Abstract: Methods and systems for use in managing part replacement associated with a manufactured product. A part agent, executed by a computing system and associated with a current part installed in the manufactured product, provides a replacement notification to an ordering manager agent executed by the computing system and associated with the current part. The replacement notification indicates that a replacement of the current part is desired. The ordering manager agent determines that the current part is associated with a configuration change that represents a substitution of a new part for the current part. The ordering manager agent provides the configuration change to the part agent. The part agent orders the new part via the ordering manager agent based on the configuration change.

Abstract: Methods and systems for use in acquiring parts from suppliers using auction information including a requested part and decision criteria from an ordering manager agent and from supplier agents associated with part suppliers. A criteria comparison matrix representing a relative importance of each decision criterion is created. A criteria importance vector is created based on the criteria comparison matrix, and a supplier comparison matrix corresponding to each decision criterion is also created. The supplier comparison matrix represents a relative ranking of each supplier with respect to the corresponding decision criterion. A supplier criteria ranking vector corresponding to each decision criterion is created based on the supplier comparison matrix that corresponds to the decision criterion. The supplier criteria ranking vectors and the criteria importance vector are combined to create a supplier score matrix associated with the ordering manager agent and indicating a score associated with each supplier.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods, computer program code and apparatus for improved RFID tagging systems. We describe a module for configuring an RFID system comprising a plurality of RFID readers, said RFID system operating in an environment comprising a plurality of RFID tagged entities, the module comprising: code to enable a user to build an interface for defining a state map for said RFID system, said state map comprising a plurality of states representing information about tagged entities within the environment and transitions between said plurality of states; a transition logic module storing transition logic controlling transitions between states wherein said transition logic module is connected to said interface so that transition logic for said state map is defined using said interface; and a database for storing said states, said transitions and said defined transition logic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID systems. In particular, the invention relates to an RFID system having enhanced security of communication between a tag and a tag reader. In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an RFID system comprising at least one RFID reader; control means for communicating with an RFID tag by public-key encryption via said reader; at least one RFID tag adapted to encrypt a response to a transmission by a reader using a public-key transmitted to the tag; unauthorised broadcast detection means for detecting a broadcast made by an unauthorised reader; and alert means for providing an alert in the event a broadcast by an unauthorised reader is detected.

Abstract: For detecting changes of level of a moving surface, a sharply defined light pattern is directed on to the surface and an image of the pattern is formed on a multiple photodiode strip so that a predetermined point of reference of the image is variably located on the strip depending on variation in level of the surface, the photodiode strip is repetitively scanned to create a voltage waveform repetitively defining the variable position of the point of reference on the image in relation to the fixed position of a point of reference on the photodiode strip, and the waveform is analysed to determine the variations in level of the moving surface.