What is RFID?

RFID stands for Radio-Frequency IDentification. The acronym refers to small

electronic devices that consist of a small chip and an antenna. The chip typically
is capable of carrying 2,000 bytes of data or less.

The RFID device serves the same purpose as a bar code or a magnetic strip on
the back of a credit card or ATM card; it provides a unique identifier for that
object. And, just as a bar code or magnetic strip must be scanned to get the
information, the RFID device must be scanned to retrieve the identifying
information.

RFID Works Better Than Barcodes

A significant advantage of RFID devices over the others mentioned above is that
the RFID device does not need to be positioned precisely relative to the scanner.
We're all familiar with the difficulty that store checkout clerks sometimes have in
making sure that a barcode can be read. And obviously, credit cards and ATM
cards must be swiped through a special reader.

In contrast, RFID devices will work within a few feet (up to 20 feet for high-
frequency devices) of the scanner. For example, you could just put all of your
groceries or purchases in a bag, and set the bag on the scanner. It would be able
to query all of the RFID devices and total your purchase immediately. (Read a
more detailed article on RFID compared to barcodes.)

RFID technology has been available for more than fifty years. It has only been
recently that the ability to manufacture the RFID devices has fallen to the point
where they can be used as a "throwaway" inventory or control device. Alien
Technologies recently sold 500 million RFID tags to Gillette at a cost of about ten
cents per tag.

One reason that it has taken so long for RFID to come into common use is the
lack of standards in the industry. Most companies invested in RFID technology
only use the tags to track items within their control; many of the benefits of RFID
come when items are tracked from company to company or from country to
country.

Common Problems with RFID

Some common problems with RFID are reader collision and tag collision. Reader
collision occurs when the signals from two or more readers overlap. The tag is
unable to respond to simultaneous queries. Systems must be carefully set up to
avoid this problem. Tag collision occurs when many tags are present in a small
area; but since the read time is very fast, it is easier for vendors to develop
systems that ensure that tags respond one at a time. See Problems with RFID for
more details.

How RFID Works

How does RFID work? A Radio-Frequency IDentification system has three parts:

• A scanning antenna
• A transceiver with a decoder to interpret the data
• A transponder - the RFID tag - that has been programmed with
information.

The scanning antenna puts out radio-frequency signals in a relatively short

range. The RF radiation does two things:

• It provides a means of communicating with the transponder (the RFID tag)

AND
• It provides the RFID tag with the energy to communicate (in the case of
passive RFID tags).

This is an absolutely key part of the technology; RFID tags do not need to
contain batteries, and can therefore remain usable for very long periods of time
(maybe decades).

The scanning antennas can be permanently affixed to a surface; handheld

antennas are also available. They can take whatever shape you need; for
example, you could build them into a door frame to accept data from persons or
objects passing through.

When an RFID tag passes through the field of the scanning antenna, it detects
the activation signal from the antenna. That "wakes up" the RFID chip, and it
transmits the information on its microchip to be picked up by the scanning
antenna.

In addition, the RFID tag may be of one of two types. Active RFID tags have their
own power source; the advantage of these tags is that the reader can be much
farther away and still get the signal. Even though some of these devices are built
to have up to a 10 year life span, they have limited life spans. Passive RFID tags,
however, do not require batteries, and can be much smaller and have a virtually
unlimited life span.

RFID tags can be read in a wide variety of circumstances, where barcodes or

other optically read technologies are useless.
 • The tag need not be on the surface of the object (and is therefore not
subject to wear)
• The read time is typically less than 100 milliseconds
• Large numbers of tags can be read at once rather than item by item.

In essence, that's how RFID works.

How is RFID used inside a living body?

RFID devices that are intended to be implanted inside a living body (like an
animal or human being) have special requirements. They need to be encased in
a special kind of casing that will not irritate or react with the living tissues that
they are inserted into. The casing must also be transparent to the scanning radio-
frequency beam that activates the chip. Some RFID vendors have created
biocompatible glass for use in these applications.

One potential problem with being placed within a living organism is that the tiny
RFID device may move around under the skin. This can be avoided by using
special materials that actually let the surrounding tissue grow up to the casing
and bond with it.

Because the radio-frequency waves that activate the microchip containing the
identification number are only useful within a few feet (or less), the RFID chip is
typically inserted very close to the surface of the skin.

The placement of the device is usually done with a hyperdermic-type needle.

This method of insertion also dictates the shape and size of the device;
implantable RFID devices are typically the size and diameter of a grain of rice.
For dogs, the device is usually implanted between the shoulder blades.

RFID tags have been placed inside cows; some discussion of having all cows
implanted with RFID devices has resulted from the recent scare with mad cow
disease. Dog owners have used RFID tags to identify their pets rather than
tattoos (the more traditional method).

RFID tags, like the VeriChip tag, can also be implanted inside human beings.

What can RFID be used for?

RFID tags come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes; they may be encased in a
variety of materials:

• Animal tracking tags, inserted beneath the skin, can be rice-sized.

 • Tags can be screw-shaped to identify trees or wooden items.
• Credit-card shaped for use in access applications.
• The anti-theft hard plastic tags attached to merchandise in stores are also
RFID tags.
• Heavy-duty 120 by 100 by 50 millimeter rectangular transponders are
used to track shipping containers, or heavy machinery, trucks, and railroad
cars.

RFID devices have been used for years to identify dogs, for a means of
permanent identification. Dog owners had long used tattoos, permanent ink
markings, typically on the ears. However, these can fade with age and it may be
difficult to get the animal to sit still while you examine him for markings.

Many musical instruments are stolen every year. For example, custom-built or
vintage guitars are worth as much as $50,000 each. Snagg, a California
company specializing in RFID microchips for instruments, has embedded tiny
chips in 30,000 Fender guitars already. The database of RFID chip IDs is made
available to law enforcement officials, dealers, repair shops and luthiers.

Is RFID Technology Secure and Private?

Unfortunately, not very often in the systems to which consumers are likely to be
exposed. Anyone with an appropriately equipped scanner and close access to
the RFID device can activate it and read its contents. Obviously, some concerns
are greater than others. If someone walks by your bag of books from the
bookstore with a 13.56 Mhz "sniffer" with an RF field that will activate the RFID
devices in the books you bought, that person can get a complete list of what you
just bought. That's certainly an invasion of your privacy, but it could be worse.
Another scenario involves a military situation in which the other side scans
vehicles going by, looking for tags that are associated with items that only high-
ranking officers can have, and targeting accordingly.

Companies are more concerned with the increasing use of RFID devices in
company badges. An appropriate RF field will cause the RFID chip in the badge
to "spill the beans" to whomever activates it. This information can then be stored
and replayed to company scanners, allowing the thief access - and your badge is
the one that is "credited" with the access.

The smallest tags that will likely be used for consumer items don't have enough
computing power to do data encryption to protect your privacy. The most they
can do is PIN-style or password-based protection.

Are There Concerns About How RFID Will Be Used? (Update)

Civil liberties groups (among others) have become increasingly concerned about
the use of RFIDs to track the movements of individuals. For example, passports
will soon be required to contain some sort of RFID device to speed border
crossings. Scanners placed throughout an airport, for example, could track the
location of every passport over time, from the moment you left the parking lot to
the moment you got on your plane.

In June, the Japanese government passed a draft RFID Privacy Guideline that
stated the following:

• Indication that RFID tags exist

• Consumers right of choice regarding reading tags
• Sharing information about social benefits of RFID, etc.
• Issues on linking information on tags and databases that store privacy
information.
• Restrictions of information gathering and uses when private information is
stored on tags
• Assuring accuracy of information when private information is stored on
tags
• Information administrators should be encouraged
• Information sharing and explanation for consumers

There are also concerns about the fact that, even after you leave the store, any
RFID devices in the things you buy are still active. This means that a thief could
walk past you in the mall and know exactly what you have in your bags, marking
you as a potential victim. A thief could even circle your house with an RFID
scanner and pull up data on what you have in your house before he robs it.

Military hardware and even clothing make use of RFID tags to help track each
item through the supply chain. Some analysts are concerned that, if there are
particular items associated with high-level officers, roadside bombs could be set
to go off when triggered by an RFID scan of cars going by.

There was a recent report revealing clandestine tests at a Wal-Mart store where
RFID tags were inserted in packages of lipstick, with scanners hidden on nearby
shelves. When a customer picked up a lipstick and put it in her cart, the
movement of the tag was registered by the scanners, which triggered
surveillance cameras. This allowed researchers 750 miles away to watch those
consumers as they walked through the store, looking for related items.

Next-Generation Uses of RFID?

Some vendors have been combining RFID tags with sensors of different kinds.
This would allow the tag to report not simply the same information over and over,
but identifying information along with current data picked up by the sensor. For
example, an RFID tag attached to a leg of lamb could report on the temperature
readings of the past 24 hours, to ensure that the meat was properly kept cool.

Over time, the proportion of "scan-it-yourself" aisles in retail stores will increase.
Eventually, we may wind up with stores that have mostly "scan-it-yourself" aisles
and only a few checkout stations for people who are disabled or unwilling.

What Are Zombie RFID Tags?

One of the main concerns with RFID tags is that their contents can be read by
anyone with an appropriately equipped scanner - even after you take it out of the
store.

One technology that has been suggested is a zombie RFID tag, a tag that can
be temporarily deactivated when it leaves the store. The process would work like
this: you bring your purchase up to the register, the RFID scanner reads the item,
you pay for it and as you leave the store, you pass a special device that sends a
signal to the RFID tag to "die." That is, it is no longer readable.

The "zombie" element comes in when you bring an item back to the store. A
special device especially made for that kind of tag "re-animates" the RFID tag,
allowing the item to reenter the supply chain.

Technical problems with RFID

Problems with RFID Standards

RFID has been implemented in different ways by different manufacturers; global

standards are still being worked on. It should be noted that some RFID devices
are never meant to leave their network (as in the case of RFID tags used for
inventory control within a company). This can cause problems for companies.

Consumers may also have problems with RFID standards. For example,
ExxonMobil's SpeedPass system is a proprietary RFID system; if another
company wanted to use the convenient SpeedPass (say, at the drive-in window
of your favorite fast food restaurant) they would have to pay to access it - an
unlikely scenario. On the other hand, if every company had their own
"SpeedPass" system, a consumer would need to carry many different devices
with them.

RFID systems can be easily disrupted

Since RFID systems make use of the electromagnetic spectrum (like WiFi
networks or cellphones), they are relatively easy to jam using energy at the right
frequency. Although this would only be an inconvenience for consumers in stores
(longer waits at the checkout), it could be disastrous in other environments where
RFID is increasingly used, like hospitals or in the military in the field.

Also, active RFID tags (those that use a battery to increase the range of the
system) can be repeatedly interrogated to wear the battery down, disrupting the
system.

RFID Reader Collision

Reader collision occurs when the signals from two or more readers overlap. The
tag is unable to respond to simultaneous queries. Systems must be carefully set
up to avoid this problem; many systems use an anti-collision protocol (also
called a singulation protocol. Anti-collision protocols enable the tags to take
turns in transmitting to a reader. (Learn more about RFID reader collision.)

RFID Tag Collision

Tag collision occurs when many tags are present in a small area; but since the
read time is very fast, it is easier for vendors to develop systems that ensure that
tags respond one at a time. (Learn more about RFID tag collision.)

Security, privacy and ethics problems with RFID

The following problems with RFID tags and readers have been reported.

The contents of an RFID tag can be read after the item leaves the supply
chain

An RFID tag cannot tell the difference between one reader and another. RFID
scanners are very portable; RFID tags can be read from a distance, from a few
inches to a few yards. This allows anyone to see the contents of your purse or
pocket as you walk down the street. Some tags can be turned off when the item
has left the supply chain; see zombie RFID tags.

RFID tags are difficult to remove

RFID tags are difficult to for consumers to remove; some are very small (less
than a half-millimeter square, and as thin as a sheet of paper) - others may be
hidden or embedded inside a product where consumers cannot see them. New
technologies allow RFID tags to be "printed" right on a product and may not be
removable at all (see Printing RFID Tags With Magic Ink).
RFID tags can be read without your knowledge

Since the tags can be read without being swiped or obviously scanned (as is the
case with magnetic strips or barcodes), anyone with an RFID tag reader can read
the tags embedded in your clothes and other consumer products without your
knowledge. For example, you could be scanned before you enter the store, just
to see what you are carrying. You might then be approached by a clerk who
knows what you have in your backpack or purse, and can suggest accessories or
other items.

RFID tags can be read a greater distances with a high-gain antenna

For various reasons, RFID reader/tag systems are designed so that distance
between the tag and the reader is kept to a minimum (see the material on tag
collision above). However, a high-gain antenna can be used to read the tags from
much further away, leading to privacy problems.

RFID tags with unique serial numbers could be linked to an individual

credit card number

At present, the Universal Product Code (UPC) implemented with barcodes allows
each product sold in a store to have a unique number that identifies that product.
Work is proceeding on a global system of product identification that would allow
each individual item to have its own number. When the item is scanned for
purchase and is paid for, the RFID tag number for a particular item can be
associated with a credit card number.

Advantages of RFID Versus Barcodes

RFID tags and barcodes both carry information about products. However, there
are important differences between these two technologies:

• Barcode readers require a direct line of sight to the printed barcode; RFID
readers do not require a direct line of sight to either active RFID tags or
passive RFID tags.
• RFID tags can be read at much greater distances; an RFID reader can
pull information from a tag at distances up to 300 feet. The range to read a
barcode is much less, typically no more than fifteen feet.
• RFID readers can interrogate, or read, RFID tags much faster; read rates
of forty or more tags per second are possible. Reading barcodes is much
more time-consuming; due to the fact that a direct line of sight is required,
if the items are not properly oriented to the reader it may take seconds to
read an individual tag. Barcode readers usually take a half-second or
more to successfully complete a read.
 • Line of sight requirements also limit the ruggedness of barcodes as well
as the reusability of barcodes. (Since line of sight is required for
barcodes, the printed barcode must be exposed on the outside of the
product, where it is subject to greater wear and tear.) RFID tags are
typically more rugged, since the electronic components are better
protected in a plastic cover. RFID tags can also be implanted within the
product itself, guaranteeing greater ruggedness and reusability.
• Barcodes have no read/write capability; that is, you cannot add to the
information written on a printed barcode. RFID tags, however, can be
read/write devices; the RFID reader can communicate with the tag, and
alter as much of the information as the tag design will allow.
• RFID tags are typically more expensive than barcodes, in some cases,
much more so.

RFID Reader Collision

Reader collision occurs in RFID systems when the coverage area of one RFID
reader overlaps with that of another reader. This causes two different problems:

• Signal interference
The RF fields of two or more readers may overlap and interfere. This can
be solved by having the readers programmed to read at fractionally
different times. This technique (called time division multiple access -
TDMA) can still result in the same tag being read twice.
• Multiple reads of the same tag
The problem here is that the same tag is read one time by each of the
overlapping readers. The only solution is to program the RFID system to
make sure that a given tag (with its unique ID number) is read only once in
a session.

RFID Tag Collision

Tag collision in RFID systems happens when multiple tags are energized by the
RFID tag reader simultaneously, and reflect their respective signals back to the
reader at the same time. This problem is often seen whenever a large volume of
tags must be read together in the same RF field. The reader is unable to
differentiate these signals; tag collision confuses the reader.

Different systems have been invented to isolate individual tags; the system used
may vary by vendor. For example, when the reader recognizes that tag collision
has taken place, it sends a special signal (a "gap pulse"). Upon receiving this
signal, each tag consults a random number counter to determine the interval to
wait before sending its data. Since each tag gets a unique number interval, the
tags send their data at different times.
 Passive RFID Tag (or Passive Tag)

A passive tag is an RFID tag that does not contain a battery; the power is
supplied by the reader. When radio waves from the reader are encountered by a
passive rfid tag, the coiled antenna within the tag forms a magnetic field. The tag
draws power from it, energizing the circuits in the tag. The tag then sends the
information encoded in the tag's memory.

The major disadvantages of a passive rfid tag are:

• The tag can be read only at very short distances, typically a few feet at
most. This greatly limits the device for certain applications.
• It may not be possible to include sensors that can use electricity for power.
• The tag remains readable for a very long time, even after the product to
which the tag is attached has been sold and is no longer being tracked.

The advantages of a passive tag are:

• The tag functions without a battery; these tags have a useful life of twenty
years or more.
• The tag is typically much less expensive to manufacture
• The tag is much smaller (some tags are the size of a grain of rice). These
tags have almost unlimited applications in consumer goods and other
areas.

Active Tag (Active RFID Tag)

An RFID tag is an active tag when it is equipped with a battery that can be used
as a partial or complete source of power for the tag's circuitry and antenna. Some
active tags contain replaceable batteries for years of use; others are sealed units.
(Note that It is also possible to connect the tag to an external power source.)

RFID tag

An RFID tag is a microchip combined with an antenna in a compact package; the

packaging is structured to allow the RFID tag to be attached to an object to be
tracked. "RFID" stands for Radio Frequency Identification.

The tag's antenna picks up signals from an RFID reader or scanner and then
returns the signal, usually with some additional data (like a unique serial number
or other customized information).

RFID tags can be very small - the size of a large rice grain. Others may be the
size of a small paperback book.
 RFID Reader

An RFID reader is a device that is used to interrogate an RFID tag. The reader
has an antenna that emits radio waves; the tag responds by sending back its
data.

A number of factors can affect the distance at which a tag can be read (the read
range). The frequency used for identification, the antenna gain, the orientation
and polarization of the reader antenna and the transponder antenna, as well as
the placement of the tag on the object to be identified will all have an impact on
the RFID system’s read range.