The Electronic Product Code ( EPC ) is a family of coding schemes created as an eventual successor to the bar code . The EPC was created as a low-cost method of tracking goods using RFID technology. It is designed to meet the needs of various industries, while guaranteeing uniqueness for all EPC-compliant tags. EPC tags were designed to identify each item manufactured, as opposed to just the manufacturer and class of products, as bar codes do today. The EPC accommodates existing coding schemes and defines new schemes where necessary. The EPC was the creation of the MIT Auto-ID Center , a consortium of over 120 global corporations and university labs. The EPC system is currently managed by EPCglobal, Inc. , a subsidiary of GS1 , creators of the UPC barcode. The Electronic Product Code promises to become the standard for global RFID usage, and a core element of the proposed EPCglobal Network . All EPC numbers contain a header identifying the encoding scheme that has been used. This in turn dictates the length, type and structure of the EPC. EPC encoding schemes frequently contain a serial number which can be used to uniquely identify one object.
In 2008 more than a dozen new passive UHF RFID tags emerged to be specifically mounted on metal. At the same time new integrated circuits (ICs) were introduced by Impinj and NXP (formerly Philips) which proved much better performance and the IT Asset Tracking application exploded. The largest adopter to date appear to be Bank of America and Wells Fargo - each with more than 100,000 assets across more than a dozen data centers Many forms of RFID race timing have been in use for timing races of different types since 2004. It is used for registering race start and end timings for individuals in a marathon-type race where it is impossible to get accurate stopwatch readings for every entrant. Individuals wear a chest number containing passive tags which are read by antennae placed alongside the track. UHF based tags instead of Low or high frequency last generation tags provide accurate readings with specially designed antennas. Rush error, lap count errors and accidents at start time are avoided since anyone can start and finish anytime without being in a batch mode. This method is being adapted by many recruitment agencies which have a PET (Physical Endurance Test) as their qualifying procedure especially in cases where the candidate volumes may run into millions (Indian Railway Recruitment Cells, Police and Power sector). An Indian Software company has perfected the system for the same using UHF tags for the first time and they are able to process more than 30,000 candidates per day.