Embedded Serial-to-Ethernet Solution for
RFID Reader Deployment |
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| Project Background |
| Most RFID reader manufacturers are most familiar and comfortable with serial communications such as RS-232 and RS-485 because they have been using this form of technology to produce serial RFID readers and barcodes for so long. However, given the distance limitations of serial communications and wider adoption of RFID technologies, demands for more complex and flexible infrastructures are ever increasing. To satisfy their field needs, RFID solution providers turned to Ethernet for help. However, RFID solution providers, who are experts in serial communications, are not familiar with Ethernet technology. |
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| A company from Shanghai, China, manufactures RFID readers and provides RFID solutions to various market segments, such as factories, logistics businesses, schools, and hospitals. In this success story the company wanted to implement an RFID solution to monitor the activities of retirement home residents. The plan was to deploy a serial RFID reader every five square meters and to connect and manage the readers through an Ethernet backbone. |
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Embedded serial-to-Ethernet modules to upgrade their RFID readers |
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An easy to implement solution that requires minimal technical effort |
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Extremely small module to fit inside the tiny RFID readers |
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Cost-effective solution. |
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| Moxa's Solution |
| Moxa's
MiiNePort E1 fits the company's requirements perfectly.
The MiiNePort E1 is the world's tiniest and most
innovative embedded serial-to-Ethernet device
server. The MiiNePort is no bigger than an RJ45
connector and fits perfectly into the company's
tiny RFID readers, and since it supports Moxa's
proprietary Real COM mode, the company can continue
using their original serial RFID utilities, and
do not need to waste time and money developing
new utilities. The company was also able to benefit
from using Moxa's proprietary NetEZ technology,
which provided them with additional support: |
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AutoCFG (Auto Configuration): |
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The company adopted Moxa's AutoCFG technology and eliminated the time consuming task of manually configuring the RFID readers one by one. |
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MCSC (Multi-channel Serial Communication): |
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With the help of Moxa's patent pending MCSC, which allows the RFID reader to simultaneously play the role of a TCP Client as well as TCP Server, the company was able to implement complex applications. |
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EXTrigger (External Trigger): |
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With such a large quantity of readers being deployed, occasional network troubleshooting is expected. With Moxa's EXTrigger, resetting and restarting the device can be done in an instant by simply pressing the EXTrigger button. There is no need to open the device's casing or interrupt operations. |
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| Application Topology |
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