The upcoming BizTalk 2006 “R2” product enhances the BizTalk family with a new platform for developing solutions that integrate with real-world sensors. RFID enables actual and near real-time visibility into a myriad of processes in the enterprise.

 

BizTalk RFID offers a new platform for Independent Hardware Vendors to integrate their hardware innovations and expose them to the entire Microsoft developer community. Sensor devices integrate with the BizTalk RFID through a Device Service Provider Interface (DSPI). This is akin to a device driver used to connect a printer, a mouse, etc.

 

This sample is meant to supplement the BizTalk 2006 R2 developer documentation. Source code is provided to aid developers and hardware designers understand the constructs and implementation of a DSPI.

 

This provider project is also part of an upcoming book on BizTalk RFID development.

 

The BizTalk RFID DSPI for Phidget Devices offers support for the following products: 

  • Phidget RFID – An RFID Reader
    • A USB-powered RFID interrogator (reader) that uses the EM Marrin protocol (EM4102) – A 125 KHz based read-only protocol.
    • Additional features of the hardware include:
      • Built-in Antenna with up to 3-Inches (6 cm) read range
      • Integrated LED
      • On-board terminal for 5V output. This can be used to drive any TTL device or relay.
      • On-board terminal for an LED at 5V with 20 mA.
  • Phidget Interface Kit – Interface kit with analog input plus digital outputs & inputs.
    • A USB-powered device with digital inputs & outputs plus separate analog ports for reading voltage measurements.
    • Additional features of the hardware include
      • 8 output lines for driving a TTL device or relay
      • 8 input lines for measuring an absolute on/off (5V or 0V) state.
      • 8 input lines for measuring a voltage between 0-5V. The voltage differential is read using a series of analog sensors including force, pressure, electro-resistance, magnetic field, photoluminescence, etc.
  • Phidget TextLCD – Multi-line display screen.
    • A USB-powered device with a two line by 20-character Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) text screen.
    • This is a composite device that is physically attached to the Phidget Interface Kit device.
  • Phidget Servo – 1 or 4 port Servo controller
    • A USB-powered device with 1 or 4 connecting ports to control high-precision servo motors. The motors are high-torque units typically used for actuating/pushing/pulling. 

These sensors are exposed as devices in the BizTalk RFID management console. BizTalk RFID processes can bind to these devices and their exposed sources to receive data for processing.

 

All of these devices are connected to any available USB port on the host computer where the DSPI runs. The host computer must also run the BizTalk RFID run-time engine.