RFID encoder and verifier

A method for applying an RFID label onto a package containing an optically readable label, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal comprising RFID programming information from a host computer, wherein the signal is a data stream in a programming language;
• programming the RFID label using the RFID programming information;
• determining whether the optically readable label has been properly printed;
• determining whether the RFID label has been properly programmed;
• and
• applying the RFID label to the object if the optically readable label has been properly printed and the RFID label has been properly programmed, wherein the information for determining whether the RFID label has been properly programmed is extracted from data streams of different programming languages.

A method of applying labels to packages in a system having an RFID encoder, the method comprising:

• printing an optically readable label based on information contained in a data stream from a host computer, wherein the data stream is of different programming languages and wherein the RFID encoder extracts information from data streams of different programming languages;
• applying the optically readable label onto a package;
• verifying whether an RFID label has been properly programmed based on information contained in the data stream or in the optically readable label;
• and
• applying the RFID label to a package if the RFID label has been properly programmed.