RFID TAGS
A presentation by:
Mike Costello
A.J. Masset
Nick Mehring
THESIS

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
technology is widely used today and has many
potential uses in the future.
CONTENTS
Introduction
 Technology background
 History
 Today’s usage
 Potential usage

Pros
 Cons

RFID TAGS

A technology that uses communication via radio
waves to exchange data between a reader and an
electronic tag attached to an object, for the
purpose of identification and tracking.
RFID TAGS CONT.

Radio-frequency identification involves a few
components:
Interrogators (known as readers)
 Tags (known as labels)

Integrated circuit for storing/processing data
 Antenna for receiving/transmitting a signal


RFID software or middleware
RFID TAGS CONT.

Three types:

Passive


Using no battery
Active
Using battery (always beaconing signal)
 Can be read from farther distances


Battery Assisted Passive (BAP)

Small battery onboard activated in presence of reader
RFID TAGS CONT.

Read Only
Memory is factory programmed, cannot be modified
 Very limited quantity of data can be stored, usually
96 bits
 Can be easily integrated with data collection systems
 Typically cheaper than read-write tags


Read-Write
Can be as well read as written to
 Data is dynamically altered
 Can store a larger amount of data, typically ranging
from 32 kBytes to 128 kBytes
 More expensive

HOW IT WORKS CONT.

Passive Tags
RFID tag passes through presence of scanner and
detects activation signal
 Radio waves are sent from reader to tag
 Coiled antenna within the tag forms a magnetic field
 Tag draws power and energizes circuits in the tag
and sends information encoded in memory

HOW IT WORKS

Active Tags
Batteries power circuits to send radio waves to a
reader from an antenna on the tag (like a cell phone
to a base station)
 Reader’s antenna receives information to be stored

HOW IT WORKS CONT.

Battery Assisted Passive (BAP) Tag
Battery used to maintain memory in the tag or power
the electronics that enable the tag to modulate the
reflected signal
 Acts same as passive when communicating

HOW IT WORKS CONT.
HISTORY
Traced back to WWII
 Warn of approaching planes
 First patent for an RFID tag was in 1973



Active tag, rewritable memory
Same year, passive transponder was used to
unlock a door without a key
CURRENT USAGE

Inventory tracking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zj7txoDxbE
Race timing
 Pay tolls (EZ-Pass)
 Passports
 Pet doors
 Tracking devices
 Hospitals
 Refigerators
 Casino chips

MERCHANDISE
RFID tags on clothes, CDs, movies, etc.
 Reader at door


Alarm sounds when not deactivated at register
RACE TIMING
Timing is everything
 Active and Passive
 Boston Marathon


Checkpoints
EZ-PASS
Electronic toll collection system
 Drive through tolls without stopping
 Automatically takes money out of account
 RFID mounted behind rear-view mirror
 Antenna mounted above road

PASSPORT

Chip contains persons information


Name, nationality, gender, DOB, POB, digital photo
RFID matches paper

More difficult for tampering
Encrypted digital signatures
 Can break the RFID chip with a hammer


Doesn’t invalidate the passport
PET DOOR
RFID tag on pets
 Reader on door
 Allow pet to go in and out


Will not allow foreign pets in (neighbor’s pets can’t
eat your pet’s food)
JAPAN TRACKS KIDS
RFID tags on school children’s backpacks in
Osaka
 Readers mounted on the doors



Unauthorized visitors will be denied access
Track movements of minors

Allows parents to know their kids got to school safely
via mobile phone
FULHAM FOOTBALL CLUB

Cards with RFID given to season ticket holders
Contains info about paid games
 Can update card via phone or computer
 If stolen, unique code will deactivate card, and new
one may be purchased


Cut lines at turnstiles


Went from 10-20 seconds to 4 seconds per ticket
Increases safety

Nearby roads are now empty on game
days due to decrease in lines
HOSPITALS
New York and Germany
 Tagging patients
 Bracelets are scanned by doctors



Patient records, correct dosage of drugs
Tagging blood

Right blood reaches right person
SAMSUNG REFRIGERATOR
Samsung RFID enables refrigerator
 Tells current contents of fridge
 Can tell what you are low on
 Displays recipes that you currently have stocked
 Working on displaying info on laptop/phone
 Predicted that when TV’s are RFID, custom
commercials will be displayed by what is low in
the fridge

LAS VEGAS CASINOS
RFID imbedded in high value chips
 Readers around casino

Prevents counterfeiting, stealing
 Track betting patterns
 Decrease dealer errors

CURRENT SECURITY
Encryption
 Tin foil method
 Passport case

IBM COMMERCIAL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk&
playnext=1&list=PL1E873E327447330F
 Very controversial
 Privacy laws updated
 Security is a huge concern

+
POSSIBLE TECHNOLOGIES
Own home
 Temperature/scents of each room
 Music, TV Programs.
 Already in use
 Given to guests
as necklace

POSSIBLE TECHNOLOGIES CONT.
Washing Machines,
automatic washing.
 Use in paper money it
eliminate counterfeit
and track criminals
 Cash just as traceable
as credit card if linked
to drivers license

POSSIBLE TECHNOLOGIES
Use on produce,
track shopping
trends. Stores write
information to your
drivers license or
credit card RFID.
 Easily track food
force source, making
food supply chain
much safer

POSSIBLE TECHNOLOGIES CONT.
Uses in roads to
prevent accidents.
 Automatic
driving?
 Gun control,
registration

RELATION TO IS
Database usage
 Middleware is used
 Security measures
 Rapidly growing field

SOURCES
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/amazing-rfid-8current-uses-of-radio-frequencyidentification.html
 http://www.silicon.com/technology/networks/2006
/11/30/top-10-the-best-worst-and-craziest-uses-ofrfid-39164446/
 http://www.traserproject.eu/documents/RFID_MITIP2006.pdf
 http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/100_uses_
of_rfid.php
 http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/1338

QUESTIONS