Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a new generation of Auto Identification and Data collection technology which helps to automate business processes and allows identification of large number of tagged objects like books, using radio waves. RFID based Library Management system would allow fast transaction flow for the library and will prove immediate and long term benefits to library in traceability and security. The proposed system is based on RFID readers, supported with antennas at gate and transaction sections, and library cards containing RFID-transponders which are able to electronically store information that can be read even without the physical contact with the help of radio medium. Also it provides an additional functionality to scan the library by a moving robot to generate a list of misplaced books. This project report presents the experiments conducted to set up RFID based Library system.
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List of Figures
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Sr. No. Figure No. Description Page No.
1 1.1 Overview of RFID based Library 9
2 3.1 Class Diagram 20
3 3.2 Use case Diagram 21
4 3.3 Activity Diagram-Book Issue 22
5 3.4 Activity Diagram-Book Return 23
6 3.5 Activity Diagram-Book Search 24
7 3.6 Activity Diagram-Book Scanning 25
8 4.1 .NET IDE 27
9 4.2 Menubar & Toolbar 28
10 4.3 Creating New project 29
11 4.4 RFID reader & Tag 30
12 4.5 Xbee 31
13 4.6 Raspberry Pi 32
14 4.7 Issue Book Windows Form 34
15 4.8 Return Book Windows Form 35
16 4.9 Scanning 35
17 4.10 Admin Portal Overview 37
18 4.11 Student Sign up By Admin 37
19 4.12 Remove student/faculty by admin 38
20 4.13 Issue report for specified period 38
21 4.14 Fine report category: Student 39
22 4.15 Change of Loan Period and Fine cost by Admin 39
23 4.16 Change of book issue limit by Admin 40
24 4.17 Fine clearance by Admin 40
25 4.18 Search by User 41
26 4.19 Sign up for user 41
27 4.20 Login for user 42
28 4.21 Book Report by user 42
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT III
ABSTRACT IV
LIST OF FIGURES V
CHAPTER1 4
PROBLEM SUMMARY/ INTRODUCTION 4
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 6
1.2 INTRODUCTION TO RFID 6
1.3 TECHNICAL ISSUES 7
CHAPTER 2 8
PROBLEM STATEMENT 9
2.1 INTRODUCTION 9
2.2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION 9
2.3 RFID IN LIBRARY 10
CHAPTER 3 13
TECHNICAL AND DESIGN DETAIL 13
3.1 LIST OF TECHNOLOGIES USED 13
3.2 LIST OF CLASSES/NAMESPACES 14
3.3 DESIGN DETAILS 15
3.4 UML DIAGRAMS 17
3.4.1 Class Diagram 17
3.4.2 Use Case 18
3.4.3 Activity Diagram 19
CHAPTER 4 24
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION 24
4.1 LITERATURE REVIEW 24
4.1.1 Introduction to .net 24
4.1.2 Menu Bar and Toolbar 25
4.1.3 Creating new project 27
4.2 MATERIAL DESCRIPTION 27
4.2.1 RFID Reader 27
4.2.2 Xbee wireless communication module 29
4.2.3 Raspberry Pi module 30
4.3 DESCRIPTION OF METHOD AND WORKFLOW 31
CHAPTER 5 42
EXPECTED OUTCOME 42
CHAPTER 6 44
CONCLUSION & FUTURE ADVANCEMENTS 44
6.1 CONCLUSION 44
6.2 FUTURE ADVANCEMENTS 44
REFERENCES 46
ANNEXURE A (GTU CERTIFICATE) 47
ANNEXURE B (PRILIMNARY EXAM REPORT) 48
ANNEXURE C (PDE REPORT) 50
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Chapter 1
Problem Summary/ Introduction
Chapter1
Problem Summary/ Introduction
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RFID technology is being implemented in a number of industries. Supply chain implementation is perhaps one of the most frequently mentioned applications of RFID tags and equipment. Retailers such as ‘Wal-Mart’ and various grocery stores have begun to make it mandatory for their suppliers to tag merchandise destined for their stores. There is, however, a key difference to the library’s inventory as compared to that of a warehouse or a retail outlet. In the warehouse and retail supply chain, goods come in and leave. Only occasionally are they returned. The retail sector is looking at RFID as a "throwaway" technology that hands an item to a customer which gets discarded. Yet the item wise unit cost of including an RFID tag is much more than the cost of printing a barcode on a package. In libraries, items are taken out and returned many times. Thus the same RFID tag is re-used many times. The libraries across the globe started to use RFID to speed up the self -check in/out processes, to control the theft and to ease the inventory control in library. The barcode technology is slowly getting replaced by the RFID technology. The RFID tag does not have to be visible for detection. It can be read even when it is embedded in an item, such as in the cardboard cover of a book or in the packaging of a product. It can also store data such as rack number, accession number, book number, author information etc., but barcode is limited to just an identification number. This project presents the study taken and corresponding experiments conducted for integrating RFID to existing Library.
An overview of this project can be represented by following fig-1.
Fig-1.1 Overview of Library System’
1.1 Aims and Objectives
‘ To make a web application which handles core database regarding users and books and avails all basic features of a library system.
‘ To interface RFID reader with application to update and manage the database
‘ To avoid misplacements of books with a separate moving RFID reader
‘ To achieve automation in issue/return of book.
1.2 Introduction to RFID
RFID technology is being implemented in a number of industries. Supply chain implementation is perhaps one of the most frequently mentioned applications of RFID tags and equipment. Retailers such as ‘Wal-Mart’ and various grocery stores have begun to make it mandatory for their suppliers to tag merchandise destined for their stores. There is, however, a key difference to the library’s inventory as compared to that of a warehouse or a retail outlet. In the warehouse and retail supply chain, goods come in and leave. Only occasionally are they returned. The retail sector is looking at RFID as a "throwaway" technology that hands an item to a customer which gets discarded. Yet the item wise unit cost of including an RFID tag is much more than the cost of printing a barcode on a package. In libraries, items are taken out and returned many times. Thus the same RFID tag is re-used many times.
The libraries across the globe started to use RFID to speed up the self-check in/out processes, to control the theft and to ease the inventory control in library. The barcode technology is slowly getting replaced by the RFID technology. The RFID tag does not have to be visible for detection. It can be read even when it is embedded in an item, such as in the cardboard cover of a book or in the packaging of a product. It can also store data such as rack number, accession number, book number, author information etc., but barcode is limited to just an identification number. This project presents the study taken and corresponding experiments conducted for integrating RFID to existing Library.
1.3 Technical issues
1. Interface with RFID reader
RFID reader works on port RS-232 which is not supported in newer system. Reading data from port and storing/fetching from database by application would require communication through USB port. An RS-232 to USB converter is used for interaction of RFID with newer computers.
2. Data retrieval from robot
The robot scanning for the misplaced books and generating a list will have to be synchronized with the computer application to be updated on regular basis. The temporary report of scanning a session will be required for fixing the misplaced books. As the robot finishes the scanning, the session data has to be fetched from the robot and computer application has to be synchronized.
3. Conversion of data fetched from RFID reader
The data fetched from RFID reader has a rough format which has to be made readable for computer application. The application should be able to identify book from the data fetched from reader and the main thing to make sure of is that repeated data is not read and data has to be checked every time reading occurs. RFID reader may read one tag more than one time. Data should be read only once by the application.
Chapter 2
Problem Statement
Chapter 2
Problem statement
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2.1 Introduction
‘ This project is based on RFID technology. Various operations carried out in library will use RFID reader and tag.
‘ An application will hold the database of books and provide functionalities like viewing the current books, due dates and fine (for members) and searching for the availability of books (for guests).
‘ Additional features include inquiring for a book, and reserving a book (only limited for faculties).
‘ A bot will scan the library for misplaced books and will produce a list of such books so that every book remains in their particular place.
‘ Thus automation will be enhanced to a certain level to current barcode system.
2.2 Brief description
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a new generation of Auto Identification and Data collection technology which helps to automate business processes and allows identification of large number of tagged objects like books, using radio waves. RFID based Library Management system would allow fast transaction flow for the library and will prove immediate and long term benefits to library in traceability and security. The proposed system is based on RFID readers, supported with antennas at gate and transaction sections, and library cards containing RFID-transponders which are able to electronically store information that can be read / written even without the physical contact with the help of radio medium. This paper presents the experiments conducted to set up RFID based.
2.3 RFID IN LIBRARY
A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, books, and services, and the structure in which it is housed. Apart from books many libraries are now also repositories and access points for maps, prints, or other documents on various storage media such as microform (microfilm/microfiche), audio tapes, CDs, LPs, cassettes, videotapes, and DVDs. Libraries have materials arranged in a specified order according to a library classification system, so that items may be located quickly and collections may be browsed efficiently. Reference stacks are different which has only reference books and only selected members.
Basic tasks in library management include the planning of acquisitions of materials, arranging the acquired materials according to the library classification, preservation of materials the de accessioning of materials, patron borrowing of materials, and developing and administering library computer systems. Among these, the proposed system will automate the following tasks using RFID technology.
‘ Accessing number of books at a time.
‘ Searching a particular book to check its presence in the library.
‘ Locating the physical location of the book.
‘ Accounting/Stock verification of the materials.
The RFID based Library facilitates the fast issuing, reissuing and returning of books with the help of RFID enabled modules. It directly provides the book information and library member information to the library management system and does not need the manual typing. It also provides monitoring and searching system. The monitoring module will continuously monitor the movement of books across the gates, so that the books taken out without prior issuing will be traced out easily and will alarm the librarians. The searching module provides the fast searching of books using RFID handheld reader. The physical location of the books can be easily located using this module.
Utmost care has been taken to provide following features to the Library using RFID technology:
‘ To remove manual book keeping of records.
‘ Traceability of books and library members as they move.
‘ Improved utilization of resources like manpower, infrastructure etc.
‘ Less time consumption as line of sight and manual interaction are not needed for RFID-tag reading.
‘ To provide 2 meters read range antennas.
‘ To minimize the manual intervention.
‘ To minimize the manual errors.
‘ To provide the long lasting labels.
‘ To provide fast searching of books.
Following are the advantages of RFID over Barcodes:
Barcode RFID
‘ Require line of sight to be read. ‘ Can be read without line of sight.
‘ Can only be read individually. ‘ Multiple tags can be read simultaneously.
‘ Cannot be read if damaged or dirty. ‘ Can cope with harsh and dirty environment.
‘ Require manual tracking and susceptible to human error. ‘ Can be automatically tracked removing human error.
Chapter 3
Technical and Design Detail
Chapter 3
Technical and Design Detail
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‘ The project design will be imple1mented in .NET technology and MySql as dbms
‘ Coding includes languages C#.NET, VB.NET
‘ Data will be read from RFID tags using RFID reader interface. Data read by RFID reader is transmitted to central system wirelessly using Xbee.
‘ Robot is used for scanning library for misplaced books which will be controlled wirelessly with the help of Raspberry Pi.
‘ Particular functionalities and introduction of Raspberry Pi and Xbee is explain in the below section.
3.1 List of technologies used
‘ .NET framework (C#.net).
‘ Mysql database.
‘ RFID reader interface.
‘ Raspberry Pi.
‘ Xbee (S1) wireless module.
3.2 List of Classes/Namespaces
‘ System: The System namespace contains fundamental classes and base classes that define commonly-used value and reference data types, events and event handlers, interfaces, attributes, and processing exceptions.
‘ Generics: The generics namespace provides ability for user to create strongly typed collections, which provides better performance and efficiency.
‘ Linq: The System.Linq namespace provides classes and interfaces that support queries that use Language-Integrated Query (LINQ)
‘ Web: The System.Web namespace supplies classes and interfaces that enable browser-server communication.
‘ UI: The System.Web.UI namespace provides classes and interfaces that enable you to create ASP.NET server controls and ASP.NET Web pages for the user interface of your ASP.NET Web applications.
‘ Data: The System.Data namespace provides access to classes that represent the ADO.NET architecture. ADO.NET lets you build components that efficiently manage data from multiple data sources.
‘ SqlClient: The System.Data.SqlClient namespace is the.NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server.
‘ Dbconnection: represents the connection to database.
‘ IO.Port: The System.IO.Ports namespace contains classes for controlling serial ports. The most important class, SerialPort, provides a framework for synchronous and event-driven I/O, access to pin and break states, and access to serial driver properties. It can be used to wrap a Stream objects, allowing the serial port to be accessed by classes that use streams.
‘ Configuration: The System.Configuration namespace contains the types that provide the programming model for handling configuration data.
3.3 Design Details
‘ The project consists of a web application accessible by everyone and is hosted on the webserver.
‘ Web application is designed using C#.net in visual studio 2010 (.NET framework 4.0)
‘ The application consists of an index page which is a master page that would contain all the basic features of the library viz. search book, sign in/signup contact information etc.
‘ Authenticated users can access their account and can see the books issued by them, pending fine, etc.
‘ Guests can look for the books available in the library.
‘ User and book information is stored in sql server database connected to the web application.
‘ Students, faculties would have separate accounts and details will be added to database as they sign up.
‘ Admin have their own account using which they can add/remove user or book.
‘ Books contain tag read by RFID reader and tag id will be fetched in windows application as and when admin adds a new book to the database.
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3.4 UML Diagrams
3.4.1 Class Diagram
Fig-3.1 Class Diagram
3.4.2 Use Case:
Fig-3.2 Use case Diagram
3.4.3 Activity Diagram:
Fig-3.3 Activity Diagram-Book issue
Fig- 3.4 Activity Diagram-Return Book
Fig-3.5 Activity Diagram-Book Search
Fig-3.6 Activity Diagram-Scanning
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Chapter 4
Problem Description
Chapter 4
Problem Description
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4.1 Literature Review
4.1.1 Introduction to .net
Visual Studio .NET is Microsoft’ s Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for creating, running and debugging programs (also called applications) written in a variety of .NET programming languages.
When Visual Studio .NET is executed, the Start Page is displayed (Fig below). The left-hand side of the Start Page contains a list of helpful links, such as Get Started. Clicking a link displays its contents. We refer to single-clicking with the left mouse button as selecting, or clicking, whereas we refer to double’clicking with the left mouse button as double Clicking.
Fig-4.1 .NET IDE
4.1.2 Menu Bar and Toolbar
Commands for managing the IDE and for developing, maintaining and executing program are contained in the menus, which are located on the menu bar (Fig. 2.4). Menus contain groups of related commands (also called menu ??teins) that, when selected, cause the IDE to perform specific actions (e.g.. open a window, save a file, print a file and execute a program). For example. new projects are created by selecting File> New > Project…. The menus depicted in fig. 2.4 are summarized in Fig. 2.5. In Chapter 13, Graphical User Interfaces: Part 2, we discuss how programmers can create and add their own menus and menu items to their projects.
Fig -4.2 Menubar and Toolbar
4.1.3 Creating new project
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Fig- 4.3 Creating New Project
When we click new project a new window opens as shown above. The appropriate language is to be selected from visual C# and visual basic.
4.2 Material Description
4.2.1 RFID Reader:
The rhydoLABZ RFID reader reads EM4100 family transponder tags that are brought in proximity to the reader and output the unique tag identification number through RS232 serial port @9600 bps. The reader output 12 byte including one start, stop byte and 10 unique data byte. The start byte and stop byte are used to easily identify that a correct string has been received from the reader (they correspond to a line feed and carriage return characters, respectively). The middle ten bytes are the actual tag’s unique ID. Vertical and horizontal parity checking has been done in card reading algorithm to ensure data integrity. One status LED is provided to indicate card detection. The normal detection range is 10-15CM for Card Type TAGs. The RFID Reader uses the EM4102 protocol. Any other tags that also use the EM4102 protocol can be used with the rhydoLABZ RFID reader.
These types of systems are found in many applications such as passport protection, animal identification, inventory control systems, and secure access control systems, robotics, navigation, inventory tracking, payment systems, and car immobilization. Because passive tags require a strong RF field to operate, their effective range is limited to an area in close proximity to the RFID reader. The distance over which the RFID tag is usable is affected by such things as the tag shape and size, materials being used in the area near the reader, and the orientation of the reader and tag in respect to each other and in their operating environment. The smaller a tag, the closer it must be to the reader to operate. Each transponder tag contains a unique identifier (one of 1,099,511,627,776, possible combinations) that is read by the RFID Reader Module and transmitted to the host via a simple serial interface.
There are a variety of transponder tags that come in different packages. Each tag has a specific range that is within 10% of the given distance for each type of tag. The reason for the 10% is due to environmental conditions and RFID modules.
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Fig-4.4 RFID reader & Tag
4.2.2 Xbee wireless communication module
Fig-4.5 Xbee
‘ Xbee is a device used to transfer data wirelessly. Following is the technical description of XBee (s1) which is used in the project
‘ This is the Pro (higher-power) version of the popular XBee! This module is series #1 (802.15.4 protocol) 60mW wireless module, good for point-to-point, multipoint and convertible to a mesh network point. These are much more powerful than the plain XBee modules, great for when you need more range.
‘ What we like about the Series 1 modules is that they are so easy to get set up. If you have two in range, they will automatically form a serial link with no configuration, so you can send TTL serial data back and forth. You can also configure the baud rate, as well as sleep modes, power modes and tons more stuff using the Digi XBee tool.
‘ The pins on an XBee are 2mm spacing, not 0.1" so they will not fit into a breadboard. For that reason, they work best in our XBee adapter module kit (which has a 250mA 3.3V regulator) or with the USB XBee adapter.
‘ Used in our system as: Transferring data wirelessly from robot to central system.
4.2.3 Raspberry Pi module
Fig-4.6 Raspberry Pi
‘ The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized single-board computer developed in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation with the intention of promoting the teaching of basic computer science in schools.
‘ The Raspberry Pi is manufactured in two board configurations through licensed manufacturing deals with Newark element14 (Premier Farnell), RS Components and Egoman. These companies sell the Raspberry Pi online.Egoman produces a version for distribution solely in China and Taiwan, which can be distinguished from other Pis by their red coloring and lack of FCC/CE marks. The hardware is the same across all manufacturers.
‘ The Raspberry Pi has a Broadcom BCM2835 system on a chip (SoC), which includes an ARM1176JZF-S 700 MHz processor, VideoCore IV GPU, and was originally shipped with 256 megabytes of RAM, later upgraded to 512 MB. It does not include a built-in hard disk or solid-state drive, but uses an SD card for booting and persistent storage.
‘ Used in our project as: Controlling the robot (receiving commands wirelessly, through server) for scanning the library. Thus a person can scan the whole library from one point.
4.3 Description of Method and Workflow
This project mainly consist of:
Hardware
‘ RFID tag
‘ RFID reader
‘ Xbee wireless module
‘ Raspberry Pi
Web Application
‘ To hold the entire data regarding user, book, admin.
‘ Users can browse, query for and reserve available books as per their accessibility rights.
‘ Web application will also reflect the change in database made by anyone and lets the admin collect the data and update and manage accordingly.
‘ Web application will include all the basic functioning of the library system and also include other miscellaneous features.
‘ A separate web application for admin is made in which various admin functions such as change loan period, fine, notifying users etc. are enabled along with issue/return of the book.
‘ Working:
Tagging the book:
‘ Every book in library will contain an RFID tag for unique identification of each book.
‘ Database (library system) will identify every detail of book i.e. department, no of copies available, rack no, issue status etc.
Issue/Return:
Fig-4.7 Issue Book Windows Form
Fig-4.8 Return Book Windows Form
‘ There will be separate RFID readers for issuing and returning the book. When user issues or returns a book, reader reads and updates the database held by the computer application.
‘ Readers will be connected with the computers by means of converter cable (RS-232to USB).
‘ For issue/return, a separate form application (fig below) is made in which when book is read by reader, all the information is automatically filled. The user/librarian has to enter only the user id.
Scanning of books:
‘ RFID reader mounted on robot will be connected to Xbee which will be used for transmitting the data wirelessly to the system.
‘ Periodic scanning of the entire library will be performed by a moving RFID reader.
‘ The moving reader will give information regarding a misplaced books to the computer application/Librarian. Thus, book misplacement problem could be solved.
‘ Following fig. shows the basic idea of working of whole system.
Fig-4.9 Scanning
Following are some snapshots of the web application:
‘ Admin site
Fig-4.10 Admin Portal overview
Fig-4.11 Student Sign up by admin
Fig-4.12 Remove student/faculty by admin
Fig-4.13 Issue report for specified period
Fig-4.14 Fine report category: Student
Fig-4.15 Change of Loan Period and Fine cost by Admin
Fig-4.16 Change of book issue limit by Admin
Fig-4.17 Fine clearance by Admin
‘ User Site:
Fig-4.18 Search by user
Fig-4.19 Sign up by user
Fig-4.20 Login by user
Fig-4.21 Book report by user
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Chapter 5
Expected Outcome
Chapter 5
Expected outcome
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This project will mainly help to achieve automation to a certain extent in library system.
Following are major outcomes/advantages of this project:-
‘ Reduces Staff stress and increases management efficiency
‘ Fastest, easiest, most efficient way to track, locate & manage Library materials
‘ Efficient Book circulation & management
‘ Library inventory tracking in minutes instead of hours
‘ Multiple books can be read simultaneously
‘ Unique ID of the RFID tag prevents counterfeiting
‘ Automated material handling
‘ Longevity of Tags ‘ Shelf life equivalent to the Book
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Chapter 6
Conclusion & Future advancements
Chapter 6
Conclusion & Future Advancements
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6.1 Conclusion
RFID system is taking off in libraries at a very rapid rate. RFID in the library speeds up book borrowing, monitoring, books searching processes and thus frees staff to do more user-service tasks. But the performance varies with respect to the vendors of RFID readers and tags. The efficient utilization of the technology also depends upon the information to be written in tag. Experimental results with respect to effectiveness of RFID reader position, tag position are presented in the paper. Developments in RFID technology continue to yield larger memory capacities, wider reading ranges, and faster processing.
6.2 Future Advancements
1. Security doors :
‘ If a user doesn’t report the books for issue at the desk and walks through door, an alarm will buzz showing that book(s) is/are not reported.
2. Robot for pointing books :
‘ The robot can also be used for searching books as when a user search for books, it goes to a particular location and points out the book.
3. Robot can also replace books that are misplaced :
‘ Instead of just scanning the library and producing report, the robot can itself place the books at their particular place.
4. Automated Dropbox for returning:
‘ A desk can be made such that the book is returned and database is updated as soon as the user places the book on the desk. (The desk consists of RFID reader).’
References
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1] RFID: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification.
2] Reader specification: http://www.rhydolabz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=477.
3] Use of RFID in library: http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/shahid.htm.
4] RFID introduction: gtubicomp2013.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/64846805/want-rfid.pd.
5] Libraries taking the next step into the future ‘ www.Adilam.com.au.
6] RFID details: http://www.rfidjournal.com/.
7] RFID application: www.it.iitb.ac.in/~sri/talks/rfid-05.pdf.
8] RFID research: www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=2578.
9] Real Time inventory management using RFID: http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?10906.
10] Raspberry Pi: http://www.raspberrypi.org/help/quick-start-guide/.
11] Xbee Unit: http://www.digi.com/xbee/?utm_expid=4651060-4.yBY0f5M4R_20K194xMSIMA.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F.
12] Weis, Stephen A. (2007), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Principles and Applications, MIT CSAIL.
13] Karen Coyle, ‘Management of RFID in Libraries’ , Preprint version of article published in the Journal of Academic Librarianship, v. 31, n. 5, pp. 486-489 .