Friday, June 17, 2011

Application of RFID-based technology system for Educational Institution

Application of RFID-based technology system for  Educational Institution


Preliminary

Given the rapid development of information technology in recent years, RFID technology becomes more affordable and effectiveto support long-term process in educational institutions. Currently RFID technology has reached a level of "mature technology" that is well-developed technology and mature. The ability of durability, reliability of this technology can be rapidly implemented at an institution education which has been running for a long time (existing system) or a new runs (new system).  Performance of administrative and educational process ncessarily more effective, efficient and increased, accompanied by increased institutional image technology user / system based on RFID, as an institution understand sophisticated technology.

Description of RFID

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification is generally composed of two parts:
RFID tags and RFID reader.
RFID Tag (usually also called a transponder) contains a microchip with limited memory and micostripe antenna, function stores the ID and the info is limited as big as memory size. RFID tags are so many forms ranging from plastic cards (like ATM cards), key chains, stickers, until the micro capsule are injected into the body of livestock.

RFID reader is also a variety of shapes and needs. RFID reader to capture and convert the radio waves from the RFID tag with certain distance, processing with or without the help of computers into useful digital information.
RFID Worldwide Standard such as: Mifare, Desfire, JCOB, ICODE SLI, etc.. Each application is available a suitable RFID standards



RFID Advantages

In general, compared with barcode and magnetic strip technology, RFID technology has the following advantages:

1. Higher security
Each RFID tag has a password / pin to access the memory, even for Provided a more advanced RFID encryption / encoding-coding independently in each tagnya
2. Larger Information
Silicon-based RFID tag which can indeed be an effective storage medium and large media than line drawings (barcode) or magnetic media (magnetic stripes)
3. Access capabilities in a position that further and better
Distance process (read and write) the RFID tag is not restricted sight lines as in barcode reader (By using a contactless reader barcode) even having to touch such as magnetic stripes and for the type of UHF tags, the reading range can reach 5 meters
4. Resilience data and higher processing speeds
Durability of RFID tag data is higher because it can not be damaged by external magnetic factors or barcode images that begin to dull, besides the processing time data in RFID tags faster.
5. Development easier and more flexible
RFID is basically a memory, so it can be developed for biometrics, micro-payment, and development of a more broadly.

Applications in Educational Institutions

In general, RFID-based technology applications in educational institutions can be explained as follows:
- Use of HF / UHF RFID smartcard as student cards, and cards of teachers / employees
- Use of HF / UHF RFID smart label as a tag books, CDs, microfilm, school library collections.
- Use of UHF / HF RFID reader for time attendance of students, teachers and employees
- Use HF RFID reader for access control classrooms, libraries, offices, laboratories, warehouses, parking facilities and the dropzone, etc.
- Use of Portable / EDC RFID reader as a Point Of Sale in the cafeteria, Cooperatives, and other transactions placeswhere the tag card also can function as a micro-payment / prepaid card


Here are some examples / RFID application scenarios:

Setting car parking facilities and the drop zone

Every of students, teachers and employees vehicle were given RFID cards within which is filled withdata the number of vehicles, owner's name, student identification numbers or teachers / staff, etc..

How it works as follows:

Main Gate Equipped with a manual or electric barrier gates and guarded by security officers
carrying a portable RFID reader. The vehicles will enter the main gate must provide the card
access to the security officer, when read with the access card readerdata will be displayed on the card such as license plate number, type of car, etc. if they will match the physical vehicle,
then the vehicle can enter the building and the drop zone students, if not then refused to enter.

The gate is equipped with electric parking barrier gatesand outdoor RFID reader connected to the vehicle database server. Vehicles to be parked, must bring the card into the reader, the card data will be compared with data on the server, if the data matches the vehicle may enter and park, enter parking lot incident data recorded on the server. When the vehicle will be out of the parking lot, brought closer to the access card reader at the gate rfid out of parking, if the examination is automatically license plates captured by the camera, number plate image processing performed by special software for comparison, if there officer, then the checks carried out manually, and then exit the parking lot incident data stored on the server.

Monitoring arrival, presence and existence of Students, Teachers and Employees
By using HF RFID card as students, when students enter the school building must go through a revolving door that is activated by approaching students to rfid card reader, if the number of students identified the parent activated turnstiles and event data students entered the school building is recorded on the server, this data can also be sent via SMS to the number of parent cellphone, or parent can be accessed by students via a mobile browser.

If using UHF RFID card as students, it is no longer needed a revolving door for UHF RFID reader capable of simultaneously reading a data card from a distance of 5 meters students, the benefits system. This does not happen queues and bottlenecks when students enter the school building.

When Teachers and employees are required to enter the school building perform Presence in the staff room or staff room with rfid reader closer to the card that has been provided, incidence data teacher / employee Presence recorded on the server.

Teachers can open the door of the classroom with teachers who hold the existing RFID cards
in each class, if the card in accordance with the data in server (can be filtered based on the id of teachers, teaching hours and classroom), then the class can be used, then the students enter the classroom after perform Presence attendance using RFID student card, data Presence for the class is recorded on the server.

During a break or finish the class, students perform logout with RFID cards students and teachers close the classroom by using RFID cards teachers, incidence data were also recorded on the server, the system is in addition to allowing Presence of data retrieval and processing of students and teachers in realtime, also provide energy-saving effect, given the current class facilities already include the use of air conditioning, wifi, etc..

When students leave the school building with a checkout using RFID student card. Teachers / employees also perform cehckout same time, the event data is recorded on the server and for student data can be  sent via sms to parents or mobile web browsing.

Transactions using electronics or e-payment money
At break of students, teachers, and employees can buy food and beverages in the cafeteria using their card that has been filled with a certain cash value. Can also carry out transactions in enterprise / mini market schools, payment of a fine book in a library, use of computer facilities etc..

Value for money on the RFID card can be in the top-ups at locations determined as in the cafeteria, administrative office, etc..
This makes students, teachers, and employees do not need to bring cash, pocket money students can be controlled by parents and schools, the Schools benefit by charging the value of the prepaid system money in the card.

Interactive independent information (KIOSK)
An Interactive kiosk is a computer terminal featuring specialized hardware and software designed within a public exhibit that provides access to information and applications for specific education region. The KIOSK can be used by students and parents were teachers and employees to access information ranging from academic data, administrative data, non-academic data, until the value of money in the card or top-up cards.


All items are rfid tag library collection in the form of smart labels / stickers, circulation process items using the self checkout kiosk and returned using a self-return book kiosk could still be served manually use your rfid reader.

The process of inventory taking and book settings using portable rfid reader. Access into the library using a turnstile or barrier gate so that library facilities can only be utilized by people who right and interest only.
To be used  HF or UHF RFID , where UHF RFID has advantages within the tag and data access speed of the process tag data but has short comings in terms of cost.
More info about RFID Implementation for libraries .

Last but not The End
Innovation and creation still increase of this RFID-based technology.With this short article we hope readers become more open minded about RFID, because it did not rule, this RFID system able to implement and accompany all lines of human life.

reference:

in bahasa:
5 minute video about RFID
Long Range RFID demo video