Introduction to RFID

RFID Programming
University of Houston
Bauer College of Business
Spring 2007
Some links…
www.rfidjournal.com
www.computerworld.com
www.rfidusa.com
www.uh.edu/gartner
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Definition

RFID (Radio Frequency

Identification) is a
technology used for
electronic and wireless
identification of objects,
humans and animals
Mandates
Mandates
RFID System Architecture
Carrier Frequencies

What is frequency?
Refers to the property of radio waves used
to transmit data
Carrier Frequency

RFID systems may use a particular

frequency band depending on:
Application
Legislature
Cost considerations
Frequency Bands
Frequency and bandwidth

Frequency is of primary importance

when determining data transfer rates
(bandwidth)
The higher the frequency, the higher
the data transfer rate
Range

Range – the working distance between

a tag and a reader

Range
Range and Power Levels

The range that can be achieved in an

RFID system is determined by
The power available at the reader
The power available within the tag
The environmental conditions and
structures
Material Propagation

The absorption rate for water and other

non-conductive substances is lower by
a factor of 100 000 at 100 kHz than it is
at 1 GHz
LF systems are primarily used due to
their high propagation of substances
Electromagnetic Interference

Electromagnetic Interference - Interference caused when

the radio waves of one device distort the waves of
another.
Cells phones, wireless computers and even robots in
factories can produce radio waves that interfere with
RFID tags.
EI is likely to be an issue for UHF systems
Tags Characteristics

Means by which transponder is

powered
Data carrying options
Data read rates
Programming options
Physical forms
Costs
Active and Passive Tags

Active tags
Powered by an internal battery
Finite lifetime (because of battery)
Greater range
Better noise immunity
Higher data transmission rates
Active and Passive Tags

Passive tags
Operate without battery
Derive power from the field generate by the
reader
Less expensive
Unlimited life
Require more powerful readers
Orientation sensitivity
Data Carrying Options

A tag can contain

An identifier
1bit – 128 bits
Portable data files
Example: 64 K
Data Programming Options

Read-only
Cheap
Write once read many
Read/write
Expensive
Why Use Read/Write Tags?

Greater flexibility
Customers may change requirements
Standards may change
Database dependence
Ownership issues
Lag times
Tag Physical Forms

Disk and Coins – can be attached to an

item by a fastening screw
Tag Physical Forms

Keys or Key Fobs, Watches – access

control
Smart Labels

A bar code can be printed on an RFID

label
Tag Physical Forms

Glass Transponders can be implanted

under skin
Readers
What’s so special about RFID?

Line of sight is not required

Longer read ranges
Faster: hundreds of items can be
scanned in one read
RFID vs. Barcodes
Principles of Profitable RFID Use
Enterprise value of data collection
Example: a big retailer working with small suppliers

The data collection process is relatively

chaotic
Example: Battlefield
Making libraries chaotic

The exact configuration of goods must be

maintained
Inventory tracking
RFID tag data capacity is big enough that any tag will have a
unique code, while current bar codes are limited to a single
type code for all instances of a particular product.
The uniqueness of RFID tags means that a product may be
individually tracked as it moves from location to location,
finally ending up in the consumer's hands. This may help
companies to combat theft and other forms of product loss.
the visibility provided by RFID allows an accurate knowledge
on the inventory level by eliminating the discrepancy
between inventory record and physical inventory.
In an academic study performed at Wal-Mart, RFID
reduced Out of Stocks by 30 percent for products selling
between 0.1 and 15 units a day.
It has also been proposed to use RFID for POS store
checkout to replace the cashier with an automatic system
which needs no barcode scanning. However, this is not likely
to be possible without a significant reduction in the cost of
current tags
Some applications
transportation payments
library tracking,
pallet tracking,
building access control,
airline baggage tracking,
apparel and pharmaceutical items tracking.
identification badges,
shipping container tracking, and truck and trailer
tracking in shipping yards.
car keys.
RFID Growth

Several market research firms predict

that ~2007 RFID market will reach ~$3
billion
The lowest cost of Gen2 EPC inlay is
offered by SmartCode at a price of 5 cents
apiece in volumes of 100 million or
more
Standards
The manufacturer, distributor and retailer must all have
systems that are compatible with one another.
This doesn’t just apply to back-end systems, but to the
tags themselves if RFID is to be effective.
Some of the early compatibility issues were very
fundamental — such as the frequency the tags operate
on.
For the most part, the 869 to 915 MHz tags prevailed, but
still left the hurdle of the actual tag content.
It became obvious that tag formats, just like barcode
formats, needed standardization.
This was addressed through the Electronic Product Codes
(EPCglobal), an industry body that sets these electronic
standards.
Standards

However, having the frequency and tag

format agree only buys so much if the air
protocol to get the data isn’t established.
Until recently it was difficult to guarantee that
a reader from one manufacturer would work
with a tag from another, until the EPC
Generation 2 air specification.
Now, both tag and reader vendors all signed
up to make their equipment compatible
All manufacturers has cross compatible
offerings.
Standards
While the EPC now has a standard adopted by the
vendors in the US and Europe, there continue to be
difficulties with international compatibility. Almost all of
the participants in EPC are from the U.S. and Europe,
while a significant portion of manufactured goods are no
longer made in those member countries.
As respected as EPC may be, it would require a higher
authority to mandate a world-wide standard.
That’s where the International Standards Organization
(ISO) comes in.
The EPC Generation 2 specification was submitted to ISO
and just recently it became an approved standard with
the designation ISO/IEC 18000 to 6C.
With ISO approval, it’s now possible to buy a compliant
Reader and tag that works the world over.
Regulations

Europe faces significant problems with

reader performance degradation in
environments where high numbers of
readers are used together.
This performance degradation issue
originates from the fact that the EU has
a more limited range of spectrum that’s
legally assigned for RFID use compared
to the USA.
Regulations
In North America, UHF can be used unlicensed for 902 –
928 MHz (±13 MHz from the 915 MHz center frequency),
but restrictions exist for transmission power.
In Europe, RFID and other low-power radio applications
are regulated by ETSI recommendations EN 300 220 and
EN 302 208, and ERO recommendation 70 03, allowing
RFID operation with somewhat complex band restrictions
from 865–868 MHz.
Readers are required to monitor a channel before
transmitting ("Listen Before Talk"); this requirement has
led to some restrictions on performance, the resolution of
which is a subject of current research.
The North American UHF standard is not accepted in
France as it interferes with its military bands.
For China and Japan, there is no regulation for the use of
UHF. Each application for UHF in these countries needs a
site license, which needs to be applied for at the local
authorities, and can be revoked.
For Australia and New Zealand, 918 – 926 MHz are
unlicensed, but restrictions exist for transmission power.
Privacy
Since the owner of an item will not necessarily be aware
of the presence of a RFID tag and the tag can be read at
a distance without the knowledge of the individual, it
becomes possible to gather sensitive data about an
individual without consent. (Ex. Scanning your home,
medical records)
A number of products are available on the market in the
US that will allow a concerned carrier of RFID-enabled
cards to shield their data
Shielding is again a function of the frequency being used.
Low-frequency tags, like those used in implantable devices
for humans and pets, are relatively resistant to shielding,
though thick metal foil will prevent most reads.
High frequency tags (13.56 MHz — smart cards and access
badges) are more sensitive to shielding and are
difficult to read when within a few centimetres of a
metal surface.