[03/01/12]
Alien Technology, an industry leader in RFID UHF products and services, announced a software update for its Enterprise Class readers (ALR-9900+ and ALR-9900+EMA) that supports LLRP (Low-Level Reader Protocol) Version 1.1. LLRP is a specification from GS1 EPCglobal for a standard network interface between RFID readers and controlling software or hardware.
The goal of LLRP is to simplify application development for end-users, eliminating the need to conform to different proprietary communication protocols provided by each RFID vendor. Users of competitive readers can now easily migrate to Alien's more advanced hardware solutions.
Unlike some Alien competitors, this software release allows customers to change from one protocol to the other without ordering specific SKUs or changing out previously installed units. This single software update supports both Alien Reader Protocol (ARP) and LLRP.
"While LLRP enables cross-reader migration, it is a low-level paradigm and quite different from Alien's high-level and much more autonomous ARP," said Steve Smith, Alien's Chief Technology Officer. "LLRP is a binary protocol and can be thought of as programming in assembly code whereas ARP is analogous to programming in a high-level language."
Additionally, LLRP assumes only minimal hardware capability in the reader. Alien Enterprise readers are some of the easiest-to-use, most "intelligent" readers in the marketplace. To access some of the advanced features, Alien is providing limited additional LLRP extensions to higher-level, Alien-specific features. Some examples include Dynamic Authentication and Read Locking of the user memory. However, ARP enables the full set of Alien Enterprise Reader capabilities, including full Autonomous Mode and Alien's advanced filtering that result in significantly less network traffic, less network infrastructure and smaller less expensive servers.
About Alien Technology
Founded in 1994, Alien Technology is a leading technology and product provider of UHF RFID Integrated Circuits (IC), tags, readers and professional services. Alien Gen 2 products, along with software solutions from partners, help solve business problems for customers to improve productivity, processes, security and asset tracking for closed-loop and supply chain systems. These solutions are implemented in industries such as consumer packaged goods, retail apparel, manufacturing, transportation, airports and cargo logistics, government and defense, and more. Alien's facilities include corporation headquarters in Morgan Hill, CA; the Alien RFID Solutions Center in the Dayton, OH region; and a sales office in Shanghai, China. Alien is a member of EPCglobal.
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