RFD 211 – RFID Standards and Certification
Syllabus
Instructor: Joe Kalus
Email: kalusj@middlesex.mass.edu
Office Telephone: 781-280-3568
Office: Room 123, Bldg 3-Henderson Hall
Office Hours: M, F in Bldg 11 12:00 – 1:00
T, Th in Bldg 3, Rm. 123 9:00 – 11:00
Semester: Spring 2007
Time: M/F, 10:00-11:50
Location: Building 11, Rm. 106 Bedford
RFD 211 RFID Standards and Certification Course Description – 3 Credits
This course builds upon and expands the concepts in RFD 151 and RFD 161 and is meant to run in
parallel with RFD 201. Antennas, radio transmission, RF modulation techniques, RFID tags and various
standards pertinent to RFID systems will be studied in detail. Hands-on lab work will be used to clarify
and demonstrate concepts. The knowledge gained in this course and CN 2201 will help students to
prepare for the CompTIA RFID+ certification exam. Employability skills, such as problem solving,
teamwork, communication, and critical thinking are integrated into the course work.
2 hours lecture/2 hours lab
Prerequisites
RFD 151 and RFD 161; co-requisite RFD 201, RFID Systems
Text and Required Materials
Textbooks
RFID +
The Complete Review of
Radio Frequency Identification
by Elaine M. Cooney
CompTIA RFID+
Certification
Student Manual
by Thomson Course Technology
Materials
 One 3-ring binder notebook paper for
hard copy projects and homework
 Back up storage medium--suggest a USB
portable storage drive (Thumb/Flash;)
other options
Required Readings:
 Copies of relevant articles
 Assigned WEB sites and searches
 Materials handed out by the instructor
RFID Security
By Thornton et all.
SYNGRESS
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Student Learner Outcomes
1. Determine the cumulative effect by RF degradation properties such as free space loss, cable
attenuation, reflection, refraction and absorption on signal transmission and reception.
2. Describe and calculate antenna and transmission line characteristics such as polarization,
impedance, voltage standing wave ratio, resonance, frequency, antenna gain, antenna beamwidth and effective radiated power.
3. Analyze an RFID equipment specification using transmission and reception, modulation
methods, frequency band concepts
4. Determine how active and passive tags operate, receive reader signals and transmit information.
Using different tag classes, experiment with the effects of tag placement.
5. Research FCC, ISO, and EPC tag standards.
6. Evaluate the impact of RFID systems on information security and privacy.
7. Self learn a topic in RFID security, then produce clear report and present it to an audience that is
not familiar with the subject.
Teaching Methods
The course will be presented using a variety of proven methods, such as lecture, demonstrations,
computer-based activity, project-based learning, and laboratory experiments. Students practice and
reinforce their knowledge through homework assignments, lab exercises, and class projects.
Student Responsibilities:
Attendance:
Students are responsible for attending all scheduled class sessions and for all material presented in the
sessions (including handouts and notes). Attendance will be recorded. If you are unable to come to
class for any reason, please let me know in advance. Either tell me directly or call me between 7:00 am
and 8:00 am. Leave a message if I am unable to personally answer the phone. For class delays or
canceled due to bad weather, please check the MCC portal: https://mymcc.middlesex.mass.edu/ .
Electronic Devices:
Cell phones or pagers should be set on silent or vibrate alarms during class. The use of CD players or
headphones connected to PCs is not allowed.
Academic Integrity
It is the responsibility of the Middlesex community is to uphold the integrity of our academic programs.
This responsibility belongs to faculty and students alike. According to the Academic Catalog 20052007 “taking credit for work done by another person, or doing work for which another person will
receive credit is cheating” and “taking and using the ideas or writings of another without clearly and
fully crediting the source is plagiarism” (109). As students, it is your responsibility to learn proper
citation of sources; the Modern Language Association Handbook gives complete descriptions. It is
understood that you will submit original work for each assignment, both within and between courses.
Students are encouraged to get assistance with assignments from their peers, but must complete and
understand each assignment independently; points will not be awarded for assignments the student has
not personally completed.
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Grading
Assignments will be graded for completeness, accuracy, and on time submission.
Activity
Practice Quizzes
Quizzes
Labs
Class Project Report
Class Project Presentation
Class participation
Total
Number
9
9
3
1
1
28
Points
Per
4.9
60
70
280
280
1
Max. # of
points
42
560
210
280
280
28
Weight
3%
40%
15%
20%
20%
2%
Course Grade
Grade
Numeric
A
Range
93-100
A-
90-92
B+
87-89
B
83-86
B-
80-82
C+
77-79
C
73-76
C-
70-72
D+
67-69
D
63-66
D-
60-62
F
00-59
Lab Safety Rules
• No loose clothing
• Short sleeves only, no gloves
• No wrist or neck jewelry, neck ties or anything hanging from the neck or wrists
• Keep at least 9” away from antennas when they transmit
• No food or drink
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CN 2215 RFID Standards and Certification; Tentative Topics, Assignments, Tests
Date
2007
W1
1/22
M
1/26
F
W2
1/29
M
2/2
F
W3
2/5
M
2/9
F
Topic
Introduction; RF Physics:
RF propagation; interactions with
materials
Field calculations; EIRP;
Radiation patterns, free space loss; field
density.
RF Physics:
Field calculations; EIRP;
Radiation patterns, free space loss; field
density.
Antennas:
Operations, transmission, reception,
efficiency.
Antennas:
Field calculations; EIRP;
Radiation patterns, free space loss; field
density.
Antenna and transmission line
Quiz
Labs
Lab
PQ
Assignment
Reading: CompTIA RFID+ Unit 2
Due
Date
1/26
Reading: ExamCram pg. 55 - 61
Unit 2
Lab
PQ RF Physics
Reading: RFID+ Chapter 4
1/29
Q
Q RF Physics
Lab
Lab
PQ
PQ Antennas
Reading: CompTIA RFID+ Unit 3
Radio technology concepts:
Reader – tag interaction
Q
Q Antennas
W4
2/12
M
2/16
F
W5
2/19
M
2/23
F
W6
2/26
M
3/2
F
Radio technology concepts:
Reader – tag interaction LAB
Lab
Lab: Alien reader
Reading: RFID+ Chapter 1
Radio technology concepts:
RLC circuits; Modulation methods
Presidents Day
NO CLASS XXXXXXXXXXX
PQ
Radio technology concepts:
RLC circuits; Modulation methods.
Radio technology concepts:
RFID Operating Frequencies and System
Performance
Radio technology concepts:
Tag characteristics
Q
PQ
PQ RLC, Modulation, Operating
frequencies
W7
3/5
M
Radio technology concepts:
Tag characteristics
Q
PQ
3/9
F
Radio technology concepts:
Tag components and functions (Tags II)
Q RLC, Modulation, Operating
frequencies.
PQ: Tag characteristics
Reading: RFID+ Chapter 5 Tags II
Q Tag characteristics
W8
3/1216
W9
3/19
M
3/23
F
W10
3/26
M
Spring Break
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2/9
2/16
2/23
PQ Reader – tag interaction
Q
Reading: RFID+ Chapter 3
Q Reader – tag interaction
Reading: CompTIA RFID+ Unit 5
Radio technology concepts:
Tag components and functions (Tags II)
PQ
PQ Tags II
Reading: CompTIA RFID+ Unit 4
Standards and Regulations:
Radiation safety, ISO, EPCglobal
Standards and Regulations:
Radiation safety, ISO, EPCglobal;
ISO, EPCglobal, Data security
Q
Q Tags II
Reading: Review Unit 4
Reading: RFID+ Chapter 7
2/26
3/2
3/9
4/2
4/2
4
3/30
F
W11
4/2
M
4/6
F
Professional Day
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Standards and Regulations:
EPCglobal; Air interface protocol
Standards and Regulations:
EPCglobal; Air interface protocol
Q
PQ
W12
4/9
M
4/13
F
W13
4/16
M
4/20
F
W14
4/23
M
4/27
F
W15
4/30
M
5/4
F
W16
5/7
M
5/11
F
W17
5/14
Standards and Regulations:
Chapter 9
Group project work Phase 1
Group project work Phase 1
Submit Phase 1 draft
Patriots Day
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Q
PQ
PQ Chapter 7
Read ExamCram Chapter 9
4/6
Q Chapter 7
PQ Chapter 9
Group project assignment:
Read: RFID Security Chapter 5
Q Chapter 9
Group project work on Phase 2
Group project work Phase 2
Submit final written report:
Group project work Phase 3
Group project work Phase
Submit hard copies of PowerPoint
presentations
RFID Security:
Securing Middleware
RFID Security:
Securing Middleware
RFID Security:
Securing Middleware
Final Exams Week
Group Project Presentations and
evaluations
Reading: RFID Security Chapter 6
PQ
PQ Chapter 6
Q
Q Chapter 6
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