Development and Performance Analysis of a Multi-point Radio Frequency Identification File Tracking System

Abstract

This research discussed the concept of Developing and Carrying out Performance Analysis of a Multi-Point RFID based file tracking system. Locating files is one of the greatest problems in organization nowadays and large volume of data are usually generated in most institutions of learning/ organizations. Time is wasted in searching files, energy is misused, in looking for misplaced files, deadlines are missed and sometimes files are lost. The study used Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology as a method of tracking and managing movement of files from one location to another within an organization. Algorithms for tracking of files were developed. This algorithms involve searching the whole database for a file to be tracked and checking for the last time the file was entered into or the time a file moves from one office to another with a view of locating the file. The RFID tracking system can track the location of files within three(3) offices and near field communication (NFC) tags are placed in the file of staff which has a unique identification number. The universal serial Bus (USB) reader will send response to each tag within the reading range of the USB reader. The control units are responsible for receiving the information from the RFID unit and tracking the tagged staff where necessary. The system consists of terminal unit which include xbee s2c module ,Reader ,Tag, Personnel computer(pc)..At end  of this research, it was established that  all the aim and objectives were achieved. A 3-point RFID Based File Tracking System was successfully implemented, performance of the system based on number of files to be tracked was simultaneously  done in which, the design of the system can track up to 256 files at a time.. However, thirty(30) files were simulated and eight(8) were implemented. Thus, increase in number of files is directly proportional to increase in time. Comparison between this research and other previous works was carried out. Part of the caveat of this work is the fact that every staff should carry RFID card and swipe at the door post when going in or closing from office. The file any staff carries will communicate with an RFID reader installed on the door post. The limitation of this work could serve as a good recommendation for future research.