An RFID reader is the hardware that contains the actual transceivers (transmitters/receivers) and processing logic to control these transceivers and interface to communicate with a backend (USB – serial – Ethernet – WiFi). Many RFID readers have in their firmware (operating software) functions and features that can be used to optimize the reading performance based the needs for a specific solution.
Standard RFID readers likely can be seen as those reader units with 4 antenna ports and connected via Ethernet, though there are also readers with only 2 ports or even 8 or 16 ports
Integrated RFID readers would have reader and antenna integrated in one unit often these readers also provide WiFi or even cellular backhaul connectivity
Mobile readers could be RFID ’sleds’ which either connect through a physical connectivity with a mobile terminal or in many cases a Bluetooth connection.
There are also many mobile terminals that have build in RFID capabilities
Most RFID vendors have their own proprietary SDK allowing to take full advantage of all the functions and features of the reader.
In 2007 protocol was released with the intend to standardize the network interface of the reader.
This protocol is known as LLRP – Low Level Reader Protocol supposed to provide a same programmatic interface to developers across readers from different manufacturers
