RFID Technology Trends and Challenges

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RFID TechnologyTrends and Challenges

• April 2006
• By
• Nalini Mahadeo

RFID TechnologyOpportunities and challenges
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Objectives

• To educate, inform and share information on a
  rapidly growing technology.
• To create a forum for discussion.
• To facilitate development of a network amongst
  RFID stakeholders.

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Overview

• RFID History
• RFID system components
• Tags, Readers, Spectrum, Antennas
• RFID Models
• Regulatory Considerations
• Market Trends
• Challenges
• Standards, Security, Privacy, Societal impact

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What is RFID?

• Radio Frequency Identification or RFID refers to
  the set of technologies that use radio waves for
  identifying objects or people.

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RFID Characteristics

• Does not require line of sight
• Can withstand harsh environments
• Can be reused
• Can be read in groups
• Allows for data security

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RFID History
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RFID Basics

• Three Main Components
• Tags (or transponders) - carry identifying data
• Readers (or transceivers) - read/write tag data
  interfaces with system
• Back-end infrastructures - process the data

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RFID System Components
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Readers

• Communicate with RFID tags.
• Also called an interrogator because it
  interrogates" the tag.

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Radio Modules and Readers
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Tags

• Passive Tags
• Semi-Passive Tags
• Active Tags

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Tag Types
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Tags- Passive
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Tags- Active
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Smallest Tag

• World smallest RFID chip
• 2.45 GHz
• Passive transponder
• 30 cm reading distance
• Battery-less
• Secure (ROM)
• Simplicity

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Spectrum Plan

• Radio Spectrum -limited Resource for RFID
• FCC Part 15 (NA)- 902-928 MHz (50 channels)
• ETSI 208 (EU)- 865.6-867.6 MHz (10 channels)
• Reader signal and Tag signal need to be separate

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Spectrum
Supply chain, materials management
100 2004
Card key, access control
Baggage handling, tracking hospital equip
HF
VHF
UHF
µwave
LF
125 KHz
13.56 MHz
868/915 MHz
2.45 GHz
6.78 MHz
433 MHz
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Frequency, Antenna Range
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Networked RFID
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Regulatory Considerations

• Usage of channel
• Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) Bands
• Primary service
• Secondary service
• Narrowband or Spread Spectrum
• Power limits
• Equipment certification

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Market trend
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RFID Cost trend
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Miniaturization and declining prices
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Koreas Roadmap
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Future trends
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Challenges

• Governance of resources
• Control of UIDs
• Standards-setting and interoperability
• ITU to coordinate
• Data Protection and Consumer Privacy
• Integrity of data and its use

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RFID Standards

• Animal
• ISO 11784, ISO 11785,ISO 14223
• Smart card
• ISO 10536, ISO 14443, ISO 15693
• Item management
• ISO 18000 series, EPC Global, GTAG initiative
• Test methods
• ISO 10373 (Smart Card)

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Standards Organisations
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Types of Standards

• Technology
• Data Content
• Conformance
• Network
• Application Standards

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Data Protection

• Unauthorized disabling tags
• Spoofing and Impersonation
• Passive signal interception of signals from the
  RFID tag or Reader
• Unauthorized reading of RFID tag
• Hacking tool for RFID tag is available on
  Internet
• More elaborate cases of attacking RFID tags
• Privacy infringement

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Privacy

• Impact of consumer concerns over Privacy
• Is being addressed
• Lack of clarity
• How to avoid divide
• How to convince users to progress

PRIVATE
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Privacy

• Technical
• Encryption
• ID Management
• Privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs)

• Legal/Regulatory
• Consumer consent
• Collection limitation
• Use limitation
• Openness
• Accountability

• Economic/Market
• Self Regulation
• Codes of Conduct
• Privacy certification
• Consumer education

• Socio-ethical
• Consumer rights
• Public Awareness
• Disclosure
• Consumer advocacy

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Potential Impact of RFID
Business
( Physical distribution, Inventory control )
Infrastructure
( Guidance for handicapped people or tourists )
Life
( Food safety, Products traceability )
Potential to change lifestyles
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Summary

• Expected to be most dense, customer installed
  radio network
• Data deluge- another internet/cellular
  communication system
• Sensors and item level tagging may take us from
  mission critical retail to revolutionary
  lifestyles

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Thank You!

• Ms. Nalini Mahadeo
• Wireless Engineer
• Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and
  Tobago
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email rfid_at_tatt.org.tt