scope:

This Technical Specification describes the conceptual and logical architecture for Automatic Vehicle and Equipment identification (AVI/AEI) and supporting services in an Intermodal/Multimodal environment. This Technical Specification presents a high level view of AEI Intermodal and Multimodal System Architecture. This Technical Specification describes the key sub systems, their associated interfaces and interactions and how they fit into System wide functions such as Management, Security and Information Flow. The Architecture is product independent, e.g. individual modules within sub systems e.g. the Data Tag module within the Data Capture sub system will be described in terms of system parameters not in terms of a defined or named product specification. The Technical Specification identifies the context of Intermodal/Multimodal AEI within the overall AVI/AEI context and key external inter-dependencies and interfaces to the Intermodal/Multimodal Sector IT infrastructure. These include interfaces to the external and internal users of the Intermodal/Multimodal System services and their associated IT systems, interfaces to Intermodal/Multimodal management systems, existing Intermodal/Multimodal Networks and System Operations, and specifically interfaces to item identification and the domain of ISO/IEC SC31, item logistics standards. As an Architecture it is designed to be complementary and interlocking to that domain. This Technical Specification relates to AVI/AEI units, but not to smaller containers and items being transported. Whilst the architecture described within this Technical Specification shows the interrelationship to the item identification domain (see Annex A), for smaller items (pallet loads, trays, parcels etc.), standardization will be undertaken by ISO/IEC JTC1 SC31. Supporting standards developed by ISO TC 204 will be limited to vehicle, trailer and AVI/AEI unit identification, whereas ISO/SC 31 standards will work from units of pallet (and equivalent) size down to item level. This Technical Specification is intended to be complementary and consistent with the work of ISO TC 104 (ISO Containers). This Specification extends the conceptual and communication AVI architecture determined in ENV 12314-1 (to be replaced by EN ISO 14814) and is neither frequency nor air interface protocol specific. It provides maximum interoperability, has a high population capability, and provides the possibility of upwards migration to more capable systems. This Technical Specification does not include the air interface nor any implementation aspect, solely the Reference Architectures. Subsequent standards will define data structures for general AVI/AEI and for specific sectors of application.