Comtrol and CapTech Ventures Unveil Embedded RFID Reader Control Device

Live Demo Featured at ProMat 2005

Comtrol, Inc. and CapTech Ventures, Inc. have teamed to provide point-of-activity RFID reader control, RFID event filtering, and other advanced RFID functions by integrating the DeviceMaster® ATS and DeviceMaster® RTS with TagsWareME(TM). This device is designed to provide advanced RFID data handling features in close proximity to the RFID activity, eliminating large amounts of unnecessary data from the industrial control network. This RFID solution will be demonstrated in Comtrol's Booth #2253 at ProMat 2005 in Chicago January 10th-13th.

The unique integration of RFID middleware with an embedded device server delivers a complete solution by enabling the filtering of "excess reads," resulting in reduced network load, which translates into improved operational efficiencies and system reliability. Shanton J. Wilcox of Archstone Consulting based out of Stamford, Conn., said, "Comtrol's DeviceMaster and CapTech's TagsWare function as the catalyst for a new breed of middleware. As a savant, the DeviceMaster connected to the RFID reader leverages TagsWare's data filtering and aggregation capabilities and together they 'smooth' the data being sent over the network, eliminating redundancy. Comtrol and TagsWare have developed a solution for one of the leading implementation issues our clients face, network load."

Comtrol's DeviceMaster ATS is a solid-state, remotely manageable, fully programmable embedded microcomputer designed to host mission-critical applications without the overhead, expense, and high failure rates of general-purpose PC servers.

Comtrol's DeviceMaster RTS device server is a network-attached, solid-state device server that delivers browser-based remote port/device monitoring and configuration and provides an application software platform for local processing.

TagsWareME provides features to expedite and simplify the integration of RFID readers into a production environment. These features include: data smoothing, reader/antenna bonding, filtering of events, routing of events, reader health checking, mobile reader location detection, tag direction detection, reader IO control, and tag programming. TagsWareME's feature set is a subset of TagsWare(TM) providing most of the reader control and data manipulation features of TagsWare, but lacking the back-end system interfaces found in the full product. TagsWareME integrates seamlessly with TagsWare running on a host system to provide back-end system connectivity.

TagsWare simplifies the introduction of RFID solutions into the business environment with minimal impact to existing processes. CapTech is collaborating with several partners and RFID chip manufacturers to identify best practices for RFID software development. TagsWare software can be downloaded for a 30-day free trial at www.tagsware.com. TagsWare provides connectivity between a number of different readers and tag types to a wide range of WMS and enterprise systems.

About Comtrol

Comtrol Corporation, based in Minneapolis, is a leading global provider of device connectivity, data communication, and industrial automation technologies. The company's flagship brands -- DeviceMaster and RocketPort® products -- include in-server serial expansion cards, application and device servers, embedded technologies, and application software. For additional information, visit the Comtrol Web site at www.comtrol.com or call 800-926-6876.

About CapTech Ventures

CapTech Ventures, Inc. is a technology company using software engineering processes to solve complex business problems for a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies and regional market leaders to small businesses and startups. The mission-critical solutions it develops are built on the partnerships established with industry leaders such as IBM®, BEA®, Sun Microsystems® and Microsoft®, as well as Open Source products. The driving force behind CapTech's success is its close work with clients, getting to know their businesses and the vision that guides them. In 2002, CapTech earned the 40th spot on the Inc. 500 list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. For the second consecutive year in 2003, CapTech remained on the Inc. 500, list in the 322 spot. More information about CapTech Ventures can be found at www.captechventures.com. More information on TagsWare can be found at www.tagsware.com.

DeviceMaster and RocketPort are registered trademarks of Comtrol Corporation. TagsWare and TagsWareME are trademarks of CapTech Ventures, Inc. All other brand names and product names are the property of their respective trademark holders.

To download a high-res photo, please visit: www.comtrol.com/mktwire_RFIDphoto

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