RFID: Radio Frequency Identification Amanda Di Maso Shreya Patel Tresit Tarko

What is RFID? Overview  Radio Frequency Identification  Information stored on a tag or chip  Chip sends data over radio waves  Means of transmitting data from a portable device  An improvement over the bar code

Components of an RFID Tag: microchip, antennae Reader: case, 1+ antennae, power supply, electronics

Types of RFID Tags Two Original Kinds – No Longer Used  Inductively Coupled RFID tags  Older style  Made of glass, metal coils and an antennae  Used to track large items shipped over long distances  Powered by a magnetic field from RFID reader  Capacitively Coupled RFID tags

Types of RFID Tags Two Original Kinds – No Longer Used  Inductively Coupled RFID tags  Capacitively Coupled RFID tags  Newer, cheaper version  Disposable  Conductive carbon ink instead of metal coil  Printed on paper or silicon

Types of RFID Tags Three New Models- Commonly Used  All store 2KB of data  Active Tag  Semi-Active Tag  Passive Tag

Types of RFID Tags Three New Models- Commonly Used  All store 2KB of data  Active Tag  Battery operated, cannot operate without  Range of over 100 ft.  Large, expensive, needs long term maintenance  Limited Lifespan (based on battery)  Semi-Active Tag  Passive Tag

Types of RFID Tags Three New Models- Commonly Used  All store 2KB of data  Active Tag  Semi-Active Tag  Battery operated, but uses reader power to transmit radio waves  Long range, expensive, used for expensive items  Passive Tag

Types of RFID Tags Three New Models- Commonly Used  All store 2KB of data  Active Tag  Semi-Active Tag  Passive Tag  Relies on reader for all power  Shorter range, up to 20 ft.  Disposable, cheaper  Infinite Lifespan

How does it work?  Two frequencies: 125 KHz and MHz  Reader sends an electromagnetic signal  Signal received by and activates the tag  Tag powered by battery OR electrical current generated from reader  Magnetic signal from reader sent over metal/conductive coil in tag

 Current allows tag to transmit data in form of radio waves  Data usually converted to digital form  Different data corresponds to own frequency  Different antennae on the reader receives radio signal  Interpret data based on the radio frequency  Sends data to a computer source How does it work?

Data Carrier Modulated Signal  Modulations in signal, changes in frequency, are the components which carry the data from the tag to the reader  Carrier is the base frequency being sent by the tag to the reader, any deviations from the carrier frequency consists of the data being transmitted.

Common Applications of RFID  One of first uses: livestock ID  Tracked populations of cattle  Usage increased after mad cow disease  Now common in pet Micro-chipping  Four brands  ISO Conformant Full Duplex  Most international  Conforms to ISO standards (international organization for standardization)

Common Applications of RFID  One of first uses: livestock ID  Tracked populations of cattle  Usage increased after mad cow disease  Now common in pet Micro-chipping  Four brands  Trovan Unique  Quickly went out of usage due to patent issues after birth in 1990  Recently began distributing again with a different tag

Common Applications of RFID  One of first uses: livestock ID  Tracked populations of cattle  Usage increased after mad cow disease  Now common in pet Micro-chipping  Four brands  FECAVA/Destron  Most popular style microchip: HomeAgain  Use hexadecimal tag numbers rather than binary

Common Applications of RFID  One of first uses: livestock ID  Tracked populations of cattle  Usage increased after mad cow disease  Now common in pet Micro-chipping  Four brands  AVID microchip  Has an encryption aspect to protect owner information that makes it difficult to read by normal scanners  Still commonly sold

Common Applications of RFID  Retail Sales  On grocery store items such as shampoos and DVDs  Allows provider to know what is being sold and at what rate  Public Transportation  Replaces ticket sales; “smart cards”  Allows user to access subway or bus and have an account billed automatically  No contact needed for information transmission

Common Applications of RFID  Toll Road Payments  Allows frequent toll road travelers to bypass manual payment at each toll booth  RFID tag placed near windshield  Slow down, tag is read, toll is billed to an account  EZ Pass common American brand  Fast Gas  Mobil Speedpass  Pay without credit Card or cash  Swipe personal tag

Common Applications of RFID  The Human Microchip? watch?v=TqCxmXgnqKE  Privacy Infringement  New Human “microchip” considered privacy infringement  Access to personal information and current whereabouts 24-7

Questions?