Mathematical Problems in Engineering

Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 245839, 11 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/245839

Research Article

Employing RFID for an Equipment Management System via Wireless Sensor Network

Jui-Ho Chen, Wen-Tsai Sung, and Hsi-Chun Wang

Department of Electrical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, No. 57, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Taiping District, Taichung 41170, Taiwan

Received 26 February 2014; Accepted 16 April 2014; Published 15 June 2014

Academic Editor: Her-Terng Yau

Copyright © 2014 Jui-Ho Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

This paper is mainly in combination with RFID to construct a set of power system equipment remote control, used first on the reader tags received after the use of Visual Basic in order to determine the signal and then transmits the signal via the RS232 cable to control circuit 8051 to control the instrument power switch. The topic is written in the Visual Basic RFID and uses features, such as personnel control systems, and access control systems, which are derived from the time of access control systems, several instrument control systems, and uses records stored in the form of functions, where the other circuit transmits signals to Visual Basic 8051, and then, by 8051, controls the instrument power switch.

1. Introduction

The Executive Yuan Industrial Technology Strategy Conference 2005 (SRB) focused on issues for Taiwan in RFID (Radio frequency identification) in order to develop strategies; without portfolio Lin and Feng-Ching said that Taiwan should actively participate in international standards, build a complete ecological chain of industrial developments, and build a center for production of RFID. According to US ABI Research Inc. research estimates, the annual RFID growth rate of the market was 36.5% in 2008, when it reached a three billion dollar scale. In 2010, driven by its applications, it will accelerate its growth in 2013 and is expected to reach 210 billion dollars. The RFID technology is enormous and is expected to be rapidly applied to recreational opportunities and other aspects of life [1]. People often forget to power off laboratory instruments or use damaged equipment found at the laboratory and are unable to identify the human user to ascertain the reasons for the damage, thus, combining RFID technology can solve the above problem [2].

2. Related Literature Survey

Radio frequency identification uses radio frequency communication realization contact, less action recognition technology [3]. RFID is an emerging recognition technology, which is combined with a chip, antenna, tag, receivers (read/writer), and application interfaces; the back-end system middleware (RFID Middleware) label has a small size, large capacity, and long life and is reusable and can support fast reading and writing, with nonvisible identification, mobile identification, multitarget recognition, positioning, and long-term follow-up management. Tag chips can store a wide range of information, such as by product, location, and dates. The volume can be very small, can be included in the dialectical entity, and can be noncontact and rapid and can contain large amounts of read and write data in its contents (see Table 1) [4].

Table 1: RFID, barcode chip cards, and more general data.

Band
RFID TAG
Chip
Barcode

Intermediary
Electromagnetic
Electricity
Light

Data characteristics
Fixed/variable
Variable
Fixed

Reestablishment
Noncontact
Contact
Afresh

Visible
Unnecessary
Essential
Essential

Tag minimum size
 mm
 cm
 cm

Tag situation
various size
Square
India to goods

Surface damage
Not affected
Not affected reading
Data corruption

Durability
Resistant to chemical attack
Things can be close to the magnetic
Not antifouling

Read distance
0~100 m
Contact
Maximum 12 m

Write
0~100 m
Contact
Not rewritten

RFID is radio frequency, which includes the use of low frequency (125–135 KHz), high frequency (13.56 MHz), ultrahigh frequency (UHF, such as 860–930 MHz), and microwave (2.45 GHz), depending on the frequency of the derived characteristics and different uses of different types, high frequency (13.56 MHz), and UHF (860–930 MHz). RFID has a read range of about 3 feet and 10 to 20 feet, and current RFID technology can read faster at greater distance ranges; the ground is bound to high frequency (HF) to ultrahigh frequency (UHF) applications for more than a trend (see Table 2 and Figures 2(a) and 2(b))[5].

Table 2: RFID TAG type.

Band
LF
HF
UHF

Microwave

Frequenecy
125~133 KHz
13.56 MHz
433 MHz
860~960 MHz
2.45~5.8 GHz

Nomal
ISO18000-2
ISO18000-3
ISO18000-7
ISO18000-6
ISO18000-4/-5

Aerial
Coil
Coil
Bipolar
Bipolar
Bipolar/polariztion diversity

Distance
<50 m
>50 m
50~100 m
~3.5~6 m (P)
~1 m (P)

~100 m (A)
~100 m (A)

Feature
Environmental Chaused caused almost no performance degradation
For short range and multitag identification applications
Identify long distance, time tracking of the container, the impact of environmentally sensitive high priced, multitag recognition distance, and outstanding performance impact environmentally sensitive water
High priced, multitag identification distance, and outstanding performance
Impact environmentally sensitive water

Battery
No
No
Yes
No/Yes
Yes

Recognition rate
Low
Low
Middle
Height
Middle

Visual Basic (VB) was developed by Microsoft to help in environments development, including an event-driven programming language. It is derived from the BASIC programming language. Visual Basic has a graphical user interface (GUI) and rapid application development (RAD) system, which easily uses DAO, RDO, and ADO database connections or creates ActiveX controls. Therefore, as designers focus on the program as the main body of the process, it is not possible to use traditional Basic programs, thus, shortening the programming time [6].

The Visual Basic program is a form-based visual component of joint arrangements and adds code to the specified set of attributes and methods. As default properties and methods have been defined in the component part, designers must write less code to complete a simple program. Programs can contain one or more forms or a main form and multiple subforms, similar to an operating system.

3. Hardware Description

In this study, the system employed a passive reader to receive information, it is from Microprogram Information Co., Ltd. Products,( type:MP-602MUS-3). In the lower circuit of the power supply module, the main supplies 5DCV and 110ACV to the upper circuit contain the signal receiver modules and Visual Basic 8051 instrument power control module of the analog control equipment load (Figures 3(a)–3(c)).

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is used to handle individual passenger information in this study, which passengers’ status is shown in car company owing to information system of many members. Lacking the capability to express them, the aged and those suffering from mental illness require clear identification. Only after identifying the patients can this embedded biosignal evaluator be activated when the pulse, electrocardiogram, or blood oxygen concentration is randomly measured by medical staff or when it is self-measured. One RFID tag is buckled onto each patient with the patient’s basic data inside. When conducting a test, the tag is passed through a read/writer unit to verify the patient identity, which ensures correctness and protects personal information without risking misplacing the data [7].

The RFID working principles are as shown in Figure 1; wherein, the major components are the tag, reader, and computer. The tag stores data; the reader reads the data from the tag or vice versa; the reader also transfers the collected data to the computer, which processes the data using different application programs to assist users for proper strategy judgment. When sensing an RF wave from the reader, the tag, as shown in Figure 1, will generate an “alternative magnetic field,” activating the builtin RF transmitter and microprocessor to return the data inside the EEPROM to the reader. The reader will then transfer the data to the host via RS-232, USB, or WLAN interface [8].

Figure 1: RFID applications.

(a)

(b)

Figure 2: (a) Reader and TAG (b) 8051 instrument power supply and power control structure.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 3: (a) Control equipment (b) control equipment (c) control equipment .

This system is mainly initiated by RFID, in which the tag chip on the wrist band of the monitored individuals communicates with the PXA 270 platform. Attaching RFID chips on the wrists of different people can store related personal data to know whose biosignals are measured in the process, which is particularly necessary for the aged or those suffering from mental illness who cannot express themselves well. With synchronous video transmission, current appearances and reactions of individuals can be monitored in case of urgent treatment by medical staff. The embedded and portable design of this system can accommodate transport inconvenience of the aged or the physically handicapped and transfer measured signals to the monitoring server for further investigation through a wireless network (Figure 4) [9].

Figure 4: RFID used for identifying individuals in the care of in this research.

4. Zigbee Wireless Sensors Network Establishment

The sensing unit has two inner parts. The sensor detects surroundings and renders the received data in analog form. The ADC converts the detected analog signals into digital counterparts and sends the data to the next unit for data processing. This study builds a sensor capable of detecting smoke, IR, and temperature, as well as real-time call and biosignal sensing. The processing unit has two inner parts. The storage part stores collected environmental information as does the hard disk or other storage devices of personal computers; while the processor, similar to the CPU of personal computers, executes presaved programs to control different inside component units and coordinate the inbetween data flows. Either presaved codes or presaved commands from the rear-end server can instruct the processing unit to initiate environmental information collection by the sensing unit and return the collected and assembled data via the transceiver unit. The processing unit consists of a PIC18F4620 microcontroller and a CC2420 wireless transmission chip (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Hardware schematics and related original software from Huahen-provided FPGA module.

The transceiver unit is responsible for communication among the sensors and for transmitting the sensor data to a wireless data collector. The transmission media can be infrared, radio, Bluetooth, and so forth, in order to adapt to different surroundings or applications. The embedded PXA 270 is the transceiver unit, which is used as the main node gathering sensor signals and transmitting them to the network server in the monitoring center. The power unit is a crucial component for maintaining sensor function-operability, as it offers electric power to all inside units. Sensors are often powered by batteries, and power-saving is a major issue in hardware and software design.

In addition to the above four basic units, new functional units can be added according to different environments and applications, for example, a location finding system (LFS) to locate the sensor itself, an exterior or builtin power supply, or a mobilizer able to carry sensor data, which renders the sensor movable. Though many possible units exist inside the sensor, the most important hardware design principle is to be compact, lightweight, low cost, and highly efficient. This research uses the FPGA module to process biosignals in the kernel. In addition to the PXA270-compatible ACEX1 K50 FPGA driver and circuits, the Huahen Company also provides resources, such as RFID, Bluetooth transmission, and video.

In general, the RFID reader can only communicate with a tag, which creates the problem of signal collision. Signal collision of RFID tag signals can be divided into collision and the collision of two categories of the reader signal; the former refers to a reader with multiple labels that simultaneously receive the returned signal, resulting in inaccurate interpretation or misuse; the latter is the same A tag reader at the same time receiving more than one order, resulting in conflict. Signal collision is a very difficult issue as it causes signal transmission failure, loss, or even signal formation of wrong interpretation of data errors, and so forth, which hinders the formation of recognition. In recent years, many methods have been developed that can be used to solve the collision signal, generally referred to as anticollision. Tag anticollision for the RFID system is a significant issue for rapid tag identification. This paper presents a novel fast tag anticollision algorithm, called a DJ (Detection and Jump) algorithm. The proposed new algorithm highly improves tag reading efficiency, as compared to traditional methods (Figure 6) [10].

Figure 6: Detection and Jump Algorithm.

The DJ algorithm splits the tag identification procedure into two steps: (i) collision detection and (ii) jump reading. In the collision detection-step, a short collision detection frame is used to detect a tag collision. During the jump reading step, those tags that have selected a noncolliding slot are notified to respond by sending their ID information to the reader according to the detected collision information. Those tags selecting colliding slots remain to be identified in the next reading round, as based on the collision information detected in the first step [11].

Suppose that there are totally tags to be identified and the number of collision detection slots is ; the probability that tags exists in a single collision detection slot follows the binomial distribution:

when , is the probability of a successful ID transmission. Therefore, the expected number of “correct slot” is given as follows:

Will (2) into (1) is available as following (3)

The definition of z as following (4)

The definition of

In order to maximize , we have to maximize . It is obvious that a bigger produces a bigger . In another words, a shorter SCDF results in a better performance, while the length of the reading slot is fixed. remains unchanged in card slot , where the greater the length, the higher the efficiency of the system; the larger the reader slot of , constant, the higher the efficiency of the system.

5. Laboratory Monitoring System Instrument

When the user employed the tag to send messages via the card with the RS232 cable connection, the Visual Basic sends the signal of the instrument power transmitted through the MAX232 to carry out the conversion after 8051, which will receive the signal in the corresponding PORT pin and send a signal to the transistor switch to turn the transistor. The transistor turns on 5DCV, which will be added to the Relay leaving the excitation, which often opens normally closed switches, and will be added to the normally open switch 110 ACV which will turn leaving the load energized; the action will return after the 8051 signal is turned back to Visual Basic (Figure 7) [12].

Figure 7: System flowchart.

If more cards by the time (or time of access to reach), Visual Basic will launch off the signal to 8051, and 8051 will be fired again to signal the transistor to switch off; then as Relay is not excited, it often will jump back to the original closed state leaving 110 ACV not normally open state power, resulting in load power; much the same way the action will return after the 8051 closed signal back Visual Basic (Figures 8(a) and 8(b)).

(a)

(b)

Figure 8: (a) 8051 instrument power supply control circuit (b) transistor relay switch circuit.

System Interface features include reader switches, time control, identifying of the card holder, card set permissions, meter power control, and used record storage [13].

Figure 9 shows the RFID Visual Basic interface that controls the equipment. The picture at the top of the basic control application is set as the reader’s com port, access code, bound rate, and delay; then set the permissions portion of the card number in the first column by writing the required card number to use the tag card number, and then write your column in the driver permission to use several instruments. At the next start and end times, fill in the time period required, and time record table of a valid part of the tag card will show the time and card number and the state apparatus, and it will also save these records in a folder inside the convenient form search for used records.

Figure 9: RFID instrument control system interface.

6. Consistency Data Fusion Algorithm

According to sung and Hsu [14], the method of multisensor measurement data consistency fusion, first of all, the definition of confidence distance measurement, which is a kind of measurement that balances the support level of odometer measurement data, is established between confidence distance matrix and relation matrix in basic structure of the multiodometer measurement data. By utilizing digraph method, a plenty of inaccuracies or errors can be deleted or removed. Finally, this paper adopts the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to make the best fusion value via multi-sensors measurement data.

When this study employed multisensor to measure the same parametric, this investigation can assume that third sensors are measurable values which are following the Gaussion distribution. Each pdf curve line from measurable value is used to make characteristic function . We record the first measurable values to be . To make the deviations among , and , we adopt conception of confidence distance measurement as follows [15]:

The confidence distance measurement from sensors is called (), both reflect measurement values with consistency. The value from confidence distance is lower, observation from both get similar; otherwise, the deviation gets higher. Therefore, the fusion from both sensors is called , and . The are probability density curve square measures on internal . Consider

If the () sensor measured the same parameter, then confidence distance measurement established the matrix of , called multisensor data confidence distance matrix which describes each sensor support level with consistency [16].

Data combination sensor is the best fusion data, which is used to make a result from measured parameters. We adopt one data from all fusion values which is probability density function being as follows in equation (8) and Maximum Likelihood function in function (9):

this investigation can get the best fusion value form original measurement data which should satisfy the following equation:

According to (10), we can get natural logarithms for both sides; then the equation (10) is as follows:

According to the purpose of the maximum likelihood estimation, we can get which is equal to

this investigation got the solution as follows:

is fusion set which is the best fusion data [17].

In this study, we employed parallel framework to process various sensors data fusion for recognition and classification. Each flow possesses a consistency fusion method unit and sensor device, as shown in Figure 10. Depending on the sensor network topology, it may be more useful to implement the distributed detection or estimation using a tree structure. Referring to existing related literature, Alhakem and Varshney studied a distributed detection system with feedback and memory. That is, each sensor not only uses its present input and the previous feedback decision from the fusion center, but also uses its own previous inputs. In our IME system, we propose a real-time feedback method for approaching the multisource data fusion rule in global optimal decision conditions. Tsitsiklis shows that the optimal decision rules are still in the form of threshold tests. Tai et al. considered the case where the local decisions made at a number of sensors are communicated to multiple root nodes for data fusion [18–21].

Figure 10: Consistency fusion method-based parallel data fusion processing flow.

We examine two particular sensor networks applications in the context of IME system in this paper [22]:

(1)using consistency fusion method to assist the optimal use of temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, and Illumination in four variable measurements for IME system,(2)using optimum fusion rule algorithms to identify and classify the parallel data fusion system.

The fusion rule is a logical function with binary inputs and one binary output, the number of fusion rules is . The possible fusion rules for two binary decisions based on consistency fusion method training process.

7. System Experiment Results

The Figure 11 shows the use of permission tag information, which shows the interface card number, time of access, time card, and user name and states the power apparatus. If the instrument has power, it will show a green pattern, the opposite is a black state.

Figure 11: System alerts and operation.

Figure 12(a) explains the driving privileges; even though they have the equipment, they are not set at this time tag, and without the competence to use, the instrument will not turn on, and the picture shows time insufficient privileges. Figure 12(b) shows the apparatus in use, thus, these tags have time permission and the instrument will automatically power off and be displayed in the interface. The success of each of read RFID tag instrument on or off, the system will automatically help you save the form in the specified folder, rendering it easy to use this instrument to search records. The experimental results of sensor data fusion and implement standards are as shown in Figure 12(c) and Figure 13. This investigation offers suggestions from the analysis figure, with a curve to delete or remove extreme values or values with errors; thus, this investigation can adapt a maximum likelihood algorithm with confidence data to render our research more accurate. However, to measure the data, the results of the data fusion algorithm are better than an average fusion algorithm.

Figure 12: (a) Time insufficient permissions (b) authority over time automatically turning off equipment (c) instrument time record forms.

Figure 13: Results of traditional data fusion methods, compared with innovative optimization data fusion approaches.

In Figure 13, when the estimated time approaches 10⁹ sec above the actual value, the measurement value tends to match. This experiment compared optimization data fusion based approaches and standard measurement and general data fusion methods, as based on parallel data fusion methods. The standard measurement based cites literature from our pervious researches in [23]. According to the training error curves, the optimization data fusion approach was better than the other general methods in measurement processes.

In Figure 14, as the estimated time approaches 10¹⁰ s, the acceptance rate tends to match toward the end of an observation period among the measurement, referenced from a piece of our prior work [24] and two theoretical approaches, that is, an optimization-based data fusion approach and a standard parallel data fusion approach.

Figure 14: A comparison result of the relative acceptance rate versus the estimated time between theoretical approaches and experiment.

Figure 15 illustrates the results from the computational complexity derivations for the various data fusion. The consistency data fusion algorithm approach shows the expected 12% reduction over the general data fusion. It is also very evident that this study has excellent computational complexity efficiency between the general data fusion and standard multirate data fusion implementation measurement.

Figure 15: Graphical comparison of computational complexity for the various data fusion methods.

8. Conclusions and Future Perspective

This feature, combined with Visual Basic RFID, allows the control of multiple instruments, where personnel access control and time functions are composed of modules. The topic can also be controlled by the load on other occasions, and the use of electricity controls the apparatus and makes changes, such as a motor with factory, household appliances, energy classroom, meeting places, and energy. For future additions of network monitoring, individuals can use computers in remote locations with mobile internet to achieve monitoring capabilities.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan under Grant NSC 100-2218-E-167-001. The authors would like to thank the National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taiwan, for financially supporting this research.

References

C. Sung, C. Ting, K. K. Liao, and K. K. Hu, Protel Circuit Design and Operation, Chung Computer Books, 2006.

M.-C. Wu and S.-Y. Huang, Visual Basic 6.0 Learning Model, Chung Computer Books, 1998.

C. Tai and W.-H. Tai, 8051 Single-Chip C-Language Application Programming Example Explanation, Wenkui Information, 2007.

C.-Y. Tsai and C.-Y. Tsai, Single-Chip Microcomputer 8051/8951 Principles and Applications, Chuan Hwa Books, 2009.

J. S. Chen, RFID Introduction and Application, Chuan Hwa Books, 2008.

Microprogram Information Co., Ltd., 2011, http://www.program.com.tw/app/geturl.pl?id=6&url=../xml/support_solutions/solutions.xml&sid=1&cid=#

S.-H. Wu, A study of cooperation picking in the synchronized picking warehouse [M.S. thesis], National Central University, 2011.

“RFID Value-added applications flagship demonstration project sites,” 2010, http://www.pro-view.com.tw/Index.aspx

W.-T. Sung, H.-Y. Chung, Y.-C. Hsu, and K.-Y. Chen, “A light wind speed measurement system design to strengthen wireless sensor network functions,” International Journal of Innovative Computing, Information and Control, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 859–868, 2011.

Department of Health, “Executive Yuan, 98—cause of death statistics,” 1998, http://www.doh.gov.tw/CHT2006/index_populace.aspx

H.-T. Ian, Developing Multiple Leads Electrocardiogram Measuring System Transmitted by Wireless Network, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, 2010.

Q.-J. Feng, Research on Long Term Medical Care Based on ZigBee Platform Application, Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Asia University, 2006.

W.-T. Sung, J.-H. Chen, M.-H. Wang, and Y.-C. Hsu, “Remote medical care system design based on RFID and ZigBee technology via wireless sensors network,” International Journal of Innovative Computing, Information and Control, vol. 6, no. 11, pp. 5203–5220, 2010.

W.-T. Sung and Y.-C. Hsu, “Designing an industrial real-time measurement and monitoring system based on embedded system and ZigBee,” Expert Systems with Applications, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 4522–4529, 2011.

Jey, “Schneider electric launched Wiser “smart home” control system,” 2010

M. Cardei, M. T. Thai, Y. Li, and W. Wu, “Energy-efficient target coverage in wireless sensor networks,” in Proceedings of the Annual IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (IEEE INFOCOM '05), pp. 1976–1984, March 2005.

T. C. Shermer, “Recent results in art galleries,” Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 80, no. 9, pp. 1384–1399, 1992.

C. Tai and W.-H. Tai, C-8051 Detailed Design Example Applications, Kings Information, Taipei, Taiwan, 2007.

A. Z. Alkar and U. Buhur, “An internet based wireless home automation system for multifunctional devices,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 1169–1173, 2005.

K. Y. Lee and J. W. Choi, “Romote-controlled home automation system via Bluetooth home network,” in Proceedings of the SICE Annual Conference, vol. 3, pp. 2824–2829, August 2003.

Z.-Q. Luo, M. Gastpar, J. Liu, and A. Swami, “Distributed signal processing in sensor networks,” IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 14–15, 2006.

D. S. Broomhead and D. Lowe, “Multivariable functional interpolation and adaptive networks,” Complex Systems, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 321–355, 1988.

W.-T. Sung, J.-H. Chen, and Y.-C. Chiang, “ECG application to remote care system via web-based and graphics interface,” Advanced Materials Research, vol. 217-218, pp. 1330–1335, 2011.

W.-T. Sung and C.-L. Hsiao, “IHPG algorithm for efficient information fusion in multi-sensor network via smoothing parameter optimization,” Informatica, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 291–313, 2013.