Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications and Radio Frequency ID (RFID) together represent a means of direct communication between connection hardware and the object that needs monitoring: the information about its status of performance is directly sent to a computer system without the need for human intervention.  This makes automation of processes or consumer action possible. The technology that utilized originates largely in the manufacturing and industrial processes industry, where physical assets networking have been done for decades. The goal of M2M-RFID is exactly as of a plant-floor automation systems or remote-monitoring solutions: it evolves getting information from sensors in a device and transmitting it to an IT network. This report evaluates the working aspects of M2M along with the details of RFID, provides deep insights into telecommunication technologies, reviews the latest developments within M2M, and provides further analysis through in-depth case study examples.  The report includes a listing of recent M&A activity.

The report includes:

• M2M Standards for RFID
• Security issues for M2M RFID
• Explanation of Risk & Security Analysis
• An evaluation of the available Technologies and its Products
• An overview of the applications of RFID
• Evaluation of RFID application in Healthcare, Defense, etc
• Information about M2M Companies and Takeovers
• A detailed explanation and evaluation techniques of Fault Analysis
• A brief evaluation of an M2M Telecom Company
• Assessment of technology used in many real life case studies
• Future and Roadmap of M2M with special focus on RFID
• RFID Company analysis in Europe, Asia and United States

Target Audience

• This is a must-have resource for anyone engaged in business or technology planning and engineering involving M2M
• Investors, analysts, and consultants in the M2M industry will find that this report provides all they need to know about M2M
• RFID hardware, software, and solution vendors and related professional services companies
• Managed services providers, outsourced RFID solutions and application providers, and RFID service bureau operators
• Personnel responsible for automating Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other business processes
• Healthcare management personnel responsible for tracking patients, staff personnel, equipment, inventory, and other critical resources
• Retailers and personnel responsible for merchandise inventory and ordering processes, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Merchandise tracking and fraud prevention
• Providers of value-added applications and services such as metering, telemetry, telematics, and sensor applications, inventory control and tracking such as merchandise control, asset tracking and recovery such as computing equipment monitoring, tracking parts moving through a manufacturing process, tracking goods in a supply chain, and payment systems
• RFID and/or M2M Hardware Manufacturing companies
• Companies interested in optimizing their RFID and/or M2M business process strategies
• Venture Capitalist and Startup companies interested in funding RFID and/or M2M companies

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

M2M Evolution 

RFID in a Nutshell

M2M - Telecommunications

Wireless Service Technology and Protocols

The Technologies

GPRS (General Purpose Radio Service)

1xRTT or CDMA2000

iDEN Packet

Advantages of SMS

Interactive Two-Way 

Simultaneous Transmission with Voice

Confirmation of Delivery

Store and Forward Method

Use Of Phone Number As The Address

High Degree of Encryption

Transmission At Higher Power Than The Voice Channel

Analog Control Channel

Wireless Technology Recommendation for M2M

GSM-SMS and GPRS

CDMA-1xRTT

iDEN Packet

Technology Strategy of M2M

Hardware Budget

Scope of Deployment-Domestic or International

Ease of Creating the Application 

Wireless Service Options 

Wireless Access Costs 

Further Technology Considerations

Back-end Server Technology 

Gateway to Wireless Carrier or Service Provider

Delivery of SMS to the Internet

Applications of M2M 

RFID - A Brief Outlook

Types of RFID Systems

Types of Tags 

Passive Tags 

Semi Passive RFID Tags

Active RFID Tags

Active Tags with Sensors/GPS 

Application Field

Difference between Active and Passive RFID

RFID Comparison Matrix

M2M Standards for RFID

Standardization Organizations and Processes

Basic Organizations

Standard development organizations

Commercial organization

Standardization Business Models

Standardization of the Radio Frequency Spectrum

Low Frequency Band 

Short Wave Band 

High Frequency Band

UHF Band 

Microwave Frequency Band 2.45 GHz

Radar& HIPERLAN Frequency Band

Standards and Inter-Operability Issues
 
Recent Trends and Issues

Company Takeovers 

Security Issues 

Types of Attacks 

Spoofing Attacks 

Insert

Replay Attack

Flood Attack

Un-authorized Tag Data Manipulation

Middleware Issues 

Backend Database Corruption

Blended Attacks 

Man in the Middle Attack

Fraud at Chip Level

M2M Risk and Security Management

M2M Risk Analysis 

System Security & System Policies

Risk & Attack Management

M2M RFID Applications

M2M RFID in Healthcare 

RFID on  Humans 

Other Applications 

Advanced M2M Applications

M2M Monitoring - Passport 

M2M - Smart Appliances 

M2M in Personalization 

M2M RFID Next Generation 

Tomorrows RFID Technology

Tags

Readers 

System Technology 

RFID Deployment Fault Analysis

Basics of RFID Deployment Monitoring Principles

Efficiency Monitoring 

Tag Read Error 

Standard Monitoring Procedure 

M2M Company Analysis 

Product and Services 

Mobile Solutions 

Key Features & Benefits:

Elephant Talk M2M Value Proposition

Key Features & Benefits:

Two Stage Dialing 

Key Features & Benefits:

Additional Services and Offerings

Methodology

Research & Development and Engineering

Quality Assurance

M2M Case Studies

RFID Implementation at Rittal

Client Details

Issue 

Solution Provider

Briefs 

Asset Tracking at US Air Force Base

Client Details

Issue 

Solution Provider

Briefs 

RFID at the Department of Energy - US 

Client Details 

Issue

Solution Provider

Briefs

Item Tracking at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel 

Client Details 

Issue 

Solution Provider

Briefs 

Mississippi Blood Services Banks on RFID 

Client Details 

Issue 

Solution Provider

Briefs 

RFID implementation at Special Olympics, US

Client Details 

Issue

Solution Provider 

Briefs 

Vehicular Collision Prevention at Australian Mine

Client Details

Issue 

Solution Provider

Briefs 

RFID in Fashion

Client Details

Issue 

Briefs 

German Publisher Adoption of RFID 

Solution Provider 

Briefs 

Palette Tracking in Japan 

Solution Provider 

Briefs 

Future & Roadmap 

M2M adoption with time 

Pre 2000 Segment158

2000 - Mobile and Telecommunication

2003 - Inventory Monitoring and Tracking 

2005 - HealthCare and Medical

2007 - Defense and Homeland Security

2010 - Now 

2010 and Beyond 

Growth Factors of M2M from 2010 and Beyond

Telecommunication 

M2M Wireless and Consumer Products

Asset Tracking and other M2M RFID Applications 

M2M & RFID Company Analysis

RFID Companies in Europe 

RFID Companies in Asia/Asia Pacific 

RFID Companies in the United States of America

Conclusion 
 
Table of Figures

Figure 1. M2M and its components
Figure 2. M2M and Telecommunication components 
Figure 3. Schematic of Field Deployed Unit 
Figure 4. Functional Segments of an Interface Board 
Figure 5. Block Diagram of a Processor Module 
Figure 6. Components of the Architecture 
Figure 7. Wireless Service Protocols for Telecommunication 
Figure 8. Technology Perspective 
Figure 9. Standards and their components 
Figure 10. Standards vs Bearers comparison 
Figure 11. Advantages of 3G 
Figure 12. Advantages of SMS 
Figure 13. Technology Strategy of M2M 
Figure 14. Typical M2M server integration to a 3G Network
Figure 15. Back-end Server Functions 
Figure 16 . Frequency Bands
Figure 17. Advanced M2M Application Schematic 
Figure 18. Schematic of a Smart Device
Figure 19. A schematic of the Smart Refrigerator 
Figure 20. Mobile Solutions 
Figure 21. M2M solution components 
Figure 22. M2M Application Examples 
Figure 23. Location Based Service 
Figure 24. Additional Services 
Figure 25. Growth of M2M 
Figure 26. M2M and Telecommunications 
Figure 27. Stats and Components 
Figure 28. M2M Wireless and Consumer Products
 
List of Tables

Table 1. Applications of M2M 
Table 2. Differences between RFID Types
Table 3. RFID Comparison Matrix 
Table 4. Growth Prediction Table 
Table 5. M2M - 2010 and Beyond