Course 5011: RFID (Radio-frequency identification) Fundamentals

A Radio-frequency identification (RFID)  tag is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radiowaves. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.  RFID is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders.

RFID tags can be stuck on or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radiowaves. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.

This course provides an in-depth, practical details for implementing an RFID project from start to finish. It is designed to provide critical skills to plan, procure, design, implement, install, maintain, or troubleshoot RFID-based systems.

Upon completion of this course, the attendees will be able to:

• List some key RFID  applications 
• Investigate costs and benefits using business justification
• Describe the landscape of wireless networks and how RFID fits in with these
• Sketch the key RFID architectures, protocols and interfaces
• List and define various RFID-based technologies
• Describe how RFID tags, chipless tags, and transceivers work
• Integrate existing barcodes with RFID systems
• Deploy EPC software, middleware, and information services
• Organize projects using preliminary planning, pilot, and technical integration
• Evaluate RFID hardware to design a system that meets the performance requirements
• Describe RFID KPI's: read distance, write distance, tag response time, and storage capacity
• Conduct a site analysis before, during, and after installation and critical success factors
• Optimize tag performance with site analyses and tests
• Discuss RFID Design, Development, Deployment and Integration
• Explain how RFID fits into existing enterprise networks
• Discuss how security is achieved in RFID based networks
• Identify the challenges in RFID deployments
  

• What is RFID?
• RFID Applications
• Regulation and standardization
• RF Physics
• RFID Frequencies (LF, VHF, UHF, Microwaves)
• RFID Architecture
• Receiver
• Transmitter
• Antennas
• Power Supply
• Modulation
• Processor
• Attenuator
• Amplifier
• Receive and Transmit Switch

RFID Architecture and Components

• Building blocks of the RFID system
• RFID Tag (transponder)
• Passive Tags
• Active Tags
• Semi-passive Tags
• Small transponder (tag)
• Memory, processor, small antenna
• Computer database behind
• Transponder
• Memory: ROM, EPROM, EEPROM
• Interrogators (readers)
• RFID peripherals
• Packaging
• Antenna Types
• Extended Capability
• Tag attachment
• Tagging positions
• Tag environments
• RFID Software
• Electronic Product Code (EPC)
• Drivers, middleware, enterprise applications
• EPC Middleware
• Discovery Services
• RFID Security
• Authentication
• Protection
• RFID shielding
  

RFID System Planning and Design

• RF propagation/communication techniques 
• Antenna field performance/characteristics
• RFID Link Budget Calculations
• Antenna gains, cable type, cable length, interrogator transmit power
• RFID Infrastructure Planning
• Antenna types  
• Equipment mounting and protection   
• Cable length/loss   
• Interference considerations   
• Tag Selection 
• Site Surveys
• RFID Operations
• Operation type
• Full and half duplex systems
• Sequential procedure

RFID Design, Development, Deployment and Integration

• System performance and tuning   
• RFID System Performance 
• Tags' Memory Capacity
• Data Transfer Speed
• Operating Range
• RFID and Enterprise IT Integration Issues
• Enterprise-class RFID characteristics                                                       
• Integration-RFID in context                                                           
• Integration among the RFID components                                              
• Integration to enterprise applications and processes                                     
• Scalability and flexibility                                                              
• Adaptability                                                                    
• Scalability and reliability                                                           
• Manageability                                                                     
• RFID Reference Deployments                                                            
  

RFID Products, Vendors and Deployment Case Studies