GateKeeper Conveyor Glossary¶
This glossary defines all technical terms used throughout the GateKeeper Conveyor support documentation. Terms are grouped by category and listed alphabetically within each group.
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Barcode & Labeling Terms¶
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Application Identifier | AI | A 2-digit numeric prefix in a GS1 barcode that identifies what type of data follows. For example, AI 01 = GTIN, AI 10 = Lot Number, AI 17 = Expiration Date. |
| Barcode | -- | A machine-readable pattern (bars, dots, or squares) printed on a label that encodes data such as product codes, lot numbers, or dates. |
| Best Before Date | -- | The date after which product quality may decline. Encoded in GS1 barcodes using AI 15 in YYMMDD format. |
| Code128 | -- | A barcode symbology (type) commonly used for UCC-128/GS1-128 linear barcodes. GateKeeper looks for Code128 symbology when searching for UCC-128 barcodes. |
| DataMatrix | -- | A two-dimensional (2D) square barcode that can store large amounts of data in a small space. Used in Teasdale mode to encode SGTIN-96 data. |
| Expiration Date | -- | The date after which a product should not be used. Encoded in GS1 barcodes using AI 17 in YYMMDD format. |
| FNC1 | -- | A special function character in GS1 barcodes that acts as a separator between variable-length data fields. Scanners typically transmit this as a GS (Group Separator) character. |
| GS (Group Separator) | GS | ASCII character 29 (hex 0x1D) used to separate variable-length fields in GS1 barcodes. Inserted by scanners in place of the FNC1 character. |
| GS1 | -- | A global standards organization that manages barcode, RFID, and supply chain data standards. GS1-128 is their barcode standard used by GateKeeper. |
| GS1-128 | -- | A barcode standard (formerly UCC/EAN-128) that uses Application Identifiers to encode structured product data such as GTIN, lot number, and dates. |
| GTIN | GTIN | Global Trade Item Number. A 14-digit number that uniquely identifies a product. Encoded in GS1 barcodes using AI 01. Common formats include GTIN-8, GTIN-12, GTIN-13, and GTIN-14. |
| Lot Number | -- | A batch identifier assigned during manufacturing. Encoded in GS1 barcodes using AI 10. Used to trace products back to specific production runs. Also called "Batch Number." |
| NOREAD | -- | A response from a camera indicating it could not read any barcode. GateKeeper filters these out as invalid barcodes. |
| OCR | OCR | Optical Character Recognition. Technology that reads printed text from images. Used by the Cognex Insight camera at the Hersey site to read date codes printed on salt containers. |
| Pack Date | -- | The date a product was packaged. Encoded in GS1 barcodes using AI 13 in YYMMDD format. Used in Teasdale validation. |
| QR Code | -- | Quick Response code. A two-dimensional barcode that can store data in a square grid pattern. GateKeeper treats QR codes as equivalent to DataMatrix for 2D barcode detection. |
| SGTIN-96 | -- | Serialized Global Trade Item Number in 96-bit format. An EPC encoding scheme that combines a GTIN with a unique serial number. Used in Teasdale mode where the DataMatrix barcode and RFID tag both encode SGTIN-96 data. |
| Symbology | -- | The specific type or format of a barcode. Examples include Code128, DataMatrix, QR, and Type225. GateKeeper uses symbology information to identify which barcode is which during validation. |
| Type225 | -- | A symbology identifier used by the Zebra DS9908R scanner to indicate an RFID tag read (as opposed to a barcode read). The data is in URN format. |
| UCC-128 | -- | Universal Code Council 128. The older name for GS1-128 barcodes. A linear barcode format that uses Application Identifiers to encode product information. GateKeeper uses this term interchangeably with GS1-128. |
| URN | URN | Uniform Resource Name. A standardized identifier format used for RFID EPCs. Example: urn:epc:tag:sgtin-96:2.0031400.009808.2910328. The DS9908R scanner outputs RFID data in this format. |
| YYJJJ | -- | A date format using 2-digit year and 3-digit Julian day (day of year). For example, 26015 means the 15th day of 2026 (January 15). Used for Teasdale lot numbers. |
RFID Terms¶
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Antenna | -- | The component of an RFID reader that transmits and receives radio signals. RFID readers can have 1 to 4 antennas. More antennas cover a larger read area. |
| dBm | dBm | Decibels-milliwatt. A unit of measurement for radio signal strength. More negative values indicate weaker signals. For example, -50 dBm is a strong signal while -80 dBm is weak. |
| EPC | EPC | Electronic Product Code. A unique identifier stored on an RFID tag, similar to a barcode but read wirelessly. Used to track individual items. In GateKeeper, the EPC from an RFID tag must match the DataMatrix barcode on the same case. |
| FX9600 | -- | A Zebra fixed RFID reader used at Cargill and Chipotle sites. Connects via TCP on port 5084. Reads EPC tags from cases as they pass on the conveyor. |
| Power Level | -- | The transmit power of an RFID reader antenna, measured in dBm. Range is 10 to 30 dBm. Higher power = longer read range but more potential for reading tags from adjacent lanes. Default is 27.0 dBm. |
| RFID | RFID | Radio-Frequency Identification. Technology that uses radio waves to read data from small electronic tags attached to products. GateKeeper uses RFID to verify that the physical tag on a case matches the printed barcode. |
| RFID Bypass Mode | -- | A configuration where RFID verification is disabled by setting TagExpirationSeconds to 0. The system generates synthetic RFID data that always matches. Used when RFID hardware is unavailable or not needed. All other validation checks still apply. |
| RFID Cache | -- | A temporary in-memory store of recently read RFID tags. Tags expire after a configurable number of seconds (default 17). When a case is scanned by the camera, GateKeeper looks up the matching RFID tag in this cache. |
| RSSI | RSSI | Received Signal Strength Indicator. A measurement of how strong an RFID tag's signal is when read by the antenna. Used to filter out weak or distant tag reads. Measured in dBm. |
| RSSI Threshold | -- | A configurable minimum signal strength for RFID tag reads. Tags weaker than the threshold are ignored. Default is -127 dBm (no filtering). Recommended production value is -70 dBm. |
| Tag Expiration | -- | The amount of time (in seconds) an RFID tag remains in the cache before being discarded. Must be long enough for a case to travel from the RFID antenna to the camera. Set to 0 to enable bypass mode. |
| TID | TID | Tag Identifier. A factory-programmed unique serial number built into every RFID chip. Unlike EPC (which can be written/changed), TID is permanent and cannot be modified. |
Hardware Terms¶
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino | -- | A microcontroller board used as an I/O controller in GateKeeper systems. Controls stack lights, reject mechanisms, and machine stop signals. Two types are used: Portenta H7 (TCP) and LattePanda (Serial USB). |
| BarTender | -- | Label printing software by Seagull Scientific. GateKeeper sends print commands to BarTender via its REST API to print case labels during Teasdale validation. |
| Cognex DataMan | -- | A fixed-mount barcode reader (models DM374, DM375) used at most GateKeeper sites. Connects via TCP. Reads 1D and 2D barcodes. Supports Push and Poll data modes. |
| Cognex Insight | -- | A smart camera (model Insight 8000) with built-in OCR capability. Used at the Hersey site for reading date codes on salt containers. Also captures images for troubleshooting. |
| COM Port | -- | A serial communication port on a Windows PC. Used to connect to LattePanda Arduino controllers via USB. Format: COM4, COM5, etc. |
| Controller | -- | A general term for the hardware device (Arduino Portenta H7 or LattePanda) that manages physical I/O signals for stack lights, reject mechanisms, and machine stops. |
| Conveyor | -- | A motorized belt or roller system that moves product cases past cameras and RFID readers for validation. GateKeeper monitors and controls the conveyor flow. |
| CoreScanner SDK | -- | Software Development Kit from Zebra for communicating with DS9908R scanners via USB (SNAPI protocol). Must be installed on the GateKeeper PC for Teasdale mode. |
| Diverter | -- | A mechanical device on the conveyor that pushes rejected cases off the main line onto a separate path. Activated by the reject signal from the Arduino controller. |
| DS9908R | -- | A Zebra hybrid barcode/RFID presentation scanner used at Teasdale sites. Connects via USB. Can read both barcodes and RFID tags in a single scan. The "R" indicates RFID capability. |
| ELO Status Light | -- | An LED status light built into ELO touchscreen monitors. Used at the Zebra Futures Lab site as a visual pass/fail indicator instead of a traditional stack light. |
| FS40 | -- | A Zebra fixed scanner used at the Zebra Futures Lab. Connects via TCP. Triggered by a hardware photo-eye. |
| LattePanda | -- | A small single-board computer (LattePanda Delta 3) used as a serial Arduino controller at Teasdale sites. Connects via USB serial (COM port). |
| Modbus | -- | An industrial communication protocol used by the Arduino Portenta H7 controller. GateKeeper sends commands over TCP port 502 to control I/O pins. |
| Photo-eye | -- | An optical sensor that detects when a case passes a specific point on the conveyor. Used to trigger cameras and/or Arduino inputs. |
| PLC | PLC | Programmable Logic Controller. An industrial computer that controls manufacturing equipment. GateKeeper interfaces with PLCs indirectly through the Arduino controller for reject and stop signals. |
| Portenta H7 | -- | An Arduino board (Arduino Portenta H7) used as a TCP-connected I/O controller at most GateKeeper sites. Communicates over TCP port 502. Controls stack lights, reject signals, and machine stops. |
| SNAPI | SNAPI | Simple Network API. A Zebra proprietary protocol for communicating with scanners via USB. Used by the DS9908R scanner in Teasdale mode. |
| Stack Light | -- | A tower of colored lights (Red, Yellow, Green) mounted near the conveyor that provides visual status feedback to operators. Green = running/pass, Yellow = idle/validating, Red = failure/problem. May include a horn/alarm. |
| Zebra ZT411R | -- | A Zebra industrial label printer with built-in RFID encoding capability. Used at Teasdale sites for printing and encoding RFID case labels via BarTender. |
Software & System Terms¶
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| AIS | AIS | AbeTech Integration Service. A legacy HTTP export service that receives validation results. Used as a fallback export option in CargillRfid mode. |
| appsettings.json | -- | The main configuration file for GateKeeper Conveyor. Contains all hardware connections, validation settings, and application behavior settings. Located in the application install directory. Each production site has its own unique version. |
| Config Audit | -- | A background service that tracks changes to the appsettings.json file. Changes are logged to the config-audit directory. Useful for troubleshooting unexpected setting changes. |
| Database Override | -- | A behavior where JSON files stored in C:\gatekeeper\conveyor\data\Setting\ can silently override validation settings from appsettings.json. A common source of confusion when settings changes do not take effect. |
| DCOM | -- | Distributed COM. In GateKeeper context, this refers to the Teasdale DCOM/Deacom ERP system that generates production data JSON files consumed by the TeasdaleImporter. |
| Deacom | -- | The ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system used by Teasdale Foods. Generates production order JSON files that GateKeeper imports for validation. Also receives per-pallet export data after validation. |
| DPAPI | DPAPI | Data Protection API. A Windows encryption service used to encrypt network passwords stored in appsettings.json. Encrypted values are prefixed with "ENC:". Encryption is machine-bound (only works on the same PC). |
| EPCIS | EPCIS | Electronic Product Code Information Services. A GS1 standard for sharing supply chain event data. The Mojix export service converts validation results to EPCIS format. |
| Export Queue | -- | A file-based queue (todo/processed/error folders) where validation results wait to be sent to external services (AIS, Mojix, MWE). Files in the "todo" folder are retried automatically. |
| GateKeeper Conveyor | -- | The full name of this application. A quality control system that validates product cases on conveyor lines by checking barcodes, RFID tags, and OCR data against expected production data. |
| JSON | JSON | JavaScript Object Notation. A text-based data format used for configuration files (appsettings.json), data import files, and export submissions. |
| Kiosk Mode | -- | A UI configuration setting that optimizes the display for touchscreen operation. Removes unnecessary controls and enlarges buttons for operator use. |
| Matthews | -- | The Matthews Marking Systems interface. A TCP connection that receives production data messages (GTIN, lot, expiration) from the plant's production system. Triggers Chipotle/CargillRfid validation mode. |
| Midnight Rollover | -- | A Teasdale mode feature that automatically updates lot numbers and dates when a shift crosses midnight. Shows a warning to operators before the change occurs. |
| Mojix | -- | A supply chain visibility platform (Mojix Retail / YTEM). GateKeeper sends validation results to Mojix in EPCIS format for Chipotle supply chain tracking. The primary export target for CargillRfid and Teasdale modes. |
| MWE | MWE | MotionWorks Enterprise. A Zebra supply chain management platform. Used as a secondary export target when Mojix is not available. |
| NetworkFileImporter | -- | A GateKeeper service that watches a directory for new production data files. Used in CargillSalt mode to import expected values from the plant's production system. |
| Pallet | -- | A flat platform used to stack and transport multiple cases of product. In Teasdale mode, GateKeeper tracks validation progress per pallet (e.g., "Case 13 of 35"). |
| Production Data | -- | Information about what product is currently being manufactured, including GTIN, lot number, expiration date, and other fields. Received via Matthews TCP, network file import, or Teasdale JSON import. |
| Serilog | -- | A structured logging library used by GateKeeper. Configuration is in appsettings.json under the "Serilog" section. Controls log levels and output destinations. |
| System Health Monitor | -- | A background service that checks hardware connectivity every 5 seconds. Triggers a distinct red fast-flash pattern on the stack light when hardware disconnects during operation. |
| TeasdaleImporter | -- | A GateKeeper service that polls a network directory for JSON production order files from the Deacom system. Files are processed and moved to a "processed" folder. |
| Validation Mode | -- | The operating mode that determines what checks GateKeeper performs on each case. Available modes: Off, RejectAll, AV50, Chipotle, CargillRfid, CargillSalt, Zfl, and Teasdale. |
| Validation Result | -- | The outcome of checking a single case. Either PASS (all checks met) or FAIL (one or more checks failed). Includes the specific failure reason if failed. |
| ZflImporter | -- | A GateKeeper service that receives ZPL (Zebra Programming Language) data via TCP for the Zebra Futures Lab validation mode. Extracts expected EPC values for matching against camera reads. |
Validation Mode Names¶
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Off | Validation is not running. Hardware may still be connected but no cases are checked. |
| RejectAll | Testing mode that rejects every case. Used to verify reject mechanism and stack light timing. |
| AV50 | Barcode presence validation. Checks that cameras can see the required number of barcodes on each case. Used at Hormel sites. |
| Chipotle | Multi-field validation: GTIN + Lot + Expiration + RFID matching. Production data from Matthews TCP. Exports to AIS. Legacy mode. |
| CargillRfid | Same validation as Chipotle but with Mojix/MWE/AIS export priority chain. Replaces Chipotle for all Cargill RFID sites. |
| CargillSalt | OCR date validation. Compares dates read by Insight camera against imported production data. Used at Hersey. |
| Zfl | EPC/barcode matching for Zebra Futures Lab demo. Compares camera-read barcodes against ZPL-provided EPCs. |
| Teasdale | Full validation: DataMatrix + UCC-128 + RFID with GTIN/Lot/PackDate matching. Production data from JSON file import. Used at Teasdale Carrollton. |
Network & Protocol Terms¶
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall | -- | Software that controls which network connections are allowed in and out of a computer. Certain ports must be open for GateKeeper hardware to communicate. |
| Inbound | -- | Network traffic coming INTO the GateKeeper PC from external devices. Requires firewall rules to allow. Examples: Matthews TCP messages, camera Push data. |
| IP Address | IP | A numeric address that identifies a device on a network (e.g., 192.168.100.200). Each piece of hardware in a GateKeeper deployment has its own IP address. |
| Outbound | -- | Network traffic going FROM the GateKeeper PC to external devices. Usually allowed by default. Examples: connecting to cameras, RFID readers, export services. |
| Port | -- | A number (1-65535) that identifies a specific service on a networked device. Different hardware types use different port numbers. |
| Push Mode | -- | A camera data mode where the camera sends barcode data to GateKeeper automatically after each trigger. The camera connects to a listener on the GateKeeper PC. Used with Cognex DataMan cameras. |
| Poll Mode | -- | A camera data mode where GateKeeper sends a trigger command to the camera and reads the response. Requires an Arduino to provide the trigger signal. Simpler network setup than Push mode. |
| TCP | TCP | Transmission Control Protocol. A reliable network protocol used for most GateKeeper hardware communication (cameras, RFID readers, Arduino controllers). |
| Telnet | -- | A simple text-based protocol on TCP port 23. Used to send commands to Cognex DataMan cameras (trigger, configure). |
| UNC Path | -- | Universal Naming Convention path format for network file shares (e.g., \\server\share\folder). Used by TeasdaleImporter and NetworkFileImporter to access remote directories. |