RFID Review / Bluetooth ENGR 475 – Telecommunications Harding University December 5, 2006 Jonathan White

Outline  What you need to know about RFID  Bluetooth  Applications  Future  Technical Specifications AlgorithmsAlgorithms Air InterfaceAir Interface Security ConcernsSecurity Concerns

RFID Review  RFID – Radio Frequency Identification.  Idea: Use low cost tags to identify objectsUse low cost tags to identify objects  Benefits: Line of sight isn’t required (as in UPC Codes).Line of sight isn’t required (as in UPC Codes). Much faster inventorying of objects.Much faster inventorying of objects. Enables each item to be uniquely identified.Enables each item to be uniquely identified.

RFID Review  3 types of tags: Active: Have a battery, are always able to transmit and receive, very large, long range, very expensive.Active: Have a battery, are always able to transmit and receive, very large, long range, very expensive.  Example: Airplane controllers Semi-Active: Have a battery, but they only transmit when in an RF field. They are large and fairly expensive.Semi-Active: Have a battery, but they only transmit when in an RF field. They are large and fairly expensive.  Example: Toll tags Passive: No battery, receive power from only the RF field, very small, very cheap, small range.Passive: No battery, receive power from only the RF field, very small, very cheap, small range.  Example: Entry key fobs, Exxon SpeedPass, EPCGlobal tags.

EPC  Electronic Product Code. A replacement for UPCA replacement for UPC Has all the data of a UPC plus other fields.Has all the data of a UPC plus other fields. Some fields can be used to store variables.Some fields can be used to store variables. Some fields can be used to uniquely identify each object.Some fields can be used to uniquely identify each object. Many interesting applications.Many interesting applications.

EPC Details  Low Range: 20 feet  Low Cost: 5 cents  Low Power requirements: Near field: Under 10 cm or so, tag acts like the opposite side of a transformer, and it can receive more power.Near field: Under 10 cm or so, tag acts like the opposite side of a transformer, and it can receive more power. Far field: From.5 feet to 20 feet, tag uses backscattering to reflect a modulated RF field to the receiver.Far field: From.5 feet to 20 feet, tag uses backscattering to reflect a modulated RF field to the receiver.  Operates in the 900 MHz region. Unlicensed, limited by the government.Unlicensed, limited by the government.

Bluetooth  Designed in Sweden in  The goal was to design one interface for devices to connect and exchange information wirelessly. This would aid in the elimination of all the cables that are proliferating all around us.This would aid in the elimination of all the 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 short range and secure, but this is not necessarily true now.Also, Bluetooth was originally designed to be short range and secure, but this is not necessarily true now.

Bluetooth Applications  Wireless Cell phone handsets  Wireless controllers (Wii)  Wireless computer connections Most common: keyboard, mouse, printerMost common: keyboard, mouse, printer  For remote controls where IR was used. Better range and accuracy.Better range and accuracy.  PDA’s, Calculators  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 Applications

Future of Bluetooth  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 video projectors.  The goal is to make an unwired society. But, you still need power.But, you still need power.

Technical Specs  Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz range. Unlicensed, same band that certain wireless phones, garage door openers, and baby monitors use.Unlicensed, same band that certain wireless phones, garage door openers, and baby monitors use.  Bluetooth devices typically operate at around.1 Watts. Much less than the 3 Watts that a typical cell phone operates at.Much less than the 3 Watts that a typical cell phone operates at.  Maximum range is supposed to 100 meters. This can be extended to a mile with antennas.This can be extended to a mile with antennas.

Technical Specs  Bluetooth can connect up to 8 devices. 1 master, 7 slaves with about a 10 meter radius.1 master, 7 slaves with about a 10 meter radius.  Bluetooth uses spread spectrum frequency hopping. There are 79 potential frequencies a device can transmit on, so this should help eliminate collisions.There are 79 potential frequencies a device can transmit on, so this should help eliminate collisions.

Technical Specs  Devices constantly scan for a new Bluetooth connection. This lets them know what master is controlling them, and whether or not another device should be added to the group.This lets them know what master is controlling them, and whether or not another device should be added to the group.  Since this connection is automatic, security is a large problem for Bluetooth. Bluetooth viruses, bluejacking, blue bugging.Bluetooth viruses, bluejacking, blue bugging.

Conclusion  The use of Bluetooth will be expanded in the coming years.  Good for a wire replacement.  It won’t replace WiFi or cellular networks. It’s impact on Telecommunications is very secondary.It’s impact on Telecommunications is very secondary.