RFID Technology Radio Frequency IDentification

Technology Jennifer Landis, Michelle Cassinelli, Andrew JonesMay 23, 2006

Overview• RFID Introduction

• History of RFID Technology

• Current Uses

• Potential Uses

• Regulation and Standardization

• RFID Legislation

• Controversy

RFID Introduction

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

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)

RFID System• Tag (Transponder)

– Antenna, Microchip, and Distinct Product Code

• Reader (Interrogator)

– Antenna, Transceiver, and Decoder

• Process

1. Reader detects signal, decodes data on tag’s chip

2. Data passes to host computer

3. Application software on computer processes data

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

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)

More Uses for RFID Technology

• 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)

• Robert Bosch Tool Corporation– Tools are

embedded with RFID technology to prevent theft

Using RFID Tags for Tracking

• RFIDs are used to track• Books from the Public Library• Airline Baggage• Cattle to help identify a bovine’s herd

of origin • Family Pets• Car Tires

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

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 bachelor’s dream

• These potential uses won’t be around any time soon due to:

• Cost Barriers• Lack of products being embedded with RFID

tags• Changes to operational processes• Standards

•What are some potential uses for RFID technology?

Abbr. Number of WavelengthsEach Second

Hertz Hz One

Kilohertz KHz Thousand

Megahertz MHz Million

Gigahertz GHz Billion

Frequencies

Abbr. Freq. and Wavelength Example of uses

< 3 Hz> 100,000 km

Extremely low frequency

ELF 3–30 Hz100,000 km –

10,000 km

Communication with submarines

Super low frequency

SLF 30–300 Hz10,000 km – 1000

km

Communication with submarines

Ultra low frequency

ULF 300–3000 Hz1000 km – 100 km

Communication within mines

Very low frequency

VLF 3–30 kHz100 km – 10 km

Submarine communication, avalanche beacons, wireless heart rate monitors

Low frequency LF 30–300 kHz10 km – 1 km

Navigation, time signals, AM long wave broadcasting

Medium frequency

MF 300–3000 kHz1 km – 100 m

AM (Medium-wave) broadcasts

High frequency HF 3–30 MHz100 m – 10 m

Shortwave broadcasts and amateur radio

Very high frequency

VHF 30–300 MHz10 m – 1 m

FM and television broadcasts

Ultra high frequency

UHF 300–3000 MHz1 m – 100 mm

television broadcasts, mobile phones, wireless LAN, ground-to-air and air-to-air

communications

Super high frequency

SHF 3–30 GHz100 mm – 10 mm

microwave devices, mobile phones (W-CDMA), WLAN, most modern Radars

Extremely high frequency

EHF 30–300 GHz10 mm – 1 mm

Radio astronomy, high-speed microwave radio relay

Above 300 GHz< 1 mm

Night vision

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

RFID Legislation

• Problem once goods are purchased• RFIDsec makes tags which transfer

control to consumer• Some tags uses cryptography • State Legislation

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

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)

Summary• RFID Introduction

• History of RFID Technology

• RFID Systems

• Current Uses

• Potential Uses

• Regulation and Standardization

• RFID Legislation

• Controversy