**3. Discussion**

Radio Frequency identification (RFID) is the popular wireless induction system [7] [2, 3, 8, 30]. Each RFID tag in an RFID system is equips a unique ID (UID) itself. UID can help to shorten the identification time for individual object recognition. In general, there are several methods to achieve aim of Automatic Identification such as Barcode and QR code. However, due to that the Barcode and QR code have the limitation in environmental affection such as wet or water, to maintain the usability and the reliability of the Barcode or QR code is too difficult. Therefore, using RFID can be the solution which provides the distance induction with better characteristics such as anti-water and rewritable memory.

trary, lower frequency RFID tag has shorter induction distance, lower data rate, and bigger tag size. In addition, higher frequency RFID tag has bad performance when tag near metal or liquids. In this thesis, the proposed system selects low frequency RFID tag because that the cultivation environment is wet and dirty. Low frequency RFID tag has better perform‐

There are two main types of RFID tag, active and passive. Active tag is a powered tag which equips battery and actively sends signal itself. In opposition to active tag, passive tag with‐ out battery can only send signal when the tag is inducted. Table 1 presents an introduction

**(UHF)**

Passive

868~950 MHz

13.56 MHz 433 MHz

**Microwave**

RFID Applications and Challenges http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/53368 17

2.45 GHz 5.8 GHz

Active / Passive

**Low Frequency(LF) High Frequency(HF) Ultra-HF**

Usable Frequency 100~500 KHz 10~15 MHz 433~955 MHz 1GHz~

Reading Distance Short range Short range Longer range Longer range

ance than high frequency RFID Tag at cultivation environment.

**Figure 8.** RFID frequency specification chart

for RFID Tag.

Common Frequency 125 KHz

135 KHz

Power Type Passive Active / Passive Active /

Source: EPCglobal.( http://www.gs1tw.org/twct/web/EPC/index.jsp)

**Table 1.** The relational table of RFID frequency and instruction.

**Freq. Effect**

A standard RFID system consists of Tag, Reader, Middleware, and Application. When an in‐ dependent RFID tag approaches the RFID antenna, the induction between RFID tag and an‐ tenna happens [9]. The RFID antenna reads or obtains the information and content recorded in the tag. Then the information is translated into the computational data by the RFID read‐ er. Due to the portable RFID tag and untouched data transmission, many local or small area wireless applications for track and trace based on RFID systems were proposed [2, 7, 8].

RFID reader can access data of RFID tag and transmit the content from RFID tag to middle‐ ware which is a necessary component in RFID application system. The middleware is also the interface software that connects new RFID hardware with legacy enterprise IT systems [36]. Middleware is used to route data between the RFID networks and the IT systems with‐ in an organization. It merges new RFID systems with legacy IT systems.

RFID Reader is also called Interrogator. The RFID reader can read and write data of RFID tag via radio frequency. RFID readers can classify serial reader and network reader accord‐ ing to connection interface.

**Figure 7.** Operation concept of RFID system

In Radio Frequency Identification, there are four standard frequency ranges used: Low Fre‐ quency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Ultra-HF (UHF), and Microwave respectively. Frequen‐ cy decides the reading distance of RFID devices and the interfered with environment. Figure 7 shows the shows the conditions and factors related to the frequency. Higher frequency RFID tag has longer induction distance, higher data rate, and smaller Tag size. On the con‐ trary, lower frequency RFID tag has shorter induction distance, lower data rate, and bigger tag size. In addition, higher frequency RFID tag has bad performance when tag near metal or liquids. In this thesis, the proposed system selects low frequency RFID tag because that the cultivation environment is wet and dirty. Low frequency RFID tag has better perform‐ ance than high frequency RFID Tag at cultivation environment.

**Figure 8.** RFID frequency specification chart

**3. Discussion**

16 Radio Frequency Identification from System to Applications

ing to connection interface.

**Figure 7.** Operation concept of RFID system

Radio Frequency identification (RFID) is the popular wireless induction system [7] [2, 3, 8, 30]. Each RFID tag in an RFID system is equips a unique ID (UID) itself. UID can help to shorten the identification time for individual object recognition. In general, there are several methods to achieve aim of Automatic Identification such as Barcode and QR code. However, due to that the Barcode and QR code have the limitation in environmental affection such as wet or water, to maintain the usability and the reliability of the Barcode or QR code is too difficult. Therefore, using RFID can be the solution which provides the distance induction

A standard RFID system consists of Tag, Reader, Middleware, and Application. When an in‐ dependent RFID tag approaches the RFID antenna, the induction between RFID tag and an‐ tenna happens [9]. The RFID antenna reads or obtains the information and content recorded in the tag. Then the information is translated into the computational data by the RFID read‐ er. Due to the portable RFID tag and untouched data transmission, many local or small area wireless applications for track and trace based on RFID systems were proposed [2, 7, 8].

RFID reader can access data of RFID tag and transmit the content from RFID tag to middle‐ ware which is a necessary component in RFID application system. The middleware is also the interface software that connects new RFID hardware with legacy enterprise IT systems [36]. Middleware is used to route data between the RFID networks and the IT systems with‐

RFID Reader is also called Interrogator. The RFID reader can read and write data of RFID tag via radio frequency. RFID readers can classify serial reader and network reader accord‐

In Radio Frequency Identification, there are four standard frequency ranges used: Low Fre‐ quency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Ultra-HF (UHF), and Microwave respectively. Frequen‐ cy decides the reading distance of RFID devices and the interfered with environment. Figure 7 shows the shows the conditions and factors related to the frequency. Higher frequency RFID tag has longer induction distance, higher data rate, and smaller Tag size. On the con‐

with better characteristics such as anti-water and rewritable memory.

in an organization. It merges new RFID systems with legacy IT systems.

There are two main types of RFID tag, active and passive. Active tag is a powered tag which equips battery and actively sends signal itself. In opposition to active tag, passive tag with‐ out battery can only send signal when the tag is inducted. Table 1 presents an introduction for RFID Tag.


**Table 1.** The relational table of RFID frequency and instruction.

The RFID technology is affected by several factors such as frequency, energy, and environ‐ ment. When users decide to use RFID in a particular place, users have to select the fittest specification of RFID at first. Because the fittest specification of RFID can make higher per‐ formance in the efficient of RFID application system, to select the fittest specification of RFID is important. Furthermore, the cost of RFID is an important factor for users to select.

In addition to the RFID card, various styles of RFID tag may be required by different con‐ sumer. According to the environment, the RFID tag may be designed to anti-water or antiwet. Some RFID tags need to be applied to the metal environment such as containers. Due to the characteristics of RFID, suitable frequency of RFID corresponding to the environment should be selected carefully. In other words, the cost of different RFID may be also different according to the applications and environment. Furthermore, different shapes of RFID tag also costs. For example, the cost of an RFID tag embedded into a 3D toy is much more ex‐

RFID Applications and Challenges http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/53368 19

The RFID Antenna is the main component for RFID tag induction. The antenna continuous‐ ly spreads the electromagnetic wave. The energy is transmitted to the RFID tag. After induc‐

After receiving the signal, the RFID Reader translates the signal into the digital data such as the UID of this RFID tag. Then, the RFID Reader sends the digital data to the corresponding systems or applications. To implement the RFID system, not only the RFID tag but also RFID reader and antenna hardware should be considered. Due to the design and product limitation, the RFID antenna cannot dynamically change. Therefore, similar to the RFID tag, the environment of the RFID system affects the size and cost of the antenna. The size of the antenna increases, the costs also increases. In addition, considering the implementation en‐ vironment, to place the antenna at the suitable location for signal receiving also affects the performance and costs. Therefore, to integrate the RFID system with the existed system,

The existed applications or systems should include or integrate the RFID system. In other words, to integrate the RFID system, the original working practices of the existed system may be changed which needs extra costs. For example, to identify goods in warehouse, orig‐ inal applications or systems may only need the manual operation. However, to integrate the RFID system, some infrastructure such as the placement of RFID antenna, wire line for con‐ nection between antenna and reader, and the establishment of RFID reader and system serv‐ er are required. In other words, the extra costs of RFID infrastructure are needed. In addition, some existed systems are based on mechanical operation without too much intelli‐ gent analysis. For example, a car parking lot only needs to open the gate when a car ap‐ proaching or according to the teleswitch. When integrated with the RFID system, the RFID antenna should be placed in front of the gate for induction. All the cars to the parking lot should present the RFID tag given on demand. In addition, the RFID reader should be used to analyze the signal information from the RFID tag. The server which includes the database should be used to judge whether the gate should open or not. Although the RFID system enhances the automation with less manual operation, some extra costs and delay may also happen. Therefore, the benefits of RFID system integration such as automation, information exchanging with third party applications, etc., are very important. Only when the benefits or additional new functions overcome the extra costs of RFID system integration then the inte‐

pensive than that embedded in a plastic card.

tion, the RFID Antenna also receives the signal from the RFID tag.

some additional problems may need to be overcome.

**4.2. Hardware and integration**

gration of system will be used.
