Search Results (30)

In dynamic scenarios, the status of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system fluctuates with environmental changes. The key to improving system efficiency lies in the real-time monitoring and evaluation of the system status, along with adaptive adjustments to the system parameters and read algorithms. This paper focuses on the status changes in RFID systems in dynamic scenarios, aiming to enhance system robustness and reading performance, ensuring high link quality, reasonable resource scheduling, and real-time status evaluation under varying conditions. This paper comprehensively considers the system parameter settings in dynamic scenarios, integrating the interaction model between readers and tags. The system’s real-time status is evaluated from both the physical layer and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer perspectives. For the physical layer, a link quality evaluation model based on Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and K-Means clustering is proposed from the link quality. For the MAC layer, a multi-criteria decision-making evaluation model based on combined weighting and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is proposed, which comprehensively considers both subjective and objective factors, utilizing the TOPSIS algorithm for an accurate evaluation of the MAC layer system status. For the RFID system, this paper proposes a real-time status evaluation model based on the Classification and Regression Tree (CART), which synthesizes the evaluation results of the physical layer and MAC layer. Finally, engineering tests and verification were conducted on the RFID robot system in mobile scenarios. The results showed that the clustering average silhouette coefficient of the physical layer link quality evaluation model based on K-Means was 0.70184, indicating a relatively good clustering effect. The system status evaluation model of the MAC layer, based on the combined weighting-TOPSIS method, demonstrated good flexibility and generalization. The real-time status evaluation model of the RFID system, based on CART, achieved a classification accuracy of 98.3%, with an algorithm runtime of 0.003 s. Compared with other algorithms, it had a higher classification accuracy and shorter runtime, making it well suited for the real-time evaluation of the RFID robot system’s status in dynamic scenarios. Full article

The NFC and MIFARE systems (referred to as HF-band RFID) are a special case of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology using a radio frequency of 13.56 MHz for communication. The declared range of such communication is usually several cm and is characterized by the need to bring the data carrier close to the system reader. Due to the possibility of transmitting sensitive data in this type of system, an important problem seems to be the electromagnetic security of the transmitted data between the cards (tags) and the reader and within the system. In most of the available research studies, the security of RFID systems comes down to the analysis of the effectiveness of encryption of transmitted data or testing the range of communication between the reader and the identifier. In this research, however, special attention is paid to the so-called electromagnetic information security without the analysis of cryptographic protection. In some cases (e.g., data retransmission), encryption may not be an effective method of securing data (because, e.g., encrypted data might be used to open and start a car with a keyless system). In addition, the research draws attention to the fact that the data from the identifier can be accessed not only from the identifier, but also from the control system (reader, wiring, controller, etc.) from which the data can be radiated (unintentionally) at a much greater distance than the communication range between the identifier and the reader. In order to determine the security of the transmitted data in the HF-band RFID systems, a number of tests were carried out with the use of specialized equipment. During the measurements, both the data carriers themselves (cards, key fobs, stickers, tags) and exemplary systems for reading data from the media (a writable card reader, a mobile phone with NFC function, and an extensive access control system) were tested. The experiments carried out made it possible to determine the safety of NFC and MIFARE systems during their use and only storage (e.g., the ability to read data from an identification card stored in a pocket). Full article

With the popularization of positioning technology, more and more industries have begun to pay attention to the application and demand of location information, and almost all industries can benefit from low-cost and high-precision location information. This paper introduces a novel three-dimensional (3D) low-cost, high-precision target perception algorithm that utilizes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) mobile reader and double tags. Initially, the Received Signal Strength (RSS) is employed to estimate the approximate position of the target along the length direction of the shelf. Additionally, double tags are affixed to the target, enabling the perception of its approximate height and depth through phase information measurements. Subsequently, the obtained rough position serves as an initial value for calibration using the proposed algorithm, allowing for the refinement of the target’s length information relative to the shelf. Simulation results demonstrate the exceptional accuracy of the proposed method in perceiving the 3D position information of the target, achieving centimeter-level sensing accuracy. Full article

As one of the key techniques used in the perception layer of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), radio frequency identification (RFID) has been widely applied for object tracing, smart warehouse management, product line monitoring, etc. In most applications, conveyor belts are prevalently implemented to accelerate the sorting efficiency for goods management. However, in such a system, tags quickly go through the reader’s reading range resulting in constant changing of the tag set and limited participating time of moving tags. As a result, it poses more challenges to the tag identification problem in mobile systems than in traditional static applications. In this work, a novel admission-control-based dynamic query tree (ACDQT) protocol is proposed for fast-moving tag identification. In ACDQT, two main strategies are developed, i.e., multi-round admission control (MRAC) and dynamic query tree recognition (DQTR). In MRAC, the reading process of multiple rounds is analyzed, and the number of admitted tags in each round is optimized. Thus, the tag lost ratio is guaranteed, and the identification process can be effectively accelerated. In DQTR, colliding tags are grouped into multiple subsets with the help of consecutive colliding bits in tag responses. By constructing a dynamic query tree, the number of collision slots is greatly reduced, and the identification efficiency in a single round is improved significantly. With MRAC and DQTR, ACDQT can support higher tag flow rate in mobile systems than existing works. Both theoretical analyses and simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of ACDQT. Full article

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is considered as one of the most widely used wireless identification technologies in the Internet of Things. Many application areas require a dense RFID network for efficient deployment and coverage, which causes interference between RFID tags and readers, and reduces the performance of the RFID system. Therefore, communication resource management is required to avoid such problems. In this paper, we propose an anti-collision protocol based on feed-forward Artificial Neural Network methodology for distributed learning between RFID readers to predict collisions and ensure efficient resource allocation (DMLAR) by considering the mobility of tags and readers. The evaluation of our anti-collision protocol is performed for different mobility scenarios in healthcare where the collected data are critical and must respect the terms of throughput, delay, overload, integrity and energy. The dataset created and distributed by the readers allows an efficient learning process and, therefore, a high collision detection to increase throughput and minimize data loss. In the application phase, the readers do not need to exchange control packets with each other to control the resource allocation, which avoids network overload and communication delay. Simulation results show the robustness and effectiveness of the anti-collision protocol by the number of readers and resources used. The model used allows a large number of readers to use the most suitable frequency and time resources for simultaneous and successful tag interrogation. Full article

During a pandemic, it is imperative that all staff members have up-to-date information on changing work practices in the healthcare environment. This article presents a way to implement work environment orientation amongst different groups in care facilities by utilizing mobile robots, radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, and data synthesis. We offer a scenario based on a co-design approach, in which a mobile robot works as an orientation guide for new employees, RFID tags are applied on objects around the premises and people’s clothing. The mobile robot takes advantage of the information provided by its known location and each RFID tag read by the RFID reader integrated with the robot. We introduce the scenario here, along with the details of its practical test implementation. Further, the challenges met in the test implementation are discussed as well as the future potential of its application. In conclusion, our study indicates that repetitive training and orientation-related duties can be successfully transferred to a mobile robot. Through RFID, the mobile robot can deliver the relevant information to the right people and thus contribute to patient and personnel safety and the resource efficiency of the orientation process. Full article

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology facilitates a myriad of applications. In such applications, an efficient reader–tag interrogation process is crucial. Nevertheless, throughout reader–tag communication, significant amounts of time and power are consumed on inescapable simultaneous tag replies (i.e., collisions) due to the lack of carrier sensing at the tags. This paper proposes the modulation cutoff intervals (MCI) process as a novel reader–tag interaction given the lack of carrier sensing constraints in passive RFID tags. MCI is facilitated through a simple digital baseband modulation termination (DBMT) circuit at the tag. DBMT detects the continuous-wave cutoff by the reader. In addition, DBMT provides different flags based on the duration of the continuous-wave cutoff. Given this capability at the tag, the reader cuts off its continuous-wave transmission for predefined intervals to indicate different commands to the interrogated tag(s). The MCI process is applied to tag interrogation (or anti-collision) and tag-counting protocols. The MCI process effect was evaluated by the two protocols under high and low tag populations. The performance of such protocols was significantly enhanced with precise synchronization within time slots with more than 50% and more than 55.6% enhancement on time and power performance of anti-collision and counting protocols, respectively. Through the MCI process, fast and power-efficient tag identification is achieved in inventory systems with low and high tag mobility; alternatively, in addition to the rapid and power efficient interaction with tags, anonymous tag counting is conducted by the proposed process. Full article

Indoor localization is one of the most important topics in wireless navigation systems. The large number of applications that rely on indoor positioning makes advancements in this field important. Fingerprinting is a popular technique that is widely adopted and induces many important localization approaches. Recently, fingerprinting based on mobile robots has received increasing attention. This work focuses on presenting a simple, cost-effective and accurate auto-fingerprinting method for an indoor localization system based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and using a two-wheeled robot. With this objective, an assessment of the robot’s navigation is performed in order to investigate its displacement errors and elaborate the required corrections. The latter are integrated in our proposed localization system, which is divided into two stages. From there, the auto-fingerprinting method is implemented while modeling the tag-reader link by the Dual One Slope with Second Order propagation Model (DOSSOM) for environmental calibration, within the offline stage. During the online stage, the robot’s position is estimated by applying DOSSOM followed by multilateration. Experimental localization results show that the proposed method provides a positioning error of 1.22 m at the cumulative distribution function of 90%, while operating with only four RFID active tags and an architecture with reduced complexity. Full article

The I-READ 4.0 project is aimed at developing an integrated and autonomous Cyber-Physical System for automatic management of very large warehouses with a high-stock rotation index. Thanks to a network of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers operating in the Ultra-High-Frequency (UHF) band, both fixed and mobile, it is possible to implement an efficient management of assets and forklifts operating in an indoor scenario. A key component to accomplish this goal is the UHF-RFID Smart Gate, which consists of a checkpoint infrastructure based on RFID technology to identify forklifts and their direction of transit. This paper presents the implementation of a UHF-RFID Smart Gate with a single reader antenna with asymmetrical deployment, thus allowing the correct action classification with reduced infrastructure complexity and cost. The action classification method exploits the signal phase backscattered by RFID tags placed on the forklifts. The performance and the method capabilities are demonstrated through an on-site demonstrator in a real warehouse. Full article

Tobacco products are an addictive commodity. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest statistics data, tobacco kills more than eight million people each year. In 2003, the WHO proposed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to provide an effective framework for the control of tobacco products to governments around the world. In the field of tobacco products, the hardest problem is how to prevent counterfeit tobacco products and smuggling. To solve the problems, we proposed a blockchain-based traceable and verifiable logistics system for tobacco products with global positioning system (GPS) and radio-frequency identification (RFID) Technologies. In this research, we provide an overview of system architecture, and also define the protocol and the smart contract in every phase that stores data into the blockchain center. We realized a decentralized database and authentication system that uses blockchain and smart contract technology; every protocol in every phase was designed to achieve the integrity of data and non-repudiation of message. Every tobacco product’s shipping record will be completed by scanning the RFID tag and retrieving the GPS with a mobile reader, where the record will be updated and validated in the blockchain center. In the end, the security and costs of the system were analyzed, and a comparison was made with the EU’s (European Commission) method. Our system is more flexible for transportation, more secure in the communication protocol, and more difficult to tamper and forge data. In general, the proposed scheme solved the problem of tobacco products counterfeiting and tracking issues. Full article

The employment of mobile readers (or mobile phone collaborated with a Radio frequency identification (RFID) reader) opens a novel application for RFID technology. In particular, an RFID tag search system has been designed to find a particular tag in a group of tags using a mobile reader. Unfortunately, privacy infringement and availability issues in the search system have not been adequately addressed to date. In this paper, we propose a novel RFID tag search protocol that will enhance mobile reader user privacy while being able to operate under conditions of unstable connection to a central server. First, the proposed protocol preserves the privacy of mobile reader users. The privacy of the mobile reader user is at risk because the signal strength emitted from a mobile reader is much stronger than that from the tag, exposing the location of the mobile reader user and thus compromising the user’s privacy. Thus far, such privacy issues have been overlooked. The second issue is presented because of wireless connections that are either unreliable or too remote, causing a mobile reader to disconnect from the central server. The proposed protocol enables serverless RFID tag searches with passive tags, which obtain operating power from the mobile reader. In unstable environments, the protocol can successfully locate specific tags without any server. Full article

The term “Internet of Things” was originally coined when radio frequency identification (RFID) technology was being developed to refer to applications where RFID tagged objects and sensors enabled computers to achieve effective situational awareness without human intervention. Currently, this term encompasses a myriad of medium/small devices connected to the Internet. On the other hand, 5G is a key enabling technology that will support next generation wireless communications. Moreover, 5G aims to realize the “Internet of Everything”. Surprisingly, despite the expected relationship between these two technologies, RFID tags have not been properly integrated into 4G and it is not clear if this will change in 5G. RFID is considered as a parallel technology where, at best, it has connection to the core network using back-end servers as gateways between the two technologies. With the aim of overcoming this problem, this paper proposes a 5G compliant RFID protocol that allows RFID tags to act as fully fledged 5G subscribers while taking into account the main characteristics of RFID systems. This proposal leverages the separation between USIM and mobile equipment within the user equipment to implement a 5G compliant protocol where tags accomplish the authentication part, as 5G subscribers, while readers assume the mobile equipment role, carrying out the 5G communication and most of the resource consuming tasks. Full article

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, location based service in context awareness has received increasing attention. As one of the main localization technologies, UHF RFID technology has been widely used in many fields of life and industry due to its advantages. In this article, we introduce a RFID-based system RF-SML, which is a method for quickly and accurately locating static objects via the tag and mobile reader. Specifically, the method utilizes the idea of multi-granularity in order to find the high-probability region of the target position by reconstructing the reflection coefficient of the scene in the coarse-grained localization stage. Subsequently, in the fine-grained localization stage, the grid is traversed in this area to calculate the corresponding evaluation factor to determine the final position result, thereby reducing the time-consuming of localization calculation. At the same time, it uses phase calibration to remove the phase offsets that are caused by the hardware device and the antenna phase center, thereby obtaining higher localization accuracy. We conduct experiments to verify the performance of RF-SML with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) RFID equipment. The results show that the proposed method can efficiently achieve the centimeter-level positioning of objects. Full article

Hospitals are continuously working to reduce delayed analysis and specimen errors during transfers from testing stations to clinical laboratories. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, which provide automated specimen labeling and tracking, have been proposed as a solution to specimen management that reduces human resource costs and analytic delays. Conventional RFID solutions, however, confront the problem of traffic jams and bottlenecks on the conveyor belts that connect testing stations with clinical laboratories. This mainly results from methods which assume that the arrival rate of specimens to laboratory RFID readers is fixed/stable, which is unsuitable and impractical in the real world. Previous RFID algorithms have attempted to minimize the time required for tag identification without taking the dynamic arrival rates of specimens into account. Therefore, we propose a novel RFID anti-collision algorithm called the Mobility Aware Binary Tree Algorithm (MABT), which can be used to improve the identification of dynamic tags within the reader’s coverage area and limited dwell time. Full article

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been widely used in indoor location tracking, especially serving human beings, due to its advantage of low cost, non-contact communication, resistance to hostile environments and so forth. Over the years, many indoor location tracking methods have been proposed. However, tracking mobile RFID readers in real-time has been a daunting task, especially for achieving high localization accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new Mobile RFID (M-RFID)-based Localization approach for Indoor Human Tracking, named MRLIHT. Based on the M-RFID model where RFID readers are equipped on the moving objects (human beings) and RFID tags are fixed deployed in the monitoring area, MRLIHT implements the real-time indoor location tracking effectively and economically. First, based on the readings of multiple tags detected by an RFID reader simultaneously, MRLIHT generates the response regions of tags to the reader. Next, MRLIHT determines the potential location region of the reader where two algorithms are devised. Finally, MRLIHT estimates the location of the reader by dividing the potential location region of the reader into finer-grained grids. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed MRLIHT performs well in both accuracy and scalability. Full article