Radio-frequency identification is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from an electronic tag, called RFID tag

or label, attached to an object, through a reader for the purpose of identifying and tracking the object.

 One or more RF tags

Two or more antennas

One or more interrogators

One or more host computers

Appropriate software

Components of an RFID System

Host Computer
Host Memory Space Antenna Customer-Specific Application Software

Application Application Program Program Interface Interface (API) (API)

RFID API Software (Communicates with the RFID Reader)

Reader

 Host Manages Reader(s) and Issues Commands Reader and tag communicate via RF signal Carrier signal generated by the reader upon request from

the host application Carrier signal sent out through the antennas Carrier signal hits tag(s)
Tag receives and modifies carrier signal &

sends back

modulated signal
Antennas receive the modulated signal and send them to

the Reader
Reader decodes the data & results

returned to the host

application

 Tags can be read-only

or read-write Tag memory can be factory or field programmed and optionally, permanently locked

 No need for contact or line-of-sight

Can scan entire pallet at once

Greater speed Low error rates

Reduced counterfeiting
Size a grain of rice Ability to hold more data than bar codes

Durability

Cost
Passive tags: 30-50 cents Would be economically viable at 5 cents

Lack of standards
Proliferation of multiple operating frequencies Need for standard electronic product code (EPC) Efforts by ISO and ANSI

Privacy
Implications of staying active beyond checkout Kill switches

Access management Tracking of goods and RFID in retail Tracking of persons and animals Toll collection and contactless payment Machine readable travel documents Smart dust (for massively distributed sensor networks) Tracking sports memorabilia to verify authenticity Airport baggage tracking logistics

RFID technology uses waves to automatically identify individual items. After sixty years of development, RFID is being used in many fields. However there are some hurdles needed to overcome before is becomes wide spread in the world . One major problem is the high costs, the other is privacy issue. In the long run, the RFID technology, when perfected, would eventually be a big help to human.