A survey of RFID data processing

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a new technology which allows a sensor (reader) to read, from a distance, and without line of sight, a unique product identification code (EPC) associated with a tag. Such tags are very useful in inventory management and logistics, because they can be used in order to track the movement and locations of large volumes of items in a cost effective way. This leads to massive streams of noisy data, which can be used in the context of a variety of data management and event processing algorithms. The use of RFID also has a number of privacy challenges associated with it, because a tag on an item being carried by a person, also becomes a unique location tag for that person. Therefore, methods need to to be designed to increase the privacy and security of RFID technology. This chapter will provide a broad overview and survey of a variety of RFID data management, mining and processing techniques. We will also discuss the privacy and security issues associated with the use of RFID technology.