(Post 17/02/2006) In 1945 Leon Theremin invented an espionage tool for the Soviet government, a passive covert listening device, not an identification tag, but it has been attributed the “first known” device and a predecessor to RFID technology.

CONTENTS

1. RFID:

What does RFID stand for ?
RFID is an abbreviation of Radio Frequency Identification.

What is RFID ?
At a simple level, it is a technology that involves tags that emit radio signals and devices called readers that pick up the signal.

2. History of RFID:

In 1945 Leon Theremin invented an espionage tool for the Soviet government, a passive covert listening device, not an identification tag, but it has been attributed the “first known” device and a predecessor to RFID technology.

The problem of whether the technology used in RFID has been around since the early 1920’s or just since the late 1960s has been being controversial.

3. Types of RFID tags:

RFID tags can be either active, semi-passive (=semi-active) or passive.

Passive RFID tags have no internal power supply. They don’t require batteries, and can be much smaller and have an unlimited life span.

Semi-passive/-active RFID tags are very similar to the passive except for the addition of a small battery, faster in response, stronger in reading ratio compared to the passive.

Active RFID tags have their own internal power source used to power any Ics (Integrated Circuits) and generate the outgoing signal, may have longer range, larger memories than the passive, the ability to store additional information sent by the transceiver.

4. The RFID system:

May consist of several components: tags, tag readers, edge servers, middleware, and application software.

The purpose is to enable data to be transmitted by a mobile device called a tag read by an RFID reader and processed according to the needs of a particular application, providing identification or location information, or specifying about the product tagged, such as price, color, date of purchase, etc…

How does an RFID system work ?

A normal RFID system consists of a tag made up of a microchip with an antenna, and an interrogator or reader with an antenna. The reader sends out electromagnetic waves. The tag antenna is tuned to receive these waves. A passive RFID tag draws power from the field created by the reader and uses it to power the microchip’s circuits. The chip then modulates the waves that the tag sends back to the reader, which coverts the new waves into digital data.

5. Current usage:

Four main frequency bands for RFID tags commonly in use:

Low-frequency tags (125 or 134.2 kHz): animal identification, range less than 0.33 meter.

High-frequency tags (13.56 MHz): badges identification, range of about 1 meter.

UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) tags (868 – 956 MHz or 463 MHz): pallet, container, truck, trailer tracking, range from 3.3 to 6.6 meters.

Microwave tags (2.45 or 5.8 GHz): long range access control for vehicles, range of about 100 meters or much more.

6. Potential uses:

RRID tags are often envisioned as a replacement for UPC or EAN barcodes, having a number of important advantages over the older barcode technology. They may not ever completely replace barcodes, due in part to their higher cost and in other part to the advantage of more than one independent data source on the same object.

The storage of data associated with tracking items will require many terabytes on all levels. The escape is filtering, as nobody will save data without defined purpose. It is likely that goods will be tracked preferably by the pallet using RFID tags, and at package level with Universal Product Code (UPC) or EAN from unique barcodes.

The unique identity in any case is a mandatory requirement for RFID tags, despite special choice of the numbering scheme. 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. Moreover, the tracing back of products is an important feature that gets well supported with RFID tags containing not just a unique identity of the tag but also the serial number of the product.

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 and a bunch of changes in the operational process around POS.

7. Regulation and standardization:

There is no global public body that governs the frequencies used for RFID. In principle, every country can set its own rules for this. The main bodies governing frequency allocation for RFID are:

USA: FCC (Federal Communications Commission).
Canada: DOC (Department of Communication).
Europe: ERO, CEPT, ETSI, and national administrations.
Japan: MPHPT (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Post and Telecommunication.
China: Ministry of Information Industry.
Australia: Australian Communication Authority.
New Zealand: Ministry of Economic Development.

Additional regulations exist regarding health and environmental issues.

Some standards that have been made regarding RFID technology include:

ISO 11784 & 11785: These  regulate the Radio frequency identification of animals in regards to Code Structure and Technical concept.

ISO 14223/1: Radio frequency identification of Animals, advanced transponders; Air interface.

EPCglobal: This is the standard that is most likely going to form the basis of a Worldwide standard.

8. Controversy:

How would you like it if, for instance, one day you realize your underwear was reporting on your whereabouts ?

The use of RFID technology has engendered considerable controversy and even product boycotts by consumer privacy advocates. The four main privacy concerns regarding RFID are:

The purchaser of an item will not necessarily be aware of the presence of the tag or be able to remove it.

The tag can be read at a distance without the knowledge of the invididual.

If a tagged item is paid for by credit card or in conjunction with use of a loyalty card, then it would be possible to tie the unique ID of that item to the identity of the purchaser; and

The EPCglobal system of tags create, or are proposed to create, globally unique serial numbers for all products, even though this creates privacy problems and is completely unnecessary for most applications.