers and antennas are installed at the pedestrian entry gates to detect the direction of student’s movement with accurate time record. 
2. Every student will be given an RFID-enabled student card. The card will be detected when the student passes through the entry gate. 
3. The system is backed up by a customized software which storing all student general information and attendance information.

Parents are also benefited from the use of this system. Notification about the location of student can be automatically sent to their parent through a mobile app. The daily attendance record is also available in the app for better and convenient tracking.

RFID reader and antenna installed at the ceiling of the entry gate.

Screen capture of Mobile App

Screen capture of web-based campus management system

Hardware for reference: Hussar Card Tag (HKRAT-CT02), Hussar Slim Tag (HKRAT-NT02), Empress EM02 ethernet reader, Empress EM02 Handheld android mobile, directional 2.4GHz antenna


For details, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com

Coffee Machine Rental Business using NFC for CRM (Business Case Sharing)

A catering food provider who also runs a business of Café machine rental has used NFC tag for asset tracking and rental service renewal. 

Faster Rental Renewal
Their clients (catering business owner) can now check the rental service, tapping a Smartphone on the NFC tag on the machine; and reorder coffee beans or ice-cream in the future.

The “total coffee solution” provider provides catering machines which include all sorts of fully/semi-automatic coffee machines; capsule systems; brewer and even ice-cream refrigerators. They also provide coffee-business consultancy, after sales care and maintenance of the machines.

Do Not Use QR-code or Barcode
Professional coffee machines are not cheap to own and to run. The on-going maintenance and managing of such distributed assets always troubled the client. While the barcode is the easiest and cheapest solution, the label is vulnerable in catering environment where is always wet and crowded. While QR-code shares most of the NFC functions but its copiable, good for marketing but it is easy to cheat for any asset tracking or attendance taking. 

Locate the Asset by GPS
By tapping smartphone (with a business App installed) on NFC chip, it can provide an instant linkage between machine ID (on NFC chip) and the GPS location of the smartphone. The machine owner can well-aware of the machine location and the condition as reported by the technicians/users on-site, through a simple web-access.

This GPS information also helps to trace the business location which may be bound by rental contracts. 

The use of NFC on-metal tag becomes easier as the NFC smartphone is so popular and affordable. 

Faster Replenishment

In the future, the café shop owner can also replenish the consumables through the NFC tag to order to run the business; such as coffee capsule, coffee beans, sugars, milk, etc.

Hong Kong RFID has provided the NFC on-metal tag and developed an App for this application. This system also fits for any business which involves frequent machine or equipment ID checking for stock-take or maintenance operations; such as Audio Video equipments, refurbishing service or cleaning services. 

More about RFID-enabled asset management system, LINK.

For details, please contact info@hk-rfid.com

Q&A about Dual Frequency label

Smartrac has announced the latest dual frequency label using EM company’s IC EM4423. There are questions regarding this revolutionary technology so we summarized a Q&A about that.

What is a Dual Frequency label?

• “The inlay’s EM4423 chip combines two functionalities on one single die: the RAIN RFID technology used for long-range application purposes; and the NFC technology used to exchange data in close proximity. Both protocols may share a common, unique ID.” [quoted from Smartrac announcement]
• NFC and UHF protocol now share the same IC. It means the same information are now accessible through different hardware (smartphone with NFC or UHF handheld reader).
• Apparently, single IC on a single label is supposed to be cheaper than 2 labels. However, the price always heavily depends on quantity and forms like packaging methods/materials.
• One thing is for sure, NFC readers are also way much cheaper than UHF readers.

How does it different if I simply put one NFC label and one UHF label together, instead of using dual?

• You need to write individual tag (NFC and UHF) if you want to update/write the info. It causes a higher the system cost, not to mention the equipment and manpower.
• Get more clumsy if you need to match both info.

Photo: Special adaptor is needed to read UHF tag on a smartphone, but NFC doesn't requrie any.

Why we need both NFC and UHF label, instead of just either one?

• NFC and UHF are designed for different applications using different radio frequency and protocol. They behave so differently that just like brothers with exactly opposite personalities.
• NFC is easily readable by most of the android smartphone; readers are also much cheaper, some USB desktop reader cost less than US30. Proximity 1-on-1 reading is the main drawback but it is fine with general application like tapping to see the product’s URL link.
• UHF provides much faster, longer range and multiple-tag reading performance; it is perfect for retails, logistic and manufacturing process; producers are much more willing to pay for the efficiency provided by more expensive device or gadgets.

Photo: Smartphone can read NFC (and even update E-link display), while UHF (upper label)  works in longer reading range.

Where would this Dual label be best used?

• Exhibition visitor cards now can have a long reading range for people counts, while a shorter range for booth interaction.
• Machine/product serial number label or ID labels are now not just for retail/logistics, general public user can also access to product information page for interaction with brands like authenticates / promotion / new product notice, etc.

Photo:  NFC 1-on-1 reading is perfect for wine biding applications. UHF's long range reading become handy in logistic applications.

What kind of software required to read/write Dual label?

• “PRODUCTO  ID” Solution provided by HK-RFID now supports both NFC and UHF. “ProductoID” is a set of tools that help product/brand owner to manage their product ID, using Smartrac’s high-quality Dual label.
• More about “PRODUCTO  ID” solution is here.
•  Note: Reading NFC doesn’t require any software but writing does.

Keywords: Retail, PID, Product, Retail RAIN RFID technology

Reference:

Smartrac website 

[Product Preview] Industrial android smartphone with nRF51822 module for BT Low Power device; EM02-C5D

For industrial and construction sites, where you need a robust smartphone to read BT Low Power data, this IP65 rugged smartphone is a perfect tool. It is a standard rugged android smartphone equipped with a 2.4GHz module empowered by Nordic Semiconductor nRF51822 chipset.

This EM02-C5D belongs to Empress family, it reads all Empress-family transponder. It is also a bluetooth smart device, it reads bluetooth low power or BT4.0 above protocols from any bluetooth smart device, for example, fitbit, jawbone wristbands.

The 2.4GHz chip antenna on module works smoothly with the smartphone GPS, Wifi and 3G, providing a reading range of 40 meters (0dB transponder).

The rugged IP65 body makes it perfect for harsh industrial environment. It brings Internet of Thing (IoT) technologies to the Oil and Gas field operation (not a ATEX device), easily integrate items information (ID) with smartphone standard features like GPS location, Camera, meter sensor data, etc; and upload through 3G data network to server.

See more at Electronic Fuel Delivery System

Production code: Product code: HKRAR-EM02-C5D

Demo video of EM02-C5D, read more at active RFID reader page.

Eddystone, NFC, QR; 3in1 Smartposter with Cloud Content and Analytics; [English Subtitled]

1. Eddystone is the android version of ibeacon (sort-of), this is truly cross-platform and broadcasting a string character e.g. “www.hk-rfid.com”, instead of meaningless ID as in ibeacons.
2. WE DON’T TAKE SIDE IN TECHNOLOGY; tomorrow there will have another new broadcasting method. No matter NFC, QRcode, or kind-of-ibeacons, only thing we are sure is that they are not going to be the ONLY one single method.
3. That’s why marketing promotion banners or posters have to equip with multiple methods, co-existing to let different mobile users to read content.
4. Hence, it gives birth a Cloud platform to hold all content. As shown in video, change content in ONE method, all others follow. 

Top Application: Advertising, Marketing

Product shown in video:

• 3in1 Tag:  Garrison HKRAR-BT02
• Tag on the right: Smartplate Card,  also see Smartplate Cuccu
• CMS Cloud: Smartplate (free for half year, bundle with Smartplate Card and Cuccu)

 For more information: sales@hk-rfid.com

Summary on Building Hardware Fair in AsiaWorld Expo

For more explanation, please click on this youtube video (available in cantonese only)

Hong Kong International Building and Hardware Fair

Oct 2015 

The 10th Hong Kong International Building and Hardware Fair has just come to the end gratefully. The exhibition has lasted for four days, from 28/10 – 31/10 and has successfully attracted tremendous amount of construction-related visitors and exhibitors worldwide. All participants have benefited from this opportunity to communicate and shared the latest technology that applicable in construction industry. 

We are pleased to be invited to hold a talk about the latest technological development in building construction industry  

Internet of Things for Building (IoTB) 
Being the major theme of our exhibition this time, IoTB has successfully drawn numerous attentions from the visitors.
IoTB is a well-designed system which supported by both software (online cloud platform, called BCDS) and hardware (RFID tags and readers).
With embedding RFID tags in pre-production stage, IoTB aims to link all building components such as precast concrete walls, floor panels, aluminum window frames etc. to BCDS online cloud platform. In order to enhance accuracy and convenience in construction management, IoTB allows users to record production data, monitoring the progress of the construction and obtaining real-time management information such as cost effective indicators, assembly report, etc.

An online cloud platform for both IoTB and Gearform™

GearForm™ 
GearForm™ is a cloud-based lifting gear record system that attractive to visitors who need to manage a huge number of lifting gears in construction site. This cloud platform which also provides an auto-alert on the expiry date of those safety forms.

Above are some passive RFID tag can be used in both IoTB and GearForm™ system 

Proximity Safety
Worker safety in construction site is another topic that visitors were interested in. Proximity Safety is an RF fencing technology for worker safety which adopt dual-frequency mode with two distinct frequency bands to provide extra safety level. Adopting Proximity Safety in construction site provides a multi-person, 360° all round and an adjustable protective fencing for both worker and machine.

These are the alarm and reader that mount on the vehicle (left) This is the tag that mount on worker’s helmet (right) 

Hong Kong RFID is glad to achieve great success in this exhibition. We are looking forward to participating in future exhibition to promote our RFID products and solutions to the public and facilitate exchange of ideas in the industry.



For details, please contact info@hk-rfid.com