m





m



 RFID--What it is?
RFID
á Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic
identification method, relying on storing and remotely
retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or
transponders.
á RFID (radio frequency identification) is a technology that
incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic
coupling in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object,
animal, or person.
á An alternative to bar code.
á RFID is also called R R
 R  
 




.
á Invented in 1948 by Harry Stockman.

á Initial application was during World War II-The United

Kingdom used RFID devices to distinguish returning
English airplanes from inbound German ones. RADAR
was only able to signal the presence of a plane, not
the kind of plane it was..

á Came into commercial use only in 1990s.

 RFID
|
  RFID
Components of RFID(cont·d)
 Úassive RFID Tags
á Tag contains an antenna, and a small chip
that stores a small amount of data

á Tag can be programmed at manufacture

or on installation

á Tag is powered by the high power

electromagnetic field generated by the
antennas ² usually in doorways

á The field allows the chip/antenna to reflect

back an extremely weak signal containing
the data.

á Collision Detection ² recognition of multiple

tags in the read range ² is employed to
separately read the individual tags
 Active RFID Tags
á Battery Úowered tags
Have much greater range ² 100m
Hold much more information ² Kbytes
Can integrate sensing technology
á Temperature, GÚS
Can signal at defined time
Multiple tags can be recorded at once
á Used for higher value items
Shipping containers
Babies
Electronic assets
á Cost between $20 and $40 per item
á Life between 2 ² 4 years
 Components of RFID(cont·d)
ë 
  
 

Tag Úower Source Internal to tag Energy transferred using

RF from reader

Tag Battery Yes No

Availability of power Continuous Only in field of reader

Required signal strength Very Low Very High

to Tag
Range Up to 100m Up to 3-5m, usually less

Multi-tag reading 1000·s of tags recognized Few hundred within 3m of

² up to 100mph reader

Data Storage Up to 128Kb or read/write 128 bytes of read/write

with sophisticated search
and access
|
    
 Electronic product code-
code-EÚC
á Each tag contains a unique code that facilitating the
identification process & is known as EÚC.

á E.g. 613.23000.123456.123456789 (96 bits)

á Header ² defines version of EÚC(8 bits)

á EÚC Manager ² describes originator of EÚC (Úroduct

manufacturer) (28 bits)

á Object Class - Could describe the product type (24 Bits)

á Serial Number ² Unique ID for that product item (36 Bits)

System overview in vehicle tracking
 RFID Vs Bar Code
RFID Barcode
Forging is difficult Forging is easy
Scanner not required. No need Scanner needs to see the bar
to bring the tag near the code to read it
reader
RFID is comparatively fast

Can read multiple tags Can read only one tag at a

time
Relatively expensive as
compared to Bar Codes
(Reader 1000$, Tag 20 cents a
piece)
Can be reusable within factory Cannot be reused
premises
Benefits of RFID
á Gillette & Co:

á Objective: To Track movement of product from Úackaging

Center to Úlant·s distribution center.

Úreviously-->Using Bar Code, time taken=80 sec to 20 min

á Úreviously

á 1999
1999-->With RFID it takes 20 seconds.

á Gains-
Gains->Gillette saves 20% in Operational Cost at each
Distribution Center.
Issues / Concerns
 Uses of RFID
á Used where unique identification is needed.
á Large Retail companies ² Úroduct Tracking.
á Hospitals & Nursing Homes ² Úatient Tagging .
á Airports ² Baggage Tracking.
á Security Applications ² Contactless Smart Cards.
á RFID Readers could also WRITE onto Tags.
á RFID Sensors to sense temperature, movement, radiation, food
quality.
á Úassports-UK, Australia, Finland, Ireland.
á RFID is used in Libraries.
á Replacing Barcodes.
 Initiatives in RFID
á Úatni Computer Systems Lab ² Implemented Animal Tracking System

á Wipro Technologies - Member of the Electronic Úroduct Code (EÚC)

- Setting up a lab to study RFID
- Working on pilot projects

á Infosys Technologies ² RFID consulting on logistics player in the RFID

space.
á TCS have tied up with Hyderabad university to produce RFID tagged
mark sheets & degrees to deter use of fake degree.

á Intellicon - pilot project for BEL Bangalore, tags installed on employee

buses. Buses inside the BEL campus were tracked with the aim of
gauging employee punctuality.