Overview

RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. It is the name given to systems that put "tags" on objects (items bought and sold commercially, documents, people, animals, vehicles, containers, and so on) so they can be identified, tracked, and managed automatically utilizing radio frequency equipment and supporting computer systems. Tags are very small radio transmitter/responders (also called "transponders") that store and broadcast data. There are a variety of types of tags, and they come in various shapes, sizes, and capabilities. The data in the tag may be a simple identification number that identifies the object, or it may fully describe it. It may give its history or contain relevant information such as warnings or instructions. The tag most often contains just a number, similar to a license plate on a car. The number serves as a key to a record in a database on a "host computer," which stores the actual data. The format of the number is an important consideration, as it must be read by a variety of systems, not all of which may be known at the time the system is designed. When the tags are in the vicinity of a reader, they broadcast their contents. The reader captures this information and sends it to a host computer. The host uses the data in an application program, such as a warehouse management system, inventory system, database or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The data may also be stored in a data warehouse where analysts can use it...