RFID or Radio Frequency Identification, is a method which can be used to store or receive data

remotely using a device called RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is a small object, such as
an adhesive sticker, and can be attached to an item or product. RFID tags contain antennas that
enable them to receive and respond to a query that is emitted by an RFID transceiver.
History of RFID tags
Some people think that the first device invented by Leon Theremin as an espionage tool for the
Russian government about the year 1945. This is not completely true because Theremin address
is actually a passive listening device, not an identification tag. RFID technology is used by itself
has actually been around since the 1920's. A technology that is closer to RFID, called IFF
transponder, operating in 1939 and was used by the British in World War II to identify aircraft
enemies or friends.
Some types of RFID tags
RFID tags can be either active or passive. Passive RFID tags do not have their own power
supply. Armed with only the existing electrical induction in the antenna by the incoming radio
frequency scanning, is enough to provide sufficient power for the RFID tag to send a response
back. In connection with the power and cost, then the response of a passive RFID usually
sederhanya, only an ID number only. In the absence of power supply in the passive RFID tag, it
will cause increasingly small size of RFID tags that may be made. Some commercial RFID
which is currently circulating in the market exist that can be placed under the skin. In 2005 it was
noted that the smallest RFID tag measuring 0.4 mm x 0.4 mm and thinner than a piece of paper.
With so it is practically the size of the object would not be visible to the eye. Passive RFID tags
have a range of different distances ranging from 10 mm up to 6 meters. Active RFID tags, on the
other hand must have its own power supply and has a longer range distance. Its memory is also

bigger so that it can accommodate a wide range of information in it. Until this article was
published, the smallest size of the active RFID tag that is as big as a coin. Distance range of
active RFID tags that can be up to about 10 meters and with a battery life that can reach several
years. RFID tags are passive price could be cheaper to produce and do not rely on batteries.
RFID tags that are circulating now are RFID tags that are passive. In 2004, the price of RFID
tags are passive about USD $ 0.40. Later the price of RFID tags will be pressed up to USD $
0.05 an RFID tag that can be widely available and can be used anywhere. Unfortunately chip
makers are still not capable of and demand for these devices is still low so the price also can not
be dropped. According to an analysis from independent research firm like Gartner and Forrester
Research agree that a price of USD $ 0.10 of this device can only be achieved within 6-8 years.
However, using new manufacturing technologies, is able to lower the price of RFID tags is There
are four kinds of RFID tags are often used when categorized by radio frequency, namely:
low frequency tags (between 125 to 134 kHz)
high frequency tags (13.56MHz)
UHF tags (868 to 956 MHz)
Microwave tags (2:45 GHz) UHF tags can not be used globally, because there is no global
regulations governing its use
RFID Systems
An RFID system may consist of several components, such as tags, tag readers, tag programming
stations, circulation readers, sorting equipment and inventory tags stick. Security can be achieved
in two ways. Security gates can query to determine the status of security or RFID-tags contain a
security bit that would be turned on or off by circulation reader stations. The usefulness of an
RFID system is to transmit data from portable device, called a tag, which is read by an RFID

reader and processed by computer applications that need it. The data transmitted by the tag may
contain any information, such as ID, location information or other information such as price,
color, date of purchase, and so forth. The use of RFID for tracking purpose was first used around
1980's. RFID quickly gained attention because of its ability to tracking or track a moving object.
Along with the development of technology, the RFID technology is also developing yourselves
so will the use of RFID can be used for everyday life. In a typical RFID system, individual
objects are equipped with a small, inexpensive tag. The tag contains a transponder with a digital
memory chip that contains a unique electronic product code. The interrogator, an antenna
packaged with a transceiver and decoder, emits a signal activating the RFID tag so it can read
and write data to it. When an RFID tag passes through the electromagnetic zone, it detects the
activation signal emitted by the reader. Reader will decode the data that existed at the tag and
then that data will be processed by computer. We Take the example of books in a library. Security
gates can detect the books that have been borrowed or not. When users return items, the security
bit in the RFID tag of the book will be reset and record in ILS will automatically be updated. In
some RFID solutions a return receipt can be generated automatically as well. RFID is also easier
for people to sort goods.
The use of RFID today
Low frequency RFID tags are widely used for animal identification, beer keg tracking, keylock
on cars and anti-theft systems. Pets are often embedded with small chips so that they can be
returned to their owners if lost. In the United States, which used RFID frequencies there are two
125 kHz (the original standard) and 134.5 kHz (the international standard). High-frequency
RFID tags are used in a library or bookstore, pallet tracking, building access control, airline
baggage tracking, and apparel item tracking. It is also widely used in identification badges,

replacing earlier magnetic stripe cards. These badges need only be held within a certain distance
of the reader to be able to identify the holder. American Express Blue credit card now includes a
RFID tag with high-frequency. UHF RFID tags are commonly used commercially in pallet and
container tracking, truck and trailer tracking in shipping yards. Microwave RFID tags are used in
long range access control motor vehicle. Some toll booths, like FasTrak in California, I-Pass
system in Illinois and South Luzon Expressway E-Pass in the Philippines are already using RFID
tags to its electronic toll collection. RFID tags are read as vehicles pass through toll booths and
the information is used to debit the toll his account. This of course would be to speed traffic
through the toll booths that were previously often jammed. Other examples such as seismic
sensors may be read using RFID transceivers, greatly simplifying remote data collection. In
January 2003, Michelin, a leading tire manufacturer announced that it has begun testing RFID
transponders embedded into tires. After a testing process that takes 18 months, then they
promised to offer RFID-enabled tires to car manufacturers. Their goal is to make the tire tracking
system in accordance with the laws in the United States, Tread Act (Transportation, Recall,
Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act). The cards are equipped with RFID chips
are used generally as a medium of electronic cash, such as the Octopus Card in Hong Kong and
others. Beginning in the 2004 model, "Smart Key" already exists on the Toyota Prius and some
Lexus models, where the car keys are equipped with RFID tags so that the car can recognize the
key's presence within 3 feet of the sensor. The driver can open the car door and started the car
while the key remains in a purse or pocket. In August 2004, the Ohio Department of
Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRH) approved a contract worth USD $ 415,000 to try tracking
technology that works with Alanco Technologies. It will be used by inmates that were able

to detect inmates who attempted to remove them and send an alert to prison computers. This
project is not the first in prison in the United States, because the other prisons in Michigan,
California and Illinois already employ the same technology. RFID chips are being used and the
animals are being used in the human body. A company called Applied Digital Solutions proposes
an RFID chip that can be implanted under the skin as a solution to identity fraud, secure building
access, computer access, storage of medical records and also for anti-abduction system. The Baja
Beach Club in Barcelona Spain uses an implantable Verichip which to identify their VIP
customers. Amal Graafstra, an American businessman, has mengimplant himself with RFID
chips, precisely in his left hand, in early 2005. The chip 2 mm in length and with a diameter of 2
mm. The chip has a range of readings as far as two inches (or 50 mm). Implantation procedure
performed by a cosmetic surgeon.
The potential use of RFID
RFID tags are often envisioned as a replacement for UPC or EAN barcodes. This is because
RFID has a wide range of advantages compared with the use of barcodes. They may not be
entirely replace barcode technology, because due to the price factor, but in some cases the use of
RFID will be very useful. Unique code stored in RFID can also be longer than the UPC code is
limited. The uniqueness of RFID tags means that can be tracked from one location to location,
finally ending up in the hands of customers. This can help companies to combat theft and other
forms of product loss the other. RFID has also been proposed for use in point-of-sale that
replaces the cashier with an automatic system which needs no barcode scanning. But this must be
coupled with a decline in the price of RFID tags to be widespread in the community.
An organization called EPCglobal is working on an international standard regarding the
use of RFID and EPC (Electronic Product Code) in the identification of goods in various

industries worldwide. Members of this organization include EAN International, the Uniform
Code Council, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson,
Checkpoint Systems and Auto-ID Labs. Some RFID systems use alternative standards based on
ISO-classification 18000-6. Standards from EPCglobal gen 2 was approved in December 2004
and would seem to be the backbone for the standardization of RFID tags. Such as the use of
RFID in the health field to keep a record of human health and is also used to smooth traffic
regulation and standardization later
Until now there is no institution or world governing body regarding the use of frequencies in
RFID. Basically, every country can make their own rules on this matter. The main bodies whose
task given frequency allocation for RFID are as follows:
USA: FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
Canada: DOC (Department of Communications)
Europe: ERO, CEPT and ETSI
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
low frequency (125-134 kHz and 140 - 148.5 kHz) and high frequency (13.56MHz) RFID tags
can be used globally without a license. Ultra high frequency (UHF 868 MHz - 928 MHz) should
not be used globally as there is no single global standard. In North America, UHF can be used
unlicensed for 908-928 MHz, but restrictions exist for transmission power. In Europe, UHF is
being considered in the range 865.6 - 867.6 MHz. Its use is currently unlicensed for 869.40 869.65 MHz, but restrictions on the transmission power. North American UHF standard is not

accepted in France as it interferes with the frequencies used by the military. In China and Japan,
there is no regulation for the use of UHF. In Australia and New Zealand, the range of 918-926
MHz used without a license, but restrictions exist for transmission power. Regulation also exist
in terms of health and environmental issues. For example, in Europe, the regulation of the Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment states that RFID tags should not be removed. This means
that if an empty packaging will be disposed of, then the tag should be removed first. Here are
some standards that were developed and contains about RFID technology, namely:
ISO 10536
ISO 14443
ISO 15693
ISO 18000
EPCglobal
Security
Parties RSA Security already has a prototype device that can locally to download the RFID
signal clock. This allows a person will be able to avoid identification.
Controversy surrounding RFID
The use of RFID has also invited controversy. There are four reasons in respect of privacy in the
use of RFID, namely:
The buyer of goods (which include RFID tags) will not know the existence of the RFID tag or
even not be able to take it off.
RFID tags can be read by other parties over long distances without the knowledge of their
owners.

If an item containing the RFID tag you buy using a credit card, it would be possible to associate
the ID with the identity of the buyer.
EPC global was to create a standard to provide a globally unique ID and is feared to cause
problems of privacy and also still not so necessary for some applications.