RFID Review / RFID Review / BluetoothBluetooth

ENGR 475 – TelecommunicationsENGR 475 – TelecommunicationsHarding UniversityHarding UniversityDecember 5, 2006December 5, 2006

Jonathan WhiteJonathan White

OutlineOutline

What you need to know about RFIDWhat you need to know about RFID BluetoothBluetooth ApplicationsApplications FutureFuture Technical SpecificationsTechnical Specifications

• AlgorithmsAlgorithms• Air InterfaceAir Interface• Security ConcernsSecurity Concerns

RFID ReviewRFID Review

RFID – Radio Frequency RFID – Radio Frequency Identification.Identification.

Idea:Idea:• Use low cost tags to identify objectsUse low cost tags to identify objects

Benefits:Benefits:• Line of sight isn’t required (as in UPC Line of sight isn’t required (as in UPC

Codes).Codes).• Much faster inventorying of objects.Much faster inventorying of objects.• Enables each item to be uniquely Enables each item to be uniquely

identified.identified.

RFID ReviewRFID Review 3 types of tags:3 types of tags:

• Active: Have a battery, are always able to Active: Have a battery, are always able to transmit and receive, very large, long range, transmit and receive, very large, long range, very expensive.very expensive.

Example: Airplane controllersExample: Airplane controllers• Semi-Active: Have a battery, but they only Semi-Active: Have a battery, but they only

transmit when in an RF field. They are large transmit when in an RF field. They are large and fairly expensive.and fairly expensive.

Example: Toll tagsExample: Toll tags• Passive: No battery, receive power from only Passive: No battery, receive power from only

the RF field, very small, very cheap, small the RF field, very small, very cheap, small range.range.

Example: Entry key fobs, Exxon SpeedPass, Example: Entry key fobs, Exxon SpeedPass, EPCGlobal tags.EPCGlobal tags.

EPCEPC

Electronic Product Code.Electronic Product Code.• A replacement for UPC A replacement for UPC • Has all the data of a UPC plus other Has all the data of a UPC plus other

fields.fields.• Some fields can be used to store Some fields can be used to store

variables.variables.• Some fields can be used to uniquely Some fields can be used to uniquely

identify each object.identify each object.• Many interesting applications.Many interesting applications.

EPC DetailsEPC Details

Low Range: 20 feetLow Range: 20 feet Low Cost: 5 centsLow Cost: 5 cents Low Power requirements:Low Power requirements:

• Near field: Under 10 cm or so, tag acts like the Near field: Under 10 cm or so, tag acts like the opposite side of a transformer, and it can opposite side of a transformer, and it can receive more power.receive more power.

• Far field: From .5 feet to 20 feet, tag uses Far field: From .5 feet to 20 feet, tag uses backscattering to reflect a modulated RF field backscattering to reflect a modulated RF field to the receiver.to the receiver.

Operates in the 900 MHz region.Operates in the 900 MHz region.• Unlicensed, limited by the government.Unlicensed, limited by the government.

BluetoothBluetooth

Designed in Sweden in 1994.Designed in Sweden in 1994. The goal was to design one interface for The goal was to design one interface for

devices to connect and exchange devices to connect and exchange information wirelessly.information wirelessly.• This would aid in the elimination of all the This would aid in the elimination of all the

cables that are proliferating all around us.cables that are proliferating all around us.• Not designed to provide power, however.Not designed to provide power, however.• Also, Bluetooth was originally designed to be Also, Bluetooth was originally designed to be

short range and secure, but this is not short range and secure, but this is not necessarily true now.necessarily true now.

Bluetooth ApplicationsBluetooth Applications

Wireless Cell phone handsetsWireless Cell phone handsets Wireless controllers (Wii)Wireless controllers (Wii) Wireless computer connectionsWireless computer connections

• Most common: keyboard, mouse, printerMost common: keyboard, mouse, printer For remote controls where IR was used.For remote controls where IR was used.

• Better range and accuracy.Better range and accuracy. PDA’s, CalculatorsPDA’s, Calculators

Transfer of files in an Ad Hoc Network.Transfer of files in an Ad Hoc Network.• If you don’t have a WiFi network available.If you don’t have a WiFi network available.

Bluetooth ApplicationsBluetooth Applications

Future of BluetoothFuture of Bluetooth

Bluetooth has a good future:Bluetooth has a good future:• Data rates of 3 MbpsData rates of 3 Mbps• Better securityBetter security• Better range.Better range.

This will allow Bluetooth TVs and This will allow Bluetooth TVs and video projectors.video projectors.

The goal is to make an unwired The goal is to make an unwired society.society.• But, you still need power.But, you still need power.

Technical SpecsTechnical Specs

Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz range.Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz range.• Unlicensed, same band that certain wireless Unlicensed, same band that certain wireless

phones, garage door openers, and baby phones, garage door openers, and baby monitors use.monitors use.

Bluetooth devices typically operate at Bluetooth devices typically operate at around .1 Watts.around .1 Watts.• Much less than the 3 Watts that a typical cell Much less than the 3 Watts that a typical cell

phone operates at.phone operates at. Maximum range is supposed to 100 Maximum range is supposed to 100

meters.meters.• This can be extended to a mile with antennas.This can be extended to a mile with antennas.

Technical SpecsTechnical Specs

Bluetooth can connect up to 8 Bluetooth can connect up to 8 devices.devices.• 1 master, 7 slaves with about a 10 1 master, 7 slaves with about a 10

meter radius.meter radius. Bluetooth uses spread spectrum Bluetooth uses spread spectrum

frequency hopping.frequency hopping.• There are 79 potential frequencies a There are 79 potential frequencies a

device can transmit on, so this should device can transmit on, so this should help eliminate collisions.help eliminate collisions.

Technical SpecsTechnical Specs

Devices constantly scan for a new Devices constantly scan for a new Bluetooth connection.Bluetooth connection.• This lets them know what master is This lets them know what master is

controlling them, and whether or not controlling them, and whether or not another device should be added to the another device should be added to the group.group.

Since this connection is automatic, Since this connection is automatic, security is a large problem for security is a large problem for Bluetooth.Bluetooth.• Bluetooth viruses, bluejacking, blue Bluetooth viruses, bluejacking, blue

bugging.bugging.

ConclusionConclusion

The use of Bluetooth will be The use of Bluetooth will be expanded in the coming years.expanded in the coming years.

Good for a wire replacement.Good for a wire replacement. It won’t replace WiFi or cellular It won’t replace WiFi or cellular

networks.networks.• It’s impact on Telecommunications is It’s impact on Telecommunications is

very secondary.very secondary.