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TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
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Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a small electronic device capable of storing information in a memory and communicating this information to a reader. RFID is an auto-identification system that contains two parts.
- The Tag: This is an integrated circuit for storing information, modulating and demodulating a (RF) signal and other specialized functions. Chip-less RFID allows for discrete identification of tags without an integrated circuit, thereby allowing tags to be printed directly onto assets at lower cost than traditional tags.
- The Receiver: The RFID reader or receiver communicates with the tags. The signal received from the tag can then be processed, imported into a database OR used for tracking, process optimization etc.
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| RFID is similar to the barcode technology. Barcodes have relevant information about the product or item and can be optically scanned and the information processed. Though, RFID is similar it offers a lot more flexibility than what is offered by barcodes. Some of the advantages of RFID over barcodes are as follows |
1. RFID does not require direct line of sight to read and write
2. Higher operating range
3. Amount of information that cab be stored in a RFID tag is larger
4. RFID readers can scan multiple tags simultaneously.
RFID technology can be used as the back bone structure for solutions such as asset management and tracking in several industries such as Healthcare, Manufacturing, Animal Husbandry, Retail, etc.
A typical RFID system designed for an enterprise could include the following components as shown in Figure 1. Any object that needs to be identified or actively tracked can be fitted with an RFID tag. Readers located at different points can read and/or program these tags. The information from the tags can be collected and interfaced with the existing IT infrastructure to make it more meaningful. Finally this data can be used by business analytic applications to monitor and improve the process in hand. Figure 1 shows a typical RFID system that can be implemented in an enterprise.
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