RFID Personal Object Tracking

Introduction
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from an
electronic tag, called RFID tag or label, attached to an object, through a reader for the purpose of
identifying and tracking the object. Some RFID tags can be read from several meters away and
beyond the line of sight of the reader. The application of bulk reading enables an almost-parallel
reading of tags.
The tag's information is stored electronically. The RFID tag includes a small RF transmitter and
receiver. An RFID reader transmits an encoded radio signal to interrogate the tag. The tag receives
the message and responds with its identification information. Many RFID tags do not use a battery.
Instead, the tag uses the radio energy transmitted by the reader as its energy source. The RFID
system design includes a method of discriminating several tags that might be within the range of the
RFID reader.
People have a variety of personal objects, several of them which are deemed irreplaceable. However
they are also of considerable utility, which means that they are frequently used. In such a scenario,
misplacement and subsequent inability to find them is common. The difficulty is exacerbated in the
case of small objects. In these cases, searching requires time, visual acuity, and near-certain
knowledge of its past and frequent locations. This document outlines a proposal to use RFID
technology to hasten the activity of searching and reduce the uncertainty.
Scenario
Today RFID is a very well known technology and has been exploited for a large number of fields,
bringing massive efficiency boosts, especially to the supply chain. RFID document tracking is also an
established idea, already in force in some banks and insurance companies. These are typically
corporate in design and implementation, with high degree of flexibility and reliability, with the result
that such a solution incurs a large capital expenditure. The cost is prohibitive to all except large
corporate entities with other systems already in place.
The unique idea of this proposal is to make such a product available to individuals and household
consumers. Currently there do not seem to be any such consumer products in the market today,
even in office stationery stores, where it should logically be.
The typical scenario of application is a household where the important documents are no doubt kept
with great care. Handling them results in uncertainty of location, and if they are not returned to
their default location soon, they are forgotten. They are now not traceable at all, because of the
expectation of a sole location. Line of sight is a major drawback of manual searching, which is clear
win of the RFID technology. With an appropriate reader, the documents can be located within
minutes.
Device Expectations
Tag
The tag will be basically of a sticker type, which can be easily affixed on the back of a document. The
tags will be passive in nature, to enable one time fixture arrangement. The tags will be identified by
a unique number. This uniqueness can be ensured in either of two ways
The tags can be manufactured to be globally unique
The tags can be blank, to begin with, and is assigned a reader-wise unique identity by the
reader, prior to being affixed on the document.
The tags will be available for purchase, independently of the reader, but clearly specified to be
compatible with any RFID personal object tracking reader.It can be programmed by placing it in a
special slot, on the reader, while it is connected to a computer. It can be destroyed only by
physically snapping the tag in two, across a clear demarcation.
Reader
The reader will be a sophisticated device that can be interfaced to a computer, to map the tags to
specific names, to help identify the documents they are affixed on. In operation, the reader will
attempt to locate any tags in its range. When a tag is located, an indicator shows the direction of the
tag from the readers current location, as well as its identification in a digital display. The tag
currently in focus can be changed by cycling through all tags in range, pressing a button. An
intermittent beeping sound will also be produced, whose frequency increases as the strength of the
reflected signal from the tag.
System
The range of the system will be 10-100 feet.
Cost
The reader should not cost more than 500 rupees.
The tag should not cost more than 20 rupees each.