Design of a Novel Medium Access Control Protocol for Optimization of CDMA-based Passive RFID: Bitwise CDMA

Abstract

UHF passive RFID is a wide and continuously growing technology. As such, it is becoming increasingly important to develop highly efficient and inexpensive RFID systems. Presently available RFID tags utilize MAC protocols that are highly susceptible to noise, inefficiently utilize interrogator power, and in the case of CDMA-based RFID, require internal power sources. There exists a need to develop passive RFID systems that efficiently use interrogator power, are robust in high noise environments, and can simultaneously read multiple RFID tags. This thesis develops the background of currently available RFID protocols with a focus on CDMA-based RFID protocols, analyzes their trade-offs, and provides a novel protocol (Bitwise CDMA) to overcome several of the disadvantages of CDMA-based systems while maintaining the benefits of such systems. The framework for inexpensive UHF RFID tag research and development is also discussed as currently available tools are limited in functionality and/or prohibitively expensive.