interrelativity.com

The Practicalities, Perils and Promise of RFID

Joe McCarthyJoe McCarthy

Connector in ChiefConnector in Chief

Interrelativity, IncInterrelativity, Inc

26 April 2005

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OutlineWhat is RFID?What is RFID?

What is it good for?What is it good for?

What are the risks?What are the risks?

What is on/over the horizon?What is on/over the horizon?

“It may be simple, but it’s not easy”

“Identify any object anywhere automatically”

“The innocent have nothing to fear”

“The future is here, it’s just unevenly distributed.”

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What is RFID?

Si

Coil

Encapsulation

RFID Transponder

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a generic term that is used to describe a system that transmits the identity (in the form of a unique serial number) of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves. [RFID Journal]

[Roy Want, Intel]

ComputerRFID

Interrogator

RFIDTransponder

Energy

Clock

Data

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“It’s simple,but it isn’t easy”

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Complications Tag size, shape, frequencyTag size, shape, frequency Passive, semi-passive, activePassive, semi-passive, active Distance, orientationDistance, orientation RF interference (EMI)RF interference (EMI)

Other tags, readersOther tags, readers Other sources of RFOther sources of RF Metal, liquids, …Metal, liquids, …

StandardsStandards ISO, EPCISO, EPC

PatentsPatents Data FormatData Format

Writeable tagsWriteable tags InteroperabilityInteroperability

Tags, readers, Tags, readers, backend systems, backend systems, countriescountries

Many metersMicrowave2.45 GHz

MetersUHF915 MHz

FeetHF13.56 MHz

InchesLF128 kHz

RangeCategoryFrequency

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EPCglobal

Tag

Local Host

ONSPML

Savant

ReaderProduct

Remote Host

NetworkNetworkNetwork

EPC

• TAGS RFID • EPC Electronic Product Code• ONS Object Name Service• PML Physical Markup Language• SavantTM Distributed Operating System• ALE Application Level Events (devices, data, apps)

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Costs TagsTags

Passive: $0.20 - $0.40Passive: $0.20 - $0.40 Active: $10 - $50Active: $10 - $50

ReadersReaders Passive (UHF): $500 - $3,000Passive (UHF): $500 - $3,000 Active: readers + “signposts”Active: readers + “signposts”

Computers, networking, databases, …Computers, networking, databases, … Training (mandatory, $10K, 1-2 weeks)Training (mandatory, $10K, 1-2 weeks) Forrester Research estimate Forrester Research estimate

(for a $12B consumer products company):(for a $12B consumer products company): $128,000 for consulting and integration$128,000 for consulting and integration $315,000 for the time of the internal project team $315,000 for the time of the internal project team $80,000 for tag and reader testing$80,000 for tag and reader testing

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RFID Market

Today: $2B, 1.8B tags (400M passive, 1.4B active)Today: $2B, 1.8B tags (400M passive, 1.4B active) 2008: $7B; 2015: $27B, 1 trillion tags2008: $7B; 2015: $27B, 1 trillion tags RFID vs. barcodesRFID vs. barcodes

5-10B barcodes / year5-10B barcodes / year To reach 10B RFIDs / year, To reach 10B RFIDs / year,

need < $0.01 / tag cost (2020)need < $0.01 / tag cost (2020) Requires alternate technology, print them offRequires alternate technology, print them off

Intellitag PM4i(Intermec)

Sabre 1555(Intermec)

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“Identify any object anywhere automatically”

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Supply ChainItem Case

Pallet

Container

Transport Vessel / Vehicle

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Access Control

Buildings

Ski resorts

Countries

Containers

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Asset Tracking

Livestock Salmon Pets

Beer kegs Airline luggageDocuments& Folders

At school

On the bus

At the park

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RFID in Healthcare

EquipmentMedications Patients

Blood Surgical sites

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Transactions

ExxonMobil SpeedPass

MasterCard PayPass

Illinois Tollway I-Pass PowerPay

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“The innocent have nothing to fear”

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Internet: aggregate electronic dataInternet: aggregate electronic data RFID + Internet: aggregate physical world data (!)RFID + Internet: aggregate physical world data (!)

Tracking & tracing: people, places & thingsTracking & tracing: people, places & things Item-level vs. supply chainItem-level vs. supply chain

Risks

BoycottBenetton.com BoycottGillette.com BoycottTesco.com

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Hacks

http://rfid-analysis.org/

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“The future is here,it’s just unevenly distributed

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RFID + Mobile Phones KDDIKDDI

RFID RFID readersreaders Active & PassiveActive & Passive

NTT DoCoMo n901iC FOMA®NTT DoCoMo n901iC FOMA® Sony FeliCa chip (+ surround sound, card scanner…)Sony FeliCa chip (+ surround sound, card scanner…)

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RFID + Sensors TempSensTempSens

Up to 64 temp. readingsUp to 64 temp. readings Three modesThree modes

Interval (2 sec – 18 hrs)Interval (2 sec – 18 hrs) Out-of-range eventsOut-of-range events Out-of-range + max/minOut-of-range + max/min

Shelf life: up to 18 monthsShelf life: up to 18 months Applications: perishable food, drugsApplications: perishable food, drugs www.ksw-microtec.dewww.ksw-microtec.de

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RFID + Robots Kobe, JapanKobe, Japan

Mobility Support ProjectMobility Support Project

Utah State UniversityUtah State University Center for Persons with Center for Persons with

DisabilitiesDisabilities

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RFID + People VeriChip (Applied Digital Solutions)VeriChip (Applied Digital Solutions)

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RFID + Displays Proactive DisplaysProactive Displays: Large displays with sensors : Large displays with sensors

that can detect and respond to people nearbythat can detect and respond to people nearby Awareness & interactions among people in shared spacesAwareness & interactions among people in shared spaces Virtual community Virtual community physical community physical community

Digital profiles(WWW)

Physical tags(RFID)

Real-world interactions+ =

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Ticket2Talk

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Thanks! / Questions? For more informationFor more information

http://interrelativity.com/rfidhttp://interrelativity.com/rfid