IEEE RuBee Standard to Link Thousands of Low-Cost Radio Tags at Long Wavelengths

The IEEE Standards Association is working on a new "RuBee"
(IEEE P1902.1) standard aimed at closing the gap between the non-networked, non-programmable RFID tags and high-bandwidth, radiating systems governed by local and personnel area networks (IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15, respectively). RuBee networks operate at long-wavelengths and accommodate low-cost radio tags at ranges to 100 feet.



The IEEE working group developing the standard for RuBee visibility networks will hold its first meeting on February 20th at the Marriott Copley Hotel in Boston, Mass. The meeting will occur one day before the two-day RFID Smart Labels Conference begins at same hotel.



The standard, IEEE P1902.1, "RuBee Standard for Long Wavelength Network Protocol", will allow for networks encompassing thousands of radio tags operating below 450 KHz. RuBee networks provide for real-time inventory under harsh environments, e.g., near metal and water and in the presence of electromagnetic noise. RuBee radio tags, which can be either active or passive, have proven battery lives of ten years or more using inexpensive lithium batteries.



The standard is targeted for completion in late 2007.

http://standards.ieee.org/board/nes/projects/1902-1.pdf