Bluetooth/802.11 Protocol Adaptation for RFID Tags

The 2.4 GHz frequency band is available throughout most parts of the world for low cost short-range wireless communications and has increased in popularity with the proliferation of networking and cordless technologies based on IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth. A growing number of RFID systems have also been designed for operation within the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency bands. As more wireless technologies sought to use the 2.4 GHz band, co-existence and protocol compatibility issues have become even more pronounced. We characterize the expected performance of power efficient, protocol compatible backscatter-based RFID tags in the ISM band. We also propose an architecture for a hybrid backscatter-based RFID tag that can co-exist in an 802.11 or Bluetooth infrastructure while greatly improving its battery life.