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NFC/RFID
OVERVIEW
Campus Universitario de Espinardo s/n, 30100,Murcia, Spain
p. +34 968 36 30 00
[email protected] Author : Mikel Berdufi
Table of Contents
I. Introduction ........................................................... 2
II. RFID Overview...................................................... 2
III. NFC Overview ....................................................... 5
IV. NFC vs RFID ........................................................ 6
V. The Future ............................................................. 7
VI. References.............................................................. 7
NFC/RFID OVERVIEW - [DATE] 2
Introduction
Technology is helping peoples in their everyday life in many forms. Today, many of us use a key to start or open a car, a
card to access a room in a building or to validate bus ticket. The use of technology have become part of our daily
routine. Many people doesn’t know what type of technology they are using and how does it work, they just use it.
Without always realizing it, we use automatic data capture technology that relies on radio-frequency electromagnetic
fields. The technologies that can be used in this case are : RFID, NFS ect. Just as people use this technologies as they
go about their daily lives, objects also use this technologies, as they transit from manufacture to storage and finally the
point of sale. Like us, they also carry tags. The difference between objects and ourselves is that they don’t “voluntarily”
present their tag or card when asked. Here in this report we are going to give an overview, a comparison between this
technologies and their future developments.
RFID Overview
As we mentioned above RFID is
part of technologies that use radio-
frequency electromagnetic fields to
transfer data. RFID (Radio
Frequency Identification) can be
defined as follows: Automatic
identification technology which
uses radio-frequency
electromagnetic fields to identify
objects carrying tags when they
come close to a reader. Some tags are powered by electromagnetic induction from magnetic fields produced near the
reader. Some types collect energy from the interrogating radio waves and act as a passive transponder. Other types have
a local power source such as a battery and may operate at hundreds of meters from the reader. As we understand until
now the whole RFID system is composed by readers and tags. Below we are going to talk about tags and readers to
understand better what they are and how they communicate with each other to transmit data.
NFC/RFID OVERVIEW - [DATE] 3
Tags
Tags are also called labels and are attached to objects. RFID tags contain at
least two parts: an integrated circuit for storing and processing information,
modulating and demodulating a radio-frequency (RF) signal, collecting DC
power from the incident reader signal, and other specialized functions; and an
antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal. We have some categories of
RFID tags : Passive, Active ,Battery-assisted passive.
An active tag {uses a battery and periodically transmits its ID signal}.
A battery-assisted passive (BAP) uses a small battery that is activated where there is a presence of a RFID reader.
A passive tag has no battery and it uses the radio energy transmitted by the reader.
RFID readers
Readers are used especially to communicate with tags and get information from tags . readers can be classified into 2
types : Passive Reader Active Tag (PRAT), Active Reader Passive Tag (ARPT), Active Reader Active Tag
(ARAT).
A Passive Reader Active Tag (PRAT) {this types of readers can only receive signals from active tags, in a distance
about 0-600 m }
An Active Reader Passive Tag (ARPT) {in this case the reader is able to transmit signals and receive signals from
passive tags}
An Active Reader Active Tag (ARAT) { System uses active tags awoken with an interrogator signal from the active
reader. }
RFID reader and tag communication
The idea is very simple. An RFID reader transmits a request message to an RFID tag.The RFID tag after receives the
request message responds with its identification and other information, as showin in the figure above. After that the
information is passed to an application using an RFID middleware and then procesed .
NFC/RFID OVERVIEW - [DATE] 4
RFID Frequencies
RFID is considered as a non specific short range device. It can use frequency bands without a license. Nevertheless,
RFID has to be compliant with local regulations (ETSI, FCC etc.).
LF : 125 kHz - 134,2 kHz : low frequencies,
HF : 13.56 MHz : high frequencies,
UHF : 860 MHz - 960 MHz : ultra high frequencies,
SHF : 2.45 GHz : super high frequencies
RFID LF tags : { are small an tight They can used be with all kinds of material - textiles, metals, plastics etc. }
RFID HF tags : { are used in traceability and logistics applications. Loop antenna can be printed or etched on flexible
substrates. }
RFID UHF tags :{ have dipole like antenna etched or printed on all kind of substrate. The read range of such a tag
can be around 3 to 6 or even 8 meters. Specific antenna design is required for metallic or wet environments.}
NFC/RFID OVERVIEW - [DATE] 5
This image shows some of the technical
details of this types of RFID technologies.
NFC Overview
Like RFID , NFC employ radio signals for all sorts of tagging and tracking purposes.
NFC stands for Near Field Communication , and is a form of contactless
communication between devices like smartphones or tablets. NFC technology is a
newer, more finely honed version of RFID. It operates at a maximum range of about 4
inches (10 centimeters) and can be set up for one- or two-way communications. NFC
technology is popular in parts of Europe and Asia.
Each NFC device can operate in 3 modes :
NFC initiator (as a reader)
NFC peer to peer
NFC target (acting like a credential)
The technology behind NFC allows a device, known as a reader, interrogator, or active device, to create a radio
frequency current that communicates with another NFC compatible device or a small NFC tag holding the information
the reader wants. Passive devices, such as the NFC tag in smart posters, store information and communicate with the
reader but do not actively read other devices. Peer-to-peer communication through two active devices is also a possibility
with NFC. This allows both devices to send and receive information. We have to say that NFC is an extension of High
Frequency (HF) RFID standards.
NFC/RFID OVERVIEW - [DATE] 6
Some technical details about NFC are shown in the image below :
NFC vs RFID
Even if we said that NFC can be considered as an extention of High Frequency (HF) RFID standards, there are
differences between this technologies. RFID and NFC are two closely related wireless communication technologies that
are used globally for a vast number of applications such as access control, asset tracking and contactless payments. RFID
was first patented in 1983 and is the precursor to NFC, so we will begin there.
RFID NFS
RFID enables a one way wireless communication
RFID tags can be scanned at distances of up to 100 meters
RFID is used globally for asset tracking in warehousing, airport baggage handling, livestock identification and much more.
RFID operates at a range of radio frequencies each with their own set standards and protocols.
NFC operates at 13.56 MHz and is an extension of High Frequency (HF) RFID standards.
NFC is capable of two way communication and can therefore be used for more complex interactions such as card emulation and peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing.
NFC is limited to communication at close proximity, typically 5cm or less.
Only a single NFC tag can be scanned at one time.
NFC is limited to singular and close proximity interactions.
NFC is now available in the majority of mobile phones and this is perhaps the most important difference between NFC and RFID.
NFC/RFID OVERVIEW - [DATE] 7
The Future
RFID Future developments NFS Future developments
Chipless { RFID tags that do not require a
microchip in the transponder.}
Printing electronics { Printed electronics holds
the greatest promise for the future of RFID and
other ID technologies. }
High memory { Intelligent things and IoT
applications often require the smarts to travel
along with the asset. high memory tags}
Visual tagging {}
Passive plus sensors { Here we are referring to
passive (not battery assist) sensors combined
with RFID. }
Thinner and More Powerful
Nano technology { Nano technology is being
applied both in the inks, as well as in tag and
antenna materials.}
Google wallet { Google Wallet is currently the only way to use a PayPass credit card from a smartphone and only accepts PayPass credit cards. In the future as more companies turn to contactless payment methods, other big name brands may add their credit cards to Google Wallet or develop their own apps for storing credit card information and facilitating NFC payments.}
MasterCard PayPass { Certain MasterCards offer PayPass, a contactless payment service that works with Google Wallet. After applying and being approved for a PayPass credit card, the owner can load the credit card information into Google Wallet on her smartphone and pay using NFC at any shop that supports this contactless payment technology.}
PayPal { PayPal utilizes NFC technology to let users bump smartphones together to transfer money or make payments. The technology is still limited, though PayPal already offers customers the ability to make mobile payments over a Wi-Fi connection. It is currently looking to expand its NFC technology for more payment options.}
iPhone { Apple is expected to release NFC technology for upcoming iPhones. By jumping on the NFC bandwagon, Apple could offer more services to its customers and push for more businesses to offer NFC contactless payment systems as a form of customer payment.}
References
http://www.rfidjournal.com/
http://blog.atlasrfidstore.com/near-field-communication-infographic/
http://www.chainlinkresearch.com/research/detail.cfm?guid=B28189C8-3048-79ED-9940-3594856D6F93
http://www.centrenational-rfid.com/introduction-to-the-rfid-article-15-gb-ruid-202.html
http://www.nearfieldcommunication.org
http://rapidnfc.com/
