A Hybrid Anti-Collision Algorithm for RFID with Enhanced Throughput and Reduced Memory Consumption

In order to solve the transponder collision problem in a RFID system, this paper proposes a hybrid algorithm which combines strengths of existing high-performance algorithms while avoiding their major drawbacks. Experiments show this hybrid algorithm uses fewer time slots and less total communication time compared to adaptive slot-count algorithm based on ALOHA as well as enhanced anti-collision algorithm based on binary tree, both of which are superior and well accepted algorithms in literature. Meanwhile, high computational intensity of adaptive slot-count algorithm is significantly relieved, and memory consumption of enhanced anti-collision algorithm is reduced to a negligible level. Results from simulations under large number of transponders and long transponder IDs, which is the case in real RFID applications, suggest the advantage of this hybrid algorithm is prominent.