I would expand on Galen's second item when it comes to RFID. RFID pads also have to handle the security settings on the item. In other words, communcation is two ways. Unlike a barcode that just conveys data, an RFID pad has to make changes to the RFID tag to indicate that the item should be allowed to exit the library without alarming the RFID-enabled security gates (and without setting off the security gates at Target).
How security is handled and what RFID data models and encoding methods are used in libraries is defined by ISO 28560-2 (for the US, UK, and Australia). It is in a library's interest to have Koha develop around existing standards as much as possible so that their non-ILS equipment continues to be interoperable even if they left Koha or if/when they switch from one third party vendor to another (e.g. for RFID-enabled equipment). I think it would be great for the Koha community to develop an RFID interface for Koha. And if anyone was interested in that, I would urge you to look into the work done by BIC (in the UK) with the Library Communication Framework (LCF). The LCF establishes a message set and data elements needed in a library RFID environment (and a procedure for developing more as new needs are defined). Very importantly, they are building upon existing protocols (e.g. SIP) so that makers of RFID equipment and ILS vendors don't all have to create custom interfaces everytime they want to do something. I hope the Koha community will build on these standards so that the libraries using Koha continue to keep all their options open for using products from a range of vendors and not getting locked into one vendor's/developer's solution. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Lori Bowen Ayre // Library Technology Consultant / The Galecia Group (707) 763-6869 // lori.a...@galecia.com Availability: http://doodle.com/loriayre <lori.a...@galecia.com>Specializing in software solutions, RFID, filtering, workflow optimization, and materials handling =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 9:31 AM, Galen Charlton <g...@esilibrary.com> wrote: > Hi, > > On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 7:45 AM, glaws <glaw...@rhcl.org> wrote: > > > Unfortunately it seems that you need a system now, and anything we do > > won't be worked on until at least mid- late-2014. This is, however, a > > good discussion topic and worth continuing. > > > > Would it be an accurate statement that the primary distinctive issues (as > opposed to the usual issues with setting up a kiosk computer) that an > open-hardware self-checkout machine would be need to deal with are: > > - interacting with whatever device desensitizes security strips? > - interacting with RFID pads? > > Regards, > > Galen > -- > Galen Charlton > Manager of Implementation > Equinox Software, Inc. / The Open Source Experts > email: g...@esilibrary.com > direct: +1 770-709-5581 > cell: +1 404-984-4366 > skype: gmcharlt > web: http://www.esilibrary.com/ > Supporting Koha and Evergreen: http://koha-community.org & > http://evergreen-ils.org > _______________________________________________ > Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org > Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz > http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha > _______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
