Overview
ISO/IEC 24791-5:2025 - "Information technology - Radio frequency identification for item management software system infrastructure - Part 5: Device interface" defines a low‑level device interface that gives RFID controlling software direct access to interrogators (readers). The standard is an extension to GS1™ LLRP and specifies:
- Binary transfer syntax over TCP/IP for efficient communications.
- Low‑level access to RFID air protocol commands and parameters to optimize tag access and control.
- Support for modular air protocol handling; this edition specifically supports ISO/IEC 18000-63:2021 (Type C).
- Mechanisms to read individual data items encoded per ISO/IEC 15962 using Object Identifiers (OID / URN) and optional decoding into UTF‑8.
This document targets implementers of software system infrastructure (SSI) components that control interrogators and need fine‑grained control over air interface operations.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Device interface architecture and UML modelling (architecture overview, endpoints, client endpoints, interrogators).
- LLRP extensions and data types: abstract definitions for extended parameters (e.g., ISO15962Read, OID, read result structures) and their binary encodings.
- Binary encoding over TCP/IP: efficient, compact message formats for real‑time RFID operations.
- Data access features:
- Direct read/write access to raw tag memory banks (lock, kill, raw binary reads/writes).
- Read one or more data items by OID (URN notation) with optional UTF‑8 decoding; if decoding fails the encoded package is returned.
- Support for optimized multi‑operation sequences to minimize tag state changes.
- Conformance and normative references: references include ISO/IEC 15962, ISO/IEC 8859‑1, ISO/IEC 19762 and GS1™ LLRP; conformance sections and annexes (e.g., UTF‑8/8859‑1 conversion).
Practical applications and who uses this standard
ISO/IEC 24791-5:2025 is intended for:
- RFID middleware and SSI developers who need deterministic, low‑latency control of readers.
- Reader (interrogator) manufacturers implementing compliant device interfaces and binary protocols.
- Systems integrators and solution architects in retail, logistics, asset management, and manufacturing optimizing large‑scale tag reads/writes.
- Application developers requiring access to individual ISO/IEC 15962 data items or raw tag memory for custom decoding, security, or performance tuning.
Typical use cases include high‑performance inventory counting, complex multi‑operation tag workflows, secure tag management (lock/kill), and integration of readers into cloud/TCP‑IP based control systems.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/IEC 24791-5:2025, RFID device interface, SSI, LLRP extensions, ISO/IEC 18000-63, ISO/IEC 15962, TCP/IP binary transfer, interrogator control, OID, UTF-8 decoding.