Radio frequency identification

(RFID)
Opportunities for mobile
telecommunication services
______________
 Outline
1. What is RFID?
How RFID works, Current Applications,
Booming Markets, Constraints
2. RFID and standardization
Key players, Need for standardization,
Suggestions for ITU-T’s SGs
3. RFID and mobile telecommunication
Definition, Application Scenarios,
Near Field Communications
4. Conclusion
 What is RFID?
How RFID works (1)
• Main components: tags, antenna, readers
• Tags:
– Size (Hitachi’s "µ-chip": 0.4mm x 0.4mm)
– Price (aim: Rs.5 - tag)
– active <-> passive (difference in range)
• Readers:
– stationary <-> mobile
• What to do with the data? Middleware
 What is RFID?
How RFID works (2)
What is RFID?
Examples of Current Applications (1)

o Transport and logistics:

toll management, tracking of goods
Security and access control
tracking people (students etc.), control
access to restricted areas
o Supply chain management: item
tagging, theft-prevention
o Medical and pharmaceutical
applications: identification and location
of staff and patients, asset tracking,
counterfeit protection for drugs
What is RFID?
Examples of Current Applications
(2)

o Manufacturing and processing:

streamlining assembly line processes
o Agriculture: tracking of animals,
quality control
o Public sector: passports, driver’s
licenses, counterfeit protection for bank
notes, library systems
What is RFID?
Booming markets

oAnalysts: tremendous market-growth

oProblem: estimates vs. guesstimates

(remarkable differences in market volume,
growth rates)
oFrost & Sullivan: 11.7 billion USD (2010)
Research and Markets: 3.8 billion USD (2011)
IDTechEx: 26.90 billion USD (2015)
 What is RFID?
Constraints (1)

oPricing: ( Rs.5 - tag)

oStandards landscape

oSecurity and privacy

issues:
consumers, policy
makers, researchers
What is RFID?
Constraints (2)
RFID and standardization
Some key players

oUN specialized agencies

ICAO, ITU, UPU
oGlobal and regional standards
developing organizations (SDOs)
ISO, ETSI
oPrivate forums: EPCglobal

oState driven initiatives

Trai, Tec etc
RFID and standardization
Need for standardization
oStandardization needed:
•Air Interface, Protocols
•Data Stuctures
•Conformance
•Applications
oExisting RFID standards lack:
•Harmonization
•Global acceptance
•Cross-sector perspective
•Interoperability
RFID and standardization

o Mobile RFID technologies

(detailed in this presentation)
o Privacy/Security issues

o Impact of RFID on networks

o Internetworking Technologies

o RFID-Ipv6 mapping issues

RFID and mobile telecommunication
Definition

oServices that provide information on

objects equipped with an RFID tag over
a telecommunication network
oNew idea:

•Tags: stationary
•Readers: in mobile phone -> mobile
oApplications possible where the mobile
phone is equipped with tag AND reader
RFID and mobile telecommunication
Application scenarios

o Information retrieval

o Data transmission

o Automated messaging

o Voice services

o Device integration

o Presence indication

o Mobile payment
RFID and mobile telecommunication
Near Field Communication

oShort-range
communication
protocol
(ISO/IEC standard)
oNear Field
Communication (NFC)
Forum: driven by Nokia, Philips
and Sony
oNFC-enabled phones
available
 Conclusion
oMobile phones + RFID = great potential
oField trials: only recently -> search for "Killer
application"
oStandardization: "All star approach"
oImportant topics include:
•Privacy/Security issues
•Impact of RFID on networks
•Internetworking Technologies
•RFID-Ipv6 mapping issues
• All facts and figures – courtesy - ITU
RFID – Revolution or Evolution ?

• Technology relying on RF transponders to automatically retrieve data

remotely using RF signals
• Active RFID elements use their own power source to send data
• Passive RFID elements use power from readers to activate
• Presently four main frequency bands used in RFID systems
• Low Frequency band: 125/134 KHz
• High Frequecy band: 13.56 MHz
• Ultra High Frequency band: 800-900 MHz
• Microwave band: 2.4-5.8 GHz
• RFID typically imbedded in miniscule ASICs attached to objects to be tracked
• RF readers detect the signals to be processed and networked