1.

1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Making people lives much convenient, more and more technologies are invented.
One of which is the RFID technology. Radio Frequency Identification or RFID is a
generic term that uses radio waves for identifying objects. RFID is the combined term
of RF and ID where RF means Radio Frequency, a wireless communication technology
and ID means identification. Hence , RFID is a wireless networking technology to
transmit identification information stored at an electronic memory space.
RFID retrieves data using radio frequency waves. There are several methods
of identification, but the most common is to store a serial number that identifies a
person or object and perhaps other information on a microchip that is attached to an
antenna. The antenna enables the chip to transmit the identification information to
a reader. The reader converts the radio waves reflected back from the RFID tag into
digital information that can then be passed on to the computer that can make use of
it(Limkar, 2017).
A RFID system consists of an RFID reader and multiple RFID tags. In a typical
working of an RFID system, the reader sends out an identification request to the tags, and
the tags reply with the tag information. If multiple tags reply simultaneously, tag collision
occurs and this leads to the unsuccessful identification of all the tags. Therefore,
anti-collision protocols are employed to improve the identification rate of RFID tags
(Ashwin et. al., 2015).

Accordingly there are two major categories of RFID tags namely active and
passive tags. Passive RFID tags only backscatter magnetic or electromagnetic waves
coming from the RFID reader. That is the only way a passive RFID tag can
communicate with the reader. In other words, they do not have any RF emitters on
board so they cannot create their own RF signals. Passive tags use the incoming signal
from the interrogator to supply the embedded chip.

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1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study developed an RFID based classroom attendance logging system.

Specifically the system was able to:

1. Identified scanned different enrolled RFID cards

2. Sent user information, date, and time via SMS to a registered phone
3. LCD Screen should display an Instruction for the card user during stand by
phase and display a prompt message and user Information after a successful
read
4. Establish communication between Microsoft Excel on a Windows
Computer and the Arduino though serial port protocol incorporating PLX-
DAQ and Arduino IDE to the system.
5. Generated report of the logged data in excel spreadsheet.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In the RFID attendance system, information will be logged in a computer that is

connected to the RFID reader to monitor students’ activities. The system can be installed
in different Schools, colleges and universities, offices and other institution that uses IDs to
check the time in and out of the students, workers and employees.

1.4 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The system is limited only in data gathering of the time in and time outs of students
inside the campus. In developing a prototype of the said system, 25 Passive RFID tags, a
MFRC522 reader and an Arduino UNO is used.

The system is designed to interface data from serial to USB connection with the
help of a microcontroller.

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 1.4.1 Multiple-entrance
In case of a school having multiple entrances, the source code for the system will
be the same hence installing another system to another entrance is easy. In this project,
only one system as a prototype is developed.

1.4.2 Multiple Students Entering

The RFID reader that is used for the prototype is the MFRC522 which is capable
only of reading one ID at a time. The system is upgradable to use other RFID sensors like
at the malls to scan multiple ID tags at a time.

1.4.3 Data logging

For logging in data, an Arduino data logging Shield with an SD card module
combined with the DS3231 Real Time Clock module is used.

1.5 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

ATTENDANCE IS
TAKEN AND
ACCOUNTED IN
THE EXCEL

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Figure 1 Level 0 – RFID SCHOOL ID SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

The terms that is used in the system are defined according to its meaning and
functions. The following are as follows:

1.6.1 Microcontroller
A Microcontroller is an integrated circuit that contains a microprocessor
along with memory and associated circuits and that controls some or all of the functions of
an electronic device or system. The heart of the RFID Attendance System

1.6.2 Passive RFID tag

An RFID tag that does not have its own power source. The one that serves
as an Identification card of the holder

1.6.3 RFID
Radio frequency identification is a form of wireless communication that
incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency
portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal or person.

1.6.4 RFID Reader

A radio frequency identification reader (RFID reader) is a device used to
gather information from an RFID tag, which is used to track individual objects in this case
the Holder

1.6.5 School ID
A student ID is a number or alphanumeric code assigned to public-school
students that can help manage student records more efficiently.