IDCRAFT Connectivity Box Takes RFID Data Straight to the Backend
LTE-enabled RFID edge gateway reduces integration effort for distributed Auto-ID applications
In many RFID projects, capturing a tag is not the biggest challenge. The costly and time-consuming part begins after the read event: connecting the reader to the customer’s backend, coordinating with IT, installing middleware and securing network access.
IDCRAFT GmbH has now combined this entire data path in one compact device. The IDCRAFT Connectivity Box is an RFID edge gateway that receives, processes and securely transfers reader data directly to the customer’s backend via LTE.
The setup is simple: connect the RFID reader via Ethernet, insert a SIM card and switch on the gateway. No on-site server is required, no separate middleware has to be installed and the device does not need access to the corporate network.
Edge Processing Turns RFID Reads Into Usable Data
The Connectivity Box receives RFID data via TCP and processes it directly at the read point. Duplicate reads are removed within a configurable time window, set to 40 seconds by default. Each record is then stored in a local SQLite database and transmitted as a structured JSON packet to the customer’s REST API via HTTPS.
Data is transferred in configurable batches every ten seconds. Authentication is handled through an API key and an individual device ID.
This edge-based approach ensures that backend systems receive clean, structured data instead of unfiltered reader events. It also reduces the amount of integration work required at each installation site.
RFID Data Remains Available When LTE Does Not
Temporary connection failures do not interrupt the process. When the LTE connection is unavailable, the Connectivity Box stores the captured RFID data locally for up to 60 minutes by default. Once the connection has been restored, all buffered records are transmitted automatically.
A heartbeat function continuously reports the operating status, while an LTE watchdog monitors the connection and initiates an automatic restart when necessary. Autostart and automatic reconnection support reliable operation without permanent on-site intervention.
Secure Remote Access for Every Installation
The platform is based on a Raspberry Pi 5 running IDCRAFT’s Python middleware. Mobile communication is provided through an LTE Cat 4 modem installed on a carrier board prepared for future 5G modules.
Each Connectivity Box can be reached through a private VPN for maintenance, diagnostics and configuration. A secure, read-only dashboard provides status information for every deployed unit without exposing the customer’s corporate network.
The gateway is available as a standalone device or as part of the preconfigured GateSense Connect system. GateSense UHF gate readers are supported at launch. Integrations for Chainway, ACS and CRAFT Technologies devices are in preparation, extending the platform across UHF, RAIN RFID, HF and NFC applications.
The first Connectivity Boxes are already operating at a textile-services provider, where they report laundry movements at goods-in and goods-out.
“The reader is rarely the problem. It gets expensive on the way into the customer’s system,” says Patrick Kochendörfer, Managing Director of IDCRAFT. “We packed that path into a box.”
About IDCRAFT
IDCRAFT GmbH, headquartered in Neuhofen in the Palatinate region of Germany, is a vendor-independent distributor and project partner for RFID and NFC hardware.
The company supplies UHF and RAIN RFID readers, HF and NFC devices, reader modules, handhelds, transponders and tags for applications in industry, logistics, healthcare, access control and the automotive sector.
Plan Your RFID or NFC Project With IDCRAFT
Are you planning an RFID or NFC application and looking for a fast, secure way to connect distributed read points directly to your backend? Explore more details of the IDCRAFT CT Connectivity Box or contact Patrick Kochendörfer to select the right reader, transponder, frequency range, interfaces, and form factor for your application.
www.idcraft.com | Tel.: +49 6236 4494 685