Overview of the recent DASH7 Alliance Test and Certification tools announcement, a precursor to our upcoming DASH7 Certification Program launch.

1. DASH7 Test and Certification
“101”
July 21, 2010
Presenters:
Patrick Burns - DASH7 Alliance
Ted Osinski - MET Labs
Dusmantha Tennakoon - MET Labs
www.dash7.org 1

2. Today’s Agenda
• DASH7 Overview
• Certification Launch To submit questions, please
submit them directly to
• Test Methods and Tools paul@dash7.org or via the
“questions”
• How to Prepare console on your
gotowebinar toolbar.
• Accreditation Launch Thanks!
• Summary
• Questions & Answers
www.dash7.org 2

3. The DASH7 Alliance Focuses On:
1. Interoperability
2. New Feature Requirements
3. Awareness of DASH7 Wireless Sensor
Networking Technology
www.dash7.org 3

4. 50+ Participants from 23 Countries
Interoperability is Key!
www.dash7.org 4

5. 5 Reasons To Join:
- Access to DASH7 Test Tools
- Access to DASH7 Certified TM
Program
- Access latest DASH7
specifications Alliance memberships
start at only $3,500/year
- Access to DASH7 developer
extranet
- Access to special offers available For more info, please
only to DASH7 Alliance members email paul@dash7.org or
visit www.dash7.org
www.dash7.org 5

6. Why Certify?
• Minimize End User Implementation and Operating Risks
– Non-interoperable products = readiness risks in
the field
• Reduce product development costs
– Qualified test equipment and accredited test
centers help vendors verify product designs and
produce compliant products from the start
• Grow adoption of ISO 18000-7 based technology
– End users demand products that are certified via
neutral, third party testing authority.
www.dash7.org 6

7. Who Needs To Certify
• Reader and tag Vendors
– Including module vendors
• Chip vendors
– Chips are core components of the RFID system:
• Chips that do not interoperate have a more limited market growth potential. Active RFID
interoperability is an essential market requirement
• Certifying chips accelerates DASH7 manufacturers’ time to market and DASH7 overall market
adoption.
– Products are expensive to develop
• DASH7 certification must be embedded in the product development life cycle. DASH7 tools will reduce
development costs
– Certified products are well positioned to benefit from more market demand
• DASH7’s certification program will help the market weed out products that do not interoperate
– Certified products will have an edge in procurements
• Certified vs non-certified (Count on salespeople to spread the word…)
www.dash7.org 7

8. Commitments to Certification
1. End-User companies and government agencies are obligated to procure
certified products
– Protect RFID investment
2. Vendors are strongly encouraged to certify and re-certify their DASH7
product lines.
– Competitive pricing and incentives for vendors
3. Accredited Test Centers to serve regional markets
– Pre-testing, certification, consulting, R&D, education
4. Qualified Test Tools to help hardware vendors develop compliant products
– Debugging, verifying product compliance internally
www.dash7.org 8

9. Objectives of DASH7 Certification
Program
• Establish industry’s best certification program
– Process and governance
– Test methods
– Test tools
– Test centers
• Deliver value to vendors and end-users
– Clearly defined benefits
– Competitive pricing
– Create demand for certification
www.dash7.org 9

10. Milestones
3. Certification Launch
1. Program Launch 2. PlugFest
4. Accreditation Launch
M1 M2 M3 M4
Feb 2, 2010 April 6-8 September 2011
Decision Points: Decision Point:
•Cert. Policy and Procedures •Certification v2.0 contents
•Fee Structure (Aligned with Strategic
Direction)
•Conformance Test Cases
•VAR Certification
•Interoperability Test Cases
•Test tools
www.dash7.org 10

11. Certification Architecture
Branding and Commitments (Layer-4)
•DASH7 Alliance grants certification mark
Certified
•End-Users committed to buy certified
products
Accreditation (Layer-3)
Accredited Regional Test Centers
•Accredited test centers certify RFID (ARTC)
products
Test Systems (Layer-2)
• Help RFID vendors develop Qualified Test System (s)
compliant products
Standards Baseline (Layer-1) Test Protocol DASH7 Test Protocol Extensions
ISO 18047-7 Conformance & Interoperability
•Standards
•Test protocols Standards
DASH7 Standards Extensions
ISO 18000-7
www.dash7.org 11

12. Things To Remember
• Certification = Conformance + Interoperability
• Eligible Devices
– Reader (fixed and hand-held), reader module
– Tags (LPT, tags with memory, tags with a system on board)
– Microchips
• Process
– DASH7 Alliance membership required
– Proof of License
– Application sent to dash7@metlabs.com
• With designated accredited test center marked
– Test Center conducts testing
– DASH7 issues Certification Mark, PR and publishes report on
certification web pages
www.dash7.org 12

13. Certification Process
• Complete the following Certification Application documents
IN FULL:
– Hardware Application
• Include electronic signature or print and fax according to the Instructions document
– Testing Questionnaire
– Certification Payment Form
• Return ALL documents to MET Labs via email where possible
– dash7@metlabs.com
• Once ALL documents are received, MET Labs (or a test center)
will schedule a test date
• You will receive a confirmation email including your test date
along with additional information to assist with preparation
for testing
www.dash7.org 13

14. Test Methods and Tools
1. Conformance
Testing
2. Interoperability
Testing
3. Test Policies
4. Test Tool
www.dash7.org 14

15. Conformance Testing
• Based on the ISO 18047-7 conformance standard,
with some deviations
• Interrogator and tag receiver bandwidth values shall be
declared by vendors
• Some test cases in 18047-7 updated to correct for
errors. Test procedures and expected results are
corrected in the DASH7 conformance suite
• Readers, reader modules and tags will be tested.
• Reader manufacturers will need to supply a custom
software application that is capable of sending all
necessary commands for testing
For a complete list of changes and modifications please refer to DASH7 Test
Cases and Test Methods available on the DASH7 Alliance member extranet
www.dash7.org 15

16. Interoperability Testing
- Based on test cases developed by the DASH7 Alliance T&C WG
• The DASH7 Alliance would like to acknowledge the contribution
made by the U.S DOD in submitting their interoperability test
cases for DASH7 use.
– Test cases can be found in DASH7 Test Cases and Test
Methods.
– Readers, reader modules, and tags will be tested.
– Reader vendors will need to provide a software application
that is capable of sending all necessary commands for
testing.
www.dash7.org 16

17. Test Policies
– A device must pass all mandatory tests for both conformance and
interoperability for certification.
– If a test fails the vendor may fix the problem on the spot (this is easier
for readers). However, all tests will be re-run to make sure the changes
made do not affect the rest of the test cases previously tested.
– Testing will be performed at a distance that best works for a given
reader and/or tag.
– If a test fails the vendor may chose to dispute the results based on the
following, but not limited to:
• The specification is not clear
• The execution of the test case is erroneous
• A dispute resolution process will be in place.
www.dash7.org 17

18. Test Tool
• Test Tool
– A reader and tag emulator will be used for testing both conformance and
interoperability.
– The emulator is based on National Instrument hardware and is Labview based.
www.dash7.org 18

19. Test Tool - Screenshot
-The test cases will run
one after the
other and record
pass fail verdicts
-All tests can be run at
once or each one
can be selected
individually.
-A screen capture of the
conformance test
suite for tags is
shown below
www.dash7.org 19

20. Test Preparation
• The DASH7 Alliance strongly recommends that each Hardware
Manufacturer allows for a representative to attend Hardware
Testing on-site at the test center
• Interrogator manufacturer must implement all test commands
defined in the interrogator test requirement document
• Test Software must be installed in a computer prior to testing
– GUI based
• ICS/IXIT Proforma documents need to be filled
• Tag manufacturer requires at least 6 samples & reader
requires 2 samples
• “By Design” test case (RSSI)
– A company letter (signed by executive management) will be accepted
• Test time for tags is around 1 day and readers could vary b/w
2-3 days depending on the features implemented
www.dash7.org 20

21. Certification Fees
DASH7 Certification Fees
Admin
Device Test & Cert. Num. of Voucher
Fee Fees
Categories Fee Devices Discount *
(one time)
First Device $15,000 $14,000
2nd+ Device $11,000
Previously Certified $6,000
VAR $3,500
Total Fees
*10% Voucher discount only applies to devices listed on the voucher
*A Voucher must be attached to the Application
Remember: DASH7 Certification is about creating
value for the end user
www.dash7.org 21

22. Accreditation Program Launch
• Program managed by MET Labs
– ARTC ™ - Authorized RFID Test Center
– ARTC scopes:
• DASH Certification
• EPCglobal UHF certification (HF will be added after standard ratification).
Criteria
– Principal member of DASH7
– ISO 17025 Quality System
– Qualified Test System
– Audits
– Application to be submitted to rfid@metlabs
– MET Labs accredits
www.dash7.org 22

23. Accreditation Benefits
• Training
– Process, test methods
• Support
– Support during testing
• Revenue from certification
– MET will try to arrange the first tag and a reader for
certification testing
• Exposure thru DASH7 Alliance
– Web pages Price Sheet
Initial Fees Contract Fee
– Events Program Fee $10,000
Audit $7,000
EPCglobal (UHF) scope $10,000
DASH7 (433MHz) scope $10,000
Total $37,000
Ongoing Annual Fees Contract Fee
Program Fee (Annual) $10,000
Re-Assessment (every two years)* $3,500
Total $13,500
Note:
* Re-Assessment conducted every two years (physical audit every 2 years)
Each future scope fee - $10,000
www.dash7.org 23

24. Summary
• Certification and Accreditation programs will
ensure interoperability of DASH7 products.
• The success of the program (and DASH7
technology) depends on end-user commitments
to endorse the program and buy “DASH7
Certified™ “ products.
www.dash7.org 24

25. Questions and Answers
www.dash7.org 25

26. Please email us with questions or comments:
tosinski@metlabs.com or
paul@dash7.org
www.dash7.org 26