An Introduction to

RFIDBy: Farnoush Farajpour (91124327110)Dec 2012

What is RFID?

• Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a generic term that is used to describe a system that transmits the identity (in the form of a unique serial number) of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves. It's grouped under the broad category of automatic identification technologies. Auto-ID technologies include bar codes, optical character readers and some biometric technologies, such as retinal scans. The auto-ID technologies have been used to reduce the amount of time and labor needed to input data manually and to improve data accuracy.

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RFID Background

• IFF Technology (Identify Friend or Foe) used by Allied bombers During World War II;

• Invention of “The Thing” or “the Great Seal bug”, an espionage tool, by Léon Theremin, 1945;

• Advances in radar and RF communications systems, 1950s and 1960s;

• Today RFID Invention by Mario Cardullo, 1973;• Until recently, the cost of RFID has limited its use.

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RFID System Components

• The RFID tags,• The RFID readers,• The antennas and radio,• The computer network (if any) to connect the

readers

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RFID System Components

RFID Tags• Basic building block of RFID; Consist of:

• An antenna• A small silicon chip containing a radio

receiver,• A radio modulator for sending a response

back to the reader,• Control logic,• Some amount of memory,• A power system

For glass bottle*For generic cartoon* (high performance)

For wood pallet*

For generic cartoon*

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RFID TagsBased on Source of Power• PASSIVE Tags: The power system completely

powered by the incoming RF signal

• ACTIVE Tags: The power system has a battery

• SEMI-PASSIVE Tags: Has a battery & use the reader’s power to transmit a message back to the RFID reader (using a technique known as backscatter)

• Size Comparing: Some Smaller than 0.4 mm thickness (Passive), Some as large as a book (Semi-Passive), Some implantable size of a grain of rice;

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RFID TagsBased on Source of Power  Active RFID Passive RFID

Power Battery operated No internal power

Required Signal Strength

Low High

Communication Range

Long range (100m+) Short range (3m)

Data Storage Large read/write data (128kb) Small read/write data (128b)

Per Tag Cost Generally, $15 to $100 Generally, $0.15 to $5.00

Tag Size Varies depending on application "Sticker" to credit card size

Fixed Infrastructure Costs

Lower - cheaper interrogators Higher - fixed readers

Per Asset Variable Costs

Higher - see tag cost Lower - see tag cost

Best Area of Use High volume assets moving within designated areas ("4 walls") in random and dynamic systems

High volume assets moving through fixed choke points in definable, uniform systems

Industries / Applications

Auto dealerships/ Auto manufacturing/ Hospitals - asset tracking/ Construction/ Mining/ Laboratories/ Remote monitoring/ IT asset management

Supply chain/ High volume manufacturing/ Libraries / book stores/ Pharmaceuticals/ Passports/ Electronic tolls/ Item level tracking

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SizeReading Range

PriceSpeed

Reliability

RFID TagsBased on Source of PowerActiv

e

Semi-Passi

ve

Passive

Lifetime

Passive

Semi-Passi

ve

Active

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RFID TagsOther Classifications• Promiscuous/ Secure: Communicate with any

reader/ requiring a password from the reader• Programmability: A serial number of 64-bit or 96-

bit & read-only storage/ Serial number burned by the manufacturer OR end user/ Serial number fixed OR changeable/ Containing read-write memory/ Containing sensor directly reports to the RFID reader OR store in a memory/ Have a self-destruct, or “kill” feature/ Contactless Smart Cards in financial applications (wireless protocols and passive powering)

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RFID TagsEPC Classifications

• Electronic Product Code (EPC) tags: • Follows the EPC standard developed by the MIT Auto-ID Center

• Managed by the trade organization EPC global

Table: EPC RFID Classes

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RFID TagsEPC Classifications

Table: EPC RFID Chip Generation

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RFID System ComponentsRFID ReadersSending a pulse of radio energy to the tag listening for the tag’s response containing the

tag’s serial number and other information

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RFID ReadersDifferent Kinds of Readers• Simple RFID systems, the reader’s RF signal as an

on-off switch/ More sophisticated systems, the signal contains commands, instructions, passwords, etc.

• The RFID readers designed to read a particular kind of tag/ MULTIMODE readers can read many different kinds of tags

• RFID readers usually ON, continually transmitting radio energy/ Battery-powered devices, the radio pulse sent only in response to an external event

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RFID System ComponentsAntennas & Radio

The RFID physical layer Used to couple the reader to the tag to transfer information• Unlicensed Spectrum: A specific part of the spectrum set

aside for use without a radio license.• Most RFID systems use Unlicensed Spectrum frequencies

• The larger the antenna on the reader and the tag, the better an RFID system will work, the more transmitted power

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RFID System ComponentsThe Network

The reader sends received messages to a computer

The computer analyzes the message depend on the application; e.g. checks the number in a reference list and perform in a special way; or sends EPC code to a large database to check the specifications; etc.

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How Does It Work?

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RFID Usage

• Supply Chain Management (SCM)

• Work in Process (WIP)• passengers luggage

transfer• Banking• E-Payments• Super markets

Management• Libraries• Car Manufacturers• Parking

• Post• Inspection• Tracking• …

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RFID UsageSCM

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RFID vs Barcode  RFID Barcode

Read Rate High throughput. Multiple (>100) tags can be read simultaneously.

Very low throughput. Tags can only be read manually, one at a time.

Line of Sight

Not required. Items can be oriented in any direction, as long as it is in the read range, and direct line of sight is never required.

Definitely required. Scanner must physically see each item directly to scan, and items must be oriented in a very specific manner.

Human Capital

Virtually none. Once up and running, the system is completely automated.

Large requirements. Laborers must scan each tag.

Read/Write Capability

More than just reading. Ability to read, write, modify, and update.

Read only. Ability to read items and nothing else.

Durability High. Much better protected, and can even be internally attached, so it can be read through very harsh environments.

Low. Easily damaged or removed; cannot be read if dirty or greasy.

Security High. Difficult to replicate. Data can be encrypted, password protected, or include a "kill" feature to remove data permanently, so information stored is much more secure.

Low. Much easier to reproduce or counterfeit.

Event Triggering

Capable. Can be used to trigger certain events (like door openings, alarms, etc.).

Not capable. Cannot be used to trigger events.

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RFID Technical Problems

• Problems with RFID Standards• RFID systems Disruption• RFID Reader Collision• RFID Tag Collision: The tags need to support an

anti-collision protocol or a singulation protocol• Metal & Water Interference• Different Security/ Privacy Problems• Difficulty in removing: New technologies allow

RFID tags to be "printed" right on a product and may not be removable at all

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RFID Technical ProblemsMetal & Water Interference, The Solution

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RFID Technical Problems Security/ Privacy Problems

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Ethical Point of View

• The Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, is putting RFID tags in the photo ID cards of their students so they can be tracked while on campus.  No matter what people may say they intent to do with them, no matter what good they say will come out of it, the data collected from tracking our children with RFID tags will eventually be used to strip them of their freedoms and create a prison-like atmosphere in our schools…

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Future of RFID

References

• RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, Simson Garfinkel , Beth Rosenberg , Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (July 16 2005)

• Management Information Systems: managing the digital firm, 11th ed, Laudon, Kenneth

• RFID Journal, New York• www.thingmagic.com