1. Automatic Identification System
Chapter 4
Automatic Identification System
EC5103PA_Apr2008

2. 15 July 2008 (Tuesday) CPA Class Test 1 Chapter 1 to 3
During project lesson

3. Automatic Identification System
Basic structure and operating principles of various identification system
Bar codes
Magnetic stripe
Radio frequency identification
Smart card

4. What is Automatic Identification System?
Auto ID, also refer as AIDC (Automatic Identification and Data Capture)
Auto ID refers to the method of capturing or collecting data via automatic means (i.e. without the use of a keyboard), and storing data in a microprocessor-controlled devices (computer).
All AIDC technologies support two common goals:
Accuracy To eliminate errors associated with identification and/or data collection
Productivity To accelerate the through-put process

5. Types of Auto ID Technologies
AutoID technologies can be roughly divided into six categories:
Optical
Magnetic
Electromagnetic
Biometrics
Touch
Smart card

6. Automatic Identification System – Bar Codes
A symbol that represents a series
of numbers and/or letters
Symbol is designed such that it can be read by scanners which communicate with the computers
Scanning a bar code initiates same action as entering data into a computer

7. Bar codes Applications
Some specific applications are:
Retail point of sale
Baggage tracking
Package tracking
Book tracking
Statistical process control
Time and attendance
Patient tracking
Inventory and access control
Retrieval of client files.

8. Bar code System Bar code generator software
- to design and print original bar code labels.
- to add graphics and text to bar codes.
CCD Scanner and wedge
– A CCD scanner scans the bar codes and collect data.
- A wedge is the interface that interprets the scanned data and enters it into the open application of the computer.
Data collection software
– All bar codes must be scanned into an open application on your computer through which you can compile the information replayed by the scans.

9. Bar code Symbology
Bar code language, also known as symbology, is a graphic representation for numbers or alphabetic characters.
Types of symbology available:
Linear (1D) Symbologies
2D Symbologies
Composite Symbologies

10. Linear (1D) Bar Code Symbologies
Well-established, read-only, optical-read technology
Low cost label-based symbol
Low capacity, typically 15~50 characters, depending upon symbology and form used
Accurate and fast though requires line-of-sight machine readability
Wide range of symbol formation software

11. Linear (1D) Bar Code Symbologies
Wide range of encodation symbologies such as:
Interleaved 2-of-5 , ITF
Code 39 (Pioneered by defense and automotive)
Code 128
Universal Product Code, UPC (Used in supermarket)
Codabar (Used in blood banks)
UPC
Codabar

12. Linear (1D) Bar Code Symbologies
Universal Product Code (UPC)
Consists of :
Machine-readable bar code
12-digit readable UPC number
Format of UPC:
UPC number –
specific products and manufacturers by the Uniform Code Council (UCC).
Item number – (product code)
Check digit – Last digit of UPC

13. 2-Dimenstional Bar Code Symbologies
A need to encode more information in a smaller space result the use of 2D bar code
Two types of 2D bar codes in use are:
Stacked Symbologies
Matrix Symbologies

14. 2-Dimenstional Bar Code Symbologies
Stacked Codes
Code 49
Code 16K
PDF417
Matrix Symbologies
AZTEC CODE
                         
DATA MATRIX
                           
MAXICODE
                              

15. Composite Bar Code Symbologies
Newly-emerging class of symbology in which two symbols are printed in close proximity to each other and contain linked data
Typically one component is a linear symbol and the other either a stacked or a matrix symbol
Example of composite symbol : UCC.EAN

16. Disadvantages of Bar Codes
In order to keep up with inventories, companies must scan each bar code on every box of a particular product.
Going through the checkout line involves the same process of scanning each bar code on each item.
Bar code is a read-only technology, meaning that it cannot send out any information.

17. Auto-ID System – Bar codes – Scanning & Verification
Bar code scanners are electro-optical systems that include a means of illuminating symbol and measuring reflected light.
Light waveform data is converted from analog to digital in order to be processed by a decoder and further transmitted to software application.
Type of bar code scanners:
Contact wands scanner
CCD scanner
Laser scanner

18. Auto-ID System – Bar codes – Scanning & Verification
Contact Wands bar code scanner
Least expensive way to read bar code
Handheld bar code scanner
Must be placed in contact with bar code symbol and moved across entire symbol to correctly read the symbol
Low cost, light weight and suitable for rugged used

19. Auto-ID System – Bar codes – Scanning & Verification
CCD Scanner
Mid-range price handheld bar code reader
Use a stationary flood of light to reflect symbol image back to an array of photo sensors.
Depth of field (DOF), optimal distance for scanner to read the bar code ranges from contact to six inches.
More rugged than laser scanner as there are no moving parts
Capable of reading 2D matrix

20. Auto-ID System – Bar codes – Scanning & Verification
Laser Scanner
Expensive handheld bar code reader
Laser diode created a beam which is spread into horizontal arc by means of rapidly moving mirror
Light 40 scans per second
Revolving polygons or oscillating mirrors may be used to produce a more reliable reading
Larger area of scanning view and can achieve a distance of 6 to 12 inches
Laser Scanner can tolerate symbol skew

21. Auto-ID System – Magnetic Strip – Introduction
Magnetic stripes technology uses the same technology as audio or videotape – digital magnetic recording. Rather than sounds or images being encoded, digital data is encoded on a magnetic stripe.

22. Auto-ID System – Magnetic Strip – Introduction
Magnetic stripe is adhered to the back of cards or tickets.
Information is encoded on the stripe using low and high-energy electromagnetic charges – alternating the polarity of small sections of the magnetic material.
When the card is swiped through the reader, electromagnetic charged particles are read as binary data that is then translated and converted into letters and numbers for computer processing.

23. Auto-ID System – Magnetic Strip – Tracks Layout
Magnetic strip may contain up to three tracks (according to ISO7811)
Track 1 (Read-Only) – Capacity of 79 alphanumeric characters can hold user’s account number, name, expiration date
Track 2 (Read-Only) – Contains 40 numeric characters
Track 3 (Read and Write) – Contains cardholder’s accounts and may be encoded each time it is used. This track is used for security purposes.

24. Auto-ID System – Magnetic Strip – Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantage of magnetic strip
Flexibility, can be re-encoded at any time as compared to bar codes.
Durability, enable up to 100,000 swipes on a single card and over 2 million swipes on a reader.
Reliability, ten years of performance for both cards and readers.
Disadvantage of magnetic strip
Ability of a magnetic field to erase the card ‘s encryption.
Data on the stripe can easily be read, written, deleted or changed with off-the-shelf equipment.
not the best place to store sensitive information.

25. Magnetic Strip Applications
Magnetic stripes is used everywhere such as:
Bank Card
Airline Ticket and Boarding pass
Phone card
Transit ticket
Parking lot ticket

26. Review Questions
What are the two main objectives of AIDC technologies?
Name four common types of Auto-ID technologies.
State three types of bar code symbology.

27. What is Radio Frequency Identification?
RFID is a technology used for automatic data capture which allows contact-less identification of objects via Radio Frequency (RF).
RFID relies on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders.
An RFID tag is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves.
Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.

28. Components of a RFID System
A basic RFID system consists of three components:
A transponder (RFID tag)
Reader or Interrogator
Host computer

29. Components of a RFID System
A transponder (Also called a tag)
a tiny radio device that is also referred to as a transponder, smart tag, smart label, or radio barcode.
contain at least two parts.
integrated circuit for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a (RF) signal, and other specialized functions.
an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal.
Fig 12 An EPC RFID tag used by Wal-Mart

30. Components of a RFID System
Reader or Interrogator
RFID readers or receivers are composed of a radio frequency module, a control unit and an antenna to interrogate electronic tags via radio frequency (RF) communication.
The main objective of an RFID reader is to control the reading and writing of data to an RFID tag.
A radio frequency field is generated around the RFID reader's antenna to generate power for the passive tags as well as provide means for data transfer from the tag to the reader.

31. Components of a RFID System
Host Computer
The data acquired by the readers is then passed to a host computer, which may run specialist RFID software or middleware to filter the data and route it to the correct application, to be processed into useful information.

32. RFID tags
RFID tags are categorized as either passive, active and semi-passive.

33. Passive RFID tags Have no internal power supply.
draw power from the radio wave transmitted by the reader.
The reader transmits a low power radio signal through its antenna to the tag, which in turn receives it through its own antenna to power the integrated circuit (chip).
The tag will briefly converse with the reader for verification and the exchange of data.
The tag chip can contain non-volatile, writable EEPROM for storing data.
Simple, low cost & small
Shorter read range (typically 3m of less)

34. 2.45GHz RFID Temperature Sensor Active Tag
Active RFID tags
have internal power source, which is used to power the integrated circuits and to broadcast the response signal to the reader.
larger and more expensive than passive tags.
transmit at higher power levels than passive tags, allowing them to be more robust in "RF challenged" environment.
with humidity and spray or with dampening targets (including humans/cattle, which contain mostly water), reflective targets from metal (shipping containers, vehicles), or at longer distances.
used to track high value goods like vehicles and large containers of goods.
Provide longer range (typically tens of metres)
Larger memories than passive tags
Tags could last up to 10 years due to battery life time
2.45GHz RFID Temperature Sensor Active Tag

35. Semi-Passive RFID tags
have own power source, but the battery only powers the on-board microchip and does not power the broadcasting of a signal to the reader.
battery can be used to power data storage.
Some semi-passive tags sleep until they are woken up by a signal from the reader, which conserves battery life. These tags are sometimes called battery-assisted tags.
Main advantages:-
1) Greater sensitivity than passive tags.
2) Longer battery powered life cycle than active tags.
3) Can perform active functions (such as temperature logging) under its own power, even when no reader is present for powering the circuitry.

36. RFID Frequencies Type of tags are also categorized by radio frequency:
Low frequency tags (125 or khz)
High frequency tags(13.56MHz)
UHF tags (850 to 960 MHz)
Microwave tags (2.45GHz)

37. RFID Frequencies

38. Automatic Identification System – Advantages
Real-time updates
Contactless technology
Line-of-sight not required
High Security
Fast reading speed
Simultaneous reading

39. Automatic Identification System – Application
RFID in Metro Group

40. Components of a RFID System
A basic RFID system consists of three components:
A transponder (RFID tag)
Reader or Interrogator
Host computer

41. Auto-ID System – Smart Card – Introduction
Provide greater memory capacity for storing of information
Allows reprogramming of adding, deleting of data
Provide greater security features than magnetic stripe

42. What is a Smart Card ?
A credit card size plastic card containing an integrated circuit (IC) that carried relatively large amounts of information.
The microchip can contain just a memory module, or a microprocessor with a memory module.
Integrated Circuit

43. What is a Smart Card ?
Information contained in the microchip can include monetary data, personal identification, security credentials or medical history.
Allows reprogramming of adding, deleting of data

44. A Smart Card System
A smart card is a part of a larger system which includes:
Smart Card reader/writer Allow transfer of information between smart card and machine interfacing with card (i.e. ATM)
Client Application Software which performs on-line transactions between card and system providers (i.e. banks)
Card Management System (or Card Operating System) Software and protocol that control the card operation

45. Types of smart card Memory card (Also known as “dumb’ card)
has an embedded memory chip with predefined operations, such as acting as a cash card.
It does not contain logic or perform calculations; they simply store data.
use ROM and EEPROM to store from 1KB to 15KB of information.
Without a processor, a memory card relies on a CAD (card acceptance device) to process the card information upon each card use.
Memory card are used in NETS CashCard, pay phone, retail or vending machines, game-station.

46. Types of smart card Microprocessor card (Smart card)
Microprocessor with memory is embedded in the card
can process and manipulate its own data
Not dependent on reader to make application work
Microprocessor cards are used in ATM, credit & debit cards.

47. Types of Smart Card Interface
Contact
Contactless
Dual interface - Hybrid card - Dual interface chip card (Combi Card)

48. Types of Smart Card Interface
Contact smart card
Require physical contact with device known as reader
Has 6 contacts point (usually gold plated) for power and data communication

49. Types of Smart Card Interface
Contact smart card
Prone to electric shock through the contacts which may result a destruction of IC
Contact point prone to corrosion
Lower cost of smart card series

50. Types of Smart Card Interface
Contactless smart card
Communicates with reader without physical contact
Contains an antenna which embedded inside the card for wireless communication
No contact to wear out
Used in applications such as :-
transit fare payment cards
government and corporate identification cards
electronic passports and visas, and
financial payment cards.

51. Types of Smart Card Interface
Hybrid smart card
contains two chips on the card, one supporting a contact interface and one supporting a contactless interface.
The chips contained on the card are generally not connected to each other.
Dual-Interface Chip Smart Card (Combi Card)
contains a single chip that supports both contact and contactless interfaces.

52. Auto-ID System – Smart Card – Smart Card Architecture
Smart Card consists of the following:
Microprocessor
I/O controller
Memories ( ROM, RAM, EEPROM)
Microprocessor
I/O Control
RAM
ROM
EEPROM
Power
Ground
Clock
Reset
Input Output

53. Smart Card Architecture
In a microprocessor card, programs are written to manage the memory allocation and file accessibility. All the operation are performed via Card Operating Systems (COS).

54. Card Operating System Card Operating System primary tasks include:
Management of interchanges between the card and terminal, in terms of the interchange protocol.
Management of files and data in card memory.
Access control to information and functions (for example, select file, read, write, and update data).
Management of card security and the cyptographic algorithm procedures.
Maintaining reliability, such as data consistency, sequence interrupts, and recovering from an error.
Management of various phases of the card’s life cycle (Fabrication, Personalization, Active life, and End Of Life).

55. Card Operating System Examples of COS are: CardOS – Infineon
Cyberflex, Multifex, Payflex – Schlumberger
STARCOS – Giesecke & Devrient
PCOS, MCOS, MPCOS – Gemplus

56. Smart Card Features and Characteristics
Key features & characteristics of smart cards:
Cost High consider with Bar codes and magnetic stripe.
Reliability Guarantee of 10,000 read/write cycle.

57. Smart Card Features and Characteristics
Error Correction Built-in COS is able to their own error checking, thus provide a more reliable data
Capacity Typically, each card could store up to 128K bit of information
Security Smart cards are highly secure. Information stored on the card is difficult to duplicate or disrupt. Some cards support DES, 3-DES, RSA or ECC standards for encryption, authentication and digital signature

58. Smart Card Applications
Secure identity applications
Employee ID badges, citizen ID documents, electronic passports, driver’s licenses, online authentication devices.
Healthcare applications
Citizen health ID cards, physician ID cards, portable medical records cards.
Payment applications
Contact and contactless credit/debit cards, transit payment cards, highway tolls.

59. Smart Card Applications
Telecommunications applications
GSM and Smart Cards
GSM mobile phones include a smart card, the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
Pay Phones and Smart Cards
use smart cards instead of coins in their pay phones to improve customer convenience and telecommunications operators’ business models (less cash, reduced risk of losses).

60. Smart Card Applications
Telecommunications applications
Mobile Payment
use phones to pay for products such as games, ring tones and other digital content.
Mobile phones and other mobile devices are also being used to pay for products at a physical point of sale (POS)

61. Multi-Applications Smart Cards
Fig 24 Potential Uses for Multi-Application Smart Cards

62. Review Questions Please answer True or False for each question.
For practical purposes, properly designed AutoID systems don’t make mistakes, whereas with manual data entry there will be inevitably be some data entry errors.
A bar code is a symbol that represents a series of numbers only.
A wedge is to interface the scanned data into the open application of the computer.
Check digit in a UPC code is the last digit to determine if the numbers are correctly scanned.
Magnetic stripes technology makes use of digital magnetic recording. Rather than sounds or images being encoded, digital data is encoded on a magnetic stripe.
RFID tags carry data, are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, provide identification for an item that requires tracking or identification.
7. Active RFID tags have their own internal power source, which is used to power the integrated circuits and to broadcast the response signal to the reader.

63. Review Questions
Transponders operate in the range of 850 – 960MHz which is known as High Frequency or HF.
The RFID tag needs to be seen in order to read from it. It cannot be hidden under skin or even in a book.
10. A smart card is a plastic card embedded with a computer chip that stores and transacts card data by reader of a computer system.
11. Dual interface smart card offers both contact and contactless interfaces. Examples are hybrid card and dual-interface chip card (“Combi” card).
12. The smart card uses a serial interface and receives its power from external sources like a card reader.
13. Ez-link card is a contactless smart card using RFID technology.
14. NETS CashCard is the stored value card that allows you to make quick and easy payments for car parks, ERP and tolls.
15. The Singapore Biometric Passport (BioPass) contains a polycarbonate page that is embedded with a contactless chip (RFID tag), carrying the owner's facial and fingerprint biometric identifiers.