RFID CHIPS

Common Uses of RFID

2011-05-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

RFID systems can be used just about anywhere, from clothing tags to missiles to pet tags to food - anywhere that a unique identification system is needed. The tag can carry information as simple as a pet owners name and address or the cleaning instruction on a sweater to as complex as instructions on how to assemble a car.

Here are a few examples of how RFID technology being used in everyday places:

RFID systems are being used in some hospitals to track a patient's location, and to provide real-time tracking of the location of doctors and nurses in the hospital. In addition, the system can be used to track the whereabouts of expensive and critical equipment, and even to control access to drugs, pediatrics, and other areas of the hospital that are considered "restricted access" areas.

RFID chips for animals are extremely small devices injected via syringe under skin. Under a government initiative to control rabies, all Portuguese dogs must be RFID tagged by 2007. When scanned the tag can provide information relevant to the dog's history and its owner's information.

RFID in retail stores offer real-time inventory tracking that allows companies to monitor and control inventory supply at all times.

The Orlando/Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) is using an RFID based traffic-monitoring system, which uses roadside RFID readers to collect signals from transponders that are installed in about 1 million E-Pass and SunPass customer vehicles.

The Basics of RFID Technology

2010-06-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

There are many different types of radio frequency identification technology. This article explains the difference between active and passive tags and between low-, high- and ultra-high frequency systems.

Radio frequency identification is the next wave in the evolution of computing. Essentially, it's a technology that connects objects to Internet, so they can be tracked, and companies can share data about them. The concept is simple: Place a transponder—a microchip with an antenna—on an item and then use a reader—a device with one or more antennas—to read data off of the microchip using radio waves. The reader passes the information to a computer, so that the data can be used to create business value.

There are many different types of RFID systems, and installing them and using them to generate data that can be used to cut costs or boost efficiency is challenging. It's important to choose the right type of RFID system for a particular application. It's also important to work with an experienced systems integrator to make sure the system is installed and configured properly.

The purpose of this article is to introduce you to the basics of RFID technology. We present a lot of technical information. It's not critical that you grasp it all. Understanding the major differences between the various types of systems will help you choose the right systems integrator and work with the integrator to choose the right RFID technology for your needs.

The vast majority of RFID tags or transponders (the tags are often used interchangeably) use a silicon microchip to store a unique serial number and usually some additional information (for information on systems that don't use microchips, see our FAQs). There are two broad categories of RFID systems—passive and active systems. Passive RFID tags do not have a transmitter; they simply reflect back energy (radio waves) coming from the reader antenna. Active tags have their own transmitter and a power source, usually—but not always—a battery (active tags could draw energy from the sun or other sources). They broadcast a signal to transmit the information stored on the microchip. (There are also semi-passive and battery-assisted RFID tags, which are suitable for specific applications. These are covered in our FAQs and Glossary.)

Active RFID Systems
Active tags are used on large assets, such as cargo containers, rail cars and large reusable containers, which need to be tracked over long distances (in a distribution yard, for example). They usually operate at 455 MHz, 2.45 GHz, or 5.8 Ghz, and they typically have a read range of 60 feet to 300 feet (20 meters to 100 meters).

Broadly speaking, there are two types of active tags: transponders and beacons. Active transponders are woken up when they receive a signal from a reader. These are used in toll payment collection, checkpoint control and other systems. When a car with an active transponder approaches a tollbooth, a reader at the booth sends out a signal that wakes up the transponder on the car windshield. The transponder then broadcasts its unique ID to the reader. Transponders conserve battery life by having the tag broadcast its signal only when it is within range of a reader.

Beacons are used in most real-time locating systems (RTLS), where the precise location of an asset needs to be tracked. In an RTLS, a beacon emits a signal with its unique identifier at pre-set intervals (it could be every three seconds or once a day, depending on how important it is to know the location of an asset at a particular moment in time). The beacon's signal is picked up by at least three reader antennas positioned around the perimeter of the area where assets are being tracked. RTLS are usually used outside, say, in a distribution yard (see Logistics Gets Cheaper by the Yard), but automakers use the systems in large manufacturing facilities to track parts bins (see RFID Revs Up Hummer Plant).

What is RFID?

2010-05-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a generic term that is used to describe a system that transmits the identity (in the form of a unique serial number) of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves. It's grouped under the broad category of automatic identification technologies.

RFID is in use all around us. If you have ever chipped your pet with an ID tag, used EZPass through a toll booth, or paid for gas using SpeedPass, you've used RFID. In addition, RFID is increasingly used with biometric technologies for security.

Unlike ubiquitous UPC bar-code technology, RFID technology does not require contact or line of sight for communication. RFID data can be read through the human body, clothing and non-metallic materials.

Components

A basic RFID system consists of three components:

An antenna or coil

A transceiver (with decoder)

A transponder (RF tag) electronically programmed with unique information

The antenna emits radio signals to activate the tag and to read and write data to it.

The reader emits radio waves in ranges of anywhere from one inch to 100 feet or more, depending upon its power output and the radio frequency used. When an RFID tag passes through the electromagnetic zone, it detects the reader's activation signal.

The reader decodes the data encoded in the tag's integrated circuit (silicon chip) and the data is passed to the host computer for processing.

The purpose of an RFID system is to enable data to be transmitted by a portable device, called a tag, which is read by an RFID reader and processed according to the needs of a particular application. The data transmitted by the tag may provide identification or location information, or specifics about the product tagged, such as price, color, date of purchase, etc. RFID technology has been used by thousands of companies for a decade or more. . RFID quickly gained attention because of its ability to track moving objects. As the technology is refined, more pervasive - and invasive - uses for RFID tags are in the works.

A typical RFID tag consists of a microchip attached to a radio antenna mounted on a substrate. The chip can store as much as 2 kilobytes of data.

To retrieve the data stored on an RFID tag, you need a reader. A typical reader is a device that has one or more antennas that emit radio waves and receive signals back from the tag. The reader then passes the information in digital form to a computer system.

Current and Potential Uses of RFID

Asset Tracking
It's no surprise that asset tracking is one of the most common uses of RFID. Companies can put RFID tags on assets that are lost or stolen often, that are underutilized or that are just hard to locate at the time they are needed. Just about every type of RFID system is used for asset management. NYK Logistics, a third-party logistics provider based in Secaucus, N.J., needed to track containers at its Long Beach, Calif., distribution center. It chose a real-time locating system that uses active RFID beacons to locate container to within 10 feet.

Manufacturing
RFID has been used in manufacturing plants for more than a decade. It's used to track parts and work in process and to reduce defects, increase throughput and manage the production of different versions of the same product.

Supply Chain Management
RFID technology has been used in closed loop supply chains or to automate parts of the supply chain within a company's control for years.

As standards emerge, companies are increasingly turning to RFID to track shipments among supply chain partners.

Retailing
Retailers such as Best Buy, Metro, Target, Tesco and Wal-Mart are in the forefront of RFID adoption. These retailers are currently focused on improving supply chain efficiency and making sure product is on the shelf when customers want to buy it.

Payment Systems
RFID is all the rage in the supply chain world, but the technology is also catching on as a convenient payment mechanism. One of the most popular uses of RFID today is to pay for road tolls without stopping. These active systems have caught on in many countries, and quick service restaurants are experimenting with using the same active RFID tags to pay for meals at drive-through windows.

Security and Access Control
RFID has long been used as an electronic key to control who has access to office buildings or areas within office buildings. The first access control systems used low-frequency RFID tags. Recently, vendors have introduced 13.56 MHz systems that offer longer read range. The advantage of RFID is it is convenient (an employee can hold up a badge to unlock a door, rather than looking for a key or swiping a magnetic stripe card) and because there is no contact between the card and reader, there is less wear and tear, and therefore less maintenance.

As RFID technology evolves and becomes less expensive and more robust, it's likely that companies and RFID vendors will develop many new applications to solve common and unique business problems.

DOD Releases Final RFID Policy

2010-05-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

We did a lot of due diligence and had a clear idea of what we wanted to do, so the final proposals are pretty close to the draft put out earlier in the year," says Alan Estevez, assistant deputy undersecretary of defense for supply chain integration. "We've added a lot more detail around tag data standards and business rules."

RFID tags will be mandatory in DOD contracts issued as of Oct. 1, 2004, for delivery of materiel on or after Jan. 1, 2005. The department published its policy guidelines in three appendixes to a memo from Acting Undersecretary of Defense Michael Wynne, dated July 30. The memo states that all contracts with the DOD shall require that passive tags be applied to cases and pallets and to individual high-value items (those currently requiring the military's Unique Identification code, or UID).

The DOD will incorporate the policy into the next update of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Defense Transportation Regulation, and the Military Standard 129, which outlines the standard military practices for labeling goods in the supply chain.

The first appendix to Wynne's memo spells out the policy for tagging freight containers, including 20- and 40-foot seagoing cargo containers and large airborne pallets. All containers being shipped outside of the continental United States must have active (battery-powered) tags with the contents of the container written into them at the point of origin.

A second appendix spells out the requirements for passive RFID tagWe did a lot of due diligence and had a clear idea of what we wanted to do, so the final proposals are pretty close to the draft put out earlier in the year," says Alan Estevez, assistant deputy undersecretary of defense for supply chain integration. "We've added a lot more detail around tag data standards and business rules."

RFID tags will be mandatory in DOD contracts issued as of Oct. 1, 2004, for delivery of materiel on or after Jan. 1, 2005. The department published its policy guidelines in three appendixes to a memo from Acting Undersecretary of Defense Michael Wynne, dated July 30. The memo states that all contracts with the DOD shall require that passive tags be applied to cases and pallets and to individual high-value items (those currently requiring the military's Unique Identification code, or UID).

The DOD will incorporate the policy into the next update of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Defense Transportation Regulation, and the Military Standard 129, which outlines the standard military practices for labeling goods in the supply chain.

The first appendix to Wynne's memo spells out the policy for tagging freight containers, including 20- and 40-foot seagoing cargo containers and large airborne pallets. All containers being shipped outside of the continental United States must have active (battery-powered) tags with the contents of the container written into them at the point of origin.

A second appendix spells out the requirements for passive RFID tags. It says: "To facilitate the use of RFID events as transactions of record, the DOD has embraced the use of Electronic Product Code tag data constructs, as well as DOD tag data constructs, in supporting the DOD data environment. As the available EPC technology matures, the intent is to expand the use of passive RFID applications.

The DOD plans to use passive UHF tags operating between 860 MHz and 960 MHz with a minimum read range of three meters (about 9 feet). Until EPC UHF Gen 2 tags and readers are available, the DOD will accept Class 0 64-bit read-only tags, Class 1 64-bit read-write tags, Class 0 96-bit read-only tags and Class 1 96-bit read-write tags. Once Gen 2 tags and readers are available, the DOD will phase out Class 1 and Class 0 tags.

Suppliers to the DOD must encode an approved tag using either an EPC tag data construct or a DOD tag data construct. Suppliers that choose to use the DOD construct will essentially replace the manufacturer ID in the EPC number with a Commercial and Government Entity code. EPCglobal subscribers can use a standard EPC, so consumer packaged goods manufacturers can use the same tags they use for Wal-Mart for the DOD.

The passive tag appendix provides details on when specific EPC data constructs—including Serialized Global Trade Item Number and Serial Shipment Container Code—should be used (the entire memo, including all three appendixes, can be downloaded from the www.dodrfid.org Web site). It also spells out in detail how many bits of data on the tag should be used for the elements of the data construct, including the company prefix, item reference and serial numbers.

Later this year the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will install RFID readers and supporting infrastructure at strategic distribution centers in San Joaquin, Calif., and Susquehanna, Penn. The tagging of deliveries to the DOD will be phased in by procurement method, type of goods, location and layer of packaging.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, suppliers have to attach passive EPC tags to all individual cases, all cases packaged within a pallet and all pallets of packaged troop rations, clothing, individual equipment and tools, personal items and weapons systems repair parts and components shipped to the two DLA distribution centers.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, suppliers will be required to tag cases and pallets of subsistence and comfort items, packaged petroleum, lubricants, oils, preservatives and chemicals, construction and barrier material, ammunition of all types, pharmaceutical and medical material shipped to 32 depots throughout the United States and the two DLA distribution centers.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, all cases and pallets of all commodities shipped to all DOD locations should be tagged.

"We are working to create a contractual clause so that will become a contractual requirement," says Estevez. "We are also updating our labeling standard that is already a contractual requirement to require the application of an RFID tag with these data constructs."

The policy will require suppliers to send advance shipping notices via existing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) networks, rather than the EPC network, to get transactional data into the DOD’s back-end software systems. "We have no immediate plans to use the EPC Network," says Estevez. "We're certainly talking to EPCglobal and looking at how the network will evolve and assessing the value it can provide to us."

The policy also doesn't require data on the tag to be encrypted. Estevez says one reason is that the information on a passive tag is simply a serial number that means nothing until it’s associated with information in a database, and the second reason is potential enemies should not be able to get close enough to read the tags. "If we have people within 10 feet who are able to read a passive tag—or even 300 feet for an active tag—then we have bigger problems than them knowing what items are in our supply chain," he says.

The RFID policy memo doesn't spell out how the DOD branches should pay for the RFID equipment—another memo will be issued to deal with that issue—but it does say that in 2007 and beyond, all data collection devices purchased should be RFID enabled, so all bar code scanners should also have RFID capabilities.

"You are going to make a purchase anyway, so the cost [of the RFID reader] is now just the marginal cost between a standard bar code reader and an RFID reader," says Estevez. "In 2007, I'm not sure that difference in cost is going to mean anything, but if it does, we have plenty of time to make adjustments."

The DOD has run a number of pilots over the past few months, and Estevez says that these produced no surprises and justified the military's view that RFID was worth the investment. It's not just that the DOD can reduce inventory. RFID could help the DOD better support soldiers in the field.

"Better management of inventory means weapons systems are up and operating more of the time," he says. "That's where the big savings are, because if we can keep our weapons systems up and running through better inventory management, then theoretically we need fewer weapons systems to have the same war fighting capability."

s. It says: "To facilitate the use of RFID events as transactions of record, the DOD has embraced the use of Electronic Product Code tag data constructs, as well as DOD tag data constructs, in supporting the DOD data environment. As the available EPC technology matures, the intent is to expand the use of passive RFID applications.

The DOD plans to use passive UHF tags operating between 860 MHz and 960 MHz with a minimum read range of three meters (about 9 feet). Until EPC UHF Gen 2 tags and readers are available, the DOD will accept Class 0 64-bit read-only tags, Class 1 64-bit read-write tags, Class 0 96-bit read-only tags and Class 1 96-bit read-write tags. Once Gen 2 tags and readers are available, the DOD will phase out Class 1 and Class 0 tags.

Suppliers to the DOD must encode an approved tag using either an EPC tag data construct or a DOD tag data construct. Suppliers that choose to use the DOD construct will essentially replace the manufacturer ID in the EPC number with a Commercial and Government Entity code. EPCglobal subscribers can use a standard EPC, so consumer packaged goods manufacturers can use the same tags they use for Wal-Mart for the DOD.

The passive tag appendix provides details on when specific EPC data constructs—including Serialized Global Trade Item Number and Serial Shipment Container Code—should be used (the entire memo, including all three appendixes, can be downloaded from the http://www.dodrfid.org/ Web site). It also spells out in detail how many bits of data on the tag should be used for the elements of the data construct, including the company prefix, item reference and serial numbers.

Later this year the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will install RFID readers and supporting infrastructure at strategic distribution centers in San Joaquin, Calif., and Susquehanna, Penn. The tagging of deliveries to the DOD will be phased in by procurement method, type of goods, location and layer of packaging.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, suppliers have to attach passive EPC tags to all individual cases, all cases packaged within a pallet and all pallets of packaged troop rations, clothing, individual equipment and tools, personal items and weapons systems repair parts and components shipped to the two DLA distribution centers.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, suppliers will be required to tag cases and pallets of subsistence and comfort items, packaged petroleum, lubricants, oils, preservatives and chemicals, construction and barrier material, ammunition of all types, pharmaceutical and medical material shipped to 32 depots throughout the United States and the two DLA distribution centers.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, all cases and pallets of all commodities shipped to all DOD locations should be tagged.

"We are working to create a contractual clause so that will become a contractual requirement," says Estevez. "We are also updating our labeling standard that is already a contractual requirement to require the application of an RFID tag with these data constructs."

The policy will require suppliers to send advance shipping notices via existing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) networks, rather than the EPC network, to get transactional data into the DOD’s back-end software systems. "We have no immediate plans to use the EPC Network," says Estevez. "We're certainly talking to EPCglobal and looking at how the network will evolve and assessing the value it can provide to us."

The policy also doesn't require data on the tag to be encrypted. Estevez says one reason is that the information on a passive tag is simply a serial number that means nothing until it’s associated with information in a database, and the second reason is potential enemies should not be able to get close enough to read the tags. "If we have people within 10 feet who are able to read a passive tag—or even 300 feet for an active tag—then we have bigger problems than them knowing what items are in our supply chain," he says.

The RFID policy memo doesn't spell out how the DOD branches should pay for the RFID equipment—another memo will be issued to deal with that issue—but it does say that in 2007 and beyond, all data collection devices purchased should be RFID enabled, so all bar code scanners should also have RFID capabilities.

"You are going to make a purchase anyway, so the cost [of the RFID reader] is now just the marginal cost between a standard bar code reader and an RFID reader," says Estevez. "In 2007, I'm not sure that difference in cost is going to mean anything, but if it does, we have plenty of time to make adjustments."

The DOD has run a number of pilots over the past few months, and Estevez says that these produced no surprises and justified the military's view that RFID was worth the investment. It's not just that the DOD can reduce inventory. RFID could help the DOD better support soldiers in the field.

"Better management of inventory means weapons systems are up and operating more of the time," he says. "That's where the big savings are, because if we can keep our weapons systems up and running through better inventory management, then theoretically we need fewer weapons systems to have the same war fighting capability."

RFID versus Bar Codes

2010-05-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

Tips on deploying RFID in the Supply Chain

With all the noise around RFID, it seems like bar code technology - today's standard for data collection - will become obsolete overnight. Although RFID promises to be a more comprehensive data collection technology, the still emerging standards and lack of end-to-end, supply chain RFID deployments are making customers think twice before taking the plunge.

Hybrid solutions that leverage both bar code and RFID technology are one way that customers can meet the compliance guidelines of Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense (DOD) without overhauling their entire data collection process. The key to deploying a hybrid solution is understanding the differences and benefits of both technologies and taking this into account before implementing RFID in your operations.

Bar codes have become the standard for identifying and tracking objects in the supply chain whether it is cereal boxes at the grocery store or children's books at the public library. Although bar codes are ubiquitous in the supply chain, RFID technology offers key benefits that increase transparency across the product handling lifecycle.

One key benefit is that with RFID, there is no need for line of sight back to a reader whereas bar codes require a scanner to pass over each item. RFID enables pallets of products to pass through a stationary portal reader and the information is automatically captured -requiring less human intervention in the data capturing process. Unlike bar code technology, multiple RFID tags can be identified simultaneously and they often have a longer life span than bar codes because they can be produced in a variety of form factors depending on the environment.

Also, the data capabilities of an RFID tag are superior to a bar code. Product maintenance instructions, shipping histories, manufacturing and expiry dates are just a few examples of the types of information that can be programmed onto an RFID tag. This information can help track specific products as they move through the supply chain giving a detailed snapshot of how a product was handled from the moment it enters the warehouse to when it is purchased by a consumer.

Although there are advanced capabilities and benefits of RFID technology, many companies will not abandon the use of bar codes within their operations. An example of this would be equipping part of an operation with RFID technology (often to meet compliance initiatives) but still have the bulk of the data capture task within operations delivered by barcodes. A hybrid solution is a safe option that allows organizations to leverage both technologies - minimizing risks and costs.

When deploying RFID, there are four key considerations to take into account before an implementation:

Consider the capabilities of different RFID technologies in relation to specific applications.
Look for hardware that can support both bar code and RFID technology.
Understand that since RFID data is captured differently than traditional bar code data, it will need to be managed in another way.
Identify a solution provider that has experience with the technology and the ability to provide low-risk solutions.

One reason RFID pilots fail is because the technology's limitations were not considered for the specific application. In the supply chain, Ultra High Frequency (900 MHz) has been chosen for RFID compliance initiatives with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Wal-Mart and is a primary focus of the EPCglobal initiative. Although UHF delivers long read ranges and high data throughput rates, it has a limited ability to penetrate liquid or metal objects. Organizations must take these limitations into account when deploying EPC-compliant RFID solutions.

Another consideration for RFID supply chain deployments is tag type. Today you can choose from UHF class 0 read-only tags or class 0+ and class 1 tags having both read and write capabilities. These different classes are currently not interoperable. This is a short-term problem as EPCglobal is working with several industry players to develop a universal protocol called UHF Gen2 to provide a global standard within the supply chain. In the interim, companies should look for "agile or multi-protocol" readers that can read different tag types as well as operate with bar code technology. For example, Psion Teklogix' offers an agile UHF tethered reader that reads class 0, 0+ and class 1 tags. This reader can be connected to devices such as the Psion Teklogix 7535 hand-held computer, giving customers a solution for both RFID and bar code needs.

An additional consideration when deploying RFID is determining how to manage the influx of data. Companies need to make provisions to collect and filter data coming from multiple sources, manipulate and evaluate the information and send it to a management system. If these steps are not taken, the accuracy of the data obtained through the RFID system cannot be validated and the management system could potentially be overwhelmed by data as the RFID system continues to read tags multiple times. Psion Teklogix currently offers Enterprise level software designed to reconcile RFID data with other management systems, ensuring customers get an accurate snapshot of their operations.

The final consideration when deploying an RFID pilot is to work with a solution provider who understands the benefits and limitations of RFID technology. It is important to look for companies that have proven experience with the technology, the ability to provide low-risk and systematic solutions and support throughout the course of the implementation.

RFID technology has stormed the supply chain industry and customers are trying to fit the pieces of the technology puzzle together. It is important to see through the hype and realize that bar codes will not be replaced by RFID overnight. The new reality for many customers will be a hybrid solution that leverages both technologies to deliver enhanced visibility across the supply chain. Can RFID and bar code technology co-exist in today's supply chain? Absolutely.

How Biometric RFID Protects Companies

2010-04-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Biometric RFID cards and the appropriate security software systems are making countries, buildings and businesses safer. If you are a business owner, this is technology that is well worth implementing. You might think of it as new technology. But, it has been used in passports since 1998. These "e-passports" as they are called record data concerning the person's identity and their travels. When the passport is passed through a reader, dates and place names appear on the computer monitor.

The data page lists personal information about the traveler. Fingerprints and other biometrics are included to allow for easy verification of the person's identity. At a 2009 convention, experts called for increased use of this technology for accessing information on the internet. They compared the current state of the internet to the "wild west". They suggested that biometric RFID technology could be used to bring "law and order" to the net.

Companies are currently developing security software of this kind to meet the future demands. If your company provides security solutions for others, you can expect your business to grow, but only if you have the latest technology. Other applications of the technology involve preventing unauthorized access to secure areas of a building. The systems are currently being used to ensure that multi-day passes are used by the same person in large amusement parks. There are applications for museums, retail establishments, resorts, hospitals and offices of all kinds.

Fingerprints are among the easiest biometrics to use for this purpose. Face, iris and voice recognition are other alternatives. Even a person's typing rhythm can be used to firmly establish identity. As long as the characteristic cannot be easily duplicated by an imposter, it can be used for identification purposes. These days, all companies need and most have some kind of security software. If your company is ready to implement a new program, it makes sense to choose the most technologically advanced program available. Otherwise, you will find yourself implementing a new system in a short period of time. Biometric RFID cards and readers are state of the art systems.

Other kinds of security software will help protect your company's computers from viruses, hackers and spyware. With this kind of protection, you will experience greater efficiency and less down time. It all adds up to higher profits. The use of biometric RFID will help protect your company from theft and corporate espionage. It is ultimately the best kind of insurance that a business owner can have.

Tom Gruich is a professional database and software designer with 40 years experience in systems analysis and design of database software applications

Place the chip in your phone

2009-11-24T20:29:00.000-08:00

step 4Place the chip in your phone

This last step is pretty self-explanatory.
However, there are two possible ways to go about it.

1. I've found that the easiest way of placing the chip inside the phone is by placing it inside the battery cover.
In the case of my env2 and other compact cellphones, there is very little wiggle room available to place anything extra in the battery compartment. For my phone, I would trim the card more than shown in order to create a lower profile inside the battery compartment.
For others the chip in the size I show here may be more than adequate.

2. This second option is for those are not utilizing their microSD card slots (if available).The plastic around the RFID can usually be trimmed enough so that it is able to fit into a microSD card slot.
I only offer this option as an alternative for those willing and able to do so. Just make sure you can remove the chip from the slot and that there is no way to cause a short while the chip is in the slot.

step 3Cut out the chip

2009-11-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

step 3Cut out the chip

Be very careful when cutting out the chip.

Less is more!

The initial size may be fine for many people and is small enough to be placed in many cellphones or anything else you can think of. But if you're like me and have an env2 or similarly compact phone you need it a little bit smaller.

Going any further than the initial cutout comes with the risk of damaging the chip.
Consider yourself warned.

When cutting close to the chip you may break the seal around it and the sides may begin to separate.
You DO NOT want this to happen as you want the plastic for insulation around the chip.

step 2Find the Chip

2009-11-24T20:26:00.001-08:00

step 2Find the Chip

In this instructable, I am using an old, deactivated debit card. I found the RFID chip in a previous card by cutting into it randomly.
I DO NOT recommend this method if you don't know where the chip is, as you could obviously damage the chip and make it unusable.
I do not know if all cards are setup with the RFID in the same location, but if they are, my guidelines will give you a good idea where to start.

If not, I was able to see the impression of the chip on the back of the card when I looked at it from an angle in a well lit room (it appeared as a small square impression only a few millimeters across).

Make sure to mark out a guideline to cut along that goes from the bottom of the magnetic strip to the top of the imprinted card numbers. This will yield a decent size chunk of the card with the RFID in the center

step 1Get your materials

2009-11-24T20:25:00.001-08:00

step 1Get your materials

Items needed:
- Spare credit/debit card with embedded RFID chip (if go to your bank and request a new card they will typically send you a new card w/ the same number and info).
- Scissors
- Cellphone
- Magic marker/ Sharpie

How to turn your cellphone into a credit/debit card

2009-11-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

introHow to turn your cellphone into a credit/debit card

Easy to do mod for an extra credit/debit card with RFID chip (i.e. Paypass).

Using this method, you will be able to locate and extract the RFID chip in your spare
Paypass-capable card and place it in your cellphone. This will allow you to present your cellphone at Paypass terminals (movie theaters, McDonalds, etc..) and pay using the RFID chip.

step 4How to kill your RFID chip

2009-11-24T20:11:00.000-08:00

step 4How to kill your RFID chip

In this step I will describe a few ways to permanently disable or kill an RFID chip. Most products that you own that contain RFID tags belong to you, so you have the right to destroy them; however, tampering with a US passport is a federal offense. Luckily there are ways to kill an RFID tag without leaving any evidence, so as long as you are careful, it would be pretty hard to prove that you did anything illegal.

-The easiest way to kill an RFID, and be sure that it is dead, is to throw it in the microwave for 5 seconds. Doing this will literally melt the chip and antenna making it impossible for the chip to ever be read again. Unfortunately this method has a certain fire risk associated with it. Killing an RFID chip this way will also leave visible evidence that it has been tampered with, making it an unsuitable method for killing the RFID tag in passports. Doing this to a credit card will probably also screw with the magnetic strip on the back making it un-swipeable.

-The second, slightly more convert and less damaging, way to kill an RFID tag is by piercing the chip with a knife or other sharp object. This can only be done if you know exactly where the chip is located within the tag. This method also leaves visible evidence of intentional damage done to the chip, so it is unsuitable for passports.

-The third method is cutting the antenna very close to the chip. By doing this the chip will have no way of receiving electricity, or transmitting its signal back to the reader. This technique also leaves minimal signs of damage, so it would probably not be a good idea to use this on a passport.

-The last (and most covert) method for destroying a RFID tag is to hit it with a hammer. Just pick up any ordinary hammer and give the chip a few swift hard whacks. This will destroy the chip, and leave no evidence that the tag has been tampered with. This method is suitable for destroying the tags in passports, because there will be no proof that you intentionally destroyed the chip.

step 3How to block a RFID tag

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step 3How to block a RFID tag

Luckily RFID tag signals can easily be blocked. This means that you will have the option to use the tag whenever you want, and prevent others from being able to read it.

The signal sent out by a RFID tag is easily blocked by metal. This means that placing the RFID tag inside of a Faraday cage will prevent the information from being read.

There are already two Instructables on how to build RFID blocking containers:

RFID Secure Wallet

Make a RFID Shielding Pouch Out of Trash

Or if you would rather spend money on something you could build, head over to Think Geek for their RFID blocking wallet and RFID blocking Passport Holder .

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step 2Where can RFID chips be found

As RFID chips become cheaper, the number of devices that include them grows.

Currently there are RFID tags in:

- US passports: The RFID tag contains all the information that is written in the passport, along with a digital picture

- Transportation payments: Things like New York's EZ Pass, Florida's Sun Pass, and California's Fast Trak are all RFID based toll payment systems.

- Access control: Many buildings and schools require RFID tagged cards to be used for entry.

- Credit cards: Chase, and a few other banks, now issue credit cards embedded with RFID chips, called "blink". They are able to convince people it is an added convenience, but in reality it is a huge security risk.

There are many other devices which contain RFID tags; however, the ones listed are the most common and offer the greatest security risk.

step 1Reasons for blocking / destroying RFID chips

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step 1Reasons for blocking / destroying RFID chips

The main reason someone would want to block or destroy RFID chips would be to maintain privacy. In the last step I explained that RFID tags can be read from very long distances. The potential for abuse of this technology grows as more and more products and devices are being created with these tags built in.

Companies are getting consumers to blindly accept many RFID tagged products with the promise of convenience; however, most of the devices that contain RFID tags don't really need them. The tags may save a few seconds, but sacrifice an enormous amount of privacy and security. It is now possible for someone, with relatively simple equipment, to walk down a busy sidewalk and pickup the personal information of people carrying RFID tagged devices, without them even knowing.

Being able to block or destroy these chips allows people to decide what type of information they are willing to sacrifice for convenience.

introHow to block/kill RFID chips

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introHow to block/kill RFID chips

In this Instructable I will describe different ways to block or kill RFID tags. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. If you do not know about this technology yet, you should definitely start familiarizing yourself with it, because the number of different devices that utilize these types of tags is growing exponentially.

RFID chips are very similar to barcodes in the sense that a certain amount of data is contained within them, and then transmitted to a reading device which then processes and utilizes the information. The major difference is that barcodes have to be physically visible to the reading device, which is usually only able to scan them at a distance of a 12 inches or less. RFID tags, on the other hand, do not have to be visible to the reading device. They can be scanned through clothes, wallets, and even cars. The distance from which they can be read is also much greater than that of a barcode. At DEFCON an RFID tag was scanned at a distance of 69 feet, and that was back in 2005, the possible reading distance now is probably much greater than that.

There are a few different categories of RFID tags, but the most common ones, and the ones we will be dealing with in this instructable, are the "passive" type. Passive RFID chips contain no internal power supply. They contain an antenna which is able to have a current induced in it when within range of the RFID reader. The tag then uses that electricity to power the internal chip, which bounces its data back out through the antenna, where it will be picked up by the reader.

For more information on RFID tags check out the wikipedia entry.

RFID Issues

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RFID Issues

Right now, you can buy a hammer, a pair of jeans, or a razor blade with anonymity. With RFID tags, that may be a thing of the past. Some manufacturers are planning to tag just the packaging, but others will also tag their products. There is no law requiring a label indicating that an RFID chip is in a product. Once you buy your RFID-tagged jeans at The Gap with RFID-tagged money, walk out of the store wearing RFID-tagged shoes, and get into your car with its RFID-tagged tires, you could be tracked anywhere you travel. Bar codes are usually scanned at the store, but not after purchase. But RFID transponders are, in many cases, forever part of the product, and designed to respond when they receive a signal. Imagine everything you own is "numbered, identified, catalogued, and tracked." Anonymity and privacy? Gone in a hailstorm of invisible communication, betrayed by your very property.

But let's not stop there. Others are talking about placing RFID tags into all sensitive or important documents: "it will be practical to put them not only in paper money, but in drivers' licenses, passports, stock certificates, manuscripts, university diplomas, medical degrees and licenses, birth certificates, and any other sort of document you can think of where authenticity is paramount." In other words, those documents you're required to have, that you can't live without, will be forever tagged.

Consider the human body as well. Applied Digital Solutions has designed an RFID tag - called the VeriChip - for people. Only 11 mm long, it is designed to go under the skin, where it can be read from four feet away. They sell it as a great way to keep track of children, Alzheimer's patients in danger of wandering, and anyone else with a medical disability, but it gives me the creeps. The possibilities are scary. In May, delegates to the Chinese Communist Party Congress were required to wear an RFID-equipped badge at all times so their movements could be tracked and recorded. Is there any doubt that, in a few years, those badges will be replaced by VeriChip-like devices?

Surveillance is getting easier, cheaper, smaller, and ubiquitous. Sure, it's possible to destroy an RFID tag. You can crush it, puncture it, or microwave it (but be careful of fires!). You can't drown it, however, and you can't demagnetize it. And washing RFID-tagged clothes won't remove the chips, since they're specifically designed to withstand years of wearing, washing, and drying. You could remove the chip from your jeans, but you'd have to find it first.

That's why Congress should require that consumers be notified about products with embedded RFID tags. We should know when we're being tagged. We should also be able to disable the chips in our own property. If it's the property of the company we work for, that's a different matter. But if it's ours, we should be able to control whether tracking is enabled.

Security professionals need to realize that RFID tags are dumb devices. They listen, and they respond. Currently, they don't care who sends the signal. Anything your companies' transceiver can detect, the bad guy's transceiver can detect. So don't be lulled into a false sense of security.

With RFID about to arrive in full force, don't be lulled at all. Major changes are coming, and not all of them will be positive. The law of unintended consequences is about to encounter surveillance devices smaller than the period at the end of this sentence.

Who's using RFID?

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RFID is already in use all around us. Ever chipped your pet dog or cat with an ID tag? Or used an EZPass through a toll booth? Or paid for gas using ExxonMobils' SpeedPass? Then you've used RFID.

Some uses, especially those related to security, seem like a great idea. For instance, Delta is testing RFID on some flights, tagging 40,000 customer bags in order to reduce baggage loss and make it easier to route bags if customers change their flight plans.

Three seaport operators - who account for 70% of the world's port operations - agreed to deploy RFID tags to track the 17,000 containers that arrive each day at US ports. Currently, less than 2% are inspected. RFID tags will be used to track the containers and the employees handling them.

The United States Department of Defense is moving into RFID in order to trace military supply shipments. During the first Gulf War, the DOD made mistakes in its supply allocation. To streamline operations, the U.S. military has placed RFID tags on 270,000 cargo containers and tracks those shipments throughout 40 countries.

On a smaller level, but one that will instantly resonate with security pros, Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia placed RFID tags in 80,000 employee uniforms in order to put a stop to theft. The same idea would work well in corporate PCs, networking equipment, and handhelds.

In all of these cases, RFID use seems reasonable. It is non-intrusive, and it seems to balance security and privacy. Other uses for RFID, however, may be troublesome.

Visa is combining smart cards and RFID chips so people can conduct transactions without having to use cash or coins. These smart cards can also be incorporated into cell phones and other devices. Thus, you could pay for parking, buy a newspaper, or grab a soda from a vending machine without opening your wallet. This is wonderfully convenient, but the specter of targeted personal ads popping up as I walk through the mall, a la Minority Report, does not thrill me.

Michelin, which manufactures 800,000 tires a day, is going to insert RFID tags into its tires. The tag will store a unique number for each tire, a number that will be associated with the car's VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Good for Michelin, and car manufacturers, and fighting crime. Potentially bad for you. Who will assure your privacy? Do you really want your car's tires broadcasting your every move?

The European Central Bank may embed RFID chips in the euro note. Ostensibly to combat counterfeiters and money-launderers, it would also enable banks to count large amounts of cash in seconds. Unfortunately, such a move would also makes it possible for governments to track the passage of cash from individual to individual. Cash is the last truly anonymous way to buy and sell. With RFID tags, that anonymity would be gone. In addition, banks would not be the only ones who could in an instant divine how much cash you were carrying; criminals can also obtain power transceivers.

Several major manufacturers and retailers expect RFID tags to aid in managing the supply chain, from manufacturing to shipping to stocking store shelves, including Gillette (which purchased 500 million RFID tags for its razors), Home Depot, The Gap, Proctor & Gamble, Prada, Target, Tesco (a United Kingdom chain), and Wal-Mart. Especially Wal-Mart.

The retail giant, the largest employer in America, is working with Gillette to create "smart shelves" that can alert managers and stockboys to replenish the supply of razors. More significantly, Wal-Mart intends for its top 100 suppliers to fully support RFID for inventory tracking by 2005. Wal-Mart would love to be able to point an RFID reader at any of the 1 billion sealed boxes of widgets it receives every year and instantly know exactly how many widgets it has. No unpacking, no unnecessary handling, no barcode scanners required.

RFID 101

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Invented in 1969 and patented in 1973, but only now becoming commercially and technologically viable, RFID tags are essentially microchips, the tinier the better. Some are only 1/3 of a millimeter across. These chips act as transponders (transmitters/responders), always listening for a radio signal sent by transceivers, or RFID readers. When a transponder receives a certain radio query, it responds by transmitting its unique ID code, perhaps a 128-bit number, back to the transceiver. Most RFID tags don't have batteries (How could they? They're 1/3 of a millimeter!). Instead, they are powered by the radio signal that wakes them up and requests an answer.

Most of these "broadcasts" are designed to be read between a few inches and several feet away, depending on the size of the antenna and the power driving the RFID tags (some are in fact powered by batteries, but due to the increased size and cost, they are not as common as the passive, non-battery-powered models). However, it is possible to increase that distance if you build a more sensitive RFID receiver.

RFID chips cost up to 50 cents, but prices are dropping. Once they get to 5 cents each, it will be cost-efficient to put RFID tags in almost anything that costs more than a dollar.

RFID Chips Are Here

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RFID chips are being embedded in everything from jeans to paper money, and your privacy is at stake.

Bar codes are something most of us never think about. We go to the grocery store to buy dog food, the checkout person runs our selection over the scanner, there's an audible beep or boop, and then we're told how much money we owe. Bar codes in that sense are an invisible technology that we see all the time, but without thinking about what's in front of our eyes.

Bar codes have been with us so long, and they're so ubiquitous, that its hard to remember that they're a relatively new technology that took a while to catch on. The patent for bar codes was issued in 1952. It took twenty years before a standard for bar codes was approved, but they still didn't catch on. Ten years later, only 15,000 suppliers were using bar codes. That changed in 1984. By 1987 - only three years later! - 75,000 suppliers were using bar codes. That's one heck of a growth curve.

So what changed in 1984? Who, or what, caused the change?

Wal-Mart.

When Wal-Mart talks, suppliers listen. So when Wal-Mart said that it wanted to use bar codes as a better way to manage inventory, bar codes became de rigeur. If you didn't use bar codes, you lost Wal-Mart's business. That's a death knell for most of their suppliers.

The same thing is happening today. I'm here to tell you that the bar code's days are numbered. There's a new technology in town, one that at first blush might seem insignificant to security professionals, but it's a technology that is going to be a big part of our future. And how do I know this? Pin it on Wal-Mart again; they're the big push behind this new technology.

So what is it? RFID tags.

The Food and Security

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The Food and Security (Click the Link for the article)

Bio-chip implant arrives for cashless transactions

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Bio-chip implant arrives for cashless transactions

At a global security conference held today in Paris, an American company announced a new syringeinjectable
microchip implant for humans, designed to be used as a fraud-proof payment method for cash and
credit-card transactions. The chip implant is being presented as an advance over credit cards and smart cards,
which, absent biometrics and appropriate safeguard technologies, are subject to theft, resulting in identity
fraud. Identity fraud costs the banking and financial industry some $48 billion a year, and consumers $5
billion, according to 2002 Federal Trade Commission estimates.
In his speech today at the ID World 2003 conference in Paris, France, Scott R. Silverman, CEO of
Applied Digital Solutions, called the chip a "loss-proof solution" and said that the chip's "unique under-theskin
format" could be used for a variety of identification applications in the security and financial worlds.
The company will have to compete, though, with organizations using just a fingerprint scan for similar
applications. The ID World Conference, held yesterday and today at the Charles de Gaulle Hilton, focused on
current and future applications of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, biometrics, smart cards
and data collection. The company's various "VeriChips" are RFID chips, which contain a unique
identification number and can carry other personal data about the implantee. When radio-frequency energy
passes from a scanner, it energizes the chip, which is passive (not independently powered), and which then
emits a radio-frequency signal transmitting the chip's information to the reader, which in turn links with a
database.
ADS has previously touted its radio frequency identification (RFID) chips for secure building access,
computer access, storage of medical records, anti-kidnapping initiatives and a variety of law-enforcement
applications. The company has also developed proprietary hand-held readers and portal readers that can scan
data when an implantee enters a building or room.
The "cashless society" application is not new – it has been discussed previously by Applied Digital.
Today's speech, however, represented the first formal public announcement by the company of such a
program.
In announcing VeriPay to ID World delegates, Silverman stated the implant has "enormous marketplace
potential" and invited banking and credit companies to partner with VeriChip Corporation (a subsidiary of
ADS) in developing specific commercial applications beginning with pilot programs and market tests.
Applied Digital's announcement in Paris suggested wireless technologies, RFID development, new software
solutions, smart-card applications and subdermal implants might one day merge as the ultimate solution for a
world fraught with identity theft, threatened by terrorism, buffeted by cash-strapped governments and lawenforcement
agencies looking for easy data-collection, and corporations interested in the marketing bonanza
that cutting-edge identification, payment, and location-based technologies can afford.
Cashless payment systems are now part of a larger technology development subset: government
identification experiments that seek to combine cashless payment applications with national ID information
2
on media (such as a "smart" card), which contain a whole host of government, personal, employment and
commercial data and applications on a single, contactless RFID chip. In some scenarios, governmentcorporate
coalitions are advocating such a chip be used by employees also to access entry to their workplace
and the company computer network, reducing the cost outlay of the corporations for individual ID cards.
Malaysia's "MyKad" national ID "smart" card is the foremost example.
Meanwhile, privacy advocates have expressed concern over RFID technology rollouts, citing database
concerns and the specter of individuals' RFID chips being read without permission by people who have their
own hand-held readers. Several privacy and civil liberties groups have recently called for a voluntary
moratorium on RFID tagging "until a formal technology assessment process involving all stakeholders,
including consumers, can take place." Signatories to the petition include the American Civil Liberties Union,
the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Privacy International and the
Foundation for Information Policy Research, a British think tank.
Commenting on today's announcement, Richard Smith, a computer industry consultant, referred to what
some "netizens" are already calling "chipectomies": "VeriChips can still be stolen. It's just a bit gruesome
when to think how the crooks will do these kinds of robberies." Citing MasterCard's PayPass, Smith pointed
out that most of the major credit-card companies are looking at RFID chips to make credit cards quicker,
easier, and safer to use.
"The big problem is money," said Smith. "It will take billions of dollars to upgrade the credit-card
networks from magstripe readers to RFID readers. During the transition, a credit card is going to need both a
magstripe and an RFID chip so that it is universally accepted." Some industry professionals advocate having
citizens pay for combined national ID/cashless pay chips, which would be embedded in a chosen medium.
Identification technologies using RFID can take a wide variety of physical forms and show no sign yet of
coalescing into a single worldwide standard. Prior to today's announcement, Art Kranzley, senior vice
president at MasterCard, commented on the Pay Pass system in a USA Today interview: "We're certainly
looking at designs like key fobs. It could be in a pen or a pair of earrings. Ultimately, it could be embedded
in anything – someday, maybe even under the skin."

Integrated RFID Solutions

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Because ActiveWave designs its own RFID tags, readers, and host software, we are able to provide you with a seamless integrated RFID solution. An ActiveWave RFID integrated solution is capable of tracking such diverse elements as containers, pallets, furniture, test equipment, vehicles, and hospital patients.
Real-Time Inventory Tracking
An Active RFID integrated solution can generate an updated inventory and track the exact location of goods in real time. The system can keep track of virtually any activity of the tagged equipment or inventory. The system will identify and track the items at any point in the warehouse or any part of the building that the system is installed.
Total Visibility through RFID
An ActiveWave RFID integrated solution can help reduce the obsolete stock by providing real time product status information. The amount of idle inventory tied up in store and warehouses can thus be dramatically reduced through the effective use of information that this system will provide.
Our RFID integrated solution is capable of displaying a map of the warehouse, parking lot, or building depending on the RFID application. This map, stored in our database, can be used by your personnel to search for the location of a person, equipment or inventory, and display their location in real-time.
Reconciliation of Inventory
Currently, the process of reconciling actual inventory against the product database is very time consuming and expensive especially if done manually or through the use of barcodes.
An ActiveWave RFID integrated solution, on the other hand, can check stock and inventories received and dispatch items automatically.
Reduction of Theft and Shrinkage
The system will allow internal theft and other forms of inventory shrinkage to be rapidly identified, and eliminated.

ActiveWave Solution

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How an ActiveWave Solution is Different from Other RFID Solutions:

There are many companies that claim to provide RFID solutions. Some are systems integrators who bring together RFID technologies from several different manufactures. Others design RFID components, such as RFID tags or readers, but rely on systems integrators to provide a complete RFID solution. ActiveWave provides you with what we believe is a better approach. Our staff of dedicated RFID hardware and software engineers designed ActiveWave RFID technology from the ground up. Our systems engineers look at the needs of industry and tailor this technology for specific applications. Therefore, we provide you with both the technology and the entire integrated solution.

An ActiveWave RFID solution offers you the following advantages:

Advanced ActiveWave RFID tags with read ranges up to 85 meters.
Long life and highly durable.
Compact RFID readers designed with the latest technology and wireless links to the host computer make installation a snap.
User-friendly host software using familiar Windows ME, 2000 or XP.

ActiveWave has created a complete RFID solution tailored to the needs of various industries.

Some of the applications include:

Inventory Tracking
Container/Pallet Tracking
Parking Lot Control
Manufacturing Lines
Rental Cars
Fleet Maintenance
ID Badges
Hospital Equipment Tracking

ActiveWave Solutions Are Flexible:

The flexibility of the ActiveWave system lies in our exclusive ActiveWave software, which ties together the information programmed into the RFID tags with easy-to-use portable data collection tools.
From package shipping, to commercial trucking yards, product distribution, postal service, and just-in-time manufacturing, ActiveWave has the solution to automated logistics management. Our standard software platform ties together the RFID tag's information, barcode, and portable data collection tools. It is easy to accommodate any new technology as well. The wireless communications network between the readers and the host make the system installation very easy. Through wireless communications networks, data sources are linked to decision support, planning and scheduling tools.

RFID ACTIVE TAGS

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Recent developments in technology have allowed us to develop a low cost and highly reliable RFID active tag solution. ActiveWave RFID tags have many advantages over conventional RFID passive tags and RFID active tags.

Advantages Over Passive Tag Solutions:
- Longer Read Range-

RFID Passive tags have read ranges limited to a few feet. ActiveWave RFID tags have a read range of up to 85 meters (~279 feet).
- Larger Data Storage Capacity-Passive tags have limited data storage capacity compared to the ActiveWave RFID active tags.

Data Can Be Sent at Designated Times-

Passive tags send data only when they are in close proximity to the RFID reader. Because of the large read range, ActiveWave RFID tags can send data at pre-designated intervals or at certain locations.

Advantages Over Other RFID Active Tags:
Longer Life- ActiveWave uses the latest technology to achieve reliability and life that rivals other active tags.

Lower Cost- ActiveWave RFID tags uses the latest technology and integration to provide you with a very cost effective tag.

Smaller Size- ActiveWave RFID tags are smaller than Active tags based on older technology.

Summary of Features:
Very low cost, read-only tag, for access control
Compact-size tag for wrist bands
Standard, long-range, read/write tag
High-security, long-range, bi-directional, read/write tag
Available in different sizes, based on the application

Read Only vs. Read/Write Tags
ActiveWave offers Read Only and Read/Write RFID tags.

Read Only Tags: The transponders generally provide a fixed factory-set identification code, which is tamperproof, and are known as Read Only (R/O). The unique code, known as a License Plate, enables the tag to be cross-referenced with a database, thereby allowing the tagged item to be closely followed and monitored.

Read/Write Tags: The customer can modify the tag's data. This offers advantages in many applications where the identification code needs to be changed, or where variable data is more important than a unique identity.