SkyeTek’s MetaFi architecture connects distributed RFID readers with centralized web services, allowing manufacturers, retailers, and service providers to automate the management of items at remote facilities or in the field. RFID technology enables companies with multiple or field sites to improve stocking efficiency, shrinkage, forecasting accuracy, cash collection time, and employee productivity.
How it Works
The MetaFi architecture is designed specifically to serve remote and field-based applications and solves many of the technical challenges of connecting the identity of distributed physical objects to business processes by combining edge computing with centralized services. Edge computing ensures that location-based policies are executed in real time and adds a layer of reliability to the system. Centralized services provide enterprise-class scalability, flexibility, simplicity, and reliability to the software platform.
Architecture Components
The architecture includes several major components that establish and manage the interaction between physical items and the IT world:
MetaFi Console: The MetaFi Console, utilizing both the MetaFi Server and the MetaFi Agent, was designed specifically to provide Operations, Manufacturing and Product Managers with snap-shot and detailed information of what’s happening with individual inventory items, such as those on shelves in hospital stock-rooms, retail stores, and sales kiosks, across dispersed geographic regions. The graphical web interface provides role-based access to several modules and screens that enable users to configure, provision and monitor inventory items and RFID components across any number of point of sale or point of use locations.
MetaFi Server: The MetaFi Server forms the core of the solution and includes Web Services, Application logic, Database Schemas and UI Applications. All of these components are consumed by the MetaFi Console but can also be made available to customers for consumption by ERP, Accounting, Inventory Management and other commercial or proprietary back-end systems.
MetaFi Agent: The MetaFi Agent serves as the smart edge of the solution to allow field service personnel and/or fixed readers to capture and act on inventory levels even when operating in a location that does not have local network connectivity and/or when not connected to the MetaFi Server. In order to adapt to the appropriate environment and use case, the MetaFi Agent is designed to run on a single board computer as well as on mobile devices/phones. The MetaFi Agent is essentially a lightweight version of the MetaFi Server.
RFID Readers: This part of the solution consists of all of the RFID components required to collect the identification and event data.
- SkyeTek’s RFID modules and firmware are the basis of capturing and assigning identity and information to tagged items. SkyeTek’s suite of passive RFID modules with feature-rich embedded firmware enable OEM products to establish the physical to digital interaction with nearly any passive tag in a variety of environments and applications. Embedded RFID devices may use the RFID-generated data for processes that are local to the device as well as pass the data on to other centralized
- Finished readers, such as portal readers, may be used for items that pass through a fixed point, such as a doorway. Handheld readers may be used for applications where the tagged items are widely distributed and require a manual inventory.
- Smart containers, such as cabinets, totes, and shelves, may be utilized for applications where the tagged items are generally stored in a fixed place. RFID is used to automatically and periodically take an inventory of the items within the container.
RFID printers | Provisioning: RFID tag printers are used to program and configure (provision) RFID tags to the system. Items can be tagged and provisioned at the point of manufacture or as a separate process post manufacturing. Provisioning data is sent as a batch file to the MetaFi agent or the information can be individually entered for smaller quantities of products.
Tagged Items: SkyeTek’s architecture accommodates any item that can reliably use RFID tags. Such items include boxed items, consigned products, medical implants and consumables, consumer goods, and high-value assets, as well as people with loyalty or access cards.
MetaFi Services: SkyeTek’s Professional Services Team ensures that the implementation and integration of MetaFi is seamless with little to no impact to customer’s existing staff and resources.