An Optimal Q-Algorithm for the ISO 18000-6C RFID Protocol

• Published in: IEEE transactions on automation science and engineering Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 16 - 24
• Main Authors: Maguire, Y., Pappu, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.01.2009; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Access control; Access protocols; Algorithms; analysis; anti-collision; Automation; Backscatter; Channels; CMOS technology; Control algorithms; Control systems; Decoding; Gen2; IEC standards; Independent system operators; ISO 18000-6C; ISO standards; Media Access Protocol; Multiple-access; Multiuser channels; optimal; Optimization; Protocol; Radio frequency; Radio frequency identification; radio-frequency identification (RFID); Radiofrequency identification; Tags
• ISSN: 1545-5955; 1558-3783
• DOI: 10.1109/TASE.2008.2007266

Passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems based on the ISO/IEC 18000-6C (aka EPC Gen2) protocol have typical read rates of up to 1200 unique 96-bit tags per second. This performance is achieved in part through the use of a medium access control algorithm, christened the Q-algorithm, that is a variant of the Slotted Aloha multiuser channel access algorithm. We analyze the medium access control algorithm employed by the ISO/IEC 18000-6C RFID air interface protocol and provide a procedure to achieve optimal read rates. We also show that theoretical performance can be exceeded in many practical use cases and provide a model to incorporate real-world data in read-rate estimation.