1. Radio Frequency Identification
Spring 2005 Semester
CMPE 297 Research Presentation By
RESCUE team
Ashwin Venkatesh
Gautham Mudra
Srikanth Narayan
Tsegu Yonas

2. Agenda What is RFID ? Components of RFID RFID Tags & Readers
How does RFID work ?
Applications of RFID
Next-Generation RFID
Security issues
Advantages
Cost Structure
Conclusion
Q & A

3. What is RFID ?
RFID is a technology which allows an object or person to be identified at a distance, using radio waves to energize and communicate with some form of tag or card.
RFID is an Automated Data Collection (ADC) technology that uses radio-frequency waves to transfer data between a reader and a movable item for identification, categorization, tracking, etc.
RFID is fast & reliable, and does not require physical sight or contact between reader/scanner and the tagged item.

4. Components of RFID Transponder/Tag
- Contains uniquely identifiable data about the item with RFID tag.
Antenna
- Transmits Radio Frequency signals between Tag & RFID Reader.
Transceiver
Receives Radio Frequency signals from RFID devices, and reads & passes data to the host for processing. Contains a decoder to interpret the data.

5. (Communicates with the RFID Reader)
Components of an RFID System
Host Computer
Host Memory Space
Antenna
Customer-Specific
Application Software
Application
Program
Interface
(API)
Application
Program
Interface
(API)
RFID API Software
(Communicates with the RFID Reader)
Reader

6. Types of RFID Tags Active Tag transmits radio signal
Battery powered memory, radio & circuitry
High Read Range (300 feet)
Passive
Tag reflects radio signal from reader
Reader powered
Shorter Read Range (4 inches - 15 feet)

7. What is a “Dumb Reader” ?
No intelligence besides reading and forwarding data
Little or no filtering of data
Floods the network with data
Cheap, Single protocol/frequency
1011
0110 1
Applications
0001 1
RFID Middleware
1100
Tagged Assets 1
1010
Rely on middleware to perform the bulk of filtering
Readers 1
1111
RFID Middleware could become point of failure; need robust middleware. 1
1101
0010
0101

8. What is a “Smart Reader” ?
Smart Reader Management and Provisioning
Central Management Server
Firmware/Business logic upgrades S
Reader Coordination
High-Level Filtering/Aggregation S
Applications S
Tagged Assets S
Built-in low-level filtering
Smart Readers
Dynamic config and updates
Reduces network traffic by sending only relevant data
Multiple protocol/Frequency

9. Interface to host computer (RS485, RS232/422, ethernet, 802.11, etc)
How does RFID work ?
RFID reader
tag
B9.23AE1F.345C4D012
antenna
Interface to host computer (RS485, RS232/422, ethernet, , etc)
1- The Reader sends an interrogation command, radiated by the antennas
2- The tag responds to the reader’s command by sending its tag identifier
3- The reader communicates the ID read to the host computer.
ID: B9.23AE1F.345C4D012

10. Applications of RFID Electronic toll collection
Item management for retail, health care, etc
Access control
Railway & car identification and tracking
Asset identification & tracking
Animal identification

11. Portal Applications

12. Handheld Application Categories
Batch
Wireless
Fixed Station

13. Next-Generation RFID Use of Gen 2 and UHF standards.
Faster read rates (up to 1500 tags / second).
Will be the defacto standard in retail sector (E.g. self-scanning ability, use of scan-it-yourself aisles, etc).
Reduced level of interference even with multiple tags.
Tags can be re-written multiple times.
Increased security – password protection, encryption, authentication, etc in RFID systems.
Contributors – Impinj Inc., Qualcomm, Unilever, UPS, etc.

14. Security Issues
RFID poses security concerns where consumers are exposed.
Scanner or sniffer can read entire data of purchase in supply-chain.
Strong magnetic field can read valuable “badge” data leading to potential manipulation ability.
Current RFID tags do not have enough computing power for performing encryption & imposing security.
Too many reads or tags can cause conflicts.

15. Advantages of RFID No contact requirement Fast read/write capability
Real-time response
More durable than bar code
Detection over distances

16. Cost Structure

17. Conclusion RFID must be more secure & restrictive.
Excellent platform for RF research, to build new systems.
Must encourage & support “Zombie” RFID tags.
Newer standards are emerging such as UHF, Gen 2, etc. Standards will provide a more sophisticated outlook to RFID.
Enriching learning experience – by RESCUE team.

18. Q & A