RFID Technology Radio Frequency IDentification Technology

1
RFID Technology Radio Frequency IDentification
Technology

• Jennifer Landis, Michelle Cassinelli, Andrew
  Jones
• May 23, 2006

2
Overview

• RFID Introduction
• History of RFID Technology
• Current Uses
• Potential Uses
• Regulation and Standardization
• RFID Legislation
• Controversy

3
RFID Introduction

• Radio Frequency Identification
• Automatic identification method
• Stores and retrieves data using RFID tag
• Uses radio frequency

4
History of RFID

• Discovery of radar (1935)
• First passive and active
• RFID systems developed and used during WWII
• RFID development - commercial uses
• (1950s and 1960s)
• Mario Cardullo received 1st U.S. patent for
  active RFID tag (1973)

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RFID System

• Tag (Transponder)
• Antenna, Microchip, and Distinct Product Code
• Reader (Interrogator)
• Antenna, Transceiver, and Decoder
• Process
• 1. Reader detects signal, decodes data on tags
  chip
• 2. Data passes to host computer
• 3. Application software on computer processes
  data

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Types of RFID Tags

• Passive Tag
• No internal power source, can be very small, used
  on low-cost items
• Semi-Passive Tag
• Small battery, tracking high-value goods
• Active Tag
• Internal power source, transmitter, tracking
  high-value goods

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Supply Chain Management

• Sears Holding Company
• 2005, Sears starts tracking appliances 3,800
  stores
• Reduces incorrect placements of goods
• Reduces need for operators
• Gillette Company
• Tracks retail store stock with sales promotions
• 48 higher sales if product on the shelf before
  the promotion. (CPA Advisor)

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More Uses for RFID Technology

• Robert Bosch Tool Corporation
• Tools are embedded with RFID technology to
  prevent theft

• Ford and Texas Instruments
• Teamed up on a vehicle immobilizer project for
  all 2005 model Fords
• Reduced auto theft by as much as 90 (Bono)

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Using RFID Tags for Tracking

• RFIDs are used to track
• Books from the Public Library
• Airline Baggage
• Cattle to help identify a bovines herd of origin
  
• Family Pets
• Car Tires

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Tracking People?

• Los Angeles County Police Department has used
  RFID technology to track prison inmates
• Reasoning to track anti-social behavior and
  prisoner movements (RFID)
• California Public School used RFID chips that
  were embedded in ID tags to track students
• Reasoning ensure the safety of the students and
  prevent truancy

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The Future of RFID Technology

• RFIDs are often seen as the replacement for UPC
  and barcodes
• Potential to revolutionize grocery shopping
• Smart Appliances- AKA a bachelors dream
• These potential uses wont be around any time
  soon due to
• Cost Barriers
• Lack of products being embedded with RFID tags
• Changes to operational processes
• Standards

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• What are some potential uses for RFID technology?

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Frequencies
Abbr. Number of Wavelengths Each Second
Hertz Hz One
Kilohertz KHz Thousand
Megahertz MHz Million
Gigahertz GHz Billion
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Abbr. Freq. and Wavelength Example of uses
lt 3 Hzgt 100,000 km
Extremely low frequency ELF 330 Hz100,000 km 10,000 km Communication with submarines
Super low frequency SLF 30300 Hz10,000 km 1000 km Communication with submarines
Ultra low frequency ULF 3003000 Hz1000 km 100 km Communication within mines
Very low frequency VLF 330 kHz100 km 10 km Submarine communication, avalanche beacons, wireless heart rate monitors
Low frequency LF 30300 kHz10 km 1 km Navigation, time signals, AM long wave broadcasting
Medium frequency MF 3003000 kHz1 km 100 m AM (Medium-wave) broadcasts
High frequency HF 330 MHz100 m 10 m Shortwave broadcasts and amateur radio
Very high frequency VHF 30300 MHz10 m 1 m FM and television broadcasts
Ultra high frequency UHF 3003000 MHz1 m 100 mm television broadcasts, mobile phones, wireless LAN, ground-to-air and air-to-air communications
Super high frequency SHF 330 GHz100 mm 10 mm microwave devices, mobile phones (W-CDMA), WLAN, most modern Radars
Extremely high frequency EHF 30300 GHz10 mm 1 mm Radio astronomy, high-speed microwave radio relay
Above 300 GHzlt 1 mm Night vision
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RFID Regulation

• No global governing body
• Low and High Frequency used globally
• UHF does not have a global standard
• ISM bands are UHF and have different frequencies
• Power restrictions and Frequency emission
  Standards
• RFIDs must be certified
• End users can be affected if manufactures do not
  comply
• Regulations designed to reduce interference

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RFID Legislation

• Problem once goods are purchased
• RFIDsec makes tags which transfer control to
  consumer
• Some tags uses cryptography
• State Legislation

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RFID Controversy

• Privacy advocates call them spy chips and warn
  of possible abuse from stalkers, marketers and
  the government
• US passports
• Ubisense makes tags for employees, real time,
  precise location
• US DoD will use them to track weapons movements
  in 2007

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RFID Controversy

• Wal-Mart requires top suppliers to use them
• RFID tags where shown in March 2006 that software
  viruses can be inserted into them
• It shouldn't surprise you that a system that is
  designed to be manufactured as cheaply as
  possible is designed with no security constraints
  whatsoever. (Peter Neumann)

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Summary

• RFID Introduction
• History of RFID Technology
• RFID Systems
• Current Uses
• Potential Uses
• Regulation and Standardization
• RFID Legislation
• Controversy