New Product Simplifies Implementation of RFID Technology

Manchester, NH (ContentDesk) April 19, 2006 -- As radio frequency identification (RFID) is becoming increasing prevalent in the government and private sectors, many are struggling with the complexities of integrating this technology with existing back end information systems and dealing with the vast amount of information being produced. Recognizing this emerging problem, Lockwood has developed an extremely simple and effective solution to this problem entitled QuickTrac?.The usefulness of RFID lies in the innate ability to automatically capture vast amounts of information using radio frequency technology. Specialized equipment is required and offered by many well-known manufacturers. Yet, to use this technology with existing legacy applications poses a new set of problems. To begin, software commonly referred to as middleware is required.

Middleware must be integrated with back end system(s) to enable those applications to interact with RFID tools. Middleware typically requires modification to the back end system in order to implement and is only a part of the equation. Users also need flexible software for facilitating data capture and event processing. Event processing is a technique that allows transformation of raw data into actionable data. This is particularly important in light of, the amount of data that RFID is able to generate.

QuickTrac features all three characteristics; integration, data collection and event processing.QuickTrac adapts proprietary back end systems to interact with RFID data capture without modification to the software. QuickTrac simplifies integration between its embedded RFID middleware and any back end system, using an intuitive point-and-click wizard. The QuickTrac kit also includes user-defined data collection scripts whereby the user determines what the application will do during collection activities. QuickTracs built-in event processing (EventMgr?) represents a sense and respond tool that empowers the user to predefine a set of rules for monitoring and reacting to emerging incidents or events. The EventMgr continually evaluates the flow of raw data, while compiling and reacting to actionable situations, such as movement into or out of restriction environments.

Our vision with QuickTrac was a turn-key solution that could be used immediately right out of the box says Brad Vinecombe, CEO of Lockwood Technology, we wanted to design a product that was easy to use as well as quick to implement, regardless of need or back end system. And, we wanted it to be turn-key where the purchaser was provided with everything necessary to begin to immediately use the product within minutes from opening the box. The QuickTrac kit, which is configurable to meet specific needs, includes; portable and fixed RFID detection hardware, a pre-configured laptop computer and a supply of smart tracking tags. The Operator simply unpacks the kit from the rugged, weatherproof case, turns it on, adjusts the system characteristics to align with their specific objective and begins using it in minutes.QuickTrac can be found on the World Wide Web athttp://lockwoodtechnology.com.