Friday, July 24, 2009



Week 13 Journal Post

This week, we presented our Assignment 2 findings to Mr Cheng. This is what we have presented. Here are our main points



Mr Cheng commented that our slides are too detailed. He wanted us to focus like if you do future, focus on the future.



One thing that amaze me is the I Phone feature. Once you scan on the product, it will play the description. Here is the video. Enjoy.


Monday, July 13, 2009



Week 12 Journal Entry

This week, we work on editing our project proposal. Initially, it was not detailed enough. We were quite unclear of the teacher's specifications. But after he explained to us, our doubts were cleared.

This is a copy of our proposal and some pictures we have found.





We realise that these are the things that we have problems and need to go and do a very detail research.





- How can I make the graphic animated
- How can I upload the employees reporting time to the database







Wednesday, July 8, 2009



Week 11 Journal

It is the first week of the school term again. For the first half of the lesson, we were being briefed on the project and Assignment 2. As for the project, my group decided to select the lift scenario out of so many scenarios being provided.

After that, we went to do research on the creativities of RFID. During our research, we found a techlogy for mobile shopping cart. It can display the information of all your products at anywhere and anytime. Here is the video.

Monday, June 1, 2009



Week 5 Journal

Sorry for such a late post. But anyway, week 5 was an interesting week. During the 1st half of the lesson, we experimented using the Felica software.





Sample Felica reader and card

Felica is a contactless IC card technology developed by Sony. As the name stemming from the word "felicity" suggests, the system was born to make daily living easier and more convenient.
The card is difficult to forge/reconstruct, and allows to send/receive data at high speed and with high security. The system is also environment-friendly since the card can be used over-and-over virtually forever by rewriting the data.


Uses of Felica

During its practical session, we use the software and reader to control the lift. According to the practical, the reader us technically known as Interrogator and the tag is known as a Transporter. Our Ezlink cards is read when it is near the reader. It uses the near-field inductive coupling technique were emergy is transfered from the reader to the tag.


EZ-Link card scanned on the reader

During the afternoon session, we presented our assignment 1. It was ok, but I guess what stands out for our presentation is the History of RFID. I like the others as well as all of them shows different unique content like games, flash animations, etc.

Saturday, May 16, 2009



Week 4 Journal (Practical Session)

This week consists of only the practical session. Early in the morning, we reported at the FrontlineAeroscout Centre. The activity we are handling are active tags by Aeroscout.


Active Aeroscout Tag

Active tags are RFID tags that are battery powered and have life span based on the battery life. It is more expensive than passive tag and is larger in size. However, it has longer range of operation up to 1.5km in open-field.

During the practical session, we learnt to implement a tracking system to track outdoor assets using RFID technology. Mr Peter taught us in how to use Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) algoritm to determine the location of the outdoor assets.

Time Difference of Arrival


An example of application using such technology is the tracking of cars in a carpark. As extracted from the practical.
  1. A brand new car from the manufacturing plant is unloaded from a trunk

  2. Car's ID number and bar-coded instructions pertaining to the details of this car is scanned into an RFID tag which is hung on the car's rear-view mirror

  3. Car is move to a vacant parking lot

  4. The location receivers read the tag and reflect the exact car location on the map at the self-service kiosk

Sample Aeroscout Tag Manager Interface

I have also learnt that TDOA method requires at least 3 location receivers. In addition, it requires prior calibration and the location receivers' clock must be synchronized. As time was limited, Mr Peter demonstrated all the steps and we listened. What we have really done is to carry the tag and move it from one position to another. What has really amazes me is that the system is able to detect the location of the tag. The system will indicate the tag movement whenever we move around.

Friday, May 8, 2009



Week 3 Journal

This week journal is a mixture of what I have learnt during lecture and what I have tried out during the practical session. I will talk about the lecture 1st

Today, we learn about what exactly is EPC. EPC, in full, Electronic Product Code is a global unique identifier for physical objects analogous to globally unique IP (Internet protocol) addresses. The EPC was created as a low-cost method of tracking goods using RFID Technology (since RFID itself is already costly). It is designed to meet the needs of various industries, while guaranteeing uniqueness for all EPC-compliant tags. EPC tags were designed to identify each item manufactured, as opposed to just the manufacturer and class of products, as bar codes do today. The EPC accommodates existing coding schemes and defines new schemes where necessary.





Picture of EPC Code Description

An EPC code is being split into 4 segments accordingly. The version, the manager code, the object class and finally, the serial number. The Version is a 8 bit number with 256 possible combination. It specifies the format of EPC Number. The Manager Code is a 28 bit number with 268 million+ combinations. The object class is a 24 bit number with 16 million + combination. The serial number specifies the instance of the object. It has up to 68 billion + combinations, more than enough to store information from all products around the world.


RFID System


During the practical session, we tested out the tags. One is active tag, while the other is passive tag. We learn that a RFID tag cannot be detected if it is pasted on metals. Therefore, the question comes. What if the product is a metal ? No worries :) The solution is, place a form in between the metal and the RFID tag. Because it has a layer to separate both items, the RFID tag can then be able to be detected by the reader.

Similar Integrated RFID Reader used during pract session


This reader is one of the reader that is used during the practical session. Given a barcode reader, it needs to get very very near or even, touch the reader. For this, as long as it has about 20 - 30 cm distance, it can already detect the reader. How amazing it is.

Sunday, May 3, 2009



Week 2 Journal

This week marks the 2nd week of the lesson of the April Semester. We have attended the 3 case studies from locally and globally. For Singapore, it is the National Library and the Underwater World. For overseas, it is the one of the largest supermarket, Walmart.


Picture of a Globe


According to the website from RFID journal, US is the 1st country who invented RFID. Mario W. Cardullo claims to have received the first U.S. patent for an active RFID tag with rewritable memory on January 23, 1973. That same year, Charles Walton, a California entrepreneur, received a patent for a passive transponder used to unlock a door without a key. A card with an embedded transponder communicated a signal to a reader near the door. When the reader detected a valid identity number stored within the RFID tag, the reader unlocked the door. Walton licensed the technology to Schlage, a lock maker, and other companies.


USA Flag


The question which many will ask. Why coporations like Walmart is so into RFID ? How about the other supermarkets or corporations ? According to what Mr Cheng has explained in his powerpoint slides, RFID helps companies to save EIGHT BILLION ! Just on barcodes, it can save 6.7 billion and the need to have people scan barcodes on pallets. The other remaining expenses includes out of stock situation, administrative error and vendor fraud, and the improved visibility of what products are in the supply chaion in its own distributor centers.




RFID Process Control

Is RFID only application to objects. The answer is no. It can also be used on humans and animals as well. In Underwater World Singapore, the RFID tag implanted in each fish will enable it to be sensed by antennas that are fitted on the front of the exhibition tank. When the fish swims within detectable range, the RFID tag sends a signal to the antenna, which then relays a signal to a touch screen computer. The computer will then display the name of the fish such as Tiny the Arapaima. Visitors will also be able to navigate through all the detailed information about the fish such as its origin, diet and characteristics by clicking on the appropriate icon on the computer screen.



Vistors in Underwater World Singapore


As a result, visitors can now visit the tourist attraction without a tour guide introducing. They can travel by themselves and understand more about fishes and species. Such technology is also in placed like in Taiwan National museum.