TransCore Broadens Portfolio of RFID Technology

TransCore Broadens Portfolio of RFID Technology, Introduces Three New Toll Transponders and 5.9 GHz Adaptable Encompass 6 Reader

Through TransCores research and development to support these procurements, TransCore introduces three new radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders, including the Interagency Group (IAG) protocol standard onboard unit, the nationally interoperable eZGo Anywhere onboard unit with feedback LEDs and audio buzzer, and the eZGo Anywhere HOT/ HOV onboard unit, which provides motorists the ability to choose among operational occupant nomination modes with the push of a button. Also announced is the multiprotocol Encompass 6 reader that can be adaptable to future deployments of 5.9 GHz technology.

TransCores history of R & D has long catered to our customers priorities so they can get the specific technology capabilities and performance they require, explained John Simler, president of TransCores Intelligent Transportation Systems Group.

The technology developed to support these individual contract efforts is now available to the industry at large. There is no other manufacturer of toll collection products that can match the breadth of our transportation-based RFID products.

IAG Standard Onboard Unit
Designed to meet the Interagency Group performance requirements to support its 25 member agencies throughout the Northeast the IAG Standard OBU is a high-speed, high-performance RFID tag suitable for electronic toll collection and traffic management applications. This new OBU is fully interoperable with all existing IAG equipment, meaning that the extensive array of IAG deployed readers will read these new OBUs without any modifications. The transponder is a read/write unit that supports adding and editing data to its onboard memory at high speeds in real-time.

IAG Standard OBUs support factory programming of fixed data fields that are locked at the factory and cannot be reprogrammed. Agency read-only data fields are programmed by the agency using password protected programming equipment. IAG Standard OBU cases are constructed of highly durable, impact resistant, molded plastic and are available in white, blue, orange, green, yellow, and gray colors. Other IAG-compliant single protocol OBUs include waterproof, feedback, and exterior models.

eZGo Anywhere Product Line Expansion
Market driven innovation has produced multiprotocol technology that allows a variety of technology, including all presently available ones, to co-exist for both toll authorities and toll patrons. First introduced in December 2008, the multiprotocol eZGo Anywhere tags offer national interoperability, allowing a motorist to use just one tag as they move from state to state or from one toll region to the next, since it is programmable with the primary protocols utilized by toll authorities today (IAG, Title 21, eGO, SeGo, and ATA).

As more and more municipalities and states add electronic toll systems to highways, bridges, tunnels, and convert HOV lanes to HOT lanes, having a transponder that can go anywhere the vehicle goes is a significant benefit for both drivers and commercial transportation companies. The two new onboard units support varying requirements for driver feedback or versatile modes of operation.

eZGo Anywhere Onboard Unit with Feedback Lights (LEDs)
TransCore's eZGo Anywhere Feedback Onboard Unit is a high speed, high performance multiprotocol RFID tag suitable for electronic toll collection and traffic management applications where driver feedback is specified. It is a read/write OBU that supports adding and editing data to the transponder at high speeds in real time. In normal road tolling applications, the LEDs and buzzer are used for driver feedback such as: valid tag; low balance; invalid tag, and lost or stolen tag.

The TransCore eZGo Anywhere Feedback OBU enables advanced security techniques that ensure a tag's authenticity while preventing data corruption and/or alteration. In addition, tag cloning, spoofing, copying, or duplicating is prevented. All eZGo Anywhere OBUs support factory programming of fixed data fields that are locked at the factory and cannot be reprogrammed. Agency programmed fixed data fields can optionally be locked by the agency after programming using password protected programming equipment. eZGo Anywhere OBU cases are constructed of durable, impact resistant, molded plastic and are available in six colors.

eZGo Anywhere HOT/HOV Onboard Unit (OBU)
TransCore's eZGo Anywhere HOT/HOV (high occupancy toll/high occupancy vehicle) Onboard Unit feature a switch that, when pressed, causes the OBU to transition from one nomination mode to another. LEDs and an audible buzzer alert the driver of the OBU operating mode, for example shifting from single occupancy vehicle to double occupancy vehicle, bus, etc. The OBU is capable of storing up to 15 nomination modes, and the number of required modes can be customized. In regular tolling applications, the LEDs and buzzer are used for driver feedback such as valid tag, low balance, invalid tag, and lost or stolen tag.

eZGo Anywhere HOT/HOV OBU is a high-speed, high performance, multiprotocol RFID tag suitable for electronic toll collection and traffic management applications where driver feedback is specified. It is a read/write OBU that supports adding and editing data to the tag at high speeds in real time. In conjunction with TransCore readers, the eZGo Anywhere HOT/HOV OBU enables advanced security techniques that ensure an OBU's authenticity while preventing data corruption and/or alteration. In addition, tag cloning, spoofing, copying, or duplicating is prevented.

5.9 GHz Compatible Reader Technology Platform
TransCores IAG Encompass 6 reader system has been engineered with an eye to the future for allowing an effortless 5.9 GHz technology upgrade if 5.9 GHz technology is someday adopted by toll authorities. This new, future-proof capability provides peace of mind that an investment today will be "switch ready" to a 5.9GHz technology platform. This allows toll authorities to move forward with technology deployments today while protecting their lane controller and other software investments by being adaptable to 5.9 GHz platform as it takes shape over the next decade and the current USDOT five-year test plan is completed. The Encompass 6 reader supports up to 7 different protocols so providing the versatility to accommodate a 5.9 GHz portal is a straightforward upgrade.

About TransCore

With installations in 46 countries, more than 100 patents and pioneering applications of RFID, GPS and satellite communications technologies, TransCore's technical expertise is unparalleled in the markets it serves. TransCore's 70-year heritage spans the development of RFID transportation applications at Los Alamos National Labs to implementation of the nation's first electronic toll collection system.

TransCores extensive global experience with tolling systems includes more than 7,400 installed electronic toll collection lanes worldwide and 22 customer service centers. TransCore offers an extensive suite of enterprise software applications, business process outsourcing, system integration, customer care and maintenance services to provide complete solutions, configurable to customers requirements. In 2009, Engineering News-Record (ENR) ranked TransCore No. 145 out of the Top 500 Design Firms. TransCore operates as a unit of Roper Industries.

Roper Industries is a market-driven, diversified growth company with trailing twelve month revenues of $2.3 billion, and is a component of the Fortune 1000, Standard & Poors S&P Mid-Cap 400 and the Russell 1000 Indexes. Roper provides engineered products and solutions for global niche markets, including water, energy, radio frequency and research/medical applications.