Q & A

About us

Q1-001. What's this website about?

A1-001. It's Auto-ID LABS JAPAN website. Auto-ID LABS are Auto-ID research centers deployed in 6 universities throughout the world. Auto-ID LABS JAPAN, Japan's primary research center is located at Keio University.

Q1-002. How is Auto-ID LABS JAPAN connected to Keio University?

A1-002. Keio University houses a research institution known as the SFC Research Institute, which is home to the Auto-ID laboratory. The SFC Research Institute Auto-ID LABS is one of main bodies of Auto-ID LABS JAPAN.

Q1-003. How many and what kind of people belong to the SFC Research Institute Auto-ID Laboratory?

A1-003. Teaching staff, students and researchers of the Keio University are conducting various studies within the laboratory at the SFC Research Institute. For more information on laboratory members see the Auto-ID LABS homepage.

Link to SFC Research Institute Auto-ID LABS

Q1-004. What kind of people work at Auto-ID LABS JAPAN?

A1-004. Auto-ID LABS JAPAN conducts activities receiving cooperation from university representatives and sponsors of EPCglobal. In addition, consultant meetings are organized by related intellectuals.

Q1-005. Does Auto-ID LABS JAPAN have its own research institute and office?

A1-005. Our primary research center is located at the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) of Keio University. See campus map for specific locations.

Link to Map of Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus
Laboratory (Research and Development): N208 Delta wing
Office: N109 Delta wing

Q1-006. When was Auto-ID LABS JAPAN established, and what is its history?

A1-006. Auto-ID LABS, previously known as the Auto-ID Center, was a cooperative organization established in 1999 with a focus on MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). The Auto-ID Center, with research centers located at various universities was active until 2003 as an organization involved in the establishment, research and development and standardization of the architecture for a [Network-based RFID System]. In 2003, the Auto-ID Center was reorganized and under the control of EPCglobal and Auto-ID LABS undertook the full-scale pursuit of standardization of the system. Auto-ID Labs were established in numerous universities and the activities of the Auto-ID Center within Japan were taken on as Auto-ID LABS Japan.

Q1-007. What's EPCglobal?

A1-007. EPCglobal is a non-profit organization established by EAN.international and UCC (Uniform Code Council) of the United States. Carrying on with the research of the Auto-ID Center, EPCglobal manages and provides the standardized framework for the EPC Network including introducing the findings of the Auto-ID Center into the industry, the assigning of EPC numberspace, and the establishment of standard operation technologies for wide-area infrastructure.

Q1-008. How can I get in contact with Auto-ID LABS JAPAN?

A1-008. Contact us at following address or telephone/fax numbers.

Auto-ID LABS JAPAN
Keio University SFC Research Institute N109 Delta wing
5322 Endo Fujisawa-Shi Kanagawa-Ken 252-8520
Tel: 0466-49-3618 Fax: 0466-49-3622
E-mail: info@autoid.sfc.keio.ac.jp

Our Research

Q2-001. In what areas does Auto-ID LAB JAPAN focus its research?

A2-001. Auto ID LABS research focuses on automatic recognition technologies for objects utilizing RFID and research into the EPC Network which forms the architecture for the information system relating to the above mentioned objects. Stress is placed upon the research and development of the architecture and protocol necessary to construct these as infrastructure on the Internet.

Q2-002. What is the EPC Network, and why is it necessary?

A2-002. For the wide spread use of automatic recognition technology for objects utilizing RFID, and the related information systems, various components must be standardized. It is particularly important for the technologies attached to the hardware and infrastructure and those related to the provision of application software and various services to be separated and a common specifications layer to be prepared in between them. It is this layer that is intended to be the EPC Network. With the EPC Network forming the base, RFID infrastructure including the hardware can be freely developed and services can be established freely on the EPC Network.