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Here is a good tutorial on the components of RFID:

1.2 RFID System

An RFID system is an integrated collection of components that implement an RFID solution.

An RFID system consists of the following components (in singular form) from an end-to-end perspective:

* Tag. This is a mandatory component of any RFID system.
* Reader. This is a mandatory component, too.
* Reader antenna. This is another mandatory component. Some current readers available today have built-in antennas
* Controller. This is a mandatory component. However, most of the new-generation readers have this component built in to them.
* Sensor, actuator, and annunciator. These optional components are needed for external input and output of the system.
* Host and software system. Theoretically, an RFID system can function independently without this component. Practically, an RFID system is close to worthless without this component.
* Communication infrastructure. This mandatory component is a collection of both wired and wireless network and serial connection infrastructure needed to connect the previously listed components together to effectively communicate with each other.

The Entire Tutorial can be found at:
RFID: A Technology Overview

This is an older article, but has some good points on how RFID and ERP will be used in the coming year. The key point that it makes is that middle ware is one of the stepping stones that will link the two systems together.

Currently middle ware or the software between the RFID system and the ERP is the weakest link. This will get better but that is where the dollars are being spent to make the integration happen.

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Analyst house Datamonitor has found that by 2010, the market for radio frequency identification will top $6bn, as pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods and automotive industries start to spend on tracking their products.

Datamonitor predicts the boom will really take off at the latter half of next year, as initial pilots are wound up, results analysed and full-scale rollouts started.

The UK and Germany will be leading the way on RFID spending at least until 2010.
Manufacturers raid piggybanks for ERP and RFID - Applications - Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com
Manufacturing CIOs will be spending their budgets on RFID and ERP this year.