Active Radio Frequency Identification Tags Research Articles

Planar Thermoelectric Microgenerators in Application to Power RFID Tags.

This paper presents an innovative approach to the integration of thermoelectric microgenerators (μTEGs) based on thick-film thermopiles of planar constantan-silver (CuNi-Ag) and calcium cobaltite oxide-silver (Ca3Co4O9-Ag) thick-film thermopiles with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The goal was to consider using the TEG for an active or semi-passive RFID tag. The proposed implementation would allow the communication distance to be increased or even operated without changing batteries. This article discusses the principles of planar thermoelectric microgenerators (μTEGs), focusing on their ability to convert the temperature difference into electrical energy. The concept of integration with active or semi-passive tags is presented, as well as the results of energy efficiency tests, considering various environmental conditions. On the basis of the measurements, the parameters of thermopiles consisting of more thermocouples were simulated to provide the required voltage and power for cooperation with RFID tags. The conclusions of the research indicate promising prospects for the integration of planar thermoelectric microgenerators with RFID technology, opening the way to more sustainable and efficient monitoring and identification systems. Our work provides the theoretical basis and practical experimental data for the further development and implementation of this innovative technology.

A Hybrid Solar-RF Energy Harvesting System Based on an EM4325-Embedded RFID Tag

This paper presents the deployment of a hybrid energy harvesting system that combines a wireless energy harvesting (EH) system and a 6 V, 170 mA monocrystalline solar energy derived from the Sun’s rays. The hybrid energy harvesting (HEH) system comprises the rectifier, the solar cell panel, the charging circuit, and the EM4325 embedded RFID tag. This study aims to design an efficient EH system capable of increasing the read range of an active RFID tag. The proposed approach integrates a meandered line radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with an EM4325 IC chip as the receiver antenna. A halfwave doubler RF rectifier circuit is connected to the antenna using a 50 Ω SMA connector to convert the captured RF waves into usable electrical power. A solar energy charging module equipped with a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and a DC-DC converter is configured to manage and store the harvested energy efficiently. The UHF tag antenna operates at 919 MHz, achieving a peak gain of 3.54 dB. The proposed rectenna achieves a maximum measured harvested power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 55.14% for an input power (Pin) of 15 dBm at a distance of 5.10 cm, while the solar cell panel realizes 3.92 W of power. Experimental results demonstrate the hybrid harvester system’s effectiveness, achieving a PCE of 86.49% at an output voltage (VDC) of 5.35 V. The main advantage of this approach is the creation of a compact hybrid RF and solar EH system by combining the solar cell panel with the antenna, thus enabling multi-functionality.

Three-Dimensional Heterogeneous Modeling of a Flexible Lithium-Ion Battery Made From Semi-Solid Electrodes

Abstract Flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have a strong oncoming consumer market demand for use in wearable electronic devices, flexible smart electronics, roll-up displays, electronic shelf labels, active radio-frequency identification tags, implantable medical devices, and so forth. This market demand necessitates research and development of new flexible LIBs to fulfill the electrical energy and power requirements of these next-generation devices. In this study, we investigate the performance of a new flexible LIB made from semi-solid electrodes. The semi-solid electrodes are made by adding a mixture of electrode active material and conductive material to the organic liquid electrode. This gives dense and viscous slurry so that all solid particles can move by acting pressure, shear, or bending forces to the battery. To study the performance of this battery we develop a 3D heterogeneous mathematical model that considers all necessary transport phenomena including the charge and mass transfer and electrochemical reactions at the continuum mechanics level on the reconstructed 3D structure of semi-solid electrodes. The finite element analysis (FEA) method was used to solve the governing equations using the comsol multiphysics software package. The model is validated using experimental data for the flexible LIB made in the lab. Based on the developed model, several studies are conducted to understand the effect of the battery discharge rate and the operating temperature on the battery capacity. These studies recommend an operational range for the temperature and discharge rate for this flexible LIB.

Resource limitation drives fission–fusion dynamics of group composition and size in a social bird

Fission–fusion (FF) societies are characterized by frequent changes in group cohesion, composition or size. While the ecological and social drivers of group size are well acknowledged, their effect on FF dynamics is largely unknown, partly due to lack of suitable data sets spanning multiple individuals and spatiotemporal scales. Theory predicts that constraints imposed by local resource availability on group size can yield FF dynamics; yet it has not been applied in contexts other than foraging. In addition, FF dynamics are relatively understudied in nonmammalian vertebrates, although prevalent across taxa. To fill these conceptual and taxonomic gaps we tested predictions arising from current FF theory by tracking multiple Eurasian jackdaws, Coloeus monedula , for two seasons. Using active RFID (radio frequency identification) tags we monitored individual presence/absence over several temporal scales in sites of different ecological functions (nesting, foraging and roosting), and simultaneously quantified local resource availability in these sites. Group size was correlated with resource limitations operating at different ecological contexts and times. Social network analysis revealed remarkably consistent FF patterns which occurred on a diel cycle and changed between seasons, involving changes in group size and composition. Social preferences had a significant influence on FF patterns only during the breeding season and only in nesting and foraging contexts, mainly due to male–female bonds. Our results highlight the importance of ecological context, temporal scale and social preference in avian FF societies and broaden the scope of current theory. • We tracked social birds to study how resource limitation shapes fission-fusion (FF). • Group size was adapted to resource limitation in foraging, nest and roost sites. • Diel movements between sites generated FF, with changes in group size/composition. • Social preferences shaped FF only in the breeding season, in nest/foraging sites. • Findings highlight role of ecological context and social preference in FF societies.

An intelligent IoT-based positioning system for theme parks

With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and ubiquitous presence of sensor nodes, positioning technologies have become a topic of interest among researchers. While the applications of positioning systems are very vast, determining the position of moving sensor nodes, finding missing people in large areas, and object tracking are among the most popular ones. The focus of this paper is to propose a positioning system to locate missing people in theme parks. Currently, radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are used in modern theme parks to locate lost visitors. In these systems, a wristband with active RFID tag is given to each visitor and RFID readers are deployed in predetermined locations. When a visitor is in the communication range of a reader, its location can be estimated based on the location of the reader. Therefore, the accuracy of these systems is relevant to the communication range of readers. Another limitation of RFID-based systems is due to the fact that readers cannot be placed in communication range of each other as they can interference with each other. It is clear that the only way to increase the accuracy of such systems is by increasing the number of readers and decreasing the communication range of each reader. In this paper, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE)-based system is proposed to be used in theme parks for locating lost visitors. The advantage of using BLE is due to the fact that it uses frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) thus readers can be placed in communication range of each other without severe interference. In the proposed method, at first, the optimal places for deploying readers are obtained using ant colony optimization (ACO). Then, a fuzzy approach is used to increase the accuracy of the system. Three different signal levels are defined to be used in our fuzzy system based on which the location of visitors can be estimated. By using three levels of signal strength, the accuracy of the system is increased compared with the similar system with the similar number of readers. The simulation results show that the accuracy of the system is improved using this method, and the cost of the system is decreased as BLE readers are much less expensive than their RFID counterparts.

A Dual-Band Low-Power-Consumption Active RFID Tag Based on a Meander FPCB Antenna for Subway Vehicle Management

A meander microstrip antenna was designed to operate in the UHF and microwave bands. Laser direct structuring (LDS) and the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) method were used to fabricate the antenna, and their results were compared. A dual-band low-power-consumption active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag based on the present antenna was developed and fabricated for an automated subway vehicle maintenance system. The recognition distance of the active tag is more than 20 m at 900 MHz and more than 170 m at 2.4 GHz, while the recognition rate is >95% at 900 MHz and 100% at 2.4 GHz. The 100% recognition rate was obtained when the RFID readers were placed in a line parallel to the subway track. Therefore, we have shown that our active RFID tag can be used in a subway vehicle management system.

A bespoke low‐cost system for radio tracking animals using multi‐rotor and fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract Due to the costs of related technologies, tracking studies typically use low numbers of animals as representative samples for whole group or species analysis, often without clear knowledge as to how representative these numbers are. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has the potential to considerably improve radio‐frequency (RF)‐based tracking systems. This includes improved line‐of‐sight visibility, access and range in difficult terrain and an increase in achievable spatial accuracy. This paper presents details of a fully custom‐built active RF identification tag and receiver system bespoke to UAVs, compatible with both multi‐rotor and fixed‐wing platforms. Using sheep as a model, we show the suitability of this system for tracking large terrestrial mammals. During static testing using both platform types, we calculated a spatial accuracy of 58.5 m (based on 95th percentile/R95 parameter) for this system using data from 14 flights (n = 175 tag interactions). When tested on sheep, working tags were detected 93% of the time over seven conducted flights. We provide practical considerations for operating this system on a UAV platform, address concerns relating to the system and identify future areas of research both for this system and other UAV‐based RF tracking systems.

Guest Editorial: Special Issue on IEEE RFID 2019 Conference

With the proliferation of the Internet of Things, there is an increased demand to enhance every day physical objects with sensors and communication abilities so that they can have digital counterparts (“digital twins”) in a connected world. While many solutions based on protocols such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, ANT, LoRa, LPWAN, NB-IoT, HaLow, etc. do exist, RFID technology presents a compelling alternative. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a generic term for a variety of active and passive RF technologies. RFID transponders have varying degrees of sophistication and their design is often a tradeoff between functionality and cost. At one end of the spectrum, there are active RFID tags that offer on-board battery and memory, sensor integration, active RF transmitters and hence communication range up to kilometers albeit at increased costs. At the other end, passive and semi-passive RFID tags rely on a simple load modulation to backscatter ID and data back to the reader over several meters distance. Passive RFID tags, in particular, lend themselves well for applications needing large-scale, low-cost, automatic identification and are a good option for imparting digital identity to a host of physical assets. Industry alliances such as the NFC forum (for HF RFID) and the RAIN RFID alliance (for UHF RFID) have been formed to motivate and promote these efforts.

Self-powered smart active RFID tag integrated with wearable hybrid nanogenerator

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is essential to construct the Internet of Things (IoT), which is significant to promote the blooming development of the new-generation information technology. RFID tags are widely used in many identification fields due to the non-contact, low-power-consumption and rapid feature for target recognition. However, the working distance of traditional passive RFID tags is extremely short at millimeter level in a limited direction range, since the power supply is passively delivered by an external electromagnetic radiation source. Moreover, the information transmission of traditional passive RFID tags is simplex in only one direction from RFID tag to the monitor, and in other words, the pre-stored information in passive RFID tags can only be passively detected by the monitor. Herein, a self-powered smart active RFID tag integrated with wearable hybrid nanogenerator is developed to overcome these drawbacks above. A new power supply strategy for RFID tags were proposed by the integration of a wearable nanogenerator based on the triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid mechanisms, which can effectively convert the biomechanical energy into electricity to sustainably power RFID tags. The fabricated triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (TEHN) showed a remarkable performance with the maximum power density of 6.79 W/m2. A new transistors-controlled power management module (PMM) circuit of automatic parallel-series transformation of capacitors was proposed and also integrated to enhance the charging capability of TEHN by shortening 50% charging time. The integration of TEHN and PMM enable this active RFID tag to work autonomously with a 330-fold enhancement of working distance up to 33 m, and its working direction range is overcome to be omnidirectional. Furthermore, the developed active RFID tag can work in duplex communication mode to exchange the information with the monitor. This all-in-one self-powered smart active RFID tag was successfully demonstrated to remotely control the automatic door and be a wearable microsystem for ultra-large-area target recognition, which show an attractive potential in many application fields.

Guest Editorial Special Issue on IEEE RFID 2018 Conference

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a generic term for a variety of active and passive RF technologies that wirelessly convey object identification information. RFID technologies encompass multiple frequency bands and different mechanisms of information transfer: Low Frequency (LF) and High Frequency (HF) RFID tags typically use inductive coupling, Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) and microwave RFID typically use electromagnetic wave propagation although they often operate in near-field application scenarios as well. RFID transponders have varying degrees of sophistication and their design is often a tradeoff between functionality and cost. At one end of the spectrum, there are active RFID tags that offer on-board battery and memory, sensor integration, active RF transmitter and hence communication range up to kilometers albeit at increased costs. At the other end, passive RFID tags rely on a simple load modulation to backscatter ID back to the reader. The tiny ICs of those passive tags are very complex: they contain more transistors than the Intel 80386 processor in the 1985 IBM PC-AT (that processor had about 275,000 transistors) but have lower power consumption than a honeybee’s brain (which consumes about 10 microwatts) and thus can be RF-powered. These tags are range limited to the order of several meters but, at a price point of several cents per tag, are well suited for large-scale, low-cost automatic identification.

Developing an electronic system to manage and track emergency medications.

The development of a Web-based program to track and manage emergency medications with radio frequency identification (RFID) is described. At the Cleveland Clinic, medication kit restocking records and dispense locations were historically documented using a paper record-keeping system. The Cleveland Clinic investigated options to replace the paper-based tracking logs with a Web-based program that could track the real-time location and inventory of emergency medication kits. Vendor collaboration with a board of pharmacy (BOP) compliance inspector and pharmacy personnel resulted in the creation of a dual barcoding system using medication and pocket labels. The Web-based program was integrated with a Cleveland Clinic-developed asset tracking system using active RFID tags to give the real-time location of the medication kit. The Web-based program and the asset tracking system allowed identification of kits nearing expiration or containing recalled medications. Conversion from a paper-based system to a Web-based program began in October 2013. After 119 days, data were evaluated to assess the success of the conversion. Pharmacists spent an average of 27 minutes per day approving medication kits during the postimplementation period versus 102 minutes daily using the paper-based system, representing a 74% decrease in pharmacist time spent on this task. Prospective reports are generated monthly to allow the manager to assess the expected workload and adjust staffing for the next month. Implementation of a BOP-approved Web-based system for managing and tracking emergency medications with RFID integration decreased pharmacist review time, minimized compliance risk, and increased access to real-time data.

Smartphone-Based Cooperative Indoor Localization with RFID Technology.

In GPS-denied indoor environments, localization and tracking of people can be achieved with a mobile device such as a smartphone by processing the received signal strength (RSS) of RF signals emitted from known location beacons (anchor nodes), combined with Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) estimates of the user motion. An enhacement of this localization technique is feasible if the users themselves carry additional RF emitters (mobile nodes), and the cooperative position estimates of a group of persons incorporate the RSS measurements exchanged between users. We propose a centralized cooperative particle filter (PF) formulation over the joint state of all users that permits to process RSS measurements from both anchor and mobile emitters, as well as PDR motion estimates and map information (if available) to increase the overall positioning accuracy, particularly in regions with low density of anchor nodes. Smartphones are used as a convenient mobile platform for sensor measurements acquisition, low-level processing, and data transmission to a central unit, where cooperative localization processing takes place. The cooperative method is experimentally demonstrated with four users moving in an area of 1600 , with 7 anchor nodes comprised of active RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, and additional mobile tags carried by each user. Due to the limited coverage provided by the anchor beacons, RSS-based individual localization is inaccurate (6.1 m median error), but this improves to 4.9 m median error with the cooperative PF. Further gains are produced if the PDR information is added to the filter: median error of 3.1 m (individual) and 2.6 m (cooperative); and if map information is also considered, the results are 1.8 m (individual) and 1.6 m (cooperative). Thus, for each version of the particle filter, cooperative localization outperforms individual localization in terms of positioning accuracy.

Monitoring vital signs over multiplexed radio by near-field coherent sensing

Monitoring the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate and breath effort of a patient is critical to managing their care, but current approaches are limited in terms of sensing capabilities and sampling rates. The measurement process can also be uncomfortable due to the need for direct skin contact, which can disrupt the circadian rhythm and restrict the motion of the patient. Here we show that the external and internal mechanical motion of a person can be directly modulated onto multiplexed radiofrequency signals integrated with unique digital identification using near-field coherent sensing. The approach, which does not require direct skin contact, offers two possible implementations: passive and active radiofrequency identification tags. To minimize deployment and maintenance cost, passive tags can be integrated into garments at the chest and wrist areas, where the two multiplexed far-field backscattering waveforms are collected at the reader to retrieve the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate and breath effort. To maximize reading range and immunity to multipath interference caused by indoor occupant motion, active tags could be placed in the front pocket and in the wrist cuff to measure the antenna reflection due to near-field coherent sensing and then the vital signals sampled and transmitted entirely in digital format. Our system is capable of monitoring multiple people simultaneously and could lead to the cost-effective automation of vital sign monitoring in care facilities.

Performance Analysis of Tags Collection Time on A New Architecture of 2.4 GHz Embedded Active RFID System for Indoor and Outdoor Tracking and Monitoring Applications Based on IEEE 802.15.4 Standard

This paper focuses on the analysis of tags collection time of 2.4 GHz embedded active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for indoor and outdoor real-time tracking and monitoring applications based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The main novelty of the system is the implementation of the communication method in order to provide Machine to Machine (M2M) communication and automated switching mechanism between indoor and outdoor location by utilizing active RFID, Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), Global Positioning System (GPS) and mobile communication on a single platform. In this work, GPS receiver covers outdoor location tracking, while active RFID provides identification and Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) reading for each tag holder to cover indoor location tracking especially near or inside building where location information is not detected by GPS. Several experiments were conducted on three different RFID tags which were active RFID tag embedded with GPS and GSM (ERFIDG2), active RFID tag embedded with GPS (ERFIDG) and standalone RFID tag communicating with the same active RFID reader. The experiment was done to evaluate the communication performance of the active RFID in terms of tags collection time using Transparent (AT) and Application Programming Interface (API) mode. The experiment was extended to measure tags collection time in single hop and multi hops communication for Tag Talk First (TTF) and Reader Talk First (RTF) protocols. The results show that the proposed active RFID system (ERFIDG2) is better than the standalone and ERFIDG systems. The in-depth research done in this work is to study the experience and identify the challenges that will be faced in the development and implementation of a wireless RFID-based system for tracking and monitoring applications.

Improving RF Transmit Power and Received Signal Strength in 2.4 GHz ZigBee Based Active RFID System with Embedded Method

This paper describes the experiments and analysis conducted on 2.4 GHz embedded active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) – Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) based system that has been developed for the purposes of location tracking and monitoring in indoor and outdoor environments. Several experiments are conducted to test the effectiveness and performance of the developed system and two of them is by measuring the Radio Frequency (RF) transmitting power and Received Signal Strength (RSS) to prove that the embedded active RFID tag is capable to generate higher transmit power during data transmission and able to provide better RSS reading compared to standalone RFID tag. Experiments are carried out on two RFID tags which are active RFID tag embedded with GPS and GSM (ER2G); and standalone RFID tag communicating with the same active RFID reader. The developed ER2G contributes 12.26 % transmit power and 6.47 % RSS reading higher than standalone RFID tag. The results conclude that the ER2G gives better performance compared to standalone RFID tag and can be used as guidelines for future design improvements.

Interventionless Reservoir-Isolation Valve Removes Need for Intermediate Completion

This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 184706, “Interventionless Reservoir-Isolation Valve Removes the Requirement for an Intermediate Completion: A Case Study,” by Andrew Edwards, SPE, Euan Murdoch, SPE, and Christopher Munro, SPE, Weatherford, prepared for the 2017 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition, The Hague, 14–16 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed. This paper focuses on the application of radio-frequency-identification (RFID) technology to enable an operator to eliminate an intervention run (or intermediate liner) for a 10,000-ft reservoir section. The case-study well has preperforated liner in two zones isolated with swellable packers and pressure-actuated annulus packers. The typical procedure is to straddle the annulus packers individually using an inflatable plug, but setting the lower annulus packer incurs additional risk while running in the horizontal for an extended distance. Here, an RFID-actuated reservoir-isolation valve (RIV) eliminates an intervention run. Methodology RFID is now a common technology used across various industries to provide a means of communication between a passive antenna and an active antenna. This technology has now been adapted and applied to actuate downhole tools in oil and gas wells. In the RFID portfolio, the installed equipment houses the active antenna and RFID tags that are deployed at surface and provide the passive antenna. The tool provides a secure, pressure-resistant encasement for the electronics required. The RFID tag contains a memory bank to store a command that is programmed at surface and a coil that takes power from the radio-frequency field generated by the active tool antenna. This power provided by the active antenna is passed directly to the passive antenna and allows the tag to transmit the programmed command to the RFID tool. The command is then decoded and processed within the tool and then acted upon. The command can include logic to tell the tool to function immediately, function after a delay, or switch operating modes to look for another trigger. The small size of the tag allows freedom of movement and easy integration with existing completions. Because RFID transmission is a close-proximity means of transferring data, it requires no direct contact between both devices. The communication can be made in a downhole context at up to 6 to 12 in. RFID technology has so far been used in drilling applications, in upper-completion equipment, and in the reservoir as an inflow-control-device sleeve or for providing a multizone stimulation sys-tem in slickwater or hydraulic proppant.

Inkjet-Printed Lithium-Sulfur Microcathodes for All-Printed, Integrated Nanomanufacturing.

Improved thin-film microbatteries are needed to provide appropriate energy-storage options to power the multitude of devices that will bring the proposed "Internet of Things" network to fruition (e.g., active radio-frequency identification tags and microcontrollers for wearable and implantable devices). Although impressive efforts have been made to improve the energy density of 3D microbatteries, they have all used low energy-density lithium-ion chemistries, which present a fundamental barrier to miniaturization. In addition, they require complicated microfabrication processes that hinder cost-competitiveness. Here, inkjet-printed lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cathodes for integrated nanomanufacturing are reported. Single-wall carbon nanotubes infused with electronically conductive straight-chain sulfur (S@SWNT) are adopted as an integrated current-collector/active-material composite, and inkjet printing as a top-down approach to achieve thin-film shape control over printed electrode dimensions is used. The novel Li-S cathodes may be directly printed on traditional microelectronic semicoductor substrates (e.g., SiO2 ) or on flexible aluminum foil. Profilometry indicates that these microelectrodes are less than 10 µm thick, while cyclic voltammetry analyses show that the S@SWNT possesses pseudocapacitive characteristics and corroborates a previous study suggesting the S@SWNT discharge via a purely solid-state mechanism. The printed electrodes produce ≈800 mAh g-1 S initially and ≈700 mAh g-1 after 100 charge/discharge cycles at C/2 rate.

Assessing the Feasibility of Passive and BAP RFID Communications on Construction Site Scenarios

In order to efficiently manage construction operations, assessing the current status of both engineered components and the field processes making use of those components is regarded as critical. To date, active radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies are slowly becoming adopted on construction sites by the owners and contractor organizations in order to track unique engineered components and the processes making use of those components. Although the construction industry has shown a strong interest in adopting active RFID tags due to their potential to innovate and streamline existing processes, such active RFID adoption and usage is regarded as costly and hence advances at a very slow pace. To date, there has not yet been a thorough study on passive and battery-assisted passive (BAP) tags to assess their feasibility to effectively communicate within construction sites. Construction sites are characterized by clustered scenarios under varying, unpredictable, and harsh conditions. In this paper, we report on our analysis and experimental results about the feasible utilization of passive and BAP tags to track the identification of construction components under clustered project site conditions. We modified an EPC RFID monitoring system to leverage and monitor the performance and characteristics of RFID communications in a clustered heating plant. Such communications were then compared with those monitored with the same technologies in an ideal laboratory environment with a clear free-air line-of-sight. The results indicate that, due to multipath effects in metal-crowded scenarios, tags can actually perform better in such scenarios.

Transforming to a smart hospital system

Purpose Expert knowledge is an important organisational resource, and organisations need to retain the knowledge learned by experience, which can be shared as part of inter-professional learning. In a healthcare context, radio-frequency identification (RFID) and ZigBee technologies can be used together, to provide real-time information for decision support and to create a secure and reliable smart hospital management information system (SHMIS) that allows the dynamic control of objects and transforms operational processes, while minimising any potential risks to patients and staff. Currently, the RFID technology in Saudi Arabia is being solely used for the monitoring of newborn infants, and some difficulties have been encountered during the different stages of tagging and monitoring. The current system in Medina Maternity and Children’s Hospital (MMCH) uses battery-powered active RFID tags, which are expensive and require routine maintenance. This study aims to discuss the way in which the MMCH in Medina, Saudi Arabia, could be transformed into an SHMIS. Design/methodology/approach The extraordinary growth of RFID and ZigBee technologies has made it possible to identify, locate and track objects in various environments in real time. The RFID technology is a non-contact identification technology that is cheap and reliable but has limited range in the case of passive tags. ZigBee has greater range and lower power consumption, giving more precise location of the object’s movements (0.6 m). Passive RFID when combined with ZigBee technology can be used to improve services provided by healthcare organisations through continuous data collection and supporting real-time decision-making, by applying expert knowledge of domain experts to data produced by communication from electronic and sensor technologies. Findings A prototype object-tracking system using RFID and ZigBee was developed to support the knowledge transformation for knowledge reasoning for decision support (KRDS), and the outcome of this research was validated with domain experts in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Two feasibility case studies were conducted at MMCH in Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the proposed system. A survey was also conducted to address the requirements at MMCH, and the researcher adopted a range of strategy techniques, including interviews and meetings with staff, and the setting up of communities of practise (CoPs) at the target hospital. Research limitations/implications This paper has investigated the transformation process of an automatic healthcare tracking and monitoring systems for the purpose of developing a smart system in Saudi hospitals. For the scope of the project, the prototype implementation was restricted to a laboratory environment, to demonstrate the proposed proof of concept. The next phase will include conducting a scale up of the system, with implementation and testing done in a real hospital environment. Originality/value This paper proposes a prototype application of an (SHMIS that allows the dynamic control of objects and transforms operational processes, while minimising any potential risks to patients and staff.

An ant colony based optimization for RFID reader deployment in theme parks under service level consideration

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking systems have been implemented in theme parks to help visitors find lost family or group members. When a visitor enters a park, he/she is assigned a wristband embedded with an active RFID tag. When the visitor passes through the coverage area of an RFID reader, the system can identify the visitor's location. However, few studies have examined the optimal deployment of RFID readers or discussed how to best evaluate the deployment quality of the tracking system. To address this need, an Ant Colony System (ACS)-based reader deployment method is proposed. First, the grid size, the quantity of readers, maximum reading distance of the readers, and visiting frequency of each grid should be decided or derived. Next, the ACS with incremental location setting (ACS-ILS) algorithm is developed to determine the best reader locations to maximize visiting frequency coverage and minimize reader collision. A service level index is then defined and used to evaluate the service quality of the RFID tracking system. The experimental results show that the proposed ACS-based reader deployment method and service level index can help managers determine the near optimal quantity and locations of readers for the RFID tracking system.