Emulation framework for the design and development of active RFID tag systems

The design and development of active RFID tag systems requires several iterations, and thorough testing in order to ensure that the prototype systems behave as intended. Facilitating these operations contributes significantly to faster product development and to a quicker time to market. The emulation framework that we present makes it easier to carry out the verification and testing related to the design and development of active RFID tag systems. We illustrate the use of this framework during the design and development of an active RFID tag based pedestrian localization system that is being developed by Panasonic Corporation. In this context emulation was successfully used: (i) to identify active RFID tag firmware issues; (ii) to assess the overall performance of the localization system; (iii) to explore the system parameter space so as to identify the values that provide optimum performance; (iv) to extend the range of tested scenarios beyond what could be done through real-world trials.