REFiLL: A lightweight programmable middleware platform for cost effective RFID application development

Abstract

Middleware platforms for RFID data filtering and collection tend to be resource intensive, costly and/or provide a low degree of programmability. In this paper, we introduce REFiLL, a lightweight middleware framework that can significantly ease the development of RFID systems. The introduced framework fits within the overall EPC global network architecture as a programmable filtering solution, sitting between the EPC (Electronic Product Code) reader virtualization layer and EPC application level events. Thanks to a set of well defined programming constructs, REFiLL renders application development a task of authoring a set of XML-based files, which are also editable within a visual development environment. Following the presentation of the REFiLL framework, we also describe the process of application development, along with sample prototype applications.