Section: New Results

Spatial Computing approach and RFIDs

Participants : Michel Banâtre, Paul Couderc [contact] , Yann Glouche, Arnab Sinha.

In the line of our previous research in pervasive computing, we are working on spatial computing approaches in the context of RFID. Spatial computing consists in data structures and computing processes directly supported by physical objects. RFID is an attractive technology for supporting spatial computing, enabling any object to interact in a smart environment. Traditionnal RFID solutions use a logical model, where the RFID tags are simple identifiers referring to data in a remote information system. In our approach, we use the memory of the tags to build self-contained data structures and self-describing objects. While featuring interesting properties, such as autonomous operation and high scalability, this approach also raises difficult challenges: the memory capacity of the tags is very limited, requiring compact and efficient data structures. Some results have been achieved for security applications, where we contributed to efficient integrity checking solution for coupled objects. Integrity checking based on objects group can also be used to provide reliable inventory protocol for RFID, which current readers are lacking. A paper has just been submitted on this aspect.

An applicative project (see 7.2.1 ) in the context of domestic waste management is broadly investivating the use of RFID at item level to provide early waste sorting, to avoid incompatible mix of waste and to prevent hazards. An ontology based system has been proposed to determine the possible interactions of tagged products based on their properties and the external conditions.