Introduction

AdvanFlow-200 is an RFID-based transition portals that allow the retailer to keep full control of the stock in real time. In this way, the retailer replenishes or restocks items when needed, which improves the customer shopping experience and increases sales.

AdvanFlow-200 helps registering inputs and outputs of material of/from a storage location by simply walking by the reading threshold.

AdvanFlow-200 comprises:

• High power RFID reader

• Two reading columns. This expands the active reading area and helps detecting direction of movement

• Optional: AdvanCloud software

AdvanFlow-200 does not need any external computer. It works fully autonomously and generates Move events. When operating with Keonn’s AdvanCloud, the Move events are transformed into automatic stock movements.

A one meter area without tagged items around AdvanFlow must be observed.

Getting Started

Steps

These are the minimum steps to start using AdvanFlow-200

1.Connect RF cables from Primary unit to Secondary unit

Like most Keonn systems this system requires a PoE cable as both power supply and network connection.  A properly installed AdvanFlow-200 looks like this:

2.Power AdvanFlow-200

Connect the AdvanFlow to a power supply (Switch PoE, PoE injector) and wait until it beeps. It will take between 40 and 50 seconds to boot.

on a vertical surface with units separated no less than 40cm.

3. Device discovery

Select the preferred connection method

3.1 DHCP enabled network

AdvanFlow is configured by default using DHCP. 

When connected to a DHCP enabled network it is possible to connect the the system by using its  name.

1. Check the last four MAC digits in the reader label

2. Open a browser (Chrome or Firefox are required)

3. Type the device id + the last four characters of the MAC to browse: http://device_model-four_chars.local 

Depending on the reader FW version the following names may work:

•  http://AdvanFlow-200-eu-d173.local  or  http://AdvanFlow-200-us-d173.local 

•  http://ADFL-200-EU-d173.local or http://ADFL-200-US-d173.local 

In case it is not possible to connect to the reader using the above URLs please go to the Device Scan IP.

3.2 Non-DHCP enabled network

In case the network does not support DHCP there are several options to connect to the reader. The most common being:

• Connect to the reader using the USB comm connector

• Configure a static IP.

  • In order to configure the device IP connectivity to the device is needed: either by connecting it to a DHCP enabled network, or by connecting to the device using the USB comm connector

For other options, please visit the Discover devices page.

The previous step will result in the IP that is assigned to the device. Let's name it <AdvanReader-IP-address>

• Open a Web Browser (Chrome or Firefox are required).

• Go to the page: http://<AdvanFlow-IP-address>

4. Configuration

4.1. Enter AdvanNet Manager

The AdvanReader web administration page is password protected

Default credentials are:

• User: admin

• Password: admin

4.2. Read Modes

AdvanFlow uses always the ADVANFLOW_CONFINED

4.3. Persist Configuration

Using the apply button only changes the runtime settings, in order to make those changes persistent follow the steps below:

• Remember to apply the configuration.

• Click the persist button (surrounded in red) to persist the configuration.

5. Power and Sensitivity

The power and sensitivity of the AdvanFlow are predefined to work in most cases.

6. Antenna Configuration

This is the standard antenna settings

• Antenna at port #1 is internally connected at the primary unit antenna. This antenna is defined to be pointing the backZone

• Antenna at port #2 must be connected at the secondary unit. This antenna is defined to be pointing the frontZone

Installation tips

Height

The height of the unit has to be choose according to the store operation.

The recommendation is to align the top part of the system between 140 - 160 cm.

Separation

The separation between the middle point of the units must be 40 cm. 

Operation

Basics

AdvanFlow detects complete product movements:

• IN: movement from Primary unit to Secondary

• OUT: movement from Secondary unit to Primary

And incomplete product movements

• IN_LIMIT: products detected only around the Primary unit

• OUT_LIMIT: products detected only around the Secondary unit

Once a complete product movement is detected, an event TAG_MOVED is generated.

That event is the basic piece of information of AdvanFlow product.

The TAG_MOVED events can be exported to 3rd party systems. More details are given in the Integration section.

Use

The below video gives an example of how to use the system.

LED Status

• BLUE: Solid, it means that the unit is powered.

• Green: If blinking it slowly it means that the unit up, running and set up in the correct read mode. While reading tags it will blink quickly. If Solid accompanied by a solid beep, it means the the unit has read a group of tags and estimated their direction.

• RED: If a solid red LED is lit and the device beeps thrice it means that the user did something wrong and the unit was unable to estimate the direction of the passing tags. The reasons could be:

  • The user passed too fast for the unit to read enough tags

  • The user lingered too much in front of an antenna and the system mistook them for static tags that are too close to the reader.

  • The user went back and forth between antennas and the system could not sense a clear direction.

Integration

Integration is usually done using our HTTP, MQTT or SQL Services. This is detailed in our development page.

In the case of AdvanFlow-200 the event to look out for is the TAG_MOVED event, with its subtype: IN, OUT, IN_LIMIT, OUT_LIMIT describing the type and direction of movement being *_LIMIT movements whose direction could not be fully inferred.

• frontZone -->  Name of the store zone that is understood as the source (from) of the MOVE inventory.

• backZone -->  Name of the store zone that is understood as the target (to) of the MOVE inventory. 

Once AdvanCloud connection is working, ant TAG_MOVED event will be automatically exported into AdvanCloud as a MOVE inventory.

Factory reset

Whenever the system is fully booted press the reset button for 15 seconds. Use a paper clip or similar.

The unit will be rebooted with:

• Default network settings: DHCP

• Default system settings

Latest Firmware

AdvanFlow-200 requires FW (AdvanNet 2.8.x branch), the latest stable release can be downloaded from

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ce4f3e62mrga4ex/AAAWX0eqIrrDEiMx1l3xyUqta?dl=0

Then follow the Firmware upgrade procedure from here

https://wiki.keonn.com/rfid-components/reader-upgrade/update-advannet-procedure